Wicked Zombies Invaded the Saturday Nightmares Konvention This Weekend!

Venessa and I attended the Saturday Nightmares kon in Jersey City this weekend and got a table to promote WZ. Lady Sunyak accompanied me and we met up with good friends RomeroPilato, Kevin Deadite, and Ryuk666. It was great fun meeting potential new friends and being surrounded by a totally zombified atmosphere. All around us were familiar faces that graced the screen in Night, Dawn and Day of the Dead. And the kon took place in a beautiful historic theater. It was cramped for space, but that was the only downside.

The highlight was without a doubt, when Gary Klar, who played Steele in Day of the Dead, took a seat at our table. It happened to be that he and Venessa shared the same favorite author, Kim Paffenroth, who was also in attendance. He was one of the nicest, koolest people you could hope to meet. He was so down to earth. He told us some very interesting things about his character in the film. In the original script, his death scene was not nearly as intense and dramatic as it turned out in the movie. He approached Mr. Romero with his intentions to elaborate on the character. He improvised the entire suicide factor including how he makes the sign of the cross before pulling the trigger, in an attempt at some last minute redemption. He explained how he invented the sympathetic side of a seemingly cruel character. It was clear that he did not want to shoot Sarah when Rhodes ordered him to. He also opted to take an honorable death, choosing suicide over becoming what he hated most.

We found this fascinating that he actually sat down with us and discussed all of it. He then signed some kool 8x10's for us and didnt even want to take my money. After insisting, he raised the twenty and said "you see this twenty? Come to Chiller next month and we'll use it to drink a few beers." He was just too kool. We look forward to seeing him again and hearing some more of his excellent insights. Among many goodhearted guests, he shined the most.