If someone makes a Kang the Conquerer reference in average company, does it make a sound?

[thehefner]

One of the really frustrating things about being a Big Flaming Geek like me is when you come upon something so brilliant, so hilarious, that you want to share it with the world... and then you realize that almost nobody will get it. Or at least, the bulk of it.

Take for example, this new amateur short (like, 5 min) film I found:

ULTIMATE EYE FOR THE VERTIGO GUY, wherein Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar give John Constantine a makeover.

See, that description alone? I've already lost, like, half of you. To get the full effect and all the references, you have to have some knowledge of Bendis, Millar, Constantine, Chuck Austen, PLANETARY, Yorick Brown from Y-THE LAST MAN, and Spider Jerusalem from TRANSMETROPOLITAIN. And that's just what I remember from the one time I watched it! So as much as I want others to see the fun of this movie (which is surprisingly higher in acting quality than most comic-related fan films... which might not be saying much), I really have to wonder who else would enjoy this?

It's one thing I do worry about for stuff like The Hefner Monologues... being too geeky so as to outright alienate whole groups of people. Can I make your average Joe appreciate things like my tendency to to curse Reed Richards? Will anyone care when I say that my girlfriend and I bonded over talking about what sex would be like between Two-Face and Typhoid Mary? Kevin Smith did a pretty admirable job making a pretty well plotless movie rife with geekery that made a mainstream impact, but then again, most people have seen STAR WARS even if they aren't obsessed. How much can someone get away with? Can it still be funny even if someone doesn't get the exact references?

In related fan-film geekery that only a handful of you will get, if this were real I would SO be a part of it:

MARVEL SECRET WARS RE-ENACTMENT SOCIETY.

spacechild and kali921 especially, take note.

Comments

[frumple.livejournal.com]

That was a pisser!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Which one? (and "pisser" is a good thing, yes?) I'm guessing the latter; I'm shocked that I didn't think of you first when I found it!

[frumple.livejournal.com]

The Ultimate Eye for the Vertigo Guy.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Got it. Huzzah! Definitely see the second if you get the chance. I totally think you'll dig that.

[frumple.livejournal.com]

Just saw it. *snicker* The truth is, that I am sure somewhere a group of people are thinking that it would be a great idea.

[tompurdue.livejournal.com]

I got at least some of it, and you're right that it's pretty funny, especially in concept.

As usual the first rule of film-making applies: "Cut it in half."

Whatever it is, sight unseen, it's too long by a factor of two. Kill your babies. Never show for 5 seconds what the audience can see in 2. Cut the first 20% and the last 10% from every shot, and probably repeat.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Never heard that rule before, but it's an excellent one. Lord knows I always need an editor to pare down my long-winded redundnacy down to its bare essentials while still being artistic.

Did you watch the second one? That one stands even better on its own in some ways. It reeks of podcast production values, but the humor shines through for me.

[seangrimm.livejournal.com]

I don't follow how 'ultimating' Constantine makes him into Spider. However anything that makes fun of Brian Bendis is funny to me.

This is one Hell of a Blazer.

[bimmin.livejournal.com]

I'm happier than a girl with the most Pocky who just won a 'happiest girl with the most Pocky' contest. As you like to say: thankee! *^_^*

Kalimash at Baha

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

ok, saving both links for when i am not at work. actually, the Ulti eye bit i already stole from SD to watch later. but i'm waaay interested in the Secret War bit.. is it beyonder sw, or nick fury sw?

anyway.. i do know what you mean. i often make references that no one gets.

but there is this, Heffie.. there is this..

what do you do when you have something that you want to be able to express that barely anyone will get unless it is explained in long, drawn-out points?

you make a fucking hefner monologue about it, potzer.

yes, the endless obscure references need to be whittled at until they are at least 50ish % more accessable to the general public (or they wont mean anything to anyone but Annie and i). but the very fact of your dilemma here is ripe for self-satirization.

you live in a world that is not accessable to the common man, because they dont know what an inhuman or a speed force or a negative zone is. therefore there is misunderstanding, therefore there is alienation, therefore there is angst... therefore there is comedy.

its yet another chapter, Heffie.

its your own satirical version of Darmok.

Shaka, when the walls fell.

get me?

Re: Kalimash at Baha

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Why, it's the only Secret War that matters, beeyotch! :)

And what you said... that's pretty damn good. I like that. You speak truth. I may need to incorporate that in a Hefner Monologue!

Now I really wanna see that Darmok episode...

Re: Kalimash at Baha

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

see how i did that, so geektastically?

i just referenced a star trek episode about people not being able to understand when someone speaks in references (ok, metaphors) in order to illustrate that you could write about people not being able to understand you because you speak in references.

damn, i think i just geeked myself out of my ability to get laid.

any minute now, some high school football players are going to come kick my ass.

anyway..

yeah, i think a brief HM about how people just dont understand you in that respect could be really good.

or you could just get me to stand at the side when you perform and translate, like a sign interpreter.

[little-dinosaur.livejournal.com]

Ahahaha.
I may have backed up to see them throw hot coffee in Chuck Austen's face a couple more times.

[gnort.livejournal.com]

Hef..Hef! Oni Press is going to print an Alpha Squad 7: Lady Nocturne: A Tek Jansen Adventure comic!!! There aren't any dates as of yet.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Aye, yeah, I heard that! I am intrigued.