Back in 2004, filmmakers Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and producer Nira Park combined to create Shaun of the Dead. This was a humorous spoof of the zombie apocalypse films made popular by George Romero. They created this film with a shoe string budget and a large number of really slow zombies. But somehow made it work. So well in fact, that in the years that have followed, it has become a cult classic. But what went into the making of this film and what has made it stand the test of time?
To answer these questions, writer Clark Collis of Entertainment Weekly spent the better part of 2020 talking to the cast and crew to reminisce how it all came together. In addition, he spoke to some of the famous fans of the film such as Quentin Tarantino, Gillian Anderson, and Chris Martin of Coldplay. He collected all of this into his upcoming book from 1984 Publishing called You’ve got Red on You: How Shaun of the Dead Was Brought to Life. This was announced in the following Press Release:
YOU’VE GOT RED ON YOU CHRONICLES
HOW HORROR-COMEDY CLASSIC SHAUN OF THE DEAD CAME ALIVE
Clark Collis’ Authoritative Book About the Beloved Zombie Film Hits Shelves on October 19th
New York, NY – Entertainment Weekly senior writer Clark Collis’ first book is “You’ve Got Red on You: How Shaun of the Dead Was Brought to Life,” an anecdote-packed, 424-page look at the making of the 2004 horror-comedy. Collis interviewed dozens of “Shaun of the Dead” cast and crew members for the project. These included director Edgar Wright, and producer Nira Park. along with actors Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Bill Nighy, Lucy Davis, and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. As well as many of the extras who played zombies in the film. All helped to tell the story of “Shaun of the Dead,” from its origins as a back-of-a-taxi idea concocted by co-writers Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg to the movie’s current status as a globally-beloved pop culture phenomenon.
EDGAR WRIGHT, DIRECTOR
”I had a pint and was staring into my beer, thinking, oh, f*ck, what are we going to do? The film could be a turkey.”
Producer Nira Park
”There were zombies getting off with each other. There were loads of zombie relationships. Two zombies got together on the pool table.”
Summary
How did a low-budget British movie about Londoners battling zombies in a pub become a beloved global pop culture phenomenon? “You’ve Got Red on You: How Shaun of the Dead Was Brought to Life” details the previously untold story of 2004’s Shaun of the Dead. The hilarious, terrifying horror-comedy whose fan base continues to grow and grow. After consulting dozens of the people involved in the creation of the film, author Clark Collis reveals how a group of friends overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. By the time they were done, they had created a movie that would take bites out of both the UK and the US box office. Eventually ascending to the status of bona fide comedy classic.
The book features in-depth interviews with director Edgar Wright, and producer Nira Park. Along with cast members Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Bill Nighy, Lucy Davis, and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. In addition, the book also boasts a treasure trove of storyboards, rare behind-the-scenes photos, and commentary from famous fans of the movie. Including filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth, Walking Dead executive producer Greg Nicotera, and World War Z author Max Brooks. As Pegg’s zombie-fighting hero Shaun would say, “How’s that for a slice of fried gold?”
EDGAR WRIGHT, DIRECTOR
”A really entertaining read and, if you’re a fan of the film, very illuminating on the struggles. Not only to get it made, but also to have the film be taken seriously. It doesn’t shy away from the hard times. But ultimately those are the challenges that made the film what it is. If you’ve ever wanted to make a movie, you’ll learn a lot in “You’ve Got Red on You.”
You’ve Got Red on You: How Shaun of the Dead Was Brought to Life by Clark Collis hits book stores on October 19th from 1984 Publishing. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon here.
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Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
