In just one week - July 7-13 - JC Films shot footage for its newest film, "The Zombie Club." Most of the filming was done at Bridgeport Middle School featuring an extensive teen cast. 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.

 

From Phoenix, Ariz., Lexi Bradley played the lead role of Madison, the head cheerleader. Lexi is well-versed in dance and community theater, but has recently transitioned into film training. Recording her first feature-length film – one featuring renowned actor Dean Cain – has been an exciting experience. “It’s been a really cool thing to do – especially finishing it in a week,” she said. “It’s been really fun and I’ve learned about filmmaking process and how it works. I felt pretty comfortable on the set and I got to meet a lot of kids. Our group got really close.” Lexi said she certainly hopes the film makes a statement and helps curtail bullying in schools. She’s very interested to see the movie once all the editing is done and the storyline comes together. Lexi is a 19-year-old student at Azusa Pacific University where she studies entertainment marketing. In the Spring semester of 2020, she will study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa.

 

A 2019 Bridgeport High School graduate, Erica Cottrill is a veteran of the stage. This was, however, her first movie experience. “It’s kind of surreal, I think. It was really a blast and I really enjoyed the cast and crew I got to work with. It was long hours and kind of stressful – but in a good way – and an experience I think that will be one of those that kind of shape me as a person and how I view things.” There were vast differences from acting on stage. “For one, when you’re in a play, you have months and months of rehearsal time. Even though you go home and do things yourself, for the most part, you get to come in and work with the director or other cast members and develop it with them over a long period of time. But with this film, we got the script and had to work out a lot of the kinks on our own before bringing them in and making quick changes according to what suited our environment or the directors. Another big difference is the lack of immediate gratification. When a stage show is over, you know whether or not the audience liked it. That’s not so with a movie project. When we were done shooting, there was no immediate gratification. We just finished telling a story, but I didn’t get to go out and meet the audience members. Also, because it’s shot out of sequence, I don’t know what the final product is going to like like. So, I guess it doesn’t feel over because I guess it’s not. Erica portrayed “Emma Reynolds.” “She is the nerd of the group; the brains; very similar to Velma on Scooby-Doo,” she said. “A lot of the other characters had a lot of other issues going on – and not that Emma didn’t – because we did learn a little about her backstory, but of all The Zombie Club members, she’s probably the most involved, particularly in what’s happening to them and their condition. She takes it upon herself to work with the professor and learn how they can stop it. She is the smartest and she’s the most equipped, especially with the powers she’s gained.” Erica said she thinks “The Zombie Club” will serve its purpose in making a not-so-subtle statement against bullying. “I think younger audiences these days are more in tune to this sort of thing and I think even some of the changes that were made during the film process will make an even bigger impact on the message.”