Caleb Shore on his role as Boone in Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories

Chris Bower was my main connection to this film. We met on a short film set probably four or five years ago. We worked together again about two years ago on a film where I met Johnny Holt and Austin Madding for the first time. When Chris asked me if I’d like to be a part of VOB: HS (Volume of Bloods: Horror Stories) I knew it was going to be a great time. I’m a little ashamed to say it, but I don’t remember if I had to audition for this film!

indieactivity: As lead on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Caleb: It’s funny, I don’t consider myself the lead in ‘Feeding Time’. To me, that was Shelby Taylor Mullins. Her character seemed harder to play and required more of her. I was also there.

Volumes of Blood if now available on Amazon Prime

indieactivity: What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Caleb: I think the most challenging part of the script was making the connection between my character, Boone, and Shelby’s character, Mallory, seem believable. The age gap between Shelby and I wasn’t drastic, but the gap between our characters was a bit more. We also had two characters who were going through some really tough stuff in their personal lives. So to make those two characters connect on any level in the small amount of time they had on screen was probably our biggest endeavor as actors.

indieactivity: You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Caleb: I’m happiest when I’m working. If I’m not working, I’m thinking about the next time I’ll be working. Set life is hell to some, and definitely has its challenges, but that’s where I live. Screen or stage, my natural habitat is on set. That’s ten-fold when I already know some of the people I’m working with.

Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories (Feeding Time), Day 1, Saturday

indieactivity: Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Caleb: Johnny is an easy director to work with because he’s responsive to what’s happening during the scene. My character has a moment of self-realization midway through our story, and I’ll never forget Johnny and Austin trying to keep their reaction under wraps until the scene was over. I know that isn’t exactly giving direction, but sometimes that feedback helps even more.

indieactivity: How did you create your character from ground up?
Caleb: My character wasn’t a difficult one for me to build. Boone was pretty simple once we landed on what his thoughts and intentions were. He’s not as confident in conversation as I am in real life, but his reaction to uncomfortable situations matches up closely with my own.

Sean Blevins on making the anthology Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories

indieactivity: As main cast on the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Where you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes where difficult to shoot?
Caleb: ‘Feeding Time’ had two main characters, Boone and Mallory. When you have a small number of characters, it’s really important to bring the A-game because it’s not like audience has a bunch of other characters to distract them if you don’t bring it. It’s just you. If you slack on your character, what’s the point of playing it?

indieactivity: Explain one creative choice you made on set during production?
Caleb: One creative choice I made in the film was during the scene in which Mallory asks Boone for help. I hate giving spoilers so I won’t get too into it, but Boone makes a very quick move from being unsure what he should do, to being very sure what he should do. His reaction to Mallory’s plea for help is the moment I mentioned earlier with Johnny and Austin. I just put myself in Boone’s shoes and kind of just flew off the handle.

Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories (Feeding Time), Day 1, Saturday

indieactivity: What did you take away from the film production?
Caleb: Boone was my first ‘lead’ character in a feature-length film. So that was a monumental take away for me personally right off the bat. I also, of course, made some really cool new film friends and became closer to some I already had.

indieactivity: What do you like most about the director, and his/her collaboration with his/her team?
Caleb: I mentioned Johnny’s ability to give feedback earlier. Another thing that makes him so easy to work with is that he is understanding of the actors and their process. And he’s not afraid to jump in there and act with you during a rehearsal to help explain his direction.

John William Holt reveals inside of Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories

indieactivity: What is next for you?
Caleb: I branched out onto the stage for the first time in Fall of 2017, and when March 2018 rolls around, I’ll have spent eight months immersing myself in nothing but 3 show’s-worth of theatre. It has been my biggest opportunity for growth as an actor. I’m coming back to the screen at the end of March to shoot a film that I wrote over the last year. I’ve never believed in or been so attached to a story as this one. Here’s hoping we can do it justice.

indieactivity: What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
Caleb: Advice is a funny thing. People ask me for it and I sit there for a moment and think ‘Gosh, I’m not experienced enough to give advice like this! I don’t have any great insight!’. I think the most important thing for an actor is just to be a pro.

Volumes of Blood: Horror Stories (Feeding Time), Day 2, Saturday

Be nice to people, be fun and easy to work with, be accommodating and understanding, don’t get involved in drama going on around you, take the work seriously without taking yourself too seriously, and know when it’s time for jokes and when it’s time to buckle-down and get some real work done. As far as this project goes? I learned to let go of my vanity just a little bit.

When it’s August, it’s over 100 degrees inside and outside of the house you’re shooting in, you’re supposed to look sharp in your shirt and tie but you’re sweating through your clothes like a pig, and you’re constantly lining the inside of your shirt with paper towels to stay ahead of the sweat and you have to change them out every ten minutes? Yeah, that’s when you learn to just be okay rolling with the punches.