THE CRAZIES -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 6/14/10

 

Executive producer George Romero's 2010 remake of his 1973 classic THE CRAZIES is tinged with the usual political undertones that he's known for, but that stuff doesn't really mean all that much to me.  (The government sometimes does secret bad things?  Get outta here.  DAWN OF THE DEAD is a wicked jab at consumerism?  Jeepers.)  What interests me is the fact that, in addition to being an effective horror movie with lots of cool makeup FX and gore, THE CRAZIES redux is also a cracking good action-suspense flick.

In an opening that's almost as picture-perfect as the first minutes of BLUE VELVET, we see the idyllic small town of Ogden Marsh, Iowa on the opening day of the high school baseball season.  As young sheriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, HITMAN) and his lanky deputy Russell (Joe Anderson) enjoy the game, they notice something amiss--a rumpled, dazed-looking man with a shotgun has just wandered onto the field.  It's an old acquaintance, Rory Hamill, but it seems he isn't himself today.  And when he levels the shotgun at them, David has to put him down like a dog right there on the pitcher's mound. 

Elsewhere in town, in a scene right out of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, David's wife Dr. Judy Dutton (Radha Mitchell, PITCH BLACK, SILENT HILL) is examining a man whose worried wife claims he "isn't himself."  Later that night he'll prove it by burning down their house with her and their son Nicholas in it.  David and Russell investigate the growing epidemic of savage homicides and discover a crashed airplane in a lake that supplies the town's drinking water, surmising that its cargo must've contained some kind of mind-altering chemicals.

Sure enough, their town soon gets locked down by scary military types in hazmat suits and people start getting executed and incinerated.  With dozens of bloodthirsty crazies running around and armed soldiers shooting anything that moves, the unaffected characters decide it's time to get the hell out of Dodge.  But will they make it?

The story does a good job of building tension with the initial incidents of irrational murder, some being committed by characters (the school principal, the medical examiner) we already know to be normal, everyday shlubs.  As the mayhem escalates, so does the fear factor, with some pretty good jump scares here and there and some rather grisly sights such as a man with his mouth and eyelids sewn shut.  The worst of the crazies is a trio of hunters who take advantage of their wonderful new lack of inhibitions to engage in a full-scale people hunt in which they bag more than their limit. 

The film begins to resemble Stephen King's THE STAND when the military moves in and starts rounding up the citizenry, holding them in pens at the high school and restraining those who display any possible signs of infection.  One of the most nerve-wracking scenes occurs when Judy,  her teenage assistant Becca (Danielle Panabaker), and several others are strapped to gurneys when one of their former neighbors wanders in with a pitchfork and starts ventilating them.  David has his own problems when the medical examiner attacks him with an electric bone saw and comes close to giving him a humdinger of a circumcision.

One suspenseful setpiece follows another as David, Judy, Russell, and Becca set off on foot to try and reach the safety of a truck stop where they believe the town's unaffected citizens are being protected.  Procuring an old patrol car at the Dutton home (where they run into the vengeful survivors of the Hamill clan), they flee from a passing helicopter by ducking into a car wash where the service is to die for.  And as if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when one of their group slowly begins to get a little...crazed.

Impressive direction by Breck Eisner and some beautiful camerawork, which makes the most of some panoramic vistas in Iowa and Georgia, highlight the film's impeccable production values.  The story is simple, straightforward, and fast-paced, slowing down only a bit in the second half before the survivors reach the truck stop where the final desperate battle against the worst of the crazies takes place.  But the film has one last trick up its sleeve after that, with a slam-bang finale boasting some dazzling CGI and edge-of-your-seat excitement. 

The DVD from Anchor Bay is in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1 sound, with English and Spanish subtitles.  Extras include a director's commentary, three making-of featurettes, a look at Rob Hall's grisly makeup effects, two chapters of "The Crazies" motion comic, a step-by-step demonstration of how some of the CGI visuals were done, trailers, a photo gallery, and a couple of DVD-rom features.  (There's also a three-part Easter egg, so happy hunting.)

