Nerdly » Interview: Jeff Kristian on ‘Spidarlings’

09th Jul2018

Interview: Jeff Kristian on ‘Spidarlings’

by Philip Rogers

Spidarlings is a new body-horror punk rock musical which makes its Blu-ray release on July 10th, 2018. I got a chance to the film music composer and actor Jeff Kristian a few questions about how he got involved with the film, why he thinks it has connected so well with the audience and his favourite scene.

How did you first get involved with the film Spidarlings?

As a songwriter. Tiffaney Wells asked if I could pen her character Gena a song for this whacky new movie she was doing. Director Salem Kapsaski liked ‘Sing A Happy Song’ and asked if I could write a dozen more… no pressure, ha ha! Salem asked if I would be in the film and wrote The Diva character for me.

What originally attracted you to the film?

I love to collaborate, but for me it always begins with the script. I liked the message and the journey and could hear the songs in my head. As a Gypsy Lee Pistoleros fan, I asked if I could do a scene with Lee Mark Jones, which is how the song ‘Stronger Every Day’ evolved.

What can audiences expect from the film?

A giant tarantula, ha ha! Horror musicals have existed for a while, but Spidarlings has a raw element that makes it kind of unique. And there is a good balance of pathos and comedy with some classic one-liners. It’s sexy, funny, gory and has animation, all set to music. What more could you possibly you need?

As a punk rock horror musical, Spidarlings is not a mainstream film but it has been extremely well received by the critics. What do you think makes the film connect so well with the audience?

I think viewers can sense the labour of love that went into its making, it oozes from the screen. And it has a traditional b-movie design that is quite endearing, even though it has a contemporary story. Sophia Disgrace and Rahel Kapsaski’s believable characters Eden and Matilda draw you into their unhinged microcosm.

What preparation did you do for the role?

I had a long dialogue with Salem about who she would be and how her history had shaped her into what you see on screen, which meant I was able to arrive on set with her fully developed in my head.

Can you tell us a bit about your characters in the film?

I play The Diva. She is a bitter, damaged transgender woman working in a rather dubious gentleman’s club called ‘Juicy Girls’. She hosts the floorshow, probably because she is the least likely to get a man’s attention. But she has romantic history with Ticks, an unrequited love. Her life-plan hasn’t really worked for her. I also do a comedy cameo as The Jogger… with lots of padding and a ginger comb-over!

What was it like working on the set of Spidarlings?

Christmas, ha ha! There was a real family feel on set, which I think comes over on film. Genuine but also very clever. There was a sense that something special was being created.

What was one of your favourite scenes during filming?

The Diva’s rejection scene with Ticks. We cracked the glass in the wall as he threw her backwards.

Do you have any new projects which you are working on?

I released the Spidarlings song ‘Lullaby’ as a solo single to help promote its release on Blu Ray, Salem kindly directed the music video. Right now, I’m working on a James Crow comedy called Last Village on The Right: Brexit The Horror Movie. We filmed last year in the south of France and I do my final scenes this weekend at a brewery in Kent… my job is so hard, ha ha!