Ponoka writer-director-producer CJ Hutchinson was scheduled to complete the shooting of his next horror movie, “Zombie Girl”, at a farm east of Ponoka over the weekend with a cast predominantly composed of volunteer actors.
Speaking during a break at the set on Saturday, July 18, Hutchinson said he had written the screenplay for the movie himself “out of his own nightmares.”
“This is my baby, I wrote this. It is based on a series of nightmares that I had,” Hutchinson explained. The plot involves the lead actress, Niki Middleton of Calgary, in the role of a human being adopted by a zombie family.
“I wanted to write something that would not involve the sound as an issue,” the director explained.
Recalling his last experience shooting a horror movie with wind blowing into the mics, Hutchinson said this time they would try something different: The entire movie will flow against the background of a symphony currently being composed by Winnipeg-based friends of Hutchinson’s.
“I don’t think you have ever seen a horror movie that is entirely symphonic,” the young director said.
“It is one of those things that music builds the scene, but in this one, music carries it.”
The plot revolves around a young woman, a model, who, after a traumatic experience, suddenly finds herself in the company of a family of zombies in the wastelands and the family adopts her and she adopts them. She uses her human qualities and intelligence to help them while she realizes the value of her humanity as she interacts with the zombies.
Lead actress Middleton said she liked her role and the fact that it was an independent movie that she was cast in as an actor.
“In a lot of independent films, you can grow and push your acting limits a little bit further than Hollywood movies,” she said.
She added that in most independent movies, cast and crew were there to enjoy the experience but in Hollywood they were in for “the finance.”
Hutchinson added that most of the cast were volunteer actors who had played parts in his previous movies and had returned to acting in this movie to continue to have fun.
Raven Arnell, the lead producer, has been watching horror movies all his life and he offered to support Hutchinson’s next project when his last film was shown in Ponoka more than a year ago.
“My dad was a big sci-fi, horror fan. I grew up with all the Universal monsters, all the black and white films, all the noir,” said Arnell.
Hutchinson, who will also edit the movie, said unlike with his previous productions, they would target serious horror film festivals to show their picture.
The producers are hoping that the post-production process will be completed by next November or December and they are promising a free gala show to Ponoka residents once it’s ready for viewing.