Xixax Film Forum

Creative Corner => The Art Gallery => Topic started by: Gamblour. on August 05, 2009, 04:35:07 AM

Title: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The Internet Goes to Washington"
Post by: Gamblour. on August 05, 2009, 04:35:07 AM
My theatre troupe and production company just finished a new short film. Please waste time by watching it. Also, this is my first sort of foray into sound effects work, so any feedback in that regard would be cool. Thanks guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfa3cv3z-3g

(Vimeo link soonish)
Title: Re: New comedy short, "Baby in a Basket" (1:30)
Post by: RegularKarate on August 05, 2009, 11:17:52 AM
It was pretty funny.  My favorite part is when he drinks the bottle.

As far as the SFX go, did you create them all from scratch?  I think the mix is what makes it seem like they're actually sound effects as in they sound like effects dropped in instead of sounding natural.  They were full though, didn't sound all tinny and downloaded like a lot of SFX we drop into our videos sometimes.
Title: Re: New comedy short, "Baby in a Basket" (1:30)
Post by: Neil on August 05, 2009, 12:17:48 PM
Funny, I like that.  Great short.  Parenthood "from porn to milo and otis"
Title: Re: New comedy short, "Baby in a Basket" (1:30)
Post by: Gamblour. on August 05, 2009, 02:51:09 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on August 05, 2009, 11:17:52 AM
As far as the SFX go, did you create them all from scratch?  I think the mix is what makes it seem like they're actually sound effects as in they sound like effects dropped in instead of sounding natural.  They were full though, didn't sound all tinny and downloaded like a lot of SFX we drop into our videos sometimes.

A buddy of mine is a sound designer (engineer? dunno the terminology) and he has been collecting his own little database of sounds for his job. So these are all from libraries of sfx. I kind of wanted them to sound a bit pasted on top of what we're seeing, which may sound like a bullshit answer to cover the fact that I don't really know what I'm doing (which I don't). But, I wanted that elevated, almost cartoonish feel to it, so it's mostly intentional. Luckily I think it works with the material. In the future, I don't think I could away with it, so it's good for you to point that out now.

Thanks for watching guys.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts
Post by: Gamblour. on September 01, 2009, 09:17:15 AM
I'll just dedicate this thread to skits we're making.

Here's our latest. It's going to be featured at Dragon*Con this year. And by featured, I mean when you go to wait in line for three hours to see William Shatner, you can watch this film on TV screens ad nauseum!

It's a skit about Dungeons and Dragons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyXPQ6VMxqA
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts
Post by: matt35mm on September 01, 2009, 11:21:25 AM
But wait, that doesn't make D&D look very fun at all!  What a terrible ad!  I'm sorry to say but you failed to sell me this product.

...

It was a funny skit, but I think it could benefit from some quicker pacing, if you're still tweaking it.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts
Post by: Gamblour. on September 01, 2009, 12:46:42 PM
It's in its final form, as far as I know (it was my production partner who did it). Where are you talking about specifically? I know he wanted to maintain the tedium of actually playing D&D, so the bits of the gameplay are deliberately slower. But thanks for watching!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts
Post by: matt35mm on September 01, 2009, 03:43:14 PM
No problem, I always enjoy watching what you post!

I understand the idea of showing the tedium of the gameplay, yet the thing as a whole still felt slightly too slow for what the joke is.  Perhaps it's the fantasy parts or the transition from the fantasy to the reality that could benefit from trimming just a few frames, or if the fantasy parts were ridiculously dynamic instead of single stationary shots, just as the reality scenes are.  But these ideas aren't particularly helpful at this point and the video is very enjoyable as it is!  Thanks for sharing it!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts
Post by: Gamblour. on September 21, 2009, 01:57:59 PM
We all know the perils of texting while driving (and if you don't, watch this fucked up PSA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I54mlK0kVw)). However, often overlooked are the dangers of texting while walking.

Here's a short parody my production company made, Texting While Walking PSA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVjm6I9xi3U).
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: RegularKarate on September 21, 2009, 04:31:15 PM
I liked that one a good deal better than the first.  I like that most of the humor works without having scene the video it's parodying.

Good production quality for a sketch too.  Something my troupe's trying to get better at.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: Gamblour. on September 21, 2009, 06:16:17 PM
Cool, thanks man. I'm glad to hear that it works solo and the production values are good. I mean, we seriously do these things with like no money and little post- work. So that's good to know we've improved it (god knows there was a point where I thought it would never be good). This was probably the hardest edit I've ever had, too.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: matt35mm on September 21, 2009, 08:10:07 PM
I thought that was hilarious!  Great job!

