June 17, 2005
TARANTINO DUE HERE FOR ROMERO OPENING
By Barbara Vancheri
Some famous fanboys are coming to Pittsburgh to pay homage to horrormeister George A. Romero and see his new zombie movie, "Land of the Dead."
Quentin Tarantino, whose distinctive style of moviemaking spawned its own adjective ("Tarantino-esque"), is planning to attend Wednesday's screening at the Byham Theater, Downtown. "Shaun of the Dead" director-writer Edgar Wright and writer-actor Simon Pegg are scheduled to fly in from London. Both apparently filmed cameos for "Land of the Dead."
Romero and his wife, Christine, will be joined on the red carpet by, among others, Greg Nicotero, Tom Atkins, Bill Cardille, Lori Cardille, Tom Savini, Russ Streiner and Joseph Pilato, all of whom have connections to Romero movies.
A limited number of student tickets to see the film are now available for $20.
To order, call 412-456-6666 and be prepared to produce student I.D. (Pittsburgh Filmmakers students included) at the box office.
Otherwise, tickets are: $50 for the movie, which is rated R and starts at 7:30 p.m.; $85 for the movie, a party after at Deja Vu Lounge and parking; $175 for the movie, parties before (Cafe Euro) and after, plus parking; and $1,000 for four tickets, parking, admission to both parties, plus a sponsorship listing in the event program. For $50 or $85 tickets, call 412-456-6666. For others, 412-894-8909.
At the Cafe Euro party, a silent auction will feature replicas of "Land of the Dead" props (the originals are a little too bloody and dirty to sell) along with donations from previous "Dead" movies.
Everyone attending the movie will receive a small poster, and Steeltown Entertainment Project will announce early details of a screenwriting competition that night. Proceeds from the auction and other events will benefit that competition and a series of public workshops on the film business.
For information, go to www.steeltownentertainment.org.