The Big Sky Waypoint hosts independent zomb-com (zombie-comedy) film produced by “99 Productions”
By Mario Carr EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Hamilton, Montana-based filmmakers Kyle and Zuzu Weingart describe their new film as a super wacky challenge that was a lot of fun to make. Kyle is the writer and director of “Cuisine de la ‘Pocalypse,” and Zuzu is an actor and producer who stars as Laura.
“It’s a post-apocalyptic comedy about following your dreams, and it just so happens that our main character’s dream is to have a fine dining cooking show,” Kyle said in an interview with Joe Borden on the Hoary Marmot Podcast. Borden also helped produce the film, and even cameos as a zombie himself.
About 20 people attended the “sneak preview” showing on Friday, Jan. 17 in Big Sky. From Missoula-based studio 99 Productions, Director Kyle Weingart, Producer Joe Borden, and VFX Supervisor Christian Ackerman were in attendance interviewing people after the film. The movie felt like one that you would make with your friends as a kid with no limitations. The story is goofy with twists and turns, but the constant theme of overcoming evil with good can be seen throughout the plot progression.
“There’s no such thing as too much with this movie,” said Kevin Jack, who stars as “Chef John,” the main character. This feature film is the third iteration of the story, and the director, Kyle, wanted to leave no stone unturned on his zany concept. Zuzu explained that the crew of 50 became like a family very quickly during production—it’s a very small crew when compared to the 500-person crew for the show “Yellowstone” where Zuzu has had lots of experience as well. The film also incorporated multiple families of actors, including Kevin Sorbo and his son Braeden, Zuzu and her two daughters, and Kyle’s parents.
Set in fictional “New Missoula,” Kevin Jack was particularly excited about casting Emmy-nominated news reporter Jill Valley to play herself in the film.
“I grew up watching Jill Valley, she is the news to me… People were more nervous to meet Jill, if they were from Missoula, than they were to meet any of the other big stars because they had seen her for her entire career,” Kyle said.
Another highlight from production included when characters Chef John and Sweet Melissa meet each other for the first time. Jack, who played Chef John, has been a longtime fan of Natasha Leggero who plays Sweet Melissa, and he wanted to channel that excitement into the scene.
“It’s all real because he was genuinely star-struck when he met her,” Kyle said.
In their podcast interview, Borden and the Weingarts also reflected on a couple of coincidences that occurred during production of the movie. First, during the original 2017 production of the film, Kyle wrote in a two-week American quarantine for disease, which at the time he thought was outlandish and “would never happen.” Second, in this iteration of the film, there are AI-controlled drones hovering over cities, a concept that was written into the story before the recent controversial sightings of drones, particularly on the East Coast.
The Weingarts hope this unique goofy film creates a world that viewers would want to visit, despite the challenging circumstances. Comparing the feel of the film to that of Gilligan’s Island, or M.A.S.H., Kyle said, “As hostile as it may seem to the characters in the show or movie, we all want to go there.”
Made possible by a film grant, “Cuisine de la ‘Pocalypse” was filmed entirely in Montana, with the help of funding from executive producers Michael and Kiomi Burks. It will be playing in select theaters starting Feb. 7.
