If you woke up as a Reviver tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d do?
I should say go base jumping or swim with sharks, as I can heal so fast, but I’d probably go see all my loved ones. You can never have enough time with the people you care the most about.
What advantages did the episodic format bring to Revival compared to adapting it as a feature film?
There is SO much great story in Tim and Mike’s comic series that you can’t tell in two hours. The episodic format allows us to have some horrific fun while also really having those deep character moments I love. Time allows audiences to truly fall in love with our characters and care about them.
How did it feel stepping on set for the first time?
Nervous always. It feels like it’s your first day of school, and it’s filled with all the cool kids. But once you’re there, you realize that everyone’s just as weird and wonderful as you are. I’m always amazed at seeing words on a page become real when actors say them.
Also, Justin Black (Cinematographer) is absolutely brilliant, and watching him and Samir Rehem (Director) work together was like a mini masterclass.
Where did the writers feel the most freedom to diverge from the comic series? Were there guidelines and limitations around this?
Aaron and Luke (the showrunners) came in with ideas on how the season would go, allowing the story to have an open ending so it could go for season after season. The original comic series has an ending, so we had to craft something that allowed us to blow that open.
We also had the creators, Tim and Mike, come in and share their favorite parts so we could ensure they were included. Saying all that, we were really free to pitch anything, which was freeing. We had such a rich world and characters to play with, so we really got to have fun exploring that world. And if we were stuck, we’d go back to the source and see what else we could bring in that we hadn’t yet. It was truly a great writing experience!
Revival blends noir drama, horror and dark satire. How did you approach balancing these elements in your writing and while crafting the season?
And heart! That’s my favorite thing to blend with the horror and the drama. It’s the heart that gives us light in the darkness. By focusing on the heart of the show, it’s easy to bring in the rest. I was always pitching more horror, but in a show like this, the horror isn’t just about blood and broken bones; it’s the horror of humanity. And when you put those elements in at the right moment, right when we’re caring the most about our folks in Wausau, it gives the show the most impact. It’s like knitting a sweater — if there’s too much red, you need to look where to add the blue and yellow so it’s a balanced piece in the end.
What are your fave sci fi & genre series/films/stories? Old favorites and/or things you’re loving lately?
My entry point into genre was watching Star Trek: The Next Generation with my mom. We were always watching something genre-y like Doctor Who, Medium, Quantum Leap, Ghost Whisperer, Twilight Zone. I also used to sneak out of bed late at night and watch late-night creature features (David Cronenberg did scar me a little — ha!) Friends got me into Buffy, which I loved as it was just as much about finding yourself as it was about fighting vampires.
I was also an avid reader, including encyclopedias about ghosts, creatures, and the supernatural. I loved Asimov (especially his short story ‘Rain, Rain, Go Away’), Ray Bradbury, read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Lord of the Rings, and The Sword of Shannara trilogy on repeat.
New loves? Sinners for sure. That’s my kind of horror film. His House and Talk to Me are fantastic. For TV, lately I’ve been loving Ghosts — both the BBC and CBS versions, as well as Not Dead Yet and Extraordinary. I’ll end it there, as my list is so long. Ha!
Is there an episode we should be ready for? Like a mid season twist?
Every episode is a twist! They just keep getting better and better as we go, so hang on to your hats, people, and get ready for a bumpy (and glorious) ride!
Who is your fave Revival character?
This is the hardest question, as I have a love for everyone for different reasons. I love being nerdy with Ibrahim, and nothing can beat the sisterly push and pull of Em and Dana. So much love and pain bond them together, and they remind me of the relationships I have with my own siblings.
Any particularly fun or demented memories from the zoom room? Or other charming anecdotes you’d like to share?
So I’m really good at researching, like REALLY good. No one realized how good until Luke mentioned he was in a band once, but he refused to tell us the name of it. It took me 10 minutes to find the info from a PDF of a local newspaper from a small town in Illinois from like 2007. I just dropped a link to the band’s music in the chat, and I blew everyone’s mind.
A word to the fans?
Tell everyone about the show — word of mouth does matter! And please rate and watch — multiple times on multiple platforms. Play the show in the background when you work, when you make dinner, when you sleep. 24/7 please. And don’t wait until the end of the season to watch it all — we only get a season two if you watch now!
Tell us about Dana and neurodivergence.
When I first read the pilot, I noted, “Does Dana have ADHD?” As someone with ADHD, I could see all the signs, and as she’s a woman in the late 2000s in a small town, I knew she wouldn’t be diagnosed. I was right on the money, and it was an honor to write about my own experiences with ADHD through a character like Dana. We had a lot of open conversations in the room, and everyone was truly heard, which isn’t always the case (so thank you to everyone in the writers’ room!).
When discussing disability, it’s crucial to get it right. We are very front and center with Em’s experiences with her invisible disability, but Dana has her own experience of disability, too. Seeing how she tries so hard but still struggles is a feeling a lot of us have. It’s subtle and real in the show, just as it’s in real life (except in our heads, where it feels too big).
Being neurodiverse often feels like you’re going through the world wearing clothes that don’t fit right. It’s awkward and itchy, but everyone thinks it looks just right, and you’re the only one who knows the difference. I’m glad I got to put that piece of me in Revival.