Indie Zombie Flicks Feature New Talent

As an independent filmmaker (my shameless plug for my film here) I'm always interested in what other people are doing in the independent film world. Specifically people within the same bracket which my current one is very low budget filmmaker. Or as is also known as mico budget filmmaking. Very little money but a lot of ambition. I try and watch as many as I can although it can be tough. The great thing about technology is that anyone can make a film. The bad thing about technology is that anyone can make a film. I give a lot of leeway because when you don't have money there is a good chance in the microbudget world that your film will just look cheap because, well, it is. I let that slide but if it's shot well or the idea is great or even if it's bad but there are good parts to it then I give the filmmaker props. However I've sat through a lot of bad ones to see that sometimes young dreams should be squashed because ... wow. Luckily the dreams were not squashed for two young filmmakers whose films I just watched at the Zombie Outbreak Film Festival put on by the Horror Society here in Chicago last night.

A 12 year old girl out of Austin, Texas decided she was going to make a zombie film. So she set out on the long journey to do it. Emily Hagins did what few adults have the guts to do. Making a movie is hard work. At some point you become the one person that will either keep the film afloat or have it crash under your feet. With her digital camera and 50 page script she set out to make 'Pathogen' a film about contaminated water that turns people into the walking dead hungry for human flesh. A documentary called 'Zombie Girl: The Movie' is all about her making this film. To say I admire young Emily is an understatement. When I was 12 I didn't have the tools that exist today but I wished I could go out and make a movie. She did and I have a feeling that as she gets older and makes more films she will have a big career ahead of her. I'm not going to quibble over the film. It was made by a 12 year old. What struck me was how some shots and scenes were constructed. Only someone with real raw talent would do that. Two scenes in the film even drew applause from the audience. I have seen my fair share of films from people twice (and even three times) her age make unwatchable films. She is ten times away from them. She has the natural talent and determination which is evident in the documentary. Keep going kid. You got the talent. Now put it to good use and I'll line up for it.

Trailer for Emily Hagins' film 'Pathogen'. Movie and production company website - Here

Trailer for the 'Zombie Girl: The Movie' documentary. Website - Here

Venturing across the pond as they say to where the other filmmaker is. I was also lucky to see the UK sensation from director Mark Price called 'Colin'. This was supposedly made for around $70 or something. Quite frankly, even if it was made for a couple thousand I would have been impressed. The film follows Colin, a guy who during the zombie apocalypse has been bitten and turns into one of the walking dead. A zombie film from the zombie's perspective. A clever idea in and of itself. Luckily it doesn't end at the clever idea. The film is actually very well made from a director who knows how to make and construct a film. I had been curious about this film for a long time and it's nice to know that the "made for $70" tagline being used in the press is nothing more than that. The film is not about a budget. It works and that is all you need. Much like Emily I suspect Mark has a big future ahead of him. This type of talent should not go unnoticed. Considering it got a theatrical release in the UK (and I just watched it with a theatre full of people in Chicago) then I'd say this won't be the last we hear from 'Colin' or its talented director.

Here is the trailer for Mark Price's 'Colin'. The official website - Here

Keep an eye on these two filmmakers. It's great to see people with so much talent. The fact that they both made zombie films only makes me that much more a fan.

Movie Of The Day - The Return Of The Living Dead

The Return Of The Living Dead (1985) d: Dan O'Bannon

I finally got to see this on the big screen at a midnight show. Me = Happy.

Happy Friday The 13th

To celebrate this Friday the 13th here is the totally bodacious video to the Alice Cooper song "He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)" which is best known as the song from 'Friday The 13th Part VI Jason Lives'.

Enjoy!!

Testing Different Banners

I'm trying out different banners. Here's a new one I did. This is probably closer to the image I originally wanted. Let me know what you think.

Movie Of The Day - North By Northwest

North By Northwest (1959) d: Alfred Hitchcock

Is there a finer filmmaker than Alfred Hitchcock? For me, no. His career as a whole is one that is utterly incredible. A man that was able to combine perfectly art and entertainment. Watching one of his films is such a treat for me.

Happy Veterans Day

I just want to say thank you to veterans everywhere. I offer you my honor, respect, and gratitude.

I'd like to share this commercial which I love. I think it's perfect for today.

Movie Of The Day - Heat

Heat (1995) d: Michael Mann

One of my all time favorite films. I remember seeing this in the theatre and it was around the time I made a decision in my life which led me back full speed ahead of trying to become a filmmaker. Long story but there were a few things that happened at just the right time in my life and this was one of them. I was in film school at the time but felt I had lost my way. I was becoming a film snob and not a filmmaker and a film fan. Or what we call today a film geek. I lost my geekiness that I had from when I was 4 years old. I got it back thanks to many things. One of them being this film. Not that there is anything geeky about it. It's just a classic cops versus robbers story told in a modern way and I love every minute of it. At the time people complained because Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino really only have one real scene together. I thought it was ballsy to have the film be about these two but they really only meet twice.

I've been a fan of Michael Mann's since I saw 'Manhunter' and of course from TV's 'Miami Vice'. He has a unique style and a way of storytelling that I enjoy. I think some of his films get a bad wrap like the more recent 'Miami Vice' film adaptation which I loved.

'Heat' has influenced me in many ways and some of them will be apparant in some films I make. Even in my last film 'Distortion' I had a few shots that were inspired either directly or indirectly. One shot specificaly was referred to by a friend as my Michael Mann shot. While not intended to be I so see it now.

Movie Of The Day - The Searchers

I do this thing which my friends just love. At least ... I think they do. If so they never say anything. Um ... hm ... anyhoo, I have a "Movie Of The Day" and post the trailer. Sometimes post a few words about it. It's not every single day. Just when I see something I feel like sharing. I figured I aught to start doing that here. Probably makes more sense. Sometimes it will just be the trailer and that's it. Other times I may write a few lines about it. I'm sure sometimes I will ramble on indefinitely. Either way I present to you A Gory Place's own - Movie Of The Day.

First entry:

The Searchers (1956) d: John Ford

It's no wonder why, even to this day, John Wayne is still one of the highest ranking stars even long after his death. He brings so much to the films he's in. To say he is an icon is an understatement. Some criticism has come his way that he always plays John Wayne. Perhaps. But no one plays John Wayne like John Wayne. No one has even come close. Although when people say that I always ask if they've seen 'The Quiet Man'. He is so amazing in that. Teaming he and John Ford together in any of their films was always magic. One of our greatest directors and no one knew how to capture the landscape of the west like John Ford. Want to be wowed? Check out the Blu-ray of 'The Searchers'. By the way, anything more fetching than Natalie Wood? If you said yes then you are dead to me.

New Banner

New banner and a new look.

Well, not a new look. Same look. Just the new banner. Just felt like saying that.

Too Many Pictures?

Had a few people complain that I have been posting too many pictures and video lately which makes the blog load slowly. I think I definitely went a little hog wild with them especially with the Halloween lists. I'll keep this in mind on all future posts and pick out the stills more carefully instead of posting so many.

Just to show I'm serious - no pictures in this post.