Vampires, werewolves and aliens… oh my! From a very young age, First Lieutenant Jim Parrack’s admiration for screen legends Robert Duvall and James Dean was a sure sign of what was to come, but it may in fact have been his self-admitted fascination with vampires that started him on a path that was destined to lead him to ZSC leadership. Experience dealing with the undead is always a plus, but add to that solid weapons training (perhaps meant to battle aliens over Los Angeles), and you have exactly what ZSC recruiters look for when scoping out new members.
The handsome young man from Allen, Texas decided to put down the golf clubs (even though they work just fine for taking down a zombie) and pursue acting as a teenager. Jim first stepped onto the stage at Keith and Margo’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in Dallas, and not long after had moved to Los Angeles where he studied at The Stella Adler Academy and Playhouse West.
Before landing a starring role as Hoyt Fortenberry in HBO’s hit series True Blood, Jim appeared in Battle: Los Angeles with Red Brigade 1st Lieutenant Neil Brown, Jr. He has also appeared in numerous television series, including Supernatural, Alcatraz, Criminal Minds, NCIS and Grey’s Anatomy to name just a few. Jim also wrote and directed the film Post, produced by his own film production company 120 Productions. Jim also appeared in the filmAs I Lay Dying, directed by close friend James Franco and based on the novel by William Faulkner. Most recently, Jim appeared in the critically-acclaimed 2014 film Fury as Sergeant Binkowski, alongside another face familiar to zombie survivalists everywhere, Jon Bernthal.
Jim will also be appearing once again with James Franco in The Adderall Diaries, currently filming in NYC and set for release in 2015. Look for Jim in current films such as The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards, Holy Land, and the short film Filandra.
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Okay, so those weren’t zombies we saw him battling alongside friends and influential high school teachers in the instant-classic hit film Starship Troopers. They were bugs. Big bugs. Big fast bugs. Big, fast deadly, angry extraterrestrial badass bugs. They’re hard to kill, but you only have to do it once – Nobody ever said “the only good zombie is a dead zombie,” not only because it’s a dumb thing to say, but because it just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Few others understand the importance of perfecting the patented flip six three hole, and even fewer can say they have traveled as far and walked as many roads as this seasoned actor, writer and producer.
Coming from a strong military background, Casper Van Dien was raised in New Jersey, on a street named after his great-great-grandfather … you guessed it…. Van Dien Avenue. After moving to Florida, he attended Admiral Farragut Academy where he graduated as Operations Officer, obviously setting the stage for the future and preparing for what lies ahead. While waiting for the zombie apocalypse to begin, Casper moved to Los Angeles and landed many TV roles, including television commercials and roles in Beverly Hills 90210 and One Life to Live before stepping onto the bigger screen.
Soon afterwards, he landed the lead role in James Dean: Race with Destiny before jumping into the part that even now remains one of the most recognizable to science fiction fandom, Johnny Rico in the ultra-violent action adventure,Starship Troopers. In 2009, the Lt once again donned Johnny Rico’s uniform and jumped to the front lines in the war against child abuse, appearing in several PSAs by ChildHelp.org. Many films and television appearances later, he appeared in Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, earning himself some experience in dealing with the undead. Casper also became the 20th on-screen Lord of the Jungle when he took the starring role in Warner Brothers’ Tarzan and the Lost City. In 2008 he reprised his role as Johnny Rico in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, and more recently he brought us Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat: Legacy
Coming soon: Watch for for Casper in Sharktopus vs. Mermantula… yes, you read that correctly. And after watching the trailer below, we simply CANNOT WAIT to see it.
Loyalty, generosity and compassion are words one might use to describe David. A winning smile and soft-spoken nature are enough to win over even the most critical of viewers… but one also cannot deny that a certain amount of mystery surrounds him, leading the imagination to fill in the rest.
David (aka “Rocco”) is an Italian-American comedian and classically trained actor. Hailing from Norwich, Connecticut, he currently resides in Los Angeles alongside many other ZSC commanders, further ensuring the safety of our Western shores in the dark days to come. Best known for his breakout role as the beloved Funny Man Rocco in the Boondock Saints series, David is a member of the Actor’s Studio, and also an accomplished stage veteran who has appeared in numerous performances, including Glengarry Glen Ross at the Third Street Theatre and Freedom Frogs at the Lee Strasberg Theatre. Rocco has also appeared in Jake’s Corner and the critically acclaimed documentary film Off the Boulevard.
