If you want horror with a great atmosphere then Noseeums from Raven Carter is for you, we chatter to this very taleneted director before its premiere at FrightFest.
NYX: Have you known from a young age that you wanted to work in the film industry?
RC: I’ve always known that performance mattered to me. Even as a kid, I loved getting a big reaction from an audience, it was exciting! I probably took talent shows way too seriously for someone that age. I had a music teacher in elementary school, Mrs. Gideon, who saw that creative spark and really encouraged me. I’ll never forget her for that.
NYX: How did you become connected to Noseeums and is it true it was originally called Biting Midges?
RC: Yes, Noseeums was originally titled Biting Midges. My good friend Jason Michael Anthony came to me with the concept, and I loved it right away. I told him I’d be interested in directing something like that. Jason came up with the initial idea, and then Hendrick Joseph and I joined him to write it and bring it to life.
NYX: Were you involved in the casting of the movie?
RC: I was heavily involved in the casting. Noseeums has an incredible group of actors, and finding the right people was a long, pretty intense process, but absolutely worth it. Huge credit to Eliana Henrich, who led the casting and helped us pull together such a talented ensemble.
NYX: The whole cast are amazing, and Aleigha Burt truly brings the movie together beautifully, did they have much time to rehearse?
RC: The actors didn’t have much time to rehearse. It varied a bit from scene to scene, but overall we were definitely on a tight schedule, and everyone felt it. Fortunately, I had such amazing actors, and they rose to every challenge and delivered.
NYX: The film has a strong, social message throughout it is duration, how did you ensure this wasn’t watered down by the horror element?
RC: I never want to make a film without reflection. Entertainment is important, but creating something with substance, something that carries a real message, is just as important to me. With Noseeums, we focused on building a human story first. The horror element was there to serve that story, not overshadow it.
NYX: How hard were the effects to create?
RC: The visual effects definitely took the most time and they came with plenty of challenges. On set I had to imagine swarms of bugs that weren’t there and get the actors to imagine them too and actually be terrified. Imagination is a powerful thing. For me it was all about pushing the team to keep refining the VFX until the studio finally said, “Okay, that is it, you are done.”
NYX: This is your debut feature, how did you feel the first day on set?
RC: I was excited and probably nervous on the first day. I was fully committed to the film. No matter what challenges came my way, I had already decided I would show up and direct the best scene I could every time I stepped up to the monitor. I remember watching Us the day before and spending time with friends. That was all I needed to get my mind in the right place.
NYX: What lessons in directing did you learn whilst in production?
RC: One of the biggest lessons I learned is that directing is about trust. You have to protect your actors while also challenging them, because the best performances often come from places of discomfort. We are all serving the scene. I once heard someone say that directors are the loneliest people on a film set. There is truth to that. You feel the constant pressure to deliver a great film and keep everyone happy. The crew, the cast, the studio, everyone. Even when you are surrounded by people, you feel that responsibility in every moment. It taught me to stay calm, to trust my team, and to keep the focus on the story above everything else.
NYX: It looks incredible, where was it shot and did the location cause any issues during production?
RC: The film was shot in Tallahassee, Florida. Christopher Lee Fatt, my director of photography, is incredibly talented and gifted me with beautiful shots, just as I expected. I fought for the house location because I felt it had an eerie and strange look that fit the story. We did run into some challenges, including bug problems, and one day we were even attacked by Noseeums. That led to lots of fun jokes on set.
NYX: The movie is being compared to such classics as Get Out and Candyman, how do you feel about that?
RC: I always imagined the film as Mean Girls meets Get Out, and I even put up a poster of Mean Girls in our production office. If audiences watch the film and think of Get Out or Candyman, it would be an honor, but I am also happy if the film stands on its own.
NYX: Do you believe in the paranormal?
RC: I believe there are many things that happen beyond scientific explanation, and I believe in spiritual warfare. I think wisdom from God helps a person become more aware of these things.
NYX: Will you be nervous when the movie has its world premiere at FrightFest 2025?
RC: What is there to be nervous about? This is an amazing opportunity for me and my team. We are excited for people to see the film, and we are grateful that FrightFest is welcoming us. Even if some people do not love the film, you have to respect the strengths that are there. As the director, I am always aware of what could have been done better, but we made a film, our first feature. That’s big.
NYX: So, what are you working on at the moment?
RC: Right now I am working on scripts and ideas to keep the momentum going. I love writing, and I could even see myself hosting a podcast for creatives one day.
NYX: Raven Carter, thank you very much.
