Birth of the Living Dead
In 1968 a young college drop-out named George A. Romero directed “Night of the Living Dead,” a low budget horror film that shocked the world, became an icon of the counterculture, and spawned a zombie industry worth billions of dollars that continues to this day. “Birth of the Living Dead,” a new documentary, shows how Romero gathered an unlikely team of Pittsburghers -- policemen, iron workers, teachers, ad-men, housewives and a roller-rink owner -- to shoot, with a revolutionary guerrilla, run-and-gun style, his seminal film. Archival footage of the horrors of Vietnam and racial violence at home combined with iconic music from the 60s invites viewers to experience how Romero’s tumultuous film reflected this period in American history. “Birth of the Living Dead” shows us how this young filmmaker created a world-renowned horror film that was also a profound insight into how our society really works.
Fantastic @Molluskhead
Put this at the top of the list in the 'filmmakers odyssey' genre Built around a candid interview with George A. Romero, the documentary tells the inspiring story of how a group of young Pittsburg filmmakers made a very different independent horror film in a tumultuous time in American history. Forty-five years later, the "Night of the Living Dead" still has a stark, apocalyptic power, and it’s impossible to deny its incredible impact on the genre. Rob Kuhn's film ebbs and flows with funny anecdotes about the making of the film as well as poignant moments about the effect it had on young black cinephiles (Sam Pollard and Elvis Mitchell) in the late sixties and early seventies. Great stuff!
Jerry? @Bgbdbrd
Anybody, for a moment, think that the drawing of Mr. Romero was Jerry Garcia? With the "Living Dead" title, maybe this old Head didn't have half a chance... :)