It is a little known fact that Rocco is also a master of disguise, a talent that longtime childhood friend Troy Duffy made use of in 1990’s cult hit The Boondock Saints. The role of the Funny Man was written specifically for him, but this opportunity also allowed him to form early connections with future ZSC Commanders Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery. Another small piece of trivia was revealed during attendance at a convention last summer – his preference for the classic architecture of the standard door system over that of the modern convenience of the revolving door.
David recently joined the world of social networking on Twitter. While he claims to have been coerced by fellow commander and Boondock Saints alumni Sean Patrick Flanery, he’s tackled the online media world like a champ and so far seems to be enjoying the opportunity to reach out to his fans.
In addition to the notoriously hilarious role of Rocco in the Boondock Saints franchise, David has appeared in the films The Black Dove, Dead in 5 Heartbeats, Jake’s Corner, and Anthony Colliano’s Feeding on Fear.
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Light Blue Brigade’s First Lieutenant Ted Raimi already has the single most important weapon to survive the pending Z-pocalypse – expertise. With years of experience playing, directing and battling against any and all manner of all dead, undead or just mostly dead behind him, Smith & Wesson in one hand and cattle prod in the other, Mr. Raimi brings his expertise to the front lines, ensuring that the western coast is well protected and prepared.
Ted Raimi first arrived on the screen in 1981, appearing in the now infamous and wonderfully nauseating film Evil Dead, where he got an early taste (excuse me) for dealing with… well… evil dead. He went on to appear in and direct many films, including Midnight Meat Train, The Grudge, Drag Me to Hell, and a small but memorable role alongside fellow First Lieutenant Sean Patrick Flanery in Masters of Horror: The Damned Thing.
On the smaller screen, we’ve seen him in episodes of Supernatural, Code Monkeys, Legend of the Seeker, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Your Dungeon, My Dragon. Mr. Raimi also directed the webseries Playing Dead.
He also wrote and directed several episodes of Morbid Minutes in 2011, as well as the short film My Treat in 2009. In 2012 he appeared in Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader and Oz The Great and Powerful. In 2014 he appeared in Murder of a Cat, and currently in production are the films Purgatory and Semblance.
Not long ago, undercover ZSC operatives discovered what was initially suspected to be evidence of First Lieutenant Raimi’s questionable motives for joining ZSC Command. It seems he has in the past connected with the Zombie Rights Campaign, a fringe operation devoted to supporting the rights of the mindless creatures that may replace us at the top of the food chain in the very near future. We suspected then and now that such a group was a cover for something far more nefarious. However, we have now learned that he was in fact working in a deep-cover operation with long-time friend and covert operative Bruce Campbell, until their cover was blown by an unusually observant zombie. First Lt. Raimi was forced withdraw and report back to Command empty handed.
First Lieutenant Raimi is currently on special assignment in an undisclosed location, and we are confident that this mission will be fully successful. Be sure to check out his website www.tedraimi.com for more updates!
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Yellow Brigade, meet your commander Jinxie G! Amazon queen, creator and destroyer of worlds, earth mother and certified zombie slayer, Jinxie is not one to be taken lightly, or trifled with. She writes, she reads, she draws and has been known to paint. But most importantly, she is in the spotlight this week for Commander Monday. She’s also nocturnal, so we’ll give her a break and turn off the light for a moment.
Ferocious, loyal, kind-hearted and determined, Jinxie is tall in stature, sharp as a double-bladed machete and not one to be trifled with. She wields a longbow with all the skill of an Amazon warrior, and when she’s done saving the world from the shambling hordes of the undead, she will sit us all down and show that she can cook like the Italian master chef that the she is.
N.L. “Jinxie” Gervasio wears many hats. Founder of Just Ink Press, freelance ghostwriter, editor and writer at the e-magazine titled Forever Nocturne. Love vampires, werewolves, and all things dark and supernatural? Jinxie has just the thing for you. Check out Jinxie’s World for a fantastic place that alternates comfortably between the worlds of reality and dreams. Browse the recipes on her blog to experience extreme salivation, check out current and past writing projects, see what she’s editing and more!
