Exclusive Interview: Deadheads actress Natalie Victoria

I recently posted a trailer for a zombie comedy horror called Deadheads.

Two inexplicably coherent zombies awake amidst a zombie attack and decide to take a road trip to find the one’s lost love, unaware they are being chased by the agents of a ruthless company with it’s own agenda.

Written and directed by Brett Pierce and Drew T. Pierce it stars Michael McKiddy, Ross Kidder, Markus Taylor, Thomas Galasso, Benjamin Webster, Greg Dow, Natalie Victoria, and Eden Malyn.

I reached out to the undead on Twitter and managed to have an interview with the lovely Natalie Victoria about the film.

Here is what she had to say.

First of all describe DeadHeads in 10 words or less.
BAD A** ZOMEDY buddy action-adventure with a hint of romance.

Natalie, what role do you play in the film?
I play the role of Ellie, Mike’s long lost love, who he sets out to find once he wakes up as a zombie from a 3 year sleep. Ellie is the sweet girl-next-door who is slightly clumsy and awkward in her own way. She was fun to play. Oh and I also play the zombie bride – which was even more of a BLAST to do! I mean really, what actress wouldn’t love ripping a guy’s chest open, pulling his heart out, and sinking her teeth into the flesh of his still beating heart?

What was your favourite moment during the shoot?
Oh there are so many for me to choose from…the whole experience was one of the best ones I have had on a film set this far in my career. That said, I think my favorite moment was shooting the zombie bride scene. We had been shooting the finale of the movie all day and I had gone into makeup that early evening to shoot the zombie bride that night.

Unbeknownst to me, the SpecialFX Guy (Chappy), had left the blood that was going into the heart outside all day and all evening. Keep in mind, we are shooting in Michigan in early September and the temperatures are freezing!

I came out of makeup in the full wedding dress and zombie makeup, as Chappy began taping the tubes to the heart along my arm (so that camera wouldn’t catch it in the scene). I didn’t notice his sinister smile. I climbed into the truck (freezing at this point) and got ready to shoot.
The Pierce Brothers (directing team) called “Action!” and the scene began – I was ripping the heart from Mike’s chest and sinking my teeth into the heart as hard as I could. In the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of Chappy in the rear view mirror, pounding the blood pump as hard as he could with an evil smile, trying to muffle laughs…
The blood is spurting EVERYWHERE all over me, soaking the truck, the seat, everywhere – I mean I am covered in blood in every crevice of my body. The Pierce Brothers call, “Cut!” and I can hear them laughing along with the crew. At this point I can barely move, but I am holding it together. You see, the temperature of the blood was so cold on my bare skin that it was burning. It felt like ice daggers on my skin.

Meanwhile, being the torturers they are – The Pierce Brothers insist on more takes. So we went again and again. Blood everywhere, over and over again. It was quite a night! By the time, we got the last shot — I was so cold I could barely utter a sound and my sentences were coming out in sporadic words. The guys had to grab me out of the truck and cover me in blankets to get me warm again. It was pretty funny.

But you gotta love them (Brett and Drew Pierce, the cast, the crew)! The movie turned out amazing and that scene, no matter how challenging it was, is still one of my most favorite moments on the DEADHEADS set. And Chappy…..I still owe you!

DeadHeads grew out of Dead/Undead but had the idea of a zombie buddy movie been something you had wanted to do for a while?
I hadn’t set out to land a role in a zombie buddy movie per say – but when the script was presented to me and I read it, I fell in love with the film. It was so funny, so unique, so character driven and entertaining, action-packed. It even had a bit of romance and heart that made me cry (okay, I am sappy). From that point on, I emailed the directors incessantly about updates on the film, casting, etc…to ensure they knew my level of interest in their project. They made me audition three times over the course of a year. It was daunting. But I really wanted to play ELLIE, and I am so glad they felt the same! I look back at the overall journey and the finished product, and I can not tell you how proud and blessed I feel to have been a part of DEADHEADS. It is a really awesome movie, and I know audiences are going to love it as much as I do!

Why are your zombies more with it than the usual ones? What caused the zombie outbreak in your film?
I can’t give away toooo much otherwise I think the producers and directors will murder me – No, seriously…there is a ruthless corporation that is doing tests and basically operating a little “project” in hopes of creating better weapons/soldiers for the government. And of course like so many experiments, this one goes wrong and a few “subjects” escape…and there you have it…the outbreak begins!

Are they fast or slow?
We have two types of zombies in DEADHEADS. The regular zombies (that most of your audience are familiar with) are slow, grunt a lot, and have one thing on their minds – food! The other zombies in the film are smart zombies – and yea, they move fast.

Why do you think people enjoy zombie movies?
They are a break from everyday life – and they are just good fun to watch. I mean, the reason I got into acting in the first place was my love of good storytelling and movies in general. Zombie movies are a big part of that love. I think everyone loves zombie movies because they resonate far deeper than you might initially think. Zombies in a lot of ways can represent the world against us, indifferent to us, and often times hostile to us. The only thing standing between us and them is our small group of family and friends to protect us. We have to stick together to survive. Between the danger waiting for us outside and the paranoia of betrayal from within one’s group (getting bit or becoming a zombie, etc..) you can quickly see the appeal of zombie movies.

