awn of the Dead. Simply the title brings back wonderous zombie memories. George Romero, Tom Savini, and a cast of characters that breathed life into a series of movies that became instant classics.

These zombies were real to us -- they had distinct personalities, spoke, remembered their favorite things -- we knew them. And one of the very first to make that distinct impression on us was Machete Zombie. Leonard Lies played this memorable zombie and took time out to talk with us.

Hi Leonard! Thanks a lot for taking time out for this interview.

Hi Val! It is definitely my pleasure.

Question: "Machete Zombie" -- now that seems like a darn cool name to go by. You were working as a grip for George Romero during the Dawn of the Dead shooting? How did you first get involved with the project as a grip?

Leonard: Machete Zombie is one of a kind. I quickly realized that as I began to hit the Horror Convention circuit. As a child I always wanted to be a famous monster. Like a lot of boys at that time I was a big fan of Famous Monsters of Film Land Magazine. That's where it all started.

As an 11 or 12 year old I was a huge fan of Night of the Living Dead. I remember watching it and thinking how I'd like to play a zombie...you know the kind of fantasy you play in your head when you're a kid sitting in the movie theater.

While in college, attending film school and shooting all the 16mm film I could get my hands on, I read in the newspaper that George Romero was preparing to direct Dawn of the Dead. The next morning, with resume in hand I boarded a streetcar went into downtown Pittsburgh. Holding my breath I entered the building where Dawn's administrative headquarters were. I waited impatiently for an elevator hopped on and went up...sorry I forget the floor number. The doors opened. I bolted into an open office area, but no one was there. Then this tall guy comes into frame so to speak. I walk up to him quickly, hand him my resume and start to walk away muttering something like, will you give my resume to Mr. Romero and I start to leave. The man, who is George, says, something like, hey man, I'm George and he puts his hand out to shake mine. I feel silly, going oh..hi! I'm Leonard Lies. He says, have a seat and we can talk. I'm like, yeah..that would be great.

I'm nervous out of my ass and completely thrilled alll at once. I remember the smell of the office...even now like embalming fluid mixed with mint. Sounds strange but that's what I remember. So we talk for about 5 or 10 minutes and when I walk out of the office, little did I know, but I was hired as a grip. I felt like I had connected with George who appreciated the fact that I had made several student films in 16mm. About two weeks later I was gripping and loving every minute of it. Relishing every inch of my duties.

How did the transformation come about to the infamous Machete Zombie?

Leonard: The film started production in November of 1977 and wrapped in February of 1978. We were shooting some 3 a.m. set-ups in Pittsburgh's Monroeville Mall when we had a brief lull. I'm starting to realize that other grips and PAs [production assistants] are getting into the film as Zombies...lesser known of course...and bikers.

So I walk over to George who is quietly pondering the script. I say something like, Excuse me George I'd like to play a zombie...something memorable. George being his very spontaneous self..says, Yeah..Okay man..go upstairs and see what they have.

Upstairs was the community room in the mall where actors had make up applied and where people congregated or supplies and equipment were kept when not in use. Essentially it was the central nervous system for the film when we were on location at the Monroeville mall. I go up stairs and start talking with John Amplas, who played the lead in George Romero's Martin...the Vampire, and in DOTD he played, it seemed about a thousand bikers, zombies.

John says, I'm burned out, turns and picks up a machete from the table, and hands it to me. I just about die with happiness. I'm thinking perfect!!! A groove was cut in the blade to fit his head, and so it felt a bit spiky on my own cranium. But I didn't care. The next night, just about 24 hours later at about 3 a.m. I'm talking over the scene with Mr. Gore, Tom Savini.

So here's what happens. I'm zombieing through the mall. Tom Savini, Mr. Gore is driving by me on a motorcycle. (You have to realize that I was then and am still now of course very near sighted) I'm not wearing my glasses.) Okay, so I half lunge at Tom going past me and knock him off the motorcycle. He's extremely pissed. He runs across the floor and drop kicks me and knocks me flying on my back. I start to bend back up. He moves to within inches of me. I grab him by his leg sensing a delicious morsel within my grasp. Then he, still very pissed, pulls the machete out of its sheath, says, Say Good bye Creep! and drives the machete into my skull. The make up assistant sprawled on the floor behind me starts pumping a caulking gun with a tube of blood attached to it. The container of blood is connected to a long plastic tube matted in my hair. And before you know it blood is apparently spewing from my brain. Two machetes were used of course. When Savini swings the machete he stops just inches from my head. Camera then stops rolling. Then the blade with the cut in it is placed in my head. When camera begins to roll again Savini pulls the machete out. Using reverse printing and cutting the two shots together it looks like I've bought it.!!

