Syfy Press Panel: Town of the Living Dead

Before I had the chance to listen to Tina Teeter and John Ware discuss the making of their zombie film as chronicled in the SyFy original series, Town of the Living Dead, I had pretty much written the show off as another network’s lackluster effort to jump on zombies having a moment in pop culture. But just half an hour with Teeter and Ware and a glimpse of what’s gone on behind the scenes and the truth is totally inescapable: Their team has something exceptionally special, and god bless the suits for realizing it and serving the film, and us at home, well by providing an inside look at their progress -- and occasional lack thereof.

For those of you who’ve been kept away from the show because you feared it would never be made, the execs have provided the movie team just enough money to ensure that they get the project completed -- so a happy ending is guaranteed. What form that ending will take is anyone’s bet. Teeter’s southern charm was displayed to full effect as she regaled us with the tale of how director John Ware sweet-talked her into joining the project while he was selling her electronics at Radio Shack.

Teeter, Ware, and their team have faced more than their fair share of obstacles when it comes to making their dream a reality. A lot of that is chronicled in the series, but the ingenuity, passion for story, and devotion to their community was what I really came away with after hearing them speak. Ware and Teeter soldiered on even after Ware had a stroke at the age of 33! The death of one of their actors made their decision to finish the film become a vow to honor their dead friend. For a little levity, Teeter also shared some tricks of the trade. Turns out sticks painted white and dipped in latex make for great “bones” for zombies to chew on, and if you have a zombie giving birth a ziplock bag of blood can work wonders. 

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