Wide coverage of “Juan of the Dead” at CNN International

“A mixture of sophisticated equipment and low-tech Cuban know-how”, were the words CNN’s Cuba Correspondent Shasta Darlington used to define “Juan de los Muertos” in the extense article published on December 17th, 2010 on the International Edition, one of world’s most trusted news outlets.

The article highlights various aspects of the challenges faced by the production as they managed to run a $2.3 million budget, big by Cuban standards, mostly to finance special effects, which will be added in post-production. For example, when producers ran into problems getting permission to use a boat to film some water scenes, they set their cameras up on Styrofoam rafts borrowed from local fishermen.

And when it came to making the zombie-mobile, they did what so many Cubans do: They found an old 1950s American car rotting in a garage and tinkered until it was road-ready.

“It’s been fun so far,” says Brugues. “In reality, I don’t want it to end.”

The movie will be ready to hit theaters next year, but filmmakers are hoping to secure a coveted spot at one of the prestigious film festivals first.

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