Filmmakers in a Biting Match Over the Title Zombie
Hindustan Times
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Luke-Kenny-s-Zombie-movie-in-title-row/Article1-797446.aspx
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So what’s in a name? A lot it seems if said moniker of choice happens to be Zombie. Two filmmakers. One title. Whoever wins, we’re sure both will pale in comparison to Lucio Fulci’s Zombie. Read on for the details of this little name game.
According to the Hindustan Times, Rock On!! actor Luke Kenny’s directorial venture, titled Zombie, has run into trouble since another production company claims that they have already registered the same title. Producer Siddhartha Jain of iRock Media, who is producing director Navdeep Singh’s Rock the Shaadi, another zombie flick, insists he won’t allow Kenny’s film to release without his permission.
“I was surprised to learn that Luke Kenny was making a film called Zombie. I own the title so I don’t know how he could have picked it up,” says Siddhartha, who had co-produced Ragini MMS (2011) earlier. “Only if I sign a No Objection Certificate (NOC) can Luke release his Zombie.”
In terms of whether or not this dispute will head to court, Siddhartha says, “I don’t have to take any action. If Luke tries to release the film, he will have to inform the producer’s guild first, and they will point out to him that he can’t release the film under a title that I own.”
On his part, Luke is trying to resolve the issue, “I’ve just found out that iRock owns the title. I’d like to sort out the matter amicably.”
Director Navdeep Singh, who made his directorial debut with Manorama Six Feet Under, is also busy with a zombie flick, Rock the Shaadi, starring Abhay Deol and Genelia D’Souza, under the banner of iRock. He admits that zombie movies are a Western concept but plans to Indianise it so people can connect with these creatures that inhabit the twilight zone.
Says Navdeep, “George Romero’s zombie films, like Deadtime Stories, define the genre. But Rock the Shaadi is not inspired by this series. It’s a rom-com that unfolds against the backdrop of a Punjabi-meets-zombie wedding.”
Kenny says he has planned two sequels even before the release of the movie. “I am confident about the story. It is a story which has to be said in three parts. It has all the potential of a trilogy,” Luke told reporters at the launch of his film in India.
He assures that the film will neither be a zombie comedy nor a zombie survival series; rather, it will be the journey of transformation and origin of zombie genre.
“The film is a zombie origin film. Indian audience will empathise with the journey of a human being as he is faced with a seemingly insurmountable predicament,” said the actor-director, who plays a photographer in the movie.
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