Even before the first zombie movie filmed in Cayman has its local premier, its director is already planning at least two more films about the stomping undead.
Robert Carruthers, director of Zombie Driftwood, which premiers on Thursday, 2 December, says a sequel to that film and another movie about zombie samurai storm troopers are in the works. In fact, he says he hopes to make four films in Cayman next year.
“They will be low-budget, guerilla films, all with Cayman subject matter and all fun and light and frivolous,” he says.
Speaking by phone from England the day before Zombie Driftwood made its debut at a London cinema, Carruthers was pleased and relieved that the film, shot on location in Grand Cayman in June, 2010, had received a 15 certification from the UK censors.
“I thought for a while it might get an 18 [certification],” a relived Carruthers said. The 15 certification will apply to the release in Cayman also and means viewers aged 15 and over can see the film.
The eager response from those who took part in Zombie Driftwood, whether as investors, actors, extras, set builders, make-up artists or interns, has led the Scottish director and producer to believe that Cayman has a zombie movie industry in waiting. There is also an audience hungry for more zombie movies.
“There is definitely enthusiasm for the genre. A lot of people think there is a disadvantage in going to a place like Cayman to shoot a film, but in practice, it’s actually a huge advantage when you see it. It looks glamorous and exotic and looks like you’ve spent lots of money making it because of the sun and the land and the sea. It could be a real advantage for these films,” he said.
Filming of Carruthers’ next zombie project could begin as early as February, he says, with Zombai!, a film about zombie samurai SS storm troopers who have lain dormant in a Grand Cayman cave for 70 years – a secret weapon of Axis from World War II, “so secret, even the Führer didn’t know…”.
The plot revolves around zombie solders who had been brought to shore by a U-boat in the dying days of the war to lead the Axis drive on the Panama Canal and who are awaiting a code to activate them. They are accidentally awakened and so, the zombie invasion begins.
Next up is a sequel to Zombie Driftwood, which Carruthers hopes to start filming in May. Phil Eckstein, who runs Driftwood Bar in North Side, penned the original movie and is writing the sequel.
Part of the reason the director is so keen to continue working in Cayman, he says, is the feedback he’s received from people who have seen rough cuts of Zombie Driftwood.
“What we’re finding is people are saying the quality of acting is really impressive for such a small island. They really like it and so do we,” says Carruthers, who added that he hoped the actors would sign on for upcoming movies, so there could be a recurring cast playing different roles in each movie, like the Carry On low-budget comedy movies popular in the ’60s and ’70s.
Zombie Driftwood’s main cast consisted of local actors Rita Estevanovich, Brian Braggs and Peter Kosa, as well as a host of extras dressed as tourists-turned-zombies.
Many of staff on the film were sourced from the Cayman Islands Film Commission’s resources list.
On the first movie, Carruthers brought in a small crew to work on the film, but he says he plans to make the upcoming movies almost exclusively with Caymanians and Cayman residents. “I might have to bring in a cameraman, but maybe I’ll be able to find someone on Island for that too,” he says.
He plans to open a local office with two members of staff to work on future productions.
While Zombie Driftwood was financed partly from local investors, Carruthers said he believes the upcoming film projects would be industry-financed.
The invitation-only red carpet premier of Zombie Driftwood will be held at Hollywood Theatres in Camana Bay on Thursday, 2 December, and advanced screenings will be shown at the cinema on Thursdays, 9 and 16 December at 7.30pm. Tickets for the advanced screenings cost $12 and are on sale at Triple Crown, Driftwood Bar and Tiki Beach.
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