Come for the horror, stay for the action and suspense, and let THE CRAZIES entertain you as much as it did me.  Or not...I'm aware that there are people who don't like this movie.  But who knows?  They may be...crazies!

THE CRAZIES -- DVD Review by Porfle

The Infamous Jump Cut in "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) (video)

In George Romero's classic 1968 zombie thriller, "Night of the Living Dead", there's a glaring jump cut...

...where several minutes of dialogue have been removed.

It comes right in the middle of a shot.

Here is one suggestion for eliminating the jump cut.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

The Infamous Jump Cut in "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) (video)

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED -- DVD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 9/15/10

 

As one of the shocked and terrified viewers who sat in the dark watching NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) during its first run, I found the concept of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED-- that is, the entire film reinterpreted piecemeal by a variety of graphic artists, along with the original soundtrack--to be irresistibly intriguing. My initial viewing of this disjointed and sometimes off-puttingly crude curio was, unfortunately, a disappointment.

However, once I realized that the film is intended as a sort of kinetic art gallery rather than a cohesive narrative, and that it's more of a fan-contributor project (by organizer-curator Mike Schneider) than the polished work of professional artists and animators, I was able to relax my expectations and begin to appreciate some of the various artistic renderings of all those familiar images. One thing's for sure, though--a scene-by-scene knowledge of the original film is necessary to make sense of this collaborative reimagining. Try to watch it first, and you'll probably have no idea what the hell's going on.

The term "reanimated" is a bit misleading, since much of the film consists of still images. Some resemble comic book panels, some hastily-drawn storyboards, and some merely sketches and scribbles. Occasionally you get some pretty nice work, much of which is done in the style of the old underground comics of the 60s and 70s or the earlier EC horror comics. There's a nice series of portraits of Barbra which are amateurish-looking but expressive, as she relates to Ben the story of what happened to her and Johnny in the cemetary. Her discovery of the music box brings another interesting series of images.

The segments that are actually animated are a real grab bag of wildly-uneven quality and tone. Some scenes resemble pre-"Goldeneye" videogame technology and are interesting in their own strange way. Others, such as Barbra first seeking shelter in the farmhouse and the final zombie attack, are done using claymation that is so crude it makes Art Clokey look like Ray Harryhausen. A long segment of Ben and Barbra boarding up the house looks like something out of a Bizarro "South Park" episode.

Sequences switch between digitally manipulated still drawings, animated stick figures, pictures with actual talking mouths superimposed "Clutch Cargo" style, and even abstract images consisting of moving shapes filled with writhing squiggles. (The latter segments, more than any others, necessitate a familiarity with the original film lest the viewer be totally lost.) The early scene of Barbra and Johnny's arrival in the cemetary uses actual actors who are animated a la Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" video. My least favorite moments are the ones in which actual footage from the original film is merely altered in some way.

With its emphasis on artistic expression and variety, NOTLD: REANIMATED sacrifices not only the original's narrative flow but often its grim attempts to scare us as well. This is especially true when one familiar fright sequence is rendered, believe it or not, in a cartoon style resembling "Ren and Stimpy" and "Itchy and Scratchy", with cats as the zombies and mice as the terrified humans. Several other contributions are aimed at being more amusing than scary, with sock puppets and even Muppets taking part in the carnage.

Even Barbie dolls get in on the action at times, particularly in the cellar scene with Harry and Helen Cooper. Watching these dolls being hand-manipulated in real time isn't all that interesting, although the miniature sets are nice. There is, however, one sublime moment--the famous "jump cut", which George Romero says he simply couldn't edit his way around, is faithfully reproduced.

The DVD from Wild Eye is in 1.33:1 full screen and runs 101 minutes including the introduction by horror host Count Gore De Vol. As with other Wild Eye DVDs I've seen, there are numerous special features. These include three commentary tracks, alternate and deleted scenes, some short horror films and comics, interviews with some of the film's main contributors, NOTLD coloring book contest entries, a look at the extensive NOTLD box art collection of Wild Eye's Rob Hauschild, and "Zombie Encounter", a lengthy panel discussion on zombie films with Hauschild, authors John Joseph Adams, Jonathan Maberry, and Dr. Kim Paffenroth, and other notables. Various other interesting tidbits round out the extras menu.

