Dead Roses
Encyclopedia
Dead Roses is an American independent
zombie
horror film
. The film, described as "Night of the Living Dead
in the projects" and "Dawn of the Dead in the hood" was independently produced in Brooklyn, New York for $5,000.
The film and its independent production have been profiled in New York Magazine, New York Daily News
, and NPR
.
to hunt down the gangmembers and kill them.
, met writer/director Robert McCorkle at a investment banking firm. The two bonded over their love of film and decided to create a low budget film. The film was shot with Hi-8
and Mini DV video cameras in public housing projects and edited on a personal computer. McCorkle also taught himself rudimentary special effects techniques for the film.
McCorkle admitted that the film was Guerrilla filmmaking
.
McCorkle was not only the writer and director but also grip
, make-up artist, and caterer.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
. The film, described as "Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead
Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
in the projects" and "Dawn of the Dead in the hood" was independently produced in Brooklyn, New York for $5,000.
The film and its independent production have been profiled in New York Magazine, New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
, and NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
.
Plot
A woman's fiancé is killed by a drug dealing gang. For revenge, the woman conjures up a zombieZombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
to hunt down the gangmembers and kill them.
Production
Dead Roses producer/actor Johnathan Tucker, who worked as an extra on the film Krush GrooveKrush Groove
Krush Groove is a 1985 Warner Bros. film, written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz . This film is based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons , portrayed by Blair Underwood in his feature film debut...
, met writer/director Robert McCorkle at a investment banking firm. The two bonded over their love of film and decided to create a low budget film. The film was shot with Hi-8
8 mm video format
The 8mm video format refers informally to three related videocassette formats for the NTSC and PAL/SECAM television systems. These are the original Video8 format and its improved successor Hi8 , as well as a more recent digital recording format known as Digital8.Their user base...
and Mini DV video cameras in public housing projects and edited on a personal computer. McCorkle also taught himself rudimentary special effects techniques for the film.
McCorkle admitted that the film was Guerrilla filmmaking
Guerrilla filmmaking
Guerrilla filmmaking refers to a form of independent filmmaking characterized by low budgets, skeleton crews, and simple props using whatever is available...
.
McCorkle was not only the writer and director but also grip
Grip (job)
In the U.S. and Canada, grips are lighting and rigging technicians in the filmmaking and video production industries. They constitute their own department on a film set and are directed by a key grip. Grips have two main functions...
, make-up artist, and caterer.