Blogger Husband & Wife Partake in Omaha's Annual Benson Zombie Walk

Recently my husband and I got our picture taken quite a bit. Even at the time, Brian remarked: "We haven't gotten our picture taken this much since our wedding!" So, now we truly know what it is like to be stalked by novice photographers and paparazzi. However, in our case it was our intention, along with thousands of willing participants at the 2013 Benson Zombie Walk in Omaha, Neb.

The previous year, Brian and I attended the zombie walk, but as observers. We were the one's snapping pictures with our cameras and iPhones. Whisked away with the zombie hysteria, I folded and allowed myself to become a victim at last year's zombie walk. Read about it at A Victim's Account from Benson's Zombie Walk Omaha 2012. However, on Oct. 19th, we chose to be full-fledged zombie walkers at the 2013 Benson Zombie Walk. Numerous Benson area businesses co-sponsored festivities, but the Nydm-nedm (NYDM) Nebraska Chapter volunteered their time on this Saturday to staff make up areas and pass around donation buckets. Proceeds from the sixth annual event went to the Sienna Francis House, a homeless shelter located in downtown Omaha.

The Undead. Here I am pictured with another zombie walker.

The zombie walk wasn't the only activity taking place in downtown Benson, but it was the only free one. In fact, there is no charge to participate in the Benson Zombie Walk. The street by Jake's Cigars & Spirits was closed off and street vendors were there to entice zombie walkers and onlookers with food and games. For an admission price, a band, costume contest and Dr. San Guinary's Zombikini contest, all took place immediately after at the The Waiting Room Lounge.

Overall, the 2013 Benson Zombie Walk was fun--but a bit exhausting. Be warned, this walk is not for very little kids or for people with walking issues. The route they take you down is a little ways down the road. To begin, the horde walks down an alley and emerges to several professional photographers and videographers. Next, the zombie horde moves along down the street cutting through the Great Western Bank parking lot. Cars passing by on Military Avenue slow down in amazement. We witnessed an ambulance announce over the load speakers, "brains!" This got an immediate reaction from zombie walkers. At the halfway point, we crossed over an overpass and journeyed the rest of the way via Military Avenue and Maple Street to downtown Benson. The zombie walkers' final destination, The Waiting Room Lounge.

The organizers warned us zombie participants before the walk that there were a lot of professional photographers on hand. He told everyone to be in character. I can equate being the undead to being an animal in the zoo. Everybody is looking at you and taking pictures. Zombie walkers and onlookers are in very close proximity. People lined the sidewalks and we literally walked between them. I found it the easiest to scare the little kids; especially, with a cold stare or zombie, "Raaarrrr!" Feeling guilty, I would wink back at the little kiddos, at the very end. One little girl we came upon was so frightened, she had wedged herself behind her dad and the building her family was perched in front of. Her two siblings, however, were grinning from ear-to-ear as we passed by. The best horde action to note, came in front of Jiffy Lube. A worker sat on top of the shop's sign; unbeknownst to him, within an instant he caught the eye of some zombies on the sidewalk. Kind of eerily, just like in the movies, all the undead clambered to try and get some of his brains. Moaning and jumping after him--who was just out of reach--it was a true sight to see!

How do you know if your costume is good? In our case, everyone wanted our picture. A couple zombie pats on the back are in order for The Brown's and our volunteer make up artists. We followed the instructions laid out on the Zombie Walk Omaha website, which Brian and I noticed most did not, and dressed as "zombie vikings." We pieced our outfits together after stops to Goodwill and Fairytail Costumes and Rental. The final touch to our zombie transformation was our makeup. Like most, we took advantage of the make up artists provided by the event. They had two locations available, and we picked The Pizza Shoppe. For $3 a piece donation, The Brown's were transformed to The Viking Zombie Brown's (see video below).



The Brown's have the look down; now we had to play the part. Here's some tips on how to walk like a zombie. Remember slow is good! No "World World Z" zombies in this walk. Dragging a foot, slumping your shoulders, moaning and bouncing off of your zombie buddy works. Like I said, it was exhausting! Staggering like a zombie, my hip started to hurt and Brian commented afterwards that his knee bugged him. If you aren't a fan of crowds, stay home! The 2013 zombie walk garnered more than 5,000 people, including both walkers and onlookers. All-in-all, I do recommend attending--it was for a good cause and was cheap family fun.