"Over 100 artists--over 100 styles" claims the liner notes on the DVD box, and you won't doubt it after being assaulted by this sometimes boring, yet curiously fascinating conglomeration of disparate images. You may not like it even after giving it a thoughtful second viewing as I did, but if you're a fan of George Romero's original classic, you owe it to yourself to take a stroll through the oddball cinematic art museum that is NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED. It's definitely a unique experience.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED -- DVD Review by Porfle

Dual Roles in George Romero's "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968) (video)

After entering the abandoned farmhouse, Barbra discovers...

...a horribly mutilated dead body upstairs.
Ben later drags the body into a back bedroom. But who plays the corpse?

Answer: it's Kyra Schon, who's also Harry and Helen Cooper's ailing daughter, Karen.

Later, a female ghoul plucks an insect from a tree and eats it.
She's played by Marilyn Eastman, who is also...

...Karen's mother, Helen Cooper.

Those Coopers really get around, don't they?

Originally posted on 12/3/18

I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Dual Roles in George Romero's "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968) (video)

Joe Bob Reviews "NIGHT OF THE ANIMATED DEAD", New Animated Version Of The George Romero Classic

 

Animating the Reanimated Turns Up Dead
By Joe Bob Briggs

 

NEW YORK—Well, it sounded like a cute idea.

I heard that somebody put together an animated version of George Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead.

This had to be an obsessed fan in Youngstown doing stop-motion in his attic, right?

Or maybe it was a low-level inker at Marvel who went home every night to her walk-up apartment in Queens and painstakingly drew digital versions of Barbara, Ben, Johnny, Harry Cooper and the rest of the cast, saving the zombies for last because they would be the most fun.

Maybe it was a “reimagining” of the story originally written by John Russo for Romero. Something like Tom Savini did with his 1990 remake—lovingly faithful to the characters, but with unique twists that catch us off guard.

Whatever it was, it had to be a passion project, right? Nobody puts that much time and effort into a homage unless they worship the film and worship Romero.

Wrong.

Backed by big-studio money, directed by an acclaimed animator who does million-dollar commercials, staffed with A-list voice talent including Katharine Isabelle of Ginger Snaps fame, with so many people working on it that the credits go on for seven minutes, Night of the Animated Dead has the soul of Saran Wrap on a three-day-old cookie. It’s basically a paint-by-numbers Xerox that added color to the identical shots in the original movie—including all kinds of massive blood spewing whenever a zombie gets wasted—but forgot to add color to the story itself.

 

Jason Axinn, the director, had a highly praised first feature called To Your Last Death two years ago at London’s Frightfest, but that film was noted more for its blood-soaked gore than its emotional impact. The same is true here. In Night of the Animated Dead, Romero’s characters become specimens instead of the flawed but sympathetic victims of the original. This is especially true in the case of the Harry Cooper character. Karl Hardman played it straight down the middle in 1968 so that you were able to see that his hard-headedness derived from his desire to protect his wife and daughter. As voiced by Josh Duhamel in the animated version, he’s just a selfish prick. (It’s not Duhamel’s fault. It’s drawn and written that way. Cooper’s face is feckless and sinister.) The Barbara character, too, becomes one-dimensional as she just babbles incoherently or stares straight ahead in a catatonic state, so you don’t get the Judith O’Dea tenderness. (Barbara is voiced by Katharine Isabelle, but again, it’s not her fault that the animation gives her nowhere to go.)

The reason for the lack of character depth seems to derive from the choice of animation style. The characters move in that herky-jerky mode characteristic of shorts normally seen at the Festival of East European Animation with titles like Reflection or Random Labyrinth or Hedgehog in Caligari’s Court. In other words, they don’t bother to sculpt the bodies so that we start to feel they are more than just symbols of people. We’ve already seen the real people in the real movie, so it seems like this would just be basic, but we have far too many moments of Ben being a cardboard bad-ass (voiced by Dule Hill), Harry being a cardboard coward, and Tom and Judy being a pair of cardboard lovebirds making bad decisions.

