Thomas Berdinski is the writer/director/producer of “Zombie Abomination and Zombie Atrocity – The Italian Zombie Movie – Parts 1 & 2”. This award-winning, two-part, no-budget homage to (and parody of) European horror movies has played conventions and festivals all over the midwest, has been on television on over 40 channels in 20 states on the Midnite Mausoleum TV show (www.midnitemausoleum.com) and has played nationwide on the interactive Internet show “100 Years of Monster Movies” (www.100ymm.com). Both movies were recently named to Fangoria Magazine’s ‘DVD Chopping List’ (May 2010). Learn more about the Italian Zombie Movies at www.italianzombiemovie.com, FACEBOOK: “The Italian Zombie Movie”, MYSPACE: “Italian Zombie Movie”. Learn more about Thomas Berdinski at FACEBOOK: “Thomas Berdinski” or email him at diretto@italianzombiemovie.com. “Zombie Abomination and Zombie Atrocity - Italian Zombie Movie Parts – 1 & 2” are available at www.italianzombiemovie.com, www.amazon.com andwww.indieflix.com and select retail outlets.
Wow, just one film? Well, since I’ve been making movies on-and-off since I was 8 years old, I’m going to have to go back to the old “Shock Theater” days. I remember we were among the first in our neighborhood to get cable TV, so on Saturday afternoons my friends and I would watch “Shock Theater” out of Chicago. There were a lot of cool public domain movies on this channel, but I’m pretty sure the one that got me going was “Gamera the Invincible”. My effects guy when I was 8 years old was Joe Tardani; and he still is today! He and I caught a snapping turtle and put him to work on my HO scale train board. Not much happened – the turtle was disinterested – but the film making seed was planted… Shortly thereafter, we saw one of Ray Harryhausen’s “Sinbad” movies and got into stop-motion effects. We made a stop-motion movie called “Planet of Death” based on a Robert A. Heinlein story (that I was way too young to understand) and followed that up with “Congo versus Batzork”; a King Kong versus Godzilla sorta thing. We made a bunch of miniature effects movies after that, but the movie that probably made me the zombie-fan-filmmaker I am today was “Horror Express” with Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Telly Savalas. This was the first “zombie movie” I ever saw (I was 10) and I was immediately hooked on the genre. We started an ambitious zombie movie based on a huge train wreck that turns the passengers into zombies (and it had some miniature effects that still impress me today!) but we never finished it. To this day, I think I am still purging the demons associated with not finishing that one…
2. What has been the most humbling moment for you since you have gotten into film making?
That occurred at Summer Tromadance in Indiana last fall. Both of my Italian Zombie Movies were showing. I don’t watch my movies when they’re playing, but I do sit outside in the lobby so I can hear the crowd reaction. Things were going really well – I was hearing lots of laughter – but about 15 minutes in, a guy walked out of the movie and said to the woman at the ticket booth that he hated my movie. I couldn't hear his reasons – I did hear him tell her he thought it was funny – but I guess it just wasn’t what he wanted to see. (Fortunately, he was the exception and no one else left!) When the movie ended and I was thanking the audience for coming a guy pulled me aside and thanked ME for making what he called a “perfect-balance of homage and parody”. He then went on to list the Italian horror movies I’d based it on, even going so far as to tell me the shots I copied from those movies. It was at that moment that I realized why made this movie: To reach those few crazy fans that understood and appreciated exactly what I was trying to do. I think that’s what all creative people are looking for – to connect with that audience member who truly understands them. It was a very humbling moment!
3. Who is a director that you would love to work with together on a film, and why?
I’m not sure I work well with other directors! On a recent shoot where I was the director of photography, I was told by a cast member to “stop directing the director!” I think he was mostly kidding, but looking back, I think directing is so ingrained in my nature that I just start taking over the minute I arrive on set! Assuming I could get over that, a director/producer I truly admire is Larry Fessenden. This guy has made some amazing indie movies including “The Habit”, “The Last Winter”, “Wendigo”, “Automatons”, “I Sell the Dead” and “House of the Devil” to name a few. He has really elevated low-budget indie film making to new creative and technical heights, in my opinion. Yet even with the success of his more mainstream films like “House of the Devil”, he will still experiment and make a crazy art film like “Automatons”. If I had one wish, it would be to somehow watch him work over the course of an entire film; from its earliest concepts to the final release. His commentary tracks and making-of documentaries are awesome, by the way. Perhaps more realistically, I admire several indie directors I’ve met recently including Jason Hoover of Jabb Pictures; who I think realizes some of the best psychotic dialogue you’re likely to hear anywhere (“Spike” and “Polly” are two of his short films), James Mannan for the trick ending on his gothic short “Wanabe”, and Cameron Scott; who has mastered the art of assembling cult movie talent in his soon to be released “Post Mortem, America 2021” (which I am helping to co-produce).
4. On set of your next film, someone informs you that they would pay the expenses for craft services but the menu has to stay the same daily. What 5 foods would you choose and why?
Wow, my cast and crew would really like that because for my last two films all I’ve had for them was rum and diets, beer, military MREs (“meals-ready-to-eat”) and M&Ms! I’m going to assume we are filming in my hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, to simplify things. Mr. Scribb’s Pizza is great but it’s one of those foods that people tend to overeat – which zaps energy – so let’s keep us all energetic and healthy! I’m going to have “Mia and Grace” do the catering. They are a 100% organic, locally-grown food restaurant whose menu changes often due to the seasonal availability of livestock and produce. I’ll assume these foods are all available: Organic, grass-fed, free-range beef burgers, organic, free-range chicken sandwiches, organically-grown ears of corn, organically-grown watermelons and organic, raw Synergy Gingerberry Kombucha to drink! (Okay, they don’t actually carry Kombucha, but I love it so I’m going to make them go out and get it!)
5. Finally. Do you have a 'guilty pleasure' film? A movie that perhaps might be considered uncool, or might get a few laughs from others if they new you had a fond love of.
Boy, I think MOST of the movies I really like would fall into that category! Certainly on the list would be “Lady Terminator”, “Zombie 3”, “Mystics in Bali” and “Erotic Nights of the Living Dead”, but probably my favorite guilty-pleasure movie is by Todd Sheets and is called “Goblin”. To most people, this 74-minute, shot-on-video gore fest from 1993 is probably unwatchable. It’s got zero-budget, bad photography, really bad sound (but good music at times), horrible acting, incredibly cheesy gore effects (often dwelled upon in lengthy close-ups; along with curious shots of hands and feet!), a seemingly endless credit sequence and really, just about every other bad thing you can have in a no-budget movie. But what it ALSO has is an energy that you can’t deny. This is NOT a boring movie; not at all! It’s completely dumb, lacking continuity, heck – it’s lacking a story most of the time – yet you can’t take your eyes off of it; at least I can’t. I played “Goblin” for my prospective cast and crew to show them what we would NOT be making when I started my Italian Zombie Movies, but looking back, in certain ways, it’s what we WERE making; something without a budget, but with an infectious, cult-movie energy. I think anyone looking to make their first low-budget horror movie should seek this one out. It’s almost impossibly flawed, but that mystical energy necessary for movie making is in there, and it may just inspire you to make your movie.
Thanks to Thomas for being apart of The Mini-View!
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