The new film ZOMBIE was screened on Sunday, April 17th as part of the Boston International Film Festival at the AMC/Loews Theater on Boston Common.
On April 15th, New York Filmmaker Thomas Caruso, and New York-based lead actor/screenwriter Bill Connington joined Tony-nominated actress Melissa Errico on the red carpet at the opening of the festival. They all attended the screening of Errico's new film PATRIMONY, co-starring Robert Vaughn. Afterwards they attended the black tie
Opening Night Gala at the fashionable W Hotel.
On April 17th Connington and Caruso were joined by producer Michael Cooper, and they attended the ZOMBIE screening, along with Festival Director Patrick Jerome. After the showing, Caruso and Connington took part in a talkback for the audience and press.
ZOMBIE is a short film based on the award-winning play penned by and acted in by Connington. The original source material is the award-winning novella ZOMBIE by famous bestselling author Joyce Carol Oates. The film recently won "Best Short Film (Horror)" at the Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival.
ZOMBIE was recently shown at The Cleveland International Film Festival, The Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival, and the NYC Downtown Shorts Film Festival. There was also a private screening for industry professionals at the Anthology Film Archives in New York. For more information: www.zombiethefilm.com.
ZOMBIE tells the story of a mild-mannered "normal-seeming" serial killer, who abducts innocent victims, and attempts to turn them into his "zombie" slaves. Oates based her tale on research of actual serial killers. She has been lauded by forensic psychiatrists and psychologists for her realistic portrayal. The stage play ZOMBIE, adapted from the novella by Bill Connington, was presented at the New York International Fringe Festival, Off-Broadway at Theater Row for an extended run, and at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York. It was also recently performed in Seattle, and a production is planned for Mexico City. www.zombietheplay.com
Joyce Carol Oates has written some of the most enduring fiction of our time, and is considered to be one of America's greatest living authors. She recently penned her 116th book, A WIDOW'S STORY, about the death of her husband of 48 years. She has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize four times, and has been a finalist for the Nobel Prize for Literature. In a prolific and varied career she has proven herself one of the most influential and important storytellers in the literary world. She is a New York Times bestselling author, and winner of the National Book Award, who has written the national bestsellers WE WERE THE MULVANEYS, BLONDE (a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize), THE FALLS (winner of the 2005 Prix Femina) and THE GRAVEDIGGER'S DAUGHTER. A winner of innumerable awards, she has written 116 books. She is a distinguished professor at Princeton University. Ms. Oates writes an average of two or three books a year. Her work frequently has dealt with the deeper meaning of sexual abuse, desire for power, and violence. http://jco.usfca.edu
Bill Connington is the adapter and star of the Off-Broadway extended-run, critically acclaimed solo show ZOMBIE, which played the New York International Fringe Festival, Theater Row, and the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York. Connington adapted ZOMBIE from the award-winning novella by Joyce Carol Oates. He was named "Best Lead Actor" and "Outstanding Male Actor" and cited as giving one of the best performances of the year for his portrayal. Connington penned the screenplay of the short film ZOMBIE, and is the lead actor. He performed in three evenings of Oates' plays at the Society Library in New York, and directed Oates' play I STAND BEFORE YOU NAKED at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater. He has performed Off-Broadway, regionally, and in television and independent film. www.zombietheplay.com.
Thomas Caruso directed the award-winning play ZOMBIE at the New York Fringe Festival, for an extended-run Off-Broadway, as well as the short film. He received critical acclaim and awards for his direction. Recently Caruso directed acclaimed regional productions of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, THE CHALKS, and OVER THE TAVERN. Other Off-Broadway directing credits include the musical MIMI LE DUCK, starring Eartha Kitt. Caruso directed the National Tour of MASTER CLASS by Terrence McNally. He was the resident director of MAMA MIA in Las Vegas, and was the associate director of BOMBAY DREAMS and FOLLIES on Broadway. www.thomascaruso.com
In addition to associate producing the film ZOMBIE, Michael Cooper is the recipient of the Jonathan Larson, Daryl Roth, and TRU Daniel Marshall Multicultural Awards for his lyrics and book of the musical SUNFISH. He graduated from the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. SUNFISH recently received its world premiere at a theater in Boston. His writing partner is Hyeyoung Kim.
Deirdre Broderick is a composer based in New York City. She wrote the score for the play and film versions of ZOMBIE, and to the film ABCD. www.deirdrebroderick.com
The Boston International Film Festival encourages and supports the work of worldwide independent filmmakers. It highlights local, national, and international films. The festival's goal is to celebrate the art of filmmaking, and to honor the creativity and talent of American and World film artists. www.bifilmfestival.com
