Detroit’s entertainment scene has developed significantly over the past two years. Independent producers have proliferated and established producers have increased their output. Film schools are churning out film and TV technicians at an unprecedented rate. And the once notoriously naive talent pool is becoming increasingly skilled and competitive. One thing, however, hasn’t changed: Detroit’s few natural-born stars in the making, the talented handful whose work shines consistently and brightly in each of their performances. 

One of these is Richelle Leigh Walsh, arguably Michigan’s “girl most likely” to catch on in a big way. Her sassy Irish attitude, expressive face and dead-on comedic timing combine to make her much more than just a Hollywood cover girl. 

Since making her “Midnight Hour” debut in the season-one episode, “A Face to Die For,” Richelle has returned three times to portray a haunted girlfriend, a bitchy sorority diva and—in the upcoming third season premiere, “Prisoner of Love”—a decidedly bad, if not kinky, influence. 

“I grew up with ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Alfred Hitchcock,’ so I love this stuff,” she says. “My friends who have seen (Midnight Hour) can’t believe it hasn’t been picked up by a network, they love it.” 

A familiar face on local and visiting productions throughout southeastern Michigan, Richelle has quickly built up an impressive resume. Often cast against type as a “bad girl,” she has made the most of her screen persona and is widely known as one of the most reliable and entertaining actors in the midwest. 

As is often the case in motion pictures and TV, what the audience sees isn’t necessarily what the cast and crew see. Despite the shady doings of the characters she plays, Richelle is in fact a consistently likable and easy-going team-mate. Despite long hours of waiting, mosquito-infested locations, and the demands of tight shooting schedules, Richelle maintains a consistently upbeat attitude. 

Perhaps it’s her respect for the gift of life in general that guides her. An alumni of Oakland University, Richelle is something of an animal rights activist with a passion for justice. “If caring about animals, the earth, and people before profit makes me a hippie, well then I guess I’m a hippie. Why is caring about something other than myself considered a flaw? I wish I didn’t care, but I do. And more people should,” she quips. Indeed, while filming “Prisoner of Love” on an 80-acre animal rescue last June, Richelle enjoyed the unique opportunity to bond with a variety of once-abused pets and livestock. 

Debuting in September, 2010, “Prisoner of Love” fires a suitably gruesome and powerful opening shot to MH’s third season. Fans are sure to agree that Richelle’s steamy turn as a manipulative girlfriend whose influence wreaks havoc on her boyfriend’s life provides co-stars Michael Lazzara and Gary Lindell with the perfect foil—until her chance meeting with Natalie Baxter as an unforgettable “girl down the lane.” 

Between takes on the set—and surrounded by acres of rolling hills and picturesque Shasta horses running free—Richelle takes a moment to reflect. “Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe they need to run free…until they find someone just as wild to run with.” 

Fans of Michigan’s first and only homegrown dramatic TV series, “The Midnight Hour,” have become familiar with the show’s parade of local guest stars. But seldom—if ever—have they had a chance to meet the magicians who bring the show to life each week. 

Two of these are gaffers Richard LeValley (top photo) and James Meyers (bottom photo). For those unfamiliar with TV and movie jargon, a gaffer creates mood, tension, ambience and beauty…with light. 

Joining the show last winter, while the latter episodes of season two were being lensed, Richard and Jim have worked wonders by supporting “Midnight Hour’s” “retro comic book horror” look through light design. As illustrated in the instant classic, “Daddy’s Little Girl,” their richly saturated hues make the most of the series’ new 1080 HD format and often recall the best works of Italy’s horror genre of the mid-1960s. 

Upcoming episodes such as “Toby’s Room” and “Queen Bee” offer fine examples of their work. But metro Detroit TV viewers are sure to agree the dynamic duo have raised the bar with their gorgeous mood lighting in the season three premiere episode, “Prisoner of Love.” With its knockout thespian performances, crackling script and nightmare-come-true makeup (courtesy Jason Hiltz of Howling Mad Studios in Novi, MI), the episode fires a fitting opening shot for season three. 

A life-long horror film junkie, Richard cut his teeth on a 16-millimeter feature film several years ago, but wanted more. Hungry to put his artistic skills to use, he invested in the necessary equipment and began working on film sets throughout Michigan. Still a part-time producer, he recently completed a spooky, tongue-in-cheek Halloween short for use as seasonal airtime filler this October. 

