What was the first film that made you want to make movies? I don't think there was any one film. I
enjoy all kinds of movies and came along at a time when any idiot can make a movie so I decided to
become one of those idiots.

How'd you get started on your filmmaking journey? I tried to get a short done for something called
"Mob Daze". I lived on a dorm floor with a couple of video production students but they all flaked just with
the meetings. In true idiot brilliance, I decided to turn the short I couldn't get anyone to direct into a
feature. The script got a good reaction but it was a pain in the rump to produce. It should have been the
movie that told me not to let others direct what I'm producing but it took a few more jabs to the scrotum
before I figured that one out.

Tell us how "ZOMBIEGEDDON" got off the ground? I had been planning a comedy for that summer
but the reaction to the script was really bad. I had kind of planned on doing a no budget film where I'd
throw around some blood and that'd be it. That became the main project and slowly became
ZOMBIEGEDDON. The only "horror" movies I enjoyed at the time were the cheesey B movie ones so
that's the route we went.

Are you a big zombie fan? What is your favorite zombie film? It's still about the film so if it's good, I
will like it. If "Cemetary Man" counts, that'd be my favorite.

Care to relate some of your fun on-set horror storries from that film? I don't know that I'd say
fun. It was a ton of work filled with rookie mistakes on my part. I just remember going from one place to
another non stop, getting very little sleep, etc. A lot of people put a lot of effort into their parts in the film
but it only took a few to make it a sour experience.

How'd you round up your b-movie cast? Each one has a different story. Most of them I tracked down
via email and asked them to do a part in the movie. Ed Neal I met at a convention, one of the few
successes I've had with meeting someone at a convention. Linnea happened to be in Kansas for
another shoot so we shot her part then.

Tell us how "EVIL EVER AFTER" came about? I was bored and asked a company I knew if they would
be interested in us doing something for them. We came up with a synopsis, got it approved and had
money to play with.

Was it your intention to make the film as vile as possible?  lol The problem with micro films is that
most of the people doing them make no budget versions of studio movies. If the viewer is not seeing
something they can't see in a theatre, then why waste time watching it? I wanted to be a part of
something that people would not easily forget. I think we accomplished that.

You've just returned to directing with a romantic ghost comedy. How's "DEAD IN LOVE"
coming along and why do a comedy? "DEAD IN LOVE" is something I wrote back in college, while I
was waiting for my "MOB DAZE" writing partner to finish doing rewrites. I wanted to do something simple
that I could easily direct and work my chops on. I ended up doing some rewrites before filming but it's
mostly the script I wrote ten years ago. We started talking about filming it on the "Slaughter Party" set.
We were putting up with a really bad special effects guy, then went in and filmed some scenes of a
midget getting tortured. It felt good to talk about a romantic comedy. The actors were more interested in
it than they were torturing that midget. As it turned out, it was easier to get actors on board the project.
We ended up with a really good cast for such a tiny movie--Margaret O'Brien, Tony Todd, Joshua
Leonard, Kristin Minter, Eric Edwards, Richard Norton, Joe Estevez...

Do you enjoy horror or comedy filmmaking the most? And why wait so long to direct again? My
taste changes with what mood I'm in or perhaps how grown up I am. I regret not directing "MOB DAZE"--I
think at the time it was a perfect script for me to learn on. I would say comedy is the most fun to direct.
It's fun on set. Then you get to see it on the screen and hearing people laugh at what you wanted them
to makes for a great moment. At this point, though, I'd probably prefer straight drama. As for waiting so
long to direct again, I never really stopped. I did some stuff under pseudonyms and I took 2nd unit
credits on some movies I probably should not have. I did want to concentrate on producing since no one
else wants to do it but all you get then is no credit and complaints. There's one movie I produced where
the director took credit for all these things I did--kind of negates all the hard work you put into a project.
I'm really proud to be returning in people's minds with a good little movie in "DEAD IN LOVE", though.

You've done a ton of stuff with Troma studios. Do you plan on rolling anything new out with
them? Lloyd and I have talked about some stuff but nothing has materialized. I love Lloyd and would do
anything within reason for him. I might even blow him again.

If you could remake one horror film out there, which one would it be? If I ever did a remake, it'd
be for the money.

Any advice for future micro-budget filmmakers out there? I have tons but I'll keep it short. Stay
away from LA. Be original. Don't listen to people who haven't made a movie. Make what you
want--people who say horror sells better just don't know how to sell anything else.

                                                                                                          Interview conducted by:
                                                                                                                         - Jose Prendes
CHRIS WATSON
An Interview with:
Writer, Director and Producer of ZOMBIEGEDDON. For
more info on Chris please go to IMDb
**REVIEWS MAY
CONTAIN SPOILERS**

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CHRIS WATSON
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