new zombie comic w/ Alex Ross cover

[Midnight Show]

Click the link for a preview website-

http://www.moonstonebooks.com/gravegrrrls.asp

Title: G.R.A.V.E. GRRRLS: “DESTROYERS OF THE DEAD” #1

by: Scott Licina & Ken Wolak; cover by Alex Ross

WHEN THERE'S NO MORE ROOM IN HELL... THE DEAD WILL WISH THERE WAS...
Something is bringing the dead back to life with an insatiable hunger for human flesh, and it’s going to take three “enhanced” female government ops to solve the mystery and put the dead back to bed. But that only raises more questions- both to the zombie plague and their own origins.

Featuring a 'dead sexy' painted cover by the legendary ALEX ROSS! Alex did his first ever sexy semi-nude shot- with a zombie in the mix no less!

32pgs, full color, mature themes, $3.50

For fans of Dawn of the Dead and Chaos! Comics.

*Three issue full color mini-series devouring comic shops March 2005!*

[Redstar]

Eeek! Is this the same Scott "Vladimir" Licina who had a hand in raping Night of the Living Dead for that 30th anniversary crap!?!? Me thinks it must be....

[Midnight Show]

This is Scott Licina, writer of the new comic series G.R.A.V.E. GRRRLS, and yes, I am also the Scott Licina from the NOTLD 30th. Anniversary edition.

This is the first time I’ve ever talked about what actually happened with the 30th, so I hope this gives some insight into where things were supposed to go right with the project, and then where things went wrong.

I was hired to work on the film after meeting Tom Savini at a comic convention. I was there doing autographs with Chaos! Comics (who I worked for at the time doing the PURGATORI: THE VAMPIRES MYTH score among other things) and Tom introduced me to John Russo. John explained that he AND George (along with the rest of the original crew-Russ, Karl, Marilyn and Bill) were planning on a new version of the original NOTLD to try and correct the copyright snafu that screwed them in the first place and maybe recoup some of the millions of dollars they have lost because of the mistake. If you don’t know, the original prints of the film went out without copyright info and therefore made the film public domain, which means ANYONE can print and sell the movie without having to pay George, John or any of the original investors.

So, as a HUGE fan of the trilogy, I was thrilled. To work with George, John and the rest of the original gang was the greatest honor I could ever imagine. They wanted an all-original score, because back in ’68 they couldn’t afford it (which is why they used library music) and talked about adding a new scene (the much talked about Beekman’s Diner shot). I agreed to do the score and signed on the dotted line. Then I begged for a spot in the new scene- I thought being a zombie or whatever they let me be in NOTLD would be awesome. Being IN your fave film is a dream I think most of us share. They agreed and all was great in the universe.

Then it all started to go south. Like a bobsled to Hell…

I began demo’ing out the score (demos are basically sample versions of what the final music will be). A few weeks in, I find out George took the gig directing RESIDENT EVIL and wouldn’t be actively involved anymore. Then the new scene was changed to what you all saw- and yes, I agreed to be the Reverend, they didn’t make me. I should have thought harder about it then I did, but again, being in your fave film is the best, right? That’s what I thought at the time…

Well, these events were nothing compared to what came next. I was about three months into finishing my demos when the word came down- they could not locate the three stripe print for the original film. A three stripe is a master- it has one track for dialog, one track for effects and one for music. All they had was a stereo master two track. What that meant was they couldn’t remove the original library music on any scenes where there was dialog happening at the same time. I’m sure you all noticed the bits of original music left.

I freaked out more than a little. But I came up with a solution- if they would give me a bit more time I would just over score the original library music- basically just update the sound on top of what was already there to enhance it. No extra money, I’d do it for the love of the film.

Executive producer Joe Wolf said in no uncertain terms no way, just give us what you have and we’ll take care of it. It seemed all he was interested in was a quick profit.

