Today, I'm very psyched to speak with Ryan Turek, the VP of Development at Blumhouse and Producer across many titles including Imaginary, Night Swim, The Exorcist: Believer, M3GAN, The Black Phone, Halloween, Halloween Ends, Halloween Kills, Freaky, Happy Death Day and the list goes on.

In this episode, Ryan gets into his very compelling origin story from horror journalism to becoming a very pivotal figure who's shaping contemporary horror cinema.

Ryan also dives deep into the lesser known sides of producing as well as Blumhouse’s process for developing projects and nurturing directors. And we touch on Blumhouse's very exciting Halfway to Halloween Film Festival, a 5-day screening series beginning this Friday, learn more here: www.amctheatres.com/events/halfway-to-halloween

Ryan is someone I've wanted to get on the show for a while and I really enjoyed this conversation. His story is a real testament to the power of persistence and passion, as well as the importance of remaining true to yourself which are hallmarks of Ryan's career that have led him to one of the most important and coolest jobs in horror today.

Here are some key takeaways from this conversation with Ryan Turek.

Passion and persistence. Ryan emphasized the importance of his persistence and staying true to his passion for horror and even though he didn’t always know exactly which path to pursue at all times, he kept a foot in horror throughout his career which ultimately paid off in a huge way. His transition from horror journalism to film development showcases how diverse experiences can converge into a unique and powerful career path.

Empathy is an underrated producer skill. When it comes to producing, Ryan stresses the need for empathy and listening. Film sets can be a high-stress environment, rife with a lot of people, egos and endless potential for chaos. With so many volatile variables on set, being able to listen and have empathy ensures people feel heard which makes everything go smoother. It sounds simplistic because it is, but the tenets of psychology apply to producing more than most other professions.

Be a confidante. Ryan mentions that people often cite him as a calm and cool confidante who can help navigate them through day to day on-set difficulties with comfort. This is a very important skill to develop as a producer though not everyone is capable of it so if you’re not, it’s advantageous to have someone like this around because amid the chaos, someone capable of emotionally stabilizing people can stabilize the entire set. This all underscores how critical interpersonal skills are in managing production teams and bringing out the best in people and projects.

Don’t forget to check out Blumhouse’s Halfway to Halloween Film Festival beginning this Friday March 29th at AMC theaters across America. Check out the link in the show notes or visit www.amctheatres.com/events/halfway-to-halloween

SHOW NOTES

Blumhouse’s Halfway to Halloween Film Festival beginning this Friday March 29th at AMC theaters across America: www.amctheatres.com/events/halfway-to-halloween

Follow Ryan:

• X: @_RyanTurek - https://twitter.com/_ryanturek?lang=en
• Instagram: @Ryturek - https://www.instagram.com/ryturek/?hl=en

Movies:

• Sinister
• The Purge
• Ouija: Origin of Evil
• Insidious
• The Invisible Man
• Aliens
• Halloween
• Get Out
• Five Nights at Freddy's
• Wolfman

TV Shows:

• Fall of the House of Usher
• The Haunting of Hill House