After graduating from the electrical engineering program at MSU, Jim went to work for nine years at Visteon Corporation as an electrical designer. He graduated from the gaffing discipline at a local film school in Allen Park last year, and quickly joined forces with Richard. 

The two work well together, collaborating with their directors and adapting quickly to the quirks of indoor and outdoor locations not typically outfitted for filming. Their flexibility has helped them weather the demands of deadline-intensive filming, while their cheerful demeanors have made them favorites among the casts and crew who have worked with them. 

Watch for their work in current and future episodes of “The Midnight Hour” on Comcast channel 52 and WOW! channel 18 systems in metro Detroit. 

The latest “Midnight Hour” episode, “Bed and Breakfast,” is a fascinating character study about a woman named Ilsa Moran (Jan Cartwright) whose battle with cancer has left her changed—in many ways. As proprietor of a quaint, isolated B&B, she and her inept husband Artie (James Lawrence) welcome guests both seen and unseen…and employ some very creative cost saving techniques at mealtimes. 

As the mysterious and compelling Ilsa, Jan makes the most of her experiences on stage and screen. “I’ve had a lifelong love affair with acting,” she says. “I’ve performed on stage…with Performance Network, Farmington Players, SRO and Phoenix Players, and with other theatres nationwide.” Although outwardly the picture of suburban assurance, Jan decided long ago she didn’t want to be typecast as a soccer mom. “A few favorite roles (of mine) include Blanche DuBois in ‘Streetcar Named Desire,’ Sadie Thompson in ‘Rain,’ Truvy in ‘Steel Magnolias,’ and Donna in ‘Defying Gravity,’” she says. Series producers agreed that her talent demanded darker, more challenging opportunities and she was quickly cast as Ilsa last November. 

“Michigan is an increasingly better place to be an actor,” Jan notes. “Movies are being made here that never would have been were it not for the tax credits the state has granted to production companies.” Cashing in on the influx of screen opportunities, Jan has recently appeared in numerous commercials, TV shows and films. She can be seen in this year’s feature film “Stone” as well as local commercials and independent films currently gracing local screens. 

When not acting, Jan owns and operates a small creative shop and photography studio in Novi called Bounce, Inc. Bounce provides integrated, comprehensive marketing communications services to businesses, including copywriting, photography and graphic design. She also shoots set stills, headshots and PR images for local theatres and production companies, and creates stunning headshots for aspiring actors, models and others in the entertainment industry. 

“Midnight Hour” producers were so pleased with the “rushes” of Jan’s appearance in “Bed and Breakfast,” she was immediately cast in another episode, “Toby’s Room.” As sinister, mysterious Edie, she gives motherly love a startling new interpretation at her family’s expense. The episode is slated for a summer airdate. 

“I’ve especially enjoyed the intensity and challenge of working on the ‘Midnight Hour’ series,” she says. “Filming a half-hour episode with great production values in just two shoot days makes every minute on the set count! Director and series creator Lee Martin has a stellar imagination, a creative eye, seemingly endless patience and a talent for keeping the whole production moving along efficiently. The concepts are fun and fresh, with a classic ‘Twilight Zone’ feel to them. Even better, in ‘The Midnight Hour,’ the characters I’ve been cast to play have been interesting and always unique. As an actor, it’s great fun to be demonic!” 

Series fans are sure to agree with Jan as they watch her unforgettable performance in the engrossing, macabre “Bed and Breakfast” throughout June, 2010. See the Air Dates page for broadcast details. 

The gag removed, the ropes untied and the rats at bay, Jillian Hoffman—the Midwest’s newest juve actress sensation—is taking time aside from her busy stage and screen career to chat about her turn in the latest “Midnight Hour” episode, “Daddy’s Little Girl.” 

Jillian Hoffman

Recruited by producers last October during a casting event at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, Jillian immediately commanded attention as one of the rarest breed of actors: Those whose personalities vanish into the characters they portray. Effectively conveying the attitude, innocence and anger of “Susie,” star of “Daddy’s Little Girl,” Jillian was an immediate first choice for the part. 

“The biggest challenge for me is to make sure that I am believable to the audience as the character that I am playing,” she says. “I want to be that character. I no longer want to be Jillian Hoffman.” 

