Bill Hinzman, First Zombie from Night of the Living Dead and more

Carl Kurlander wrote this great piece for Community Voices about Bill Hinzman, the “first zombie” of Night of the Living Dead.

Bill Hinzman passed away earlier this month, leaving behind quite a legacy in Pittsburgh. Best known by some for playing the first zombie to appear in the classic 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, Bill was loved by fans for his eagerness to show up to all sorts of horror film events and conventions, dress in costume, and tell stories. But I first met Bill in 2002 when I first came back from L.A. to teach at the University of Pittsburgh at a gathering which I will never forget on Halloween night where he and some of the other cast and crew had graciously agreed to speak to students of a new club called "Pitt In Hollywood" that I was faculty advisor for. 

Truth be told, I had never seen the Night of the Living Dead when growing up as I was afraid of scary movies. I, like the makers of Night of the Living Dead, had watched Chilly Billy Cardille on the local NBC. And my mother actually appeared in one of George Romero's movies, Hungry Wives (which I have never seen for fear she may be naked in the movie.) But one of my students wanted to get a guy named Bruce Campbell to speak on campus, and we didn't have any budget, so I heard Pitt had an original print of Night of Living Dead which seemed like it might be a good special event.  Then another student suggested getting the cast and crew to attend.  When I asked how, someone got a phone book and we remarkably discovered that many of those involved in the movie still lived in Pittsburgh. 

And so on October 31, 2002, Bill Hinzman joined screenwriter John ("Jack") Russo, producer Russ Streiner (who also utters the classic line "They're coming to get you Barrbarra", and actors Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman.   They shared with us how Night of the Living Dead came to be, a story that is now somewhat legendary in the world of independent film. Shot on a budget of sixty thousand dollars, with cameramen filling in as zombies, a automobile borrowed from Streiner's mother, and chocolate syrup used as blood, the film represents a unique group effort that embodies the spirit of the Pittsburgh film scene.   Because of their low budget, Bill and his cohorts had to be creative.   For instance, if you look at the graveyard scene, the lightning only appears in close-ups.   And if you watch closely when Barbara's car crashes, their is a dent before it hits the tree-- because Russ Streiner mother had had an accident with her car between days of shooting.   

But what really came across that evening was the wonderful comraderie that still existed between the filmmakers.   They had not just made this film on a whim.  They had worked for years on their craft, doing commercials, working on the legendary Rege Cordic radio show.   They had collectively chosen to write a horror script because they could be done on their budget.   Everyone did whatever had be done on the set-- including Bill helping out as on camera-- as he would go on to be a DP and a director of his own films.   

There is also a wonderful story of how Bill ended up saving the brother of Russ Streiner, Gary Streiner who was doing sound, when his arm accidentally caught fire during a special effect mishap.  Bill, in full zombie make-up, tackled Gary to the ground and helped put out the flames.

What came across most when I finally did get to watch Night of the Living Dead with that crowd was how wonderfully the movie holds up.   It is far more than a horror film.   Though it was not planned while they were making it, the film held great meaning in the era of the 60s with the Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement in full swing.   But it also speaks to the importance of us working together in crisis-- that all we have is each other.

Ironically, or perhaps because of Pittsburgh, when we were filming My Tale of Two Cities in a Steelers bar in Burbank, I got to meet a nice young woman named Heidi Hinzman-- Bill's daughter who has worked on many shows in L.A.   Pittsburgh is everywhere.

Although more and more mainstream films are beginning production in Pittsburgh, the film community here remains tight-knit and collaborative. Myself and the rest of those involved in this community are saddened by the loss of Bill Hinzman, but grateful for all the things he contributed to Pittsburgh and the world.

P.S.

Shortly after this, I learned that Russ and Gary's mother Josephine also passed away just shortly after Bill.   We send along our deepest condolescences to both families.  

Read more: http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/six-degrees-of-pittsburgh/31897-night-of-the-living-dead