Living Dead Lock Up

Living Dead Lock Up is a 2005 independent horror/prison film directed by Mario Xavier and Mike Hicks. It is one of the first feature-length films created by the production company Golden Dragon Productions. It began as a project with possible distribution from an independent label. That deal fell through, and Xavier was left with a low-budget horror film with no distributor. Bravely, he decided to release it himself using an online company called CreateSpace (formerly CustomFlix).

Many reviewers and critics are surprised to discover that a film could be made on such a thin budget, and still be thrilling and watchable. Although they have pointed out that the limits become obvious in certain aspects of the film, they also acknowledge that Xavier and Hicks have found creative ways of using those limits to their advantage (e.g. using many close-ups to create a claustrophobic atmosphere in the prison, at the same time masking the fact that the setting is not really authentic).

The film has found much success as far as sales thanks to the internet. Many online retailers like Amazon, CreateSpace, and IndieFlix now carry it.

Plot
A deep buried secret threatens the inhabitants of Stone Gate Penitentiary. When a petty car thief (Mario Xavier) is sentenced to the prison, he encounters more than he expected. A bizarre occurrence unleashes a hoard of possessed Zombies out into the institute. Now he and his cell mate Miguel (Miguel Angel Novo) must find a way to break out of prison and rescue his girlfriend (Natalie M. Morales) before they become one of the living dead.

Production
Much of the movie was filmed on the Florida International University campus, mainly in the Theatre Department. That location was specifically chosen due to the style of walls, which resemble a prison. Being a Theatre Department, there were rooms available that contained electric equipment, bars, and dark spaces that helped complete the atmosphere of the film. The Miami portion of the film was directed by Mario Xavier. Parts of the film were shot in California, particularly the scenes that involved Mike Hicks's character, Will. Those portions were directed by Hicks himself.

The film was rushed into production, and Hurricane Katrina delayed it for a while.

Casting
Some of the actors in the film (Mario Xavier, Miguel Angel Novo, Renier J. Murillo and Amanda Healy) were, at the time, rehearsing for a stage production of The Taming of the Shrew. All the actors that appeared in the film were specifically chosen by the directors to play their respective roles. There was no time to hold a traditional audition. Xavier and Hicks wrote the film with the specific actors in mind. Almost all of the actors in the films attended Florida International University, which also made the casting a convenience.

Golden Dragon Productions
Robert Acevedo created all the music heard in the film. He, Mario Xavier, and Mike Hicks founded Golden Dragon Productions, and made many short films before attempting a feature-length film.

Sequels and Spin-offs
Due to the success of Living Dead Lock Up, a sequel has began pre-production. Most of the same cast will return for second part, with the expectation of Natalie Morales. There is also a possible third installment in the works. Other horror films are also in the process of being produced by Golden Dragon Productions, including a ghost/FBI thriller tentatively titled "D.E.E.P." Other films produced by Golden Dragon Productions: the experimental psychological/supernatural chiller Night Walker, the Charlie Chaplin-esque romance/comedy My Lucky Stars, the fantasy action/adventure The Realm Trilogy, and the coming-of-age drama based on a play by Amanda Healy titled Pathways.

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