For Jillian, acting has been a natural and nearly life-long journey. “When I was four years old, my two teenage babysitters were in musicals at their high schools. I remember watching their shows and just falling in love with the idea a performing on stage,” she says. Freshly bitten by the acting bug, Jillian began doing stage work in local theater productions to immediate acclaim. “The rewards are always there. It is incredibly rewarding to hear the applause of a live audience…or having someone on the set saying something as simple as ’good job!’” 

Like all emerging talent, Jillian has her idols, mentors and personal benchmarks. “Lea Michele is one of my biggest idols. I love how she brings her characters to life and makes them real. One day, I would like to achieve even half of her talent,” she says. Despite her skill, Jillian is without doubt her own harshest critic. She credits her ability to objectively appraise her own work for her fine performances. “My ability to play a wide age range is a strong point. But I’m always trying to sound more ‘natural’ with the delivery of my lines.” 

Although already a veteran at 16 years of age, Jillian’s eye is on the future, the big picture. “My short term goal is to keep acting and learning…getting as many jobs as I can and performing as much as I can…and to keep getting better. My long term goal is to be on Broadway!” And how does her acting career affect her peer relations at school? “All of my classmates are very supportive of my acting career. They think that is very, very cool,” she smiles. 

As viewers will see for themselves watching “Daddy’s Little Girl” in May, the role of “Susie” was nothing if not grueling—physically as well as emotionally. “I was all tied up for a scene that had many takes and I had to literally hop around on the set for hours,” she laughs. Recalling her confrontational scenes with Sandra E. Kelley, who played sadistic nanny “Barry,” she says: “It was very challenging to act like I hated Sandra and treat her like an evil person. She is probably, one of the sweetest ladies that I have ever met!” 

As she prepares to return to a dress rehearsal for her school’s end-of-term musical, Jillian pauses and considers a personal message to series fans watching her in May. “I would hope that (the fans) would contact all of the people they know and tell them to watch ‘Daddy’s Little Girl.’ And keep watching ‘Lee Martin’s Midnight Hour’—because it’s one of the best things on TV!” 

“Daddy’s Little Girl” will air Thursdays at midnight and Saturdays at 10:30pm throughout May. See the Air Dates page for details. 

Natalie Baxter

Scream queen Natalie Baxter, one of “Midnight Hour’s” favorite heroines, returns in the upcoming episode, “Queen Bee.” 

No other series veteran has suffered so many colorful and gruesome assaults as Natalie in her previous turns on the show: She has had her face ground off with a cheese grater (Nightmare at Blood Manor), committed suicide (Night Winds), and been drained of blood (Blood Sacrifice). In “Queen Bee,” the long-suffering starlet will return to the show, but with a decided twist…here’s what she had to say about her life as a Michigan-based actress: 

GLC: Natalie, how did you get interested in acting and how long have you been performing in Michigan? 

NB: I got interested in acting in 4th or 5th grade, when a friend and I would grab my parents’ video camera and shoot short movies with my Barbie’s and pretend to do our own talk shows. I’ve been in love with performing ever since. I started performing in front of an actual crowd though in high school. I was a total theater geek! The school theater was my home away from home. And my theater teacher was a second mom to me. I was about 15 when I started the switch from theater to films. 

GLC: Tell us about your early work on “Midnight Hour.” 

NB: My first role was in the episode “Nightmare at Blood Manor.” I played Patty, the daughter. One of the challenges for me, was that I came onto the cast a week before shooting. So it was definitely a challenge to prepare. But thankfully, “Blood Manor” was the script that was provided for the audition I attended for the show. When I read the character before the audition, I loved her! So, thankfully I had a pretty good idea of the character already and some of the lines still memorized. It was definitely a prayer answered when Lee called me to ask me to fill in. 

GLC: The fans remember that one because of the cheese grater-in-the-face scene. Any special memories for you there? 

NB: I have so many great memories of every shoot I’ve done with Lee. The cast and crew were a blast to work with each time. But, I would say one of my all-time favorite memories would be during the “Night Winds” shoot. Lee and Dave were trying to figure a way to safely have me pull Phil (who played my husband) across the yard. Me being the tom-boy that I am who likes to play it tough, decided to show my Hulk-like-strength by pulling him all by myself! So we shot the scene that way. Thankfully when it was Phil’s turn to have his close up, Lee was helping me pull him. But by the time we got to the barn, I thought I was going to pass out! It was a great time though. I got to enjoy some compliments about my “strength” from the cast and crew for awhile! 

