In honor of our newest original series, The Dark Path Chronicles, we spoke with director Mary Lambert about her early years in the film business. She reflected on her work as a pioneer in the music video genre, and spoke to us a bit about her breakthrough film, the Stephen King adaptation of Pet Sematary.

How did you get your start in directing?

I directed a lot of music videos in the eighties and nineties, and I can, in modesty, say that I helped create that genre, actually.  My first feature was Siesta, and it was a very non-linear story, and I think that the support that I got to make that film definitely came out of my music videos.

Tell us a bit about ‘Pet Semetary’

Pet Semetary was my second film, and Stephen King had the final say in who would direct the film.  I think it was my Rock and Roll roots that closed the case with him.  He had written, in the book, in the script, that the truck driver that hits Gage is listening to The Ramones.  And of course Dee Dee Ramone was a very dear friend of mine.  When I told that to Stephen it was like “Okay, you’ve got the job”.  And Dee Dee went on to write “I Don’t Want to be Buried in a Pet Cemetery” for me. 

For more information on the web series, be sure to check out our The Dark Path Chronicles Show Page for all of the latest videos, including current episodes, a discussion with Mary Lambert about the making of the series, and a behind the scenes look at the characters of the series.  Remember to check back every Thursday for new episodes!