Hey folks, Harry here... Seems that Tom is passing on his knowledge and wisdom about gore, swordsmanship, directing and acting to some folks down in Florida and has some interesting insight into DEAD RECKONING, but more than that, I like to see Tom - as one of the lead deities of gore - advocating for the proper use of CG. Here ya go...
Harry,
Yesterday I attended a question and answer session with Tom Savini at a film school in Orlando, FL. He was very nice and talked for over two and a half hours, then signed stuff for everyone after he was finished. Someone had asked him about the rumored Romero film Dead Reckoning and his involvement. Tom told us that he had heard the rumors that 20th century fox had backed Romero with $20 Million. And he told us that Fox Searchlight was backing the film. And that the budget isn't $20 million dollars. He said George is the kind of guy who walks out of meetings with studio executives, because he thinks they are just bullshit slingers. So discussions are still on going and nothing is set. So I wouldn't get hopes up yet for a big budget zombie movie. He said that originally exectuives wanted the movie called "Night of the Living Dead Reckoning" and Romero wouldn't have it.
Tom was also asked about future projects. He said he was interested in a script called Vampirates. Nothing has been set and the project isn't off the ground, so don't get excited. He was merely interested in the script, and said would like to do it in the future... possibly.
And as a side note: Tom was asked about some influences and movies he enjoyed. He said "Signs" was brilliant and was one of the best movies he saw last year. He said the best way to scare an audience is showing them less. He said it was ironic he was saying that considering his profession. He told all budding filmmakers that CGI was a friend and not an enemy to gore and effects. He said it can do things traditional things can't and makes the job the of artist easier. He mentioned that George Romero was really against CGI, and has tried to convince George that CGI can do things to Zombies that traditional makeup effects can't. He mentioned the work on the Universal remake of the movie was some of the besrt he's seen, and says he absolutely loves the remake. He also mantioned that he hates the sequel, The Mummy Returns.
I asked him whether or not he liked Resident Evil, and what he thought about Romero not doing it like originally planned. He commented that it was basiclly a Romero film anyway saying some of the shots copied Day of the Dead. And he said he thought it was alright. That wasn't the answer I was hoping for. Anyway sorry about being longwinded, but I hope there's some useful and insightful information here.
If you need one of those silly names call me "Kinetic Underground"
