[Konvas] Zombieland (Completely Off Topic)

[Adam Frey]

colcam at aim.com wrote:
> Two parts to this-- one, the Kodak credit was for the release stock.

I was thinking that as well, but haven't seen it on very many digitally 
shot films.

I enjoyed it most for its comedic value, which was laced with a few good 
scares. In some ways, it kinda reminded me of "Scream" - where it was a 
little scary, but you laughed the entire movie through, and you laughed 
at yourself and your friends for getting scared and jumping out of your 
seats.

Of course, I will also admit that one of my favorite films is "Shaun of 
the Dead" (Simon Pegg & Nick Frost). I'm completely not a zombie film 
guy (just never got into them), but I absolutely loved the comedy in 
that film.

As for the shots - I was surprised to find out it was digital (after 
watching it). I didn't see anything tell-tale that I often spot with 
that kinda stuff (burned out high-lights, etc). I can usually figure out 
what films are shot digitally rather quickly. This time I just didn't 
notice anything. Of course, there were a lot of night shots and overcast 
shots - so that probably helped a lot...

> "mad cow disease" is not a virus, it is a prion, and by their nature

May not make any sense, but it isn't worse than any of the other zombie 
"explanations" they've put forth over the years (nuclear, chemical, 
biological, and other). And, for that matter, we've bought into a lot of 
other incredible stories over the years that we knew weren't, and 
couldn't possibly be, true.

It's both funny and sad, but most of the targeted audience (I'm taking a 
guess here, but it was most likely 16-24, since that was the average age 
of the people in the theater last night) doesn't even remember the mad 
cow disease scare...

This is even scarier - in class the other day, one of the students was 
discussing the movie "Red Dawn" (with Patrick Swayze) from the year 
1984. I remember it and I remember it was kinda believable because it 
was one of those scary things that all of us growing up at that time 
thought *could* possibly happen. But the students thought it was silly 
and didn't make any sense. It was then that I realized that I had lived 
through an era that they will never understand.

BTW: When I went into the theater last night, I kept hearing, "Hi, Mr 
Frey!" - about 7 of my students were in there to watch the film also. 
Talked to a few of them after the movie and they all loved it...

> Several days into the zombie plague and the power grid still worked,

Yeah - I agree. I thought about that too, but it didn't make the movie 
any less fun. ;-)

> If you fire a major caliber firearm inside the passenger compartment

Not entirely true. I'm guessing you did not grow up in farm country with 
at least one idiot friend? I will agree that your ears ring for a few 
hours. Either way, I still would not EVER recommend it - and I'm still 
surprised I am able to hear.

> Like District 9, it was written for people of subnormal intelligence
> who didn't question stupid things, and Adam, if you stop and think
> about it you may wind up wincing at your earlier evaluation.

Haven't seen District 9 yet - it's at the dollar theater this week, so 
maybe I'll slip out and see it. All of my students (that have seen it) 
gave it a thumbs up.

I may wince in the future, but I love funny and quirky films - and films 
that laugh at themselves. For instance, I loved "Airplane", "The Naked 
Gun", and most anything Mel Brooks. More recently, I also love 
everything by the comedy group Broken Lizard.

> Most of Zombieland was shot in Georgia for tax credits, but most of
> the actors and crew were LA.?

I've called the Maryland Film Office several times for help - to which 
they have given the most ridiculous answers. The one I always thought 
absurd was that they will only give tax credits to large movies - 
(basically meaning LA producers) for shooting their big-budget films 
here. And they claim that somehow helps Maryland out... Silly beans.

Sorry to hear that you hated the movie so much H.W. - I went with a 
group of friends and ended up getting surrounded by an even larger group 
of students. And I have to admit, I love sharing a good laugh - so maybe 
I enjoyed the camaraderie more so than the movie? Hmmm. Maybe I'll have 
to watch the movie again by myself one day to "un-appreciate" it... hehe


Cheers,

Adam Frey
Director/Cinematographer
Crimson Chain Productions
http://crimsonchainproductions.com
Cell: 301-639-7146

Crimson Chain Productions
PO Box 35
Libertytown, MD 21762