On this month's Special Page:
Our Media Director, Trish Wilson, captured an exclusive interview with Night of the Living Dead's John Russo! Also featured in this rare interview are Ani Kyd Wolf and Casper Van Dien, the co-collaborators for the new upcoming film Spawn of the Living Dead!
Ani Kyd Wolf co-wrote Spawn of the Living Dead with John Russo
Casper Van Dien is in the movie playing a sheriff.
Spawn of the Living Dead is coming out later this year.
They're Coming to Get You, Barbara!
The Horror Zine's Night of the Living Dead Interview
By Trish Wilson
INTRO: Trish Wilson here. I'd like to thank the following three guests for this fantastic interview. John A. Russo is best known for co-writing the script for the 1968 horror classic "Night of the Living Dead" with George Romero. He co-wrote the upcoming movie "Spawn of the Living Dead" with punk rocker Ani Kyd Wolf. Wolf is a Canadian Metis vocalist, musician, and filmmaker. She's also the CEO of the film company Sugar Skull Films. "Spawn of the Living Dead" stars actor, producer, and director Casper Van Dien as Deputy Jeff Sanders. You know him best as Johnny Rico in the 1997 film "Starship Troopers". He also appears as Arnold Gideon in the popular television series "Wednesday."
I'd like to thank John, Ani, and Casper for this interview.
TRISH WILSON: What attracted you to horror in the first place?
JOHN A. RUSSO: I grew up in a thriving mill town, Clairton, Pennsylvania, which back then had three movie theaters, and the pictures changed twice a week, plus there were Saturday matinees for kids, and it only cost fourteen cents to get in - until you reached your twelfth birthday, when the price went up to fifty cents, which was quite traumatic for us kids who didn't have much money. I loved movies and managed to see lots and lots of them even after the price hike, because I could usually wangle fifty cents from my mom, but not anything extra for popcorn. I loved the Three Stooges, the Bowery Boys, and the cowboy flicks - Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy - and most especially, Lash Larue. But I also loved horror movies like "Dracula" and "Frankenstein". I was so fascinated by Bela Lugosi that I made a crude effigy of him and a cardboard coffin to put it in and talked some of my grade-school buddies into helping me dig a grave and bury him, I think in the vague hopes that he/it might arise. I saw the Wolf Man and zombie movies too, and didn't think they were as frightening as the vampire movies. I didn't realize it at the time, but "Night of the Living Dead" would become the vehicle that changed zombies into flesh-eaters and transformed the whole genre.
ANI KYD WOLF: I honestly wasn't a huge horror fan growing up because I went through some pretty traumatic experiences that I suffered PTSD from. Horror films would bring me back to that place of trauma, pain and the feeling of being helpless and threatened but I decided to turn the creative tables and look at horror from the other side. Serial killers, monsters, creatures etc. I started writing songs and scripts from a different perspective and it felt better. I felt empowered, not helpless.
CASPER VAN DIEN: I have loved horror movies as long as I can remember. I enjoyed staying up late and watching films that scare me so much that I had to sleep with the lights on. Growing up doing that is a core memory for me. It's a tradition that I still honor when my wife is out of town.
TRISH WILSON: What scares you?
JOHN A. RUSSO: I was never the kind of kid who dove under the theater seats when something scary happened in a horror movie. Some of my friends did, though. I was always able to tell myself it was only a movie. I'm more scared by what's happening to our democracy under the fascist Trump regime.
ANI KYD WOLF: Real life.
CASPER VAN DIEN: Besides horror films? Probably the political climate today. The way people are so quick to spew hatred and be cruel to others with opposing views is scary.
TRISH WILSON: John, "Night of the Living Dead" is unlike any zombie film that had come out beforehand. Earlier zombie movies were rooted in vodou and mysticism. Some examples are "White Zombie" and "I Walked With A Zombie." How did "Night of the Living Dead" change the way zombie movies and TV were made ever since? What made you go in the direction you went in, such as zombies eating human flesh and later human brains?
JOHN A. RUSSO: Well, I came up with the main premise of "dead people after human flesh" and I wrote ninety percent of the script. I envisioned the dead flesh-eaters as being slow-moving, thinking that they would have vestiges of rigor mortis, therefore they'd be weak as individuals, and their strength would be in numbers. But I am not a purist. Fast zombies, slow zombies, talking zombies, dumb zombies, just come up with a good idea and make it work. Dan O'Bannon did a great job with "Return of the Living Dead". So did Sam Raimi with "The Evil Dead."
TRISH WILSON: John, the movie was originally entitled "Night of the Flesh Eaters", and the creatures in it are referred to as ghouls, not zombies. How did you come to call these creatures the Living Dead as opposed to zombies?
