A campy horror, mob drama musical featuring the one and only Miss Bouvèé? Count me in. I was lucky enough to sit down with BIG EASY QUEENS director Erynn Dalton and the multi-talented Eric Swanson to discuss how the project came about and how challenging it is to create a film that brings together so many different genres.

Synopsis: After Mob Queen of the Quarter Minnie Bouvèé has arch-nemesis Poodles Makenzie’s crew brutally slaughtered, she braces for the blowback; what she doesn’t expect, however, is to be stalked by a creepy masked figure who leaves behind bouquets of gardenias and terrifying notes. Is this Poodles’ revenge, or the work of Minnie’s estranged sister who stole her man years ago and has suddenly reappeared in her life?

ERYNN DALTON BIO 

Erynn Dalton is a seasoned director for stage and screen who founded Infinite Abyss Productions in Miami, Florida in 2010 where she produced and directed live mixed media original horror productions at her theater. Over the years, Dalton has built a loyal cult following for her grisly live productions, with Infinite Abyss being dubbed by critics and audience as the “modern Grand Guignol”. After directing dozens of live productions, numerous short films and producing two feature films, Dalton made her feature film directorial debut in 2019 with the gothic horror-drama The Gravedigger. The film had its world premiere at Popcorn Frights Film Festival, which was met with critical acclaim and resulted in Dalton and the film being featured in The LA Times, NPR and Sun-Sentinel, as well as genre publications such as Fangoria, Rue Morgue and Bloody Disgusting. The Gravedigger subsequently secured worldwide distribution with Indican Pictures and was released to multiple streaming platforms worldwide October 2022. Dalton directed the outrageously original drag queen “glam horror” feature film Big Easy Queens in Florida with the support of the entire Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale community (communities with a high LGBTQIA population).

MISS BOUVÈÉ BIO

Miss Bouvèé is the drag persona of long-time theatre veteran Eric Swanson (seen in regional professional productions of La Cage Aux Folles, Hairspray, Hair, Simply Gershwin). A New Orleans-born queen, Miss Bouvèé is now a South Florida based full time entertainer where she has produced sold out shows like her annual murder mysteries “Minnie Behind Bars” and “Minnie’s Merry Murder Christmas”. She tours the high seas and US with dear friend and cabaret darling Jennifer McClain as the Boozy Belters (Fire Island, Princess Cruises, Celebrity, Amadeus, and Adventure Bears). They also enjoyed a successful run of their theatrical book show “Double Trouble” in Feb 2022! Miss Bouvèé entertains as a live singing female impersonator routinely performing in South Florida in cities like Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and Key West. 

Orlando Arocena aka “Mexifunk” is one of the most sought-after digital artists in the world. It’s more than likely that the packaging on one of your Blu-ray/4k discs, action figures, or some of the posters from your favorite films are one of his pieces. His art style is unmistakable, as well as incomparable. From working in an entry level position with DC Comics to having his own art on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Orlando is a prime example of what happens when you mix hustling with a bit of fate. See my exclusive interview with the man himself below.

“In life you have to make certain decisions. You have to pace yourself, and if you make a mistake you have to be able to make it work to your favor or you have to accept it and turn the page and start fresh.” – Orlando Arocena

“Sometimes things come very, very easy and you got these fast lanes to go there. You know I get really worried about fast lanes because if there isn’t any really big learning curve…then it’s coming off too, too, too easy. I want some struggle, some mistakes, some mishaps, some failure, some learning. Thats a really great process for life and for business.” – Orlando Arocena

Carlos Santos is an Actor/Comedian based out of Los Angeles. He is best known for playing Chris Morales on the Netflix original series, Gentefied. He’s also been featured on Vacation Friends (20th Century), “The Valet” (HULU), and the Prime Video series “Undone”. Carlos and the members of the improv group “Spanish Aqui Presents”, host a monthly all-latine comedy variety show at The Paramount in Boyle Heights. He also tours the country doing stand-up comedy. Carlos just wrapped on the first season of “Primo”.

Primo follows a San Antonio teenager balancing college aspirations, societal expectations and a hectic home life anchored by his single mom and five uncles. Based on the life of creator Shea Serrano.