BR maker of ‘Walking Dead’ masks out $200,000 after deal falls through

A local company that made approximately 245 silicone masks for The Walking Dead: Escape—which premiered Thursday night at the River Center—is out more than $200,000 since the producer of the event decided not to purchase the masks it had ordered for the zombie-themed obstacle course. Diana Branton says her company, Composite Effects (CFX), had a deal with Skybound EXP to produce the masks, which were to be used not only in Baton Rouge but on the event’s nationwide tour, and that the companies had “an emerging partnership and were working together on promoting and branding the event.” What CFX did not have, however, was a written contract with Skybound EXP. Branton was notified Wednesday, when the California-based producer arrived in Baton Rouge, that it would not buy the masks but would rent them instead for $3,500. “This was a partnership,” says Branton. “We were not a vendor. We have a paper trail and emails that shows this was a binding agreement.” She concedes, however, there is no formal contract. Branton, whose company recently landed a licensing deal with HBO to mass-produce products for the popular show Game of Thrones, says she is considering all her options–including litigation–but is hopeful Skybound EXP will “ultimately live up to its end of the agreement.” Skybound EXP CEO David Isaacs did not return calls for comment in time for publication. —Stephanie Riegel