Far from being a fan-based love letter to the zombie classic, Night of the Animated Dead seems to be created by a bunch of suits in a conference room.

  

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE

 


AND SEE JOE BOB IN PERSON AT THESE EVENTS!

 
* 10/9 How Rednecks Saved Hollywood, Columbus, OH. Tickets
* 10/22-10/24 Monster-Mania, Oaks, PA. Tickets
* 10/30 Scarefaire, Victorville, CA. Tickets
*11/13 How Rednecks Saved Hollywood, Atlanta, GA. Tickets
* 11/19-11/21 Preserve Halloween Festival, Irving, TX. Tickets

 

Joe Bob Reviews "NIGHT OF THE ANIMATED DEAD", New Animated Version Of The George Romero Classic

Romero and Argento Classic "TWO EVIL EYES" Two Disc 4K UHD Blu-ray Set Coming August 24 -- Watch Trailer HERE!

 

"TWO EVIL EYES"

George Romero and Dario Argento's classic tale of horror and suspense gets the royal restoration treatment courtesy of Blue Underground

Two Disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray Set Coming August 24th

"Absolutely not for the squeamish… Romero and Argento fans are not likely to be disappointed by these tales of the supernatural!” – Los Angeles Times

A Double Dose of Terror from the Directors of DAWN OF THE DEAD and SUSPIRIA

 

PRE-ORDER NOW

The Masters of Modern Horror -George Romero and Dario Argento - bring you an unprecedented pair of shockers inspired by the tales of Edgar Allan Poe.

In Romero's The Facts In The Case Of Mr. Valdemar, a conniving wife (Adrienne Barbeau of THE FOG) and her lover use a hypnotic trance to embezzle a fortune from her dying husband, only to receive some chilling surprises from beyond the grave. 

 

Then in Argento's The Black Cat, a deranged crime scene photographer (Harvey Keitelof FROM DUSK TILL DAWN) is driven to brutal acts of madness and murder by his girlfriend's new pet. But will this cunning feline deliver a final sickening twist of its own?

Martin Balsam (PSYCHO), E.G. Marshall (CREEPSHOW), John Amos (THE BEASTMASTER) and Tom Atkins (NIGHT OF THE CREEPS) co-star in this wild horror hit that also features grisly makeup effects by Tom Savini (MANIAC). Blue Underground's acclaimed restoration of TWO EVIL EYES, scanned in 4K 16-bit from the original camera negative, is now presented with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, packed with hours of Extras!

 

NOTE: Publicity stills are NOT screenshots from the 4K master

Bonus Features:

    Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) Widescreen 1.85:1 feature presentation and Bonus Extras Blu-ray
    Audio: Dolby Atmos (English); 2.0 DTS-HD (English); 1.0 DTS-HD (French)
    Subtitles: English SDH, Francais, Espanol
    Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, Author of 'Murder By Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento'
    Theatrical Trailer
    Poster & Still Gallery
    Two Masters' Eyes - Interviews with Directors Dario Argento & George Romero, Special Make-Up Effects Supervisor Tom Savini, Executive Producer Claudio Argento, and Asia Argento
    Savini's EFX - A Behind-the-Scenes look at the film's Special Make-Up Effects
    At Home With Tom Savini - A personal tour of Tom Savini's home
    Adrienne Barbeau on George Romero
    Before I Wake - Interview with Star Ramy Zada
    Behind The Wall - Interview with Star Madeleine Potter
    One Maestro And Two Masters - Interview with Composer Pino Donaggio
    Rewriting Poe - Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
    The Cat Who Wouldn't Die - Interview with Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi
    Two Evil Brothers - Interview with Special Make-Up Assistant Everett Burrell
    Working With George - Interview with Costume Designer Barbara Anderson

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Romero and Argento Classic "TWO EVIL EYES" Two Disc 4K UHD Blu-ray Set Coming August 24 -- Watch Trailer HERE!

Porfle's Trivia Quiz: "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD" (1968) (video)

George Romero's ground-breaking horror epic...

