We asked him questions, and this is what Jim had to say...

 ZombiesDrule -  How did this film come about?
 Jim Townsend- Well, it wasn't easy. After growing up in New York and working in TV news and film production for several years, I moved to Richmond, Virginia with my wife and son. I was talking to the next door neighbors and telling them about my background and they suggested I make a movie at their friend's winery. So I went out to Grayhaven Winery in nearby Gum Spring, Virginia to check it out. It had many indoor and outdoor sets and the owners, Max Peple-Abrams and Deon Abrams couldn't have been nicer. So I wrote a script to suit the available locations.

ZD-What were some of the difficulties faced in shooting the movie?
 Jim- The biggest obstacle was time. I couldn't afford to pay the actors so I was worried they would quit after they got bored or took another job. However, they were troopers and stuck it out to the bitter end. There was also the weather. We had a drought during filming and all outdoor fires were banned in Virginia. So we had to postpone the fire scene until the following February. Naturally it rained all day and night when we tried to shoot and couldn't get the fire going. You have to admire that kind of irony. Finally, we shot the climactic scenes the following July.
 
ZD- How was it funded?
 Jim- I funded the movie with a $30,000 second mortgage on my house. You can help me pay it off by buying a few copies at: www.attackoftheveganzombies.com.

ZD-How did you find the location? cast?
 Jim- It was filmed in and around Richmond, Virginia. The primary location was Grayhaven Winery in Gum Spring, Virginia. A terrific Casting Director named Shannon Cain took pity on me and agreed to cast the film for me. She brought in two or three people per part and we cast everyone in a week or two.

ZD- People seem to think it's easy to make a zombie movie, what advice can you give them?
Jim-I think zombie movies are a little easier to make because they don't take themselves too seriously, but it's not easy to make any film. The devil is in the details. If you're trying to make a zombie movie, make the movie you want to make. That way, the project stays fun.

ZD- When will this movie be out?
Jim- "Attack of the Vegan Zombies!" is available on Amazon.com or much cheaper (and signed by me) at www.attackoftheveganzombies.com. I even put a dollar bill in every DVD case.

ZD- What is your most memorable moment of the production?
Jim- My most memorable moment of the production is the feeling I had after we shot the last scene. It felt great to finish my first feature.

ZD- What is your favorite part of the movie?
Jim- My favorite part of the movie is when my character Joe races down to the Tap Room and confronts a zombie. They struggle, he gets knocked down and his wife rescues him. There are three good lines in that scene.

ZD- What is your recipe for edible intestines?
Jim- Intestines don't need a recipe. They're good any way you eat them.

ZD- What is your weapon of choice for taking on zombies?
You can't beat a machete for killing zombies. It's always fatal and you never run out of ammo.

ZD- How long do you think it'd take you to turn?
Jim- It would take me a long time to turn. I'm a slacker so the original wake up would be slow.

ZD- What is next for you? What will your next movie be?
Jim-I don't know what is next for me. I can't find a distributor willing to buy "Attack of the Vegan Zombies!" and I'm only selling a few on my website. I guess I better hang on to my day job.

ZD- What is your favourite Zombie Film?
Jim- My favorite zombie film is The White Zombie with Bela Lugosi. I can't pick the worst zombie movie. There's too many. By the time you finish this sentence there will be another one.

ZD- Favorite Zombie Book or Game?
While I haven't read it yet, I admire the marketing skill behind "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" - genius.

ZD- Final Say?
Jim- I hope you all know I'm offering a special deal on www.attackoftheveganzombies.com. Buy the 9.99 edition and I'll sign it for free and put a one dollar bill in the DVD jacket before I mail it. Make me regret it, zombie freaks... tweat your friends about me and spread the disease.

Jim Townsend
Writer/Director