Shriekfest Radio! Denise Gossett interviews Venita Ozols-Graham

Born in NYC. Went to Pratt Institute in New York and got a degree in photography/filmmaking.

Took the Directors Guild of America DGA Assist Directors Training Program test. Was accepted & spent three years being trained at all the major studios & production companies as an assistant director. Graduated & became DGA Second AD.

Spent 4 years being a Second AD on features (On Golden Pond, Xanadu, Grease 2, etc) & hit TV shows (Charlies Angels, The Hulk, Bionic Woman,etc).

Moved up to First A.D on The Dukes of Hazzard and spent  some time being a First AD/Assoc Producer on endless TV shows and features,  like The X-Files, The Shield, The District, and Veronica Mars.

But.. I wanted to write & direct movies.

So I quit. I holed up at a lake house in Washington & started writing like crazy. Several scripts later, I came back down to LA & produced & directed a short from a horror script I wrote called ‘Used Body Parts’. Got into some fests including Shriekfest & even won a couple of awards (Best Thriller Atlanta Horror, Best Special Effects Crimson Screen Horror Film Fest). I’m currently working to secure financing for the feature length version. While on the festival route, I produced/directed an indie film called ‘Black Widows’. It’s a very dark comedy about three girls out for revenge.  Got a release on DVD and cable and Amazon is releasing DVDs February 21st! On pre-sale now on Amazon. The website is www.blackwidowsthemovie.com.

Right now, we’re in pre-production on a thriller short called ‘Angel’. The actress in Used Body Parts, Brigitte Graham wrote the script and will direct.We start shooting in March.