The Regent Theatre in Allegan, MI, is partnering with The Alamo Studio to host the October 18 premiere of “Jeanie’s Face Exploded.” The title references the memorable death scene of the Blonde Zombie in the original 1978 horror film “Dawn of the Dead.” The documentary is a tribute to the movie while also telling the real-life story of Jeanie Jefferies, a makeup artist on the film who also played the iconic Blonde Zombie.
In 1977, Tom Savini discovered Jefferies and hired her to assist with makeup on George A. Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead.” While working on the film, she was cast in a small role known as the Blond Zombie, a zombie who meets her tragic end when she is famously shot in the face by Ken Foree in the cab of his truck.
Jefferies would go on to work with Romero again on the 1981 film “Knightriders,” where she led the makeup department. Shortly after that, she moved to Grand Rapids, MI, and disappeared from the film industry, unaware of the cult status “Dawn of the Dead” had achieved.
“When I first heard that one of the most iconic zombies of all time resided in West Michigan, I knew there was a good story behind that,” says Chad Campbell, director/producer of the film. “Not only did she help bring us some of the groundbreaking makeup in the film, but Jeanie also played a memorable role. The shock is that, until just a few years ago, she had no idea that anyone had seen this movie. That is where the real story lies- and what a story it is!”
The short documentary will have its official world premiere event at 9:30 PM at the Regent Theater, where Jefferies and the entire creative team behind the film will be in attendance. VIP Tickets for the premiere are on sale now, and include:
- VIP-Only Lanyard for the event
- All three poster variants (12×18) for “Jeanie’s Face Exploded,” with one signed by Jeanie and the film crew
- Early Admission to an Exclusive VIP-Only Q&A session with Jeanie
- Photo with Jeanie Jefferies (taken on the device you bring)
Regular tickets will be available at the door, and the crew will introduce the film and feature an audience Q&A with Jeanie afterward.
