Tag Archives: William Fitzgerald

The Treadwell Brothers

December 16, 2024 Ken Miller 1 Comment

A sneak peek at a host of film zombies that are being created the old school way, which is just the way I like it!

A retro, practical-effects zombie! Woot!

THE TREADWELL BOTHERS is a low budget film that is in its preproduction stage and, hopefully, once finished it will find its way onto Amazon Prime. Maybe the movie will raise its rotting head on YouTube: I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. The two filmmakers behind this project, brothers David and Philip Fitzgerald, are currently trying out zombie makeup designs, doing lighting tests, and becoming accustomed to using their new camera – a Cannon Eos C300 mark II. Philip will be operating the camera and David will be making the zombies. Both brothers will be starring in the film, and Philip will be directing. David is the co-director and, though he is credited as David Fitzgerald for his makeup effects work, he will be using his stage name, William Fitzgerald, as his acting credit. Got all that? Cool, let’s move on…

The Fitzgerald brothers will play the titular TREADWELL BROTHERS

The plot will focus on characters dealing with a world that has just about managed to contain a zombie apocalypse. Society has fragmented, with pockets of survivors living in disparate communities. The protagonists are the Treadwell Brothers (played by the Fitzgerald brothers), who were ‘Cleaners’ during the war with the zombies. These Cleaners were operatives set up by the military, and they persevered even after the military’s capabilities had been degraded. Now, in this post-war world, the Treadwell Brothers continue to ply their trade, being paid in kind to keep stray zombies out of towns and other human settlements.

A shot from test footage taken of a zombie shambling near a disused railway — A shot from test footage taken of a zombie lurking near a disused railway

But there are other Cleaner teams out there, and one gang in particular has its own agenda. There’s also a twisted professor trying to create the perfect anti-zombie zombie, which he aims to use to destroy the other undead corpses… but the prof has begun tinkering with humans to perfect his super-zombie.

As the story progresses, the Brothers continue their debate regarding the origin of the zombie outbreak: one believes it’s some kind of biblical punishment, and the other says that it’s a man-made phenomena. Eventually, though, they will discover the outbreak’s true source…

But let’s focus on the zombie designs now, which are still in their preproduction stage…

There will be various ‘character’ zombies, including: Oiler Zombie, Mother Zombie, Baghead Zombie, Soldier Zombie, Hoodie Zombie, and Black Eyes Zombie.

This is the Oiler Zombie prior to painting. The finished version will be burnt on one side

David, who created the ghostly, bandaged demon-dog creature in the short film SQUEAK AND I’LL RUN TO YOU (2021), is building the zombies using various old school, retro techniques, including the direct-build method. He has taken inspiration from such makeup effects legends as Roy (TALES FROM THE CRYPT, THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES) Ashton and Jack (DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, WHITE ZOMBIE) Pierce, using materials like cotton batting (absorbent cotton pressed into pads or layers) that is impregnated with liquid latex to create dead skin. David says that one of his movie touchstones for this project is Fulci’s ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS (1979), and his Hoodie Zombie is inspired by Amando de Ossorio’s BLIND DEAD movies. He hopes the practical zombie effects will imbue THE TREADWELL BROTHERS with an Amicus vibe too.

CGI zombies, like those in WORLD WAR Z can be okay, but I prefer guys in zombie makeup and prosthetics! — CGI zombies, like the ones in WORLD WAR Z (2013), can be okay, but I prefer guys in zombie makeup/latex masks/prosthetics, just like the undead dude above!

So let’s feast our eyes on some zombie-tastic designs now!
(note: these are shots of in-progress creations, so the costumes haven’t been distressed and broken down yet, etc)

Early-stage Hoodie Zombie, when David was considering giving it a hanging jaw — Early-stage Hoodie Zombie, when David was considering giving it a very distinct hanging jaw

Then David decided to make the detached jaw effect more subtle and less grisly

Above: two shots of the later version of the Hoodie Zombie

Chest and ribs detail of a zombie, prior to painting

Cotton batting, impregnated with liquid latex, is used to create the zombies' dead skin — Cotton batting, impregnated with liquid latex, is used to create the zombies’ dead skin

The Soldier Zombie's skull-head was made from Carte Lana wool paper, then covered in rubber and cotton batting — The Soldier Zombie’s skull-head was made from Carte Lana wool paper, then covered in rubber and cotton batting

Carte Lana wool paper can be made to look very skull-like. Note that these teeth haven't been given aged detailing yet — Carte Lana wool paper can be made to look very skull-like. Note that these teeth haven’t been given aged detailing yet

Skin texture is sculpted into the cotton batting before it completely dries... — Skin texture is sculpted into the cotton batting before it completely dries…

This is a rough, early-stage 'clay sketch' for a background zombie — This is a rough, early-stage ‘clay sketch’ for a background zombie

Sculpt of the Soldier Zombie's gnarly hand — Sculpt of the Soldier Zombie’s gnarly hand

This very effective-looking zombie hand was created by gluing the latex moulding onto a glove!