...of reanimated corpses feasting on the flesh of the living...

...remains one of the most horrifying films ever made.

But how much do you remember about it?


Question: Barbara says the day the time changes should be the first day of...?

A. Spring
B. Summer
C. Autumn
D. Winter
E. August

Question: The first person Barbara encounters in the farmhouse is...?

A. Harry
B. Ben
C. Judy
D. Tom
E. Helen

Question: Tom fumbles their escape attempt by doing what?

A. Forgetting the rifle
B. Running over Ben
C. Shooting out a truck tire
D. Driving into a tree
E. Setting fire to the truck

Question: The police chief says of the ghouls, "Well, they're dead--they're... " What?

A. "Beyond our help"
B. "All messed up"
C. "Out to lunch"
D. "Good for nothing"
E. "Dumb as a doorknob"

Question: Who kills Helen Cooper?

A. Her husband
B. Her daughter
C. The cemetery ghoul
D. Johnny
E. Ben

Question: What happens to Ben?

A. Escapes to a rescue station
B. Survives the night, then joins posse
C. Survives the night, is then killed by posse
D. Killed trying to save Barbara
E. Shot by Harry Cooper


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

Porfle's Trivia Quiz: "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD" (1968) (video)

The Funniest Scene In "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968) (video)

Authentic-looking news reports lent added realism to George Romero's zombie classic.

Pittsburgh TV personality Bill "Chilly Billy" Cardille played a reporter.

His interview with Sheriff McClelland (George Cosana) was partly improvised.

This led to the film's most unintentionally funny moment...

...which writer/director Romero was happy to leave in.


I neither own nor claim any rights to this material.  Just having some fun with it.  Thanks for watching!

The Funniest Scene In "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968) (video)

DAY OF ROMERO in Los Angeles: George Romero To Get Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame October 25, 2017

HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO HONOR THE LATE GEORGE A. ROMERO

GODFATHER OF THE MODERN ZOMBIE FILM GENRE WITH POSTHUMOUS WALK OF FAME STAR  

WHO:         Honoree: George A. Romero
Emcee: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler
Guest speaker: Filmmaker Edgar Wright and special effects make-up artist/producer, Greg Nicotero.  Accepting the star on behalf of the family will be Romero’s wife Suzanne Desrocher-Romero

WHAT:       Dedication of the 2,621st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
in the category of Motion Pictures

WHERE:    6604 Hollywood Boulevard in front the Hollywood Toy & Costume Store

WHEN:      Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. PDT
Event will be live-streamed exclusively on www.walkoffame.com


The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that filmmaker George A. Romero will be honored posthumously with the 2,621st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. The star will be dedicated in the category of Motion Pictures at 6604 Hollywood Boulevard in front the Hollywood Toy & Costume Store.

“The fact that fans nominated Mr. Romero for the Walk of Fame star speaks volumes of how loved he was for his work in the horror film genre and for being the person he was. Fortunately, prior to his passing he learned that he was selected for a star, and we are saddened that he won’t be here with us for his special day,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame.

Helping Emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star will be guest speakers: Filmmaker Edgar Wright and special effects make-up artist Greg Nicotero.  Accepting the star will be Romero’s wife Suzanne Desrocher-Romero.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce which administers the popular star ceremonies encourages people who are unable to attend and fans around the world to watch the event live exclusively on www.walkoffame.com.

Born on Feb. 4, 1940 in New York City, Romero became interested in filmmaking at a young age when he borrowed an 8mm camera from a wealthy uncle. Inspired by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s musical opera, “Tales of Hoffmann” (1951), Romero began making his own short films and was arrested at 14 years old after he threw a flaming dummy off the roof of a building while making “Man from the Meteor” (1954).

While attending Suffield Academy in Connecticut, Romero made two 8mm shorts, “Gorilla” (1956) and “Earth Bottom” (1956); the latter being a geology documentary that won him a Future Scientists of America award. After graduating high school, he attended Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA where he earned his Bachelor’s in Art, Theater and Design in 1960.

