NOTLD: Reanimated
September 1st, 2008 by Jeff
I just stumbled across this interesting fan project called NOTLD: Reanimated. Apparently a group of artists are putting together a new video track for Night of the Living Dead.
It sounds like a really cool idea to me, and it’s even more interesting considering some of the debates we’ve been having after Mat & I discussed this concept recently on Splattercast #92. I wish these guys all the best with this project and look forward to checking it out when it’s complete.
Frank Zanzibar Rose said:
that looks fucking awesome….
Mike Schneider said:
Hi Jeff,
First thanks for the prompt and good wishes. After listening to the s-cast, I’d be interested in Matt’s take on this project (from his artist prospective).
Romero’s original film has taken its share of abuse including the green techno-color dead, international reedits, parody tracks, and worst of all the 30th Anniversary abortion. The film is clearly public domain and Romero even ‘released it’ (long after he lost control over the film but still the gesture was made.)
With NOTLD:R, we are completely redoing the visual/ movie track. This raises the question, if there is nothing left of the original film visually by the time the Reanimation is completed… then are we still working with his ‘film’? We are leaving the audio track untouched, so at the same time it’s not a remake.
With the credit structure we are using, we will be accrediting the entire staff of Romero’s original film, including those whose work is no longer seen because they were involved in making the base materials which the artists are working from.
One step beyond that, our credits will also accredit previously unaccredited roles such as the composers of the scores the original film sampled from etc. because even though they were not involved in the making of the original film, their work was involved in making it the film that it was.
This film will have a number of releasing formats. It’s the first film to ever work with demonoid officially to release the digital copy. There will be a DVD however the releasing company, Wild Eye, agreed to the price being set low with no profit beyond production costs and overhead. The film has merchandise but prices are set by the artist whose work is featured on the item and they receive all profits directly. So there may be people making money from the film… but only from their own work.
The example of the original film which was made from clips from older films is somewhat of a mirror to this process of all original content being assembled into an older film. If it were an image, I’d call it fan art, if it were a scene I’d call it an homage but once it gets to over 100 artists from around the world (many of which professional artists, film makers…) working together, for me its past the point of just an homage and enters the realm of creating a new film.
Matt, I’d be interested in hearing your take on this process.
-Mike Schneider
Organizer/ Curator of Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated
Jeff said:
Thanks for visiting; I’ll mention it on the next podcast and point Mat to this post.
Cheers.