Maria Returns

Maria (Nina)was done with half of her shots early in the corn fields. Then she went off and worked for some director guy named Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, Grindhouse etc....) On his latest film Machete as Machete's wife. The Killing Strain crew is so happy for her.
She Returns to us for one day at the exterior location for a dream seq. This is some of that day. Enjoy.

Shooting outside in 100 degree weather.

As we continued shooting the exterior Texas continued on it's longest above 100 degree day count. I think we had like 62 days where the temp was above 100 degrees f. and we decided to shoot a movie this summer! All in all the extras, actors and crew hung in there.

exterior shoot

Well I've got around to editing more behind the scenes video's. enjoy.
During this phase of the shoot our biggest concerns were the heat and keeping everyone hydrated. We also had a great number of extras (Zombies) running around and trying to keep everyone safe. The crew was great!! Thanks to everyone who put in 150%

Update

Hey Gang just wanted to let you know we're still alive! Working on a lower budget film you ware lots of hats and often times the blog hat doesn't quite make it on that day. Right now we are wrapping our exterior location and working on getting everything back to it's owners. I'm going to post more behind the scenes video's very soon. We are trying to shoot some small stuff to finish out the film and I'll be back with our usual bare-naked-behind-the-scenes info. Yes we want you fans to be there all along the way. Because it's really about you guys. Fans make a movie happen.

I had several people ask me about the helicopter shot Jacob (1st AD) and I were discussing on the speaker with Daniel (director) in the last webisode, it wasn't the helicopter that is the problem (it's a computer generated shot)- we just had 60 Zombies to manage and set up for a shot it's called Zombie Management.

Keep those comments coming and stay tuned I will have more updates and video for you VERY SOON!!

Make up Dept. RULES!!

We are chugging along on our exterior location. I wanted to give a kudos to our make-up dept. and our zombie volunteers. These people sit for hours waiting for when the 2nd AD comes over and picks them for their shot. This sometimes can take 8 hours! You guys are the best and THANKS from 'The Killing Strain' staff.

Also I must mention the great job that our make-up staff is doing. I've worked with Cynthia Hancevic for about 15 years and never knew she had special fx skills at this level. She started as our make up artist for our regular cast and when our SFX make up had to pull off the job she stepped in and made it happen. Then one of our zombies Dorothy Wilson told us she had trained in special fx make up and would help out she went way beyond what we expected. Then Gordon Wise cautiously checked us out and agreed to help us a little WOW he as well stepped up way beyond expectations. Gordon runs one of the most successful and long lived (20 years) haunted houses in Texas 'Nightmare on Grayson' and took time off to join the team in working tirelessly in making up zombies. These virus infected zombies came in all sizes, but the team worked to get them ready to be on screen sometimes working through lunch.
THANK YOU MAKE UP DEPARTMENT!!!

Going outside

We are now shooting exteriors. Here is some of the behind the scenes of how we spent our days off (lol) of shooting. Max is his usual great self as Production designer making the set look cool. Our AD's pulled off small miracles and we're chugging along.

Finishing up interiors, Zombie Hords

Yes, we've finished the interior portion of the movie and we've moved outside. Just wanted to show you some of the last night at the old house and stay tuned as Max turns our new location into the old.

Television Promotion and teaser

Well we're going to start the exterior portion of the film and Daniel was on 'Great Day S.A.' you can check it out at

http://www.kens5.com/greatday/video/gdsa-index.html?nvid=391272&shu=1

We also put together a short teaser with no sound mix or color correction, but you can catch the tension of the moment and enjoy it.

The Killing Strain Movie - Teaser 1 from daniel maldonado on Vimeo.

Finishing up interiors

Yes we are wrapping the interior location. Just a few more webisodes from inside then to the exterior location. Stay tuned because the next episode we have the BIG ZOMBIE SWARM that breaks into the house!!

8-21-09 Daniel and some of the cast will be guest on KENS Television's 'Great Day SA Show' to discuss how the film is coming along and promote it.

Webisode 6

Interior Location now Zombies!

We're grinding along and experienced our second power outage and something that we weren't quite sure about fell from the heavens (rain) we haven't seen rain in months.
Our interior location is winding down and getting ready to get over to our exterior location. The next three days we are trying to shoot out all the interior stuff and it will make for our longest days/nights yet. Yes we're transitioning over to nights for the last part of the interior location shoot. Then with 3 days off we will start shooting the exterior location. Then we will have our big zombie days. I'm going to try to get over there when Max Valencia (set builder) is working on the facade. We have to build the front door to match the interior. Stay tuned!!
Webisode 5

Interior location has begun

Max and Cynthia have done a great job prepping the interior and we've started principal photography on 'The Killing Strain' I'm really impressed with our cast and crew. The heat has been an issue. On our first day of shooting we had about a 20 min. power outage. But through it all we are moving into the next week. Our director of photography and gaffer (Ron Zimmerman and Phil Curry) have pulled off wonderful pictures. Add the acting abilities of our cast and MAN this film looks GREAT!! Check out our behind the scenes video of the first day of production.

Interior Location

Well we've begun and the biggest problem we have is the HEAT it's been over 100 degrees every day and the old house is and oven. I've got a stand alone air cond and fans but it can't keep up I've included another episode of the behind the scenes on prep of the old house, enjoy. In this episode we features some of the builds that Max Valencia did. Max is a set builder friend of ours that is helping out. We also talk to Cynthia Test who is dressing the place, I think you'll find her work cool. Will check in later with the first day BTS.

Behind the Scenes of 'The Killing Strain'

check our behind the scenes video of the corn fields.

Our Lead male actor Tom Lagleder.









Some of our road side set.

Count down!

A long and winding road is leading to Zombie mayhem! We now have an exterior house location. We have to do some modifacations but it will work. The corn field footage looks good. We have to do a few insert shots so we had to shoot some plates of the corn fields for CGI. Now we are of course behind schedule. Building the interior of the other location and it is creepy. Will try to post pictures of the new locations soon.

Killing Fields transition

Some of you may be coming over from the killing fields web locations we are trying merge it all the official web site is still http://www.killingfieldsmovie.com . And we are still looking for an old house on property outside of San Antonio, TX. We do have an interior to shoot in but we need an exterior location. Really we need a location that would satisfy both needs. We put together some behind the scenes video for you to enjoy of the corn field shoot. We will be posting several of these along with the teasers that we are producing. More will follow after principal Photography is wrapped. Our first was the "Reporter" which Shelly Miles did a great job! check it out.

The Movie begins

We'll it's been a long and winding road but we started to shoot the "The Killing Strain" formally titled 'The Killing Fields' we wanted to save having the distributor change the title later. Some of you may or may not know the "Killing Fields" was a great movie about the Cambodian conflict made in 1984.

Really the only reason we began the shoot was the corn we shot in was about to be harvested and the first part of the movie the corn is the main character. you can check out the trailer that was shot last year and see what we mean.

The Killing Fields Movie Trailer from daniel maldonado on Vimeo.