Of course all horror fans worth their undead I.Q. see DOTD as an absolute classic. Did you all have a sense of its possible future place in horrordom history while you were working on it?

Leonard: I don't think while a film is happening you think of it as a classic. Because you're so inside of the illusion, you can't see it edited or brought to completion, but from the perspective of someone who crewed from the beginning to the end..I would say at about the half way point, when we were filming inside the Monroeville Mall in Pittsburgh, there was a feeling this film was going to make people pay attention.

Say you had some free time, although with your own production company I know this is probably pie in the sky, but if you did, which of the following sounds best - sleep like the dead, read a book, watch TV, hit the movies, something else?

Leonard: I would love to sleep, like the dead, for about 24 hours, then read five or six great books, ie, Crichton's Timeline, Harris' Hannibal, Red Dragon. Something I could really sink my mind and teeth into. Then check out about six or seven films. Love making is high on the list too. Hiking for a few days with only the basics with my family. We rent a cabin once a year for a few days to get away so that definitely gets me rejuvenated. TV...what a wasteland...not all of it, but nearly.

You mentioned before that a good number of the DOTD cast has remained in contact but you were searching for one alum, Ted I think? Give us the details, we'll put out a Really Scary APB for you!

Leonard: He evidently doesn't want to be found. So that's that.

In your death scene it looks like we might get the very first zombie talkie but you're silenced ahead of your time. Were you about to utter the first undead words? Any lingering Bub resentment for stealing your zombie talkie thunder in a later Dead flick?

Leonard: I just want to play another zombie in a George Romero film!!! Period. Silent or with sound. It doesn't matter. I've got a great zombie in mind. He's intense and ruthless, but kool.

Can you tell us about Dream Catchers Films and what you've got coming up?

Leonard: Dream Catchers is really about changing perceptions..the way people think in a real and tangible way. More than anything I want to get Chains of Power in Production this year...2002. It's a powerful drama about psychiatric survivors leaving state hospitals and trying to return to the 'normal' world of taxes, racism, and hi-tech bottom feeders. I'm talking with some investors presently and just sent the script to a casting agency for some feedback. Yeah...I'm chomping at the bit to get it rolling.

Also, The fabulous Adventures of MR. Buckethead. Mr. Buckethead is a live action super hero for kids. He's a combination of Monty Python, James Bond and Dragon Ball Z. all rolled into one. We, Alex Strang the creator, and I have a Mr. Buckethead comic that will be out in about a month. To be fair I think folks should check our 'future visions' section on my web site to get a taste of Dream Catchers because there is too much to answer here. Please let folks know about the Machete Zombie page. [Click the MZ letters in the bottom left corner of the distribution section]. It's a lot of fun replete with flying machete and sound effects. www.dreamcatchersfilmsinc.com

Will Dream Catchers work in the horror genre? Any horror projects you're working on now?

Leonard: I'd consider producing a horror film if it wasn't a rehash of everything that had already been filmed. Something that was hands on and not software dependent. I'm working on a sci-fi horror script, but it's too soon to discuss.

What's more challenging, in front of the camera or behind it?

Leonard: I find behind the camera is more challenging because you have to be aware of everything...lighting, composition, continuity, delivery of actors words, people's moods, personalities, time of day, unions...da...da..da... Even on smaller films you always need to make constant choices and be on your toes all the time....Though I LOVE it all! Being on camera is usually fun. I just have to react to what I'm told to do. Truth is I'm not an actor so when I'm performing there's no pressure.

You mentioned the possibility of some official Dawn of the Dead action figures. Can you tell us how that's going?

Leonard: I keep hearing about DOTD figures, but have not seen any new ones yet. I promise to let you know when they are released. I hope to have a machete zombie figure of my own in the next year. A local artist, aka fly boy is creating the sculpture. More to come soon.

What's your favorite memory of making Dawn of the Dead?

Leonard: My favorite feeling from Dawn of the Dead was whenever we needed a piece of equipment from another part of the mall we were all at different times asked to get it. It was a long haul from point a to point b. I loved to run..especially then. I would dash from one part of the building to the other to get the equipment. I mean a full out and out sprint. Getting to do what wasn't allowed while making my dream, horror film.