Horror Yearbook had a chance to catch up with the director of the sure-to-be-a-hit zombie flick FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. And by the sound of it, Scott Thomas may have some more projects on the way soon enough.
MOLLY: It looks like you have a history of directing dramatic films. Why did you make the switch to a horror film?
SCOTT THOMAS: Actually, a good percentage of my work has been “genre” type work, but thanks. I’ve been a fan of horror and Sci-fi since I was 6 years old. I remember watching “Invaders from Mars” on TV and that was it, I was hooked. I would not step on the beach without thinking I was going to be pulled under the sand. I was (trying) making super 8 and video horror “movies” from then on.
In one of my early horror “films” attempts, I told my friend we were making a “abominable snowman horror film.” After a lot of convincing, he finally agreed to wear a huge white wig, my grandmothers fur coat, and I pained his face white… I had fun, but he ended up looking more like Phyllis Diller than a Yeti… After that I decide to leave the make-up Fx to the pros.
MOLLY: Is FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD’s plot, involving a scientist sneaking a corpse onto a plane and infecting passengers, poking fun at the current security precautions, or lack thereof, employed by airlines after 9/11?
ST: Ahh, no. I was trying to make a situation where there someone could transport a dangerous substance on a plane without being detected. Hmmm wait a minute…
WIL: Does a black guy say “I’m getting sick of these muthafuckin’ zombies on this muthafuckin’ plane” in the film?
ST: Yes, but you need you to play the film backwards and at 30 fps…
MOLLY: I see you are the creator of Pacific Entertainment Group Inc. What other projects do you have coming up after FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD?
ST: I have a Television series that I want to do and I have several scripts that I am talking to people about, all in the supernatural horror genre. New Line has mentioned future projects, so who knows?
WIL: Why did they make you or did you switch the name from PLANE DEAD to FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD? PLANE DEAD was so much better.
ST: I came up with the title while writing the script, it’s still the title in some foreign markets. When it was sold domestically it became a marketing idea to change it, I don’t disagree with it. I think it’s a cool title…
WIL: There are so many zombie movies these days, what separates FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD from the other zombie films?
ST: People don’t like to fly away, so why not make the experience even more terrifying? I’m a big fan of the new “zombie” films. I think that “zombie” films have been elevated lately with 28 DAYS LATER and the remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD, not that the early Romero or Fulci films were not scary, but lately people have ratcheted up the zombie film. The early Romero or Fulci films were groundbreaking and still are. I don’t know how to top a shark zombie attack. I personally think that the slow moving “Tor” zombie is lame. If you can out run it, then run or beat the crap out of it’s dumb, slow moving dead ass. On the other hand, if you have a fast, vicious, strong, unstoppable and hungry UN-dead thing after you, you might have something to worry about. Anyway I tried to do things that I would like to see happen in that situation.
WIL: Was SNAKES ON A PLANE and inspiration for FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD?
ST: No.
WIL: Actress Sarah Laine was in both “Port Charles” and “Passions” soap operas. Are you a fan of either?
ST: Yes, and… I saw her in WILD THINGS III and Oh my God, she was so hot in that film!
CHRIS: Do you remember on an episode of “Night Man” when a guy named Dick was trying to rally the crowd and they kept chanting, “We want dick. We want dick!” Was that on purpose?
ST: Yes.
WIL: Sell me on your film. If I had only $30 bucks, why should I pass up buying a jug of Jim Beam and a case of Pabst to buy Plane Dead?
ST: Okay, go out, buy the DVD for $19.98, then buy a bottle of Jim Beam or a case of Pabst (I think it’s a wash) and you go and have a wild ass time with yo’ friends! But Seriously, I’d go for the Pabst.
Pre-Order Your Copy of Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane HERE!
So fast zombies & Pabst beer it is then! Pick up your copy of FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD when it releases on Oct. 2nd.
Interview by WIL Keiper and Molly Celaschi, with additional stupid question by Chris Cooper.
