Day 751

(Technically: 898)

Good news! I know it's been a LONG time since I've updated this blog, but I am pleased to announce that "NYZ" is going to have its world premiere next month Saturday March 24th at NYU's First Run Film Festival!

I've been spending the past year mostly working on getting a job and securing my finances. However, I have been slowly chipping away at "NYZ," working on it whenever I can usually on the odd night or weekends, working with composer Ryan Kupchick last autumn on the score, finalizing color correction, making some special effects to sweeten the visuals, and, more recently, the sound design.

I regret not being able to get with a sound editor, but with the budget non-existant, I had to take it on myself, and I am no stranger to sound design, having worked on "The Sunset" by Misha Sundokovskiy from last year's First Run, and "Knee High" by Alexandra Naides, which premiered at the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival last year and will be screening in New York both at First Run and at the Film Anthology Archives for NewFilmmakers NY in two weeks.

Anyway, I'll post more details about the upcoming screening when NYU updates the festival website. Stay tuned!

Day 469

(Technically: 616)

ZOMBIE NEWS UPDATE:

Center for Disease Control are out to spread awareness of a possible zombie apocalypse! Finally!

Perhaps it has something to do with the supposed "End of the World" on Saturday? Will the undead rise up in one of the greatest zombie uprisings since Lazarus? Only time will tell.

(Oh, and 616 is the real number of the beast.)

Day 465

(Technically: 612)

Today I think we've finished editing NYZ! I'll have to go through it once more just to be sure, but I think we are now picture-locked!

"What's the next step?" you may ask. "Surely that means you're finished, right?" No, not yet. But the hardest part is over.

Now all that remains is sound editing, designing, and mixing, music, visual effects, titles, and color correction. Then, we will be completely done and ready to send it out to festivals. At which point, we'll let you know where it's playing and hopefully there will be a place near you where you can come and see it in its full-fledged glory!

Day 436

(Technically: 583)

Shot some pick-ups today. Now, we are finally done shooting!

We met at Times Square, where it was really cold and gray, but thing warmed up as we went through the day, getting to about 65 degrees and sunny by the time we got down to Washington Square Park.

Alex our main zombie was great to work with, as usual, bring his very physical acting style to the role as he stalked tourists in the park.

We also met up with Danielle to do a few quick shots out in Brooklyn. The scenery around our first location has been cleaned up considerably, with a lot of the graffiti now gone, alas.

But it was a great shoot, with just me and Richard working the production end and after a quick session with Kristy yesterday, I was able to handle all the make-up by myself.

(Unfortunately, this is the only photo we have of Danielle today).

Once again, I want to thank everyone who helped out with the principal photography and the pick-ups. Now my goal is to finish a final edit by the end of the month.

Day 411

(Technically: 558)

Meeting with Richard Trammell, our Director of Photography, about planning a few pick-up shots in the coming weeks. Alex Demers, our main zombie, will be back in New York soon and I want to get some more shots of him throughout the city.

I am very close to completing the cut. My initial hopes was to find an editor, but I had so much fun just doing it myself. As much as I hate putting my name everywhere in the credits, I have to take the proper credit for the work I did: Written, Produced, Directed, Edited, Sound Designed, Fundraised, Marketed, and Distributed by George Westberg.

...Okay, that just sounds stupid.

Last year around this time we were gearing up for our Night of the Drinking Dead fundraiser at MJ Armstrong's here in New York City. Once these few pick-ups have been completed -- hopefully by the end of April -- we will have a final edit and begin the 3-month sound design process, during which time I am hoping to do some more fundraising for our post-production budget. We have a few ideas, and it looks like this summer will be the best time to do it.

First Run Film Festival at NYU

If you're in New York City this coming week, please stop by for the NYU First Run Film Festival, which includes some projects by my fellow classmates and friends:

Thursday March 24
8pm
Frequent Flyers by Matthew Troy

Friday March 25
6pm
Real Talk by Patrick Ng
Merhaba by Lauren Brady
10pm
The Sailor by Raquel Cedar
Going Home by Greg Gordon

Saturday March 26
4pm
The Road to Montana by Caitlyn Cody
The Sierra Project by Gabriel de Urioste
6pm
Borderland by Alexander Smolowe
8pm
Infallible by Jacyln Gramiga
Frustrated by Sam Thonis
The Survival of the Family Unit by Kevin Huang
Hotel Traveler by Alexis Lancer
10pm
Birds of a Feather by Gabriel Flaksman
Jolly Bankers by Eric Goldberg
Passed Down by Zachary Goldberg

Sunday March 27
6pm
Close. by Tahir Jetter
8pm
Blacktruffle by Katelyn Howes
For the Record by Sarah Rudoy
10pm
The Sunset by Misha Sundokovskiy

Day 385

(Technically: 532)

The snow is thawing in New York City, and we're gearing up to do a few pick-up shots to smoothen out transitions between scenes and montages. Once these are done, we will be officially picture-locked! Then begins the intense sound design stage. Admittedly a little behind schedule, but I think it will be well-worth the wait!

The "New York I EAT You" trailer for NYZ has gotten 300 views on Vimeo! If you haven't seen it, check it out below:

In other Zombie News:

The undead reporter in Libya.