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Season 2 Episode 19 - The Living Dead


Outro Season 2 episode 19

Hello my survivor friends. How are you doing?

Patreon to support the show ->https://www.patreon.com/AftertheApocalypse

Ollie the Collie and I are doing well. Summer has arrived up here in New England with its long days and warm weather. Finally. I feel like I’m emerging from a hole.

This is episode 19 of the second season. For you chronologically-challenged this episode will drop on May 13th 2022. A little bit more than 2 years since the idea occurred to me on a drizzly run down by the banks of the Chattahoochee at the start of a global pandemic that, at the time, seemed like it might actually be the end of the world.

But we’re still here. Why? Because we’re survivors!

I will attempt to wrap up this season in the next episode. If I have to go into extra innings to support the narrative, I will. Don’t worry, creating a quality and compelling product is what we do!

I’ll get my ask in early this week before the sound of my voice puts you into a deep but restive coma. What do you think? Should I do a meditation series for you insomniacs?

“Breathe deep the gathering gloom,

Watch lights fade from every room,

Bedsitter people look back and lament

Another day's useless energy is spent”

Ten apocalypse points to the first person to name that tune!

Anyhow – here’s my ask. I’m looking to increase the visibility to the show now that we have a couple good seasons under our belt. “Increase the eyeballs” as they say in the biz.

To do this I’m looking for exposure - other podcasts or shows or groups where I could be interviewed or post content.

The ask,is share with me any other podcasts, shows, groups, venues that I can engage with to find more fans. I could get interviewed on or share content or give a speech…I’m actually fairly versatile.

Also, any conventions or other secret societies that you think might be a good place for me to look for fans or even speak at?

I just checked my resume again, and it turns out, in addition to being s certified scuba diver I’m also a certified public speaker.

Send you suggestions to the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/oldmanapocalypse– just search for ‘after the apocalypse’ and you’ll see our old man logo – or on twitter or other social sites I’m cyktrussell and you can always shoot me an email at cyktrussell@gmail.com

If you’re a social media maven like our friend Cinnamon, write a review on spotify or audible or wherever and post the link to that review on your social.

Let’s throw some kerosene on the fire – you know, like those YouTube videos where some idiot splashes gasoline on a pile of burning trash and blows themselves up?

I’m committed to be that idiot. By the way – all these shows are published on YouTube as well and you can contact me there if it’s more convenient.

After the season ends I’m going to take a break from episodes but I’m going to create some filler content between seasons. I’m going to get some interviews in and the guest stories. Let me know if you have any ideas or something you want to talk about – don’t be shy – we’re all in this together and the rising tide floats all boats.

Let’s talk about one of your favorite franchises – the Living Dead franchise. Night of the Living dead was created by George A. Romero in 1968. Black and white film. They used friends and family and local amateur actors to fill the roles.

This game-changing zombie movie in was filmed in Evans City Pennsylvania on a budget of $100,000 and was released in Pittsburgh. The film eventually grossed $12M dollars for a staggering 250X return on its budget.

This was the film that birthed the zombie apocalypse genre. Ironically enough, the movie never uses the word ‘zombie’ – they are referred to as ‘flesh eating ghouls.

And guess what book the original script was based on? Yup. The 1954 novel “I am Legend” by Richard Matheson. So add that to your party list with Vincent Price’sLast Man on Earth, Charlton Heston’sOmega Man and Will Smith’sI am Legend.

The franchise eventually had six films directed by Romero himself. Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead – which was my entry point to the franchise - Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead. I have not watched all of these, but they form a continuous narrative of the evolution of the living dead universe.

When I first saw Dawn of The Dead I fell in love with the genre. It was a smart film. It was SciFi it was horror, and it was funny. It was filled with social commentary and winks to a smart audience that really paid off. I’ll have to rewatch it to see how it ages. But at the time, it was in my top three favorite films.

Of course, it’s Hollywood so with the surprise success of the Night of the Living dead there were copy cats and lawsuits.

First up is an entry by John Russo who co-wrote the original screenplay with Romero. He created an alternative second movie called Return of the Living Dead.

There was a remake in 1990.

There were 2 3D films made in the 2000’s. One a remake and the other a prequel. The original black and white film was colorized and also converted to a 3D format.

I’m holding out for 4D or 5D or the return of Smell-O-Vision – because that is what a zombie movie really needs.

And there are a host of other remakes that have been done, but I’m going to stop here because it’s starting to feel like I’m reading the phone book to you.

To summarize: Who knows if the zombie apocalypse genre would exist at all or in it’s current ribust form if it had not been for the seminal emergence of George A Romero and Night of the Living Dead.

It changed the game and is the grand-pappy of every zombie jump scare we have enjoyed in the last 50 years.

There’s something about that mindless, single-purpose, flesh-eating ghoul that triggers something very dark and animal in our brains. It effects us at the amygdala level with the inevitable certainty of death.

That’s what I think it is. It let’s us experience the physical manifestation of our fear of death in the form of the zombie.

Anyhow – that’s it for me. Hope you all have great weekend.

Help us get eyeballs on the show.

And Keep Surviving!


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