Behind the scenes

The Walking Dead is full of surprises — and some of them happen off-screen

Things you might find surprising about The Walking Dead:

1

Raleigh Studios in Senoia, where most of The Walking Dead is filmed, is a 57-hectare spread used exclusively by the show. Most of the different communities are created and filmed on the property except for The Kingdom, which is filmed at the former Fort McPherson military base in Atlanta. Another community — The Oceanside — was created on Tybee Island, on the coast of Georgia.

2

The fictional town of Alexandria is a real neighbourhood in Senoia. Just four families live there, while the rest of the homes are vacant and used as mini sets where some of the characters live. The real-life residents have signed non-disclosure agreements and have restrictions on when they can come and go and when they can have visitors.

3

The actors who play zombies use conditioner and K-Y Jelly to give their hair an unwashed appearance.

4

The production meeting room is a small theatre with a conference tablet. The walls are lined with photos of actors whose characters have died. “Our Grateful Dead” now occupies two walls.

5

The Heap — a giant mountain of trash ruled over by Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh) — took three weeks to create.

6

The location where Gabriel’s church stood is now an empty dirt and wooded lot and served as the same set where the final episode of season 6 filmed Glenn and Abraham’s demise. Executive producer Tom Luse says it’s “pretty much hallowed ground.”

7

The show’s props crew is creating a line of kid-friendly toys.

8

The actors often produce a version of scenes in which they use the F-word. The cleaned-up version is aired on TV, while the other is used for DVD versions.

9

Actor Norman Reedus is close with Greg Nicotero, a special effects master and the show’s producer and sometime director. They send each other songs to explain the emotion they want to bring to a scene. Before Daryl and Beth burned down an old shack, Reedus sent Nicotero Very Nervous and Love by J Mascis. When Daryl stabbed his brother Merle, Nicotero sent a Willie Nelson song. Nicotero and Reedus even opened a restaurant in Senoia together: Nic & Normans.

10

Chandler Riggs, who plays Carl Grimes is an Atlanta native and has grown up on the set. He’s now headed to college: the University of Georgia.

The Associated Press

AMC The Walking Dead’s production room features photos of all the characters who have died on the series, including Glenn Rhee, left, played by Steven Yeun.