Zombie Apocalypse on SyFy: Interview with Gerald Webb

Zombie Apocalypse premieres tonight on SyFy (9 p.m. EST). I discussed the film with actor Gerald Webb.

AFC:  Why are zombie movies so darn popular?

GW: Science fiction and horror genre fans across the board are the most devoted and knowledgeable fans around.  They support horror, creature, zombie and science fiction films of every budget level with ferocity. They kept the genre alive for decades and now it’s thriving. They deserve a lot of the credit and I take my hat off to each and every one of them.  Also, zombie movies have really benefitted from the recent technological advancements in special and digital effects making them more graphic, more realistic and creepier all at the same time. And that’s a zombie trifecta! Viva zombies.

AFC: Are you a fan of them yourself?

GW: I must admit, I wasn’t always a big zombie movie fan while growing up BUT zombie movies have gone through such a renaissance over the last 10 years or so and I quickly became a big big fan. Now I can’t wait to be in another one. 

AFC: What’s your movie’s twist on the zombie movie genre? What does it add?

GW: The opening scene of the movie really hammers home the human toll in a zombie apocalypse.  These just aren’t monsters.  They’re your sister, your best friend, the love of your life etc.

There is also a big surprise zombie twist in the finale of Zombie Apocalypse that is completely unexpected and a unique amongst zombie movies. [SPOILER ALERT] Zombie Tigers are hard as hell to kill!  That’s all I’ll say.

Zombie Apocalypse also adds a great cast. Taryn Manning (Hustle and Flow), Eddie Steeples (My Name is Earl), and I start it off then super star Ving Rhames Gary Weeks, Johnny Pacar (Make It or Break It), Lesley-Ann Brandt (Spartacus), Anya Monzikova (Iron Man 2), veteran Robert Blanche and the lovely newcomer Lilan Bowden bring it home. They were all a pleasure to work with and I’m looking forward to working with them again in the future.

AFC: I’ve asked the whole cast of The Walking Dead this one, so I’ll ask you too: What would you do if you got bitten by a zombie?

 GW: I’d make my last bit of time really count by going to Wall Street or Congress and biting every banker and politician I could.  I figure if they’re gonna suck the life out of our country, let them the do it literally.

AFC: What kind of preparation did you have to go through for it?

GW: The truth is good acting is the result of years of dedication and hard work. So, I just winged it. But seriously, I had to go to some very dark places in a very short time in this film.  In order to do so I had to sit and build a history, a life, for my character, Kevin Anderson, and then make it my own.  This is hard, specific and tedious work that has taken me years and countless hours in acting class learning how to do so efficiently. There really aren’t any short cuts.  I do breathing exercises, emotional exercises, I read and reread the script and my scenes dozens of times. I play and try different choices rehearsing on my own and I build relationship with each of the other characters I interact with in the film.  I also watched about 20 zombie movies as part of my research.  Booking this film turned me onto The Walking Dead, which is fantastic.  I watched the whole first season in one sitting.   

AFC:  Other actors have told me they had to shoot their SyFy films on tight schedules, pressed for time and money. How long did yours last?

 GW: Yes, schedules and budgets on these movies is EXTREMELY tight!  They are literally rollercoaster rides.  You prep, strap in and hold on, hoping to make it to the finish line.  I’ve shot faster but this film was more complicated than most shoots of this type. We shot Zombie Apocalypse in 14 days over 3 weeks.  It was supposed to be a 15-day shoot but one of our locations was in the middle of gang territory in Los Angeles and we got shut down while two gangs postured over who we would have to pay a gang tax to in order to continue shooting.  While they were occupying each other we got the hell out of there!

AFC: While working on Zombie Apocalypse, when did you have the most fun?

GW: I love my job so, there is nothing like being on set with other great actors especially when the lights and camera are rolling and pointing at you. Eddie Steeples, Taryn Manning and I had a very scary and emotional scene together.  It actually opens the movie and it took a couple of days to complete.  We all had to dig really deep to connect with each other and hopefully the audience, to show the real human toll, cost and tragedy that is innate in any zombie experience.  It was long, extremely hot and super emotional but facing the challenge of connecting with each other and making that scene believable was just amazing.  Ving, Gary, Lesley-Ann and Johnny were there for part of that scene.  When Ving Rhames came up and complimented my work after the scene, I was all serious like “yeah, thanks, Ving”. Meanwhile somewhere inside my mind I was doing a happy dance and screaming like a 12 year old Bieberbot! That was a good moment.

AFC: You told me you have several projects going on right now. What else can we look forward to seeing you in?

GW: It’s hard following up Syfy’s Zombie Apocalypse but I’ve been fortunate to be busy so here’s what’s coming up:

This week I wrapped the large supporting role of First Officer Ken Aoki in the film Air Collision premiering in March 2012, starring Jordan Ladd and Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard, Family Matters) with Liz Adams directing.

Two-Headed Shark Attack (my 3rd shark film) directed by Christopher Olen-Ray starring Carmen Electra, Charlie O’Connell (Sliders) and Brooke Hogan is coming to SYFY in January 2012. I had to learn how to speak Tagalog (Filipino) for the role.  The special effects on this movie look ridiculously good!

Born Bad starring Twilight’s Michael Welch and Third Watch’s Bonnie Dennison is airing on Lifetime Network and is hitting DVD and blu-ray November 8th. I have a cameo appearance. 

Three Musketeers with Heather Hemmons (Hell Cats) and Alan Rachins (LA Law) was just released on DVD and Blu-ray. A Haunting in Salem, my first 3D movie, directed by Shane Van Dyke and starring my friend Bill Oberst Jr. is available on DVD and Blu-ray. The classic Mega Shark vs Crocasaurus  starring Jaleel White is re-airing in SYFY Sunday  November 13th at 5pm EST.

AFC: My friends and I watched that last one just the other night! Crazy fun.

Find Gerald on the Internet:        

Official website: Www.GeraldWebb.com

Twitter: @GeraldWebb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerald-Webb/78274824870

Words with friends: ptgerald 

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2230938/