Film Name: HorrorScopes Volume 2: Chinese Zodiac – ‘Horse’
Director: Martin W. Payne
Starring: Joseph Simpson-Bushell, Sam Poole, Jason Impey
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds leading up to the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival, I got a chance to ask writer-director Martin W Payne a few questions about his segment of HorrorScopes Volume 2: Chinese Zodiac – ‘Horse’
HorrorScopes Volume 2: Chinese Zodiac has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea film festival on Friday 19th January at 20:00pm.
Q. You contributed a segment film to HORRORSCOPES 2 which has been selected to play at the
Horror-on-Sea Film Festival. Can you tell us about the segment?
A. The first Horrorscopes anthology comprised films based on western astrological zodiac signs and I
had contributed “Sagittarius” for that anthology. Horrorscopes 2 is based on Chinese Years so you
can imagine my delight at being asked to contribute – and my less than delighted thought when I
was advised the randomly selected Chinese Year was to be the year of the horse! Great – having
wanted to get a centaur on screen in true indie style (yup, put an actor in the glamorous role of year
end of a centaur…..) but failed, now was another opportunity to do so! But, yes, my segment was to
represent the Year of the Horse and “A Horse Called Adam” is the official title of my segment.
Q. Did you make any changes from the original script during filming?
A. Oh, yes, a lot. There was a really early script but would have been too expensive to shoot as I
needed a location that had stables! The next script idea stayed the same but circumstances meant
two complete re-writes with the last of those being during the afternoon of the principle evening
shoot day. Basically, the original story to be filmed required two characters being on screen (a male
protagonist and a female antagonist). That changed to both being male when filming dates clashed –
a minor change with the same storyline but with me playing the antagonist. Then I had a crew
dropout on the original planned shoot day so needed to delay the shoot at short notice (but
managed to utilise the day by shooting something completely different for a different anthology
film!). Then, on the revised shoot day where I was going to play the protagonist and had Joseph
planned as the, now male, antagonist, a crew drop out needed me to simplify the cast and crew
further and for me to step behind the camera lens and leaving Joseph Simpson-Bushell as the
sole screen presence.
Q. What were some of your influences for the look and style of the film?
A. The style I wanted to achieve was almost one of absurdism. It is crazy what the character, Adam, does, and what happens to him but it is, of course, set in a very grounded reality in terms of the
location.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. One you get past all the woes in pre-production, the shoot itself was fun. I think my favourite
moment, because I could just relax and watch, was Jason Impey’s appearance in the film. Also,
seeing the energy that Sam Poole brought to his vox pop appearance was great – he’s someone to
watch out for elsewhere in future.
Q. What makes A HORSE CALLED ADAM stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. You see, you think you come with a great idea, and the ending of the segment will be great fun
and a surprise – but then you get told by MJ DIXON a number of others have had a similar idea. So
‘something different’? Not really, but hopefully enjoyable to watch.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. Don’t do as Adam does?
Q. What would you have done differently?
A. Once the film is complete, and submitted, then it isn’t worth thinking about it again really. I’d
have preferred to keep with one of the earlier cast and crew set-up arrangements, but, life happens,
and things change. What is on the screen is what it is, and Joseph did a great job to capture the
character Adam and I couldn’t see anyone else playing that character.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. The world Premiere of a short film called TRANSVILE happened at Horror on Sea Film Festival in
January 2024 and was extremely well-received. That is the first of a series of short films. Life After,
starring SAM POOLE (which was why he was available to appear in A HORSE CALLED ADAM) is next
and has been accepted by Romford Horror Film Festival for its World Premiere in February 2024.
And then there are a further four short films in the pipeline with a desire to try to get each of them
to a different horror film festival before linking all of them together into an anthology. That’s the
idea anyway – who knows if I will be able to pull it off – but the first two have happened so this is me
asking the universe to make at least one more UK horror film festival director to say ‘yes’!
Q. If someone was looking to direct their own film what advice would you give them?
A. Be prepared for the unexpected! In UK indie horror filmmaking, no-one can hear you scream
when cast and crew drop out at short notice! Plan, plan, plan!
You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
