“The greatest video game trailer of all time!” isn’t a phrase that you hear often. But that title was stamped earlier this year on the DEAD ISLAND trailer (which doesn’t contain actual game footage) that sparked a global phenomenon, attracting millions within its first few days on YouTube (see it below).

It has been a unique experience watching all this mayhem from a fan’s point of view, but what about for those who were involved? You don’t really think about it, but the CGI trailer had to start with real human actors who were later digitized. Fango had the pleasure of catching up with one of those unsung heroes, Drew Horsley, who is credited as the “Badass Dad.“

FANGORIA: Pretend we have no idea what DEAD ISLAND is; would you explain it to us?

DREW HORSLEY: DEAD ISLAND is the massively anticipated zombie computer game from Techland. The announcement trailer in which I play the “Badass Dad” was released on the Internet a month ago to an astounding reception. So far, it has accrued 3.9 million hits on YouTube, had very positive global press coverage and set the computer world alight.

FANG: That’s some accomplishments for a game that hasn’t even come out yet! So tell us a little about yourself and how you got the role of “Badass Dad.”

HORSLEY: I am a British film actor, 34, and from Newcastle in the North of England. I started my career the ‘90s as a classical stage actor performing with theater companies, such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, but, these days, my focus is mainly on film work. I usually play dark as sin characters, so the DEAD ISLAND trailer was right up my street. My most notable role is probably the gritty British drama IN OUR NAME, starring alongside Mel Raido, [THE INFORMERS] and Joanne Froggatt [ROBIN HOOD, LIFE ON MARS]. I was approached out of the blue by Axis animation. They had seen my photo on-line and thought I could be a zombie-slaying Dad. They were, of course, totally correct!

FANG: Where did filming take place and how long did it all take?

HORSLEY: The actual filming took two days and was filmed in a warehouse in Oxford, England. However, the real magic was performed by the guys at Axis. It took them months of solid work to produce what turned out to be a global success and work of bloody genius.

FANG: Did anyone involved expect the trailer to be such a huge success?

HORSLEY: Certainly not in the beginning. I don’t think anyone could have predicted how it took the Internet by storm. As far as I knew, the game was to have a limited release in America by a small gaming firm. This was blown out of the water, however, when the trailer was unleashed on the unsuspecting public. There have been rumors of a major Hollywood blockbuster, and the game itself is set to become one of the best selling Xbox games ever. To be fair, though, it deserves every accolade it gets. It is a remarkable piece of work.

FANG: Tell us the process you had to go through to become a badass CGI dad. I assume there was a lot of motion capture going on?

HORSLEY: The whole thing was done as motion capture. Which is the technique used in many major blockbuster films like IRON MAN, KING KONG, THE LORD OF THE RINGS and countless others. Every character was played by a highly experienced actor. They were masters of their craft and made it a very real and frightening environment.

We acted out the action in a warehouse on a grid wearing black lycra catsuits covered in luminous bobbles which allowed the specialized cameras to track our every movement and convert it to CGI. In essence, the process was very much the same as shooting a film. We rehearsed and choreographed the scene on set and then performed the whole thing again and again until the director finally called a wrap.

It was, as you can imagine, a pretty intense and physically demanding role to play, especially when you consider that my daughter was played, not by a little girl, but by a petite stuntwomen.

The ax was actually a snooker cue with foam taped to the end, but I still managed to kick serious zombie ass with it.

Then we did facial capture. This basically entails standing/sitting very still with cameras all round your head and acting out the whole scene just in your face, i.e. the emotional journey. This is a fairly new innovation in cinematic media. It is very challenging for the actor, but ultimately effective.

The whole process was highly realistic and the actors were on the top of their game. To be honest, it was pretty bloody freaky in there.

FANG: Has this opened any acting doors for you?

HORSLEY: This is the real kicker. Even though the trailer has gone global and is astronomically successful, the offers are not rolling in. The harsh truth is no one has any idea who the actors are, or even that actors were used and are an integral part of the equation. We are the silent heroes of DEAD ISLAND! If you want to see the Badass Dad in the game, then make your voices heard! As for reprising the role on film? I would love the opportunity to get a second chance to kick the ever-loving crap out of those undead mothers. If Hollywood does come a knocking, like the zombie badass dad is trying to avoid becoming, I will bite their hands off!

FANG: Do you have any upcoming projects?

HORSLEY: Got a few films and commercials in the pipeline. Still waiting for George Romero to call, though!

FANG: Speaking of which, what are some of your favorite horror films?

HORSLEY: Like all horror film fans, I want to be scared out of my tiny little mind. Suspense is the key for me. Kubrick’s THE SHINING is a master class in building tension, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON is a bloody classic and, of course, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is seminal. Guillermo del Toro has made a few great horrors. THE ORPHANAGE was fantastic. The first SAW film was a nerve shredder. And the French epic, BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF, was an instant classic.

FANG: What about favorite video games?

HORSLEY: DOOM and DUKE NUKEM were mind-blowing at the time, but at the moment, HALO 3 and SILENT HILL are where my head is at.

FANG: How you would survive a zombie apocalypse?

HORSLEY: Who you gonna call? Zombiebusters! My ax is sharpened and I am ready and waiting for the brain-dead freaks.

FANG: Is there anything else you’d like to say to the fans?

HORSLEY: Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who watched the trailer! You guys made it worthwhile. I would also ask you to continue your support by calling for the Badass family to be in the game. It would be crazy for them not get their revenge on the porter and bikini girl!

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MOVIES/TV - Fearful Features