Midnite Movie Mamacita -- Grinding It Out in AZ

Andrea Beesley-Brown is a cool gal. For the past few years the Kiwi transplant has been entertaining folks out in Phoenix, Arizona with her ongoing Midnite Movie Mamacita's Grindhouse series, showing the trashiest films she can get her meathooks on over at the Chandler Cinemas. Lucky for us, when she learned what we were doing in Big D, she decided to give us a call and a little support in our endeavors, "fighting the good fight," as she might say. We were so impressed, we decided to give her some digital ink and find out what makes this chick tick!

1. What's your full name?

Andrea Lisa Beesley-Brown but that's Midnite Movie Mamacita to you!

2. Where are you from?

Auckland, New Zealand (like Zoe Bell and Sam Neil, woo hoo!)

3. How in the hell did you get mixed up in the twisted world of trash cinema?

I owe it all to late night television in NZ, a girls sleepover and A BOY AND HIS DOG on the tv screen (Don Johnson so HOT!!!). Later fueled by Ant Timpson's INCREDIBLY STRANGE FILM FESTIVAL, a annual festival of the best exploitation for 2 weeks, heaven!! Then a convention and meeting all the Russ Meyer ladies and then it's all down hill from there...hahaha!

4. What does your husband think of your "hobby"?

He is actually very supportive. He doesn't enjoy the films at all (He likes Hal Hartley films, go figure!), but will always help out when needed, if its driving around crazy guests or lugging around 35mm prints, he's done it all.

5. What's the craziest screening you've ever had at the Chandler?

Hmmmm craziest...I think would have been DEBBIE DOES DALLAS in 35mm. We had the cast of DEBBIE DOES DALLAS the musical perform a few numbers, an orgasm contest, a banana blow job contest and a hot dog tossing contest, then the film, all in a nights work!

6. What keeps you going?

The patrons!! I'm blessed to have some very loyal patrons who keep coming back week after week. I've made some awesome friendships through the screenings and can't wait for what the future holds!

7. Do you think Phoenix has an especially strong market for the kind of films you show?

Hmmm not particularly, however I'm trying my hardest to cultivate it. I think that once people see how fun the screenings are that they will become a convert (at least that's what I hope!)

8. What's a movie you haven't shown that you'd love to show at the Chandler?

Ohhh goodness, now this is tricky, there are too many! I am completely obsessed with Fabio Testi, I would love to show WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE? and FOUR OF THE APOCALYPSE. Anything with Meiko Kaji or Reiko Ike would rock my sukeban socks off, but the ultimate would be to find a 35mm print of anything WENG WENG, that would be the jackpot!

9. If push comes to shove what is your favorite movie of all time? (I know this impossible to answer, give me the first movie that comes to mind)

FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL, KILL! (I get asked this question a lot, ha ha)

10. Fulci or Lenzi?

I'm a Fulci girl, through and through!