I watched the original afterward and couldn't help laughing.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: pete on September 22, 2009, 01:46:03 PM
I haven't seen the original but I loved this.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: Gamblour. on September 22, 2009, 02:55:47 PM
Awesome, thanks guys. College Humor just contacted us about featuring this on their videos section, which is pretty fucking cool.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: Gamblour. on September 23, 2009, 12:56:35 PM
And here it is featured on CollegeHumor.com

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1921751
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new short on YouTube!
Post by: matt35mm on September 23, 2009, 08:04:50 PM
Awesome!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Gamblour. on October 05, 2009, 08:57:56 PM
Our video was featured on Bill O'Reilly as one of the Dumbest Things of the Week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3bg2Op1MSc

I couldn't be prouder. My life goal of being called "stupid" and "useless" by Bill O'Reilly is complete.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: pete on October 05, 2009, 09:17:54 PM
video doesn't work for me - anyone else?
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Pubrick on October 05, 2009, 09:35:12 PM
works fine for me.

that's hilarious, he doesn't even seem all that outraged about it. the woman says something that she was probably told to say anyway and then bill says it for her since she's not delivering it properly. also the guy thinks your in england.. uh, you're not, are you?

also, every time i see this thread i think it says BLACK HAND.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Gamblour. on October 06, 2009, 08:37:23 AM
Quote from: P|/_ on October 05, 2009, 09:35:12 PM
also the guy thinks your in england.. uh, you're not, are you?

Haha, nope. Atlanta. Yeah, if the accents aren't a dead give away, that guy on O'Reilly (or ANY of them) could've done a bit of research.

Quote from: P|/_ on October 05, 2009, 09:35:12 PM
also, every time i see this thread i think it says BLACK HAND.

That's what we were originally called...but it was already taken. A Spoonerism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoonerism) later and tada.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: RegularKarate on October 06, 2009, 11:52:55 AM
that link rick rolld me... who the eff rickrolls anymore and why would that happen with YOUR link?
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Pozer on October 06, 2009, 01:55:25 PM
that was awesome.

Quote from: P|/_ on October 05, 2009, 09:35:12 PM
also the guy thinks your in england..

also the guy thinks it's funny. he tried to blame his laughing at the clip on England special effects.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: RegularKarate on October 06, 2009, 04:32:01 PM
okay, worked for me this time.  That's great.  Congrats.  Only goes to show how funny it is.  Nuts like this only get mad at funny stuff.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Fernando on October 06, 2009, 05:35:00 PM
Quote from: Gamblour. on October 05, 2009, 08:57:56 PM
I couldn't be prouder. My life goal of being called "stupid" and "useless" by Bill O'Reilly is complete.

hahaha, awesome vid indeed, they almost did it like:

girl: ill tel ya bill its the funniest thing!
guy: yes! england is fun
douche o'really: so you didn't like it because it wasnt fun...
girl&guy: yes bill.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Gamblour. on October 20, 2009, 07:49:07 AM
A new short film:

Bop-It (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz2au8bYlkA)
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Neil on October 20, 2009, 09:29:12 AM
ha ha hah a hah a
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: RegularKarate on October 20, 2009, 12:02:37 PM
That's a funny video and I'm not trying to crap on it... I promise, but that's the premise of a bit done on Weekend Update in 2004.  Amy Poehler plays with the "Bump-it" and it starts getting sexual (saying "oh yeah" etc...) until it basically cums I think she even rolls her eyes while she's doing it.  It's very similar to your video.

I've been writing sketches for a couple years and this happens to me all the time.  I think I have an original idea then I find out SNL or Conan or someone already did almost the exact same thing.  Sometimes it's because I saw the bit and forgot about it, but most of the time it's because of legitimate parallel thinking.

Doesn't mean it's not a good bit, it's just something people will probably notice and say something about.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Gamblour. on October 20, 2009, 08:27:29 PM
Oh damn, that's crazy. Yeah, I know what you mean. We did a skit about waterboarding over a year ago that Colbert did something pretty similar to a few weeks later.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Neil on October 20, 2009, 11:16:45 PM
Whenever you look around and you seem to be in the land where 'bits' matter.  Run, before it's too late.

Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: RegularKarate on October 21, 2009, 11:18:36 AM
Quote from: Neil on October 20, 2009, 11:16:45 PM
Whenever you look around and you seem to be in the land where 'bits' matter.  Run, before it's too late.

