Check out the characters of 'TWD' spin-off!

Press Release:

“There are many corners of ‘The Walking Dead’ universe that remain unseen in the shadows. Being given the opportunity to shine a light into those corners and see what lurks out there is an absolute thrill. I know the fans are anxious to hear what Dave and I have been cooking up for this new universe of ‘The Walking Dead,’ and I’m happy to be one step closer to sharing it with them.” 

SEAN CABRERA | A Latino male in his early 40s, Sean is a good man trying to do right by everyone in his life.

CODY CABRERA | Sean’s whip-smart and rebellious teenage son. Known as the angriest kid in town.

NANCY TOMPKINS | A thirtysomething single mom to two kids, Nancy looks like the girl next door, but there’s an edge to her.

NICK TOMPKINS | Nancy’s screwed up teenage son. He’s too old to stay home, too scared to flee.

ASHLEY TOMPKINS | Nancy’s mostly level-headed teenage daughter. Her ambition is in direct proportion to her older brother’s failures. She loves her mom but it’s time to get out of Dodge.

ANDREA CHAPMAN | A somewhat wilted flower child, fortysomething Andrea — yep, another Andrea! — has retreated to the outskirts of the city to recover after a horrible marriage.

Just how accurate are the undead in 'The Walking Dead?'

AMC

Considering The Walking Dead is a show about a bunch of people being pursued across the smashed landscape of post-apocalyptic America by hopeless swarms of reanimated corpses, you'd probably assume that "technical accuracy" wouldn't be high up on the producers' list of priorities. 

However, practicalities of zombie-ism aside, the show's executive producer, Greg Nicotero, has resorted to some terrifying methods to ensure that all of the shambling ghouls decompose in a realistic way.

Nicotero, who claims to have done extensive research into the various stages of corpse decomposition (presumably in his basement), has the show's makeup team pay special attention to how the zombies' skin has been affected by heat and dehydration, considering that unlike the show's target audience, the undead hordes spend most of their time outside.

Thanks to The Walking Dead's crazy devotion to nightmarish details, the show's prosthetics are also constantly evolving to reflect the gradual decomposition of the zombies as the series progresses. For instance, in the first season, the zombies were relatively fresh-faced (for undead monsters):

As the episodes go on, however, those faces steadily become more disfigured, with the zombies' eyes sinking in and their skin pulling back to tighten around their horrible skulls:

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Season 2

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Season 3

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Season 4

Additionally, compare these zombie kills in the first two seasons to the ones in season three and four. Notice how later in the series, eliminated zombies fall apart as if they were made out of mashed potatoes and soggy toilet paper, because that's what would happen to six-month-old dead bodies that had been baking out in the humid Georgia heat. 

So the next time you hear somebody criticizing The Walking Dead for having characters that don't evolve, feel free to correct them. The zombies totally evolve. It's just the humans that don't develop in any meaningful way.

~cracked.com

Why zombies shouldn't play baseball

Check out this 'Last of Us/Resident Evil' mash-up!

Naughty Dog’s 2013 Game of the Year The Last of Us is something of a spin on the zombie sub-genre, with people being turned viciously aggressive by a mutated strain of the Cordyceps parasite. But how would the game’s two main characters, Joel and Ellie, do in another hit video game with zombie-like enemies, Resident Evil 4?

One modder decided to extract Joel and Ellie from the hell that is the world inThe Last of Us and drop them right into the hell that is the world in Resident Evil 4 so we can see for ourselves.

~geeksofdoom.com

Zombie Fest 10/18 Fairview, OR

Energy Events has teamed up with the Dead for one of the coolest and scariest events this Halloween! It will be a battle - Survivors vs. Zombies! Afterwards, join us for the party at the “Zombie Fest” featuring Kraken Rum, Cuervo Cinge Tequila, and local microbrews available to everyone over 21 years of age.

Zombie Prom 10/4 Connellsville, PA to benefit animal group

Animal SnipPets is a spay/neuter organization that focuses on the trapping, neutering and returning of stray/feral cat colonies in the Fayette County area.

Its purpose is to decrease the feline population through spaying/neutering. Organizers say the decrease will reduce the number of cats being euthanized by animal control facilities.

