Day of the Dead 2 Contagium Interview

There is no more controversial movie then Day of the Dead 2. The fine folks over at HM.ca have sat down and had a really great to the point interview with the director/producer and writer of the movie. Its a great interview.

Q: Tell our readers about yourselves. How you became filmmakers and why?

Dudelson:  I started as independent producer and distributor of specialized  films, years before the all the studio's had there own divisions doing it.   I was involved in films like John Sayles "Matewan," "Coca Cola Kid" and two  academy award best winning foreign films "Madam Rosa," and "Get out your  Hankerchiefs" to name a few.

Clavell: Always loved the cinema, but became a filmmaker by accident: I  actually trained as a Stage Manager in the U.K.. After I relocated to my  native digs, Puerto Rico, I found theatre to be of an sporadic nature. On  the advice of a cousin I interviewed for an Assistant Director post with a  local commercial production company. That job evolved into editorial  responsibilities. After a couple of years at it I took a chance and moved to  Los Angeles and started directing and editing music videos for a Latino  company. That winter I found myself jobless until a cinematographer friend  of mine suggested we use the downtime to write, produce and direct a series  of short films. Which we did, and have been working this medium ever since.

Q: What filmmakers, or people within the industry past or present have
inspired you in your art most?

Dudelson:  Alfred Hitchcock

Clavell:  Orson Welles, George Lucas, George Romero, Terry Gilliam. Peter  Greenaway, Tom Stoppard, Angela Carter, David Cronenberg, Ridley Scott, Tony  Scott, to mention a few. Truth is, I find inspiration constantly in many  people's work.

Q: Day of the Dead 2 has brought in a lot of controversy. So let's address  some of the hot issues. How did you acquire the rights to the Day of the  Dead sequel/prequel?

Dudelson  My company owns the rights: I have been in involved with Day of  the Dead for twenty years. The version that the fans love from Anchor Bay we  licensed and worked hard to give the best quality DVD out there.

Q: What made you decide it was time for Day of the Dead 2 and what inspired
the story?

Clavell: I'm intrigued with the theme viral Armageddon and mortality in  general. Contagium was directly inspired by weaponized illnesses and the  general public ignorance regarding their government's secret dealings.

Not  to mention that regardless of our advances in biology, viruses and bacteria  seem to be getting just as persistent...On another level, I remember the  Cold War paranoia very well, and some of the purported experiments taking  place in the depths of the jungle...

Q: When the movie was initially announced on IMDB, George Romero's name was  attached as a writer. How did this happen, since George is clearly not
involved?

To read the rest of the interview, click here