What are you talking about?  you mean "comedy"?  How about you tell me what you do for a living and I'll shit on that.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: hedwig on October 21, 2009, 12:55:32 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on October 21, 2009, 11:18:36 AM
Quote from: Neil on October 20, 2009, 11:16:45 PM
Whenever you look around and you seem to be in the land where 'bits' matter.  Run, before it's too late.

What are you talking about?  you mean "comedy"?  How about you tell me what you do for a living and I'll shit on that.

making people laugh is deadly serious. you kind of put your soul on the line every time you do it.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Neil on October 21, 2009, 04:50:40 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on October 21, 2009, 11:18:36 AM
Quote from: Neil on October 20, 2009, 11:16:45 PM
Whenever you look around and you seem to be in the land where 'bits' matter.  Run, before it's too late.

What are you talking about?  you mean "comedy"?  How about you tell me what you do for a living and I'll shit on that.


I think the last sentence of your post pretty much sums it up.

and no, i was not referring to comedy in quotation marks.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: RegularKarate on October 21, 2009, 05:52:21 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 21, 2009, 04:50:40 PM
I think the last sentence of your post pretty much sums it up.

Again, I don't think you're being straightforward with your intentions unless you're admitting that you were shitting on comedy (which I put in quotations because I was referring to your idea of comedy).

Anyway, sorry for muddying up your thread, Gamblour.  Keep up the good work.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Neil on October 21, 2009, 11:31:48 PM
This is as straight forward as possible.

I'm not shitting on comedy.  I also realize you said you weren't trying to crap on his short as you mentioned.  Maybe you were just pointing out that they were similar, i don't know, maybe there is some sort of unwritten thing comedians follow to let each other in on these sort of things.  I was just throwing my 2 cents in and saying that i wouldn't concern myself with such information.  Certainly we both would find the same type of circumstance or instance humorous, however, you would make it, and i would make it, definitely two different ways.  Same joke different delivery, or rather fuck the delivery.  that doesn't matter.

There is a moment.

Within that moment someone makes the choice to artistically maneuver.

Amy Poehler does not exist inside this moment i speak of, and neither does anyone else who isn't specifically involved.

Bland, I know.

This is as clear as i can be; which i do in fact realize is stupid, seeing as you weren't being a dick to gamblour or anything, but the whole parallel thinking thing isn't a part of the art itself, IMO. When i worry about that, nothing good comes out of it.  I guess you were just trying to say you share a common bond in writing of sketches, so i guess i'm the dick, or village idiot, or whatever.  my bad. just aggressive misunderstanding i suppose.

Funny short Gamblour.

Simpson's did it.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: RegularKarate on October 22, 2009, 10:31:16 AM
I see what you're saying.  I disagree because in comedy, perception plays a big part and it's always good to be aware when something you're doing is so similar to something else... but I see what you're saying.

I took your "bit" comment as a statement of the unimportance of comedy, which I was a little quick to take offense to.

blah... nothing kills comedy like talking about it. 

Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Gamblour. on October 23, 2009, 09:01:43 AM
Neil, I appreciate your stance, but RK is right about perception and letting someone know they're ripping something off is totally in-bounds. It's like letting someone know that you used to sleep with the girl they're dating.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Bill O'Reilly!
Post by: Gamblour. on November 11, 2009, 02:36:23 PM
So we are now featured on Atom.com's weekly showdown (http://www.atom.com/showdown). It pits our video against another video for the week, and the winner gets $500 and a chance to be on Comedy Central.

I'm normally not so shameless, but if you guys could vote for us (and get all your friends to vote) that would be awesome. The voting ends Friday, so there's not much time (plus we're losing ground against the other video).

Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: matt35mm on November 11, 2009, 02:44:42 PM
Voted!  Good luck brah.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: ono on November 11, 2009, 02:53:48 PM
I voted in three different browsers.  Don't know if it worked, but you're welcome.  Merry Christmas.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: Gamblour. on November 11, 2009, 07:40:29 PM
Thanks guys! I imagine a gleaming, gold Pesci tooth when you say, "Merry Christmassssssss."
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: Gamblour. on November 17, 2009, 07:59:37 AM
Thanks everyone, we won!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: matt35mm on November 18, 2009, 01:05:01 AM
Congrats brah.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: polkablues on November 18, 2009, 06:26:58 PM
Sweet!  I don't have to feel bad about forgetting to vote anymore.  Congratulations!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - now on Atom.com's weekly showdown - Please vote!
Post by: Gamblour. on January 12, 2010, 08:07:37 AM
New short: Teri Hatcher Crytones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEOBa93fqzw)
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - Teri Hatcher's sadness = comedy
Post by: Gamblour. on August 02, 2010, 11:23:43 AM
The Other Brontë Sister (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQef9djwSlU)

