First of all, thank you to those who answered my question on 50's educational film music.
Secondly:
Here's the thing. I'll be sending four of my short films into the site soon, but I want to do one more to send as well. Being as how it is almost halloween, I would love to make some sort of zombie horror film. Yes, I know zombies are over done, and Reedy already covered that area with his brillant take on them in "Takeback 2" (which was cool as hell). But I want to make a HORROR film. Something to actaully scare people.
So here's the prediciment, where I come to you guys for advice:
I really think the whole "outbreak disease to cause undeadness" is being over done. So i'm skipping that, and just using good old fashioned "Oh no, they're rising from their graves" kind of zombies.
But, what other sort of elements do YOU expect to find in a zombie film? What do you NOT want to see in it?
I want to make this as good as possible. I want to make it so people actually WANT to see it.
I've got a wonderful girlfriend who is really good at doing cheap, realistic looking special effects, and I want to put her to good use
But I just want to know what elements to include, and what to leave out.Thanks in advance.

Sounds fun, who DOESN'T love zombie movies?
anyway, I want you to answer the following questions in your movies:
1. What do Zombies WANT? I mean seriously, "they're hungry" is such a stupid reason for them to rise from the grave. I want to know what they WANT. What would COMPELL a slow-moving dead person to get up and try to kill other people?
2. I want it to be fun. Don't be too serious, most zombie movies are fun because they aren't.
3. And oh yeah, can you have 'em kill people who AREN'T horny teens, I mean c'mon, how come Zombies never go after babies or old people.. wait... nevermind.. I think I know already...

--Steve--

"Don't be that guy who doesn't film stuff!"

I would like to see one talk... does this remove his/her zombieness? If so, nix that idea. I wouldn't mind seeing a successfull "cure" for the zombies - other than complete dismemberment.

I also would like to see a serious take (i.e. 28 days later) Takeback 2 was not to my liking because it was simple, cheap (in idea), and not funny - but that's just me.

...if you wanted to make a funny zombie movie do a spoof on the thriller video or just make it a musical...

either way, I would like to see more zombie movies that have less than 80% of the focus on the zombie (make up/blood).

Any kind of backstory or plot would be nice.


Don't do the whole "My name is agen X and today we kill zombies" - BANG BANG BANG!

I want to know why they rose from the grave...

Also, if it's a "horror" movie.... please, please, PLEASE!!!!!
SCARE THE _SH!T_ OUT OF ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:

- C. Davis
YELLOW HAMMER PRODUCTIONS

How about make something a bit more socially compelling. Make it something others could see "happening" if you will. Its difficult to do "rising from the graves" and not have it seem campy at some point.

Make it about one zombie. Maybe it was an old ladies Husband, or son and she keeps him locked away. If you want it to be scary the audience has to care about the victims and it helps if they understand the villian. I second the "stay way from horny teens" comment.
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans
Tizzy Entertainment "Redemption" Hi-Def trailer

I believe in Day of the Dead a Zombie learned to talk.........or was that shoot a gun? Either way its kind stupid.

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TacoWagonProductions
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First off, Bub was able to shoot a gun AND maintain some sort of minimal speech in "Day of the Dead." I actually thought it was kind of clever, with the scientist trying to civilize zombie-kind for a better tomorrow.
It WAS going to invovle teens, but I was going to remove the whole "horniess" part away from it. Make them smart, and real, and not just about getting some in the next frame before having their head torn off.
I've def. got more than one zombie in this...I do, however, like the idea of just one, but I've written an outline fo the script so far, and it def. needs more than one. I've gotta jet to work, but when I come back later, I'll give you guys a plot symposis, so you can tell me what you think.
Thank you for all your help, tho! I do appricate it, and will take a lot of these things into consideration.

Being a big Horror fanatic I can personally say that Zombie films are not played out.

I like the idea of just a single Zombie terrorizing a town one house at a time. I guess you could have something freaky like:

An old lady keeping her dead husband at the house because she loves him so much. Because of the chemicals she is using to keep him looking somewhat alive and how the planets align (Yea something goofy but it could work) he comes back to life and kills his wife.

Then you could have people come over to check in on the lady and have them picked off one by one by the dead grandpa. This would make it easier to shoot also cause it would be in just one location, a house the unknowing people come to and die...

Hope that helps..

For some true Zombie insite go to the master: http://www.homepageofthedead.com/

George Romero

Tech-D

Also sort of a Zombie Spoof, Return of the Living Dead had the Zombies talking.

Tech-D

If zombies talking is a bad thing, then nobody is going to like my new horror movie.

Be creative. I'm not going to ask what people would want to see in my horror movie, and I'm not going to go by what other people have done. I'm just thinking out loud and using a million ideas to make my "zombies" as cool as possible.

I think you should try that idea.

And why are horror movies so popular all of a sudden? I've noticed that a lot of people want to make them....

"Don't breathe or I'll kill you!"

