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:
REVENGE Director, Coralie Fargeat [Episode 47]
Carlo Mirabella Davis [Episode 46]
TERRIFIER 2 News with Damien Leone! [Episode 45]
The Weird and Wonderful World of Cig Neutron! [Episode 44]
RELIC Director, Natalie Erika James [Episode 43]
Blumhouse’s INTO THE DARK Directors, Alston & Julius Ramsay [Episode 42]
THE SHED Writer/Director, Frank Sabatella [Episode 41]
SHARKNADO Director, Anthony C. Ferrante [Episode 40]
THE WRETCHED Directors, Brett & Drew Pierce [Episode 39]
PORNO Director, Keola Racela [Episode 38]
ROOM 237 Director/Documentarian, Rodney Ascher [Episode 36]
READY OR NOT Director/Producer Trio, Radio Silence: Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, & Tyler Gillett [Episode 35]
Carter Smith on Directing MIDNIGHT KISS for Blumhouse and THE RUINS [Episode 34]
Tarantino Documentary Director, Tara Wood [Episode 33]
Directors of Freaks, Adam Lipofsky and Zach Stein [Episode 32]
Knives & Skin Director, Jennifer Reeder [Episode 31]
Directors of Scream Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street Documentary, Tyler Jensen & Roman Chimienti [Episode 30]
Fright Night Director, Tom Holland’s Enduring Director Wisdom [Episode 29]
Maximizing Low Budget Indie Horror With Tommy Stovall [Episode 28]
Gigi Saul Guerrero [Episode 27]
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