This is our latest short, and it took for fucking ever. We started in January, and shot over the course of four months and spent three months doing post and special effects. I would love love LOVE to see what you guys think. We worked really hard on this, and I'm pretty happy with it.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - Teri Hatcher's sadness = comedy
Post by: matt35mm on August 02, 2010, 12:58:09 PM
Quote from: Gamblour. on August 02, 2010, 11:23:43 AM
The Other Brontë Sister (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQef9djwSlU)

This is our latest short, and it took for fucking ever. We started in January, and shot over the course of four months and spent three months doing post and special effects. I would love love LOVE to see what you guys think. We worked really hard on this, and I'm pretty happy with it.

That was cool!  I enjoyed that.  I appreciate that it played on my expectations of the other sister's final triumph and went way over the top with it at the end.

You guys should have an official "Groups of English Girls" series, and include this and Texting While Walking.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - NEW! - "The Other Brontë Sister"
Post by: Gamblour. on August 02, 2010, 01:13:50 PM
Quote from: matt35mm on August 02, 2010, 12:58:09 PM
Quote from: Gamblour. on August 02, 2010, 11:23:43 AM
The Other Brontë Sister (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQef9djwSlU)

This is our latest short, and it took for fucking ever. We started in January, and shot over the course of four months and spent three months doing post and special effects. I would love love LOVE to see what you guys think. We worked really hard on this, and I'm pretty happy with it.

That was cool!  I enjoyed that.  I appreciate that it played on my expectations of the other sister's final triumph and went way over the top with it at the end.

You guys should have an official "Groups of English Girls" series, and include this and Texting While Walking.

Thanks man. Haha, you're right, I hadn't realized it but we have been focusing on English women lately.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - NEW! - "The Other Brontë Sister"
Post by: Gamblour. on August 06, 2010, 10:13:55 AM
Reposting for this page: The Other Brontë Sister (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQef9djwSlU)

Btw, for you lurkers and others, I would love to hear from you as well! I haven't been getting a ton of critical feedback from folks on facebook other than 'looks great' so I'd like more cinema-minded folks to watch it.

I even included a special typeface just for all you Xixax folks.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - NEW! - "The Other Brontë Sister"
Post by: Gamblour. on October 04, 2010, 11:02:37 AM
What could possibly be dumber than Gothic kids, you ask?

Baroque Kids (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YobUvfNB6BQ)

This is our latest skit, and it's inspired by a news segment about teen werewolves in San Antonio (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q77sJT8O56E).
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: matt35mm on October 04, 2010, 11:17:48 AM
That was hilarious on its own, and then more so after watching the original piece.  I don't really have much specific feedback to give on it at this point.  It's funny and is structurally exactly what it needs to be to parody the original newscast.  I love watching all your stuff.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: Pubrick on October 04, 2010, 11:43:25 AM
like matt i saw the spoof first, didn't realise it would be such a close parody.

it's great, good puns.

man, news reports are really bullshit aren't they.. those corny lines you took directly from the original, that ONLY works in parody, the thing writes itself.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: Pas on October 04, 2010, 11:51:42 AM
Hahaha what do you meant we can't??

too funny! If it ain't baroque don't fix it oh man good vid.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: OrHowILearnedTo on October 04, 2010, 11:22:00 PM
The idea is great but to be honest i thought alot of the jokes fell flat. Alot of them were good in writing, but didn't really work with the actors, especially the principle (sorry if that was you!). The surrealist kids were brilliant though, and I liked the out of focus establishing shots.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: RegularKarate on October 05, 2010, 10:57:43 AM
Great job.  Really funny.

The only thing I would say here is that I think the levels of realism in the acting was a little too mixed.  Sometimes it felt like a news parody and other times it felt like a sketch that just had a news bug in the corner.  I think this came through in the writing too (like I like the kids having the dumb Baroque puns, but not the mom).

It was a really good idea though and looked great.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: Gamblour. on October 05, 2010, 01:28:39 PM
Thanks for the good feedback guys.

Quote from: OrHowILearnedTo on October 04, 2010, 11:22:00 PM
but didn't really work with the actors, especially the principle (sorry if that was you!).

