We conducted this interview with the always entertaining Sarkis Bakalyan on Saturday, January 10th via asynchronous text message. The textographical quirks of text communication (missing capitalization, LOLs, smileys, etc.) have largely been preserved for verisimilitude, except when they have not. Sarkis, one of Bron Theron’s long-term acting and filmmaking collaborators, shared some of his perspective on the FEAR ANONYMOUS process. Enjoy! – LFDG
LA FEMME DE GERARD: what was your role and/or your involvement in FEAR ANONYMOUS?
SARKIS BAKALYAN: I played the character of Arman in the feature film Fear Anonymous, as well as help with some minor things behind the scenes like setting up crafting, assisting with some shot adjustments, and breaking down the set towards the end of the shooting days.
LFDG: how long have you been working with bron and how did you start working together?
SB: I’ve known Bron since 2018. We met through a Facebook group that attempted to make a 48 hour film and miserably failed lol. We met on the set of said failed film project and we exchanged contact info. Later that year, he reached out to me about working on a fun web series idea called Real Acting. I wrote 4 episodes on that show and played a small character. I’m sure you can find it online somewhere. It’s in mockumentary style like The Office. And I’ve been working with him ever since.
LFDG: say a little more about who Arman is and what he is afraid of without spoilers? I’m going to accompany this with a still photo of you as Arman from the film.
SB: Arman is a physically active guy. More specifically, he trains in kickboxing class. And he witnesses something horrifying in the gym one day that causes his fear to spark. It’s not what you would expect. Most people might think it’s gym equipment related, like Final Destination stuff, but it’s different. Arman also has a crush on a girl named Cheri, who happens to be in the same therapy group.
LFDG: what is your favorite thing about working with Bron lol
SB: Ever since I started working with Bron, I’ve learned a lot from him in terms of the filmmaking process. In a way, he was the one that encouraged me to make my own films and not wait for that “big break”. He would always tell me to make my own opportunities. And it doesn’t hurt that we both get along with each other on and off the set. He’s a true homie 
LFDG: what was the best/most awesome and also the most difficult or challenging part of working on this film?
SB: The most interesting part about working on Fear Anonymous was how minimal it felt. It didn’t require a whole lot of equipment. It was shot entirely on an iPhone. We didn’t have a massive crew like other productions. And even with that, we were able to tell a meaningful story. It goes to show you that we can all be storytellers. In terms of challenge, I think the same applies. I always heard of people shooting movies on iPhones but was never actually in one until now. And when you’ve worked on film sets that have crazy production value, you know what to expect. But I didn’t know what to expect with this being primarily lead by a skeleton crew. But I was ultimately impressed at the end of the day. So congrats to the awesome cast and crew of Fear Anonymous!
LFDG: what’s your next project (film or otherwise, any kind of art)?
SB: I just premiered my first short film a few months ago. I’m looking to screen it at more festivals. I’m also writing multiple feature films, as well as spearheading my own animated series. You can also find me in other feature films like “Pride Jewel”, “Pancake Man” (coming soon), and “Book of Joshua: Walls of Jericho”
LFDG: what would you say to a scaredy-cat friend who wants to see your work but is scared of horror?
SB: From my perspective, Fear Anonymous seems to be more tame compared to other horror films I’ve seen. It’s not really scary for me, but that might be because I worked on it lol. I would describe it as more of a thriller with some horror elements. But with that in mind, I would suggest bringing a friend so it’s a communal experience. So you don’t have to be scared alone lol.
LFDG: why will people enjoy this movie so much? what makes it awesome?
SB: Fear Anonymous tells the story of a group of people struggling with experiencing traumatic incidents. I think it can be relatable. Therefore, it’s meaningful with an interesting ending lol. And what really brings this film to life is the humor accompanying it. Not only will people laugh, but they’ll also be pleasantly surprised with how we were able to tell this story using an iPhone and a handful of people.
LFDG: is there anything you would say to people who are considering buying a ticket to FEAR ANONYMOUS but have’t made up their minds yet?
SB: I would tell people if they wanna see a film unlike anything they’ve seen, treat yourself to a screening of Fear Anonymous.
LFDG: What are your top 3 films right now–doesn’t have to be favorite of all time or ranked, just like what’s on your mind at the moment. for example for me i would say barbie, picnic at hanging rock, and spaceballs…
SB: My top three films right now, but not of all time, are “Boy Kills World,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” and “Amerikatsi.” Indie films have been quite remarkable as of late.
LFDG: Awesome.
SB: Thank you again for doing this!
LFDG: *four heart emojis and a film camera emoji* You’re welcome!
FEAR ANONYMOUS 
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