SplatterTribe:  Introduce and compare yourself to something that can be used to kill a Zombie then explain why the comparison...

Ben Franklin: In a small area of course the faithful Shotgun....great for small areas and to blow off heads.... If I was far away it would be the M-60 ....and I think we all know what that would do.
 

SplatterTribe: Tell us exactly what it is you do... and what else you are involved in...

Ben Franklin: I take regular 1/6 scale figures and transform them into Zombies. This is what I do on my free time to give back to the horror community. I am a huge and avid fan of this genre and all things related. I am also an avid collector of Comics, Statues, figures...ect.
 

SplatterTribe: How did you first get started making Zombies?

Ben Franklin: I have always had a love for the Horror world as well as Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comics, Art, and similar interests. As a kid I would be the one to walk a few miles to the local corner store to get my horror books, cards ect. I would yearn for the day when Monster movies would come on TV (like Godzilla, King Kong, Wolfman ect.).

My favorite artist in comics as a kid was Mike Ploog ...who was famous in the Marvel Horror world in the 70's. This feeling never left me ....as I grew up.

So .... I noticed there were not many companies that made Zombies (which I love). I was inspired by Sideshow Collectible's "The Dead" line of figures....but they only made a few and haven't made others in a while. I also was inspired by a Company called Heroes Club ...The Art of Toys ( www.artoftoy.com ) . They take older toys and restore them, as well as, offer a huge collection of models, figures, statues and anime. The owner (Robin) has been a great influence helping me with painting and ideas. I therefore decided to start my own line of figures learning from scratch and trial and error. I have been collecting since being a kid....but I have only been making figures for others over the last 2-3 years. My collection has grown immensely and the interest in my figures seems to grow everyday. Everyone I meet is so interested in how they can have they're own Zombie.

Zombies are a craze now....and it is so cool to have your own ZOMBIE. I ask what they (customers) have in mind and then research and try to accommodate. If it is possible... I provide a quote and with a deposit start the process.
 

SplatterTribe: Who has the Zombie Kill of the Week?

Ben Franklin: Definitely my Son.... He a video game extraordinaire... he is 15 and honestly a pro. I love to watch him play.... and he is definitely someone you want on your side when the Zombie Armageddon happens.

SplatterTribe: What's the first step to creating the Zombies you create, and what are some of your methods?

Ben Franklin: For example ... if the figure was a GI Joe... I would first sculpt into the figure adding teeth, wounds, scabs, scrapes etc... then I would prime and paint. It also involves searching all over many sites for parts and accessories to complete the figure. This part is important because it adds that special touch. The sculpting and painting is the hard part. Think of almost like Dr. Frankenstein fitting pieces from here and there together to make a complete figure.... my process is the same! I take great pride in searching for a similar looking figure to the request & parts come from all over the world.

Everyone I meet is so interested in how they can have they're own Zombie.

SplatterTribe: How long does it usually take to create a Zombie, and how many do you think you have made so far?

Ben Franklin: The longest part is waiting for parts. One Zombie takes many orders from here and there. For example ...the figure might come from China...but an accessory from Korea, a pair of shoes from Hong Kong, and a gun from Arizona. Once I have all the parts, which is about 2-3 weeks, It takes about 3 days to make & finish a Zombie. I have probably made about 60 Zombies.

SplatterTribe: Can you mess up a figure when you are turning them into Zombies?

Ben Franklin: Of course...if you don't sculpt just right .... you will get a deformed Zombie...Ha Ha

SplatterTribe: What would you do if you where standing in line at a gas station and the guy in front of you unknowingly dropped...

Ben Franklin:
--A picture of you with a Red X scribbled on it and NEXT written at the bottom? I would eat his brains....because that would probably mean I'm a Zombie if I had an X on my pic.
--The most excellent nude 1/6 scale action figure just ripe for the taking?  I would say ....HI I'm a Zombie Maker...here's my card...If you give me this I will make you into a Zombie
--Your wallet? I would say ...."Hey that's my Wallet"
--His arm? I would run....because the infection would have started.
--One of your action figures? I would say.... I would buy that for a dollar!
--His ID and it says Kanye West and he's really eye-ballin' that microphone the cashier uses to tell people when their ready for a fill-up. I mean, he is REALLY eye-ballin it! I would say HEY BRO.....would you like a Taylor Swift Zombie?

SplatterTribe: What comes to mind when you hear the word SplatterTribe?

Ben Franklin: Lord of the Flies!

SplatterTribe: If you gonna make a Zombie figure based on what comes to mind when you hear the word SplatterTribe, what would it look like?

Ben Franklin: A bunch of Cannibal Zombies!

SplatterTribe: What famous person would make for e a good Zombie Action Figure beside the obvious Ben Franklin and why? Any others?