Jinxie spends most of her time writing, editing, editing, writing, editing and sometimes eating or sleeping. Browse her works available on Amazon.com, stop by her website or hop over to say hello on Facebook. If you can get her to stop editing for a moment she might even say hello.
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What does it take to survive the Zombie Apocalypse? Weapons? Combat training? A bright yellow humvee with a backup supply of fuel? An underground bomb shelter fully stocked and able to support at least twelve lucky survivors for an indefinite period of time? How about the ability to rub two sticks together and produce a flame? If you answered yes to all of these things, you’re not incorrect… but you’re missing the two most important items for your best chance at ZA survival: friends, and a go-bag. The go-bag is a separate matter entirely, so let’s focus on the other.
Friends are the difference between those who watch your back and those who might trip you to escape a sticky situation themselves. Friends are the most valuable of all your survival needs, and this week’s Commander Monday spotlight is on one of the Zombie Survival Crew’s most devoted and loyal friends, Red Brigade’s First Lieutenant Neil Brown, Jr.
Actor, martial artist and self-proclaimed “knucklehead,” Neil hails from Orlando, Florida and has studied Shotokai Karate, Jujutsu, Judo, Tae Kwan Do, Capoeira, and many more disciplines that this writer cannot pronounce. He bobs, he weaves, he dodges and roundhouse-kicks better than Chuck Norris on his best day. It is a little-known urban legend that at the age of four he roundhouse-kicked a car and walked away with little more than a few bumps and bruises.
Neil’s extensive martial arts training unexpectedly paved the road to acting when he appeared on the TV show WMAC masters at age 14. In addition to portraying Guillermo, the unlikely leader of a band of survivors in The Walking Dead, Neil has appeared in multiple television roles, including the series Harry’s Law, Suits, Castle, Borderline Coyotes, Weeds and more recently on NCIS. He also appeared in 2009’s Fast & Furious, and has also done his part to save the world from aliens in Battle: Los Angeles.
Most recently, we were thrilled to learn that Neil has been cast in Universal’s upcoming film Straight Outta Compton. This much-anticipated biopic, produced by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, chronicles the rise of the hip-hop group N.W.A. Neil will be appearing as DJ Yella alongside Aldis Hodge, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell. Filming for Straight Outta Compton has begun with an anticipated release date in 2015.
Between acting and roundhouse-kicking, Neil devotes time to the things that matter the most – family and friends. He can also be found making appearances on the comic-convention circuit. Don’t forget to stop by his website to see what’s happening!
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Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and raised in Sugar Land, Texas, Flanery began training in various forms of martial arts at a young age, taking part in his first full-contact kickboxing match at the age of 12. He continued his training while attending the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, but then one fateful day he followed a girl to a drama class and was immediately bitten by the acting bug. Later he moved to Los Angeles and waited tables for a living, before long appearing in television commercials and quickly making the transition to TV roles and onto movies.
Commander Flanery has an impressive filmography, and remains today one of the hardest-working actors in the business. He has appeared in in several episodes of HBO’s hit series Dexter, currently airing its eighth and final season. He has also co-starred in The Devil’s Carnival,now available on Netflix and Hulu, the TV series Blackout, films The Last Word,and Broken Horses. Keep an eye out for The Kiss, currently in production.
When not working on various projects, including film, television and music videos, Flanery can be found training and teaching the finer points of BJJ to his fellow Los Angelians – check out Hollywood Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. He is also a regular guest at comic conventions all over the country. He often enjoys reaching out to fans via online bloggingand social networking, and also spending quality time with Donut – his most loyal friend, sidekick and quite possibly the coolest canine on the planet. Despite an ongoing struggle with a powerful Reese’s addiction, Flanery is without a doubt the most suited for the daunting task of leadership, and defending our western shores if and when it all starts to hit the fan.