GLC: What shows or films are you working on now or in the near future? 

NB: Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to audition lately, because of school. I’m graduating from nursing school, which hasn’t given me a lot of time for anything but studying! However, I’m looking forward to starting the audition process again, now that I have some time off for summer, and I’ve heard the second year of the program is not as time-consuming as the first. 

GLC: As a veteran of Detroit’s first and only dramatic TV series, what advice do you have for Michigan actors? 

NB: Practice, practice, practice! Acting is no different from any other skill. Even if you’re not working on preparing for an audition or project at the moment; work on lines from movies or TV shows in front of your mirror. Or even better, grab a video camera and hold mock auditions for yourself. 

Look for Natalie Baxter in “Queen Bee” this summer. See the Air Dates page for details. 

Fans of “Lee Martin’s Midnight Hour” have enjoyed a variety of graphic horrors during the macabre show’s first two seasons: Women with melting faces, housekeepers who gouge out their own eyes, chopstick-in-the-face murders and other treats. But what viewers may not realize is that these and other juicy effects come from the fiendish imagination of makeup guru Jason Hiltz, of Howling Mad Studios in Novi, Michigan. 

“I became interested in FX makeup after I saw an FX stage show at Universal Studios in Florida when I was 12. When I saw the gunshot to the head effect, I was sold,” says Jason. “There was a store attached to the stage show that sold Woochie and Cinema Secrets make-up supplies. I spent all my money in there. When I got home I went to the library and checked out every book on makeup they had. Basically, I learned to do FX makeup on my own.” 

As a child possessing the diabolical mind-set of an FX make-up artist, Jason wasted no time putting his new-found skills to practical use. “I used to do things to scare the adults. I’d make them think I was hurt with some kind of wound,” he laughs. As time went by and his expertise grew, Jason’s work became more elaborate. “The first thing I built that people really took notice of was a Halloween set up,” he says. “I made a prop table gag where it appeared that my body was on the table, with my stomach torn open, filled with candy. Kids had to reach into my ‘guts’ to get their treats.” 

Since then, Jason has graduated to working on “Midnight Hour,” where his work fascinates and grosses out thousands of TV viewers. “I prepare for doing the makeup days in advance,” he says. “I pace the shop making sure I have everything I need. When the actor is finally in my chair, I try to prep them by making small talk and keeping things light to put them at ease. Sometimes it blows up in my face though, some actors start talking too much and they won’t hold still!” 

As Jason’s effects have become more elaborate, so have the challenges. “I wouldn’t say that anything about FX is really easy. But it does get simpler to do things as you repeat processes. The hardest thing is waiting for a mold to cure, praying it all comes out good and you won’t need to start over from the beginning.” 

Like all of Michigan’s aspiring talent, Jason has his eye on the future. “My dream project would be to do a zombie film with a good budget. Lots of bullet hits, gut munching and tons of principal zombies with full prosthetics,” he says. “Ultimately, I just want to make FX work pay the bills. I would like to move into a larger shop and start pulling projects with large budgets. I don’t need to be famous or rich, I just want to do what I love. FX is the kind of job you never want to retire from!” 

With talent and drive like his, we don’t see how he can miss. 

Watch for Jason’s gory work in the upcoming “Midnight Hour” episodes, “Harley Returns,” “Bed and Breakfast,” “Daddy’s Little Girl,” “Toby’s Room,” “Queen Bee” and the third season premiere episode, “Prisoner of Love.” 

Visit Jason Hiltz on Facebook. 

In this month’s episode, “Harley Returns,” Michigan-based actor Jeff Kotlarz plays a not-so-helpful child psychiatrist whose prescription is one for disaster. In real life, Jeff is much more sympathetic. We spent a few moments chatting with him about his third appearance on “Midnight Hour.” 

GLC: How did you get bitten by the acting bug? 

Jeff Kotlarz

JK: My older brother took a drama class in school and it looked like fun. I’ve been involved with acting off and on since High School. 

