As a contributing writer here at BuyZombie I haven’t been contributing much of late. I do feel I have a good reason though. Like every good story this one has a beginning and an ending……
In the Fall of 2011 a zombie film called “The Dead Mile†was filming in Calgary, Alberta Canada. I found out they were shooting downtown in Olympic Plaza that night, so I made arrangements to do a story, grabbed my camera, and headed out.
That evening they were shooting a big scene wherein a number of zombies were gnawing on their victims. I knelt and snapped away as intestines were removed and consumed, and blood sprayed. This was my first experience on a zombie film set, and I was mesmerized. The director of the film, K.J. Kleefeld, asked me if I would like to be a zombie extra for the remainder of the shoot, and I quickly said yes.
Fast forward to two nights later, I am in makeup having a smoke and waiting for filming to begin. I begin a conversation with a zombie with a piece of glass sticking out of his head. He introduced himself as Dan Doherty, and told me he was the founder of the Calgary Horror Con.
Calgary Horror Con Founder, CEO Dan Doherty
The Convention was going into its second year, and I told him that I would like to participate in some way if I could. I got to know Dan pretty good during filming, and as his Convention grew closer I started to become more active with his show. I have an extensive background in sales and marketing, so I began helping out here and there with promotions and such. During the Convention I had the opportunity to be the personal assistant to the lovely Scream Queen, Linnea Quigley, and had a great time meeting celebs like Kane Hodder and the late Richard Brooker.
After the show there were personnel changes at the Convention, and Dan asked me if I wanted to be the new Director of Marketing for the show. I quickly agreed. So work began in earnest on the 2013 show, we had to decide on what guests we wanted to bring in.
I have been conversational friends with Patricia Tallman for a few years, and thought that a “Night of the Living Dead†1990 remake reunion would be fantastic, and Dan agreed. This idea had such great potential, not only for us as organizers, but for the horror fans as well. After all, besides Pat portraying the heroine “Barbaraâ€, there was Tony Todd as “Benâ€, Bill Moseley as “Johnnyâ€, and the film was directed by Tom Savini.
I guess I should mention that not only am I responsible for marketing the Convention, I am the Celebrity Guest booker as well. So I was charged with making it happen. This has been a thrilling and very surreal ride. I’m still amazed when my phone rings and I see that Tom Savini is calling me. I’m just a horror fan, and have been since I was a ten year old boy, not only that, but I am a huge zombie film fan – I am the Head Writer for “James and Steve’s Zombie Movie Rating Guideâ€. Needless to say these types of things are not common for me.
But I am happy to report that the ending to this little tale is a good one. Negotiations went rather smoothly, and I would like to invite all Buyzombie readers to attend our Horror Con this August in Calgary, Canada! Fans will have the opportunity to meet the cast, we have a screening of the film at Calgary’s historic Plaza Theater with a panel afterwards. Not only do we have the reunion, but we also have Michael Berryman, Cleve Hall, Constance Hall, and Canadian Scream Queen Jessica Cameron attending in 2013.
I would like to thank Dan for giving me this wonderful opportunity, and want all fans to know that if you have a dream, whether it be making horror films, working conventions, or writing a horror novel – it is possible. If you apply yourself, volunteer, and study your craft good things will happen. I hope to see you in August!
