By BRIANA HARRIS / Staff Writer

PELHAM – In a post-apocalyptic world where there’s one blood type needed for survival, everyone will do whatever it takes to get it.

That’s the world executive producers Kevin Wayne and Milorad Djomlija created in their television series, Blood Type. Wayne, who is also the director, and Djomlija are the founders of the Pelham-based company, Kaizen Filmworks, which produced the series.

Wayne and Djomlija play main characters in the series that centers on vampires and a rag-tag group of humans who have teamed up to fight mysterious creatures that plague Earth.

The series will premiere at the Shelby County Arts Council on Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. – doors open at 7 p.m. The premiere will feature wine, food, a jazz band, merchandise and an autograph and photo session with the show’s cast.

Wayne said season one of the series consists of five 12-minute episodes that were all filmed in Alabama. However, Wayne said the series will run continuously at the premiere.

Wayne, a Birmingham native who has been an actor since 1992 and a filmmaker since 1999, said the show was filmed in Montevallo, Hoover, downtown Birmingham and Wetumpka.

He said 70 percent of the show was shot at Spring Creek Prop Farm in Montevallo. The more than 300-acre farm, owned by Len Ward, offers space for filming and props for rental.

Wayne said his ultimate goal is to bring film to Alabama. The entire cast is made up of Alabamians, with the exception of Don Swayze, who is the brother of the late actor Patrick Swayze.

“Every time I get an acting job, I’m going to Georgia or New Orleans,” he said. “Alabama has the necessary landscapes to film here – we have beaches, woods and scenic locations.”

Wayne said he’s had the idea for Blood Type in his mind since 2004. It was initially meant to be a web series, but over time he said he realized that it deserved to be more.

He and Djomlija spent $80,000 of their own money to produce the series. But for season two, which is expected to cost $250,000, Wayne said they’re looking for investors.

Wayne said actor Lew Temple, who is most notable for his role as Locus Fender in the action film, Domino, and as Axel in the third season of The Walking Dead, has plans to come aboard for season two, which will start filming in fall 2017.

Wayne said the series is being shopped around to television networks with the hope that one will want to air the series. After its premiere at the Shelby County Arts Council, Blood Type will play at WorkPlay Theater on Oct. 8 and in movie theaters in Chicago.

Wayne said the first season of the series is dedicated to Dallas Taylor, a main character in the series who is also the lead singer of the band that wrote the theme song for the series.

“He was in a four-wheeler accident and we almost lost him,” Wayne said. “We’re going to live stream the premiere for him because he can’t be there.”

Wayne said the show is almost sold out. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on the Shelby County Arts Council website, Shelbycountyartscouncil.com.