Already Dead

15 years after a zombie outbreak (ZE Day) Zombies live among us, working 9-5 jobs, holidaying in Barbados and living "life" to the fullest.

A documentary crew have been given exclusive access to a group of zombie's day to day "lives"

'Already Dead' asks whether we have truly come to accept zombies or are we still living in 2001?

Written and Directed by Michael James Dean and starring Darren Ruston; ALREADY
DEAD is a reflection of modern society and the prejudice and hatred that individuals struggle with each and every day.

  • Michael James Dean
    Director
    Darjeeling, Cupid
  • Michael James Dean
    Writer
    Darjeeling, Cupid, Cain Hil
  • Michael James Dean
    Producer
    Darjeeling, Cupid
  • Abdul Choudhury
    Producer
    Cupid
  • Darren Ruston
    Key Cast
    Eastenders, Wycliffe
  • Shelley Davenport
    Key Cast
  • Luke Shaw
    Key Cast
  • Tony Cook
    Key Cast
    Dark Ascension, Superman Requim
  • Andrea Newland
    Key Cast
    Doctors, The Bill
  • Adam Diggle
    Key Cast
  • Simon Bellars
    Key Cast
  • Jamie Montgomery
    Crew
  • Ricky J Payne
    Crew
  • Elloise India Willett
    Crew
  • Nina Igbino
    Crew
  • Ed Harris
    Crew
  • Filipe Pereira
    Crew
  • Lucy Noble
    Crew
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Horror, Documentary
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 3, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    300 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • FilmQuest Festival
    Sandy, Utah
    United States
    June 20, 2016
    USA Premiere
Director Biography - Michael James Dean

Michael is an award winning Writer and Director working in Film (Short and Feature), TV and Online content.

Michael’s first play ONE ON ONE premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008 produced by Andy Jordan followed closely in 2010 by Michael’s second play RED BETRAYAL a story about communist Russia during Stalin’s rule produced by 4Front Performance Company and directed by award winning director Darren A. Furniss.

In 2013 Michael founded POSH DINOSAUR PRODUCTIONS creating new and original content for Film, TV and Online media. Since Michael launched the company, it has gone from strength to strength. Michael’s first short film DARJEELING (2013) was selected for the Top Shorts Film Festival and the Los Angeles Cinefest.

In 2015 Michael wrote, directed and starred in original comedy web series CUPID (2015). The series was an official selection at ten international festivals picking up four nominations including Best Comedic Writing (Miami Web Fest 2015), Promising UK Web Series (UK Web Fest 2015) and Winning Best Web Series (Digitalmation Awards May 2015).

Michael’s latest short film ALREADY DEAD (2016) a short mockumentary about a group of recovering zombies. The film explores the social prejudices towards migrants, refugees, race and religion using a well-known and loved genre. The trailer has already won the Awardeo Trailer of the Week at a screening of the film audiences described the film as “Entertaining, Though-provoking & Original” The film will begin a festival tour in 2016.

Michael is currently developing three feature scripts including a full-length version of ALREADY DEAD and Horror Feature A LONG WEEKEND. Michael is also developing his award winning web series CUPID into a full series and has completed two comedy pilot scripts; PURLEY GATES a comedy/drama about two brothers who own a funeral home and a forced to find new business by committing murder and GAME OVER about a group of misfits who run a failing retro video game store, who will stop at nothing to make the business succeed.

Michael continues to write short films and sketch comedy further developing his repertoire, skill and he hopes to contribute to the commercial sector with his short form screenwriting.

Michael has a distinct style; creating pieces that encourage you to laugh one moment and cry the next. A raw talent Michael creates characters that are unique, exciting and entertaining. He continues to drive his career forward with a drive and passion to produce high quality work that entertains and educates.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Like many of my ideas they stem from an image, an article or a character. In this case it was a Zombie eating a bowl of brains. Initially intended as a competition entry the idea quickly evolved into a mockumentary with a deeper meaning, finally becoming what it is today.

wanted to give my take on the Zombie genre. I’ve seen many different takes on the genre over the years, from the gruesome to the romantic and I wanted to explore what it would be like to see a set of zombies living their lives in our world and how they would interact and integrate into today's society.

Hatred and prejudice towards race, religion, sexuality and gender are all strong subjects in today’s society. Thanks to the Internet it has become far easier for those to spread a message of hatred to the masses. 'Already Dead' is about a group of individuals struggling to live in a world that is unable to accept them for more than what they can see, victimised because of main stream media and misrepresented stereotypes.

The film also touches on the idea of the undead being a disease, one that the individuals have to maintain and battle with in their daily lives. I myself have experience first-hand how many forms of disease can destroy lives, both for the victim and others around them. Many of the themes are based on my personal interactions with alcoholism and the struggle that recovering alcoholics have to fight through each and every day. Much like those who are abused because of their race, religion, gender or sexuality; alcoholics are stereotyped. However the reality of the situation is they are coping with a serious mental addiction.

My hope is that Already Dead will entertain and make my audience laugh at a much loved genre but at the same time I hope that some will enjoy the deeper ideas behind this short.