DC Shortsfest - Zombriella
Like many 8 year old boys, Miko often wakes up in the middle of the night. Haunted by the creatures of his nightmares, he jumps out of his room and sneaks in to his mother’s bed to hide under her blanked, were he is safe from the monsters…
In Miko’s nightmares it’s zombies, who totter around mumbling incomprehensible noises, screaming and coming dangerously close to him. Especially little Zombriella follows the boy doggedly. And on top of everything, there is Miko’s older brother Steve, who makes fun of him and even changed his name to scaredy cat. Sooner or later Miko has to face his fears, stand up to the monsters and show his brother what he’s really made of…
Interview with Writer/Director Benjamin Gutsche
Watch Zombriella here:
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I wanted to make this kind of adventure movie for kids since I started to work as a director. I grew up with the 80s family movies like E.T., The Goonies and The Neverending Story. I love how they mix up real life drama with fantasy elements. The stories are bigger than life and the reason why I’m going to the movies. To me watching a movie is always an escape from the real world.
And the other reason why I wanted to make a Zombie Movie for kids is because I don’t know any other movie where the little ones can watch a Zombie adventure without being scared for the rest of their life. Every child knows what a Zombie looks like. They want to see them. We fulfilled their wish and penned a story appropriate for children.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It’s fun to watch I hope! And it also got an important message for the young audience: Just because somebody looks and speaks different it doesn’t mean they’re less than you.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Zombriella is about an 8 year old boy, Miko, who often wakes up in the middle of the night. Haunted by the creatures of his nightmares, he jumps out of his room and sneaks in to his mother’s bed to hide under her blanket, were he is safe from the monsters.
I think every child in the world experienced these kinds of nightmares. And the reasons why they’re having bad dreams are not because they're scared of evil monsters. It’s so much more than that. Often you’ll find the reasons in their real life. In my movie, Miko, the young protagonist, is bullied by his elder brother. But Miko doesn’t give up. He faces his fears. He becomes stronger and more self-confident.
It’s a universal theme kids worldwide can identify with.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
In the beginning I thought about setting the story of a zombie apocalypse in the real world, not within the nightmares of a little kid. But soon I realized this could be too dark and scary for the younger ones. Imagine a little boy with no parents and no friends anymore walking around and being hunted by zombies - as a child it would scare the s**t out of me.
So I decided to make it a story about bad dreams. The young audience would always know: Its not real, it’s only a dream.
Like most short film productions we were short on money to tell an apocalyptic world realistically. So we were looking for a place which already looked extinct. And luckily we found it in an abandoned amusement park in Berlin, Germany. It also emphasized the story: If you’re a little kid, far away from home and scared by zombies, where would you go to feel safe again? An amusement park! The most fun place in the world.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The kids love it. Last month I went to the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, the world's biggest movie festival for children. And the audience went crazy. For a filmmaker like me who made this movie for kids, it was an awesome experience. Right now Zombriella is screening around the world and we won a few awards - all of them voted by kids. That's the biggest honor you can receive as a director.
But interesting enough: When we had our world premiere at the Max Ophüls Festival in Germany at the beginning of the year, some parents explained their concerns about our movie. Not because their own kids were scared while watching it. No, they thought it's too entertaining and thereby not an 'important' movie. Maybe it’s only a German thing but some adults think every movie should be super serious, educational and deal appropriate;y with real life problems. They don’t let their kids be kids. Not even for 15 minutes.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
No, not really. When we made this movie we knew it could be a tough sell for some parents. It’s not the typical 'cute dog befriends kid' story. It’s about a boy becoming friends with the walking dead. In the movie we never mention that they’re dead. They’re just pale and don’t walk properly. And they don’t eat humans of course. They do not eat any meat except fish. If you will, our zombies are pesco-vegetarians. Hahaha.
When the adults watched the movies they told me: It was a fun ride. They never thought it could be hilarious to see the Zombies like this.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com
What all filmmakers want for their films: That people watch their movies and start talking about them. We made Zombriella to be screened around the world. It’s a privilege to get a platform like wearemovingstories.com to introduce it to a bigger audience!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Since the TV and distribution rights are already sold to a German TV channel and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), our focus is on keep showing the movie at festivals around the world. If festival directors should read this and want to have a little fun horror movie for kids in their program they shouldn’t hesitate to contact me or my festival agency at www.augohr.de
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
To be honest: I just want the young audience to have a good time at the movie theatre.
I see how kids are reacting to our movie, how they’re playing Zombies after watching the film - I love it! Our movie won’t change the world. But maybe it will make kids fell in love with movies, writing stories or being creative like myself 22 years ago.
I was only 8 yrs old when I sneaked into the movie theatre to watch Jurassic Park. It was a life changing moment for me. After the film I told my mom back home: 'If I want to keep playing with dinosaurs I have to become a filmmaker.' And here I am.
Maybe one kid will say the same about Zombies. Wouldn’t it be the best impact you could hope for?
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
A zombie movie for kids - can it work?
Would you like to add anything else?
Of course! I can’t praise the kid actors enough. I mean just look at Emelie, the little girl who played Zombriella - isn’t she fantastic as Walking Dead Junior? A movie only can be as good as everyone involved in it. And I think we had a fantastic team.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
As a showrunner I’m working on a new German TV series right now. A morbid comedy about a desperate man who wants his life to start over again when he turns 50yrs old - by killing his much hated wife.
Our director of photography, Moritz Kaethner, is busy shooting Wanted - a new original TV series for Amazon Germany.
And our highly talented kid actors have also new movies coming out soon.
Where can I watch it in the next month?
http://augohr.de/catalogue/zombriella
There you’ll find all the updates for the festivals showing Zombriella!
Interview: September 2016
_______________________________________________________________________________
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
_______________________________________________________________________________
Zombriella
Like many 8 year old boys, Miko often wakes up in the middle of the night. Haunted by the creatures of his nightmares, he jumps out of his room and sneaks in to his mother’s bed to hide under her blanked, were he is safe from the monsters…
In Miko’s nightmares it’s zombies, who totter around mumbling incomprehensible noises, screaming and coming dangerously close to him. Especially little Zombriella follows the boy doggedly. And on top of everything, there is Miko’s older brother Steve, who makes fun of him and even changed his name to scaredy cat. Sooner or later Miko has to face his fears, stand up to the monsters and show his brother what he’s really made of…
Length: 15 minutes
Director: Benjamin Gutsche
Producer: David Christoph
Writer: Benjamin Gutsche
About the writer, director and producer:
Benjamin Gutsche is a German Writer and director. His credits include writing scripts for the fantasy TV series Arman’s secret and directing and writing the short movies Love, Cakes & Rock’n’Roll, While Mommy’s sleeping“and The Proposal.
David Christoph is a German producer. His credits include the children's short films While Mommy’s sleeping and Zombriella.
Key cast: Emelie Habrecht as Zombriella; Valentin Wessely as Miko, Jannis Schmidt as Steve, and also starring: Lou Bega and Katja Frenzel.
Looking for: film festival directors and journalists
Funders: SR & BBC
Made in association with: EBU (European Broadcasting Union)
Release date: January 22nd 2016