Biografia
Deborah Voorhees is the driving force behind her production company, Voorhees Films, which produced her latest movie, 13 Fanboy. The film was released on October 22, 2021, in select theaters and on major VOD, InDemand, and Pay-Per-View platforms. Brian Steward of Fantasm Presents describes the film as a suspenseful thriller directed by Voorhees that follows the real-life cast of Friday the 13th and other horror legends as they are hunted and brutally murdered by a maniac obsessed with them and their movies. The film combines classic slasher gore with a smart, relevant story exploring the psychology of stalking.
In 2015, Voorhees' screenplay Genevieve was officially selected for the Beverly Hills Film Festival. Her short film and music video, Hip Hop Hamlet, was chosen for Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare Film Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and screened in 2016 at the Elsinore Shakespeare Conference in Denmark, alongside her short film Othello: Good Night My Sweet. In 2014, Voorhees released her first feature-length film, Billy Shakespeare, which imagines what would happen if William Shakespeare never existed until today. The story involves a modern bard caught in a love triangle of confused sexuality, cross-dressing, mistaken identity, and romantic escapades. The film earned the Bardie Award from The Shakespeare Standard and has been compared to the indie hit Waiting for Guffman. It is available on Amazon and IndieReign.com. Voorhees wrote, directed, and produced the film through Voorhees Films (VoorheesFilms.com).
Billy Shakespeare has received numerous glowing reviews. Ellen Dostal of Broadway World calls it "a spicy indie film" full of quirky characters, awkward situations, and deadpan humor reminiscent of Waiting for Guffman, creating a madcap world where young Billy struggles to succeed. Robert Kirchgassner of The Examiner describes it as a "hilarious campy romp." Italian critic Germana Maciocci from The Shakespeare Standard says it is a must-see for Shakespeare enthusiasts. Broadway playwright Arje Shaw, creator of The Sonnet Man Hip Hop Shakespeare Fusion, praises it as unique and "out of the box." Film critic Michael H. Price highlights Jason D. Johnson’s emotionally complex portrayal of Billy, blending rambunctious and bittersweet comedy. Fan Sharon Stewart predicts it will become a cult classic like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Voorhees recently finished editing Catching Up, a dark comedy she directed based on a play by New York playwright Tom Sime, with score by award-winning composer Tamer Ciray. The film centers on a socialite obsessed with an ex-con’s past.
Voorhees began her writing career in 1990 at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Over 16 years as a journalist, primarily with The Dallas Morning News, she covered diverse stories including a mother on death row for killing her abusive husband, a schizophrenic folk artist at Austin State Hospital, the fall of communism through a Russian immigrant’s perspective, Texas rancher Nan West’s unique lifestyle, an illegal horseback journey through Mexico’s Badlands, and African-American muralist John Biggers’ challenges in the predominantly white art world.
In addition to indie films and music videos, Voorhees films live concerts, theater, and dance productions. Before focusing on directing and screenwriting, she acted in Hollywood projects such as Paramount’s Friday the 13th, Part V, CBS’s Dallas, NBC’s Riptide, the daytime soap Days of Our Lives, and others.
Voorhees has taught Acting for Film at Eastern New Mexico University, as well as British Literature and journalism courses in Texas and New Mexico. Her journalism credits include The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Front Desk magazine, Modern Luxury magazine, and The Shakespeare Standard. More information about Deborah Voorhees and Voorhees Films can be found at VoorheesFilms.com.
