With a string of roles under their belt, including the lead in the short film “How to Tie a Tie” (2021) and a small role in the animated film The Addams Family 2 (2021), Bambi Quinn has turned their attention to life behind the camera as the founder of Meatcam Productions. Fresh off the release of their first short film, “SEEds” (2024), an award-winning botanical body horror, they are now back with a brand-new project, “Better Half”.
Keep reading for our Q&A with Bambi Quinn as they introduce us to their new project, the benefits and challenges of the short-film format, and more!
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in filmmaking?
I went to school for animation, and I even had a storyboarding apprenticeship with DreamWorks, but then, like COVID happened, and uprooted everything I was doing. I wanted to still be able to tell stories without necessarily needing a whole lot of outsourced resources, so I got into writing and filming. I write a lot in my spare time and figured that sending queries in hopes of being represented is great, but I got impatient and needed to be able to see characters I create do stuff real time.
What led you to create your own independent production?
A lot of my friends are fellow actors and want to have more work in the film industry, both on screen and off it. It was a good opportunity to be able to both work with my friends and also gather more experience on a film set and with directing in general. I loved acting when I was doing it regularly, and I miss it, but I also really like directing and making things happen.
I also had a very bad very no good experience with a director on a past project, and I thought I could do better and did.
Meatcam Productions’ last few projects, SEEdS and recently filmed Better Half, have been horror films. What drew you to the horror genre as a vehicle for storytelling?
You can get away with a lot. Most of my favorite films are horror movies, so it only felt natural. I like writing gross stuff, and the only realm where that can happen regularly and still make sense is within horror.
As mentioned, your last short film, SEEdS, came out last year and won five awards. What was that project about, and what inspired it?
SEEdS is about two bad roommates and also resentment. This girl and this guy she grew up with, but doesn’t really remember, get forced to live together, and it’s not a good situation. It’s inspired loosely by just existing with roommates and also hearing stories about bad roommates from my friends.
What were some of the biggest challenges in making SEEdS, especially since it was your first work?
Budgeting for sure. I ended up paying my cast a year after the fact, because I just did not have the money at the time. Everyone was more than understanding, but still, it’s just not a good feeling. I raised money for that shoot as well, but I severely underestimated how much everything would cost. Most of the money I earned went into the location and right back into merchandise for the backers. Also, shooting times vs. scenes is still a challenge for me. But everything felt way smoother recording this go round. I felt like I knew what I was doing.
What was it like seeing the response to your film at festivals and winning awards? Were there any memorable moments?
I got up one morning and saw that we won something, but I thought I just hadn’t fully woken up yet. It was the first festival I had submitted to, and we won for “best gore”, which is insane because we had no budget and a vomit tube. And it was against professionals that had been making short films for years, so it was just really crazy. Any instance of people spending time reviewing and judging something that you’ve put so much work into just feels so good. It’s even better when you win something.
You’re now working on a new project, Better Half. What can you tell us about it?
It’s also about relationships, but in a more intimate romantic way. Most people shouldn’t be dating. It’s also about ghosts.
What’s different this time around in terms of vision, scale, or approach now that you have a film already under your belt?
I definitely feel like I know what I’m doing at least a little bit more? The scale with this one was much smaller, which also helped it feel not as scary. I don’t know why I wanted to make my first movie, one with special effects, big props, and explosive vomit. We had a smaller crew, too, so everything just felt more manageable.
How did the shoot go? What are you most looking forward to your audience experiencing?
It went really well! It was a two-day shoot, and the last day was mostly at night. There was a lot less pressure to get everything done by a certain time. There’s one scene in Better Half that was a one-shot, and it took 12 takes to get right, but it looks so fucking good.
You’re currently crowdfunding for this project. For smaller productions, what does budget allocation look like, and where would you say are the areas of priority for you?
I was better prepared this go round. The big money pit for most of my shoots always ends up being the location. I paid everyone up front this time, so that eliminated one of the issues. The movie’s filmed, everything’s mostly done. Now, I’m mostly raising money to be able to pay for festival distribution (because festival submission fees are CRAZYYY expensive) and a composer– because music is not my strong suit.
Are there any other ways for people to support beyond donating?
Please follow meatcam_ on Instagram! Spread the word! There will be plenty of opportunities to support our films in the future!
At Two Goths and a Coffin, it’s our goal to highlight the talent and the work of people of color and queer folks creating horror. What does it mean for you to be Black and queer, producing art in this genre?
Queer people are the backbone of horror. It feels like I’m honoring my community. And as a Black filmmaker, I want to be able to make the kinds of movies I want to without feeling like I’m pressured to only make a certain type of film. Not to be super cliche, but Ryan Coogler is the blueprint. He is able to make proper commentaries without it feeling forced or manufactured, still, all within the scope of horror. Sinners was probably one of the most profound movie-going experiences that I’ve had in such a long time.
Your last two works have been short films. Do you think there’s something uniquely powerful about short films as a medium?
You can capture people’s attention in such a short span of time. It’s a much easier way to go about making movies without worrying about extended shoot days or big budgets. It’s more accessible.
What do you envision for the future of Meatcam Productions and for yourself as a creator?
I’m working on an animation title card for the logo… pretty excited about that. I want to have a film screened at SXSW, and I want to try to make a short film every year, as long as my wallet allows it. I also would like to help my friends produce and film ideas that they’ve been mulling over.
What advice would you give to other creators who are thinking about making their first short film?
Start doing stuff now. It gets easier after you just start doing stuff. No one needs to know that you don’t know what you’re doing. Lie.
Where can people watch your previous work and support the new film?
SEEdS is currently available on Meatcam’s Vimeo account, and eventually, Better Half will be too. But not till 2026; I’m shooting for Valentine’s Day. Eventually, I would like to put my stuff on YouTube too, but not until I have a backlog.
Current favorite horror film?
Smile 2 is so fucking good. I hated the first Smile, but this was just something so incredibly different. I love the idea of a horror movie from the perspective of someone who is in the public eye…. And from the perspective of her being a drug addict too, it just added so much. It was gas, nonstop from start to finish. Genuinely left the theater a little shaken. Stan Skye Riley.
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For more updates on Quinn and Meatcam Productions, be sure to check them out on Instagram and support their new project on their Kickstarter.
Two Goths and a Coffin 