Staff report

Mississippians have an opportunity to take part in a feature film this week that celebrates culture of the state. “Kudzu Zombies” began production this week in Charleston and help is needed as a large scale scene in downtown Charleston on Saturday requires hundreds of extras.

To learn how to be part of the film, either as a zombie or as a townperson, contact Extras casting at kst_1987@yahoo.com.

The principal roles of the film have been cast and production began at the end of May with most of principal photography in early June in Charleston.

Mississippi actors include husband and wife team Susan McPhail (A Walk in The Woods, Mississippi Grind) and Johnny McPhail (Free State of Jones, True Detective), Scotty Whitehouse, Andy Douglas and Montana Byrd, as well as newcomer Max McDonaldson.

Executive Producer Daniel Wood (“Texas Heart,” “God’s Country”) also focused on hiring local with the crew. The majority of the crew was hired from Mississippi including director of photography Jonathan Hammond.

In the film’s story, GloboBioTech tests its new herbicide, Quadoxin, in the area. It is aimed at controlling the kudzu, but the herbicide quickly enters the food chain through goats that have had the misfortune of eating the treated kudzu. The goats become the culprits of a zombie outbreak among the townspeople wherein the nightmare begins in the form of popular meat pies sold at the blues festival.

More information can be found at www.kudzuzombies.com.