Nightmare Gallery

Ryan Worsley is a Producer, Director and Editor primarily known for her documentary films RAZING THE BAR and HOW RADIO ISN'T DONE, portraits of fringe musicians living the lives they carved out for themselves. However, she is best known for her web series SHIT HAPPENS - first person narratives take the audience on a journey through the moment they shit themselves in public. Disturbance, produced in 2017, is the first of three films Ryan has contributed to The Nightmare Emporium.

Your chosen object (a music globe) plays a very prominent role in Disturbance. Was the entire plot conceived when you chose your object, or had you been wanting to tell a similar story? 

No. Initially I liked how the globe looked, but when I got it in the mail and played the song, I thought it should be the focus. I tried to work out how to make the audio as creepy as possible, and eventually the story just came together. 

How much of the sound design was planned in advance of shooting? 

It was written into the script, so it was almost all planned. 

Where did you find your lead? 

I found Cassie Bell on Mandy.com. I actually found the whole production there. Nobody had met before, and it was a pretty fantastic experience. They were all used to working on strangers’ productions and had some fun horror stories like being paid in haircare products.

What were some of the challenges you faced in production? 

I had never really directed a full production like this before, with a DP, lighting and sound departments. I always just did everything myself very crappily. So it was all a learning experience for me. I was amazed at how well it went. 

How do you feel about the film in hindsight? I understand it won some awards. 

I like it! Cassie won best actress [for x y z , and she deserved it. 

What’s the first movie you remember really scaring you? What’s scared you more recently?

My parents recommended Fatal Attraction to me when I was 11. Afterward they said “that can really happen, you know.” 

More recently,  I watched The Family. That is extremely scary. 

What are you currently working on? 

I’m working on a music video and documentary about Negativland but they’re slow going.