Blue Brigade, meet your commander Norman Reedus! This multi-talented actor, filmmaker, photographer, writer and artist has played an Irish vigilante, a sociopathic murderer, street gang leader, a conspirator, the unfortunate snack of cannibalistic humanoids on a deep-space vessel, and – of course- a beloved redneck zombie killer and survivalist.
Norman started making ripples in the film industry in 1997, appearing very briefly in the film Mimic and then taking the starring role in the coming of age tale Floating. Three years later, The Boondock Saints delivered a pair of Irish vigilante twin brothers for our consideration, and the general consensus was clear. Norman’s work as an artist, photographer and filmmaker shows yet another branch of talent for a man who has been described as one of the hardest-working actors in the business.
Norman now has three seasons under his belt as a fan favorite with AMC’s wildly successful zombie apocalypse survival drama The Walking Dead, and even after bidding a very tearful farewell to his onscreen brother, he is still working his crossbow-firing fingers to the bone. Norman is currently filming the fourth season, set to air sometime in October 2013 (We’re still waiting on an exact date, so just clear your Sunday schedule for all of October for now). Norman recently attended the premiere of Sunlight, Jr at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the much-anticipated film Hello Herman is scheduled for release next month.
Between filming, interviews, podcasts, magazine photo shoots, and the never-ending parade of convention appearances all over the world, Norman still can be counted upon to reach out to his fiercely devoted fans through social networking outlets whenever he can, even when we are sure he should be getting a little shut-eye. For his tireless and exhaustive efforts to spread the word, keep hope alive and fearlessly face the shambling hordes time and time again, the Zombie Survival Crew salutes Blue Brigade Commander Norman Reedus.
If you’re just joining us for this series, please be sure to check out our previous Commander Monday reports!
As part of our collective efforts to prepare for the z-poc, ZSC command has undertaken a mission to bring you a series of recipes to keep the body strong and the spirit lifted during dark times. Now, don’t go thinking you’ll be cooking these up in the early days of the infection. You’ll be too busy slaying walkers on the move for this kind of fare. But once the initial dust settles and you’re in the fight for the long haul, you’re going to want something other than the beef jerky, energy bars and chocolate you’ve got stashed in your Go Bag.
Being on the run from the shambling horde doesn’t leave a lot of time for cooking every day, so a good way to get that protein you’ll need is to make some jerky out of whatever large game is in your area when you can’t loot any from surrounding stores any longer. Heck, you could probably even use this for javelina (native to the Southwest and quite the nasty beast in temperament).
Most people don’t realize that Arizona and the Southwest have deer and elk, along with the mountain lions and javelina, so this very basic recipe really goes a long way. I haven’t tried this using javelina, and that’s a different type of meat, but hey, it’s worth a shot. Either way, the meat from a javelina is good to eat. Have a pig roast, if anything.
We’ll just go with the deer/elk/buffalo recipe. I’m also assuming you know how to skin these animals. If you don’t, that should be on your “Top 10 Things I Need to Know for the Zombiepocalypse” list.
First, you’ll want to trim off all visible fat from the meat because it becomes rancid. Cut the flank steak lengthwise with the grain into long thin strips no more than ¼ inch thick. Rub it aggressively with salt cover for 10 to 12 hours so it’ll absorb the salt and release some of its natural juices. At this time, you can add additional spices, fruits, liquids, etc. This is why I require spices in the Yellow Brigade Go Bag (you’ll have to be logged in to view that link).
Next, you’ll need to build a scaffold to support the meat over a slow fire beneath it; the heat and the smoke completes the process in half a day, and with an occasional sunning, the meat will keep for months.
Not too hard, right? Just get yourself somewhere safe for a couple of days so you can do this and you’ll have that protein you need for a good long while, depending on the size of the animal, of course.
Happy hunting!
I’d like to thank my ex-husband, the bow hunter from Wyoming, for helping me with this.
Our mission here at the Zombie Survival Crew is straightforward and true: Keeping you safe from the shambling horde, and taking human beings off the endangered species list one zombie at a time. As you browse through our field reports, you’ll find information that is vital to the survival of the human race as a species, entertaining, educational and downright practical. Our fearless leaders are experienced in dealings with not only zombies, but also vampires, werewolves, alien insects and monsters of the regular human variety. But few in our esteemed command crew have ventured into a less-often traveled realm of the paranormal, the world of ghosts, spirits, shadows and things that go bump in the night. This week’s report focuses on one such unique individual, Special Forces Brigade member Britt Griffith.
Born and raised in sunny Southern California, Britt was born into the world of Lights, Camera, Action. Well-acquainted with the business both behind and in front of the cameras, Britt already had all the tools he needed from a very young age. Which of course led him to stray off the path for a brief decade or so, taking a blue collar job and working hard while pursuing a lifetime hobby of paranormal investigations. In 2008 fate brought him back in front of the cameras, where he found a way to continue his most-loved hobby by joining the team on SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International. Britt left GHI in early 2012 to pursue other interests He has appeared in several television series, including Food Network Challenge, Run This Town, Chillerama, and the films Azienda and 5 Minutes.
