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Jamie Bernadette On Her Paranormal Investigations Role, Recalls Starring In I Spit on Your Grave Sequel
Image Credit: Rayollight Productions
The 411 Interview: Jamie Bernadette
Jamie Bernadette is an actor, writer, director, and producer that has been working in movies and TV, according to her IMDb page, since at least 2007. Bernadette has appears in such TV shows as Tell Me You Love Me (2007), 1000 Ways to Die (2011), The Neighbors (2014), NCIS: New Orleans (2017), and Midnight, Texas (2018), and such movies as Nightstalker (2009), Reel Evil (2012), The Bunnyman Massacre (2014), Face of Evil (2016), 4/20 Massacre (2018), I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà vu (2019), Jurassic Domination (2022), and Cold Blows the Wind (2024), among others. Bernadette’s latest movie is the horror-comedy Paranormal Investigations, written and directed by Raymond Wallace. In this interview, Bernadette talks with this writer about making Paranormal Investigations, working with the director and cast, whether or not the house that appears in the movie is scary in real life, and more.
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Bryan Kristopowitz: How did you get involved with Paranormal Investigations?
Jamie Bernadette: Writer/director Raymond Wallace had seen a lot of my movies and he offered me the role.
BK: How did you approach your character Kelsey?
JB: I had seen paranormal TV shows before so I was familiar with these types of shows, so that helped. I had also directed a feature film before so that helped me play a director in the movie as well. And I, like most people, have been through a difficult relationship in the past, so I was able to draw on that since Kelsey was going through a very trying time with her husband, Matt, in the movie. I had also gone into an abandoned psychiatric facility with some friends in high school and we freaked ourselves out, so I could use that, too. I connected to Kelsey right away and had a lot in common with her.
BK: Describe your working relationship with Paranormal Investigations director Raymond Wallace.
JB: Raymond and I get along great. He is very easy-going and as an actor, you feel very comfortable working around him, which I think is very important to bring out the best performances. He knew exactly what he wanted and he put together a meticulously thought-out movie. Because he was so prepared and certain in his choices, filming was smooth and fast.
BK: What was it like working with your fellow Paranormal Investigations cast members?
JB: We had a blast! Everyone got along and there were a lot of laughs and telling scary stories on set.
BK: Was the abandoned house location that we see throughout Paranormal Investigations as creepy in real life as it appears in the movie?
JB: Absolutely. There were even some who experienced real-life paranormal activity while in the house. It definitely felt like you were thrown back in time while in that house because of the house being so old. It makes you wonder about the people who lived there and if some of them were still hanging around.
BK: What was the hardest part of making Paranormal Investigations for you as an actor? What was the easiest?
JB: I think just normal things that would be hard for anyone such as late nights and cold weather. This is often very typical of horror films and something I’ve gotten used to since I’ve done so many. The easiest part was being so well taken care of by Raymond and the crew and staying in such a beautiful part of our country—Virginia.
BK: What is your favorite scene in Paranormal Investigations?
JB: Definitely the scene when actor Logan Stem, who plays Steve, really hams it up on camera for our paranormal TV show and I get on him for over-acting. Logan is so funny in that scene. He performed that perfectly.
BK: According to IMDb, you’ve worked in a number of horror genre projects in your career. Are you a fan in general of the horror genre?
JB: Yes, and I always have been since I was a child. I grew up watching Hitchcock movies over and over again with my mom like The Birds (1963) and Psycho (1960). She had a deep appreciation for these movies and maybe that influenced me. I was obsessed with horror movies. I loved A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and I watched it about 40 times and would act out the scenes playing “Nancy” and when I was with my friend, I would have her play “Tina”.
BK: You starred in the official sequel to I Spit on Your Grave (1978), I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà Vu (2019). What was it like working on that movie?
JB: It was surreal working with the director of the original 1978 film, Meir Zarchi, and star of that movie, Camille Keaton, who played my Mom in the sequel. I had a great time with everyone on set and I felt comfortable with everyone as well, which made the intense scenes easier. I was fortunate to hear many stories about filming the 1978 film from Camille—stories I will always hold dear to my heart. She and I are very close and have a deep bond that formed immediately. She is family, really, and we still talk on a regular basis and see each other when we can.
BK: What was it like working with director David DeCoteau and Vivica A. Fox on the movies The Wrong Fiancé (2021), The Wrong Prince Charming (2022), and The Wrong Blind Date (2022)?
JB: I love David. He is such a pro. He knows exactly what he wants and he is confident when he gets it and he moves on. He has decades of experience under his belt. Vivica is a joy to work with. She comes to set looking so classy and gorgeous and is also such a seasoned pro. I feel truly blessed to have worked with both of them.
BK: According to IMDb, you’ve directed a movie, The Desecrated Ones. Is directing something you hope to do more of in the future?
JB: Definitely. I had no idea I would love directing as much as I did. I was quite shocked at how much I loved it. I think being an actor for so long helped me be a director. I have a deep understanding of what an actor goes through and I know how I like being directed so I tried to direct others that way. Because I had worked on over 100 sets as an actor and I had produced feature films as well, I feel it made my transition to director easier. I have written other scripts and plan to direct them in the future and I am open to directing opportunities that come my way from others.
BK: Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
JB: A Christmas Murder Mystery airs on UPtv on December 7th at 7:00pm Eastern. Horror films Deinfluencer: Clickbait and The Haunted Forest should come out very soon. The Haunted Forest just premiered at FrightFest. Another horror movie, Axes and Os, is making its way around the country in film festivals right now. I just finished a movie for Lifetime TV that doesn’t have a title yet, but that should come out sometime in 2026. I am currently prepping a horror film that I will produce as well.
BK: Have you ever had a “ghost”/paranormal encounter in your life?
JB: I felt a presence one time at my sister’s house, which is a really old house. It was in the corner of the hallway and very strong. The next day I said to her, “I think you have a ghost here.” Her mouth fell open and she turned to her husband and said, “See! I told you!” She and her son then proceeded to tell me all kinds of stories about when they heard and felt this ghost.
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A very special thanks to Jamie Bernadette for agreeing to participate in this interview and to david j. moore for setting it up.
Check out the official Paranormal Investigations website here!
Check out the official Rayolight Productions Facebook page here!
Check out my review of Paranormal Investigations here!
Check out Jamie Bernadette’s official Facebook page here, official Twitter page here, and official Instagram page here!
Check out Jamie Bernadette’s IMDb page here!
All images courtesy of Rayolight Productions.