Additionally, zombie movies/shows can be serious (like THE WALKING DEAD) or funny (like DEADHEADS) or both like DAWN OF THE DEAD. The zombie genre lends itself to great diversity in plot and character without compromising a simple premise… Stay alive and avoid the hungry undead who want to eat your brains!

What are your favourite zombie movies?
Oh my gosh… This list could get long….Okay, I will give you the highlights. Dawn of Dead (2004), Shaun of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION (although I do love all of them. Don’t judge! Haha) Day of the Dead, 28 Days Later, Quarantine, and of course DEADHEADS!

If you could have worked on any movie ever made which one would it have been?
I can’t pick just one. Um… The Last of the Mohicans, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and The Matrix.

What film do you first remember watching?
Disney’s Dumbo.

What did you think of The Walking Dead TV show?
I love it! First of, I am a huge fan of the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman. I own all the issues out so far, and I patiently wait each Wednesday for the new one to come out. It’s an addiction for sure… So you can imagine, when I heard they were making it into a series, I was ecstatic! (I actually tried to start a mini-campaign to get a chance at the role of Andrea, but I never got to audition. The role went to the talented and beautiful Laurie Holden.) The Walking Dead TV series is just amazingly written, cast, and visualized. I was so happy to see someone like three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, Green Mile, The Mist) take the reigns and apply his vision to Robert Kirkman’s on the small screen. I love the character development and most of all the plot surprises within the TV series that are different from those within the comics. It really keeps both new and old audiences engaged. Yup, I am addicted. I don’t know how I will wait almost a year before Season 2?!!?

That is just maddening…. The show is SO good!

If there was a zombie apocalypse what would you do?
Grab my biker boots, a shotgun, and get ready to unload.

If you were to be killed by any movie monster (apart from a zombie) which would it be? What would be your final words?
Well if it wasn’t a zombie…I am such a huge movie freak, it’s hard to choose. I think it would be a tie between the shark from JAWS, The Predator, and THE THING.

Final words: Never Give up! Never Surrender!

Favourite movie of 2010?
You love to make me pick one! (haha) Well I have a few – How to Train Your Dragon, Inception, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Kick Ass, Toy Story 3, Winters Bone, Black Swan, The Fighter.

Sweet, salted or butter popcorn?
Lightly Salted! I am an actress… We are not suppose to eat.

What are you hoping to get for Christmas?
A Playstation 3 with Netflix subscription. I hear Call of Duty: Black Ops zombie edition is pretty cool and I want to also check out Assassins Creed 2 and the multi-player Assassins Brotherhood. Oh and a pair of new stilettos. I am obsessed with high heels, being vertically challenged and all – so I have to get those too.

What projects do you have lined up next?
I just wrapped shooting on another action-adventure comedy called INSPECTRES – similar to The X-Files and Ghostbusters but with a new twist. The movie is actually based on Jared Sorenson’s role-playing game by the same name. It was loads of fun to shoot and be a part of. Currently in post production, INSPECTRES is due out next Fall 2011. You can find out more about the film online here: http://www.inspectresmovie.com/.

For 2011, I have a few projects lined up, but I am always looking to book more! In Spring early 2011, I will be doing another comedic play in Los Angeles called, “”Jo Who?” It’s a female ensemble cast, where all the women play Jo at different parts in her life with various past relationships. And in early summer of 2011 I will begin shooting principle photography on Little Fears – a dark and disturbing fantasy film that touches on controversial issues of child abuse and neglect. The film is about children trapped in a world called Closetland where they are hunted by evil minions in the forms of various monsters. The children defend themselves with a special kind of magic called “Belief” that can turn the impossible into the real. Through Belief, pictures of deceased relatives can call forth their protective spirits while teddy bears can spring to life to defend children. Belief also has disadvantages: Stepping on a crack really can break your mother’s back and mirrors really can capture souls. I will be playing a “motherly” figure whom undergoes a transformation of sorts – I think that is about all I can give away at this point. The project is wrapping development and entering pre-production.

And of course, my phone and inbox are always free should a role open up on THE WALKING DEAD in 2011.

Where and when can we see Deadheads?
Hopefully soon! Deadheads just completed post-production and is now entering 2011 film festivals. We are hoping for a theatrical release soon, but it’s fans like yours and other zombie lovers out there that can really make that happen. By sharing the DEADHEADS trailer with everyone you know, you help this little amazing indie film get the attention of Hollywood and distributors. And that of course, helps DEADHEADS get into theaters. So we are hoping for 2011!!! I will keep you guys posted for sure – and you can always stay in the loop by checking out the DEADHEADS website and connecting with the entire cast/crew via their social links. Everything can be found on the official movie site here =
http://www.deadheadsthemovie.com.

Thanks for your time. Good luck with the film.
Thank you for having me Phil! And thank you liveforfilms.com fans for all interest and the support!! I really appreciate it sooo much!! Happy Holidays!