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  Here we set the record straight on several controversial issues related to us. |
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| Scripts Where did you store the script for The Phalanx of the White Rider? Where did you keep the script for S is for Caesar during production? Technical Information The Forbidden Fruit The Surge One Action Superstar Lightsabers Robots The White Rider Other Crap
We kept it in a brown paper lunch bag with a skull and crossbones on it. We kept it there until Marc lost it.
It kept getting in the way so we slyly tucked it in the 4 lb. bag of cookies. You can see it in there right before Blake gets hit by the White Rider.
The answer is threefold: During the shooting of Mogwai Fear Connolly, Connolly was anxious to get the ordeal over with. We were setting up the camera for the "lunges" shot, when Connolly began moving lights around. Now Connolly is a Marketing major, with no formal gaffer training whatsoever. Brian and AJ stared at him for a second as he earnestly positioned a light in the corner, with pitiable ineptitude. Then Brian asked Connolly if he was going to "light this shot for us" (in a real patronizing tone). Connolly looked hurt and confused. Brian tried to glare at Connolly but then began to laugh incontrollably. The mirthful AJ followed suit and production came to a standstill for over 5 minutes. You had to be there. It was a long day. I'm sorry. Anyway, a few weeks later, Connolly was helpful in developing the El Chupacabra concept. In the digital version of the movie, Connolly is missing from the credits. For very complex technical reasons, this is too much trouble to fix. Connolly was not happy about this. A peace accord was reached whereby Brian would credit Connolly in all future movies as "Lighting Consultant" - thus satisfying Connolly's lust for fame and Brian's eccentric sense of fairness.
Because we don't care. Unfortunately video is not a modem friendly medium. When we make movies, we want them to be enjoyed as thoroughly as possible. This means being able to see facial expressions and hearing hi fi sound. This means big files. Although we could compress the hell out of our movies so that people with modems could watch more easily, frankly they wouldn't even be worth watching. Some would argue that that is the case already but their opinion is incorrect. Our independent studies have concluded that realplayer and its kind suck. Streaming media is unreliable, often pausing to buffer or disconnect. The video is all blotchy and blurry. The sound is thin and tinny. The audio/video synchronization is bad. Then if you want to rewind or watch the movie again, you have to reconnect, rebuffer etc. Forget it. I don't want anyone seeing my movies like that. It's not worth it. If you have a modem and want to see our movies then you can either wait or ask for a CD*. The mpeg compression we use not only maintains high A/V quality, but the files can be played on any computer - mac, pc, and linux, all without a special player. We will conduct another round of testing with a focus on Sorensen Quicktime compression. Many will remember the fairly awesome size/dopeness ratio of the Phantom Menace trailer off the starwars.com web site. We believe this was accomplished with Sorenson Quicktime codec. Testing will commence soon. We will do our best to bring you the highest quality with the smallest filesize. * Asking for a CD does not guarantee that a CD will be sent to you.
The early stuff was shot on a Sony 8mm. Then we switched to a more expensive but somehow lower quality Sony Hi8. Currently we are using a Sony TRV900.
Many bitter people complain about the recurring heater in this movie. Let it be known that the heater does two things: #1 - It delays and breaks up the action and teases the audience, thereby creating uncertainty and suspense (or I guess resentment). #2 - It cuts away from the numerous times the camera found Jason Harris Leinwand (Tyrone 'Fuckin' Hackford) outside the door, assing around. Because he didn't think he was getting enough screen time, Jason was compelled to wave, stick his tongue out, and press his nipple against the window. The flying handheld camera couldn't help but catch this idiot out of character in some of the best takes. Yes, we retook the shots marred by Leinwand's antics, but the performances just weren't as good. So you can thank Leinwand for the heater that son of a bitch.
Contrary to public opinion, steam heaters, even old ones, are actually designed not to explode. In the case of the Myles Standish Annex heater, steam pressure builds up and vents in an intermittent and annoying fashion. Thus in the interrogation room, it is quiet for a couple minutes and then the heater whistles like a pot of boiling water. But never is there a risk of explosion. I wish this had been more clear in the movie. The problem I guess is that you can't make out the steam due to the lack of picture detail. Having lived with this shrieking heater phenomenon for so long, I took it for granted that people would understand that it wasn't going to explode. Even if Connolly lights a cigarette. Steam is not flammable.
More or less. For each scene he was given an intention and a suggestion. Then he took off from there. Except for "Hey Captain Assbitch...why don't you get us some drinks." - that was scripted.