GLC: You’re one of the few actors who have appeared on the show three times since its debut. What kind of characters have you played? 

JK: In the first, I played an indifferent father in an episode called “Nightmare at Blood Manor.” The only challenge was shooting some scenes during bad weather. Other than that, I was lucky to work with some experienced great actors, like Vikki Gasko and Natalie Baxter. We had a good crew and talented cast who came prepared. 

GLC: Tell us about the “bad weather” challenges! 

JK: “Nightmare at Blood Manor” was scheduled to shoot during the winter, and as luck would have it, there was a blizzard while we shot the episode. We filmed an interior car scene with the cast and crew jammed into an SUV that only had two-wheel drive. I was the driver who had the responsibility of keeping everyone alive while delivering my lines. It was a piece of cake! 

GLC: Most of the show’s fans remember you best from your second episode, “Portrait of Jadine.” You dabbled in voodoo in that one, didn’t you? 

JK: Yes, it aired last November, and the special effects in it episode were very good. It was another good experience for me working with a great crew and co-star Melissa Anschutz. 

GLC: Jeff, there’s been a lot of press in Detroit recently about Michigan’s entertainment-industry aspirations. What’s your advice to local talent? 

JK: I would encourage seasoned actors to consider getting involved with “The Midnight Hour.” Lee Martin is a terrific person to be around and he’s always looking for dedicated actors. 

GLC: Any final thoughts for the fans? 

JK: Glad you like the show and thanks for watching! 

Enjoy Jeff’s performance in “Harley Returns” Thursdays at midnight and Saturdays at 10:30pm throughout April, 2010. 

“Midnight Hour” fans may remember an episode from the series’ first season involving a murderous, drunken clown who hacks the face of his employer off with a broken beer bottle—only to restore him to life with the aid of a mysterious carnival fortune teller. 

“Die Laughing” was the episode, and Jamie Wheatley and Lauren Evans were the stars who brought it to life. Now Wheatley returns in a sequel episode entitled, “Mesmerized,” which airs this March. In it, Gus Evans has escaped from a mental institution and is traveling the nightclub circuit with a hypnosis act as “Droxton The Magnificent.” Despite the presence of his glamorous assistant, Wan (Cindy Chu), a former prostitute hiding from a murder wrap herself, success continues to elude this booze-swilling psycho. In “Mesmerized,” Droxton winds up with buckets of blood on his hands. 

“When I saw ‘Die Laughing’ on TV I thought, ‘wow that turned out nice, maybe we can bring the character back,’” says Wheatley. “I love playing Gus/Droxton, regardless of how evil he is. Obviously both are the same person but Droxton represents Gus after he has spent time in a Psych Ward and has become this killer. In the first episode, Gus shows a human side after he kills his first victim. Droxton is numb to those feelings and is consumed with getting what he wants.” 

Fans responded to Wheatley’s performance and a sequel was filmed in December. Currently in post production, early indicators are that Wheatley and “Midnight Hour” both have another hit on their hands. “I really think the dressing room scenes with John Tynan, Jr. and Cindy Chu came out well,” he says. “And I can’t wait to see the scene with myself and the DJ. That scene was added late in the process but it played really well.” 

Although Wheatley’s performance in “Mesmerized” appears effortless, it was actually the result of heavy preparation and contemplation. “I love the character because I’ve known so many people in my life like that…alcohol brought about terrible depression and bitterness in them. The challenge was bringing that to life. I had the advantage of using sense memory from my experience with those people,” he says. 

In “Mesmerized,” the gore factor has been increased, with a very graphic murder and other mayhem vividly portrayed by makeup guru Jason Hiltz, of Howling Mad Studios in Novi. Despite this, the episode stays faithful to the wicked, black comedy of its predecessor, “Die Laughing.” “I don’t ‘play’ comedy,” notes Wheatley. “Comedy comes out of the realistic interpretation of the actor and strong writing by the writer. The dark comedy in these stories comes from Lee Martin and his brilliant writing. My job was to live every moment as the reality we were creating on camera and that’s when the humor comes through.” 

Although unquestionably Wheatley’s show, “Mesmerized” also features great performances by its supporting cast. “Cindy Chu is a popular actress right now around Metro Detroit and I was really happy when she was cast. I knew she would be excellent and she was. I hadn’t worked with Curtis Lee Vest before, but he brought great intensity to his performance. And of course John Tynan, Jr. was perfect as the nightclub manager. He’s like that in real life, too. The kind of guy you’d like to have a drink with and schmooze.” 

