Zombie Ferox test scene
This scene began as the first part of the film. Due to a lot of unforeseen mishaps and the overall badness of the footage, this “first part” of the film is scrapped. My original post when I finished editing, and uploaded the scene, is below:
There were some mistakes made that I will avoid when I shoot more scenes for the film. First, the make up artist I worked with is a talented and very nice guy, but I found out on the day of the shoot that we were not on the same page. We discussed having make up that was an homage to Italian horror from the 1970′s. I was thinking more Lucio Fulci, but he had in mind films like Burial Ground. So my Zombies have these very cheap looking masks that are not scary, and might make you laugh, kind of like the ghouls in Burial Ground. I didn’t want the film to be a joke. You might be thinking, why didn’t I put my foot down on the day of the shoot and ask him to do something different? Well, that’s because the make up artist had a conflict and sent two students in his place, who were there to follow his directions. The two students didn’t seem experienced enough to improvise and come up with completely different zombie make up on the spot with no notice. So I bit the bullet and plowed ahead. Not matter how experienced the people you’re working with are, don’t assume they know what you want or you’ll get burned. Instead of showing a gruesome zombie feast like in a Fulci film, I had to cut REAL fast so you couldn’t get too close a look at the horrible masks.
I didn’t use squibs or hoses for blood in the film. I super imposed blood bursts over the image. I believe they were eggs filled with blood, and blown up with a charge against a white background. It doesn’t look as good as a hose, or squib, shooting out blood. It looks really fake, so from now on I will use hoses shooting out blood. Expect more gore in future scenes.
I met Lloyd Kaufman
Last Wednesday, at Borders in Hollywood, Lloyd Kaufman did a book signing for his new book “Direct Your Own Damn Movie!” I’ve read and re-read his other two books many many times, “All I Need To Know About FILMMAKING I Learned From The Toxic Avenger” and “Make Your Own Damn Movie!”
After Kaufman signed my books he made me promise to write a review on Amazon, which I did. I’ve included my Amazon review below along with pics of my autographed books.
My Amazon book review for “Direct Your Own Damn Movie!” –
I just met Lloyd Kaufman tonight at a book signing at Borders in Los Angeles. After signing my copy of ‘Direct Your Own Damn Movie!’ he pleaded with me to go on Amazon and give it a good review. I’ve skimmed it on the way home and I can honestly say that this book is another great asset for the independent filmmaker just like his first two books were, which I have actually read. I have started directing a horror movie of my own, without a film crew or a budget, and I’ve found his other book “Make Your Own Damn Movie” very helpful so I know I’ll get a lot out of this one too.
The reason Lloyd Kaufman’s advice on filmmaking is such a great resource is that Lloyd is the genuine article. He is a real independent filmmaker that has experienced success and failure, but most importantly he is also a great human being. One book of his that has helped me get through the dark times is his memoir “Everything I Know About Filmmaking I Learned From The Toxic Avenger.” That book is more personal, documenting Lloyd’s struggle to become a filmmaker, its not a How-To book but it is great.
Lloyd, YOU are one of the great filmmakers. Troma films are amazing films.
thanks for the inspiration, the book from you I’m really waiting for is the one on how to do your own special effects. My horror film has a lot of gore and I have no experience with make up, so I’m working with a special effects make up artist I can barely pay, so it would be nice to know how to do it myself.
thanks,
Daniel
First Location Locked
This is the location I’m filming for the first scenes of Zombie Ferox.
Prop Guns and Gun Fire
I was doing a google search to find information on prop guns, and gun fire that can be imported into Final Cut Pro, when I found this blog posting:
This blog is a great resource for DIY filmmakers. The guy who writes the blog, Scott Eggleston, mentions two resources.
1) A company called Airsoft makes great prop guns that can be purchased at this site here: http://kapowwe.com/
To save money, I was going to try to find if there are people out there selling used Airsoft guns.
2) Gun Fire Effects for Final Cut Pro can be created with a software program called Effects Lab Pro. It costs about $149 dollars.
Their site is:
http://fxhome.com/effectslab/pro
Regarding gun fire effects, there is another site I found on my own that is completely free and a great resource, Detonation Films.
Here is a link to their site: http://detonationfilms.com/
I purchased a copy of Effects Lab Pro. I have not tested it out yet but in the next week or so I will post some videos of what I come up with.
Location Scouting Update
I went location scouting at a youth correctional facility. It’s sort of like a little town and I was looking for locations that could look like a city lost to the apocalypse. It didn’t really live up to my expectations and I also can’t afford the permit to film there. You need to have $1,000,000 dollars of general liability insurance. I got a quote from a production insurance company after I provided them information about my film: no crew, not many actors, 10 year old antiquated equipment, etc. The quote I got was $1500 dollars a day. I’m trying to keep the budget for the entire film under $1,000, so that’s the end of that.
Also, they don’t have any running water at the institute, which means no working toilets. I don’t know what it costs to rent one of those Port-A-Johns, and I don’t want to find out.
Trying To Find Locations I Can Afford
I’ve continued to try to find locations that I can afford. I’ve found a state owned youth correctional facility that has been shut down. It’s like a little town. It has a prison, a hospital, a residence area for the warden and his staff. It would be a great place to film. I have an appointment to go there and see it in person. I’ll post pictures and video of what I find there.
Because this property is owned by the state of California there is no location fee and there is no permit fee; however, you still need 1 million dollars in general liability insurance to film there. My film has no budget so that is just not possible. I’m still going to keep my location scouting appointment and check the place out, but I really can’t afford to film there. Or anywhere else.
I am going to have to rewrite my script according to where I can actually film and right now I have no idea where that is. Most films about the living dead, and most low budget horror films, usually take place in a house that is under siege. I don’t want to do that because its been done to death and filmmakers much more talented than me have already done a great job with the one location premise. So whatever I actually end up filming will show the actors/protagonists fighting the living dead out in the open and at more than ONE location.
Location Scouting Begins
Last week I went driving around downtown Los Angeles to look for locations. The locations have to be appropriate for the story and my film takes place after the apocalypse where the living dead rule the earth. There are a lot of run down industrial areas in LA, unfortunately it is expensive to film in Los Angeles because permits are so expensive. I don’t think I will be able to use any of the locations I visited, but I thought I’d share some location pictures with you anyway.
My Synopsis
Hi, my name is Daniel and Zombie Ferox is my second feature film. This is my first post for the official film web site. I have not cast the film yet and I am still looking for my locations. The film will be shot in Southern California. My influences are John Carpenter, George Romero, Sergio Leone, Jean-Pierre Melville, Sergio Corbucci, George Stevens, Akira Kurosawa and Lucio Fulci. I also really dig Don Siegel, Sam Peckinpah and Roger Corman. I wrote a brief synopsis which you can read below.
Synopsis:
Zombie Ferox is about a group of ex-soldiers trying to survive in a world taken over by the living dead. They spend their days fighting the dead while looking for food in abandoned cities and towns. As the soldiers try to stay alive they must confront something more dangerous than the zombies: other survivors.
Zombie Ferox Photos
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