Several viewers have reported "continuity errors" in the Surge video. Their yapping will hereby cease. Error #1 - The clock doesn't move when Marc is shaking the can. Shouldn't it move a lot to show the passage of time as Marc violently brings the beverage to critical mass? No. Surge is a very potent beverage and it only needs 20 seconds or so of shaking to reach its explosive potential. The clock moved a little bit, as much as it would in real life. This attention to detail heightens the realism of the piece and thereby allows the audience to suspend disbelief and enjoy themselves. Error #2 - When Marc brings the can of Surge outside, he sips the can he's holding. Later, he opens the same can and it explodes. If he sipped it then, the explosion should've already happened, no? No. Marc's character in this piece is very cunning and devious. Clearly, when he sipped the can outside, he was only faking in order to make the Surge seem safe to his enemy. Without this artifice, Brian wouldn't have even approached the can. Error #3 - The fiery explosion seems to take place next to a train track in the middle of a city whereas the rest of the movie was set in a suburban neighborhood. That's strange. Why wouldn't you just blow up Marc's house? We needed a helicopter to get the wide aerial shot of the fireball. However, we couldn't get flight clearance for the suburban neighborhood, so we had to detonate a fake house in downtown LA.
We (Brian) forgot to include this in the credits: "Brenda Stubbert" by Ashley McIsaac.
Yes. That's why it says "TRUE STORY." Never doubt us again.
There are better ways to do it, but for that demo Marc, using Photoshop, wasted like 3 hours painting a green line into every frame over the golf stick he was holding.
Because everyone else does. Yes.
Because Blake's robot power matrix interferes with the operation of the video camera.
The White Rider is a mystery on wheels. No one even knows how fast it could really go. This question should get in line behind all the others.
No. It belongs to Micky's friend Scott Salley. The White Rider has been dead since the end of the millenium. And so ended the age of the White Rider.
No adequate explanation has been found for this.
The White Rider is a legendary machine. It was born of uncompromising Swiss-iron craftsmanship. Furthermore it possessed 3 sacred qualities: it was a wagon, it had a manual transmission, and it had rear wheel drive. These things result in excellent weight ditribution/handling, telepathic slide control, nuanced deceleration through engine braking, vast storage space and the ability to peel out at will. Furthermore, the tame Volvo public image is a complimentary license to tear around with little fear of the fuzz. Despite its persistant rust, muffler, suspension, and electrical problems the White Rider was, for me, the height of automotive refinement.
When Brian went to college, his parents sold it to a junklord out of fear and cowardice. Brian's Gramma was instrumental in the wicked betrayal, advising his mother to dump it behind his back.
No, Jeff wouldn't even let himself be run over. We had to use a couple of 2x4's as a stunt double.
Regrettably, it was the best one I could find on the Internet at the time. A couple weeks ago I discovered the perfect beep had been on my computer the whole time in my Sound Blaster Live's driver directory.
Our lovely anonymous camera operator, Karen Godnick, made a couple of grievous blunders. First, she pointed the camera at a chair during the actual taking of the behemoth, and then she walked out of the cafeteria ahead of Brian as he casually strolled out with the duffel bag. It was a high tension situation and she wasn't thinking clearly. I can't blame her. But maybe you can. On the bright side, the missing footage allows you to exercise your imagination, which is better than having the footage anyway....right guys? right? WRONG
Kyle, Brian's roommate Freshman year and camera operator for the Cardigan, participated in a number of dubious enterprises to make easy money. One of these was selling electric scooters. He was given one to drive around in order to attract attention and potential customers. Since Kyle rode it only once, and kept it under his bed, Brian couldn't resist taking it and zooming around in the dorm while Kyle was gone. It was so strange, Brian felt he would be a damn fool not to use it in a movie. Today, Brian feels like a damn fool anyway.
From Boston Costume for $80 (rental). It was comprised of a gorilla suit, monster gloves, and a vampire space gorilla mask.
Soon is a relative term. It can denote a period of time anywhere between 20 and 90 years.
In the early days of yore, we would strap Blake to the roof of the White Rider and drive around recklessly until he yelled out something good. Today we use the same formula but with Brian's little brother, Conor.
It was shot in the Loews Nickelodeon Theater in Boston after hours. AJ and Dave Bettencourt worked there and they got permission from their manager, who is bald.
Yes. If you agree, tell Marc because he's obstinate.
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Where did you store the script for The Phalanx of the White Rider?
