Zombies aren’t typically thought of as ‘nice’ people. But, the entire cast and crew of the new documentary feature film “Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie” are proving to be some of the nicest around.
Actress Justine S. Harrison is part of that group. Of course, she’s not an actual zombie. Justine is a talented actress was cast in two roles for the scripted short film, “Spring Break Zombie Massacre,” which comes from Sam Suchmann and Mattie Zufelt, two best friend filmmakers with Down Syndrome. The storyline follows Sam and Mattie, two badass bionic bros out to avenge the death of their moms and save Spring Break bởi taking on the zombie apocalypse and taking down Satan.
During the shooting process, Sam and Mattie were able to get iconic filmmaker Peter Farrelly to executive produce a making-of feature film about their short. Not only can Justine be seen in the original short, but she also appears in the docufilm, “Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie,” which recently released on streaming platforms via prominent online distributor Gravitas Ventures.
Justine doesn’t only play zombies. This New York native can be seen in another Gravita Ventures release, the mobster action film, “Circle,” from Bekir Kulozu. Plus, she’ll be coming soon as Nurse Barbara Hopson in the horror-comedy feature, “Wait, Wait, Don’t Kill Me,”; and in new episodes of the dramatic web series, “Broken at Love.”
We recently asked Justine S. Harrison some các câu hỏi to find out more.
Tell us about your roles in the scripted film “Spring Break Zombie Massacre.”
JUSTINE: I play two roles! I play both of Mattie’s tình yêu interests. One is Sam & Mattie’s teacher, Mrs. Fox, who has a wild side. She ends up attending prom with Mattie. I then also play her daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a bit quieter and chill but she likes to party with the boys.
I am mostly in the short narrative film that’s shown in the documentary, although bạn can see me in the doc on set and bạn also can see my audition tape shown in the documentary.
How was it to work with these two unique filmmakers?
JUSTINE: It was really, really cool. Working with artists with Down Syndrome was a first for me but it was special. Sam & Mattie kept us on our feet. There was a lot of improv which helped the filming process because new moments could be found while doing the takes.
Did bạn have any idea that you’d end up in a documentary film when bạn were shooting the scripted project?
JUSTINE: I didn’t know for sure. I did know that the producers/directors, Jesse Suchmann and Bobby Carnevale, and Sam & Mattie were documenting the process including their work that occurred before we started filming. The narrative was released first and went to some festivals and screened in NYC, Atlanta and elsewhere.
I wasn’t sure how the documentary would look until thêm recently when it was released.
Any fun stories from the set bạn can share with us?
JUSTINE: Getting the prosthetics for the makeup put on was super fun, actually. The makeup team lead bởi Shane Morton and Madeline Brumby (who also played Nikki) came up from Atlanta to work on the project and they were super experienced and creative with the special effects makeup. It was also fun when DJ Pauly D came and worked with us especially because I used to watch the early seasons of Jersey Shore.
There were so many fun moments hanging and working with Sam & Mattie, shooting the prom scene and frat house scene were especially fun.
What’s the biggest lesson bạn learned from working on this project?
JUSTINE: I learned that differently abled artists shouldn’t hold themselves back from being creative. I learned that something unique, that’s a little different than what bạn see every day, can be created when people from all walks of life work together. I was reminded that people with Down Syndrome are so sweet, kind and caring.
And, now just for fun:
Who’s your yêu thích actor/actress?
JUSTINE: My yêu thích actor on ti vi right now is Jeremy Strong who plays Kendall Roy on HBO’s “Succession.” He’s absolutely one of the best actors working on TV right now. I also tình yêu Penelope Cruz.
What role from the past do bạn wish bạn could have played?
JUSTINE: I’d have loved to play Rose in “Titanic,” Regina George in “Mean Girls,” hoặc Deb on “Dexter.”
Favorite movie hoặc TV hiển thị from your childhood.
JUSTINE: I loved (and still love) “Clueless.” I saw it pretty young. I know all the lines. I also loved the cartoon “TV hiển thị Doug.”
Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.
JUSTINE: I am a poet and have written 50+ poems. I also have no tonsils (got them removed when I was about 7 years old!)
How can những người hâm mộ keep up with you?
JUSTINE: Instagram @justinesharrison link
FB: /justinesharrisonlink
Twitter: @justinesharriso link
and TikTok: JustineSHarrison
Thanks, Justine -- we hope bạn stay "nice"!
