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Saving the Dog from Clay Zombies with Jake Jolley

Writer's picture: Misfit ParadeMisfit Parade


On this week’s Filmmaker Friday episode of the Messed Up Movies Podcast, we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Jake Jolley—writer, director, actor, and mad genius behind Clay Zombies. If you haven’t seen it, drop what you’re doing, go to clayzombies.com, and prepare to be amazed. Why? Because Jake has done the unthinkable: he created a zombie apocalypse epic on a micro-budget, using clay.



Here’s how the conversation went down and why Jake's creative journey should inspire indie filmmakers everywhere.


Zombies, Clay, and Genius-Level Ingenuity


Jake’s love affair with the zombie genre started, as many do, with Dawn of the Dead and a marathon of The Walking Dead. But when faced with the challenge of making his own undead epic, Jake had one tiny hurdle: no money. Traditional zombie makeup and effects were off the table. His solution? Stop-motion clay zombies. “Why not?” he thought, with the same reckless determination as someone running into a horde to save their dog. And guess what? It worked.


Jake’s use of clay isn’t just a budget-friendly workaround—it’s a narrative and aesthetic choice that makes Clay Zombies feel entirely unique in a genre saturated with, well, the walking (and running) dead. The stop-motion adds charm, humor, and unexpected moments of terror.



The Big (Clay) Picture


One of the standout qualities of Clay Zombies is its scope. Jake didn’t let a lack of resources limit his vision. The movie includes massive zombie hordes, a helicopter scene, a cult-leader villain, and even a trip to Paris. This isn’t your typical one-location indie horror flick, and that ambition is what sets Jake apart.


Sure, there were challenges (20 shooting days, countless late nights animating clay zombies frame by frame), but Jake leaned into his constraints and made them his creative superpower. “The limitations birthed creativity,” he told us. He didn’t just make a zombie movie—he made a zombie universe.


The Secret Sauce: Passion & Perseverance


Jake’s advice for aspiring indie filmmakers? Make something you’re passionate about because you’re the one who will have to stick with it through the long, lonely process of bringing it to life. He also shouted out the ultimate DIY filmmaker bible, Robert Rodriguez’s Rebel Without a Crew.


And Jake is walking the walk. From building spaceship sets for commercials to animating zombies with nothing but a clicker and a whole lot of patience, his commitment to handcrafted storytelling is a masterclass in passion over polish.


What’s Next for Jake Jolley?


Jake isn’t slowing down. He’s touring a 3D version of Clay Zombies in January and is already deep into pre-production for his next project, Your Pizza is Going to Be Late Because Aliens. (Yes, that’s the real title, and yes, we’re already in line to see it.)



Why We Loved This Episode


Talking with Jake was a reminder that the heart of indie filmmaking isn’t about having the best gear or the biggest budget. It’s about telling the story only you can tell, using whatever tools are at your disposal. Also, if Sheriff Locke doesn’t get his own giant mech to battle a kaiju clay zombie in the sequel, we riot.


Make sure to check out Clay Zombies and follow Jake’s journey on Instagram at @clay_zombies.

Until next time, keep it weird and messed up. ✌️

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