Britt recently appeared in the 2012 film The Black Dahlia Haunting, and is working on several other projects including one short and two full-length feature films.
When not filming, chasing ghosts or wrangling large snakes, Britt continues to travel and appear at various events, including lectures on paranormal activity and investigation. He also is a devoted supporter of the Dyslexia Foundation, and spends much of his free time tutoring and mentoring youngsters with learning disabilities.
Coming soon for Britt: keep an eye on the horizon for The Zodiac Legacy, scheduled for release in 2014!
If you’re just joining us for this series, please be sure to check out our previous Commander Monday reports!
As part of our collective efforts to prepare for the z-poc ZSC command has undertaken a mission to bring you a series of recipes to keep the body strong and the spirit lifted during dark times. Now, don’t go thinking you’ll be cooking these up in the early days of the infection. You’ll be too busy slaying walkers on the move for this kind of fare. But once the initial dust settles and you’re in the fight for the long haul, you’re going to want something other than the beef jerky, energy bars and chocolate you’ve got stashed in your Go Bag.
Red Brigade is first out of the gate for our new Tasty Survival Skill series of recipes ZSC brigaders can use to prepare for and survive cataclysmic events up to, and including, a full blown zombie infestation.
Blackberry preserves may not seem like the most intuitive survival recipe, but when the world falls apart having something sweet on hand is never a bad plan.
Preserves can be made in advance, stored for long periods of times, and best of all, the United States is one of the largest producers of blackberries in the world. Blackberry varieties can be found in almost every State. If you don’t prepare preserves in advance of a cataclysmic events, once the dust settles, it won’t be hard to find them in farming country close to almost all of the ZSC’s designated meet up points, or anywhere you decide to hold up for the medium- or long-term.
Directions:
1. Rinse the berries in cold water and drain
2. Put berries into a stock pot and mash to extract juices.
3. Add sugar and mix. Add cinnamon and/or nutmeg, as desired.
4. Bring to a boil over a high heat, while stirring constantly.
5. Add pectin and return mixtures to a full boil for one minute.
6. Skim off all the foam.
7. Ladle or pour the preserves into sterile Mason jars. Leave at least ½ inch empty at the top. Make sure to wipe clean the rims before you cap and seal.
8. Place filled Mason jars in a stock pot with enough water to cover the jars by 1-2 inches. Cover and bring to a boil. When water is boiling, set your watch for five minutes.
9. Remove jars and place off to the side. Allow to sit for at least 12 hours, preferably 24. Check the seals and remove bands.
10. Consume at will!
A few weeks ago we asked ZSC brigadiers over on Facebook what skills they were thankful they possessed in order to best be prepared for the Zombiepocalypse. It quickly became evident that a good chunk of you will rely heavily on the ability to cook to make it through the rough road to survival. We fully agree.
Cooking is a skill lost on newer generations. There are no microwaves and toaster ovens in the ZA, folks. Knowing how to make what food you have last could make a huge difference between living long enough to send the zombies back to the graves they clawed out of and slowly starving to death while taking cover in a cave. Trust me when I say, none of us should go out like that.
In order to ensure our brigadiers have the know-how to keep themselves going, the Zombie Survival Crew commanders have banded together to create a brand new series of posts here on the site with recipes designed to be cooked outdoors over an open flame with whatever foods are native to certain regions of the United States. Each brigade commander has “adopted” one of seven regions and will provide a few ideas for what you can scavenge and eat safely.
Red Brigade leader and ZSC Commander-in-Chief, Juliette, will kick off the blog series next week. No, her recipe is not how to make gourmet coffee drinks in the wild. Sorry.
Grab your oven mitts and get ready to add another vital skill to your Zombiepocalypse survival kit!
Zombie Survival Crew Commanders are busy not only championing Z-Poc preparedness but efforts to address current real world issues that impact our collective well-being, and Special Forces Commander Michael Rooker is no exception. Next month he is taking action on a cause close to his heart – literacy.
On April 5, in Los Angeles, Flights of Fantasy Story Theatre is hosting a very special event featuring Michael Rooker at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. It will be a one-of-a-kind intimate experience with an actor who has played some of the quirkiest characters known to pop-culture and horror fans.
Attention all crew members, loyalists and followers! ZSC Command is proud to point this week’s Commander Monday spotlight on one of the newest additions to the ZSC family. This talented and high-spirited young lady is already well known to most from her role as our beloved Sophia Pelletier in AMC’s The Walking Dead. Please welcome and salute Second Lieutenant Madison Lintz!