I was not the principal, haha, but I was the "Nothing" surrealist kid, also one of the mean kids at the bus stop. What exactly about the principal bugged you?

Quote from: RegularKarate on October 05, 2010, 10:57:43 AM
Great job.  Really funny.

The only thing I would say here is that I think the levels of realism in the acting was a little too mixed.  Sometimes it felt like a news parody and other times it felt like a sketch that just had a news bug in the corner.  I think this came through in the writing too (like I like the kids having the dumb Baroque puns, but not the mom).

It was a really good idea though and looked great.

Yes, I see what you're saying about the acting. We worked with a range of actors, from total non-actors to professionals. And I think I'd direct the nonactors to be themselves more, which made it feel more realistic, like a news piece, while the actors deliver the lines a little too well, making it sketch-y. With the mom's line, though, I tried to make the pun be this mantra she tells herself to justify her kid's stupid behavior in the scheme of things. I can see what you mean, though. The adult universe vs. the kids' universe is sort of the entire joke here, and she treads on it a bit. I'm glad you like the skit, though.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: OrHowILearnedTo on October 06, 2010, 03:58:08 PM
Quote from: Gamblour. on October 05, 2010, 01:28:39 PM
Thanks for the good feedback guys.

Quote from: OrHowILearnedTo on October 04, 2010, 11:22:00 PM
but didn't really work with the actors, especially the principle (sorry if that was you!).

I was not the principal, haha, but I was the "Nothing" surrealist kid, also one of the mean kids at the bus stop. What exactly about the principal bugged you?

I think the whole grownups swearing at kids thing is really hard to pull off, even though it seems really easy. You either have to have him fully commit to being ridiculous about it and really over exaggerate (which often leads to it being louder, which also really bugs people), or is can be the opposite and play it really casually, or tired, disheartened, etc. I thought the principle didn't really know how to play it, and came off as sort of exaggerating, and also sort of tired/giving up. It just didn't work for me. Does that make any sense? I know that wasn't super clear  :yabbse-undecided:
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - just uploaded - "Baroque Kids"
Post by: Gamblour. on November 01, 2010, 05:11:27 AM
New skit: "The Mortons' Last Thanksgiving" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUQZ_MEfw2M)

This one might be a bit more divisive. Let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "The Mortons' Last Thanksgiving"
Post by: Pubrick on November 01, 2010, 10:20:05 AM
hated it.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "The Mortons' Last Thanksgiving"
Post by: Gamblour. on November 01, 2010, 10:40:49 AM
Quote from: P on November 01, 2010, 10:20:05 AM
hated it.

And my mom loved it. I told you it would be divisive.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "The Mortons' Last Thanksgiving"
Post by: RegularKarate on November 02, 2010, 01:41:28 PM
This one wasn't my favorite.  I think if something else had happened, I would have liked it more.
My personal opinion is if it's just going to rely on people acting sexual toward food (something I've seen a lot), the acting really needs to be a lot better and it needs to get very ridiculous.  I'd say take the most heightened point of ridiculousness (either the food sharing or the gravy pouring) you reached here and pretty-much start with that.

I like the button of the pie at the end, but it still felt obvious.

Sorry to be negative, I still fully support you cranking these out.  God knows I've made a ton of video sketches that felt right while we were writing and shooting, but the love wasn't shared.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "The Mortons' Last Thanksgiving"
Post by: Gamblour. on November 02, 2010, 06:52:08 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on November 02, 2010, 01:41:28 PM
This one wasn't my favorite.  I think if something else had happened, I would have liked it more.
My personal opinion is if it's just going to rely on people acting sexual toward food (something I've seen a lot), the acting really needs to be a lot better and it needs to get very ridiculous.  I'd say take the most heightened point of ridiculousness (either the food sharing or the gravy pouring) you reached here and pretty-much start with that.

I like the button of the pie at the end, but it still felt obvious.

Sorry to be negative, I still fully support you cranking these out.  God knows I've made a ton of video sketches that felt right while we were writing and shooting, but the love wasn't shared.

Would it be weird if I said I completely agree with you? I'm not the biggest fan of this skit, after watching it about 100 times. Our actor who was going to play the father got in a car accident (he's fine) on the way to the shoot, and we had to replace him within two hours. And this was shit we could not move to a different day. We had a cooked turkey to use right then, and that location too. It was sort of do or die, and we shot this thing in like under 4 hours, which may or may not sound like it, but it was fucking crazy. And exhausting.

