(Q): How did you wind up being cast as Karen Cooper in the original Night of the Living Dead?
(A): My father (Karl Hardman, a.k.a. Harry Cooper) was in the film and also one of the co-producers. They needed a kid my age and I happened to be available.
(Q): Can you tell us a little about what you remember from when you were filming NOTLD?
(A): I remember a lot about it, but unless you ask about specifics, I'll have to recite every event, moment by moment. Nobody wants to read that. Yeah Doc...be specific!
(Q): Did you ever think back when the movie came out that it would have ever become as big as it has and when did you realize it was?
(A): In their wildest dreams, no one knew that it would become a classic film or even hold people's attention for nearly four decades. They had set out only to make a monster movie that would make them some quick cash. It ended up being recognized as a groundbreaking film and made the filmmakers no money whatsoever! Funny, huh?
(Q): Do you recall any negative press or comments for your cannibalism scenes in the film?
(A): I don't recall any negative comments about my scene specifically, but I do remember a general buzz about it being over the top in terms of graphic violence and gore.
(Q): What was used for the effects in the cannibalism scenes?
(A): My scene involved a meatball sandwich that had been someone's leftovers from lunch. A little Bosco drizzled over it made it look just like a bloody stump!
The scene after the truck blew up involved real body parts (but not human) from a butcher store. The intestines in that scene were very real.
(Q): Did you get to keep any of the props you used in the film?
(A): I kept only the bandage I wore on my arm. I suppose I could have kept the trowel if I'd thought of it, but it didn't occur to me at the time. I wish I had, though. A friend of mine owns it now. He bought it from Bill Hinzman who did have the foresight to hoard some interesting items from the production.
(Q): Where you ever invited to appear in Tom Savini's 1990 remake of NOTLD ?
(A): Nope.
(Q): What do you think of George Romero's other Dead films?
(A): I love them all, but the order in which I love them is this:
Night, Day, Dawn, Land. My favorite film of his, aside from "Night," is "Martin."
(Q): Have you seen and what do you think of the many remakes of these films including the upcoming NOTLD 3-D?
(A): I generally don't like remakes because there's usually no reason (other than money) to remake something that was good the first time around. There have been a few exceptions -- The Fly, The Thing, King Kong, The Hills Have Eyes. I also liked the Dawn of the Dead remake, which really surprised me because I didn't want to like it. I wasn't crazy about the NOTLD '90 remake. It lacked the tension and claustrophobia of the original.
(Q): Were you a fan of horror films growing up as a kid and are you now? If so what are some of your favorites?
(A): I loved horror movies as a kid. They were the only movies I ever wanted to watch. I have way too many favorites to list, but the schlocky standouts when I was about 4 or 5 were The Crawling Eye, The Wasp Woman and Little Shop of Horrors (not the musical version). I also adored the Universal classics: Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy, etc. I always felt really sorry for the "monsters."
(Q): You do a lot of horror conventions. Can you tell us what you think of them and do you have any strange stories or requests from fans you could tell us about?
(A): I love doing horror conventions. My biggest problem with them is staying at my table because I like browsing the vendors' tables and hanging out with my friends.
(Q): Would you like to tell us a little about your website or any other things you are involved with now?
(A): My website, Ghoulnextdoor.com, has been around for nine years. It's hard to believe it's been that long! There wasn't a lot there when I first started out, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own. It's relatively large now, at least as compared with where it was nine years ago.
I also have SpiffyCards.com where I sell greeting cards inspired by Spiffy, one of my dogs. I even took her to a convention with me last year!
I also write a weekly column called Ghoulish Guidance for DreadCentral.com. I began it on another website a few years ago and recently moved it to Dread Central. It's an advice column, sort of like a "Dear Abby" for zombies.
(Q): Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?
(A): Only "thank you!"
For more on Kyra check out her site at WWW.GHOULNEXTDOOR.COM
