Since beginning her film career in 2022, actress Chloe Lutz has caught the eye of some very prominent directors in independent films, particularly in the horror genre. She’s been in Chase Dudley’s Blood on the Bleachers, Steve Hermann’s Return of the Corn Zombies, and more recently, Hermann’s The Legend of Tinker Hell, which is co-directed by legendary horror actress Lynn Lowery. If becoming a top horror actress, in the same league as Lynn, is Chloe’s objective, she’s well on her way. However and even thought she says horror is a top favorite of hers, Chloe does want to explore other genres as her career progresses.
Besides her work in front of the camera, Chloe is also skilled at SFX makeup and has writing and directing credits. She wrote a scene for The First Harvest, a film she also starred in. As for directing, Chloe tells us she got to direct an entire day during the shoot for Perfect Soul. “S.J. Hermann offered me the opportunity to do so and I took the opportunity with every precaution,” she says.
Learn more about this rising indie film star in the following exclusive interview she graciously did for Idol Features. Above photo by Shannon Ahlstrand. All following photos courtesy of Chloe herself.
CHRIS CHARLES: Thank you for doing this for Idol Features, Chloe. So tell us how you first became interested in acting.
CHLOE LUTZ: Thank you so much for this opportunity! I have been interested in acting since I was very young. I was always making up stories with my toys and playing them out. I loved the idea of performing and story telling! As I got older, I realized just how many options there were out there. Once I got my foot in the door with theater, that’s when things really picked up for me. I was able to learn just how much I absolutely loved portraying characters and performing in that way. By 13, I was convincing my parents to let me pursue this dream. I was lucky enough for the timing to work out! I started getting work around 16 and It’s been such an incredible time through and through since then!
CHRIS: I see you are cast in The Legend of Tinker Hell along with some other actresses I am familiar with. Please tell me about the character you play in that one.
CHLOE: I play the very feisty Skyler in The Legend of Tinker Hell! Skyler is a very outwardly confident person. She has some layers to her but the ones layering the front are very rough. Unfortunately, a lot of her anger gets let out onto her little sister. Then the people she surrounds herself with, well, they definitely don’t correct her behavior. She goes through a very interesting journey throughout the film that I think only a magical fairy could get her to go through! I had a very fun time getting to play her throughout such an exciting story.
CHRIS: Had you worked with anyone else in the cast before?
CHLOE: Yes, I have! I’ve had the great honor of sharing the screen with these talented people on many occasions! I met most of them on the set of Return of The Corn Zombies back in 2024, some during Perfect Soul in 2025! I met and worked with Dee Hefner for the first time way back when we were both still kids! I also worked with Ka’ssee back in 2024 for Blood on The Bleachers! As many people as I’ve worked with on this set, it’s always still a blast getting to work with new faces as well. Everyone got together incredibly well regardless of anyone’s history with one another. It was an incredible group!
CHRIS: Yes, you were also in Chase Dudley’s Blood on the Bleachers. I interviewed Ka’ssee Rhe’anne, who’s also in that one, a few months ago. What was working on that film like for you?
CHLOE: It was such a blast. Everything ran very smoothly and the cast and crew got along perfectly. We were always making each other laugh in between scenes! Playing Kimberly was a very fun challenge. She was different from what I had portrayed before and I was compelled by what lay underneath her front. I had great people to lean on every scene, especially, Miss Arianna Harris! She was very fun to bounce back and forth with. The dynamic we had made for a great time! I also had my first stunt experience on that set. Shawn Thompson made for a great teacher! I think that football field scene remains one of my favorites to this day! I am very grateful for my experience on that set and getting to portray Kimberly. I look back on filming very fondly!
CHRIS: What was it like for you to work with Steve Hermann and Mia Katz on Return of the Corn Zombies?
CHLOE: I had the best time working on Return of The Corn Zombies! Steve and Mia were very easy to work with. I felt that we trusted each other quite quickly. Steve helped direct me on Kathleen’s goal throughout the film. He reminded me of her depth during the conversations in between and that helped me portray her layers in detail. Mia helped with that break down quite a bit as well. She had a lot of detailed notes that made my performance feel much smoother and more authentic. Steve also always wanted to keep the lighter side of Kathleen alive which was very fun to work out with him. I’m glad she kept that side of her! Overall, they both were wonderful! I couldn’t have asked for better directors and team during my first role of that size.
CHRIS: You also worked with him on Perfect Soul. What was filming that one like for you?
CHLOE: Perfect Soul was a very unique experience for me. I had so much material to work with and I dove in head first. I bounced back and forth between the script and the book while I was both in perpetration and actual performance. While both were very different, I wanted certain depths of emotions to reach from the book to the film. I wanted to honor a lot of the truth that remained covered. Portraying Nikki Strange was a very heavy mind game. She rapidly switches between a lot of her emotions as they seem to become just as uncertain as her situation. It was a very fascinating sort of thing to practice. I learned a lot about myself as a performer on that set. I believe I grew a lot as a performer as well. The cast became a family by the end. Truly everyone on that set created a safe, comfortable environment that pulled us out of everything we needed to. As dark as the material was, nobody reflected it in between in any way. We were always keeping spirits high during filming by playing games and getting to know one another with light hearted activities. It was a wonderful time and a stunning location to be at as well! My processes during Perfect Soul will definitely be carried on to all of my future projects.