Like everyone else, Jamie Wheatley will be watching “Mesmerized” in March with a keen eye. “I’m grateful to have had this opportunity,” he says. “I hope the fans enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed playing it!” 

An aspiring actor in Detroit’s burgeoning entertainment community, Tynan has been hungrily seeking roles in local independent films as well as visiting productions from out of state since retiring from his duties as a full-time policeman. 

Although a relative newcomer to the world of acting, Tynan has learned much in the last couple of years about the business of performing on screen. “It’s not all glamour and fanfare,” he laughs. “There’s a lot of hard work involved. It takes time to study your lines, come up with a character, and be prepared when you arrive on the set for shooting. Kids today think once you get a role on TV or in a movie, you’re done. But there’s a lot more to it.” 

As the jaunty nightclub manager whose panache hides an agenda of his own in the upcoming “Midnight Hour” episode, “Mesmerized,” Tynan shows he has what it takes. “I play this good-time Charlie who is basically the host-wtih-the-most towards everybody, except the nightclub hypnotist. I give him a pretty hard time.” Tynan indeed comes across in the role, displaying a wide range of moods and effectively portraying his character in several memorable scenes. 

One of the lessons Tynan has learned about performing is the value of good co-stars. In “Mesmerized,” he plays most of his scenes with noted character actor Jamie Wheatley. As murderous, drunken mesmerist “Droxton,” Wheatley’s Cagney-esque surliness gave Tynan plenty to work with. “He’s such a powerful actor,” Tynan says. “Very strong. I had my work cut out just keeping up with him!” 

Filmed at Barnstormers in Whitmore Lake, “Mesmerized” provides Tynan with his second supporting role on “Midnight Hour.” Series fans may remember him as the sympathetic father in last summer’s smash hit, “June Bride.” “I’m glad they called me back,” he says. “If you want to get ahead in this business, you have to be there when they need you. And I was.” 

Fans can enjoy John Tynan Jr.’s performance in “Mesmerized” Thursdays at midnight and Saturdays at 10:30pm on select Comcast and WOW! systems throughout March, 2010. See the Air Dates page for details. 

BONUS: Watch the “FanZine” page for interviews with show-stopper Jamie Wheatley and others in the coming weeks. 

Michigan native Jaclyn Wells shines in February’s new episode, “Diary of a Mantis.” As unlucky Anita, Jaclyn vividly portrays one woman’s descent into blood-drenched tragedy. While her fist (but not last, we hope) gig on “Lee Martin’s Midnight Hour” brings Jaclyn to a new audience, she is in fact a veteran of many local productions. 

“I started as a techie in high school drama and my senior year I got involved in monologue forensics,” says Jaclyn. “I took several college classes and did a couple plays, acting and crew. Soon after I got a job on a children’s television show, filming two seasons for PBS and TBN in 75 live performances. In January, 2009, I started taking acting workshops and got involved in several film shorts, doing both acting and crew.” 

Like so many rising stars, Jaclyn credits hard work and the support of family and friends with her success. “My mom has been my biggest supporter my whole life, with my husband backing me since we met…they are my best friends,” she says. “Mom has no problem helping me out and also telling me where I need to improve, she is my sound board and we have a super close bond. My husband, Michael and I do everything we can to help each take on projects and achieve what we each want out of life together.” 

For the engrossing “Diary of a Mantis,” Jaclyn spent months developing her portrayal of “Anita.” Once on set, she relied on the show’s production team for support. “Working on ‘Mantis’ was SOOO much fun,” she laughs. “It was such a comfortable environment and we all got along great, really having fun. Lee Martin was calm, compassionate and encouraging; he gave me a lot of freedom to express how I felt I should be as Anita, and worked with me on character to further along each scene. He is an amazing director AND writer, and is just as intense and intriguing as his scripts. 

Dazzling the crew with their excellent character portrayals, Jaclyn and Vikki Gasko were greeted with a burst of applause from crew members when wrapping their scenes. As Jaclyn remembers, “Vikki Gasko was marvelous to play off of in each scene with her straight forward, no-nonsense charm. She really did give me someone to look up to as Anita and as an actor.” 