But logistics and excuses aside, I agree with you. BUT at the same time, this is a skit I want people to pass around. And if we have someone fist-fucking the turkey (which we totally should have done, now that I think about it), it might not be something that people are as willing to pass around. And this has the ability to appeal to a broader range of people. However, the caveat to that is that maybe the skit is boring now, and maybe a truly outlandish version would have been worth sharing amongst a lot of people (except my mother). But maybe we should have been pushing those boundaries like good artists. Then again, it's just a skit about physical comedy. I go back and forth, but right now I agree with you. And don't worry about being negative. Every day I get comments on the Texting While Walking PSA, one will be "LMAO" and the other will be "this is so stupid and unfuny." It's a balance.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "The Mortons' Last Thanksgiving"
Post by: Gamblour. on December 07, 2010, 03:44:45 PM
Our latest video, done in collaboration with a local theatre company, Twinhead Theatre.

Jimmy Carter! (MIA parody) [NSFW] (http://vimeo.com/17499236)

It's on Vimeo because they have a more lenient dick-showing policy. This one's pretty nutty, enjoy!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Jimmy Carter!" (MIA parody) [NSFW]
Post by: matt35mm on December 07, 2010, 11:14:49 PM
I have no idea what I just saw, but I enjoyed it.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Jimmy Carter!" (MIA parody) [NSFW]
Post by: Gamblour. on December 08, 2010, 06:45:01 PM
Quote from: matt35mm on December 07, 2010, 11:14:49 PM
I have no idea what I just saw, but I enjoyed it.

Haha, yeah. My production partner made it all on his own, so I saw it for the first time during a performance on the above-mentioned theatre's play, for which he made it. I was blown away because it was the most non sequitur thing I'd seen him make. It really reminds me of Tim and Eric. I now know what must be going on in his head all day long.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Jimmy Carter!" (MIA parody) [NSFW]
Post by: Gamblour. on December 15, 2010, 08:26:35 PM
We tackle Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi-B5qQopzE

This is my favorite skit we've done.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Wikispoilers"
Post by: Pas on December 16, 2010, 07:24:42 AM
Baroque kids is still the best. If it ain't baroque don't fix it.

Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Jimmy Carter!" (MIA parody) [NSFW]
Post by: RegularKarate on December 16, 2010, 12:59:49 PM
Quote from: Gamblour. on December 15, 2010, 08:26:35 PM
We tackle Julian Assange and Wikileaks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi-B5qQopzE

This is my favorite skit we've done.

I like the end, it made me laugh, but I feel like it went against the game of the sketch.  I also think this could have been shorter.  The idea of wiki-leaks spoiling things that everyone knows loses its steam really quickly.  It could either jump to the strange powers faster or introduce a new level of "shitty leaks".

Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Wikispoilers"
Post by: Pas on December 16, 2010, 05:22:48 PM
And also he should be spoiling (thoigh fake spoilers) upcoming movies. Now the joke doesn't make sense because it's like you're saying Assange irl reveals things everybody knows (not the case)
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Wikispoilers"
Post by: Gamblour. on December 21, 2010, 04:41:55 AM
To your point pas, I actually don't believe he's released anything profound or important or anything shockingly outside the realm of our imagination of what governments presumably do, so him spoiling shit we already know was part of the point. We had a joke about a fake spoiler, but there's no reversal over the course of the skit if the reporter can't truly call him out, so we cut the joke.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Wikispoilers"
Post by: polkablues on December 21, 2010, 03:20:52 PM
I enjoyed it.  It was funny.  I'm glad you self-edited and didn't spread the joke too thin.

My favorite of the videos is still The Other Bronte Sister, which I now realize I didn't post about back when I first watched it, and now I feel bad about that.
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Wikispoilers"
Post by: Gamblour. on December 30, 2010, 01:05:23 PM
Quote from: polkablues on December 21, 2010, 03:20:52 PM
I enjoyed it.  It was funny.  I'm glad you self-edited and didn't spread the joke too thin.

My favorite of the videos is still The Other Bronte Sister, which I now realize I didn't post about back when I first watched it, and now I feel bad about that.

Haha, thanks for watching. (and also thanks for posting about The Like whenever that happened in the 2010 LP thread. Got their CD, and it's great.)

SO, we are in the Atom.com tournament again. It's ongoing until January 2. We were in 2nd place until today, and now we're in 4th, so if you dudes could share this on the good book (Facebook) or physically go up to someone and have them sit at a computer to watch it, that'd be swell.

