Q&A with the makers of "Zombie Girl: The Movie"

So this is a pretty amazing story. I get contacted by Aaron Marshall about a documentary he co-produced and edited called Zombie Girl: The Movie. Check this out:

ZOMBIE GIRL: THE MOVIE

Emily Hagins is making a zombie movie. It’s feature-length, it’s bloody, and the zombies don’t run. Just like it should be. But there’s one difference between her film and every other zombie movie you’ve ever seen: Emily is twelve.

ZOMBIE GIRL: THE MOVIE is the documentary from Bob B. Bob Productions, Vacdoomed Productions, and Part Olson Pictures that chronicles the making of Emily's zombie film, Pathogen.

You read that right: Emily Hagins was 12 years-old when she wrote and directed her first full-length motion picture. So I just had to learn more and forwarded a bunch of questions to Aaron. Here are his responses:

What is your background as a filmmaker?

I grew up in Texas and went to film school at the University of Texas at Austin. I spent a few years directing short films and working as an editor in Austin before moving to Los Angeles to complete the postproduction on Zombie Girl and focus on screenwriting.

How did you, Justin Johnson, and Eric Mauck first get involved with the Zombie Girl documentary project?

We were living in Austin (which is where Emily lives) and saw the casting call she posted online for her auditions. It read something like, "Looking for 12-15 year-olds for a zombie movie directed by a 12-year-old girl." That right there was already about the coolest logline for a movie we'd ever heard, so we called her parents and within a week, we were following Emily around.

Describe what your first impressions were when you met the then 12 year-old screenwriter and director to be Emily Hagins.

It's quite obvious upon meeting her that she's obsessed with movies. Especially if you see her room and the blanket of one sheets that wallpaper it. But, she was also very shy and quiet when we first met her. That changed over the course of our filming as she grew more confident in her skills as a director.

How long were you involved in filming Emily during her process of making her first movie Pathogen?

It took Emily two years from the time she wrote the script until she premiered her film. We were there for most of that time. We also followed her on and off for a few months after she finished, but didn't use much of that footage in the final documentary.

Could you describe some of the key dynamics about Emily, her family, and her movie crew that emerged in the shooting of your documentary Zombie Girl?

We were initially drawn to the story because of how cool it was that a twelve-year-old girl was making a full-length zombie film. We found it interesting that technology had advanced to the point that something like that was even possible. But, what emerged as time progressed was not only the persistence and drive that Emily had in the face of obstacles, but the encouragement and support she was getting from her parents -- specifically her mom.

We sometimes refer to Zombie Girl: The Movie as "the bloodiest mother/daughter story ever told," because the heart of the film is really their relationship and how it evolved over the two years they worked on Pathogen. Not only were they squeezing a full scale indie film production into their school and work schedules, but Emily was becoming a teenager (she's 13 by the time she finishes Pathogen) so it's a coming-of-age story, too.

Emily's mother had been taking her to see rated R movies since she was 9 or 10, and Emily refers to her mom as her "buddy" more than she calls her "mom." But the success of Emily's film shoot hinged largely on their ability to balance their relationships as "friends" and as "parent and child." And as director and crew! Her mom helps in all aspects of the shoot, from craft services to boom operator to special effects makeup artist. Seeing their relationship overcome the strains of the grueling film shoot, but ultimately grow stronger in the end was one of the joys of making the documentary.

As the documentary's editor, how many hours of tape did you review to pull the clips you used for Zombie Girl? How hard was it for you to 'find' the story in all that footage?

We shot about 150 hours of footage. I've found that editing a documentary is a lot like writing a script. Only -- the words and sentences that you can use are predetermined, and it's up to you to arrange them in such a way that best tells the story. So, in a way, I had to draw upon screenwriting much more often than editing.

I made at least 50 different outlines -- which looked very similar to the 3 act structure outlines I write for screenplays -- before figuring out a way to cut the film that was engaging and honest.

You, Justin, and Eric made a key creative choice - not to use a narrator V.O., instead relying on interviews with key participants to stitch together your story. What was the rationale behind that choice?

The goal when shooting was to remain "flies on the wall" as much as possible and not let our own experience as filmmakers pollute what Emily was doing. We wanted to extend that "hands off" approach to the narrative construction of the film by taking time daily to shoot quick interviews with the participants explaining in their own words what was going on or what they did that day.

One of the lucky breaks for us in making this film was that we got in on the story practically when it started. So, it's not a documentary where people reflect back on something in the past. We get to see the story unfold as it happens. If one of us were dictating the story through narration, I think it would have pulled the audience out of it and reminded them that what they were watching had already taken place. Instead, Emily, her family, and her friends tell their own story in the present tense and it's easier to get wrapped up in it and almost forget you are watching a documentary.

How did Zombie Girl do in the festival circuit and what awards has it won?

We won the Spirit Award at Slamdance this year, and have been fortunate enough to also screen at Comic-Con, AFI Dallas, Hot Docs, Mill Valley, Fantastic Fest, and a ton of other great festivals. It's been an honor to get to travel the country and share the movie with audiences.

How did Emily and her family react when they first saw Zombie Girl?

We were nervous when we took it to their house and showed them the film for the first time. Luckily, they really got into the movie and have embraced it 100 percent. Emily and her family have even been able to accompany us to many of the film festivals, where Emily is always a big hit at the Q&As.

Have you stayed in touch with Emily and if so, what's she up to now?

Just talked to her last week! Since we wrapped Zombie Girl, she has finished and premiered her second feature film, and just two weeks ago, she completed the script for what she hopes to be her third. I can't wait to read it.

How can we see Zombie Girl?

It's showing right now in the US on The Documentary Channel and in Canada on The Movie Network. It's also going to be airing in Europe and Asia soon. We hope to have the film out on dvd and available on iTunes in the near future. Just check www.zombiegirlthemovie.com or follow us on facebook (facebook.com/zombiegirlthemovie) and we'll post info as soon as it's available.

What current projects are you working on?

I have a couple spec scripts that I'm wrapping up and also have another film I'm hoping to get off the ground next year. Not a documentary this time, though. I'm switching back to fiction. Docs take a long time!

What a great story on two fronts: Aaron and his producing partners spending two years to make a documentary that ends up winning a major award at the Slamdance Film Festival; and Emily Hagins, her family, and friends producing a full-length feature film when Emily was just 12 years old.

Emily is now all grown up -- 17 years old, that is. And already she's written and produced two full-length movies. So if ever you need inspiration to press on and pursue your dreams as a screenwriter, just think of young Emily Hagins.

Trailer for "Zombie Girl":



Trailer for "Pathogen":



Feature on Zombie Girl filmmakers at Slamdance 2009