To kill a zombie, you’ll need a shotgun or a blunt object to remove the head or destroy the brain. But to attract zombies to a party, you’ll need a DJ, a costume contest, film screening and zombie pinup photographs.
Schuler Books and Music at Eastwood Towne Center, 2820 Towne Centre Blvd., in Lansing, brought all these things and more together Tuesday night for their first zombie party, attracting zombie fanatics (many of whom were dressed as zombies themselves) from all across the Lansing area.
“I am a longtime zombie fan — I would say I’m such a fan that I have a half sleeve tattoo of zombies,” said Kerry Cripe of Dansville, Mich. “Ever since I was a real young kid, I was into the (George A. Romero) films. I just had to come.”
Cripe, along with his daughter, both were made up in full zombie attire. Both were sprayed with fake blood, wore ripped shirts and sported deep gashes and Cripe even appeared to be missing an eye.
Michelle Kunze, of Lansing, dressed as a zombie prostitute.
“I’m just here for the zombies,” Kunze said. “It’s the first (event) so hopefully we can do a bunch more if it goes well, so we need to put the zombie word out there.”
Credit for the zombie bash goes to Schuler Books’ Promotions Coordinator Whitney Spotts.
“It’s pretty fun that I actually get to spend someone else’s money to do this,” Spotts said. “It started out as a gaming night because we have these great zombie board games. And then I remembered that Jena and I had talked about this photo shoot … so that was the centerpiece. And then we added the zombie DJ … and the movies were a no-brainer because that’s where the zombie love starts.”
That love that started with those old movies is gaining popularity and likely will to be the next big craze, Spotts said.
“Everyone knows the vampire boom that ‘Twilight’ brought about. Well, I created a poster that said, ‘Zombies are the new Vampires,’ and it’s true — that’s the next wave in books that are coming out,” Spotts said.
At the center of the bookstore, hanging from string tied to the ceiling, were Jena McShane’s photos of pinup style zombie portraits. The Lansing photographer found a niche for the old-school feel and poses of pinup photography and after several shoots for school classes at Lansing Community College, she decided to start a project more for herself.
“Zombie pinups just popped in my head; I have no clue how that happened. I really like zombie movies but I’m not obsessed with them,” she said. “I’m really excited that people have seemed really enthused about this and I probably will further my pinup photography projects.”
Capping off the zombie party was a costume contest, offering almost $300 worth of gift certificates from local businesses to the winners. Happy with the turnout, Spotts said she was in her element among the undead guests.
“I’ve never been so happy to do work in my life,” she said.
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