Movies
TV: It’s a ‘Walking Dead’ Bonanza! Featuring, a Motion Comic, Contests and More!
Gearing up for the San Diego Comic-Con, AMC TV unloaded all sorts of goodies surrounding their live-action TV series of The Walking Dead, a new zombie epic beginning this October. The show is based on Robert Kirman’s comic, which has been animated into a special online comic now available inside! Also beyond the break, you’ll find a new behind-the-scenes image and interview with Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, along with details on how YOU could transform into one of the undead and win a chance to be a walk-on zombie!
MOTION COMIC
“Since you’ve read every issue of Robert Kirkman’s epic zombie comic book series and you’re eagerly anticipating Frank Darabont’s upcoming adaptation, you may also be wondering what to do with your additional spare time? Why not witness the beginning of The Walking Dead in full-blown animation. See how it all begins when artist Tony Moore’s original artwork is brought to life by the animators at Juice Films and voice actor Phil LaMarr.”
INTERVIEW WITH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GALE ANNE HURD
AMC posted the following interview with Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd:
The producer of such genre hits as The Terminator and Aliens describes The Walking Dead’s blockbuster potential, its commonalities with Piranha, and what makes zombies only the second-most dangerous characters in the series.
Q: What attracted you to The Walking Dead?
A: I have been a longtime fan of the comic. I also love the zombie genre, my zombie fandom going way back to Night of the Living Dead. And The Walking Dead is truly the ultimate representation of that sensibility in the comic book genre.
Q: You began your career working for Roger Corman. Does The Walking Dead remind you of his horror movies in any way?
A: Roger produced classic genre films as well as straightforward exploitation movies. If you go back to his Edgar Allan Poe films, the unpredictability of human nature is at the core of both. From Roger’s New World Pictures films, especially those written by John Sayles, like Piranha, they share the complex character elements of Robert Kirkman’s comic book series as adapted and directed by Frank Darabont.
Q: Frank Darabont directed the pilot, but other directors are helming the following episodes. Have you found it difficult to balance their visions with Frank’s?
A: No it’s actually been ideal since Frank directed the pilot adjacent to the subsequent episodes. Typically a pilot is shot months in advance, and there’s an intervening period during which the cast might lose the cohesiveness they shared while filming the first episode. In out case, the cast worked with Frank for our 14-day pilot shoot and then immediately began work on the next five episodes. In addition, Frank has spent a great deal of time on set, and is always available to us. Frank’s writing is both evocative in setting the tone and feel of each scene and quite specific vis a vis character, so it’s pretty easy for our directors to stay on the same page.
Q: You’re known for producing blockbusters like Terminator and Aliens. How is The Walking Dead similar?
A: I think what our series shares in common with those films in particular is that the best genre films are character driven. And while they have an intriguing premise and terrific special effects, at the end of the day they’re rooted in complex characters and great stories. At the same time, neither compromises on production value: Every eight days we shoot a miniature version of a tentpole movie. What’s so wonderful about The Walking Dead is that we’re able to explore human nature in its most depraved as well as its most humanitarian in each episode. We strip each character down to their most basic survival instincts — or lack thereof. It’s actually the zombies who are the most predictable: You know what zombies are after. What you can’t anticipate is how one surviving human is going to interact with another. And that’s what keeps the series fresh and compelling.
Q: Robert Kirkman has said he hopes the show goes on for 27 seasons. Can you envision that?
A: Oh absolutely! He’s sitting next to me right now, and we’ve talked about how our ensemble cast members either transcend or fall victim to their baser human instincts, so there’s plenty of fodder for at least 27 seasons.
Q: You’re getting ready to head to Comic-Con. As a veteran there, what are you looking forward to?
A: We’re absolutely thrilled that AMC has agreed to let us screen exclusive footage from Frank’s pilot episode for our Comic-Con audience, for the very first time anywhere. Frank and I are fans ourselves, and we want fans of The Walking Dead to see sequences that can really sink their teeth into [Laughs]. I’m hoping there will be a great deal of zombie love.
Q: Now that we’ve gotten a good look at the walkers, tell me honestly: Do they creep you out?