My advice to picture takers in attendance next year, don't say "cheese" to a hoarde of zombies--if you really want that true zombie stare say "b-r-a-i-n-s," instead.

-population-we™ blog post by Becky Bohan Brown

© 2013 population-we, LLC 
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'Sparks' Fly at Annual Omaha Film Festival

W. Somerset Maugham once wrote: "Good characters are so actual, so individual, so human that it is impossible not to feel that if one of them were pricked, real warm blood would flow." In film, who is responsible for this outcome the actor, director or screenwriter? Recently my husband and I attended the 8th Annual Omaha Film Festival to find out. At the film festival, we viewed the Omaha premiere of "Sparks."

Tickets for the Omaha premiere.

"Sparks" is based on a graphic novel (comic-strip) series, which has been adapted for the big screen by the co-creator and director, Christopher Folino. Earlier in the day on March 9 both my cousin and I attended a graphic novel signing at Krypton Comics, where we met Folino as well as co-creator and actor William Katt. Folino told us about the premiere, which happened to coincide with the Omaha Film Festival.

Both my husband (Brian) and I grew up reading comic books and like many are gaga over the recent Avenger series being brought to life on the big screen. With that said this movie was definitely up our alley. The cost was $8 a piece to attend the premiere only. A description from the film's website said: "A superhero noir thriller about a masked vigilante Ian Sparks who discovers the dark side to heroism. Going after the nation's most notorious super criminal leaves Sparks' life and reputation in ruins." Before the movie rolled Folino said: "We love it enough for you!"

"Sparks" had a "Sin City" feel with less than PG-13 sex appeal. Folino mentioned "Casablanca" is a favorite of his. I could see glimpses of Casablanca scattered throughout the film; especially, when it came to kissing scenes. However, it is based off a graphic novel, so there are some "Silence of Lambs" moments. I say moments, because they cut away and don't show the actual heinous acts; however, that leaves the viewer to speculate. This film is also for the ladies; since, there's a love triangle that plays throughout the film. For an independent film with a shoe string budget they managed to pull together a familiar cast (Clancy Brown, Jake Busey, Katt, Clint Howard). However, there were moments where it was campy -- I'll let you decide where. I truly appreciated Ashley Bell's portrayal of Lady Heavenly. Seeing a strong -- in every sense of the word -- woman on the screen was refreshing. It is overall entertaining! Chase Williamson delivers a believable role as Ian Sparks. Movie goers get a front and center seat to see how an up-and-coming superhero finds his tortured self and true love at the same time.

Seated with Dr. San Guinary.

For Brian and I what really brought the film to life was the Q&A session held directly after the premiere. A mainstay at most film festivals. Established in 2005, the Omaha Film Festival gives independent film artists a platform for sharing their work and creating a dialogue with the community. We got to hear from Folino and Katt first hand. According to Folino, they shot the movie in 12 days and mostly at night. Only two film editors were on staff to cut the film, too. It doesn't get any more independent than that. There were a bevy of questions asked by the movie goers. Time and time again, Folino reminded those in attendance -- it was not easy. "We almost went broke a couple times!" I asked Folino: "How he came to be a screenwriter/director?" He credited his Dungeon and Dragon days for his creative side. He also enthusiastically told us his journey from working at a public television station, a Home Depot video taping wood and stint video taping gamers' play video games.

At the premiere we also sat with Dr. San Guinary, Omaha's original and favorite horror host since 1971. He reported that the Superhero Blood Drive in Omaha was well attended. Krypton Comics and Dr. San Guinary teamed up for a mobile American Red Cross Blood Drive during the graphic novel signing. They told donors: "You can meet the Greatest American Hero (William Katt) and BE a great American hero at the same time!"

In short, for this film it is a marriage of all three (actor, director and screenwriter) which successfully makes each character come to life on the big screen. That question would not have been answered if we did not witness it firsthand through the eyes of the director (Folino) and actor (Katt) at a film festival. So, remember you don't have to travel to Sundance or Cannes to see independent films, attend a film festival in your own backyard. We plan to attend Omaha's Film Festival again next year!

-population-we™ blog post by Becky Bohan Brown
© 2013 population-we, LLC 
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