Interview with Jeffery Brookshire

By: Sam Roberts

Tuesday September 25, 2007

This in not your usual zombie fare..
There seems to have been a resurgence of the zombie movie lately, helped with the popularity of such films as the recent George Romero remakes, the Resident Evil movies, and the 28 Days/Weeks later films. However, most of these films are alike- a bunch of zombies try to kill a small group of humans. In the end, the zombies are defeated, the humans survive, and everyone is happy. But a new movie, Awaken the Dead, promises to offer a fresh twist on the genre. Written, directed, and edited by Jeffery McMichael Brookshire, Awaken the Dead is an indie film that will revitalize the zombie genre. He graciously offered us an interview, giving us an in-depth look into this exciting new film. But first, a quick plot synopsis, from the film’s website:

A killer priest. The undead. A dark and deadly past.
Sometimes the road to redemption is the path through Hell...

It is a dark, grainy, gritty, apocalyptic yet often hilarious redemption tale. AWAKEN THE DEAD is a zombie film that is equal parts espionage drama, dark comedy, and undead action. Two lost souls must band together as a virus infects the world around them. Christopher, a former killer turned priest battles his own inner demons while Mary, a spirited recluse, battles the world. Thrown together, neither knows what brought them there or what is changing the neighborhood around them. Their search for answers forces them to confront hidden truths and a web of conspiracy. The ensemble cast includes a terrified Jehovah’s witness, an over the top ex-marine and his wife, two Asian Schoolgirls, and a massive killer pimp. It is a story of poetic justice, moral growth, cynical laughter and zombies.

(If that doesn’t make you want to see the film, I don’t know what will. Ok, let’s try the trailer:)



If that still didn't convince you, I present our interview with him. He offered us both a look into the film itself as well as the making and marketing of the movie, something of interest to those who are studying business or film production:

How did you get your start in film making?

As a writer. I wrote many screenplays before writing the script for LOOKING FOR PRINCE CHARMING under contract. That led me to extensive involvement on set. I caught the bug from there and knew that I had the right combination of vision, determination and devotion to story to make my own movie. That's really where it began.

Many of our readers might be interested in the process of getting a movie made. What did you have to go through to get funding for the movie, find a distribution company, find actors, locations, etc.?

Every step has its own difficulties and complexities. It all starts and ends with a good story. The script must be polished and original. That's what you use to secure your investors. Everyone loves the movies. But before someone is willing to give you money to make your own movie, they have to be convinced that you are doing something new, marketable and profitable. They have to believe in the concept and believe in you. Your browser may not support display of this image.

We live in LA. Finding actors here is like finding a gas station. There's one around every corner and sometime you find them in bunches. Finding GOOD actors is quite a bit more complicated. You run ads everywhere (In the trade papers, online, etc.) and you hold auditions. As a writer, you create the characters. When they audition, you really have to sublimate the characters in much the same way. When the right actor reads for you, you know it.

Locations, props, and wardrobe are actually a lot of fun. It's very creative, like live action brainstorming. Scouring the prop houses looking for weapons was a blast. It was like that scene out of the Matrix. You know the one I'm talking about. It was pretty wild leaving the prop house with a trunk full of weapons. You don't want to get stopped for a speeding ticket or anything.

Finding the crew, getting the proper insurance, getting the legal documents taken care of, scheduling and the mundane nuts and bolts part of the operation was tedious. Melissa Holt, our Director of Photography was instrumental in helping to negotiate with the G & E (Grip and Electric), Camera Houses and Lens shops.

After post production (Online editing, post sound, ADR, etc.), finding distribution was really the test. All I can say is this: Try everything. Try everyone. Believe in your movie and hope you stayed grounded enough to make a film that the general public will like rather than an indulgence of your own vanities.

How difficult was being in all 3 roles as writer/director/editor?

It was neither difficult nor easy. It required compartmentalizing everything like a terrorist cell. When I was writing, I was only writing. When I was directing, I was only directing. Editing, the same. A writer creates. A director interprets. An editor completes the puzzle but it's a puzzle with many shapes. He has to pull out the right one. One thing at a time. The benefit is that all of these positions were guided by the same vision and flow.

What was your inspiration for the movie? How long did it take to write?

Two to three months is, more or less, what it took to write, including revisions. I wanted the feel and sound of THE CROW with the edgy lawlessness of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and the sensibilities of SHAUN OF THE DEAD and GLADIATOR. I also wanted a deeply personal struggle against incredible odds along the lines of the best Robert Ludlum novels.

What was your favorite moment when shooting the movie?

Shooting the big action scene from the middle of the movie. We had a hundred zombies, stunt men, blood FX, guns and just a day to shoot it all. It was wildly kinetic and turned out great. I had storyboarded every frame we shot that day. It was like breathing life into a comic book. Your browser may not support display of this image.

How was the selection process with the bands?

I chose the bands even before I chose the actors. I had a sound in my head for the movie. It was just a matter of finding bands/songs to fit that sound. I used the Internet extensively, visited dimly lit clubs in LA and listened to thousands of indie rock artists from all over the world. When I found ones that felt right, I contacted them.

How was the music selected?

During the editing process, I cut the movie with the music from the various bands playing to get a sense for flow and rhythm. Some fit, some didn't. I also had a lot of original music from Edible Clowns and the Gentle Fracture. We watched the movie and plotted the musical signature. Then they put the score together in a week and came back and I laid the music in place using the same 'feel' for the music. It was a very organic process.

Make-up for zombies must get very involved - what were some of the issues you had to face?

Sheer numbers. Logistics. Timelines. A hundred zombies for an outdoor shoot requires port a potties, a mobile food source, an army of make up artists and an impeccable timeline. At times it was a simple mathematical formula. How long does it take to do one zombie multiplied by the number of zombies and divided by the number of make up artists? That kind of thing. And the close up zombies required more detail and time to do, of course. Your browser may not support display of this image.

Any nightmares for anyone after shooting this film?

During the shoot, we had some crew members bunking on site in the house we were using. One of the PAs (Production Assistants) woke up screaming that someone was trying to break into the house. It was, of course, all in his mind. Or was it?

From interviews like these, this movie has had a new type of marketing campaign. How have your built your marketing campaign?

Around the fans. Pure and simple. It's a matter of reaching out to every person that we feel might like this movie, even if it's one person at a time. Movie web sites. Horror sites. Myspace. You Tube. E-mail. Snail mail. Hate mail. Whatever it takes.

But, seriously, the Internet provides us with the most omnipresent of market vehicles. There's a reason myspace sold for $580 million. It's the venue of the young and the hip. But it's also where the fans hang out. AWAKEN THE DEAD is getting rave reviews from the fans and the reviewers. It's fun and we all need some fun in our lives.

Any other information that you would like add for our readers?

Just that indie films like AWAKEN THE DEAD rely on you the fans to survive. The movie's real secret is that it exceeds expectations and tells a tale about very real characters in a very unreal situation. On November 6th, AWAKEN THE DEAD will be available via most online retailers as well as select Best Buys, Circuit Cities, Suncoast Videos and such. Thank you.

So, check out the website for the film, AWAKEN THE DEAD for any further information and pick up this amazing looking film available on DVD on November 6th! As Jeffery Brookshire says, support quality Indie films like this so that more of them can get made. And, you are guaranteed to have a good time when YOU Awaken the Dead!