I posted a few pictures. It’s been awhile. Nothing happened in February. In March we went to Poland. We came back in April. In May, I’ve started breaking eggs. This is your brain on life. Any questions?

Check out this EXCLUSIVE VERSION of the Deadscapes 2 interview on LTTV’s The Buda Chamber! It’s a condensed 10-minute version of the original 24-minute cut that features BEHIND THE SCENES FOOTAGE and clips from the film! The uncut version is also available online. A similarly condensed version will be edited by LTTV for broadcast but this will be the only version to be edited by the Deadscapes Writer / Director and that features material from the DVD release! Enjoy!

Back in October 2007, I was interviewed for a new show on LTTV called “The Buda Chamber.” This local production, airing in Lyons Township (IL), will feature previews, reviews, interviews, parodies, trivia, and behind-the-scenes of movies, television, videogames, and Internet clips. As part of the first episode, I was asked to be interviews by host Steve Buda about Deadscapes 2. I finally got my hands on the full un-cut edit of the interview courtesy of video sensei and film guru, LTTV Director Bill Allan. I can’t wait to see the final version of the episode (which will have the interview portion trimmed down considerably) but we’ll also get to see the other segments of Buda’s show. I want to thank Bill and his crew and Buda for having me on the show!

On a sadder note, this might be the last anyone hears about Deadscapes for awhile. There was a little surge of motivation with the opening of Deadscapes on MySpace and Zombie Friends and then with the Diary of the Dead contest. Seeing as though I have no plans in the immediate future for another episode, I’m content to let it die down, in a manner of speaking. The project seems lost at the moment. Everyone’s a filmmaker today. And everyone’s the next cinematic genius. I guess I, as the writer, feel a little lost at the moment among these ranks because I certainly don’t think in those terms. That’s not to say that there won’t be another episode (I already know what I’ll write). But for now, I’ll be doing other things in the meantime.

Well it’s official now, I suppose. My 3-minute clip “The Uninvited” has been accepted into Diary of the Dead video contest. There are about a dozen entries in total thus far that span quite a range in quality. I’m certainly not expecting to win the competition, but I’m hoping for the runner up category. It’s clear which pieces stand out from the pack. The voting itself is becoming a monster of its own. The propaganda seems to be working against my favor but, hey, it’s MySpace. It’ll be interesting to see how the score ends up after everybody has voted for their friends and voted down the competition. That’s just the way these things go, I guess.

[Show as slideshow]

PLEASE RATE “THE UNINVITED”!
THE WINNING SHORT FILM OF THE “DIARY OF THE DEAD VIDEO COMPETITION” WILL BE FEATURED ON THE DVD RELEASE OF THE MOVIE!

Hey Zombie Pals!

I made a special 3-minute cut using scenes from DEADSCAPES 2 in order to enter into the “Diary of the Dead” video competition! Please show your support! WATCH this video and then RATE IT! It’d be a dream come true to have George see my work, especially considering that the Deadscapes project is one big tribute to him!

The contest ends on February 29, 2008 so WATCH AND RATE NOW!

Enjoy the clip!

Kristofer Velasquez
Director

Well, a few hours ago I, quite on accident, stumbled upon this particular site known as ZombieFriends. And now with rigor mortis setting in on my typing fingers, DEADSCAPES officially has another home. This site is considerably more niche than, let’s say, other networking sites and seems a perfect avenue for promotion and spreading the word for support. This is not to say that official sites like Deadscapes.com and Precious Nightmare will cease to be the hub of communications for this project. But rather, this is a humble “hello” from the the homegrown, no-budget zombie goodness known as Deadscapes.

After a long bout of procrastination, Deadscapes is officially on MySpace. To much dismay of the director, there is no denying that this website is an essential tool in promotion and networking. The “push” that became “shove” in this endeavor was the discovery of the exclusive Diary of the Dead trailer posted a few days ago on MySpace and the introduction by none other than George Romero himself. In this introduction he also announced the contest that will proceed this trailer release. This competition calls short filmmakers to submit their work for not only evaluation by The Man himself, but for possible inclusion of the short on the DVD release of Diary.

I seem to recall back in 2005, there was a chance to ride this zombie wave on the ocean of zombie momentum caused by Dawn of the Dead (2004) and Land of the Dead. My first project would’ve done nicely, even for just a blink of an eye on the crest of this wave. Now, with demons exorcised and a firm blade of resolve in hand, my hopes are that some years later I’ll be able to vindicate all that was lost prior. I’ve worked hard on Deadscapes. I’ve worked hard at being the best fan and filmmaker I can be. It wouldn’t just be poetic justice for this opportunity to be mine. It’d be so much more, especially on a personal front.

In considering all that has befallen my film experience in the past 6 years (both bad and good) this opportunity may prove to be the ultimate rectifier for the ghosts that haunt my work. Nothing would redeem shattered aspirations and cursed attempts more than to win. Right now my hope is like a single silhouette on the horizon, shambling forward. But as one turns into ten and an insurmountable number turns into legion, I can only continue hoping that it means one thing: inevitability.

Not only is an exclusive trailer for Diary of the Dead online,
but it’s introduced by none other than the man himself.

He also mentions this small contest.
If there were ever a time for something to happen, it’s now.
This is my calling.

It feels like a heist. Planning one moment for almost a year. Nothing can describe many months worth of anticipation and secrecy for a moment that you’re not sure when exactly will hit. It’s like waiting for a bomb to explode after watching the dancing wick leap to and fro before disappearing entirely in that all encompassing moment of clarity. And here it is. And there it was. Like a fresh tattoo - permanent and vital. Today we woke safe and snuggled in a warm bed while the world outside stands blinded in white. A powerful luminous river of light poured through our curtains while we lay together, joined in comfort and security. We spooned and shared sentiments. Of love. Of 4 years together. And without breaking embrace … without letting go of my love … I opened my heart and my hand. In my hand was a symbol. In my grasp and now on her finger is the emblem of how I wanted to turn FOUR years into FORever.

P.S. - Merry Echoes of Christmas.

Seems we’re all fighting the same war as 2007 closes. And on that note I’ll be swinging a new axe to shed more blood in 2008. Love to my friends and family. To all others: band-aids … I’ll cut you on this one. December 2007’s Digital Diary ends here.