Exclusive Interview: Ed Perkins, Director of ‘Clown Panic’
There was a time when spotting a creepy clown on a street corner was enough to send an entire neighborhood into a frenzy. No, not just the neighborhood, but the entire world into a state of panic. What began as a handful of bizarre sightings quickly spiraled into a cultural phenomenon, fueled by fear, fascination, and the internet’s remarkable ability to turn almost anything into a full-blown spectacle. And believe me, as someone who dislikes clowns, it was truly a circus. In his documentary Clown Panic, filmmaker Ed Perkins pulls back the curtain on this unsettling phenomenon, exploring how something so seemingly ridiculous could spark genuine public anxiety. But beneath the painted smiles, oversized shoes, and nightmare-inducing appearances lies a much more fascinating story about the psychology of fear, the power of social media, and the sometimes blurry line between reality and mass hysteria. We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Perkins about his latest documentary, which recently arrived on Hulu!
In this exclusive BSB Insider interview, Ed Perkins discusses what inspired him to make Clown Panic and the challenges of separating fact from fiction as he explores this peculiar chapter in American unrest. What did this time reveal about a society’s collective fears, and how far it’s willing to go to absolve itself of them? From the absurdity of the clown craze to its surprisingly thought-provoking implications, our conversation explores why this strange phenomenon keeps us fascinated, and why the scariest thing isn’t always the clown itself, but the panic around it.
Find the audio version of this podcast here, on Apple, Spotify, or most places where podcasts are available!
Stream Clown Panic on Hulu!
Clown Panic is currently streaming on Hulu! Have you checked out this documentary yet? Share your thoughts on this interview and Clown Panic on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
Exclusive Interview: Jamie Warrow and Brady Jacot of The Ringwald Theatre’s Equus
