Clayton (Timothy Granaderos) is an aspiring actor looking for a role as a demonologist. donald (Emile Hirsch) is a more experienced actor, has done commercial work and a few other projects, and is also up for the part. To gain a competitive edge, Clayton hires a real-life demonologist named Eliza (Radha Mitchell) to help him do his research. What begins as a basic introduction to the world of demonology soon degenerates into dark rituals that force Clayton to face his past and present demons.
“I definitely thought it would be a fun experience to play this kind of mean actor, this actor who’s like the king of the audition rooms…or who might get more roles than others, but he’s still a pretty little actor He’s not a great actor, but he has his own little street, and he acts like a bully in it,” Hirsch noted of what drew him to his role.
Prior to his role in Devil’s workshopHirsch can be recognized for a number of outstanding projects, including: Into the Wild, The Girl Next Door, The Darkest Hourand much more.
“I had to do surprisingly little research,” he continued, “I’ve been an actor for most of my life now. So I’ve met all kinds of actors you can think of, and I didn’t base the character on a particular person, I just subconsciously thought, ‘Okay, what are the least attractive traits I can think of,’ and put them all in this guy.”
Also in the cast of Devil’s workshop are Sarah Coffey, Brooke Ramirez and Chris von Hoffmann, who was also the writer and director.
Emile Hirsch in Devil’s Workshop
Devil’s workshop does a great job of balancing the horror genre in comedy moments that act as commentary or satire on the movie industry, but at the same time doesn’t shy away from serious themes like mother-son relationships or the demonology at play.
“I think it’s just funny to see the acting world broadcast mixed with horror as an actor. As an actor, it’s funny to watch a horror movie about an actor who wants to prepare for his recall so well that he consults a real-life demonologist who gets connections with the devil. There’s a little bit of dark satire in it that I found quite fascinating,” Hirsch said.
Hirsch’s character Donald also brings elements of satire into the film, especially in scenes where he is brutally honest with his acting coach and asks him to contact his agent, when he is hyper-competitive with other actors, or at times when his own behavior is directed at him as he intensifies his preparation with his friends.
“Personally I’m not like that. I want everyone to have a good time and enjoy their experience. I’ve never been an actor who tries to make someone feel really uncomfortable in a scene. I feel uncomfortable when I think someone is uncomfortable. I get angry and don’t like that feeling. And in those scenes, I think we thought it was so ridiculous that this actor would put on this impromptu exorcism with these girls while they’re taking drugs and drinking and actually partying… this character Donald takes it to such an inappropriate degree, the things that he says to these women, and there are some surprises at the end of those sequences that are very humorous and a little bit satisfying, with this character pontificate and invasive, to turn the tables against him,” Hirsch said.
Emile Hirsch on working with director Chris von Hoffmann
Hoffmann noted in an earlier interview that: Devil’s workshop was a way for him to return to his roots and wish it was a “love letter to creatives.”
“Chris is a very intelligent and methodical director. It’s great because he also wrote the script. So he had such ease with the material and a vision. He really knew what he wanted, and sometimes when you shoot a movie on a smaller budget you don’t have a lot of time to do a lot of takes. It was cool working with Chris because you really get the feeling that he’s not just moving on, he’s going to do those extra two or three takes to really get the perfect moment,” said Hirsch.
As for the collaboration that happened on set, Hirsch said of course he likes to arrive on set prepared, “and then while I’m shooting with Tim, and with Sarah and Brooke, as we rehearse, do you find the moments that really work, if I see an entry point for an extra like or something I’ll try it out in rehearsal, and then if Chris wanted it he’d say ‘Yeah, keep that’ or ‘lose that “. I just let him pick and choose. I’m trying to serve the director. That’s my ultimate goal… to find something that works, that you all like.”
Devil’s workshop comes to us from Lionsgate and will be shown in select theaters from September 30, 2022. Later, the release on Blu-ray and DVD will be on November 8.