d3rang3d Interviews : Michael Bartlett

We reviewed the excellent Zombie Diaries in our very first issue of d3rang3d magazine. A movie which captures the sheer terror and social breakdown in the aftermath of the undead rising, Zombie Diaries packed an atmosphere to die for.

After enjoying the movie so much, how could we resist tracking down director Michael Bartlett to get his thoughts on the movie and an insight into the work which went into bringing it to our screens.

You can check out the films official website HERE and, without further ado, I give you Michael Bartlett of Zombie Diaries :

d3rang3d : The film opens with the idea that an unknown virus caused the zombies, and there are references to bird flu. An intentional play on current fears of things like H5N1, SARS etc?

Michael Bartlett : Absolutely. Anything a filmmaker can do to increase their movie's chances of exposure is a good thing. Bird Flu is an annual talking point with the dreaded "pandemic" hot on everyone's lips every winter. It's a great hook.

d3rang3d : Considering the zombie theme, the film is relatively light on gore - was it a concsious decision to go for something more atmospheric and buck the trend for buckets of blood and pig entrails everywhere? If so, why?

Michael Bartlett : Yes, I hate "gore fests", I am somewhat of an old school horror director, in that I prefer atmopshere. Even the 'jump moments' in the film were only put in to satisfy audiences who complained at the lack of them at test screenings. Jumps and gore just bore me to death. It's all to easy. Let's have some modern horror with a bit of thought and craft?

d3rang3d : The intertwined tales of the survivors and their struggles to cope are very atmospheric - and also mostly very bleak in their outcomes. Particulary interesting was the introduction of the character of "Goke". A deliberate comment on society, or at least how members of a society might react to such a devastating situation?

Michael Bartlett : The point of The Zombie Diaries was to show how people might react in a post-apocalyptic environment, or at least a world without law. Goke (who is named after one of the nicest guys you will ever meet) was based on the sort of people out there who maybe fantasise about doing evil things but cannot due to the world of law and order we live in.

My wife mentioned to me that an anonymous study was carried out in a college in the USA in the 50s, where people were questioned about what they would do if there was no law and order. I think she said over 50% of males already had a woman picked out that they would rape. That is pretty disturbing. That is the part of the population that Goke and Manny represent.

d3rang3d : What's your favourite scene in Zombie Diaries?

Michael Bartlett : When Andy and Matt creep up the stairs in the farmhouse and end up finding the surprise...

d3rang3d : What's your fondest memory of making the film? And your worse?

Michael Bartlett : My best memory is the brotherhood on set. We all had a blast. Kevin and I got on very well as co-directors and all of the cast and crew gelled well. It was like a small family. Those kind of film sets are great and when it is over everyone feels genuinely sad at having to move on.

My worst memory is the weekend of non stop rain. I thought we wouldn't get any useable footage. But in the end the rain turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it helped enforece the post apocalyptic feel. Imagine zombies on a bright and sunny day - it just doesn't work!

d3rang3d : Any interesting stories - funny or serious - that you can share with us from the making of Zombie Diaries?

Michael Bartlett : The funniest story is probably the one in the 'making of' featurette on the DVD where I made Sophia Ellis throw up. Sophia is a good actress but when she is distracted her performance shoots up 1000%. I decided that in a scene where she is out of breath I didn't want her to act that - I actually wanted her to be genuinely out of breath; thus distracted. So I made her run around a field about 50 times and she ended up throwing up pizza. But the performance pleased me! ;)

d3rang3d : Anyone among the cast or crew who you would single out for a special mention?

Michael Bartlett : Russel Jones (Goke), Hiram Bleetman (Manny), James Fisher (Geoff) and Imogen Church (Sue) own this film. Their performances are solid as a rock and I think they all have incredibly exciting careers ahead of them assuming they work on the right kind of projects and with good directors who can bring out the best in them.

d3rang3d : The special effects look excellent and really capture the image of the walking dead - can you tell us a little about the work that went into them?

Michael Bartlett : The special effects team comprised of Scott Orr, Cesar Alonso and Mike Peel. You have to remember that these guys have worked on some top notch stuff like Children of Men, Davinci Code and The Descent. Kev and I were always very confident working with them because they always deliver. Sometimes they would pull all-nighters to ensure the effects were precisely as we wanted them. There is more info about them on our DVD 'making of' featurette.

d3rang3d : Working on a low budget, was there anything that you had to omit from the film that you'd have liked to have included? Or is there anything that you'd go back and change about the film if you could?

Michael Bartlett : Yes, I would like to have had the scene on the DVD cover (UK and Eire release) where our characters fight zombies against a burning London skyline!!

d3rang3d : It really happens and the dead come back to life to feed upon the living - what do you do?

Michael Bartlett : Oh what fun! I'd head for the nearest shopping mall of course! I love the idea of movie situations really happening. I only wish I had been left 'home alone' as a child - there would have been some hilarious situations for sure.

d3rang3d : Away from your own work, what movies have really hit the spot for you?

Michael Bartlett : The Swimmer, Full Metal Jacket, Broken Flowers, Jacob's Ladder - they are my 'untouchables' The Swimmer is just a brilliant, brilliant film, and I urge anyone reading this interview to just go to Amazon and read the synopsis and a few reviews. They can then e-mail me once they have seen it to thank me.

d3rang3d : What, or who - if anything/anyone - scares you in horror movies? And, do you think there are any themes or subjects which are taboo and shouldn't be used in the horror film?

Michael Bartlett : I think Eli Roth's movie about the monkey and the olsen twins is the last taboo. That's pushing the envelope. I think that Harry Knowles would give the movie a positive review too.

d3rang3d : What's next for Michael Bartlett?

Michael Bartlett : Either a movie with a really good budget and my full creative control, or a career as a software architect. Either is fine.

d3rang3d : And, finally - the open non question. Your chance to say anything you like about any subject under the sun - thank the fans, cuss the critics, plug your favorite beer. Anything goes, so any final words?

Michael Bartlett : Just a word advice for all readers. If you're ever at a loved one's funeral, please make sure you have the priest remind people to switch off their mobile phones. I can't think of anything more disrespectful than a stupid ring tone going off at a funeral. Actually I can - but don't get me started on Shyamalan and the twist in Jacob's Ladder...