So, the_gil_monster has spent the last month or so being an occasional extra for a little piece of cinema veritae called Poutrygeist: Attack of the Chicken Zombies!!! (I swear I am not making this up.)

It is produced by Troma films - a production company that has great cult status in its production of really low budget films - most famous probably being the Toxic Avenger Series. (There was a Saturday Morning Kid's cartoon spin-off, even!) Anyone who remembers USA's Up All Night has most likely seen a Troma production. I think of them as the Miramax of really crappy Good movies....

In one of his recent updates on his shot at Fame and Glory, he mentioned an open call for extras who had the Golden Opportunity to play Chicken Zombies.

Like I was going to pass that up!

So, on Sunday, the_gil_monster, dostoevsky_girl and I schlepped out to downtown Buffalo in a torrential downpour to try our hand at Poultry Undeath. Fortunately, the weather cleared up beautifully, and it was cool out - a perfect day to be slathered in makeup and feathers.

(I still swear I am not making any of this up.)

All in all, it was pretty interesting. We waited across the street from the abandoned McDonald's that had been converted into the American Chicken Bunker. (If you ever actually SEE this film, watch the set carefully - I was really impressed with all the small, funny touches the production staff dedicated to the restaurant.) There was quite an... eclectic... bunch of people present, but everyone seemed very nice. They had raffles to pass the time, and a guy with a camera came around and interviewed people (Keep an eye out for the DVD Extras!)

Thanks to my facial hair, I was slated for a mask instead of facial makeup - latex and hair don't get along well. I am grateful, because the mask was a lot simpler. (Except for it being a 1/2 mask with no strap, and the guy giving it to me asking me how we were gonna keep it on ('uh, wouldn't that be something to figure out Before you hand it to me?'). Luckily, I had a hat with me which served perfectly as a Mask Stabilizer. And the sunglasses kept it on in the middle. So when you go to see the film, look for the large Chicken Zombie with a Brown Outback Hat and Sunglasses on (at night).... (Still not making this up.)

We waited around for many hours until it got dark. In the meantime, I was introduced to the magic of movie making. By magic, I mean a lot of guys screaming at other people to Be Quiet. Which made it much easier to hear the Blood Curdling Screams coming from inside the restaurant while the more Experienced Chicken Zombies got to peck out the eyes of some unfortunate victims....

While waiting, they continued my transformation. They slathered my arms in sickly grey greasepaint (for that zombie look), and used a very high tech method of addressing the chicken part. They coated your arms in watered-down Elmer's glue, then had you jamb your arms into a Big Bag o' Feathers. (Still not making up.) So, now I kinda know what it feels like to be tarred and feathered - only with cheap wood glue instead of tar. The feathers slowly drying/gluing to your arm is a ... unique... sensation. As a side note, if you ever need a cheap depilatory, that combo works pretty well (ouch.)....

So, we had some Chicken Zombie acting lessons to help up get into Character. (I forgot to add that these were Chicken Zombies created by infusion with Angry Native American Spirits - so we were actually Native American Chicken Zombies - I think most of us were really stretching our acting 'wings' at this point, so to speak....) The lessons were entertaining, and we whiled away the time shambling, twitching, and clucking along.

Then the Night Shoot began. And it never seemed to end. We repeatedly charged the restaurant, and engaged in a fairly funny sight gag that I'll save for the movie (don't want to ruin the suspense for Opening Night). Now, I truly doubt I will ever show up on camera, as I was near the back of the crowd and any time a camera pointed anywhere it became a veritable Chicken Zombie Mosh Pit of Camera Hogs (hello people - you're covered in Makeup and Feathers - who is actually going to recognize you anyways?!?) But who knows, I wasn't too far off for one of the big closeups (just look for Gil - I'll be somewhere behind one of his very big cool looking shoulder pads).

The unfortunate part is that the movie ran a tad late. I assume they are still trying to finish the Dance number (Did I mention it was Musical too? Still not making it up. Honest.)

So I got home around 4am Monday morning. Still with feathers and makeup on. And I had to work that day. And some members of my family showed up in Rochester unexpectedly and wanted me to give them a tour of the Zoo that afternoon. And I had a Dr's appointment that eve. And I needed to go food shopping.

Ah well, the price of Fame and All that....

And, for the record, I'd do it again in an instant.

I mean, really, I got to be a Chicken Zombie in an actual Movie! How cool is that?!?

Thanks, Gil!