{"id":500,"date":"2009-04-21T12:45:03","date_gmt":"2009-04-21T18:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bmovienation.com\/?p=500"},"modified":"2009-04-28T20:12:00","modified_gmt":"2009-04-29T02:12:00","slug":"five-easy-questions-zombie-music-maker-chip-gubera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.bmovienation.com\/?p=500","title":{"rendered":"Five Easy Questions: ZOMBIE MUSIC MAKER CHIP GUBERA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"song-of-dead\"CHIP GUBERA <\/a>is an educator, filmmaker, zombie song-writer and masked wrestler enabler, not necessarily in that order. In anticipation of the May 8 2009 regional theatrical release of his astounding zombie musical Song of the Dead<\/em><\/a>, we caught up with this multi-talented maven of movie mayhem:<\/p>\n

Will the Thrill:<\/em><\/a> The first zombie musical was the late Ray Dennis Steckler’s<\/a> The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies<\/em> <\/a>(1963), though that was not a musical in the traditional sense, like yours, which is more like a rock opera. What was the initial inspiration for Song of the Dead<\/em>?<\/p>\n

CG:<\/em> I have always loved music and film.\u00a0 I love when the two meet and actors break out into song and dance to help tell a story.\u00a0 I was a big fan of music videos when they came out on TV in the early 80’s. The musical genre, both stage and film, has been one of my favorites.\u00a0 I am especially captivated by the few horror musicals.\u00a0 I grew up with The Rocky Horror Picture Show<\/em><\/a>, of course.\u00a0 But I would not call that the initial inspiration for Song of the Dead<\/em> (SOTD).\u00a0 What made me want to write SOTD was how the U.S. government and media were responding terrorism after the tragedies of 9\/11.\u00a0 The response was a grand theater that made everyone scared.\u00a0 I thought that it was time to make a zombie film that reflected this new era of nameless, faceless terrorists.\u00a0 With all of the media drama, the musical aspect was the next logical step.<\/p>\n

The producer-editor of SOTD Bob Swope and I started with a short film that we shot as a sample for investors.\u00a0 Fangoria Magazine<\/a> helped to launch the film by releasing the short as part of their first Blood Drive DVD<\/a>. The Blood Drive DVD was released in 2004 and was hosted by musician\/director Rob Zombie<\/a>.\u00a0 We got a very positive public response from the Blood Drive piece.\u00a0 This was the break we needed to get investors on board.\u00a0 As soon as we were able to secure funding, we got started with the feature.\u00a0 We are very grateful to Fangoria magazine for the publicity they gave us.\u00a0 We would have been hard pressed to make this film without their help.<\/p>\n

Thrill:<\/em> You also co-directed the excellent new Lucha film, Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy<\/em><\/a>, also released by Monogram (April 24). How (and why) you were exposed and attracted to the world of underground cult cinema?<\/p>\n

CG<\/em>: Underground cult cinema is the best!\u00a0 As a kid I would search out the strangest movies to watch.\u00a0 These movies had a way of expanding the imagination while making you laugh, cry, and cringe at the same time.\u00a0 They depart from the formulas of most Hollywood films.\u00a0 Normal rules do not apply to cult films.\u00a0 These films inspired me to become a film director.\u00a0 It was only natural for me to start directing films that included iconic cult figures like zombies and Luchadores.<\/p>\n

Thrill: