Q: Tell us the premise for MARK OF THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES...
TED: ALIENS WHO INHABIT A GIANT ASTEROID, CREATE ASTRO-ZOMBIES. THESE ROBOTICAL CREATIONS HAVE SYNTHETIC BLOOD, IMPLANTED BODY-PARTS, SOLAR-ENERGY- DRIVEN HEART PUMPS, RECEIVER CHIPS IN THEIR BRAINS, AND ARE BASICALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE. THE ALIENS CONTROL THEM BY GIVING ORDERS THRU CYBER-SPACE TO TERRORIZE AND KILL ENTIRE POPULATIONS, ENABLING THEM TO ACHIEVE TOTAL DOMINATION OF THE EARTH.
Q: What made you decide to make a sequel to Astro Zombies? Did it have anything to do with the experience of making CORPSE GRINDERS 2?
TED: My decision to do another SCI/FI horror pic was based on the longevity of this type of picture, and the fact that fans clamor for these over anything else. Corpse Grinders Two, I believe will enjoy even greater success than the original. Corpses ground up into cat-food seems to be a story that won't die. Campiness underneath it all seems to be the type of dark humor and unbelieveability that entertains.
Q: Who is doing the special makeup effects?
TED: Actually, Jay Gowey of Arizona has created the Astro-Zombie heads and machete's for us, along with a head bearing the likeness of John Carradine. Michael Heagle of Minneapolis is creating the alien heads (masks) and will create many of the electronic video effects. The rest of the make-up will be done catch-as-catch-can when there is no way to hire a Hollywood expert. We will all participate in its creativity. Dennis Phelps has created our web material with excellent coverage on www.tedvmikels.com
Q: How do these ASTRO ZOMBIES differ than the ones in the original?
TED: The basic difference in these Astro-Zombies is that they are actually motivated to action by e-mails sent to the receivers implanted in their brains. They obey the e-mail orders issued by the aliens.
Q: What actors do you have lined up?
TED: Well, actually over two thousand actors, actresses, technicians in every aspect of film-making have responded, requesting parts, offering services, scoring, etc. Obviously only a fraction of those responding can be selected. We have secured Tura Satana, Liz Renay, Brinke Stevens, Shanti, Gene Paul Jones, Sean Morelli, Chuck Alford, and an additional cast of about thirty others in leading parts, plus many others appearing in smaller roles, as victims, extras, etc.
I myself will play a mad-man intending to extract secrets from the captured brain of Dr. DeMarco, played by John Carradine in the previous movie.
Q: When will the movie be completed?
TED: Completion may take a while as music scoring and visual effects always demand extra time. I should have the principal photography completed by October 15. We start filming August 20.
Q: What format is the movie going to be shot on?
TED: I like to call the format MULTI-MEDIA, as it will embrace both some film and video. Upon completion, it will be available for 35mm distribution, Digital Beta for world-wide magnetic mediums, so it will cover all known end-users needs.
Q: Anything you want to add?
TED: There is no distribution deal set yet, and I have avoided talking about distribution until the movie is completely finished. Since there also is no financing, my personal out-of-pocket and some twenty-six credit cards carry the brunt. (At least I have no partners to deal with that way, even though it requires a great deal of BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS. Again, check out my web-site created by webmaster Dennis Phelps, at... ... ... .www.tedvmikels.com