JOHN A. RUSSO: When I came up with the idea of dead people coming back to life and craving human flesh, it struck a nerve that made "zombies" much more frightening. I think it's because we humans have an innate fear of being set upon and devoured, due to the fact that throughout most of our evolutionary history we were preyed upon by wolves, lions, cave bears and saber-toothed tigers. And now, in "Night of the Living Dead", we could be attacked and eaten by people who used to be us! And not only that but we could become one of them! When George Romero, Russ Streiner and I were going to make our first horror film, we were trying hard to come up with something original and powerful, and it seems we succeeded.
TRISH WILSON: Duane Jones, who was Black, was cast as Ben in "Night of the Living Dead" because he was the best actor for the job. The character was envisioned without race in mind. Jones was also the first Black lead in a major horror film. Although George Romero had been known to use zombies as satire or political criticism, Jones' casting may not have been intended to be a lightning rod for racial discussions in 1968, but it turned out that way. Did this take you by surprise? What are your thoughts on the racially-sensitive interpretations of the ending and other important elements in the film?
JOHN A. RUSSO: Not all zombies are ghouls — only the ones who are flesh-eaters. Dan O'Bannon's zombies in "Return of the Living Dead" were the first ones, so far as I know, who went after human brains. It's a good example of what I said earlier: Come up with a good idea and make it work.
ANI KYD WOLF: That film changed everything. Because Duane was chosen because he was the best actor for the job and not his race, it created a shift. John wrote a great script to start with and George Romero brilliantly directed it but the added racial tension was a key factor. Sure, zombies are scary but racism is real and terrifying. Bringing that element into this film created a reality bridge from a brilliant horror concept to real racial tension in the world. I was brought up in a multicultural family. My brother is black along with my cousins so I saw them go through things that I didn't. As a woman I had many other challenges so as a woman director I feel it is important to bring in a perspective of my own personal challenges to this new film.
CASPER VAN DIEN: Duane Jones brought a realism to the role that is unmatched. I love when filmmakers stand on their choice regardless of what others may feel or think. Film is supposed to be a light for humanity at the time and a lot of times when following your gut, you land in controversy. It usually lends itself to the film in a beautiful way. To make people feel and react to your work is something every actor and filmmaker would be lucky to experience their lifetime.
TRISH WILSON: What do you think the Living Dead represent when it comes to horror? In 1968, when "Night of the Living Dead" came out, could they have represented a breakdown of social order and racial tensions? What about today?
JOHN A. RUSSO: We weren't trying to make social or political comments when we made "Night of the Living Dead". We were just trying to make a movie that paid off horror fans, instead of the trite B-movies that Hollywood was churning out. Sheriff McClellan is not a redneck; he's just a guy doing a necessary job. The "Ben" character is killed by accident, which was my idea, because I said that such an ironic accident would likely happen in real life, with untrained people on the prowl, heavily armed. However, George, Russ and I and most of our friends and colleagues were not bigots, and we are proud of the fact that we cast Duane Jones and that he did such a wonderful job.
ANI KYD WOLF: "Night of The Living Dead" was a full on game changing film. It set the tone for every zombie movie and series to date. There have been so many versions of the zombie story with every type of explanation why it started but the running thread is always a breakdown of fear and social order.
CASPER VAN DIEN: I was born in 1968 to parents that always ignored the social norm. My father was a Navy CDR who chose a crew of all young black men. Everyone underestimated these men, but my father saw their great spirits and potential. Eventually, others saw that he had the best crew that worked harder and faster than the rest and turned those minds for the better. I was lucky to have that be my example, sadly, that was not the norm for most in that time. I even more sadly, think we are going backwards in many ways and I hope the tension breaks and we can get it back to mostly staying on the screen.
TRISH WILSON: John, "Spawn of the Living Dead" is in production now. Can you give us a sneak peek into the movie? What surprises and fun stuff are in store including horror legends that may appear in it?
JOHN A. RUSSO: Again, we were not trying to reflect social and political tensions, even though George, Russ and I were very much attuned to them. One of the best things about the movie we made is that it inspired many, many striving filmmakers and showed them how they might jump-start their careers by raising a comparatively small amount of money and coming up with a unique idea.
TRISH WILSON: John, what was it like collaborating with George Romero? How are you and Ani Kyd Wolf getting on as co-writers for "Spawn of the Living Dead"?
JOHN A. RUSSO: I refer you to the articles that are already out concerning the cast. I think the director, Ani Kyd Wolf, wants to keep the plot under wraps for now.
ANI KYD WOLF: Basically, John wrote the flow and the scenes of the script. I changed the dialogue and characters. I gave it a female perspective and created some powerful women characters. I also added some more of that racial tension. John is a dream to work with and we get along so well.
TRISH WILSON: Ani, you are known for your punk rock performances, but you've branched out into directing and producing movies. How did you come to direct "Spawn of the Living Dead" as well as write the script with John Russo?
