Puppet horror film “Frank and Zed” culminates KCC Comic Con celebrations
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“Frank and Zed”, an all-puppet comedy/horror feature film, will be presented by Klamath Film on Saturday, May 14 at the Oregon Tech Auditorium as part of Klamath Community College’s Comic Con. (submitted photo)
IF YOU GO
WHAT:
Klamath Film presents “Frank and Zed”
WHERE:
Oregon Tech Auditorium, 3201 Campus Dr., Klamath Falls (College Union)
WHEN:
Sat., May 14, 7:00 PM
COST:
$10 ($5 with Klamath Film membership)
The following is a press release from Klamath Film.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A film unlike anything ever seen, seven years in the making plus an additional two to reach Klamath audiences, will finally have a public screening at the Oregon Tech Auditorium on Saturday, May 14.
“Frank and Zed” is the passion project of filmmaker and professional puppeteer Jesse Blanchard – proprietor of Puppetcore Films based in Portland. The studio has made a name for itself in the film industry specializing in horror-themed puppet shorts, and for seven years worked feverishly to develop its first feature-length monster movie, titled “Frank and Zed.”
A blend between a buddy-comedy and a horror (think “Young Frankenstein” meets “The Dark Crystal”), the film follows Frank, a Frankenstein monster, and Zed, a zombie. The pair rely on each other for survival with their master long-since deceased, terrorizing villagers and running amok in an old European village from their castle in the hills. Following familiar classic film tropes of old monster movies, the film is both a loving tribute and hilarious parody of Universal monster movies of the 1930s and 40s – done entirely with puppets.
In 2020 the film was included among the selections for the Klamath Independent Film Festival slated to make its world premiere at the Ross Ragland Theater, but contractual issues prevented a public screening at the time. Regardless, “Frank and Zed” still received the award for Best Feature Film at KIFF2020, with an apology from Blanchard for not being able to screen the film. In the time since, it has been featured at several horror film festivals for select audiences building a huge cult following but has yet to receive wide distribution nor a presence on any streaming service.
“Frank and Zed” is being presented by Klamath Film, a 501c3 nonprofit based in Klamath Falls whose mission is to inspire and support film through programming, education, and outreach. The screening, taking place at the OIT Auditorium inside Oregon Tech’s College Union at 7 p.m., is associated with Klamath Community College’s first annual Comic Con – a free community celebration on the KCC campus on Friday, May 13 from 3-8 p.m. providing a variety of activities including games, a costume contest, virtual reality, full-motion simulators, vendors, food trucks, featured speakers, and more.
Included among the festivities at KCC’s Comic Con will be a free puppetry workshop led by Blanchard from 3-5 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session at 5 p.m. on the Comic Con main stage with Blanchard highlighting some of his short films, puppetry work, and a preview of the “Frank and Zed” screening the following night.
Following “Frank and Zed” on Saturday, May 14, Klamath Film will host a Q&A and puppet demonstration by Blanchard for the audience providing deep insight into how Frank and Zed were brought to life on film.
Tickets for the film screening are $10, or $5 with an active Klamath Film membership. Seating at the Oregon Tech Auditorium, located inside the College Union at 3201 Campus Dr. in Klamath Falls, is limited. Tickets are available in advance at https://klamathfilm.ticketspice.com/frank-zed. For more information visit www.klamathfilm.org.