CHRIS: I’m assuming horror is your favorite genre?
CHLOE: Horror is definitely a top favorite of mine! It is such a great genre to get into. I would, however, love to explore other genres such as period pieces, coming of age stories, or dystopic non-fiction. There’s so much to explore in this industry and I’d love to see it all!
CHRIS: You’ve also done several short films. Any favorites?
CHLOE: I am proud of every single one of the shorts I’ve done! I was a bit less experienced when I did most of them, but they’re great memories to look back onto. I’m horrible at choosing favorites. Though, there are definitely 3 standout shorts I’ve done, them being: “The Recovery pt.2” by Paul Allen, Goëtia by Paul Allen and Caitlin Skinner, Constance and Violence by Roc Anthony Bates, and Yet Another Indie Horror Film by S.J. Hermann. Each and every single one of these developed a new technique or process for me. In all of them, i portrayed unique characters to me at the time. They all came with great challenges and all of them turned out fantastic! I’m incredibly proud of the work of not only myself but each cast and crew as well. I will always suggest a watch of any of these!
CHRIS: What are some of the behind-the-camera jobs you have done?
CHLOE: I have actually done quite a few! I have gotten the opportunity to do SFX makeup on many of the sets I’ve attended. Whether I’ve been able to assist in makeup, or getting hired on to do it myself, it’s been a very fun side journey! I wrote a scene for “The First Harvest” early on as well! I quite enjoy the writing side of things. I would love to explore that more! I also got to direct for a full day during Perfect Soul. S.J. Hermann offered me the opportunity to do so and I took the opportunity with every precaution. I got to work with some incredible actors! Mapping out a scene in a directors headspace is very, very different. It was very exciting to see that side of things! I am incredibly grateful to have that experience under my belt and I will take that with me the next time I get to do anything like it again! Everyone was very kind and open to all of my ideas. I felt very understood as a creative there. I had a fantastic time!
CHRIS: If given the choice, would you rather play a character like yourself or quite unlike yourself?
CHLOE: I enjoy getting to play characters that are unlike myself the most. Sometimes I get to learn a new skill and harness that for a while. I mainly like the challenge of diving into a new mind and a new thought process that you have to create from the ground up in a way. I love finding the things that make these characters tick. If they are too much like myself, I lose that aspect, unfortunately, as I guess I may already know! In other words, I simply enjoy the challenge of playing someone so different. It adds a whole new layer to the project and it’s one of my favorite things!
CHRIS: What role has been the the biggest stretch for you to play, so far?
CHLOE: I would say the biggest stretch for me to play was Nikki Strange in “Perfect Soul.” She had so many layers that spread lengths so far from myself. I, in a way, had to turn myself over completely so that I didn’t peek out. Many of my characters tend to be able to have some of my little mannerisms but Nikki had to be her own stand alone person. It was a very deep challenge that I am grateful, as a performer, to have had so early on in my career.
CHRIS: How about choosing between playing a real-life person or an entirely fictional character?
CHLOE: There is a very unique, challenging journey with both. The building you have to do with a fictional character is just as exciting as the connection you have to find with a real-life person! I would love to dip into the process and challenge of studying real people to then portray them. That’s tricky in a whole different way. But, until that request comes, I’m definitely enjoying the portrayal of entirely fictional characters!
CHRIS: Now that The Legend of Tinker Hell has wrapped, what will be your next film project?
CHLOE: My next project coming up seems to actually be with Acrostar as well! I will be finishing up the “Corn Zombies” trilogy with them this July. It’s been an honor to be on this journey with them and to portray such a character as Kathleen. I can’t wait to continue it then!
CHRIS: Do you have any skills or hobbies only those close to you would know about?
CHLOE: I have a few separate artistic hobbies that I indulge in. The hobbies I don’t put out there much are the ones I want quiet. They’re what feeds everything bigger than them! I explore almost everything I can, finding new hobbies is a joy of mine.
CHRIS: With that, I’ll thank you again for doing this, Chloe. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
CHLOE: Shout out to the incredible cast and crew of The Legend of Tinker Hell!! We had a grand time making that film, and I hope everyone has a grander time enjoying the finished product!
About the author
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris flirted with the music business there and in Nashville before joining the U.S. Army and serving in South Korea. He remained in Asia for several years afterwards, teaching English, traveling, and covering the regional entertainment scenes. A former Xanga blogger ("Xangan"), Chris is still in a mindset between Seoul and San Francisco. Besides Idol Features, you can also catch his writings in the print edition of the monthly magazine, Effective.
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