Not-so-live in the Studio: Examining ‘The Walking Dead’ at ACMI
HEADS up, zombie apocalypse fans. The living dead will soon rise from their grave and invade the city of Melbourne, this summer only at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Regina Karis has all the gory details.
The Walking Dead Season 1 cast. From left: Emma Bell, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Wayne Callies, Andrew Lincoln, and Laurie Holden. Photo: AMCtv
This February, ACMI’s popular television appreciation night Live in the Studio returns with Not-so-live in the Studio: Examining The Walking Dead.
Based on a renowned comic book series of the same name, The Walking Dead is an American television drama/horror series following the life and times of Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), a police officer, after he wakes up from a coma to find the world dominated by blood-thirsty, flesh-hungry “walkers”. Much of the plot of The Walking Dead focuses on the dilemmas Grimes and the group of survivors he leads have to deal with in the face of the zombie outbreak.
Back in 2010, ACMI celebrated the resurgence of the zombie fandom with a sold out Live in the Studio event, Dead Set: Zombie TV, a night that left fans of the undead desperately wanting more.
A glimpse into the zombie action in The Walking Dead. Photo: Scott Garfield @ TWD Productions LLC. for AMCtv
This year, the panel discussion is sure to be even more engrossing as ACMI has invited Australian broadcaster, writer, blogger and comedian Paul Verhoeven, Melbourne-based comedian and writer Luke Ryan, and Hollywood cinema and digital media specialist Angela Ndalianis.
These three TV enthusiasts will examine why the undead remains popular with today’s audience and why The Walking Dead, for all of its dramatic, at times soapy, look at a post-apocalyptic world overrun by undead ‘walkers’, remains one of the world’s most compelling zombie television series.
Not-so-Live in the Studio: Examining The Walking Deadwill be held at Studio 1, ACMI, Federation Square, starting from 7 pm on Thursday, February 28. The event is rated Unclassified 15+ and tickets are $15 for general entry, $12 for concession and $11 for ACMI members. For more information and to book, call 03 8663 2583 or visit www.acmi.net.au.