Romero continued making shorts such as “Curly” (1958) and graduated to 16mm films with “Slant” (1958), both of which he made with sometime collaborator Rudolph Ricci. Following work as a grip on Alfred Hitchcock's “North by Northwest” (1958), Romero shot the feature-length “Expostulations” (1962), a satirical anthology of loosely-connected shorts that showed hints of his later social consciousness.

After forming the commercial and industrial production company, Latent Image, in 1963, Romero cobbled together $114,000 in order to direct his first feature film, “Night of the Flesh Eaters.” Renamed “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) after landing a distributor, the unrelenting film - which was criticized at the time for its onscreen excesses - became a landmark cult film and significant social barometer that forever changed the horror genre.

With no heroes or redemptive meaning - only unstoppable nihilistic evil rampaging through small town America - the movie popularized the zombie apocalypse subgenre of horror, spawning numerous imitators throughout the ensuing decades.

Though decidedly cheap in production values, “Night of the Living Dead” nonetheless stood the test of time as an innovative cult film that attracted new fans every generation and became Romero’s signature work.

Romero’s other films include: “Season of the Witch,” “The Crazies, “Knight Riders,” “Creep Show,” “Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear,” “Two Evil Eyes.”

Romero secured his cult status with two remarkable films: “Martin” and “Dawn of the Dead”.   He later went on to write “Day of the Dead, the ostensible conclusion to the “Living Dead” trilogy which emerged as one Romero’s strongest horror films to date.

Romero also worked in television as the creator, co-executive producer and occasional writer of “Tales from the Dark Side.”  Romero teamed up with Stephen King again for his adaptation of King’s novel, “The Dark Half.”

In 2004, Romero returned to familiar territory with “Land of the Dead,” a continuation of his zombie franchise long thought to be finished with “Day of the Dead.” This time, however, Romero increased the energy with a fast-paced actioner that was not shy on the gore and violence, pleasing both fans and the uninitiated. “Land of the Dead” ended up being one of the best reviewed films of the 2005 summer!

He continued his zombie revitalization with “Diary of the Dead,” which was more of a reboot than a sequel to the other four movies in the “Dead” series. He then made the sixth in the series, “Survival of the Dead” (2010), which saw the inhabitants of an isolated island off the coast of North America conflicted whether to kill their own relatives rising from the grave, or try to find a cure. Romero’s “Dead” films continue to inspire such hits as “Shaun of the Dead” (2004) and “Zombieland” (2009).

In 2013, Romero’s “Empire of the Dead” was announced by Marvel Comics. It was a 15-issue limited comic book series which began publication in 2014, and ended in late 2015. “Empire” features zombies similar to those in his “Living Dead” film series, but differs slightly because vampires are also part of the story.
Dubbed the “Godfather of Zombie Films,” George A. Romero was a pivotal figure in the development of the contemporary horror film and the progenitor of the zombie apocalypse subgenre.
Filmmakers who consider Romero as one of their influences include Frank Darabont, Guillermo Del Toro, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino to name just few!

Sadly, Romero passed away on July 16, 2017 from a brief, but aggressive battle with lung cancer. He slipped away listening to the score of “The Quite Man,” one of his all-time favorite films, with his family by his side. He leaves behind a filmmaking legacy that has endured, and will continue to endure, the test of time!

ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME www.WalkOfFame.com
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an internationally-recognized Hollywood icon. With approximately 24 star ceremonies annually broadcast around the world, the constant reinforcement provided to the public has made the Walk of Fame a top visitor attraction. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce continues to add stars on the Walk of Fame as the representative of the City of Los Angeles. The Walk of Fame is a tribute to all of those who worked diligently to develop the concept and to maintain this world-class tourist attraction. The Walk of Fame is open to the public. No paid admission or assigned seating at star ceremonies. It is understood that the cost of installing a star on the Walk of Fame upon approval is $40,000 and the sponsor of the nominee accepts the responsibility for arranging for payment to the Hollywood Historic Trust, a 501(c)3 charitable foundation. The funds are used to pay for the creation/installation of the star and ceremony, as well as maintenance of the Walk of Fame. Download the official app for iPhones and Android devices at http://officialhollywoodwalkoffameapp.com

