Today, I'm very psyched to speak with Ryan Turek, the VP of Development at Blumhouse and Producer across many titles including Imaginary, Night Swim, The Exorcist: Believer, M3GAN, The Black Phone, Halloween, Halloween Ends, Halloween Kills, Freaky, Happy Death Day and the list goes on.
In this episode, Ryan gets into his very compelling origin story from horror journalism to becoming a very pivotal figure who's shaping contemporary horror cinema.
Ryan also dives deep into the lesser known sides of producing as well as Blumhouse’s process for developing projects and nurturing directors. And we touch on Blumhouse's very exciting Halfway to Halloween Film Festival, a 5-day screening series beginning this Friday, learn more here: www.amctheatres.com/events/halfway-to-halloween
Ryan is someone I've wanted to get on the show for a while and I really enjoyed this conversation. His story is a real testament to the power of persistence and passion, as well as the importance of remaining true to yourself which are hallmarks of Ryan's career that have led him to one of the most important and coolest jobs in horror today.
Here are some key takeaways from this conversation with Ryan Turek.
Passion and persistence. Ryan emphasized the importance of his persistence and staying true to his passion for horror and even though he didn’t always know exactly which path to pursue at all times, he kept a foot in horror throughout his career which ultimately paid off in a huge way. His transition from horror journalism to film development showcases how diverse experiences can converge into a unique and powerful career path.
Empathy is an underrated producer skill. When it comes to producing, Ryan stresses the need for empathy and listening. Film sets can be a high-stress environment, rife with a lot of people, egos and endless potential for chaos. With so many volatile variables on set, being able to listen and have empathy ensures people feel heard which makes everything go smoother. It sounds simplistic because it is, but the tenets of psychology apply to producing more than most other professions.
Be a confidante. Ryan mentions that people often cite him as a calm and cool confidante who can help navigate them through day to day on-set difficulties with comfort. This is a very important skill to develop as a producer though not everyone is capable of it so if you’re not, it’s advantageous to have someone like this around because amid the chaos, someone capable of emotionally stabilizing people can stabilize the entire set. This all underscores how critical interpersonal skills are in managing production teams and bringing out the best in people and projects.
Don’t forget to check out Blumhouse’s Halfway to Halloween Film Festival beginning this Friday March 29th at AMC theaters across America. Check out the link in the show notes or visit www.amctheatres.com/events/halfway-to-halloween
SHOW NOTES
Blumhouse’s Halfway to Halloween Film Festival beginning this Friday March 29th at AMC theaters across America: www.amctheatres.com/events/halfway-to-halloween
Follow Ryan:
Movies:
TV Shows:
Remembering Stuart Gordon with Brian Yuzna, Larry Fessenden, and Graham Skipper [Episode 66]
WOLFCOP Director, Lowell Dean [Episode 65]
HOLIDAY BONUS: Stephen Chiodo and Cig Neutron!
ANYTHING FOR JACKSON Director, Justin Dyck [Episode 64]
Blumhouse TV President, Jeremy Gold [Episode 63]
CASTLE FREAK Director & SFX Master, Tate Steinsiek! [Episode 62]
FATMAN Directors, The Nelms Brothers [Episode 61]
Welcome to the Blumhouse: 4 Directors Share their Blumhouse Experience [Episode 60]
THE HEAD HUNTER Director, Jordan Downey [Episode 59]
VAMPIRES VS THE BRONX Director, Oz Rodriguez [Episode 58]
THE MORTUARY COLLECTION Writer/Director, Ryan Spindell [Episode 57]
THE FURIES Director, Tony D’Aquino [Episode 56]
THE AU PAIR NIGHTMARE Director, Joe Russo [Episode 55]
THE GOON Creator, Eric Powell! [Episode 54]
KNIFE + HEART Director, Yann Gonzalez [Episode 53]
Ryuhei Kitamura, Director of MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, VERSUS, & DOWNRANGE [Episode 52]
1BR, The Low Budget Indie That Hit #1 on Netflix with Director/Producer David Marmor & Alok Mishra [Episode 51]
The Late Great Stuart Gordon [Episode 50]
PSYCHO GOREMAN Director, Steven Kostanski [Episode 49]
PALE DOOR & SCARE PACKAGE Director, Aaron B. Koontz [Episode 48]
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