Mutantville.com

George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead Opens This Week!

That time is upon us once again, oh true believers. Where it once took decades before the master of modern horror would release another film in his epic zombie series, now over the course of the past five years – George A. Romero has released three new dead films and counting! This weekend, George A. Romero’s latest zombie opus Survival of the Dead opens on VOD, Amazon, X-Box Live and in a limited theatrical run.  The Mutantville Players were fortunate enough to catch an early showing of Survival of the Dead during an advance screening premiere at the historic Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC back on April 2nd, 2010.  MVP was pleasantly surprised by Romero’s latest zombie yarn as it was a light-hearted departure from the nihilistic overtones of the previous entries in the “Dead” series.  Fans expecting another dark and depressing bloodbath will most likely leave the theater disappointed – but fans of enjoyable zombie romps such as Shaun of the Dead, Dead Alive, and Return of the Living Dead should enjoy Romero’s latest zombie pic.

Check out the official trailer on Youtube:

Here’s a nice little sneak peek behind the scenes of the making of George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead. As an interesting side note – MVP was able to view this early footage way back in February of 2009 when George Romero hosted the American Zombie Film Festival here in North Carolina.

Hop on over to Break.com and listen as the master George A. Romero discusses his ideas for his latest effort Survival of the Dead.  Romero discusses what has been called his neo-western approach taken in his most recent zombie film.

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/10/romero-talks-about-survival-of-the-dead-1476209.html

Stop by the Mutantville Players’ Youtube channel to hear our thoughts from the advance screening of George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead. Streebo and the gang loved the movie and had a lot of fun with it so check out our video review to see our initial reaction to viewing the movie.

And just so you know we’re not alone in enjoying the movie – check out this video review from our buddies over at Gutmunchers.com.  The writer of the fantastic Gutmunchers webcomic – John – shares his thoughts after viewing the early DVD release of George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead. After you watch John’s review, stop by the Gutmunchers’ webpage and enjoy the hilarity of a world gone mad with zombies in the ongoing Gutmunchers webcomic.

http://www.gutmunchers.com/Web_Comic.html

In case you don’t like George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead, that is fine – we all have different tastes – but if you say some kind of nonsense like Romero needs to stop making zombie films – then you need to stop critiquing movies and in the words of the immortal Captain Rhodes – you should CHOKE ON ‘EM!  CHOKE ON ‘EM!!!  Haters will hate.

Keep on making zombie films, George.  We’ll keep watching!

Streebo Vs The Wolfman (2010): A Review To The Death!

Streebo made the trip out to the theaters to watch the latest horror remake from the Hollywood machine and is proud to say that he had a howling good time with The Wolfman!

Part one:

Part two:

Streebo’s Mid-Week B-Movie Poster Watch: The Silence Of The Lambs.

This week on Streebo’s Mid-week B-Movie Poster Watch – we feature an A list movie with B-movie roots!   It’s johnathan Demme’s masterpiece – Silence of the Lambs!  This is the variation of the classic poster art – featuring Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter.  Check it out.  If you like what you see – go buy it on eBay!

**Streebo

SILENCE OF LAMBS MOVIE HORROR 24″X36″ POSTER

via SILENCE OF LAMBS MOVIE HORROR 24″X36″ POSTER NECA0007 – eBay (item 260542638773 end time Jan-30-10 19:36:01 PST).

MVP Begins Writing New Scenes for G.H.O.S.T.

We reviewed the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T. last night and the verdict is in – it looks great!  We were very pleased with what we have so far.  Plans have been set in motion to shoot additional scenes for G.H.O.S.T. to expand the proposed short film into a full length feature!  We’re planning a horrific new intro scene to set the tone for the movie as well as a few new introductory scenes for the members of our G.H.O.S.T. team.  The wheels have been set in motion and a new schedule will be planned out over the coming weeks.  The new scenes should put us back in front of the camera for the next few months – extending the filming of G.H.O.S.T. into the spring.  We couldn’t be happier with our progress on G.H.O.S.T. and can’t wait to share it with you all.

~~Jamie

MVP To Review First Cut of G.H.O.S.T. Tonight.

The energy is high on the Mutantville Mothership as the producers of MVP meet tonight to review the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T..  G.H.O.S.T. was originally proposed as a five minute short for the Chiller Dare to Direct contest – but was expanded in a longer 30 minute short film.  The first cut of G.H.O.S.T. came in at a unexpected 47 minutes.  Everyone is so pleased with what we have so far – that we are excited about the possibility of expanding G.H.O.S.T. into a full length feature with an approximate run time of 70 minutes.  Tonight we will discuss what works or doesn’t work in the first cut as well as going over the visual FX needed and possible approaches to the score.  We will also have our final discussion on the new scenes to be filmed to lengthen the movie before locking them into a new version of the script.  What a long strange trip it’s been – and we’re only getting started!