For more than 96 years, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has provided leadership, business development resources, networking, and government affairs programs and services to keep the Hollywood business and residential communities safe, relevant and economically vital. Jeff Zarrinnam, is the Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2017-18, and Leron Gubler is the President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. For more information please visit www.hollywoodchamber.net.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign are registered trademarks of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
#hollywoodwalkoffame   #wofstargirl

DAY OF ROMERO in Los Angeles: George Romero To Get Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame October 25, 2017

The Most Anticipated Horror DVD of the Year, "Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated", Coming July 27th, Plays Opening Night San Diego Comic Con

"Night Of The Living Dead: Reanimated" on DVD July 27 - A Mixed Media Re-interpretation of the Greatest Zombie Film of All Time

Over 100 artists reanimate the timeless classic
Screening announced as part of San Diego Comic Con's opening night festivities

Wild Eye Releasing and MVD Visual are pleased to announce the release of Night Of The Living Dead: Reanimated for North American distribution on July 27th.

Rondo Award-nominated as Best Independent Horror Feature, Night Of The Living Dead: Reanimated is a collaborative artistic mash-up of George Romero's cult classic. Nearly 150 International artists and animators chose their favorite scenes and re-envisioned them through their own artwork, with no restrictions on style, media or process - resulting in an eclectic 'art show' interpretation of the seminal 1968 film, all placed over the original's audio.

With work ranging from oil paintings to comic illustrations and sock puppets to CGI and stop-motion - NOTLD:R not only pays the respect due to this most important work in horror history, but encourages viewers to experience the film in a brand new light that bursts with the humor and horror of a new generation of artists.

"This DVD is like a portable horror or zombie convention," observes Wild Eye's Rob Hauschild. "We wanted to recreate the experience that fans have had around the country, where they've enjoyed NOTLD:R at film fests, on horror host TV shows, at zombie-themed events, and pop culture gatherings like the upcoming screening during Comic-Con's opening night."

The screening will take place on Thursday July 22nd at 9:30pm in Room 5AB at Comic-Con. Directly following the screening, contributing artists will hold a panel discussion covering their varied media and involvement in NOTLD:R. They will also be taking questions, giving away NOTLD:R schwag and signing autographs. Confirmed panelists include: John Chesnut and Josh Barnett (claymation and cut-out animation), Jacquelyn Bond (watercolor paintings), Grant Fuhst (mixed-media artwork), Sean Williams (hand drawn animation), Zina Lahr (toy modification/ experimental animation), Brad Uyeda (stop-motion animation), Anthony Amos (digital animation), and Eric Schock (comic book illustration).

The extras-saturated Special Edition disc confirms the comparison to the fun of attending a major con, with the two commentaries serving as "panel talks." The first track spotlights NOTLD:R organizer/curator Mike Schneider as he shares behind-the-scenes secrets to this unique project . A second commentary features NY Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry, the multiple Stoker-winning transmedia zombie scribe whose body of work includes Marvel Zombies, Patient Zero and The Dragon Factory. 

There's also the hour-plus "Zombie Encounter," an actual panel that sees Maberry joined by other experts on the undead phenomenon such as David Barr Kirtley, John Joseph Adams (The Living Dead) and Stoker-winner Dr. Kim Paffenroth (Gospel of the Living Dead).

Paffenroth's presence as a respected academic underscores the DVD's broad appeal. The cultural and technological trends that enabled the 'mass collaboration' of NOTLD:R is fascinating to many, so it was important that the DVD provide insights into process, not just product. To this end, it includes several different making-of videos. For example, Flash animator Mike Boas guides viewers through the process of rotoscoping Johnny and Barbara by showing you his active desktop firsthand.

Extensive information on all of the individual NOTLD:R contributors is available on the DVD, as well as extended versions of some of their favorite scenes, several short films, as well as DVD-ROM content, and even some of their comics. Viewers also get a scrollable gallery of production stills, focussing on the artists and their dark and sometimes humorous but always compelling visions.

