With two women on board as directors for the first season, The Walking Dead could herald a more progressive horror series in more ways than one.
We've been super excited about The Walking Dead here at FGT, mostly because it means I don't have to go out on Halloween this year because I'm a lazy bitch, and also because the TV horror series will have input from female directors like Michelle Maxwell MacLaren (who also directed the horror film Population 436.) It's been released that MacLaren's episode is the second in the first season.
What's even better news is that episode 3 is directed by another woman - Gwyneth Horder-Payton. Horder-Payton has directed genre TV like Battlestar Galactica (episode "No Exit") and Fringe ("The Equation"). Her episode of Walking Dead is titled "Fresh Meat", while MacLaren's is "Dead Man's Identity".
It's refreshing to see women be an immediate part of a new horror series instead of afterthoughts. While Masters of Horror ran several seasons on Showtime, not one episode was directed by a woman despite the creators and male directors having close ties with many prominent female horror film directors. It wasn't until the show morphed into Fear Itself and moved to a less tolerant prime time TV channel that Mary Harron (American Psycho) tackled an episode. From the start it seems like Walking Dead producer Frank Darabont is seeking qualified genre directors of both genders to be a part of the directing team on his show.
Episode directors seem to get a lot of credit when it comes to horror television (like Tales from the Crypt, Tales from the Darkside, Masters of Horror, for examples) and women have largely been cut off from that in the past. Maybe, since the zombie apocalypse, times are changin'.
The Walking Dead is set to premiere on October 31st with a full 90 minute episode.
Check out the trailer and let us know what you think with a comment below!
I saw the first episode, and its really good. Very impressive. The acting is phenomenal. They expand on the storyline and characters, but don't 'change' anything. Everything is in line with the graphic novel. I'm excited to see where it goes. Would you guys like to see some footage of it? I'm thinking of reviewing the first episode today.
Yeah which is why I love the comic book its more of a drama than anything and there is a lot of issues where they are no zombies at all, but just about them trying to survive. I was just mentioning the fact the lack of zombie tv series.
The thing abotu The WAlking Dead is it's not about zombies as much as it is about the survivors, and the way they adapt, and what they do to survive as they deal with the deaths of loved ones and basically everything they do.
I'm very excited about this and a VERY big fan of the comic book I have all the issues, but I still need to get the omnibus though because I'm hardcore like that. I think its awesome that we finally see zombies in prime-time. The Walking Dead was one of the first comic books I picked up back in the day when I started to get back into comic books from being away for so long so I kind of have a real special place in my heart for it.
Gale Anne Hurd is also producing, and she's got a very impressive resume. I think some execs are just scared when it comes to giving women the helm. They don't think women get horror. That's changing, thankfully. It's also incredibly unfounded. The list of female horror talent is rather lengthy.
On a side note, saw Mellissa Cowan (WD's "#1 Zombie") in Orlando. She seriously rocks.
We've been super excited about The Walking Dead here at FGT, mostly because it means I don't have to go out on Halloween this year because I'm a lazy bitch, and also because the TV horror series will have input from female directors like Michelle Maxwell MacLaren (who also directed the horror film Population 436.) It's been released that MacLaren's episode is the second in the first season. 
Comments
I saw the first episode, and its really good. Very impressive. The acting is phenomenal. They expand on the storyline and characters, but don't 'change' anything. Everything is in line with the graphic novel. I'm excited to see where it goes. Would you guys like to see some footage of it? I'm thinking of reviewing the first episode today.
Yeah which is why I love the comic book its more of a drama than anything and there is a lot of issues where they are no zombies at all, but just about them trying to survive. I was just mentioning the fact the lack of zombie tv series.
The thing abotu The WAlking Dead is it's not about zombies as much as it is about the survivors, and the way they adapt, and what they do to survive as they deal with the deaths of loved ones and basically everything they do.
I'm very excited about this and a VERY big fan of the comic book I have all the issues, but I still need to get the omnibus though because I'm hardcore like that. I think its awesome that we finally see zombies in prime-time. The Walking Dead was one of the first comic books I picked up back in the day when I started to get back into comic books from being away for so long so I kind of have a real special place in my heart for it.
As Kevin Spacey says in SWIMMING WITH SHARKS: "Avoid women directors. They ovulate. Do you have any idea what that does to a three-month shoot...?"
I'm well zombie-ed out for at least a decade, and to be honest I really didn;t think much of the comic book.
But a major zombiE TV series is pretty damn cool, so I'll check it out.
Exciting! I'm looking forward to this series.
Gale Anne Hurd is also producing, and she's got a very impressive resume. I think some execs are just scared when it comes to giving women the helm. They don't think women get horror. That's changing, thankfully. It's also incredibly unfounded. The list of female horror talent is rather lengthy.
On a side note, saw Mellissa Cowan (WD's "#1 Zombie") in Orlando. She seriously rocks.