We Are What We Eat – Interview
We Are What We Eat – Interview
We Are What We Eat is an indie Zombie Film. The film made its American debut at the National Film Festival for Talented You on April 27th. The film was directed by Sam Toller, a 16 year old North Londoner. It was produced by Darien Davis. We decided to send Sam and Darien some questions about the film and their personal zombie survival plans. Please take a moment to watch the shot film before reading on!
When the zombie apocalypse happens, will you be a Raider or a Survivor? Why?
Sam -
A survivor, definitely. Anyone who takes advantage of the situation would be a terrible human being. I like to think that the best of us would rise to the occasion and use the apocalypse to…not start again, but start as I would hope the new earth would carry on. I would try and establish a base with its own source of energy, own crops, and a safe, democratic community within it. Easier said than done…
Darien -
I’d be a survivor, because raiders in every culture eventually come to sticky ends. Also, a raider would lead a chaotic existence, raising the likelihood of death by zombie, whereas a survivor would prepare and have measures in place to ensure safety tomorrow, not just today.
What protective measures are you taking for the upcoming zombie apocalypse?
Sam -
I have scouted the local area for hidden, protected buildings which I could use as a base. It should also be feasible to build a moat around the building, for my zombie killing plan…the moat of fire!
Darien -
My “bug out bag” is equipped for survival; from water purification tablets (you can never have enough), dried foods and fire making materials to a machete… Whether it’s the zombies or dirty bombs, I’m not going down without a fight.
Can we expect more zombie projects from you?
Sam -
Maybe in the distant future. I am a huge zombie fan, but I think its difficult to make a zombie film on a low budget without blending it with another genre, so it has more pull factor than zombies being killed in cool action sequences which are difficult to create on a low budget.
If I had the money and a bit more experience, I would love to do a big zombie film, maybe even a series. It would be a lot like the walking dead…a lot of fun action scenes, but strong characters and deep dilemmas at the centre, and a bit more of a focus on the actual survival of the characters, such as building a strong base, thinking long term and dealing with social issues with in the group. The survival aspect is something I really enjoy imagining, and is something I think is frequently over looked in the zombie genre. So, in short, yes, but not in the near future!
Darien -
Producing WAWWE has been a real learning curve and the lesson continues! At a conservative guess I’ve worked on it for 400+ hours and I would definitely do it again. Sam’s level of commitment, notably hand drawing 310 storyboards, challenged me to help him make the best possible film we could. It’s always easy to look back and think of what could have been but I believe we created a project we can be proud of. It continues to exceed our expectations and I’m proud to have played a part in supporting Sam in achieving his vision.
