Andy Gates’ breakthrough was in the film The Cleaning Lady (2005) and his big stage debut was back in 1990 at ACT’s annual favorite ‘A Christmas Carol’. Since then he’s made a living from playing the ‘everyman’ in numerous films and television series, with his latest film The Blessed Ones – out now on VOD and DVD via Wild Eye Releasing – currently racking up good reviews.
The Blessed Ones is about a doomsday cult that prepares for the apocalypse by organizing a mass suicide in their remote desert compound, while two dissenters attempt to escape across the wasteland.
indieactivity: When did your film career kick off, Andy?
Andy Gates (AG): It’s an ongoing process! My first feature film was in 2002, lots of student films and some shorts before that.
Since your beginnings, who have you enjoyed working with the most?
Andy Gates (AG): I’m impressed with so many actors that I have the good fortune of working with regularly, some of whom I’d been watching on and off for years like Lance Henricksen and others are the too many to name lunch pail carrying thespians that are inspiring because they are inspired, and it makes me want to raise my game when I am lucky enough to get to play with such actors. Cerris Morgan-Moyer comes to mind as someone I’ve worked with recently that blew me away.
When did the journey on “The Blessed Ones” begin?
Andy Gates (AG): My creative and producing partner, Patrick O’Bell – also the film’s director – showed me a documentary about the heaven’s gate cult from 1998 that detailed the personalities of its leaders and chronicled their beliefs and ultimate demise – it is fascinating stuff, and it got us thinking about that as a backdrop for a thriller centered around escapees of a similar and fictional cult. At the time we were struggling with financing a horror movie we had hoped to shoot (and still do!) so we pivoted to this which we felt we could make for a lot cheaper.
How would you describe the tone?
Andy Gates (AG): The tone is very moody and psychedelic to represent the descent into madness of some of the main characters. It also has a meandering quality, in a good way I think, that represents the fact that he (Spencer, my character) is literally and figuratively lost for much of the movie. I’ve always said that this is a movie that I would love for David Lynch to see as I think that he’d appreciate what we’re trying to achieve – so if anyone out there knows him please feel free to forward it along!
Tell us about working with Patrick O’Bell on this one?
Andy Gates (AG): He was a tyrant! Seriously, he is very collaborative and actor friendly. I haven’t met many people that are more open to ideas than he is. He also is quite mild mannered and has the patience of a saint. He’s a very generous director.
