Meet Jennifer Nangle of Malvolia: the Queen of Screams in Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Nangle.

Jennifer, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up doing community theater at age ten. I’d do anything to perform. Any audition I could attend, I would. When it came to college, I didn’t want to go. I wanted to move to New York City and audition, but having parents as educators, that was not in the cards. So, if I had to go, I wanted to major in theater. I attended Niagara University in Lewiston, NY and graduated with a B.F.A. in theater studies. After doing theater in the Buffalo area, I moved to Los Angeles (far, far away from the snow) and studied the Meisner technique with Laura Henry. Once I finished the two-year program, I thought, “This is it! Here we go!” But, that’s not how it went. I could barely get auditions, I couldn’t get an agent to sign me… This was the Hollywood dream? I acted and produced in a couple of stage shows in North Hollywood until the term “self-producing” came into my life. The web is a very powerful place. You can tell any story you want to and make it however you want to. So, I helped produced and acted in a ten-episode web series called “GUIDES”. Through that project, I learned what filmmaking was about, I mean, I had no idea since I spent my life on the stage. Little by little I started to write and then dabbled in editing. Finally, I knew I had the power since I knew how to do, maybe not insanely well, but every aspect of filmmaking and went running trying to create every project and do everything that I wanted to do. Some have been successful and some weren’t, but I never, ever said, “I can’t…” or “What if…”

Being a female in the industry, I feel like you have to prove yourself a little more. I wanted to be apart of this female film series that had a lead female but all male directors attached. I wrote a creative idea for the film series, but, even though it was declined by the creator, one of the producers said that I had something and to go further with it. So, I did. Not being under the film’s restriction, I could do whatever I want. I stumbled upon Horror Hosting and thought I could write a killer feature film based off a character like that, but first, I needed to make her real. I was going to make a web series, build up a fan base, film the feature, and then be done. On January 1, 2017, I released my first image of Malvolia: the Queen of Screams and, instead of the hate I anticipated, I was welcome with so much support, love, and empowerment. People were embracing a strong female character!!! Ever since then, I’ve been running with her! Besides hosting horror short films for indie filmmakers on my YouTube channel, we film short films with the character as well since I am an actress at heart. Playing this character has opened so many doors for me in the horror genre where I’ve hosted a film festival and horror features such as the horror anthology “10/31” and am being brought back for “10/31 Part II”! I’m not sure where Malvolia is going to go, but it has really showed people a different side of me than they ever expected.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think the life of an artist is ever smooth. So much rejection, so much judgment, so many empty promises… But I feel that is what drives someone to do it more. I feel like if it was just handed to me, I wouldn’t have that hunger that drives me. Money is always an issue… There are some months I barely make my rent. I’ve missed out on opportunities because I couldn’t find coverage at work. Sometimes when you get passed over by the same actresses over and over again, you start to take things personally. However, over the past year, I’ve learned that everything happens for a reason. And you can’t compare yourself to others, why they’ve made it and you haven’t. We are all on our own paths, learning, growing, and becoming strong on our own.

Please tell us about Malvolia: the Queen of Screams.
I’m an actress, but I also write, produce, edit, and sometimes direct. I like to focus on female-driven stories that showcase women in many different scenarios that people wouldn’t expect. I also love twisted endings. I focus on the horror genre because you can really push the limits with horror. There are no guidelines – anything is possible! I’m most proud of my horror hosting character Malvolia: the Queen of Screams because I was able to showcase a different side of myself that helped make a name for myself. Also, it has helped me meet more people and network more with filmmakers and support them. After making many short films myself and having their run in the film festival circuit, they kind of die off. Here, I host short films and hope to showcase these films to a bigger audience and help the filmmaker to get different eyes on their creations.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Maybe have the courage to do all this sooner. To stop waiting for someone to allow me to do it and realize that I had the strength all along to go at it alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.youtube.com/c/malvoliathequeenofscreams
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/queenmalvolia
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/queenmalvolia
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/queenmalvolia

Image Credit:
G113 Photography

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