As is always the case, locations donated by local homeowners and businesses made all the difference to the shoot. “Eric Tuchelske spent a lot of time preparing his house for us. And the Dawghouse Bar in Clinton Township allowed the production to come in on a Sunday to film. The extras (including John and Ryan Tynan) were all great. We had so much fun laughing and teasing, it was so hard to be ‘offended’ by them!” 

Those who have seen “Diary of a Mantis” all agree that Jaclyn did a terrific job. “I love acting and performing, and when I have a solid grasp on who I am I don’t even see the camera or anything else that isn’t real to my characters world. I don’t feel nervous at all and really enjoying acting,” she says. 

For Jaclyn Wells, the love of acting certainly makes a difference. You can see the “love” yourself Thursdays at midnight and Saturdays at 10:30pm throughout February on select Comcast and WOW! stations. See the Air Dates page for details. 

Fans of Michigan’s first homegrown dramatic TV series have enjoyed a succession of “scream queens” during the show’s first two seasons. One of the newest is Alice Gandee, star of January’s “Curse of Willow Lake.” A veteran of several local independent shorts and features, Alice brings a sharp, natural talent and methodical preparation to her screen performances. 

“I’ve been acting all my life,” she says. “When I was a little girl I would pretend to be the characters from my favorite movies. I even memorized the whole scene when donkey first meets Shrek from the movie ’Shrek.’ I still know it to this day!” A college student by day with an avid interest in photography, Alice attributes her vivid characterizations to hard work and study. “There’s no substitute for repetition and empathy when you’re getting ready to play someone in a film,” she says. “You just have to put your time in. But it shows onscreen, so it’s worth it.” 

As a teenage foster child without a friend in “Willow Lake,” Alice’s character is torn between the sleazy advances of her foster father and telling the truth to her foster mother. “The scenes are really creepy,” she laughs. “You never think of yourself being in that situation. That’s why I played ’Nikki’ as such a strong character. You would need to be strong to deal with that.” 

In the true spirit of thespian camraderie, Alice credits her co-stars in the episode with some great support. “Francesca (Omilian) is a very good actress. When you work with people that are that prepared, it makes things go a lot smoother. Plus, we had a lot of fun between takes. I was actually cracking up with Robert around a bonfire during the last night of the shoot. He is so funny and a great guy.” 

As will happen with top talent, Alice has been invited back by the show’s producers to make additional appearances, most notably in the upcoming second-season finale, “Queen Bee.” “Keep watching,“ she says, “Tell everyone about this great show. The best is yet to come!” 

Melissa Anschutz and Jeff Kotlarz in "Portrait of Jadine"

GLC: Melissa, what kind of a woman is “Jadine?” 

MA: Oh my God…she is totally self-serving. Jadine is a woman who knows what she wants, gets it, and then purges the rest. She’s ruthless! 

GLC: Did you identify with her in any particular way or did she remind you of anyone you know? 

MA: Believe me, I’m nothing like Jadine in real life! But there were moments when I definitely understood her, especially in the sense that I too have been frantic to “fix” something. To be honest, there are a few real-life people that she reminded me of, which really helped me flesh out the character. 

GLC: So what are the key differences between you and Jadine? 

MA: Ha! There are a lot of them. For one thing, I don’t find my husband to be irritating…we’re happily married and fortunately don’t experience situations like the one that got Wallace and Jadine into so much trouble. I think the real problem with Jadine is she had the inability to look beyond herself. I hope I’m not like that! 

GLC: What do you think of people who “can’t let go” of a spouse that is divorcing them? 

MA: Honestly, I feel sorry for them. In the story you have poor Wallace creating all this havoc because he thinks he can hang on to somebody that has moved on. But of course it just never works like that. 

GLC: “Wallace” is pretty vindictive and cruel in the show…how would you handle him in real life? 

MA: With counseling and a good pharmacist!  No, seriously, I most likely would have never married Wallace had I not been in love with him, which was where most of their issues arrived. Jadine was this bitchy gold-digger, totally different from my motives. I would have been more considerate of his love, even if it was misguided. That said, I wouldn’t necessarily have stayed in our loveless marriage. 

GLC: “Wallace” was played by “Midnight Hour” vet Jeff Kotlarz. What was he like as a co-star? 

