Stephen King

Horror Master George A. Romero Reveals Veteran Zombie Lock in ‘Diary of the Dead’

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:09:16 -0700

CHICAGO – Master horror filmmaker George A. Romero is back for the fifth installment of his “Dead” series as what began with 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead” has fast-forwarded to “Diary of the Dead”. This time, Romero takes on the modern soul deadening of staring at screens and includes the constant navel gazing of videotaping, computers and the instant playback that has become our lives.

When a disturbing local news footage leaks onto the Internet, the cast and crew of a bad student film are interrupted in the middle of their shoot with the report that the dead have come to life and are threatening the entire population of the world.

The student film director – Jason (Joshua Close) – sees this as an opportunity to document his fellow classmates’ escape and journey back to their Pennsylvania homes.

Click here to read Patrick McDonald’s full review
of “Diary of the Dead” in our reviews section!

Click here for our full “Diary of the Dead” image gallery!

Production Stills Surface For George A. Romero’s ‘Diary of the Dead’

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:01:24 -0700

CHICAGO – The Weinstein Company has released 11 new production stills for George A. Romero’s “Diary of the Dead,” which will show at the Sundance Film Festival later this month and hits limited U.S. theaters on Feb. 15.

In the film, a group of young film students run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own. “Diary of the Dead” is written and directed by horror master George A. Romero (“Land of the Dead,” “Day of the Dead,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Night of the Living Dead”).

Though the film’s primary cast relies on many actors you’ve likely never heard of, it interestingly features voice work from people including Wes Craven, Stephen King, Quentin Tarantino and Guillermo del Toro.

I’ve included a few of the production stills below. All of them can be found in our new “Diary of the Dead” image gallery.

The publicist for the film has informed us that “Diary of the Dead” will show at the Sundance Film Festival on these dates and at these locations:

Jan. 18, 11:30 p.m., Library Center Theatre
Jan. 22, 9 p.m., Tower Theatre, Salt Lake City
Jan. 26, 11:30 p.m., Holiday Village Cinema II
Jan. 27, 10 a.m., Holiday Village Cinema I

Click here to view the entire “Diary of the Dead” image gallery!

The trailer – along with a challenge from Romero to submit your own short horror film for possible release with the DVD version – can be viewed below. This was posted on our boards on Jan. 11. You can discuss these production stills at this new thread on our boards.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Mist’ Interview Transcript With Frank Darabont, Marcia Gay Harden, Thomas Jane, Chris Owen

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:49:24 -0700

On Nov. 6, I joined a conference call on “The Mist” with director Frank Darabont (“The Green Mile,” “The Shawshank Redemption”), Marcia Gay Harden (“Rails & Ties”), Thomas Jane (“The Punisher”) and Chris Owen (“American Pie”).

Download the 51-page “The Mist” transcript here.
The first question posed started off without romance by going straight to the throat. The journalist asked Darabont about his “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” script involvement.

Refusing to be derailed, Darabont said: “That really is another conversation. Let’s stay on the subject. Do you have anything on ‘The Mist’?”

Forging on, Darabont delved into his being a “writer for hire”. Initially a “screenwriter first and a director on occassion,” he discussed why only recently he decided to “reverse that equation”.

The Mist
Photo credit: IMDb
At 48 years old, Darabont said: “I’m not getting any younger. I feel like I have more movies to make.”

As for Gay Harden’s involvement, she commented on how “it’s all about character” for her and quality opportunities don’t come along often. Interestingly, she said she hasn’t been one of the many die-hard Stephen King fans.

The film is based on King’s novella. Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen and Jeffrey DeMunn, “The Mist” opens on Nov. 21.

On ‘The Mist’: The Best Stephen King Quote Ever?

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:52:55 -0700

In what could be the best Stephen King quote ever, I heard word Tuesday morning that he said the following at a press conference on Monday about “The Mist,” which is based on his novella:

(Director) Frank (Darabont) (“The Green Mile,” “The Shawshank Redemption”) wrote a new ending [I love]. It is the most shocking ending ever.

There should be a law passed stating that anybody who reveals the last five minutes of this film should be hung from their neck until dead.

The statement is designed to both be a blessing of the film adaptation as well as a chilling message to anyone who dares to give away the film’s ending.

Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Andre Braugher, Laurie Holden, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Frances Sternhagen and Jeffrey DeMunn, “The Mist” opens on Nov. 21.