ANI KYD WOLF: Yes, I started as a musician over 40 years ago and I have 5 albums on Alternative Tentacles but I have produced feature films. wrote, directed and produced pilots, short films and over 30 music videos in the last 25 years. I also worked for a Makeup FX company in 2011/2011. That company was nominated for an Emmy while I worked there.
TRISH WILSON: Casper, you're best known for your portrayal of Johnny Rico in "Starship Troopers". How did you come to get the role of Deputy Jeff Sanders in the upcoming "Spawn of the Living Dead"?
CASPER VAN DIEN: Ani was and is my biggest cheerleader. Thankfully she saw me in Deputy Sanders and wouldn't quit until she got her way. I think she is a genius.
TRISH WILSON: What is your process for getting into character for a movie, Casper? What are you planning for Deputy Sanders in "Spawn of the Living Dead"?
CASPER VAN DIEN: I have been rewatching the whole series of films and doing a deep dive into law enforcement. I even tried to shadow with the local police dept, but unlike my buddy Nathan Fillion, they aren't really taking rookies in their 50s. TV is a lie.
TRISH WILSON: Casper, how do you feel about working in the groundbreaking "Living Dead" franchise? What will you do differently for "Spawn of the Living Dead" as opposed to your other movie projects?
CASPER VAN DIEN: It's an honor to join the rankings with so many legendary actors and filmmakers. Ani is putting together an incredible team with a legendary cast. I always find a new point of view for each character. These days it's more challenging as I've been doing it for 38 years, but regardless of looking like a meat head, I enjoy the challenge and have respect for the process.
TRISH WILSON: Casper, in addition to acting, you had also branched out into directing. What did you find fulfilling about directing? How was the experience different for you from acting?
CASPER VAN DIEN: I love film. I love the stage. I love the writing process. Everything about the arts is magic. Being able to help guide and nurture the actors process from a different vantage point only strengthened my love for this craft. I believe in collective creativeness. We are all a vital part of the end product.
TRISH WILSON: What were some practical FX in "Night of the Living Dead"? For example, in one scene human flesh was actually made from roast ham covered in chocolate sauce. Chocolate sauce shows up better on B&W film than stage blood. What other groundbreaking examples of FX were in the movie and "Living Dead" movies to follow?
CASPER VAN DIEN: Thanks for bringing that up... it's why I am vegan.
JOHN A. RUSSO: George of course was a highly talented and well-rounded co-creator. Everybody always took a liking to him. I would call him a "renaissance man." We had a lot of fun working together and the results speak for themselves. As I said, I wrote most of the script after we kicked ideas around, and I wrote it in three weeks. George did a fabulous job directing and editing. He was a complete filmmaker.
I think we were the first filmmakers to use squibs — explosive blood packets to simulate bullets striking bodies. We were fortunate that two of our friends, Rege Survinski and Tony Pantanello, were fireworks specialists. We told them what we wanted and they expertly complied with the innovation. They also were the guys who created the effect of the truck exploding and going up in a fireball.
TRISH WILSON: CGI effects have given practical effects a run for their money. What do each of you see as advantages of one over the other? Disadvantages?
JOHN A. RUSSO: I prefer practical effects but there are some movies that could not be made without reliance on CGI, especially low-budget movies that may feature good ideas and a great script but not much money to work with.
ANI KYD WOLF: I am a huge fan of practical effects. I think that utilizing a combination of practical with some tasty CGI/visual FX is the best bet always. Personally, I do not like films full of CGI/visual FX.
CASPER VAN DIEN: I think a mixture of both is beneficial. Practical is always cool, but there are things CGI can bring to the table that add to the hard work.
TRISH WILSON: What FX makeup and other special effects will appear in the upcoming "Spawn of the Living Dead?"
JOHN A. RUSSO: Ani Kyd Wolf is already working with some special effects experts, so she's the best one to answer this question.
ANI KYD WOLF: We are working with Makeup FX master Todd Masters and his team at Mastersfx right now. Lots of cool stuff will be coming.
CASPER VAN DIEN: I will be wearing my prosthetic jaw and muscle suit as usual.
TRISH WILSON: Please leave your web site, Patreon (if any), social media links, etc. Also, what are your plans for the future? What other future projects may horror fans look forward to?
JOHN A. RUSSO: I have a regular Facebook page and a fan page, The John Russo. Links below.
https://www.facebook.com/john.russo.1485537 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090641042795
ANI KYD WOLF: Casper and I will be shooting another horror film right before Spawn of the Living dead. That one is Called "Organism 46B" . It is very different from this one. anikydwolf.com sugarskullfilms.com
CASPER VAN DIEN: You can see me now as Gideon Sterling in "Wednesday", Season 2
www.youtube.com/@CasperVanDien1/
https://www.twitch.tv/caspervandien
https://discord.gg/generaljrico
https://www.instagram.com/caspervandien
https://www.facebook.com/CasperVanDien2
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000680/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1
