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THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
By Robert David Sanders
Originally shot during the summer of 1998, THE DEAD was an ambitious digital featurette in many ways unique to itself. It was one of the first projects to use the brand new emerging technology of digital video.
The world this dark fable unfolds within is partly real and mostly a digital creation. Many have commented that the look and feel is like "a living graphic novel." Many of the sets built were only partial. Painting in the rest of the set or location was a main cost savings feature for production. Many street exteriors, cityscapes and backdrops are hand painted and digitally composited. |
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| Unfortunately, the release of "The Matrix" and "Kill Bill - Volumes 1 & 2" killed the project before its completion. There are major striking similarities between the production design of THE DEAD and "The Matrix", namely the Trinity character resembling Haven. However, it was the plot of "Kill Bill" that was the final nail in THE DEAD's coffin. |
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The tragic part of this tale is that many people put a lot of hard work into shooting THE DEAD and the fruits of their labor have gone unseen. The project was shot part-time during the summer of 1998. We all worked 40 hour a week day jobs and would work nights on tearing down old sets and building new ones so we could shoot all weekend. And then do it all over again for thirteen weeks.
Many of the key sequences were already finished before the film languished and ultimately shelved. Large sections of the backstory and setup were completely finished (besides the score and final sound design). |
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Because I receive so many requests asking how people can buy the DVD or get a copy of the movie it made sense to finally start releasing some of these sequences to the Online world. The gaps will be filled in through alternative creative means (stay tuned).
It will take some time and effort to get the last chapter into shape for presentation, as most of it still requires digital set extensions and digital environments. But I look forward to everyone having a chance to see this once beloved project.
Robert Sanders
Director
Editor
Special FX |
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