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Post by jadenh on Feb 3, 2020 19:30:21 GMT -5
Like an MST3K spiritual successor or something like that? I mean, I'm basically working on one right now, but I'd be down to help with whatever you're working on.
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Post by BoB3K on Feb 6, 2020 13:06:47 GMT -5
Maybe some of us should get together and brainstorm a new format. One which does homage to the entire genre but takes a fresh direction. No ties to the old schools, but doors open for them. Not working to steal acclaim, but to build upon it. Incognito Cinema Warriors XP was a pretty good show that stayed true to the formula but did their own thing. They were pretty good too, but then they went to shorts only, and then they couldn't get the show picked up or make any money, and so now are just on youtube riffing video games, and I'm guessing no money.You can never stray too far from the original format, as you will be watching cheesy movies, and there has to be a reason for watching them, although not too mean of a reason or else it takes the fun out of it. My idea I had years ago (I probably have it in a post somewhere else on this forum) -- A group of boat/plane crash survivors are stranded on a desert island. Obviously you can ham up the gilligan's island references, and in fact, the silly plot is that somehow you have a working TV and VCR (made from coconuts?), and of course randomly (like every week) a new movie washes up on shore (or maybe a silly cartoony crate, that they show them rummage through for a movie to watch), and Sunday night is movie night. Maybe one of the survivors forces everyone to watch as it 'raises morale'. Bored out of their minds, they of course watch these movies and riffing ensues. I'm not sure how you fit puppets into it, but I'm not actually sure you need puppets for MST3K, what you do need is characters. I think that last little touch that will keep stuff like RiffTrax and CT and others from ever being a true successor to MST3K is that there are no characters to build on. Different characters can have different riffing styles, and different roles in host segments, and are just more things for viewers to attach to -- your building a world here, a silly, cheesy world as silly as the movies you're watching. You could have many characters, some good, some bad, you could move into like Lost parady here, having them vie against each other, come and go mysteriously, etc. And maybe, different ones sit in on the movie each week--this would give an opportunity to have a little more freedom in the writers room, and a way for different cast to try out riffing. Maybe different riffers are better/more fun, for different kinds of movies.
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Post by joedonmitchellbaker on Mar 26, 2020 16:55:12 GMT -5
Waterworld would be perfect for that sort of format...
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47
Nanite
I'm weird — which results in creativity!
Posts: 48
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Post by 47 on Apr 19, 2020 11:48:37 GMT -5
I've been busy with my upcoming RPG, but here were some highlights from my, very perfunctory, premise:
Some unknown entity, possibly a brain–in–a–jar or AI or some such, freely admits that it wants to recreate MST3k to satisfy its own infatuation with the concept and to stoke its own sense of importance. So, it traps people inside a cybernet, after a fashion, and makes them watch movies while demanding that they riff said movies. The performers could play either fictional characters or themselves. Some of the ‘conscripts’ play along or attempt to appease their captor, but others are indolent or fully insolent. Their host routinely contributes its own riffs in a somewhat pitiable attempt to keep the momentum going. Lots of self‐referential humor, i·e making fun of the format as much as the movies. The prisoners can escape or be ejected, which allows for the cast to change. Edit: I forgot to clarify that ‘self-referential’ is how the characters involved are aware of their plight and of such as MST3k existing in-universe, but nothing “meta” or breaking the fourth wall: Characters do not know for certain that they are being viewed by an audience, and even if they suspect it they don't know enough to ask for help freeing them. Very little scripting or previewing, preferring genuine improv — sometimes failed riffs are funnier than prepared ones, especially if other cast members respond to them or try to give emotional support. We don't need expert comedians, either — you can be flippant with almost anything. A few of the prisoners could be able to occasionally hijack the video display system and insert their own images … the ol' mustache on the face gag, and the like. Edit: The AI, or whatever it is, does not approve of such disruptions, and uses them as an excuse to add its own virtual avatar and riffs in an effort to get things back on track. Those who violate such prohibitions are assigned unpleasant duties, such as cleaning grimier areas of the prison or assisting the AI write its inconsistent memoirs, as punishment off-screen; complaining and joking about it would be done later in the episodes. Breaks during the movies, and scenes between the movies, would be done with both cyberspace avatars and live–action. Combination of security cam footage and patrolling robots, but could also be entirely in cyberspace. Exactly when and where could be explored during the series: is this a facility somewhere on Earth; is it a future à la Neuromancer?
Obviously, I attempted to build upon both Cinematic TItanic and Riff Trax, as well as MST3k, but there is a whole slew of conceptual predecessors which went into conceiving this premise.
Copyright and licensing? Well, it would use an approach like Riff Trax does, but more elaborate: requiring a multimedia player able to halt and resume playback at any point. It would be complex, but something could be written up to composite two video streams together.
If somebody reading this wishes to take these ideas and run with them, I have more.
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BoB3K, your premise is very good. Simple, effective. All it would need is a location and a few cheap props. We'd want a few indie filmmakers and actors who would be willing to add to their resumé rather than demand monetary compensation up–front; anyone else wouldn't stick with it and would be too much of a hassle.
Also with the edit: BoB3K's idea is much better than mine. The costliest hurdle would be a decent location, but overall it would be much easier to storyboard and assemble. I don't have anything more to add, really.
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