So that’s what I did. No final recording, no solving the three stripe problem, no out of the deal. Hell, I didn’t even finish the score I started out doing (which is why they kept repeating pieces of my demo all through the film). I’d already been paid and signed the contract. He didn’t seem to care that the sound could be salvaged; just do it quick and make a fast buck. Which in the end is hilarious, because they didn’t get the film out until a year AFTER the anniversary and I could have redone the material in that time.

I’m sure a lot of you saw CHILDREN OF THE LIVING DEAD, and know that Wolf ran the show and even used his daughter Karen’s “script”. I don’t know him, but I’m sure Tor Ramsey (the director of COTLD) could tell you even more “amusing” stories about Wolf and that project. Russo had originally wanted me to work on COTLD as well, but I would never work with Wolf again.

On top of all the things I’ve already discussed, one of the most disheartening elements of my involvement came in the form of promotion. I began spreading the word immediately after I signed on and thought the project was going to be done in the way it deserved- a true classic, being made to aid the people who originally created it. I was told that this would most certainly help George get the money needed for the fourth Dead epic and probably open the door for zombie film makers everywhere. I had great help in the form of Neil from HOMEPAGE OF THE DEAD, who is an amazing fellow and truly nice guy. He posted samples of my work in progress and pics from the set. I simply stopped talking to Neil and everyone else after things turned ugly. I apologize for that, because I should have set the record straight then, but I was too angry over what was happening behind the scenes in the production. I simply did the rest of what I was contracted for and walked away. I was supposed to do the commentary tracks for the DVD as well, but bowed out of that and anything else I wasn’t contractually obligated to do.

And that’s the end of the NOTLD 30 tale. I didn’t and never had any intention to “rape” NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. I was offered a dream job (that turned into a nightmare) and took it- I didn’t get paid big bucks like Joe Wolf, I just wanted to be apart of something I truly respect, admire and adore. I wish I had the power to see what the future holds, but I don’t and had no idea what would be done with this film. And note I said “with THIS film”- the one thing that bothers me is how people say NOTLD is ruined because of this edition. I own every copy of NOTLD ever produced on VHS, laser disc and DVD, and they all still play beautifully. No one came to my home after the 30th came out and smashed all my copies of the classic. Stores didn’t stop selling the multitude of pirated (for that’s what most of them truly are) copies of George’s masterpiece. To paraphrase what Stephen King once said to George when George asked what King thought of people ruining his books with their film adaptations, King said “My books aren’t ruined- they’re right behind me on my shelf”. We can, and will always be able to enjoy the classic NOTLD. The 30th was originally only intended to right a wrong from decades ago and put some money in the pockets of the people who deserved it- George, the crew and the investors. That’s the biggest reason I took the job- aside from being a fan boy ‘Deadhead’.

If you want to look at our new comic series, please do. The link to our website can be found in the original post of this thread. Judge the books on their own, and either like them or don’t on the merit of what they are. Not because of me being involved in NOTLD 30.

Thanks for reading this, and I hope it shed some light on a dark subject. This isn't intended as an excuse or an apology, it's just the facts of the matter.

Scott Licina

[Redstar]

Scott,
Thanks for your reply; it was very entertaining & enlightening. Truthfully, its about what I expected from Russo & Wolf, both of whom I've heard many horror stories about in the past...and not the good kind. I'm sure that , had I been in your place, I would have taken the job as well; I may not have been able to subdue my egregious personality in order to stomach all the things going on around me, but I would have tried & don't blame you for it one bit (well, maybe a teensy bit for all the overacting :)...and dropping the "vladimir" couldn't hurt). Speaking of COTLD, I know a friend who worked on the film & she swears that a goldmine could be made if someone put together a documentary about talentless, insane writer/producer Karen Wolf; apparently this woman makes Jessica Savitch look as stable as Mother Theresa :loon: .

That having been said, I will check out your new comic when I get the chance, and hope that your future ventures into zombieland meet with more success. Thanks for the info!