Meet the Teen Cast of "The Zombie Club," Part Two
By Julie Perine on July 19, 2019
They aren’t the stars of the film, but the group of kids interviewed in today’s “Meet the Teen Cast of The Zombie Club” take ownership in the film and are proud of the work that has been done. The JC Films project was shot here in Bridgeport July 8-13, predominantly at Bridgeport Middle School. Each of these teens were interviewed during their downtime while sitting in the BMS cafeteria. Each of the two tables approached were filled with kids who did not know each other before the film process started. Already, the movie has achieved milestones. It is currently in the editing process.
From Enterprise, Alex Looman is a 16-year-old Lincoln High School student who was interested in “The Zombie Club” from the get-go.
“I was an actor before this and heard about it and said ‘hey, I’m doing it,’” he said.
Though he has acted in theater and movie productions, “The Zombie Club” is a first in many respects.
“It’s been pretty interesting,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interaction between actors and there are different themes that no other movie has put together before and that makes it something special.”
Denis Higgins rocked a yellow mohawk even before he was cast in the punk group of “The Zombie Club.”
“I’ve worn it like this on and off since Kindergarten,” said the Richfield, Utah native who has lived in Bridgeport for the past decade or so.
A 13-year-old student at Bridgeport Middle School, Higgins said acting is a brand-new experience for him. He has enjoyed the process, but said it would have been even better if the air conditioning was working at BMS, where most of the movie was filmed.
The fact that the movie features so many stereotypical friend groups – preps, geeks, jocks, punks and goths – is key in the movie’s message, Denis believes.
“It might be a little exaggerated, but having such adverse group shows that kids can get along and work together no mater what,” he said.
“The Zombie Club” gave Zoe Dorst of Charleston the opportunity to act in her first movie. The experience also landed her new friendships from across the state and enabled her to be part of an important message.
“When I heard the movie was about antibullying, I wanted to help get that message out there – the message to be friends, not bullies,” she said.
Though her first film, Zoe has acted in community theater productions since she was just a toddler. She plays an extra in the current JC Films production.
A junior at Robert C. Byrd High School, Jackson Meadows is active in school theater. He thought a movie “would be a good career starter.”
But there was more to his motivation to be part of the cast.
“I really do like the anti-bullying message,” he said. “It’s really good word to spread. Not many movies or productions spread that message like they should.”
The weeklong filming process was a good experience. There was a lot of waiting around, but that gave Jackson time to make new friends and engage in some good conversation.
Though his part was small, he said he would “do it again in a heartbeat.”
Dominick Secreto came from Morgantown to be part of “The Zombie Club.”
“I wanted to be part of this film because I’ve been bullied at school before, so I know what it’s like,” he said. “I wanted to take a stand.”
Dominick heard about “The Zombie Club” from Levi Wolfe, who is part of the core teen cast.
His role is “Zombie Teen 67” in the movie which features, among other actors, Timothy Goodwin, Michael Sigler and Gary Lee Vincent.
This isn’t the first time Dominick has appeared in a movie with those actors. He was in “Loophole,” a faith-based science fiction series filmed in Morgantown in 2016.
Abby Hipshire has made four roundtrip three-hour commutes to be part of “The Zombie Club.” The Wayne County resident said she, too, has been a victim of bullying and is tired of seeing people treated so badly by their school peers.
So, she traveled to Bridgeport to audition for the film, made a second road trip for callbacks, then two trips for filming.
She is an extra in the film, playing “Zombie Teen 41.” Abby, too, has made “some awesome friends” during the process.
See lots of Ben Queen photos of the filming, including film star Dean Cain HERE. Read more about "The Zombie Club" HERE.
In the lead role of science geek Emma Reynolds is Erica Cottrill, a 2019 graduate of Bridgeport High School, and in the lead role of gothic Rita Lands is Jordan Kennedy-Rea, a rising BHS senior. Portraying other lead characters are Franco Maicas as athletic jock Justin Hershog, Levi Wolfe as hippie student Brad Stadder, Lexi Bradley as cheerleader Madison Carter and Alec Miller as computer gamer Alex Butler. Playing the BMS principal is renowned actor Dean Cain.
Read the first installment of "Meet the Teen Cast of The Zombie Club" featuring Lexi Bradley, Erica Cottrill and Maize Christie HERE.
Another story, featuring the remaining lead actors, is forthcoming on Connect-Bridgeport.
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