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How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse - Season One

Part "Walking Dead," part "Hunger Games." This web series is the next evolution of zombies.

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How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse - Season One

How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse - Season One

How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse - Season One

How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse - Season One

How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse - Season One

Part "Walking Dead," part "Hunger Games." This web series is the next evolution of zombies.

Part "Walking Dead," part "Hunger Games." This web series is the next evolution of zombies.

Part "Walking Dead," part "Hunger Games." This web series is the next evolution of zombies.

Part "Walking Dead," part "Hunger Games." This web series is the next evolution of zombies.

Justin M. Lesniewski
Justin M. Lesniewski
Justin M. Lesniewski
Justin M. Lesniewski
2 Campaigns |
Los Angeles, United States
$4,321 USD 62 backers
43% of $10,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects

Watch our pitch video now:


Ten years after the zombie apocalypse was supposedly averted, a new outbreak causes 18-year-old Norm Elman to learn the frightening truth of both the zombie threat and the safe haven that has kept him and others alive.

His father Dr. Elman clearly knows something. Why else would he release his zombie test-subjects? We know the answer, but we'll never tell...

...unless our campaign is successful.

You see, we're a completely independent operation. One sunny afternoon in August, our writer, Justin, sat down for lunch with our director, Stewart, and asked:

"Are you going to eat that?" And also: "Do you want to direct the pilot for a web series idea I have?" 

After reading the script for the first episode and outline for the first season, Stewart agreed. The pair brought Hannah onto the team to executive produce, and they all got to work.  

Five months later, we're here with no studio backing, no distributor deal, and no investor agreement. We only have our vision, our first episode, and you.

If you're a fan of the zombie genre, web series, or high quality storytelling in general, ask yourself:

Don't you want to learn How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?

Completely out-of-pocket, we produced the first episode for about $7,000. Every penny went to production costs:

  • Cast Payments
  • Crew Payments (Camera, Sound, Lighting, Makeup, Art, etc)
  • Locations
  • Wardrobe
  • Props
  • Set Dressing
  • Food

It's important to note that the cast and crew worked for discounted rates, Stewart directed for nothing at all, and Justin and Hannah took losses to produce the first episode. Why would everyone agree to those deals? Because they believe in the project. And now we have a product that vindicates their belief.

...but we can do better.

Ideally, we'd like to increase our budget for each episode by about $3,000 - $5,000 so we can:

  • Include more gore
  • Shoot in better and outdoor locations
  • Dress the cast and set more intricately
  • Pay the cast, crew, and Stewart what they're worth

That's it. We're asking for $10,000 so we can make one more episode, and the money you generously pledge won't be going anywhere else besides making the above list happen (and the 5% fee IndieGoGo collects and the cost of purchasing and shipping your rewards).



Our basic approach is to tell the best story possible in order to inspire you, the audience, to share our series with everyone you know. We have a YouTube channel setup and we'll co-release the episodes on PulpEpic.com, an awesome go-to site for Geek & Genre.

Step One was producing the first episode.
Step Two is this crowdfunding campaign.
Step Three is to produce as many episodes as we can using the money we raise. 
Ten thousand is the absolute minimum we need to produce another episode. Ideally, we'd raise enough to create nine more episodes for a ten episode first season.

Step Four is to release the episodes on YouTube and PulpEpic.

What happens after Step Four? Who knows. Maybe we'll catch the eye of a production company or online distributor. Or maybe we'll be successful enough to start our own production company. Whatever the case, it will not have been successful without you.

And we'll never forget that fact.

Besides seeing the rest of the season to find out why Dr. Elman released the zombies and the rewards we're offering (bottle caps, t-shirts, the chance to be an extra, zombie, or producer, etc), by supporting our series you'll be a part of our team. For real.

With a donation at any level you'll become a member of our Survival Squad. You'll see episodes and promotional materials before anyone else, receive exclusive discounts on merchandise, and be offered opportunities to interact and meet up with our cast and crew for as long as our series is being produced.
In other words, we know we wouldn't be able to survive without you, so you'll be as much of a part of the team as any of us are.

Cast

Tyler's most recent credits include There is Many Like Us, Mule Kids, and More of Last Night. His favorite zombie movie is Zombieland, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Beth.

Patrick 's appearances include 7th Heaven, General Hospital, a recurring role on Just Shoot Me, and a recurring sketch player role on G4's Attack of the Show. His favorite zombie movie is Zombieland, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Maggie.

Xango has appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm alongside Jerry Seinfeld, Chuck, House of Lies, and Snoop Dogg's Malice N Wonderland. He also owns a fitness program called "Diamond Fitness Training" and belongs to the Professional Kickboxing Association. His favorite zombie movie is Night of the Living Dead, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Rick.

Wyntergrace is a New-York-City-born and Connecticut-bred actress and dancer who has appeared in numerous theatrical, commercial, short, independent, television, and web productions. Her favorite zombie movie is Zombieland, and her favorite The Walking Dead character is Rick.

Leah is a triple threat performer and content creator best known for her award winning musical series Destroy the Alpha Gammas, for which she became a Webby Honoree and a Streamy Award Nominee. Her favorite zombie movie is 28 Days Later, and her favorite The Walking Dead character is Daryl.

Martin appeared in the short film People from LA Aren’t From LA as well as commercials for Netflix and Famous Footwear. His favorite zombie movie is Zombieland, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Daryl.