Ben Franklin: *Actually Ben Franklin (Our founding Father) is my next Zombie...Ha
*Charlie Sheen is on a roll and kinda acting like a Zombie lately....
(he would have sunken eyes, tiger blood and a tag that says "WINNING")
*Jessica Simpson because I'm in love with her... (call me)
* Kobe Bryant...is one that I'm working on... but I got to find the right figure. (Instead of a basketball he would have a human brain to dribble)

SplatterTribe: Have you sold a lot of figures and what is your pricing?

Ben Franklin: Although I have been collecting since being a kid....I have only been making Zombies for about 2 years... with little advertising I would say I have sold about 30. Thanks to the video game...Call of Duty (Nazi Zombies are a fan favorite). Pricing is purely based on what it cost for the figure, accessories & supplies. For example some figures, parts etc...are much rarer than others. My Zombie figures usually go for anywhere between $99 = $199. My profit margin is actually small compared to the costs to make. My collection consists of about 1/2 purchased and 1/2 custom made by me. It all depends on what the customer wants and what it costs for me to get. I will not get a poor quality figure because quality and customer satisfaction is important to me.

SplatterTribe: Do you believe in...

Ben Franklin:
--in ghosts? Yes...every since Poltergeist.
--in UFOs? Of course...didn't you see Close Encounters...?
--in conspiracy theories? Only if Mel Gibson is in it.
--in Sasquatch? I did ... Until I killed him in Yosemite!
--in Zombies? Hey now...those are fighting words...What do you think...?
--that the world will end in 2012? The world will not end but the Zombie apocalypse will begin.
--in 2nd chances? Oh Yes...just ask Britney Spears
--in miracles? Yes...I was around in 1989 (on the ice)
--in magic? I have still never figured out how that lady lived after being sawed in half in Vegas.
--in Karma? Yes...if not in this world ...in the underworld
--that we landed on the moon? Of course...funny ...astronaut Zombie is on the list to make.
--in reincarnation? As a Zombie of course
--that dreams mean something? Only when I'm sleeping next to a hot chick.
--in fate? Only late at night after work with women.
--in world peace? Not really.... how can there be peace with Zombies running around.
--everything happens for a reason? Why do you think I'm making Zombies now.
--in déjà vu? You just said that.
--in the butterfly effect? Never saw it....but I did like "The Fly"

SplatterTribe: I ask each person I interview if they have a good, random question to ask the next. That being said, this question comes from photographer Brian Cade.

"If you were the Boss and getting ready to fire a person that claimed to be a psychic, would you wait till the next day and say to them "why are you still here"?.."

Ben Franklin: No ...I would fire them and then say... Of course I'll go out with you...but not as co-workers!

SplatterTribe: Do you have a good, random question I can ask the next person I interview?

Ben Franklin: If the Zombie Armageddon began and your wife got bitten.... Would you blow her head off....? chain her to a post...? or cut off her arms and legs and keep her on the couch...?
 

SplatterTribe: Do you have a question you would like to ask me?

Ben Franklin: If you could be any horror figure, monster ect...what/who would it be and why...?

(Tribe Note: That's a hard one... Hmm... I always like that creepy little doll in those of Trilogy Of Terror movies. The movies, or TV shows, or whatever it was wasn't the best in the world, but I always thought that if I could be that little creepy doll, they would still be making sequels! If not that doll, I would have been one of those Teletubbies, 'cause they where pretty creepy....Actually scratch that, those things where just waaay too creepy.... I'll stick with the T.O.T. doll!)

SplatterTribe: If you where falling from a cliff, what would you prefer to land on and why?

Ben Franklin: A giant Air Cushion... I want to live as the undead...Silly
 

SplatterTribe: Seriously though, is cremation for sissies?

Ben Franklin: Oh yeah.....Zombies don't like Cremation. I nice coffin is the trick.

SplatterTribe: Song writing time, I wrote 2 lines to a song and then Brian Cade wrote 2 more...It's now your turn for 2 more...

Me:
I could see the cold coming down
by the look in her eyes

Brian Cade:
in that moment I knew
We'd say good bye

Your Turn:

Ben Franklin:

But then she said......?
You've LOST that LOVIN FEELING! WHOAAO That LOVIN Feeling!

SplatterTribe: Any closing comments concerning anything you want said, know, printed or shown?

Ben Franklin: Although I haven't been doing this very long...I sincerely love what I do and know: YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH ZOMBIES.

Most of my promotion is thru my Ben Franklin Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001279611209

Funny...I am related and a true descendant of Ol' Ben as well. (Honest) ....

I have a website that is currently being revised... www.ZombieDoc.com 

Most people though contact me thru Facebook.

My email is: Zwhisperer@gmail.com  If your interested in a Zombie....just email me or friend me on Facebook.

I would like to thank my Mom & Dad for raising me to be a good Zombie, My son - who is the best Zombie Killer I know, and my step son who helped keep the kid in me alive. Also Heroes Club and Sideshow collectibles for bringing realism to the collecting world. Marvel & DC comics...and to all the young inspiring artist in the world.... reach for your passion and what you love to do.... because .... when the Zombie invasion begins.....everything becomes.... ITCHY, ITCHY, TASTY, TASTY...!