But, enough of my chatter, let’s go on to the interview!

Rich - First, let me say thank you for taking the time with me

Judy- :-)

Rich- Why don’t you tell us a little bit about how you got started in acting?

Judy- Ever since I was a little girl, before school even began, I’d always pretended, imagined, fantasized. Being an actress just seemed the most natural goal for me.

Rich- I guess it was kind of the same here, then I found out I couldn’t act my way out of a paper bag, so I took to writing and drawing. One terrible school play was enough for me.

Judy- It’s interesting, isn’t it? How our life’s directions go?

Rich- Very much so. As kids, we all play basically the same games, then we split off at some point.

Judy- Being somebody else always came easily for me. It’s reality that is often times more difficult.

Rich- How would you describe the film to someone who hasn’t seen it?

Judy- I believe I’d say that NOTLD comes off as more of a docu-drama than pure fantasy or science-fiction. It’s more of a study of a group of people, whom, unbeknownst to them, were propelling themselves to their own demise. I was talking to this about someone last week after a screening of the film. When you stop and think about it, Harry Cooper was right, the cellar WAS the safest place.

Rich- I agree, it might have been the only time he was right in his life, but he was totally on the money.

Judy- But it still wasn’t safe enough to save Ben, was it? It’s interesting, the good don’t always survive, for whatever reason.

Rich- I don’t think any of them expected their saviors to come in that way.

Judy- We do the best we can with what we have at the moment. Characters are truly more well defined in those times of stress, or so it would seem.

Rich- How did you end up getting the role of Barbara?

Judy- I had worked with Karl (Hardman) and Marilyn (Eastman) doing voice over and other commercial work. They thought of me when auditions came up for the film. I was in Hollywood at the time. They called and asked if I’d like to return to Pittsburgh to audition for the film, and I did.

Rich- Wasn’t Judy Ridley originally up for the role of Barbara?

Judy- Yes, I believe she was

Rich- I think she would’ve done well, but she was better placed in the end.

Judy- I agree.

Rich- What was your reaction to the script, originally?

Judy- I can’t honestly say I was given a complete script to read. We took scenes as George (Romero) gave them to us. A work in progress, truly.

Rich- What attracted you to the role of Barbara?

Judy- Looking back now with a much clearer perspective, I would say what attracted me was that, even though she fell into a state of catatonia for a while, she was able to rally, to fight, to survive to the very end.

Rich- That’s one of the most interesting things about her, you kind of write her off, but in the end, she comes around. It’s too late, but it’s still great to see

Judy- She helped another who was in dire straits, with no thought to her own survival.

Rich- Was there any sort of research or preparation you did to get inside Barbara’s head, so to speak?

Judy- No, nothing extensive. We talked through what had to be shot. I internalized it as best I could, and then we went for it. Remember, we didn’t have the luxuries of time or extra film stock.

Rich- What do you recall as being best about the shoot?

Judy- Isolating the one best thing is hard to do. I loved being involved, having to produce on call the emotion and outcome that would best suit what George wanted. Also, helping with the many other aspects of getting the film made was great fun, too. It was truly a team effort.

Rich- It felt like a family environment?

Judy- Well...sort of. A tight knit group of people striving to produce something worthwhile.

Rich- That’s one of the greatest things about independent film you hear. Everyone is there because they like what they do, and everyone is on the same level.

Judy- Yes, it’s more about the art, the worth of the project. Sure, we all hoped it would make a bit of money, so more and better films could be made. But while we were shooting, it was ALL. We gave it our best. That’s one of the reasons, when any independent film opportunities come my way, I’m eager to participate, for the most part.

Rich- What was the worst thing about the shoot?

Judy- I can’t honestly isolate any worst part of the shoot, I was 23, life lay ahead. I was doing what I love to do, all was exciting and challenging.

Rich- That’s great, any bad memories just melted away.

Judy- Isn’t that the wonderful thing about many bad memories? They just seem to fade away far more quickly than the happy ones. I like that about my life.

Rich- Might as well let go of the bad ones, unless to learn from them.

Judy- Absolutely, all offer opportunities for lessons learned.

Rich- If you could’ve rewritten your character, what would you have changed about her?

Judy- My gut reaction to that question is to say, I don’t think I really want to change much of anything. Well, maybe the length of time she was catatonic. But, for the most part, I like Barbara the way she was.

Rich- You would’ve had her come around sooner, maybe kick them in the rear, tell them to get their stuff together?

Judy- Maybe, but then think what kind of an impact it would have had on the storyline. It wouldn’t have been quite what it was, and what it was worked.

Rich- I agree, but its kind of fun to go "I would’ve done this...".

Judy- Once done, I let it alone, for the most part.

Rich- Would you take the role if it were offered to you today?

Judy- An aged Barbara?! Sure, I love the craft. I’m game for almost anything. I hope, at this age, I could bring even more to the role.

Rich- It would be fun to see a world weary Barbara still around 35 years after the plague.

Judy- LOL! What a sight!

Rich- There has been a remake of NOTLD, and now there is a comic book based around Barbara. They both portray Barbara as being a zombie butt kicking machine. How does that strike you, as far as your take on her?

Judy- I know of the remake, Patricia Tallman played my character. I can see why they updated Barbara’s responses, seeing as how they were in the 90's rather than the 60's. But for me, honestly, the original storyline was even more emotionally and psychologically powerful.

Rich- I enjoyed the remake, but it seemed hollow, comparatively. Had you heard of the new comic?

Judy- No

Rich- Ill send you a cover scan of it. They made you a comic book heroine! LOL!

Judy- Holy cow! Boy, have I changed! That’s a riot! They got my blue eyes right, though ;-)

Rich- Anyways, I was going to ask what acting jobs you’ve been doing recently.

Judy- I’ve done lots of stage work since NOTLD. Musicals, drama, comedy. Recently though, I’ve had the opportunity to get back into film, a medium I dearly love. I’ll be flying to Wisconsin to take part in an independent film called October Moon. It is written and directed by Jason Collum. Several other projects are in the wind, as well.

Rich- I’ve also heard of Claustrophobia and A Moth to a Flame.

Judy- Yes. Claustrophobia is in the can. A Moth to the Flame has yet to be shot.

Rich- What can you tell me about your new films?

Judy- Well... October Moon is a Fatal Attraction kind of story. I play a mother who turns her back on her own son.

Rich- Sounds harsh, I hope she has good reason.

Judy- Sad to say, without spoiling the story for you, she hasn’t. At least in my mind, maybe not in others.

Rich- What about Claustrophobia? Is it a return to horror for you?

Judy- Claustrophobia is about a killing spree, I’m the one who gets it first. By arrow!

Rich- Is it weird seeing your movie lining all the shelves at the stores at Halloween?

Judy- Its wonderful and will always be exciting to see NOTLD lining the shelves at Halloween.

Rich- Lastly, what would you like to say to the fans of NOTLD?

Judy- My deepest heartfelt thanks for making our young and hopeful film effort become what it is today. Truly, without your support, NOTLD would never have gone beyond the dream we all had for it back in 1968.

Rich- Marvelous! Thank you from the bottom of my little horror geek heart! It’s been a pleasure to spend some time with you. I cannot wait to see your new films!

Judy- Ahh, bless you. Thanks so much!