Picking Brains with Wednesday Lee Friday: Ron DiPrimio

For Love of Zombies is one of my favorite zombie fan films EVER. It appeals to the zombie nerd in all of us. It’s clever, hilarious, well-written, and unique. I was stoked that screenwriter Ron DiPrimio was able to talk zombies, Romero, and Evans City Cemetery with us.

WLF/ZZN: Hey, thanks for taking the time to answer some of our questions. Your new movie is titled For Love of Zombies. I’m intrigued. Tell us about it.
It’s the story of two zombie loving geeks who drag their less than enthusiastic girlfriends to the world famous Evans City Cemetery for a day of frolic and fun. Only to find the undead are wating…and hungry.

WLF/ZZN: The trailer cracks me up. Did Governor Schwartzenegger have a difficult time fitting this into his schedule. (WLF note: It’s not actually him. Republicans do not appreciate zombies.)
Luckily we got the governator to voice over our trailer right before his (most recent) scandal hit the news. He actually was very easy to get, all he requested was his own personal maid for his hotel room which in hindsight now makes sense. ☺

WLF/ZZN: I understand that the main characters travel to Evans City Cemetery, yet are surprised that there are zombies there. How can this be?
Well, our two dimwitted protagonist’s firmly believe that Night of the Living Dead was only a movie and that there wasn’t any danger in visiting the cemetery where the opening scenes took place. The soon realize that NOTLD wasn’t just a movie.

WLF/ZZN: It seems as if Pete Comma is gonna have a tough time of it in this film. Would you agree that narcolepsy is one of the more unfortunately weaknesses to befall anyone trying to survive an infestation of the undead?
It certainly is. However, narcolepsy could come in handy if one wanted to die in their sleep. Especially during a zombie apocalypse.

WLF/ZZN: Valeria Nada reportedly says she’s “secretly loving Shaun of the Dead.” Why would anyone keep that a secret?
She needs to keep up this front so that her girlfriends don’t ostracize her from their group. Liking a movie like Shaun of the Dead could earn her scorn and ridicule from her highfalutin’ friends.

WLF/ZZN: I have long asserted that the Light Saber (R with circle) is an excellent weapon for offensive and defensive zombie action. How did Jake Burger get inside my mind and steal my idea?
Well one of Jake’s many gifts is the ability to mind meld with someone who is a zombie expert. Luckily for him he found your website and realized your zombie prowess.

WLF/ZZN: Brianna Shortcake seems to have the most valuable strength: manipulating men. Is she willing to teach others how to do this?
If Brianna is fortunate enough to survive the zombie apocalypse I am sure she would be more than willing to teach those not versed in this skill.

WLF/ZZN: One of the first images on the film’s site is that of a brain being devoured. Are we to assume, then, that your approach here is more representative of Dan O’Bannon and the BRAAAAAINNNNSS theory of zombies?
Not at all. My incredible web guy Tom Carty came up with that as cool way to keep one entertained while the web page loads. I am more of a proponent of the Romero type zombie.

WLF/ZZN: Fast zombies, or slow? Why?
I am a fan of both. I feel that the movement of a zombie is dependent on its state of decay. If a zombie is fresh the better it will move. However as decomposition sets in the slower it will move. The zombies in For Love of Zombies are of the slow moving variety because I find them to be more frightening. Just the slow, unrelenting movement of the undead closing in gives one a claustrophobic sense of doom.

WLF/ZZN: Please tell us a bit about your introduction to zombies.
My introduction to zombies was when I snuck out of my room when I was seven years old to watch Night of the Living Dead after everyone else was in bed. I figured, it’s in black and white, how scary could it be? Well, needless to say it scared the Spiderman pajama bottoms off of me and I slept with a light on for weeks.

WLF/ZZN: Can you talk a bit about the difference in your view of zombies when you first encountered them, compared to your theories on the undead now?
I was always a huge fan of the Romero Zombies and felt that anything faster than a slow, plodding zombie was awful…then I saw 28 Days Later and the remake of Dawn of the Dead and realized that fast moving zombies could be a lot of fun as well. I know, I know, they were infected in 28 Days Later not zombies but you get my point. (WLF note: Do NOT get me started on this topic!)

WLF/ZZN: I see that you are an Award Winning Director. Can you talk a bit about your past accolades?
Actually I am an award winning screenwriter. A screenplay I wrote titled SCENT, has done extremely well in screenwriting competitions.

WLF/ZZN: You wrote, directed, and co-produced this film yourself. Are you secretly a huge control freak? Do you think you are at all resistive to the collaborative nature of film?
Doing most of the jobs is out of necessity and not based on some desire to control everything. I firmly believe that film is collaborative effort and in productions since For Love of Zombies I have delegated some of the work load.

WLF/ZZN: When can eager consumers of the undead see For Love of Zombies near them?
The DVD is now available and it is loaded with a ton of extras. Including three never before seen short films from Little Red Wagon Films.

WLF/ZZN: What’s next for Ron DiPrimio?
We begin filming our next horror short in May. It is called The Neighbor and it stars horror icon Bill Oberst Jr. You and your readers may recognize him from the viral sensation take this lollipop. I am also working on a book trailer for Jonathan Maberry‘s next novel.

WLF/ZZN: Anything you’d like to say to your supporters out there?
I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported me on my films. I truly mean it, none of my films would have happened if it wasn’t for the effort and talents of my cast and crew. I hope that your readers will take a chance and purchase the DVD. I promise they will not be disappointed. (WLF note: I concur. It is seriously hilarious.)

WLF/ZZN: Thanks so much, Ron!