We recently had the chance to connect with Drew Wayne Roberts and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Drew Wayne, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Honestly, the proudest moment lately was packing the house for the Hermit premiere. Seeing a full audience react to something that started as a tiny, scrappy idea in my head, and even getting some film festival recognition for it, hit hard. It proved to me that even without a huge budget or backing, you can make something real that connects with people.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Drew Wayne Roberts, an independent horror filmmaker and creator of the Mythos series—short films that bring forgotten folklore creatures into the modern world. My first film, Hermit, reimagined Baba Yaga in the woods of the Colorado foothills, and it earned a packed premiere and earned festival recognition. What makes my work unique is the mix of gritty realism, dark humor, and folklore that people may have heard but never really seen explored on screen. I’m not backed by a studio. I self-produce, crowdfund, and colllaborate with other indie artists to prove you can make bold horror stories without big budgets or gatekeepers. Right now, I’m working on SCAMP, the next entry in the series. It’s a twisted take on a more familiar myth, shot with practical effects and a lot of heart. It’s a creature who has been on the screen but rarely has been given credit for how realistically menacing it could potentially be. For me, it’s about keeping horror weird, raw, and community driven.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that always needed outside validation. For a long time, I measured my worth by whether people approved of my work. That pressure pushed me to work harder, but it also drained me. I’m letting that go so I can create from a place of passion and authenticity. That’s how my first short, Hermit, came to life, and it’s what’s driving me into my next project, SCAMP. Letting go of validation means I’m free to focus on the stories I want to tell, not on who gives me permission to tell them.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
There wasn’t one single moment, but over time I realized pain didn’t have to be something I carried in silence. I could either let it eat away at me, or I could give it a voice through my art. Horror became the natural outlet. That’s when my pain stopped being a weakness and started fueling me creatively.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to hang on to the idea that you should always root for people you came up with. Support has to go both ways. If someone stops showing respect or support, you don’t owe them your energy. Real kindness includes protecting yourself and only giving it to people who value you in return.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
For me, peace comes from momentum. When I’ve got a new idea I’m excited about and I start making moves to turn it into reality, that’s when I feel calm and centered.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ghoulsnightproductions
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ghoulsnightproductions
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/ghoulsnightproductions
- Other: Hermit Movie: Instagram.com/hermitmythos
SCAMP Movie: Instagram.com/scampmythos
Trivia Page: Instagram.com/ghoulsnightouttrivia
Image Credits
Bailey Tapert
Bertknee Sharklover
Elise Sjostedt
