Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing talented actor, writer, and director Josh Stewart. You might recognize Stewart from one his many roles such as ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, ‘The Walking Dead’ web series, 2012’s ‘The Collection’, ‘The Neighbor‘, 2016’s true life inspired action-thriller ‘The Finest Hours’ and the upcoming film ‘Insidious: Chapter 4‘.
The kickstarter campaign has just begun on Stewart’s current project, a film he wrote, titled ‘Back Fork’. While the film is not a true horror film, it does cover subject matter that is truly horrifying, the epidemic of prescription drug addiction. Stewart wants to raise awareness of the addiction that is destroying lives all over the U.S. and affects over 15 million people a year. But I will let him tell you more.
Horror Fuel: “Fans will soon be able to see you in Insidious: Chapter 4. Is there anything that you can tell us about your character?”
JS: “hahaha Nah, we’re on lockdown about Insidious. Come October everyone will know everything they want to know…it’s coming. Get ready.”
Horror Fuel: “You fought a killer in The Collection, what was that like?”
JS: “haha. Well, fighting the Collector definitely took a toll on me over the span of two films. That dude just won’t go away. If we ever get to make the third, I’m going to have to fight dirty I think. It’s time to get personal.”
Horror Fuel: “Speaking of killers, you are trying to draw attention to the prescription addiction epidemic. What drives you to want to address this problem?”
JS: “To be honest, it’s something that’s been spinning in my head for quite some time. It’s a plague right now in our communities and the timing is finally right. It’s a subject that needs some artistic light thrown on it and now’s the time.”
Horror Fuel: “Your film Back Fork explores the addiction of your two main characters. Can you tell us about the story?”
JS: “BACK FORK is about a man struggling to hold his life together after a heartbreaking tragedy in Appalachia. With his inability to heal, It’s only a matter of time that he chooses to numb his pain with pills. Soon he’s at a crossroads. It’s only then he’s able to see that we’re all wounded animals, that none of us are perfect. Sometimes we die, but sometimes, if we stand up and fight and fight a little more, we can live.”
Horror Fuel: “You will also be starring in the film. Can you give us insight into your character Waylon?”
JS: “Waylon is just an everyman that got dealt a heavy dose of life. He’s just doing the best he can trying to navigate the waters. That’s all we can ever do. It just gets the best of him for a bit until he can see.”
Horror Fuel: “A.J. Cook will be co-starring, who will she be playing?
JS: “AJ will be playing my wife Nida. AJ is an amazing soul and will bring so much to this story.”
Horror Fuel: “Where did the title come from? It’s is something I have never heard before, what does it represent?”
JS: “BACK FORK is actually the name of a river in West Virginia. One of my favorite places. It takes me back to so many good memories. I think that’s what Waylon is trying to do, is get back to that place. So, it seemed fitting.”
Horror Fuel: “Your Kickstarter campaign is now live, tell our readers why it is so important for a film like Back Fork to be made.
JS: “Art has been used forever to accentuate beauty, bring an awareness, to promote social change. I hope with this film, it can help shine a light on this growing epidemic that is making entire towns absolutely sick.”
Horror Fuel: “If you could sit down with each viewer and tell them about addiction what would you say?”
JS: “I’ve never gone down that road of addiction. I know some who have. I think more than anything, it’s just keeping the subject at the forefront of our conversation. The more it’s talked about, the less dirty it becomes in helping people and trying to solve the issue at hand.”
Be sure to visit Josh Stewart’s Kickstarter page for more on ‘Back Fork’ or to grab a great perk. See Stewart in action in ‘Insidious: Chapter 4’ in theaters October 20, 2017.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction please seek help or ask them to. You can call 1-844-243-9770 or 1866-684-6303 for free confidential help and advice 24/7.