Over Two Hours of Bonus Features:

o Special horror host introduction from Count Gore De Vol
o Commentary with curator horror author Jonathan Maberry
o 'Making of NOTLD:R' commentary track
o NOTLD:R artist call-in commentaries
o Coloring Book contest entries
o Alternate/ Deleted scenes
o Short films
o Horror comics and related horror art
o Trailers
o Behind the Scenes: Animation Processes
o The Zombie Encounter Panel discussion video
o "Night of the Living Box Art" video
o and more…

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Hi Res Cover Art
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The Most Anticipated Horror DVD of the Year, "Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated", Coming July 27th, Plays Opening Night San Diego Comic Con

Bootleg of the Living Dead: Label Cannibalizes Own Movie With Unauthorized Release

AN INDIE FILM FIRST: DVD LABEL BOOTLEGS ITS OWN RELEASE


NEW YORK, NY – In advance of its Special Edition DVD bow on July 27th, the groundbreaking Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated will first be “released” in a no-frills, not-so-special bootleg edition in May.

“Not everyone who wants to see the latest films can afford to, especially these days,” explains Wild Eye Releasing founder and principal, Rob Hauschild. “So we’re doing our part to ease the cost of entertainment for the average moviegoer.”

In an unprecedented move, Wild Eye will be distributing low-end, cheaply packaged versions of Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated to—well, to anyone who wants one. Due to the unpredictable nature of bootlegging, it’s difficult to say with precision where this DVD will surface, but checking sidewalk blankets in big cities and overloaded freebie tables at genre conventions is probably a good place to start. Once fans have their own copy, Wild Eye is encouraging them to upload it to their favorite file-sharing and Torrent sites. And this give-the-people-free-content approach is in perfect keeping with the not-for-profit Creative Commons ethos that launched the NOTLD:R project in the first place.

“Bootlegs more realistically reflect how fans are watching their favorite movies these days,” argues Hauschild. “We’re just beating the bootlegger to the punch and controlling our content.”

Although the calculated—and publicized—distribution of a bootleg might seem like a commercial oxymoron, in this case it is being pursued with the highest standards of professional craftsmanship. For example, maintaining authenticity in terms of the bootleg tradition is a key part of the project. Not surprisingly, it will boast ramshackle production values, and, having been a shot on a consumer-grade camcorder at a recent screening, will feature crowd laughter that annoyingly overlaps with the soundtrack and, of course, audience members blocking the screen as they rise to take bathroom breaks.

“Prepare for the worst,” warns Hauschild. “Astute bootleg consumers will appreciate the uneven, hastily prepared cover graphics and the grammatically incorrect marketing copy. We also made sure to use top-grade DVD-R’s to burn these copies of the film. It’s important that people view this as not just another bootleg, but the bootleg of the year.”

Described as “remix culture meets classic horror,” NOTLD:R is a curated art show of animated and comic-book style images that “hangs” on the backbone of the 1968 film by George A. Romero. Featuring the work of nearly 150 international artists in staggeringly different styles that range from CGI to sock puppets, NOTLD:R pays tribute to a pop culture landmark in wildly inventive and unpredictable ways. Since its warm reception on the festival circuit in late 2009, it has become a favorite of online horror hosts and legions of zombie fanatics the world over.

The film will be available this summer both online from Neoflux Productions and on a proper DVD, top-heavy with special features, from Wild Eye Releasing.

To pre-order Wild Eye Releasing's OFFICIAL July DVD release of NOTLDR, visit Amazon HERE.

For more information on Wild Releasing, please visit: http://wildeyereleasing.com

For more information on Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated, please visit: http://www.notldr.com/

Wild Eye Releasing specializes in unearthing and showcasing neglected gems of the indie film world. In June, Wild Eye will release GOLD, a never-before-released counter-culture film from 1968 starring Del Close and with music by the MC5. Wild Eye's horror and exploitation releases include GOTHKILL, the BLOODY APE, and Keith Crocker's masterwork of Nazisploitation, BLITZKRIEG.

Bootleg of the Living Dead: Label Cannibalizes Own Movie With Unauthorized Release