Madison was first spotted at the tender age of six in a nationwide television spot for Golden Corral, and in February of 2011 she appeared in the television special It’s Supernatural before stepping up to audition for The Walking Dead. Soon afterwards, she appeared as “Young Ana” in the film After and the television series Nashville. Madison also recently appeared in the film Parental Guidance.
With a smile that could melt even the hardest of hearts, young Miss Lintz hails from an acting family and is no stranger to the hard work that comes with the life. Even so, she has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy. Madison will be appearing at numerous comic conventions around the country this year alongside our Commander in Chief and various other ZSC Commanders. Through laughter, charm and witty sense of humor, she keeps everyone around her in high spirits and on their toes at all times.
Madison demonstrates her uncanny ability to disguise herself as a garden gnome.
Please join the Zombie Survival Crew in welcoming Miss Madison with open arms and a crossbow salute!
Orange Brigade, meet Second Lieutenant J. LaRose! While many of you are no doubt aware of his rather messy demise in Saw III (disembowelment does have its drawbacks), rest assured that the LT is in fine shape and more than ready to take on the ever-growing threat to the human race. You don’t even have to take my word for it, just a glimpse into J’s varied talents and wide range of experience is enough to convince anyone. He can glare a hole in a brick wall in one moment and charm even the hardest of hearts with a winning smile in the next. Coming from a solid background of horror movies, television and short films, J is more than adequately equipped to face the horror in the days that lay ahead. It doesn’t even have to be mentioned that J LaRose is related to a certain Special Forces Commander, but we mentioned it anyway.
J LaRose is currently operating from an undisclosed location, and we are eagerly waiting and hoping to hear more from him soon. We’re very sure he won’t end up like poor Troy again, at least not any time soon.
Blue Brigade’s Second Lieutenant Jim Burleson brings a unique expertise to the Zombie Survival Crew. Not only has he been referred to as “the man behind the plan of Albuquerque’s first MAJOR Comic Convention,” Jim is smart, organized, and quick to act when action is needed. Actor, producer, stuntman… he’s seen it all from many different angles and knows how to get in and out before anyone even knows he was there. Currently stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jim has become a well-known fixture in his state of residence and we at the Zombie Survival Crew are confident that the Southwestern zones will be under his watchful eye when the dead begin to rise.
Starting off as a stunt performer in the crime thriller The Keeper in 2009, it wasn’t long before Jim introduced himself to the world as producer and host of the television series Cage Fighta.Continuing on to work both behind and in front of the camera, Jim has been spotted on the television series In Plain Sight, and also in the recently-released motion picture The Avengers. And it certainly can’t be mere coincidence that he appeared onscreen with fellow Commander Sean Patrick Flanery in the action thriller Deadly Impact.
Coming soon:
Currently in post-production is the film Stars, and be sure to keep one watchful eye on the New Mexico horizon for the indie filmThe Cowgirls.
For more information about our fearless leaders, please check out our previous field reports!
Red Brigade, salute your Second Lieutenant, the lovely Viviana Chavez! She’s always there, always watching and always ready to lend a helping hand… even when you can’t see her. Undercover operatives are vital to the survival of any organization, and Viviana’s extensive behind-the-curtain experience makes her the perfect candidate for the most top secret of missions. From wardrobe to art department, casting coordinator to producer, Viviana has tried her hand at almost all aspects of the industry before stepping into acting.
Viviana hails from Atlanta, Georgia and earned her stripes at zombie preparedness as Miranda Morales on The Walking Dead, To the eye that knows no better, she is a hard-working television actress with a brilliant smile and a loving, gentle personality. After the Morales family separated from the Atlanta survivors in The Walking Dead, Viviana moved on to appear in the television series Necessary Roughness and Showtime’s Emmy-winning series Homeland. She has also been spotted in the made-for-television film A Cross to Bear and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Firelight. In 2012 she worked on several episodes of the TV comedy Bethany, and also appeared in fellow ZSC Commander Anthony Guajardo‘s short film Arose the Coward.
Viviana with fellow commanders Anthony Guajardo and Addy Miller.
Viviana has also been known to venture into the convention circuit, appearing at Wizard World and other public events. Whether these appearances are simply opportunities to meet fans and her fellow actors, or part of undercover missions or recruitment work with the Zombie Survival Crew is anyone’s guess.
Norman now has three seasons under his belt as a fan favorite with AMC’s wildly successful zombie apocalypse survival drama The Walking Dead, and even after bidding a very tearful farewell to his onscreen brother, he is still working his crossbow-firing fingers to the bone. Norman is currently filming the fourth season, set to air sometime in October 2013 (We’re still waiting on an exact date, so just clear your Sunday schedule for all of October for now). Norman recently attended the premiere of Sunlight, Jr at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the much-anticipated film Hello Herman is scheduled for release next month.
