Greg Nicotero Reflects On Improving The Walking Dead Eight Years Later

Eight years in and The Walking Dead‘s cast and crew continue to find ways to improve their efforts with the production. However, none are more passionate than executive producer and VFX guru Greg Nicotero.

Nicotero has been with the AMC series since some of its earliest days with his role constantly evolving just as the show does. By now, his name is synonymous with the show as he has gone on to direct some of the show’s most iconic episodes and crafted unforgettable make-up jobs on walkers.

Heading into Season 8, though, Nicotero is having trouble finding the words to describe how it feels to reach 100 episodes of a show so near and dear to him.

“I don’t even know,” Nicotero said. “It’s like when you put on a record album or you play a piece of music and everybody else responds so positively to this piece of music? Like, you’re at a party and everyone responds to that music like ‘Yeah, man!’. That’s kind of what it feels like. Kind of.”

While he is certainly enjoying the ride with The Walking Dead, several lessons have come his way and his team has grown over the years. “I mean the show has evolved and mutated in so many fascinating ways that, for a person that for up until the last 8 years had been doing primarily movies, to be able to be involved in something long form like this has completely changed the way I design make-up FX, the way I approach production and has given me an incredible understanding of how critical character and story is,” Nicotero said. “There’s a lot of make up FX people who are holding the torches for practical FX and God love them, because that’s what we love and that’s what we do. But you have to understand that those practical FX, if played out in a scenario that has some significant story behind it is what you want. There’s much more impact in something you have dedicated and devoted to these people. It’s not just a showcase for FX.”

“It’s about a great story that when something visually arresting happens, you’re much more invested in it. So yeah, for me, it’s been a complete eye opener on how to create these FX and integrate them into what I direct and into the show.”

Eight years and 100 episodes later, the passionate filmmaker often looks back on his work and finds ways to improve it.

“I always say having the opportunity to revisit anything that you do, any artist will tell you that this is a chance to just make it better,” Nicotero said. “That’s kind of what we do on The Walking Dead, season after season. You know, we have this genre and we have to keep it fresh. We have to change what the zombies look like to keep it fresh, we have to make sure we’re not repeating ourselves. I love that challenge to go back and then decide to change the color of the blood or do better zombie bites and it’s continued to make us better learn how to refine our craft.”

MORE WALKING DEAD: Season 8 Trailer Details Revealed / FTWD Teases Mutant Super Zombie / Steven Yeun Breaks Silence Since Leaving TWD / Is Jadis Going To A Whisperer? / FTWD: Who Killed Spoiler Revealed / Ross Marquand Promises A Massive TWD Season 8 / How Fear’s Madison Might Be Connected To TWD

Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 pm ET on AMC. The Walking Dead will return for its eighth season in October of 2017. The first trailer is expected to arrive at San Diego Comic Con in July. For complete coverage and insider info all off-season long, follow @BrandonDavisBD on Twitter.

(via ComingSoon)