Eight Dolls for an Autumn Moon is a new book of photography by Kristin Gallegos, inspired by the stylish Italian Giallo films of the ’60s and ’70s. Paying homage to directors like Dario Argento and Mario Bava, the narrative weaves paranoia, fear, and obsession into the world of a fashion photographer desperate to save her model friends from a serial killer. Each intertwined vignette focuses on one of eight women, all inspired by iconic Giallo actresses, as they are stalked, blackmailed, and ultimately hunted. The story delves into the intersection of fame, fear, and the unsettling vulnerability of being a woman, with cinematic influences and subtle references scattered throughout. Featuring Ashley Smith, Coco Baudelle, Paige Elkington, Alix Brown, Cora Keegan, Dani Dolinger, Chavi St. Hill, Gabrielle Montes de Oca and Luke Brandon Field, this book available now via publisher Snap Collective.
Is there a sense of catharsis for a female photographer such as yourself, living in Los Angeles and commenting on “intersection of fame, fear, and the unsettling vulnerability of being a woman”? Is there a sense of taking control of the narrative that is empowering in the face of the vulnerability?
Yes definitely! I think in today’s world everyone’s life is on constant display with social media. You don’t have to actually be famous to get stalked and harassed. I think obsession can develop so easily now. But fixation with celebrity and the “beautiful people” has always been there. So I wanted to weave that theme into this project to go along with the usual themes of Giallo films. As well as the everyday underlying fear and paranoia of being a woman alone in a city. I feel like I am pretty tough and I’m used to living alone but that is still always there in the back of my mind and I am always on high alert.
The women in Giallo are unlike anything seen in the American slashers or thrillers of the 60’s and 70’s. There is an element of feminism in these films. They hold high profile jobs, live in lavish homes, and have lovers. They are complex characters not just victims, wives, and mistresses. They are often the main characters and take charge in these films solving the mysteries on their own. Sometimes the women even turn out to be the killers!
‘Eight Dolls for an Autumn Moon’ by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
Did you find you immersed yourself in more and more of these films after starting this project? What brought the concept of this book about initially?
I was watching Giallo films long before this project but only here and there. I hadn’t really dove into the genre in a real major way. I asked a couple of my cinephile friends who both ended up being involved in this project for more film recommendations. This genre’s aesthetics are so up my alley. At the time I was trying to come up with a new concept for a book and knew I wanted to do something cinematic. So I immersed myself in these films for inspiration. From there the idea for this was born.
I started researching and conceptualizing this about a year and a half ago and started shooting last December. So it took a lot of planning and preparing before I actually started shooting it. I treated it like a movie, so I made tons of mood boards, storylines, character breakdowns, as well as shot lists. And I collected props and clothing along the way. I did everything on the shoots aside from the hair and makeup. I had some really talented artists on my team. My dear friend Darian Darling did the makeup on the majority of the shoots and she really brought something special to each character! We also got to shoot in her and Justin Tranter’s home which is an iconic LA mansion re-named The Transion.
Dani Dolinger by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
I’m curious of the gender dynamic that was in your head while shooting—how did the abstract presence of the male stalker make its way into the narrative? Did you play both roles of the stalker and the one trying to save these muses?
The story follows a famous fashion photographer and her famous model muses. There have already been murders in their orbit and Cora Keegan who plays the photographer is trying to look for clues to try and save the group. There are a couple of women that are entangled in this and are under suspicion. Some are stalked and a couple of them are killed. And one manages to escape with the help of a lover.
I also wanted there to be a mix of types of women in this narrative. There are some that are trying to solve the mystery and protect the others. Some trying to just survive and to outsmart the danger. Some that fight back. As well as some suspicious and manipulative ones. I didn’t want it to feel one dimensional. The women in Giallo films are always stunning and stylish but they are multi-faceted. So I wanted to represent that in this book as well.
When shooting I did play the role of the killer in one of the vignettes which was fun! I wanted some killer POV shots which is an important trope of this genre. So I threw on a black leather trench and gloves and took on the role. Two men also portrayed the black gloved killer in different vignettes. But like in the movies I wanted him to be faceless and masked. Because he also represents the dangers and things women have to deal with daily. And I wanted to focus more on the women and the element of fear and paranoia.
Chavi St. Hill by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
I see the looming male hand in Alix Brown’s photo and in Chavi St. Hill’s photos—is this you? Was there a conscious decision to bring an actual man on set for some of the muses?
The hand in Alix Brown’s vignette belongs to Steven Vartanian who also let us shoot with his amazing 1972 Porsche 914. The same car that is featured in one of the films that inspired the project, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times. I always like to sprinkle in homages and nods in my projects for the aficionados. As I mentioned, the other hand in Chavi St. Hill’s vignette is mine. And Luke Brandon Field plays a dual role as both Paige Elkington’s lover as well as the masked killer.
The plan was always to have Luke portray the killer in some of the shots. But as the project evolved, I decided to add other moments and to get those important POV shots that I did myself. Dario Argento, the king of Giallo, would do that in his films! I also wanted to have the suspected/accused lover dynamic with him and Paige, which I think is important to the story.
Paige Elkington & Luke Brandon Field by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
What was your model selection like? How did you come to your particular muses? How did you come to cast them in the roles—the main character, the “suspicious” character(s), Alix as the femme fatale?