MA: Wonderful!!! Jeff is an excellent actor, very considerate, and very professional. We played off each other so well, that was one of the pleasures of shooting this. We laughed a lot between takes too, which people would probably find weird…here we’re trying to kill each other on camera, then after we’d sit down with our coffee and crack up. He’s a great guy and I would be honored to work with him again. 

GLC: What was the hardest part of filming the episode? 

MA: Oh my God, the make-up, the make-up! Really, it was extensive. If you watch the show, you’ll see there were actually three different make-ups used, and some of them were incredibly involved. The prosthetics took a very long time to apply, and were difficult to maneuver around—you know, like trying to be expressive with your face while wearing a paper bag over your head. The real torture started with the final makeup. There was some chemical in the latex I was allergic to, and my face and eyes felt like they were on fire. But once it was on, it was on—we had to do the scene—so I hope the fans enjoy it, because a lot of that pain in the end was real! 

GLC: Any message(s) for the fans watching you this weekend and in November on TV? 

MA: Yes, I hope they have a happy and safe Halloween…and a huge “thank you” to them for watching! And be ready to be afraid—the writing in these tales will send shivers up your spine! 

We sat down with Jerry Richart, stills photographer for “Midnight Hour” recently and talked about the path that led him to the show. Here’s what he had to say about the industry and his life as an image-maker: 

GLC: Jerry, how did you get interested in photography? 

JR: My father was a semi-professional photographer so I was in the darkroom as soon as I could stand up and look into the eveloping trays. Photoshop did not exist so you learned how to properly expose, manually burn and dodge the images. I came close to losing my interest when a large screw in flash bulb went off in my hand causing bad burns. 

GLC: What was your first camera outfit like? 

JR: My first true camera was a Speedgraphic. This was the press camera seen in old movies. It used 3 x 4 sheet film that I hand loaded into cassettes. Only two sheets per cassette and you had to flip the cassette to take the second photograph. There was no such thing as “auto-focus” so every shot was manually focused and you hoped that you used the correct f-stop to capture the image as you imagined it. Most of my work was done with medium to large format cameras. 

GLC: Who supported your ambition as a photographer and how did they help you? 

JR: Obviously my father had a great influence over me. He taught me how to light and photograph a subject and how to develop the film and make the final print. Actually, most everyone I came in contact with supported my efforts. Because of my passion for photography the support came very easily. 

GLC: What types of shoots do you typically work on? 

JR: I look for creative opportunities in most any area other than weddings. I shot weddings years ago and have no desire to return to that area of photography. Most recently I have been working on actor theatrical and commercial head shots, publicity shots, movie sets, and events. 

GLC: What are your favorite aspects of being a photographer? 

JR: My favorite aspect is the creativity and seeing people honestly appreciating and enjoying my work. It really is an art. I don’t know that I have a least favorite aspect of photography but I do get frustrated when I see people bragging about mediocre images. There is very little to brag about a photograph taken with a cell phone. 

GLC: What advice do you have for people, especially actors, seeking head shots? 

JR: The head shot is one of the most important tools used in the search for acting roles. There are two basic types of head shots, theatrical and commercial, both requiring slightly different approaches. It’s a good idea to meet with your photographer beforehand and make sure you have a good rapport with them. Shop around, check their portfolios, and don’t assume greater price will mean greater quality. Bring several wardrobe changes to the shoot and update your head shots annually! 

GLC: What are your plans for the future? 

JR: I plan to obtain a BFA or MFA in photography. Two internationally recognized schools have found my portfolio to be more than acceptable for admission. I also intend to continue to focus on the same areas that I currently do and hope to get national recognition. 

GLC: Any advice for aspiring photographers? 

JR: If you don’t have a passion for photography, don’t get into it. Obtain formal training. Learn all of the rules then break them. At first focus on the creativity and not the equipment. I’ve seen some great images taken with midrange cameras. Don’t try to shoot everything—instead, focus on a few areas. All have certain idiosyncrasies. Be prepared to learn a lot about post production work, because the digital area has made everything temporary! Focus on getting it right without relying on post production processes and network, network, network! 

You can see more of Jerry’s work each month on the show’s website and Facebook fan pages, as well as on his own website at distinctiveimage.net.