Summer Moran Brings the Drama to ‘Stan the Mechanic’

This past Halloween, the world was introduced to TV’s newest horror host, Stan the Mechanic.

Chosen by Satan himself and played by John A. Hernandez, Stan perpetuates all sorts of mischief and mayhem against humankind by using automobiles. In his downtime, he likes to relax and crack jokes with his friends while watching horror movies. As a gay male, Stan enjoys showcasing queer horror, but nothing is off limits.

In Episode Two, which came out in January and can be viewed on Here TV, audiences meet Stan’s naughty, demonic helpers, Brad and Janet. Portrayed by Mason Kelso and Summer Moran, the three of them create an unconventional family worth watching.

OFM had the opportunity to chat with Moran about playing Janet, an empowered, queer demoness with a flair for the dramatic. Overjoyed to be part of Stan the Mechanic, she was born and raised in New York and previously produced and hosted Breaking the Internet LIVE! at the Tank Theatre. In addition to Janet, she talks about her passion for acting and her new appreciation for horror films.   Hi, Summer! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me about Stan the Mechanic. Can you begin by telling us more about your character, Janet?
Janet is a sex demon, and that is how I put it to most people. I think that is the simplest way of putting it. She is very mischievous, sexy, and funny. She wants to have a good time, just like me.

How did you get involved with Stan the Mechanic?
I met Richard through a friend of mine who I was doing a show with back in February of last year, just before everything shut down. My friend gave Richard my name, and we kind of just linked up. I read the script, and I fell in love with it. Of course, then the pandemic hit, so things were supposed to happen earlier, but they got pushed to November.

What have you enjoyed the most about working with John and Mason?
They are both very chill people and good actors. They have great energy to bounce from on screen. For me, it was also the first thing I filmed in eight or nine months. So, that was like a dream in itself. Just being able to be around two other actors unmasked, shooting the scene, and have some fun. They are both easy going and open to anything.

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What do you hope audiences take away from Stan the Mechanic?
I hope it gives them a good laugh. I know I laughed a lot, and I think the script is hilarious. I think the show itself is very funny, so I hope it brings people the escapism we all crave right now, gives them something to smile about. It’s cheesy, but it’s true!

Have you always been a fan of the horror genre?
No, I am actually a massive chicken [laughs]. I watch horror movies with all the lights on or with a group of people with my eyes closed half the time, but this was a way of taking horror and the comedy stuff that I love and melding them together. It is so different to be the one acting in horror, rather than the one being frightened.

Has Stan the Mechanic helped you find a new appreciation for the horror genre?
Absolutely. I will now go out of my way to find horror movies on Netflix and just open myself up to more of those. I also really appreciate horror as an art form beyond just the spook factor and am interested in the actual story that is underneath it. There is a story to be told, it is just layered with spooks and scares.Do you currently have any favorite horror films?
The first one that comes to mind when I think of this is Horns with Daniel Radcliffe. Honestly, I thought it would have terrified me more because it is listed as horror, and the description says it is about a man who grows horns out of his head. I was so invested in the story. Even though there were moments where it was scary, I was just completely engrossed in what was going to happen to Daniel Radcliffe’s character. It was so good!

Why do you think the horror genre resonates so well with the LGBTQ community?
Oh, gosh. I think there is a stigma attached to both the LGBTQ community and horror films. There is always some kind of thread of somebody or something being villainized or demonized in a way that either A, does not need to be, or B, it’s like there’s something not normal in a given situation. Whether that is like a haunted house, monster, demon—there is something wrong. For the longest time, the LGBTQ community has sort of had that stigma attached to it, and I think that is something we are breaking away from now, thank God.

How did you discover your love and passion for acting?
I did my first play when I was 7, and I played a fairy. My mom played my mom, so that was when the acting bug bit me because I love my mom and I got to do a show with her. From there on out, that was all I could see.

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How have you been managing these days with several projects being shut down and postponed?
I will tell you; it is not easy. A lot of people are saying right now, make your own work. That is fine in theory, but to see people like Richard and John actually doing it is very inspiring. Also, doing it the right way and having a great product that is going to be, or at least for me, remembered as the pandemic project that I did. In general, it has been very difficult to stay sane because I love what I do so much. So, I am kind of just throwing myself into my own projects and doing whatever feels good.

What kind of acting projects would like to expand into?
Theatre is my first love, but in the last few years, I have deeply fallen in love with TV and film. I do not think my passion for theatre has waned, but it is a different type of love now. There is something very magical about being in a rehearsal room and then being on stage where people react to what you are saying in real time. On camera, things sort of feel freer, and there is way less pressure for me because you can have multiple takes to get things right, and you can play around with those multiple takes. So, I want to keep doing all that, and when theatre comes back, I will be ready to welcome it with open arms. It is nice that TV and film can still happen right now, and I just want to cling to it forever.

Is Stan the Mechanic your first time working with LGBTQ media?
No, I was part of a wonderful web series for a couple years. It had two seasons and a couple holiday specials, but that was about a kid who lives on Staten Island, that is where I am from, and he is struggling with his sexuality and trying to basically deal with his psychotic, very Italian, very loud mother. He is afraid she is not going to accept him. I think that was my first project with LGBTQ community, but it was such good stuff.So, you would be willing to do more LGBTQ media and themed projects?
I would love that. I want to keep being around people with the same type of energy that I have, and I find a lot of pleasure and joy with those types of projects.

What would you like to accomplish with your platform?
I am always in the business of making people laugh. When I get a comment on a TikTok, even if it’s just a couple laughing emojis, I am like, ‘I did that. I made somebody feel good for a second.’ That was instilled in me growing up with the shows that I was doing. Whether it was a live performance, or something being filmed, it was like, if you can affect one person’s day and take away their troubles for this amount of time, you have done your job. That is something I have carried with me forever. I want to keep doing that and give people a reason to enjoy however long I am there for.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention our plug?
I have things in the works, but not stuff I am super crazy about plugging at the moment. Just be on the lookout!

To stay up-to-date with Moran’s crazy antics, follow her on Instagram and TikTok. For more information on Stan the Mechanic, visit the show’s official website.

Photos Courtesy of Catalin Stelian