Each character is inspired by a famous actress from the genre. So I cast accordingly. I shoot with a pretty core group of models in my work generally. Women who I am friends with and have a good dynamic with on set. So I wanted to have some of my current regulars mixed in with some of my earlier muses that I hadn’t shot with in a while. The characters evolved from there but I wanted them to portray the types of characters that each actress typically played in these movies. For instance, Ashley Smith plays a manipulative role. She blackmails another suspicious character and is inspired by the actress Anita Strindberg who often played those types of roles. Most of the people in the book are also actors so that really helped!
I am curious how the narrative is presented. Is it just a conceptual web of characters or is there a storyline that gives the book a sense of chronology?
There is a storyline that plays out with chronology. There is also a synopsis at the beginning of the book to give the audience some background. As well as character breakdowns about which actor and films inspired them. As well as an inner monologue for each character written by my friend Jasmine Poulton. This also connects each character to one another. There are some characters that crossover into shots together. And some are implied offscreen in the text. There is an ending to the story as well! Everything is mapped out like film stills to a movie.
Ashley Smith by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
This being Playgirl, I can’t help but find the intersection of worlds here—the first connection being the vintage vibe and then the aspect of voyeurism. Is this the first time you’ve experimented with the concept of voyeurism?
This book was certainly inspired by the same era of the start of Playgirl primarily the late 60’s and early 70’s. And the clothes and aesthetics are very much of that time. Some of the models had wigs by hairstylist Nikki Providence, to really get us into that era. As well as the graphic and masterful makeup of the time. I am very much into locations so I shot in some pretty iconic places to really paint the picture of these different scenarios. I shot between LA and NYC. From the space age Theme Building at LAX to the bohemian Chelsea Hotel!
I did play around with voyeurism for this project. I wanted to instill the feeling of paranoia and fear. Some of the shots feel like they are from the killer’s perspective. That they are watching and waiting for their chance. This is not the first time I have experimented with this concept. I previously put out a small four-part book series called Disappear Here in 2021 and 2022. That series was very character driven and shot cinematically as well. The last of the four books, starring Tali Lennox, definitely had more of this voyeuristic feel to it. I shot her like I was watching her and following her around. That book definitely played a part in what inspired the concept for Eight Dolls for an Autumn Moon.
Coco Baudelle by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
Do you have a soundtrack in your mind when you’re shooting?
Music is really important to me. I always play music on my shoots that invoke the vibe of what I want from my subjects. The soundtracks of Giallo films are so menacing yet also really groovy and by some of the most iconic composers like Ennio Morricone and Piero Umiliani. So for each one of the shoots I played the music from these films to get the models into the roles and for the team to get inspired as well. It really set a mood for the shoots. Alix Brown who stars in this book and is an amazing DJ also made me a playlist for to go along with the project with some amazing tracks.
I see that you’re hosting Giallo cinema screenings each January Monday in Los Angeles at Cinematic Void/American Cinematheque. How did that come about and what films can we expect?
I am co-hosting two Giallo screenings with Cinematic Void and American Cinematheque on January 13th and 20th at Los Feliz 3. On the 13th we are screening Dario Argento’s first Giallo film The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. And on the 20th we are screening Orgasmo also known as Paranoia by Umberto Lenzi. I will be saying a few words and will have limited copies of the book as well as a few movie posters and a limited edition lobby card on hand. Eventually I will have more books, lobby cards, and posters to purchase in my shop!
I met Jim Branscome last year during his January Giallo/Sergio Martino double feature screening of Torso and The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh at the Egyptian. Alix and I went and we got to meet Martino which was amazing! I had already started shooting the project and it was just so insane to meet him in the midst of it all. I ended up connecting with Jim after that and told him about the book and that it would be amazing to host one if he was into it and he was. I am working on some other events in both Los Angeles and NYC in the coming months!
Gabrielle Montes de Oca by Kristin Gallegos @kristingallegos
Are there any contemporary photographers or filmmakers who inspire you? Who are your favorite filmmakers today?
For this project I was very inspired by the iconic directors of the genre like Dario Argento, Sergio Martino and Mario Bava to name a few. I definitely tried to pay homage to their styles and lighting. In general I tend to gravitate toward filmmakers and photographers that have a very recognizable and specific aesthetic like Wes Anderson, Stanley Kubrick and Sofia Coppola for example. Jean-Luc Godard, Woody Allen, Brian De Palma. Really detail oriented artists. I do that in my own work and have stayed true to myself and my vision even though it’s sometimes a harder and longer road to take because I don’t shoot everything and anything. I want you to know a photo is mine when you see it.
As for photographers I have always loved Guy Bourdin, Avedon, William Klein, David Bailey, Deborah Turbeville, Corinne Day, and Sarah Moon to name a few. And I really respect the women coming up now that are killing it like Petra Collins and Nadia Lee Cohen who also have their own distinctive styles.
What’s next for Kristin Gallegos?
I would love to keep putting out more hardcover books in the future and to have a solo show. I would also like to try my hand at directing. I basically made a mini movie with Eight Dolls but it would be amazing to actually bring it to life.
Instagram: @kristingallegos