“We have spay/neutered nearly 350 cats and kittens so far this year, but could do so many more if we had more volunteers.

“We so appreciate all of the volunteers that help with fundraising, but we really need people who would be willing to trap and transport,” said Animal SnipPets President Kellie Rohaley.

In order to help with costs, a unique fundraiser is being planned for Oct. 4.

Animal SnipPets will hold its first Zombie Prom starting at 7 p.m. at Murphy Hall in Connellsville.

Those who want to be a part of the fun must buy tickets by Tuesday. There will be no tickets sold at the door.

Call 724-366-4455 or 412-691-2164 for tickets. Only 150 tickets will be sold. For more information, visit Animal SnipPets' Facebook page.

The event will end at midnight.

There will be a dance contest to the music of “Thriller.” Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed and most original zombie costumes. A king and queen zombie will be crowned and will be awarded prizes along with a prize for the dance contest winner.

Haunted prom décor will include tables decorated with black table cloths accessorized by bloody overlays accented with blood-dripped candles. Horror d'oeuvres will be served, including brain dip, cheese head and crackers and zombie eyeballs. Desserts will include brain cupcakes, dirt, zombie trifles and a chocolate fountain. Soda and coffee are included. A cash bar will be available.

Nancy Shultz, Animal SnipPets volunteer and an organizer of the event, said sponsors for the evening include Dr. Lillian Ronzio School of Holistic Health, state Rep. Deberah L. Kula, Martucci Funeral Home, Health Insurance Store, West Apple Tours, Mayor Greg Lincoln, Tzan Insurance, Rich Fright Farm, Living Treasures Animal Park in Donegal, Haunted Hills Estate and CB Printz.

Tickets for the Zombie Prom are $15 or $25 per couple. Only those 18 and older are permitted to attend, must be 21 to purchase alcohol. Photo identification must be shown at the door. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Animal SnipPets come into a community or private property, wherever there's a need. Members set humane traps. The cats are not hurt. They are spayed or neutered, given shots, and if needed, ear mite medicine, sometimes flea treatments. They are then brought back and released where they were trapped — all at no charge.

Animals Friends in Pittsburgh performs the treatments on the felines, Rohaley said.

To donate, mail checks payable to Animal SnipPets Inc., 341 Adelaide Road, Connellsville, PA 15425.

~triblive.com/

Zombie short film contest

The dead will walk again at MAC TV studio. 

Bloody organs, open wounds and an unquenchable thirst for brains will be on hand at the studio's first-ever zombie fashion show. 

Eleanor Etienne, a member of the production staff at MAC TV, got the idea for a film contest from a librarian at Pere Marquette District Library, where their Claire office is located. She said the contest was timed to coincide with Halloween at the end of October. 

“I had done the zombie run in Mt. Pleasant last year and it’s getting closer to Halloween," she said. "I was like what if we did a zombie film contest?"

Etienne said she didn't have trouble getting her boss and co-workers on board with the idea. Trista Casasant,  a Central Michigan University senior and a production staff member at MAC TV, said it encourages the holiday. 

“I thought it would be a good way for all of us to get in the spirit of Halloween," she said.  

There are minimal requirements for the contest. Dana Kuntzler, a production staff member at MAC TV, said each film must be 10 minutes or less and be appropriate for a PG 13 rating. 

Participation in the contest is open to all age groups, so nominations are not limited to CMU students.

Entries can vary from romantic comedies, horror or any other  genre as long as zombies are involved. MAC TV will also be holding an equipment training class on Sep. 30, in case participants need to use their supplies.  

“We have a few high school students that want to do it. It’s for anybody in the Mid-Michigan area," Kuntzler  said. 

Kuntzler and Etienne said that they hope this will become an annual event at MAC TV, and that it will give people a greater idea of what MAC TV is.

“I’m excited to see more people find out more about MAC TV and realize they can make their own content to go on the channel," Etienne  said.

Casasanta said she is excited to see a vast array of submissions. 

“I think the thing I’m most excited about seeing is so many people participating and seeing how many adaptations we get of zombie films," she  said. 

Those interested in participating in the film contest can call MAC TV at 989-773-9730. 

~cm-life.com