Bear currently appears in Season 2 of Aim High and Black Jesus on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. He also directed the short film Cyber Mac, which was the winner of the Best Short Film at the 2014 Mockfest Film Festival in Los Angeles. His favorite zombie movie is Zombieland, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Michonne.

Crew

Justin is a writer, tutor, and podcaster working toward becoming a television creator and showrunner. His credits include Research Assistant on Atlas Shrugged Part 2 and Second Second Assistant Director on Such Good People. You can listen to his podcast Welcome to The Midside on his site TheMidside.com and PulpEpic. His favorite zombie movie is Dawn of the Dead directed by Zack Snyder, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Glenn.

Stewart is an award winning independent writer/director. In 2006 he was named one of Outfest's “Five in Focus” filmmakers chosen as “the next wave of hot new talent” for his feature debut Coffee Date. The film won numerous festival awards and received a theatrical release. Most recently, he directed and co-produced screwball comedy Such Good People which is currently on the festival circuit. His favorite zombie novel is Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory, and his favorite The Walking Dead character is Michonne.

Hannah is a marketing design specialist and a classically trained Filipina soprano. A combination of fresh brand design and entrepreneurial skill enable her to assist clients from a variety of industries to fulfill their marketing objectives. She has performed and competed in opera and musical theater throughout Orange County, CA and the United States, even reaching Carnegie Hall. Her favorite zombie movie is 28 Weeks Later directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, and her favorite The Walking Dead character is Maggie.

Thanks for learning about How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

Consider helping us survive by pledging for a reward today. We'll only be successful with your help. (Yes, you!) The minute it looks like we have the funds to make the next episode, we'll start setting up the production. 

And if you're unable to pledge, but like what you see, please share our first episode and this project with as many people as possible. The only way we can survive is together.

...or is it?


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Choose your Perk

How to Join Our Survival Squad

$1 USD
Welcome to our zombie apocalypse survival team! Early access to episodes and promo materials, exclusive discounts on merch, and opportunities to interact with our cast and crew *for the length of our series.*
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
2 claimed

How to Collect a Bottle Cap

$5 USD
Break the rules like Norm by collecting a bottle cap emblazoned with our official logo. You'll also join our Survival Squad.
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
3 claimed

How to Stick and Pin

$15 USD
Show your love for the series with a "How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse" logo sticker and button. [Plus everything at the $5 level.]
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
1 claimed

How to Be a Part of the Story

$25 USD
We'll put your name in a scene--whether it's scratched into a wall, on a list of the dead, carved into a building, etc. [Plus everything at the $15 level.]
Estimated Shipping
December 2015
14 claimed

How to Voice a Zombie

$40 USD
SUPPLY RUN SALE: Want to be in the web series but can't make it to Los Angeles? Record your best zombie growl and we'll include it in the series. [Plus everything at the $40 level.]
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
1 out of 50 of claimed

How to Look Good

$40 USD
An exclusive t-shirt only available during this campaign. It's important to look good while killing zombies. [Plus everything at the $25 level.]
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
5 claimed

How to Stay Warm

$75 USD
An exclusive hoodie only available during this campaign. It's important to stay warm during the zombie apocalypse. [Plus everything at the $25 level.]
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
2 claimed

How to Make a Weapon

$75 USD
SUPPLY RUN SALE: Work with our production designer to create a weapon that will appear on-screen. [Plus everything at the $40 level; weapon appearance subject to budgetary constraints and producer approval.]
Estimated Shipping
September 2015
1 out of 50 of claimed

How to Design a Zombie Kill

$75 USD
SUPPLY RUN SALE: Work with the production team to decide how a zombie is dispensed of and by which character. [Plus everything at the $40 level; kill appearance subject to budgetary constraints and producer approval.]
Estimated Shipping
September 2015
0 out of 50 of claimed

How to Associate Produce

$100 USD
Always wanted to be a Hollywood big shot? This is not your chance. But you *can* be an Associate Producer on our series and find your name on our website and in the credits at the end of *every episode.* [Plus everything at the $40 level.]
Estimated Shipping
December 2015
5 out of 100 of claimed

How to Visit the Set

$100 USD
SUPPLY RUN SALE: Stop on by when we're filming to see some behind-the-scenes zombie madness and meet the cast and crew. [Plus everything at the $40 level; travel not included.]
1 claimed

How to Become a Zombie Kill

$125 USD
SUPPLY RUN SALE: Instead of dreaming of being a zombie, have you dreamed of being killed by one? If you can make your way to Los Angeles for filming, we'll put you in the series as zombie food. [Plus everything at the $40 level; travel not included.]
Estimated Shipping
September 2015
0 out of 50 of claimed

How to Become a Zombie

$125 USD
SUPPLY RUN SALE: Always wanted to be a zombie? Here's your chance. If you can make your way to Los Angeles for filming, we'll put you in the series as a zombie. [Plus everything at the $75 level; travel not included.]
Estimated Shipping
September 2015
0 out of 50 of claimed

How to Be a Podcast Guest

$350 USD
We'll invite you to be a guest on the Welcome to the Midside podcast, You can plug your project, business, or anything you want. Or you can just grill Justin about his love of Zack Snyder. [Plus everything at the $200 level; travel not included]
Estimated Shipping
April 2015
0 out of 20 of claimed

How to Be a Producer

$500 USD
We can't thank you enough, but we'll try! You'll be named a producer on the series and be listed as such everywhere we can list you. [Plus everything at the $200 level, one reward at the $250 level, and one reward at the $150 level; travel not included.]
Estimated Shipping
November 2015
1 out of 20 of claimed
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