A: I love them, are you kidding?! I’m a genre girl from way back — this is my idea of heaven. Yesterday we were all looking at zombie bite tests Greg [Nicotero] created that almost made the videographer throw up, and all I could do was say, “That’s awesome, I love it!” I think that anyone who’s a fan of the genre or a fan of Robert Kirkman’s work will not be disappointed when they see the series.
Q: Speaking of Greg, he got dressed as a walker for one of the episodes. Do you have any inclination to do the same?
A: Well, you know, [Laughs] maybe Season 2. You don’t want all of your dreams fulfilled in the first season. So I’m very much hoping that we’ll get an order for Season 2, and I’ll be first to send in my application to attend zombie school!
ENTER TO BE A ZOMBIE!
“Ever dreamed of being a zombie? Now’s your chance, with AMC’s The Walking Dead Sweepstakes. Visit the site and fill out the online form and you’ll be entered in a random drawing to win a four-day, three-night trip to the location of The Walking Dead’s Season 2 production, plus the opportunity to become one of the undead in a Season 2 episode of The Walking Dead. (Exact specifics of the walk-on role will be determined at the producer’s sole discretion.) The sweepstakes will run from Tue., Jul. 20, through Sun., Aug. 15. Entrants may enter the sweepstakes one time only throughout the entire sweepstakes period.”
COMIC-CON
“Want to get an early look at The Walking Dead? If you’re attending Comic-Con this year, you’ll have a chance since AMC’s The Walking Dead Comic-Con booth recreates a scene from the pilot episode.
At the booth, attendees can either watch zombie footage playing on nearby televisions or use touch-screen monitors to “zombify” themselves. Also at the booth, staff will be distributing free swag like postcards, buttons and other goodies. On Fri., Jul. 23 from 4PM to 4:45PM, The Walking Dead’s Executive Producer, Writer and Director Frank Darabont will be at the booth to sign posters.
Can’t make the Con? Don’t worry! AMCtv.com will be on site updating you with photos, videos, news and more — so much so, you’ll swear you were there.“
In case you haven’t noticed, the public domain status of beloved icons like Winnie the Pooh, Cinderella and Mickey Mouse has been wreaking havoc on the horror genre in the past couple years, with filmmakers itching to get their hands on the characters and put them into twisted situations. In the wake of two Winnie the Pooh slashers, well, Pooh is about to battle Mickey.
It’s not from the same team behind the Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey films, to be clear, but Deadline reports that Glen Douglas Packard (Pitchfork) will direct the horror movie Mickey vs. Winnie for Untouchables Entertainment and the website iHorror.
Deadline details, “The film follows two convicts in the 1920s who escape into a cursed forest only to be dragged and consumed into the depths of the dark forest’s muddy heart.
“A century later, a group of thrill-seeking friends unknowingly venture into the same woods. Their Airbnb getaway takes a horrifying turn when the convicts mutate into twisted versions of childhood icons Mickey Mouse & Winnie-The-Pooh, and emerge to terrorize them. A night of violence and gore erupts, as the group of friends battle against their now monstrous beloved childhood characters and fight to break free from the forest’s grip.
“In a horrific spectacle, Mickey and Winnie clash, painting the woods in a gruesome tableau of blood—a chilling testament to the curse’s insidious power.”
Glen Douglas Packard wrote the screenplay that he’ll be directing.
“Horror fans call for the thrill of witnessing icons like the new Aliens and Avengers sharing the screen. While licensing nightmares make such crossovers rare, Mickey vs. Winnie serves as our tribute to that thrilling fantasy,” Packard said in a statement this week.
Producer Anthony Pernicka from iHorror previews, “We’re thrilled to unveil this unique take to horror fans. The Mickey Mouse featured in our film is unlike any iteration audiences have encountered before. Our portrayal doesn’t involve characters donning basic masks. Instead, we present deeply transformed, live-action horror renditions of these iconic figures, weaving together elements of innocence and malevolence. After experiencing the intense scenes we’ve crafted, you’ll never look at Mickey the same way again.”
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