I've made a numerous other shorts, all comrdies and dramas (ill send them in to student films soon) so i wanted to try somethign different for once.
And i think the script I wrote is unique in its own way. I guess you guys can judge it when you see it

Pyro: 1 word Halloween.

Everyone loves scary movies around Halloween.

Not me, I have loved seeing them since I was 13 and saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre, scared the crap out of me. This was way before the rating systems of today.

Tech-D

I guess horror movies are coming back, especially the low budget kind...I'm glad the genre is coming back cause those kinds of movies rock.....kinda a shame they ahve to remake Texas Chainsaw Massacre though, one of my favorite movies of all time.

Zombies talking could be funny if done right.

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TacoWagonProductions
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From what I've heard, the Texas remake is shaping up to be pretty good. Then again, I love all horror, even if it is crap.
As a matter of fact, i just finished watching "Wes Craven's New Nightmare." I love that movie, but I know a lot of people hated it. I thought it was very creative, and brought back horror a bit.
Anyways, I really dont want to incorporate humor into my film. I mean, a little is ok, but when there is too much, I feel that it ruins the entire horror element.
Script is done, set to shoot the first weekend in October.

Bamfer:

If you need any help during the filming let me know. I'm right next door in PA and would be willing to help for experience.

Thanks,

Tech-D

Hey guys
Just a quick little update for you:
Filming will be Oct. 12th from as soon as the sun goes down til whenever we're finished.
For the most part, I've got everything BUT three more leads cast. Its amazing how many people want to be in a movie, but have no desire to commit to it. Oh well, I've got some time to finish casting.
Also, Tech-D, thank you for your offer. But i dont want to make you come all the way here for a crappy little student film. HOWEVER, I'm still in the midst of writing my "master piece script" and whenever thats finished, i want to film it. If you would like to help with that, you are MORE than welcome too. Feel free to email me at bamfer23@hotmail.com, and I'll totally give you more details on it.
As for this movie, I'll let you guys know more updates as they come. I'll try to post some pictures of the make up tests soon, so you can see how the undead will look. Thanks again guys

I actually though about make a Redsident Evil style short film. I didn't know how much bashing I would get since it would be an obvious copy. I just like the storyline for Resident Evil enough to make a film in its style.

Talking zombies? Might could be funny, but I don't think it could be made to be serious. But that's just me.

And yes please keep the horniness to a minimum. I like what you said about making them clever. I mean we all know there are idiots out there, but when fighting something like a zombie it isn't rocket science.

Anyways good luck on whatever you do,
Shunohaku

"Now I am become death, the destroyer of world's."

How do you all feel about zombie movies that do not explain why the people are becoming zombies? I am currently thinking of a zombie movie idea as well. It involves a family that is camping out in one of those winnebago campers. One day the son wakes up like normal, but he notices his family is still asleep. As he tries to wake them up, he finds that they are dead. A little time goes by and they start moving a bit and one of them tears away at his hand/sleeve but goes back to "sleep" state. The son then drags his family out of the camper and then knocks them over the head many times to make them stop moving. He locks himself back in and is torn up inside asking God to forgive him because of what he did. So I never really explain why the family died, and why he is the only one that isn't a zombie. Do you guys feel cheated in some way if they don't explain the reason behind the zombies?

The problem I see with that is. The guy isnt going to know hes in a zombie movie. So i know if I rose to find my family dead but the later on I saw signs of life even if my sister did claw at my t0shirt the last thing I would do is beat their heads in...who would do that? Otherwise I think you can get away with not know. But they would have to be stumbled upon. Like you go into a wooded area and there are zombies there. I dont think people just all of the sudden becoming zombies would work well...or at the very least it would be very hard to write. But hell that shouldnt stop ya...GOOD LUCK WITH IT!

quote:

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does this remove his/her zombieness?

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LMAO! I immediatly pictured a zombie ripping his genitalia off for the sheer thrill of the hunt!

But then I read this... this... bandage to my mind...

quote:

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I would like to see one talk...

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Oh... you mean not be stupid...


STILL, I RECOMEND YOU HAVE A ZOMBIE RIP IT'S OWN WANG OFF! Then try and make it hillarious! I'd buy the DVD... one to watch, one to cherish~!

"We'll be able to get all the things we ever dreamed of... front, and rear spoilers for the cars!"

I knew a guy who was making a zombie movie. One of the side stories was about the school nerd who while under assualt by the newly turned zombies saw one of them was the head cheerleader he had long pined for. He captured her and brought her back home, locking her in the basment. Throughout the movie he sort of courts her finally building up to his fantasy.

When he attempts to have his dream lets just say certain parts of him end up in her mouth... and like any good zombie would *CHOMP* Sick scene. I dont know if that guy ever finished it or not. (the movie guy, not the nerd LOL)
R. Michael

"Luck, is when opportunity, meets preperation." "There are 3 sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth, and none of us are lying" -Robert Evans
Tizzy Entertainment "Redemption" Hi-Def trailer