We're in the running for a few hundred bucks, which is more than most indie filmmakers see in a lifetime!

Pass it around: http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/3EFBFFFF01CBAC01001701264DBE/

Thanks for everything,

Julie Newmar
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - "Wikispoilers"
Post by: Gamblour. on January 26, 2011, 10:25:35 AM
Hey guys, we have another new skit up. It's a parody of Natalie Portman's performance in Black Swan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8TLefT1M_Q

It was a lot of fun ripping off Aaron Darrenofsky for this. Hope you enjoy it!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - Black Swan parody
Post by: Gamblour. on March 01, 2011, 12:53:54 PM
New skit

Biracial Support Group (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xg-XqfcY8w)

I shot and edited this one, it's got some of our best dialogue, and, as you'll see, our actors had a lot of fun with the material. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Bland Hack shorts - new skit - Biracial Support Group
Post by: Gamblour. on April 25, 2011, 03:22:34 PM
Hey guys, it's been a while. The past two months have been crazy. In addition to preparing for and filming our latest sketch, we also threw a beatboxing battle at a local art gallery to celebrate the premiere of the sketch. The battle was amazing, and hopefully I'll have some video of the event soon to share with you all.

Until then, check out our skit. I guarantee you'll love it.

"The History of Beatboxing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDVoB6E5YE)"

This isn't your father's beatboxing. It's your great-great-grandfather's.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: RegularKarate on April 25, 2011, 05:49:35 PM
Ha!  I really liked that.

Oh, but that's not a Pimm's cup.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: Gamblour. on April 25, 2011, 05:53:57 PM
Quote from: RegularKarate on April 25, 2011, 05:49:35 PM
Ha!  I really liked that.

Oh, but that's not a Pimm's cup.

And Morse was dead for 20 years by 1893. There's actually a number of ways to make a Pimm's cup. It's like saying a martini has to be one certain way.

Glad you liked the skit!
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: squints on April 25, 2011, 06:03:59 PM
MYRTLE CORNBLATT!



that was great.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: RegularKarate on April 26, 2011, 10:48:10 AM
Quote from: Gamblour. on April 25, 2011, 05:53:57 PM
There's actually a number of ways to make a Pimm's cup. It's like saying a martini has to be one certain way.

Yes, but he said she made "a mean Pimm's cup" suggesting that it was good.  I saw no cucumber and that was a pretty huge sprig of mint in there.

Gigantic recipe inaccuracies aside.  Super fun sketch.

Speaking of which, you guys should consider applying to Austin Sketchfest next year.  Do you do any live stuff?
ATXSketchfest.com (I'm a producer).
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: Gamblour. on April 26, 2011, 11:09:13 AM
Quote from: RegularKarate on April 26, 2011, 10:48:10 AM
Quote from: Gamblour. on April 25, 2011, 05:53:57 PM
There's actually a number of ways to make a Pimm's cup. It's like saying a martini has to be one certain way.

Yes, but he said she made "a mean Pimm's cup" suggesting that it was good.  I saw no cucumber and that was a pretty huge sprig of mint in there.


Ha, that's a good point.

Quote from: RegularKarate on April 26, 2011, 10:48:10 AM
Speaking of which, you guys should consider applying to Austin Sketchfest next year.  Do you do any live stuff?
ATXSketchfest.com (I'm a producer).

We don't actually. Do you guys do anything with filmed sketches?
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: RegularKarate on April 26, 2011, 11:18:19 AM
Quote from: Gamblour. on April 26, 2011, 11:09:13 AM
We don't actually. Do you guys do anything with filmed sketches?
This year we're only doing filmed stuff that's integrated in with the live stuff, but I think next year we're going to have a showcase of just filmed stuff.
I'll let you know once we start the process for that.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: Gamblour. on April 26, 2011, 11:33:04 AM
OK cool, yeah let me know, it sounds awesome.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The History of Beatboxing"
Post by: Gamblour. on October 10, 2011, 09:50:58 AM
Yes it's been a while since I've posted anything. Been super busy. We were tapped to produce a live show for this local art event called FLUX. It's like a one-night art stroll, but way cooler. We wrote and starred in a live show based on Mortal Kombat and created three sketches as well.

Here's the first of the three. The rest will be released over October.

