[Documentary] Birth Of The Living Dead (2014) Review

A couple of weeks ago I was walking around HMV looking for Carl Sagan's Cosmos and by chance I managed to spot this new release titled 'Birth Of The Living Dead.' It's a really cool documentary about the origins of Romero's 'Night Of The Living Dead.'

The documentary gives insight into the history of the sixties regarding the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. This shows what the audience of the sixties felt about this film and especially when it came to a black man being the hero. The meaning behind this film goes so much deeper into the social context of the time. There's a political aspect to this sub-culture, underground film. As Romero states, the main character, Ben, was not written with a race in mind, they purely hired Duane  because he was a great guy.

Romero has a good sense of humour in this documentary and he made me laugh a lot, making me so glad I met him as he's obviously a decent bloke. I love is hippyish use of the word 'man' and he explains how ten of them chucked in $600 each and managed to make a movie. All cast members being family and friends and people they have previously worked with. They managed to beat the odds - budget, being a black and white film and not being well known film makers.

A mad fact is that nobody knows how much money it has made. They received no royalties for this film due to copyright issues. Somebody forgot the copyright sign in the opening credits!

If you get this, there's still scenes after the credits. It's a great companion alongside the film, definitely recommend it.

I Met George A. Romero! ... Twice!! LFCC #2

As previously posted I attended London Film and Comicon 2014, I love conventions as it is but this one was very special indeed... I met George A. Romero! Not once, but twice and the experience for me will go down in my little personal history of great events in my life.

On the Friday after getting all the tickets for entry and for the photo with him, we had a wander around as usual, looking at all the cool art work and stalls full of figures, DVDs, all sorts of merchandise, you name it they had it.

Luckily for me, Romero was due to attended Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Which gave me many opportunities to meet him. On the Friday I had a look by all of the celebrities autograph tables to see if I could spot a glimpse of him. Sadly I did not and so I went on about my business. Friday preview ended at 9pm and around 8:30pm I gave it one last shot. I walked around to where his stall was and low and behold, there he was!! There was no queue so I nipped in there quick to get his autograph, I picked a print of him and Simon Pegg, purely because it was white and you would clearly be able to see his autograph on it. He was such a lovely man, I had my favourite 'ZOMBIES' t-shirt on to which he pointed and said 'zombies!' and laughed. I must admit I grinned like an idiot, I thought being star struck was a made up thing but I couldn't muster a word to say to him. He then said to me 'you'll have to get Simon to sign this next, does he ever come to these things?' I said 'I don't think he does!' And was laughing stupidly because I was so happy.

Funnily enough, I went to see Monty Python Live the Wednesday after, and who was a special guest? Only Simon Pegg himself, and there I was thinking I would never ever see him in my life. What a coincidence, but no, I did not get his autograph.

I then said bye and went home.

The next day I arrived bright and early to get my picture taken with him, I was waiting in the queue, checking myself in the mirror, as you do. But I was shaking, I was nervous and excited - it made me feel so weird with emotion. I got to the front and he shook my hand and said hi. I think he recognised me because of the way he looked at me and smiled, I would like to think that he recognised me anyway! He even asked me how I was! He then put his arm round me and I him and they took the picture. He then shook my hand again and said goodbye.

What a couple of days! I never thought I would ever meet my favourite director, especially due to his age and because he lives in Canada, and obviously I'm from London. He lived up to and beyond my expectations, he was the nicest man you would ever meet and I am so glad that he wasn't up himself at all. I don't think I will ever get this opportunity ever again so I'm so pleased that I did it when I could.