Actress Justine S. Harrison is part of that group. Of course, she’s not an actual zombie. Justine is a talented actress was cast in two roles for the scripted short film, “Spring Break Zombie Massacre,” which comes from Sam Suchmann and Mattie Zufelt, two best friend filmmakers with Down Syndrome. The storyline follows Sam and Mattie, two badass bionic bros out to avenge the death of their moms and save Spring Break bởi taking on the zombie apocalypse and taking down Satan.
During the shooting process, Sam and Mattie were able to get iconic filmmaker Peter Farrelly to executive produce a making-of feature film about their short. Not only can Justine be seen in the original short, but she also appears in the docufilm, “Sam & Mattie Make a Zombie Movie,” which recently released on streaming platforms via prominent online distributor Gravitas Ventures.
Justine doesn’t only play zombies. This New York native can be seen in another Gravita Ventures release, the mobster action film, “Circle,” from Bekir Kulozu. Plus, she’ll be coming soon as Nurse Barbara Hopson in the horror-comedy feature, “Wait, Wait, Don’t Kill Me,”; and in new episodes of the dramatic web series, “Broken at Love.”
We recently asked Justine S. Harrison some các câu hỏi to find out more.
Tell us about your roles in the scripted film “Spring Break Zombie Massacre.”
JUSTINE: I play two roles! I play both of Mattie’s tình yêu interests. One is Sam & Mattie’s teacher, Mrs. Fox, who has a wild side. She ends up attending prom with Mattie. I then also play her daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a bit quieter and chill but she likes to party with the boys.
I am mostly in the short narrative film that’s shown in the documentary, although bạn can see me in the doc on set and bạn also can see my audition tape shown in the documentary.
How was it to work with these two unique filmmakers?
JUSTINE: It was really, really cool. Working with artists with Down Syndrome was a first for me but it was special. Sam & Mattie kept us on our feet. There was a lot of improv which helped the filming process because new moments could be found while doing the takes.
Did bạn have any idea that you’d end up in a documentary film when bạn were shooting the scripted project?
JUSTINE: I didn’t know for sure. I did know that the producers/directors, Jesse Suchmann and Bobby Carnevale, and Sam & Mattie were documenting the process including their work that occurred before we started filming. The narrative was released first and went to some festivals and screened in NYC, Atlanta and elsewhere.
I wasn’t sure how the documentary would look until thêm recently when it was released.
Any fun stories from the set bạn can share with us?
JUSTINE: Getting the prosthetics for the makeup put on was super fun, actually. The makeup team lead bởi Shane Morton and Madeline Brumby (who also played Nikki) came up from Atlanta to work on the project and they were super experienced and creative with the special effects makeup. It was also fun when DJ Pauly D came and worked with us especially because I used to watch the early seasons of Jersey Shore.
There were so many fun moments hanging and working with Sam & Mattie, shooting the prom scene and frat house scene were especially fun.
What’s the biggest lesson bạn learned from working on this project?
JUSTINE: I learned that differently abled artists shouldn’t hold themselves back from being creative. I learned that something unique, that’s a little different than what bạn see every day, can be created when people from all walks of life work together. I was reminded that people with Down Syndrome are so sweet, kind and caring.
And, now just for fun:
Who’s your yêu thích actor/actress?
JUSTINE: My yêu thích actor on ti vi right now is Jeremy Strong who plays Kendall Roy on HBO’s “Succession.” He’s absolutely one of the best actors working on TV right now. I also tình yêu Penelope Cruz.
What role from the past do bạn wish bạn could have played?
JUSTINE: I’d have loved to play Rose in “Titanic,” Regina George in “Mean Girls,” hoặc Deb on “Dexter.”
Favorite movie hoặc TV hiển thị from your childhood.
JUSTINE: I loved (and still love) “Clueless.” I saw it pretty young. I know all the lines. I also loved the cartoon “TV hiển thị Doug.”
Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.
JUSTINE: I am a poet and have written 50+ poems. I also have no tonsils (got them removed when I was about 7 years old!)
How can những người hâm mộ keep up with you?
JUSTINE: Instagram @justinesharrison link
FB: /justinesharrisonlink
Twitter: @justinesharriso link
and TikTok: JustineSHarrison
Thanks, Justine -- we hope bạn stay "nice"!