With PLANE DEAD having wrapped 1st-unit photography in Los Angeles, writer/director Scott Thomas and producer (with Thomas and Glen Tackett) David Shoshan checked in with Fango to give us the exclusive on their zombies-on-an-airliner flick, and share a bunch of photos. “We have been very fortunate with our talented and diverse cast,” states Shoshan. “I’m proud and excited about this picture because of the great cast and crew we have on such a low budget!”
PLANE DEAD stars David Chisum, Kristen Kerr, Kevin J. (VAN HELSING) O’Connor, Derek Webster, Raymond J. (THE X FILES) Barry, Dale (PET SEMATARY) Midkiff, Erick (THE MUMMY) Avari and Richard Tyson, who’s been quite busy in the genre of late (having also recently wrapped SIN-JIN SMYTH and BIG BAD WOLF). “I worked with Richard last year on another project,” Thomas says, “and thought that he would be great [in PLANE DEAD]! He plays Paul Judd, a Federal Air Marshal aboard the 747.”
An Imageworks Entertainment Int’l and Pacific Entertainment Group production, PLANE DEAD revolves around an international flight from LA to Paris on which a renegade scientist, on the run from the CIA, has smuggled a secret coffin containing a body infected with a genetically engineered virus. When the plane encounters two large storms, the extreme turbulence causes the flesheating body to escape from the plane’s hold. A life-and-death battle then ensues as the virus turns the unsuspecting passengers into the undead. Adding fuel to the fire, governments refuse the plane landing as well as air space, given the pathogen it’s carrying.
“Overall, the great attraction for the cast and crew has been the fun, exciting script,” Shoshan says of the movie, which bears the tagline “Fly the Deadly Skies.”
San Fernando Valley-based FX company Optic Nerve was tapped to provide PLANE DEAD’s altitudinal undead. “They’ve added tremendous production value,” says Shoshan. Headed by John Vulich, Optic Nerve is no stranger to providing quality FX on a tight schedule and budget, as evidenced by its work on the long-running BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER series. The outfit also has plenty of zombie experience, from the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD remake to the recently fourth and fifth entries in the RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD franchise.
Given the accompanying stills, it’s no surprise when Thomas says, “This is a scary and somewhat gory film with dark humor, but I’m not making a comedy!” Music is being provided by Jeff Lass, who previously scored 2003’s THE DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE ROCK ’N ROLL MUSICAL.
Click on the images for full view…
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