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DVD:  On your Website's FAQ it mentions you are looking at the second half of 2002 for an Australian cinema release.
Is this still the plan? and does this mean you have an aussie Distributor?

MP: Yes this is still the plan, the film will be completed towards the end of July. We have a number of Aussie Distributors interested and will be talking further with them once the film is complete.

DVD:  What's happening on the International front with an UNDEAD "global" release?

MP: We have had a number of international distributors already making offers, but nothing has been finalised yet.

DVD:  Censorship of films is something I feel very strongly about, and horror films are quite often unfairly targeted as the cause of violence in our society. How do you think UNDEAD will do when it goes before the OFLC [Office of Film and Literature Classification Board] given it's a low budget horror film?

MP: The film definitely has violence and gore in it. The tone of the film is set within the first few minutes - this is a dark comedy, the violence is over-the-top and totally unrealistic. I just hope the OFLC has a sense of humour.

DVD: I have to admit there have been times where it seems they do ..afterall Australia AND The United Kingdom were 2 out of a small number of countries to release the goriest zombie flick in existence, Peter (LOTR) Jackson's Brain Dead, totally UNCUT to cinemas! and some 12 minutes was cut out of out of the USA cinema release!!!

In the event of your film being put under the knife for being "too-intense", have you a backup plan? (ie replacement shots, added dialogue to make up running time)

MP: We are aware that it could happen. If we have to trim something or remove it entirely it can be done, but it will not flow as well as we originally intended. When you shoot a sequence that involves make-up effects you spend so much energy getting it right by the time you've finished the scene you have no time left to shoot tamer safety coverage. If we had to do that we'd still be shooting.

DVD:  What did you shoot UNDEAD with?

MP: We shot on Super 16mm and transferred to High Definition from which we will scan our 35mm print off. It?s called a "digital intermediate process", which is the best thing that could have ever happen to low budget film makers or people who shoot on a lesser format than 35mm. You are able to do colour grading and conforming digitally without ever touching the negative.

The image quality is amazing, far better than a Super 16mm blow up to 35mm.

DVD: Included on your website is a very groovy teaser trailer for your movie , but there is also a short making-of (.mov 6.4mb)   (which was great to watch) AND then the  "march of the Dead" theme song (by your film composer Cliff Bradley) in the MP3 format. 

DVD:  I love the The "March of the dead" and while it's doesn't sound like a Danny Elfman number, it did make me think UNDEAD is more in tone with Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness, rather than something like Romero's Night of the Living Dead.
What was the "tone" you tried to achieve with UNDEAD? Is it a full on fright-fest? funny? just plain gory fun?

MP: The film is definitely gory fun. Cliff has written music that emphasises that. He has written an action adventure score as opposed to a typical horror score. There are a number of wonderful themes, some of which are included in the "March of the Undead".

DVD:  While on the topic of Audio :) what sound format are you planning on releasing UNDEAD in? (Stereo, Dolby digital 5.1....I couldn't convince you to go 5.1 EX could I? :)

MP: The sound track has been set up for a 5.1 mix.

DVD:  This may be jumping the gun a little, but many filmmakers these days have DVD on the brain when making a movie. Was this the case with you guys? and if so, what are hoping or planning on for a DVD release?

MP: We have shot and are still shooting a behind the scenes documentary that will hopefully be included in the DVD. It will go through the whole process from when the script was written up until the release of the DVD. There will also probably be a deleted scenes section and an audio commentary.

DVD:  What's next on the chopping block for the Spierig Brothers?

MP: We have a number of scripts that we are looking at in addition to a script that Michael and I are about to write. The next film we do will be very important in terms of our perception as filmmakers - are we just zombie directors or are we able to do other things. That's not to say we wouldn't do another zombie movie, it just depends on the script and obviously the budget.

DVD:  And one last question for you both .....What's your favourite horror movie? (it's nightmare on elm street for me... obviously :)

PETER : Silence of the Lambs or Rollerball, man was that scary.
MICHAEL: Evil Dead 2 or The Exorcist

Michael is on the Left and Peter is in the mid..err on the right :)         

All UNDEAD Images Copyright Spierigfilm (c) 2002. Photographs by Grant Marshall and Peter Spierig (c) 2001.