Now a middle school teacher in Philidelphia, this was her as a child...... |
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Most horror fans know the face of the little zombie girl in black and white. This face belongs to Kyra Schon who was a child actor in the classic horror film Night of the Living Dead. This was the only film she ever acted in but it was an experience that she would never forget. Now a middle school teacher she was thoughtful enough to sit down and answer some questions for me that I have been thinking about for a long time!
TM: So tell me about production of Night of the Living Dead.....how many days did you shoot? Did you hang out on days that you were not shooting?
KS: Okay, please bear in mind that this was nearly 40 years ago. I can't recall how many days I was there for my scenes, or how many days I hung out when I wasn't shooting. In my very vague memory, it seems like I was there for a couple of weeks, on and off.
TM: What's your best memory of NOTLD?
KS: My best memory is just seeing everyone in their makeup.
TM: What's your worst memory of NOTLD?
KS: My worst memory is not being able to be present for the exploding truck scene.
TM: When is the last time that you saw NOTLD? Where did you see it?
KS: I saw it in October as part of the "zombie walk" in Pittsburgh.
TM: How much direction did George Romero give you for your performance?
KS: I can't remember him giving me any direction, though I'm sure he did with the scene upstairs with Duane. My dad directed the stabbing scene.
TM: How critical was your father with you of your performance? Did he go over your scenes with you before filming?
KS: He wasn't critical at all. Remember, I had virtually no lines to potentially forget, and what I did do was really pretty easy.
TM: I read on your website that you were very fond of Duane Jones who played Ben, was their anyone else on set that you remember going out of their way for the film or for you? 
check out her website www.ghoulnextdoor.com |
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KS: No, not really, but I admired Bill Hinzman a lot because he looked like the perfect zombie.
TM: How do you compare new "zombie" films such as 28 Days Later and Resident Evil to Romero zombie films such as NOTLD and Dawn Of The Dead? Do you think much has changed in those films in 40 years?
KS: The basic themes are the same; only the effects (and budgets) are different. I didn't see Resident Evil but I liked 28 Days Later. I don't typically like fast zombies, but they didn't bother me in 28 Days Later because those people weren't really dead. It made sense in that context. What makes no sense to me is when dead people are faster than they were in life. Like the fat woman in the "Dawn" remake. It's absurd.
TM: If you had to guess how many autographs you have signed in your life what would the number be?
KS: I don't have to guess; I've signed exactly 2,592,467 autographs.
TM: What were your feelings when you found out they were making a NOTLD remake in 1990? Have you viewed the movie? If so what did you think of it?
KS: As a rule, I don't like remakes, and particularly remakes of classic films. Savini's version of NOTLD was different enough from the original that I didn't mind it. And despite my "fat woman" critique, I liked the Dawn remake a lot more than I thought I would.
TM: What is your favorite horror icon ?
KS: Bruce the Shark
TM: The famous picture of your face which has been used for 1000's of collectible and novelty items is a personal photo that your father took of you outside the farmhouse. I read that next to no one has received proper permission from you to use it. Is this something that you are fighting legally? Also is it a love/hate relationship since you are not seeing any profits but at the same time your face is becoming a cult Icon.
KS: I'd rather not discuss potential legal actions. Yes, it's amazing and cool to see my face all over the place, but it's ridiculous that I'm not being compensated for it by 
Her face on one of thousands of horror products! |
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the people who are mass producing it.
TM: What question are you asked the most by your fans? What is the answer?
KS: Two questions, actually: How old were you? Were you scared?
I was 9. & No.
TM: I know that you are a middle school teacher in Pittsburgh, how do your students react when they find out who you really are? Do their parents question you about the role?
KS: Some of my students are intrigued by it, and some couldn't care less. The last couple of years, it's been the girls who are most enamored of zombies. Some of their parents have asked me about it because it's from their generation.
TM: One of the coolest parts of your website is the pop quiz towards the end of your F.A.Q. section. Do you really think that IMDB sucks? and why?
KS: Yes. Because it does.
MANDATORY MATCHFLICK
TM: Who is your favorite Actor?
KS: Anthony Hopkins.
TM: Who is your favorite Actress?
KS: Angelica Huston.
TM: What movie do you love?
KS: Jaws.
TM: What movie do you hate?
KS: Almost every remake I've ever seen.
TM: Who would you like to work with in film?
KS: I'm not acting anymore, so it's a moot point.
TM: What is one Character role you would NOT take?
KS: All of them.
TM: What is your biggest pet peeve?
KS: Liars.
TM: Who in Hollywood do you think is smoking hot?
KS: Johnny Depp.
TM: Who is your favorite Co-Star?
KS: Duane Jones.
TM: What is the one thing in life that you regret the most?
KS: Smoking my first cigarette.
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| Tim Malcolm |
Tim Malcolm got his first job at a movie theater in 1996 working as a projectionist. He quickly learned that there was no better job then getting paid to watch movies. Since then he has been an advid film watcher, collector, critic and writer.
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