Zombie wannabes turn out for film casting

By lpinchess lynette pinchess

WE'VE had Dawn of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead and now Nottingham is to have its very own zombie film – Ay Up Me Duck of the Dead.

Budding stars from all walks of life applied online for a chance to prove their zombie credentials on the big screen.

And a select few went along to a casting session at the Image Bar on Saturday to find "living dead" extras for the new short film set in the city.

The successful zombies will be scaring the life out of the film's two main characters Johnny, played by Joe Deuchar, and Barbara, played by Dani Reeve.

Around 20 people turned up for the audition but writer and director Steve Best said he was taken aback by the number who applied through a website dedicated to the film.

"We need 15-30 zombies and there were 250 registrations.

"80% were from women. Women seem to have a fascination with zombies."

And the secret of being a good zombie?

Steve said: "They have to be able to lurch convincingly and that's it really."

Steve and most of the film crew work for Monumental Games in the Lace Market.

The 48-year-old from Wilford said: "We were in the pub after work talking about films and how we should make one. We make computer games so we thought 'it can't be that hard to make a film'."

The film's opening credits have already been shot in the Image Bar in Stoney Street and the main scenes will be filmed around the Lace Market later this month.

The ten-minute movie will be entered in film competitions and put on YouTube.

Ay Up Me Duck of the Dead follows Johnny and Barbara after a chance meeting in Nottingham city centre.

Johnny has woken up in the street after a heavy night out and Barbara, has been waiting for a bus that never appeared. The pair then find they are alone in the city – or are they?

There are big plans for the film's closing scenes.

"We want to get 2,000 zombies in Market Square in October. We are talking to Nottingham City Council's events team about that," said Steve.