How to Make an Indie Film, Part 1
Inside Rockabilly Zombie Weekend

Tammy Bennet is Responsible for this Monster

Tammy Bennet completed her screenplay for “Rockabilly Zombie Weekend” and was satisfied with all it had to say. Now the real work began. She was now determined to see it become a film, but where and how to start?
Having graduated with a film and TV degree in the late 1980’s, Tammy found precious few job opportunities for a newly married 20 year old for anything in the industry at the time. She ended up working outside of her degree field as a result.

Fast forward to 2011. In the Middle of the night Tammy was thunderstruck with inspiration and started writing a screenplay that would be Rockabilly Zombie Weekend.
Little did she know that writing the screenplay would be the easy part.

Here’s the story in a nutshell: Becky Lee and grant are a young starry eyed couple madly in love with each other. Both come from seriously dysfunctional families that would make the highlights reel on a Jerry Springer DVD.
Becky Lee and Grant plan to get married in Vegas at the Elvis Wedding Chapel, but their friends and family can’t afford the tickets out West, so the plan changes to a field party inChuluota,Florida during the worst West Nile Virus outbreak in years. Mosquitoes play a role in the transformation of wedding guests into zombies and of course escape and survival become the plan of the day.

So what’s the next step? How does someone with a good story go about getting a film made that doesn’t look like it was made for $40? Says Tammy Bennet,

Coming Soon: Rockabilly Zombie Weekend

“I’ve called in favors from a lot of people I know to get concept art, photography, website design, make up, original music and video work done for this first phase of funding.  We are trying to raise $150,000 just under the SAG low budget deal to get this movie made. Right now we have two original concept art posters done, two songs on the soundtrack completed, our concept band Killer Moonshine ready to do their debut at the fundraiser and much, much more to come.
We’re on indiegogo.com to help raise the money.  If you aren’t familiar this is a website devoted to artists of all kinds to help them raise money through social media.  We’re also going after product placement.  In an effort to get more money faster we have used some friends who are sales people to meet with large local companies and ask them for money in exchange for putting their product into our film.  We have two interested parties right now and keeping fingers and toes crossed that they pan out.”
The band…
“Part of our concept for fundraising is to have a CD soundtrack for sale and merchandising ready for sale on the website: rockabillyzombieweekend.com.  Those items should come soon and we are excited about all of the International zombie lovers coming out to support us and buy our merch(andise).”
Killer Moonshine is the concept band made up of three local Orlando musicians, all of whom have a great deal of experience. The band is made up of Jeff “El Jefe” Ward, Richard “T-Bird” Bird and Jef “Big Jef Special” Shumard.  The trio plays some kick ass original Psychobilly in the film and on the soundtrack and make their debut live show at Will’s Pub for our fundraiser party on December 11, 2011 from 2-11pm.
The fundraiser will have  burlesque dancers, 6 bands, a car show, meet and greet with the Casting Director and a Miss Rockabilly Zombie Pageant going on that day along with free beer, food and a silent auction which will have original rockabilly artwork, zombie author signed books, gift certificates for tattoos and lots more to be auctioned off.

Once Again, Miss Tammy Bennet, “I am learning step by step how to do this as I go.  Awake at night while the clock ticks I think of new and creative ways to make special FX happen without going over budget.  Friends who I haven’t seen in years are being resurrected to help me make this film.  Friends who do anything like hair, makeup, art work, singing, own a beat-up old truck, people who have weapons worthy of zombie destruction.  The list goes on and on.”
There is nothing easy about being an independent artist, regardless of what your art may be. But when one takes into account all the people required to be involved to make a film, it can be daunting. This is but the first installment of How to Make an Indie Film. I can’t wait to see how this all plays out . . . .