Edith Match - Creatrix and Storyteller

Can you please introduce yourself, where you are from and what you do.

Edith Match of Memphis, TN. Currently, I'm a one woman show of performance art and educational special effects with a preference for dark fantasy, horror and historical subjects. I like to use the terms Creatrix and Storyteller for what I do.

When did you get started in all the things you do? What came first?

It started with watching Buster Keaton and Lon Chaney as a child. I’d been playing around with 8mm movie cameras since I was about thirteen. But officially, I started in theatre at seventeen-ish and other skills and interests blossomed from there. Performance came first, then writing then everything else.

What is/has been your motivation and inspiration?

Shining light on darkness. As silly as that sounds on the surface, telling the stories of the overlooked, disfigured and different is my biggest motivation.

Your video work is unique and absolutely extraordinary. Can you explain your videos?

Thank you very much! As I mentioned, I began in theatre and many actors there do their own makeup. Makeup was something I'd experimented with since I was very young. So, when I started sharing things online much later, I wanted to try to bring that process of creating and embodying a character to light. Makeup for the sake of just visual appeal (or shock) doesn't interest me. The experience of becoming someone else and creating a reality where they exist, does.

Do you write, produce all your content?

I do it all. Write, produce, film, perform, edit, everything.

What has been your most challenging project?

Of the videos thus far, technically, the Dark Character episode of Jacqueline Ess based on the wonderful short story by Clive Barker. There were a few complicated effects that I was just lucky I was able to pull off. I wanted to do so much more with it but as stated, I'm a one woman show with an out of pocket budget so I have to scale it back once in awhile. For now!

What was your most rewarding?

Honestly, each project is in its own way.

What horror character do you identify with most?

A toss-up between Henry Frankenstein (1931 Frankenstein film version of Victor played by Colin Clive) and Dr. Jekyll (1931 version played by Fredric March) I think a "mad" scientist suits my personal character the most.

What are your future goals?

If I'm lucky, I'll be able to continue telling stories in various mediums. A feature film is the big goal.

What is your definition of horror?

I don't know that I have a true definition but I feel horror allows the opportunity for a visceral realism and drop of pretense missing from other genres. The very lives of the characters are almost always at stake. That’s not to say it's devoid of banality because it's absolutely not, but it can and has explored many parts of society and the human psyche left untouched by its companion subjects like straight dramas, thrillers or action films. Horror is where you can tell the disturbing, beautiful and unsettling truth under the guise of fantasy.

What’s your favorite horror film?

Back to Freddie March with Rouben Mamoulian’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I've never seen a more perfectly crafted film in every way. From Mamoulian’s expressionistic visual style to the astounding transformation effects as well as watching a very jovial and optimistic March slowly descend to emotionally raw and desperate. I can't recommend this film highly enough.

If someone is interested in your work or would like to hire you, how can they find you?

At the moment, either through my YouTube channel (Edith Was Here) or Instagram (edith.was.here)

Thank you for joining us today on the horror tour guide.

Thank you for the opportunity!