Ashlynn Yennie is known for her role in the film “The Human Centipede”. She is currently reprising her role this month in the follow-up “The Human Centipede II”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ashlynn about working on the sequel and what we can expect.
Mike Gencarelli: Can you tell us about your involvement in “The Human Centipede II”
Ashlynn Yennie: We shot the first film in 2008 and in January of 2010, I moved to Los Angeles. IFC had picked up the film and was going to release it in April. Everyone who has seen the first movie knows my character Jenny dies in the first film. I never thought I would be back for the second. I got an email from Tom Six and the film’s writer telling me that he would like to talk with me. When we talked Tom laid out the entire second film for me and I totally wanted to do the film. I wasn’t allowed to talk about my involvement in the film whatsoever. I couldn’t even tell my agent at the time as to why I was going to London. I flew over to London at the end of the summer and worked on my part for a few weeks. Everything has been super secret and I still can’t tell anyone what my part in the film is.
MG: How was it working with Tom Six for the second time now?
AY: Working with Tom wasn’t much different from the first time he and I worked together. When you are working with Tom he is always right there with you. Even when I was in the centipede he was right there giving me notes and encouragement. He is very hands on. I think Tom knows that as actors and actresses we are devoting ourselves to making his film come true and he is going to make sure we give our best performance. Working on part 2 though was completely different. The first film was very clean and had a lot medical type things going on. The second film is completely the opposite as the warehouse we were shooting in was very wet and dirty. It looked like a swamp in there. The film looks really amazing though.
MG: What are your feelings on the film already being banned in the UK due to its content?
AY: I can’t say I wasn’t shocked. Tom has a plan for everything he does and after the first film came out people were saying it wasn’t gory enough and that you didn’t see enough. I tell people they asked for what they will see in the second film. I don’t know if people realized what they asked for.
MG: After working on the first film did you have any doubts about the film?
AY: That film was a great European film to shoot. We had no idea what was going to happen with it. I remember when they told us what the name of the film was going to be we were all a little taken back. We sort of teased Tom about the title for quite sometime while we were shooting. I don’t generally watch a lot of horror films as I am a bit of a scaredy cat. When “The Human Centipede” came out and it was embraced by the horror fans and it became just so big mainly because of the internet. The trailer for the film just went everywhere. I think “Human Centipede” is the most not watched film as most people I meet tell me they have watched just the trailer. They seem to have these preconceived notions as to what the film is about. The first film really held back a lot. The second one is in your face.
MG: How has working on the second film compared to working on the first film?
AY: I became very close with Ashley and Akihiro during shooting and for Ashley and me that was my first film. We all became recognizable from this film and to move up the chain link with people you are friends is great. The second film I got a whole new batch of actresses to fall in love with. The girls in this movie are incredible women and very beautiful. Both sets were completely opposite but both had a real family feel.
MG: Do you any other upcoming projects?
AY: Right now I am pretty busy promoting “The Human Centipede II”. I do go on auditions like crazy though as I am still an actress trying to make it in Los Angeles.