A look at the liquid latex & cotton ‘skin’ used for the zombies

Above: two more shots of the Hoodie Zombie

So here’s hoping that the Fitzgerald brothers start filming their undead opus, so we’ll get a chance to watch their wonderfully old school zombies shambling across the screen!

A zombie on the loose: this looks like a job for THE TREADWELL BROTHERS!

Squeak and I’ll Run to You (2021)

December 23, 2021 Ken Miller 1 Comment

Oxford professor Rex Shepherd stays at an out of the way hotel in a secluded English coastal spot. During his stay he follows the directions contained in a mysterious book, venturing over to a Roman temple, which turns out to be a ruined Roman pet cemetery. Here he discovers an old chest hidden within a wall – and inside the chest he finds a leather, bone-shaped artefact, which he takes back to his hotel room. After deciphering the latin written on the artefact, he squeezes the object, making it squeak like some kind of ancient dog toy. Now Rex Shepherd will soon find out that something is going to come out to play…

It's won a few awards now - cool! — It’s won a few awards now – cool!

The journey begins... — The journey begins…

...and it starts off so pleasantly for Rex Shepherd — …and it starts off so pleasantly for Rex Shepherd

Inspired by the works of M.R. James, SQUEAK AND I’LL RUN TO YOU is a parody of those ghost stories, especially the tale ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’.

What I like about this short is that director (and writer) James Head has created a story that is both a parody of the M.R. James-style ghost stories and is also a caring recreation of the kind of well-loved BBC ghost story adaptations that were produced in the 1970s.

William Fitzgerald plays the story’s protagonist Rex Shepherd straight, as the kind of rather arrogant, dusty academic seen in many M.R. James adaptations. Director Head (who, amongst other things, is also the movie’s cinematographer, producer and editor) plays the hotel owner Albert Bassett as a kind of slightly creepy Bill Bailey, adding most of the low key humour to the tale. Tony Stansfield is also fine, as the local vicar, revealed to be a ghost.

The BBC ghost story adaptations this short most reminds me of are 1968’s WHISTLE AND I’LL COME TO YOU (of course) and A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS from 1972. Like those productions, SQUEAK AND I’LL RUN TO YOU doesn’t rush its plot: it is a slow burn tale, with atmospheric shots of the protagonist striding across deserted beaches, etc.

Love this shot: like something straight out of a BBC M.R. James adaptation!

Set in the 1950s and shot in black & white, SQUEAK AND I’LL RUN TO YOU is lovely to look at. Head uses superimposed stormy clouds in many scenes, and these shots of clouds scudding past the hotel’s roof & tower evoke the kind of process shots seen in Corman’s series of Poe films. The scenes set at the Roman ruins use scale model effects and, though obviously looking like special effects shots, these sequences add a moody, quirky artifice to the film.

Okay, time to talk about the supernatural creature that Rex Shepherd unwittingly summons… it is a ghostly, bandaged demon-dog! Yes – this spirit is a small, dark, mangy passed on pooch that drools gooey saliva!

The Prof wakes up to find THIS on his chest!

I love this critter!

The cadaverous canine is brought to the screen using an articulated puppet dog (built by Fitzgerald) that is rotten-looking, bandaged, with exposed ribs and dribbling jaws. As is fitting for a story that deals with ghosts but also names all the characters after breeds of dog, this spectral hound is equal parts nasty and somehow cute (in a grim kind of way!)

The many ‘No Pets’ signs in the hotel are a nice touch and there’s also a memorable shot of a steaming pile of spectral doggy do! So, all in all, this movie is a great way to pass 69 minutes of your time.

Rex Shepherd discovers there is no escaping this ghost hound!

Finally, here are some behind the scenes shots of the demon dog puppet…

Devoted to every kind of movie and TV monster, from King Kong to Godzilla, from the Blob to Alien. Plus monsters from other media too, including books and comics.