Oracle: “Frenzied women from whose lips the god speaks” – Walter Burkert
Logistical expert, webmistress, guru of all things technical and little flashy pointing thingies on the ZSC website, the omniscient Oracle sees all, hears all and knows all. Once an innocent writer of young adult novels, LK Gardner-Griffie’s role in the upcoming apocalypse is perhaps the most crucial of all. Without her wisdom, infinite knowledge and uncanny ability to translate the often-garbled incoming transmissions from other commanders, we would surely be lost in a maze of utter confusion and mayhem. While only those higher up the chain of command and several very privileged others have actually seen the Oracle with their own eyes, many of us have caught glimpses of her in various social networking locations, and some have even received the occasional top secret memo that changes the course of one’s destiny…
LK Gardner-Griffie is an award-winning writer, blogger and mom to four-legged children. She hails from the West coast, is often infected with wanderlust, and in another lifetime might have found herself belting out country music tunes for a living. She recently completed the first book in a new children’s chapter book series, Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin, which will be published through True North Publishing in the spring of 2015. Under her new management with Gandolfo Helin Literary Management, her award-winning Misfit McCabe series is on hold temporarily while she and Italia Gandolfo are engaged in strategy sessions. She has shared many articles and blog posts on her website, Griffie World and will be speaking at The Muzeo in Santa Ana, CA on November 20, 2014 for the Open Book Series. LK was recently interviewed by Gail Zahtz on BlogTalk Radio (click the link and hear the Oracle speak), and previously by Christine Fonesca, and previously chatted with Lorna Suzuki at All Kinds of Writing. She has also been included as one of the featured authors on Publish or Bust.
LK is a woman of many passions and talents, and when the two are put together to take a stand against bullying, censorship, abuse and other issues that have likely affected all of us in some way or another, the possibilities are endless. She speaks up, shouts out and challenges us all to think before we act, and do what’s right no matter what the circumstances. Most notable of her pet projects is the drive to donate books to family and/or children’s shelters. See for yourself, and take action as you will. Purple brigade, salute your commander and heed of the shining example she sets for us all.
Brains or brawn? Which would you choose? In survival situations, brawn may often win. The importance in being able to physically survive unexpected encounters with the undead can’t be understated… but neither can the ability to think and take intelligent, decisive action.
Purple Brigade’s First Lieutenant Anthony Michael Hall is one of the most recognizable faces in just about all of our favorite movies. An original member of the infamous Brat Pack in the 1980’s, Hall nailed a triple John Hughes score in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Weird Science before appearing in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands and many other films. He has taken on several television roles in addition to films, most notably the successful television adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone.
While First Lieutenant Hall has not yet been tested against the true horror of the endless shambling horde, this Boston native is surely as well-equipped as any of us to not only just survive, but to stand firm with the other Commanders and loyalists when the time comes. Working from an undisclosed location, Anthony’s movements are unpredictable and undetectable, making him an invaluable asset to the more covert operations within the ZSC. But even the most covert of operatives must eventually resurface.
Anthony Michael Hall recently appeared in Dead in Tombstone, starring alongside Danny Trejo and Micky Rourke. He has previously been spotted in the popular television series Warehouse 13, Community, and Psych, and in 2013 he was cast in MTV’s teen comedy series Awkward.
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The Zombie Survival Crew command center recently received notification of a frightening new development in the struggle against the undead.
The Illinois Department of Transportation will soon be launching an awareness campaign in the form of a webseries entitled “The Driving Dead.” Details are sketchy, but we have learned our Special Forces Commander Michael Rooker is closely involved in this secretive project, and the official launch date is Monday August 25, 2014.
It goes without saying that if the worst has happened and the dead have learned how to drive, we will have to adjust our tactics considerably. But we are confident that Commander Rooker has already taken charge of the situation and will advise us of any future developments.
In the meantime, keep an eye on the website: drivingdeadseries.com and watch social media for any further alerts.
It is a little known fact that Rocco is also a master of disguise, a talent that longtime childhood friend Troy Duffy made use of in 1990’s cult hit The Boondock Saints. The role of the Funny Man was written specifically for him, but this opportunity also allowed him to form early connections with future ZSC Commanders Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery. Another small piece of trivia was revealed during attendance at a convention last summer – his preference for the classic architecture of the standard door system over that of the modern convenience of the revolving door.
