{"id":40274,"date":"2025-06-26T08:55:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T08:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muse.international\/?p=40274"},"modified":"2025-07-01T03:53:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T03:53:28","slug":"greg-mcdonald-on-the-campy-magic-behind-horrified-b-movie-victims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muse.international\/index\/greg-mcdonald-on-the-campy-magic-behind-horrified-b-movie-victims\/","title":{"rendered":"Greg McDonald on the Campy Magic Behind Horrified B-Movie Victims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greg McDonald sees storytelling as his strongest form of expression, using character, composition, environment, and color to craft cinematic scenes. Inspired by the exaggerated drama of 1950s and \u201960s sci-fi and horror B-movies, his work captures a surreal yet strangely believable world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q1. Congratulations on winning in the MUSE Photography Awards! Can you share a little about yourself, what inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your journey evolved since your first shot?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I take photos because I\u2019m no good at playing the guitar. If I were, I would\u2019ve formed a band a long time ago and driven from gig to gig in my (now sold) black \u201980s cargo van. So, I settled. A camera could be fun, I guess. Photography, for me, is an extension of filmmaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s just another avenue for storytelling. Telling stories is the best way for me to communicate and connect with the world. My aim is to create stories through character, composition, environment, and color\u2014elements I try to incorporate to shape a story in an image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q2. Can you share the story or inspiration behind your award-winning piece? How does winning this award make you feel about your journey in photography?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always been intrigued by the artifice and histrionics of acting styles from low-budget sci-fi and horror B-movies of the 1950s, \u201960s, and earlier. A blonde dame puts her hands up to her head and lets out a primordial scream, shaking her head in a close-up as the giant lizard man approaches her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The non-stop mugging of a grimacing astronaut in a Halloween-grade costume being zapped with a laser by the bug-eyed Martian. The contorted facial acrobatics of the scared scientist as he battles a 2,000-year-old, extinct, dead fish that he accidentally brought back to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is something about being so fake, yet totally believable in an unbelievable way, that I just love. Once, when casting a project, an actor had on his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 \u201cfleeing citizen\u201d as a film credit. I could not have been more impressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I found the set of Horrified B-Movie Victims toy figurines years ago in an odd shop in Burbank, California, I had to buy it. The figurines are crudely made, cheaply painted, and feature big lips and oversized white eyes with black pupils, yet are posed with inspiration\u2014the perfect characters to bring to life and base a photo shoot on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q3. How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It completely depends on the competition. I try to spend a decent amount of time reviewing previous winners and finalists to get an idea of what the judges like. I also thoroughly read all the available information about the competition and carefully explore the website. The key is to submit photos that best fit the contest or exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q4. What first made you pick up a camera?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I came to photography through acting and filmmaking. I was an actor, then wrote and produced a short script. After that, I was hooked on creating work rather than acting in someone else\u2019s project. I loved acting, but creating my own work is a better way for me to connect with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q5. What\u2019s your favorite type of photography, and why do you love it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photography with people \u2014 photography that reveals something about human nature, whether serious or silly \u2014 is what I respond to most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horrified B-Movie Victims<\/a><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Inspired? See who captured the spotlight\u2014explore the 2025 MUSE Photographers and Category Winners of the Year<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greg McDonald sees storytelling as his strongest form of expression, using character, composition, environment, and color to craft cinematic scenes. Inspired by the exaggerated drama of [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":40785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[372,553,463],"tags":[12,17,382],"yoast_head":"\nGreg McDonald on the Campy Magic Behind Horrified B-Movie Victims<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winner interview with Greg McDonald for Horrified B-Movie Victims, the Silver Winner of 2025 MUSE Photography Awards.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/muse.international\/index\/greg-mcdonald-on-the-campy-magic-behind-horrified-b-movie-victims\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Greg McDonald on the Campy Magic Behind Horrified B-Movie Victims\" \/>\n<meta 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