**Streebo

Revisiting The History of G.H.O.S.T. Part One: The Location.

Since we’ve reached the end of the first cut of G.H.O.S.T., let’s take a look back at the genesis of the project – beginning with Brento’s initial walk through of the opera house.

G.H.O.S.T. TV Pilot To Become Full Length Feature?

Work for G.H.O.S.T. started back in January with the launch of the MVP Blog here at Mutantville.com and the beginning of intense pre-production on G.H.O.S.T.. The cast and crew put in many a long day and night throughout production during October and November and we’ve carried that level of intensity into post-production by shooting pick ups all through December. We started editing during the second week of filming and are finally nearing completion of the first assembly of G.H.O.S.T..

There is so much going on behind the scenes that’s it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep producing timely updates in addition to doing the actual work. This has been an amazing adventure so far. The footage looks great. The performances were fantastic and the special make-up FX are spectacular. Just as it seems we’re nearing the end – we are in fact reaching a new beginning. It’s not official yet – but we are working on ideas for new scenes to shoot for the movie – to expand it from it’s intended half hour format into a full length feature! That’s right – we will still be able to cut G.H.O.S.T. down to a very tight half hour TV pilot s intended – but there is enough material there that with a few smart additions – we can expand the story a touch and turn G.H.O.S.T. into a full movie.

I’m so excited that I can hardly contain myself. While this is good news for us – it also means that this non-stop rollercoaster of work that we’ve been on since July will continue for the foreseeable future! Thank you all for your help in making this dream a reality. Everyone in MVP plays an important role and we couldn’t have made our movie without you! Keep checking the MVP Blog for more updates as they happen!

**Streebo

MVP Picks Up More G.H.O.S.T.S at Opera House.

Last night saw the Mutantville Players return to the opera house once more for another round of pick up shots.  Luckily we weren’t just shooting windows and door frames this week as we were able to suit up and get bloody for another cool special make-up FX shot.  Alan Whitley out his boomstick down and picked up the latex to play the part of our supernatural visitor.  Alan underwent a grueling 3 hour session at the hands of special make-up FX kingpin Todd A. Britt.  The air was chilly but Alan’s spirits were warm under layers of silicon, tubing and buckets of blood as he brought our ghostly friend to unatural life!  With this shot in the can – we have only two major FX shots left and G.H.O.S.T. will be complete.  This Sunday, the Mutantville Players are heading to the green and grassy hills of South Carolina for our final pick up shots with two of our leads – Kathy Sandvoss and Scott Thomas.  The journey to make G.H.O.S.T. has been an amazing one.  It will be sad to see it all come to an end.  Be sure to keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news!

~~Streebo

G.H.O.S.T. Post-Production Going Strong!

Principle photography on G.H.O.S.T. ended two weeks ago – but you would never know it on the Mutantville Mothership.  The producers have been hard at work keeping the websites updated, shooting pick up shots, designing posters, and editing the actual movie.  The first assembly is coming together and we couldn’t be happier with the results so far.  We keep producing new promo posters so keep checking here and on Facebook for the latest designs.  Be sure to add your feedback so we know which posters people like.  Speaking of posters – here’s a strong early contender for final poster status.  It’s a simple still shot taken during filming – but it says everything about the project in one powerful image.  What do you think?

Keep checking Mutantville.com for your up to the minute MVP news and more.

~~Streebo

Dumb Dudes Die While Leading Ladies Live… Ah, the Sexism of Horror

From Horror Hacker:  When I mention the trite phrase that horror movies are horribly sexist, I bet some female readers of this column shout an instant, fist-pumping “Preach on!” When I clarify that horror movies are horribly sexist against men, that’s when those same ladies decide that this preacher actually spews misogynistic lies. The prevailing belief is that horror flicks are sexist and that the targets are women. But if you do the basic math, the sexism is against men.Let’s look at this from a scientific perspective, and by “scientific” I mean in light of the theories of that early legend of science, Charles Darwin. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He’s the guy who coined that pesky phrase “survival of the fittest.” If only the fittest survive, and most horror movies feature a “final girl,” then what does that say about the genre’s stance on men? Or let’s go at this issue another way: Do you actually think horror movies portray females as weak? Tell that to Halloween’s Laurie Strode. Tell that to Scream’s Sidney Prescott.The winner of any fight is the one left standing — no one cares how you survive, as long as you do. If that survival comes wrapped in screaming, crying, pleading, more crying, running, a little more screaming, tripping, not being able to put the car keys in the lock and then finally sticking a knife in a bad guy? Yeah, you still won. So I don’t care how “weak” a final girl may look, if she’s the one who walks away, she’s the survivor and therefore the fittest.
Read the rest at the link below:

via AMC – Blogs – Horror Hacker – Scott Sigler – Dumb Dudes Die While Leading Ladies Live… Ah, the Sexism of Horror.