When we last put the spotlight on 100 creative forces in Phoenix, it was no secret there were more than 100 individuals who were making waves in the local arts community. So as we count down to our annual Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome (back) to 100 Creatives.
Andrea Beesley hails from a land Down Under (New Zealand), but she's lived in the Valley for 11 years. She's a film enthusiast and is most known for hosting and programming film events in the Valley under the name Midnite Movie Mamacita.
Her latest project is managing and creating The Dr. Diabolic Show with her fiancé Jeremiah Wilkerson. When not on screen and stage as Nurse Narcotica (taking a break from that role to take care of our newborn son), She's coordinating live events, including a Variety Show at the Phoenix Art Museum and a Live Show at FilmBar.
I came to Phoenix with ... a High School Foreign Exchange Program, where I attended Mesa High for a semester in 1997. I then returned to the Valley in 2000 to reconnect with friends and have been here pretty much since.
I make art because ... I love b-movies; they are my favorite form of art. I wanted to share that love with others, so I created Midnite Movie Mamacita and now The Dr. Diabolic Show (with Jeremiah). I'm compelled to do something creative and doing these projects, I satisfy that urge and simultaneously get to share my passion with others. Being able to entertain and connect the community through live events and film is truly rewarding.
I'm most productive when ... It's morning and our son is napping. Getting stuff done in between naps and feeding is a new reality, but totally worth it. Also it helps to have an 80s slasher film playing on the telly, I'm on a Summer Camp Horror flick-kick right now...
See also: Andrea Beesley's Six Films Pregnant Women Should Never, Ever Watch
My inspiration wall is full of ... lobby cards, photos and posters from my favorite films, photos of friends, concert tickets, physical reminders of awesome experiences and memories. I love collecting film memorabilia so I always deck out my work space with as many collectibles as possible.
I've learned the most from ... amazing mentors that I've had along the way. Jason Carney who is the Executive Director of the Phoenix Film Foundation, we have worked together for the past 5 years doing the International Horror & Sci Fi Film Festival and Phoenix Film Festival. And Joe Boudrie from the Phoenix Comicon, they both taught me how to take a creative vision and turn it in to an organized and successful event. I've also had a lot of trial and error over the years and listening to feedback from patrons has always been priceless.
See also: Midnite Movie Mamacita, aka Andrea Beesley-Brown, Leaves Madcap Theatres To Create Own Cinema House
Good work should always ... be entertaining. Help people escape reality for a minute and let them experience something other than the daily grind. Make people feel good and engage the community.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more ... Support from the general public. There are so many amazing, creative and hard working people out there really trying to make a difference in the cultural landscape of our City. People need to support independents and shop local. Forget the multiplexes and chains, get out there and support your neighbors. Volunteer and actively participate in the community!
The Creatives, so far ... (And while you're here, check out 100 Tastemakers on Chow Bella.)
100:Lara Plecas 99. Isaac Caruso 98. Brandon Gore 97. Kelsey Dake 96. Hector Ruiz 95. Caroline Battle 94: Jennifer Campbell 93. Jeff Chabot 92. Tiffiney Yazzie 91. Daniel Germani 90. Irma Sanchez 89. Daniel m. Davis 88. Kirstin Van Cleef 87. Emmett Potter 86. Sarah Hurwitz 85. Christine Cassano 84. Fred Tieken 83. Lindsay Kinkade 82. Ruben Galicia 81. Robert Uribe 80. Heidi Abrahamson 79. Josephine Davis 78. Travis Ladue 77. Taz Loomans 76. Mikey Jackson 75. Alex Empty 74. Joe Ray 73. Carol Roque 72. Daniel Funkhouser 71. Carla Chavarria 70. Hugo Medina 69. Cavin Costello 68. Claire Carter 67. Lindsay Tingstrom 66. Catherine Ruane 65. Christopher Crosby 64. Aaron Johnson 63. Brenda Eden 62. Colton Brock 61. Ernesto Moncada 60. Benjamin Phillips 59. Brad Armstrong 58. Angela Hardison 57. Tyler Quinn 56. Andrew James Benson 55. Charles Anthony Darr 54: Tiffe Fermaint 53. Eric Cox 52. Victor Vasquez 51. John Randall Nelson 50. Lauren Lee 49. Kyle Jordre 48. Julie C. Kent 47. Sean Deckert 46. Niba DelCastillo 45. Joseph Benesh 44. Ashley Harder 43. Dan Vermillion 42. Daniel Shepherd 41. James B. Hunt 40. Lori Fenn 39. Seth Gideon Fainkujen 38. Wayne Rainey 37. Christian Filardo 36. Melissa Cody 35. Jason Rudolph Peña 34. Cindy Iverson 33. Ryan Gentry 32. Sebastien Millon