Experiencing Interruptions?

How We Survive A Zombie Apocalypse

A documentary that follows a group of Intellectually Disabled Adults (and the people who support them) as they set out to make a film about the Zombie Apocalypse.

  • Joshua Seth Adler
    Director
  • Jason Lott
    Producer
  • Oden Roberts
    Producer
  • Andrzej Rattinger
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Drama, Horror, Feel Good
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 36 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 1, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Sony FX6
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Joshua Seth Adler

Josh received his MFA in screenwriting and directing at Columbia University where he was the William Goldman fellow (which included a mentorship with William Goldman himself). He has worked mainly as a film instructor and professor since graduating. His first film LIVING THE FANTASY (a documentary narrated by Michael Rapaport) came out in 2004.
Most importantly, he's a husband to a wife and even MORE importantly, he's a dad to an amazing 13-year-old - Lucas (who is an actor who just co-starred with Joel Edgerton in THE PLAGUE - coming out in 2025 - and he even did some camera work for me on this film here and there!)

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Director Statement

Through a fortuitous set of events that occurred in August of 2022, 7 men (5 of whom are intellectually disabled) wound up in my studio with the promise that I would teach them the basics of "how to make a film." I was scared shitless.
I spent two life-changing hours, trying my best to teach them some basics. At the end of the session, I looked at them and said, (in my obnoxious, sarcastic way) "Hey guys, why do you wanna make a film? Come on. It's really freaking hard. Do something else, guys!"
A man (Who I'd get to know over the next two years, named Christopher Daniels) looked at me and said, quite innocently, "I never see people like me in movies. I just want to look at the big screen and see people like me."
I couldn't sleep that night. I called two of my best friends (both producers in LA) and said, " Talk me out of doing this. I have no money. I have no time." They both said, "Nope. This sounds amazing. You're doing it."

This is a film that happened. It was not planned. NOTHING was planned. I learned the story as the story unfolded. It is not pretty as I never had time to set up shots. Often when I got to the facility, things were already happening, and I had to unpack my gear and just start recording. And when I did have time, I quickly made the aesthetic choice to not take my time and set up lights or manipulate the mise en scene. I never wanted the audience to feel like anything was thought out. Because nothing was thought out. I want people who watch this film to discover the story in the same way that I discovered it. When you find out shocking discoveries in this story, you are finding out LITERALLY as I found out. And what I discovered was wonderful, beautiful, sad, sweet, hysterical and life-changing for me.

People with Disabilities scared me before I embarked on this project. Shame on me. I want the world to see them as I see them now. I'll let the film speak for itself, and let you decide how you see them.