Five FrightFest Facts with Zach Passero of The Weird Kidz

In The Weird Kidz Dug, Mel, and Fatt are 12-year-old boys navigating life in their desert suburb. Dug’s older brother Wyatt takes the trio on a camping trip to a canyon with his new, awesome girlfriend Mary. She doesn’t go unnoticed by Mel and Fatt, who have just descended into puberty. Late bloomer Dug just dreams of s’mores and ghost stories. On a pit stop, the gas station attendant shares tales of ‘The Night Child’, an ancient creature that feeds on tourists. Equal parts adventure movie, coming of age story, urban legend and horror film all wrapped up in a comedic animated package.

We grabbed some time with Zach to talk more about the film and his inspiration for this modern, creative take on the traditional campfire ghost story.

Zach Passero, writer/director

1. Tell us about your film?

The Weird Kidz is a hand animated coming of age horror comedy. The film follows three 12 year olds– Dug, Mel, and Fatt as they embark on an overnight camping trip in the desert with Dug?s older brother Wyatt and his girlfriend Mary. The area locals tell tales of The Night Child- a creature that is roaming the park at night, hunting humans for food. Over the course of their night, The Weird Kidz learn if there is any truth to the tale while tackling puberty and their own inner dynamics.

2. How did you get into making movies?

From the time that I realized that someone ?made? the animations, shows, and movies that I loved to watch as a young kid, I wanted to be a person that made those things. Like most film nerds, I grew up making movies and experimenting with animation using my parents? video camera. When I was older, I went to film-school and met my core group of friends and collaborators that I work with to this day. I met The Weird Kidz producer Lucky McKee in film school and we continue to make films together. While in film school, I also met composer Sean Spillane and musicians Ben Boyer and Jammes Luckett who recorded the film?s emotional release song and anthemic outro song respectively.

3. What film would you love to see screened at Frightfest and why?

FREAKED. While it’s not straight up horror, it bizarreness and gonzo spirit make it such an odd blast. I can only imagine it would be great to experience projected on the big screen with an audience.

4. If you could create your own award to give at FrightFest, what would it be and why?

The Animated Horrors award. I think having a distinct category would encourage more animated genre horror to be made.

5. If your life was made into a horror film, what would it be called and who would play the starring role?

The film would be called The Weird Kidz and my sister Tess Passero would play the starring role.
Tess plays Dug in the film and he is pretty much me at that age.