Mortal Kombat: Spelling Bee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7vw9fMYGPI)

Hope you guys like it. It's super silly.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "Mortal Kombat: Spelling Bee"
Post by: Reel on October 10, 2011, 10:14:13 AM
really well done!
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "Mortal Kombat: Spelling Bee"
Post by: Gamblour. on November 02, 2011, 07:34:46 AM
These are the other two Mortal Kombat sketches we made:

Mortal Kombat: Girls Night Out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzzgiHiNjI)

Mortal Kombat: Reptile Dysfunction (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4fQzCrVxpI)

These are super violent and silly. Hope you guys like them.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: Gamblour. on February 11, 2012, 10:30:04 AM
I know it's been forever. Very busy. We made a new sketch, I'm really happy with it.

The M-Word (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of6CafDaQog)

We should have a couple of awesome ones up in the next month or two.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: polkablues on February 11, 2012, 12:16:44 PM
Started out a little uneven, but when it kicked into gear it was pretty fantastic.  The bit with the music was perfect.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 11, 2012, 09:26:23 PM
I thought it was great. The acting could have been better, but the writing and the song choices were pretty much genius.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: Gamblour. on February 12, 2012, 02:45:56 PM
Awesome, thanks guys! Glad you liked it. Jeremy, just curious, what were your thoughts on the acting?
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: Jeremy Blackman on February 12, 2012, 02:50:32 PM
Well, maybe it's just me, but I think some of the lines were delivered a little too quickly. It might have been better to slow things down and milk the awkwardness, a la early Curb Your Enthusiasm. And the girls' anxiety was played up a bit too much. (It really feels like they're acting, if that makes sense.) You can probably communicate that anxiety with something less than exaggerated facial expressions and slapsticky flailing. But I'm really nitpicking now.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: Gamblour. on February 13, 2012, 10:17:11 AM
I understand what you mean. There was a conscious effort to keep the sketch moving along, rather than let moments hang in the air. If it wasn't a sketch on the internet, that's probably what I would have done. There's a lot of room to let that tension linger, which would probably have let the performances become more nuanced. But my personal feeling is that most sketches online are waaaay too long in the first place, so I place a priority on economic pacing and storytelling.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: diggler on February 25, 2012, 07:04:27 PM
The N-word exchange followed by her handing over The Help book was a nice payoff, also the failed attempt to snap the record in half. Nicely done!
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "The M-Word"
Post by: Gamblour. on March 19, 2012, 09:47:32 PM
Just in time for the season premiere -- 1980s Mad Men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgLmkGRfspw

This is my favorite sketch we've ever done. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: pete on March 27, 2012, 02:38:01 AM
too many silly faces and voices and not enough real jokes to support the premise. I love the premise but the punchlines are all over the place and most do not explore the idea. everyone expects the cocaine reference; your job was to put a twist on it. there were some funny moments, but they were diluted because the tone was all over the place, and also just everyone badly wanted to be wacky, which killed a lot of the punchlines. the overacting after the slap, the silly voice upon the sight of cocaine, were two examples that came to mind. Mad Men is rife with possibilities, but you've chosen to squander a premise on tired old New Coke jokes. But I know how hard comedy can be and I admire your effort.

for reference, this is what I think what a good period reference sketch looks like, and you might completely disagree thus invalidating my opinion. I'm good with that:




Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: Gamblour. on March 27, 2012, 11:11:36 AM
I appreciate your criticism, but I don't quite understand it. Did you have a problem with the lack of 80s references? Or just the execution?  Or both? Our thesis was "Mad Men happens in the 80s" not "the 80s happen to Mad Men." We relied on real ad campaigns from the era to form the story -- hence, the Wheaties box, Where's the beef?, and New Coke. The joke isn't that New Coke is lame, which is tired. It's that it happens to Don Draper, and after decades in the industry, how does he respond to such a disaster of a product? How does he reconcile his image of the American-ness of Coke with this backwards idea?

As for the acting, they're impersonations and it's a comedy. They're playing heightened versions of the characters. I see nothing wrong with it and I think we'll have to just disagree.

If it sounds like I'm defensive or just sparring, I'm not. I think it's interesting how people approach comedy and genuinely want to understand your perspective.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: pete on March 27, 2012, 12:35:25 PM
no it's not a lack of 80's reference; it's the lack of exploration of your own premise that you came up with. I think, regardless of how you reasoned the placement new coke - still it was a long set up to an obvious punchline.

I think I'm being especially specific with my response for this sketch out of all the things I've seen here, along with all the sketches other members post, because I really see the potential with this one. it's a great premise.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: polkablues on March 27, 2012, 05:00:06 PM
Quote from: pete on March 27, 2012, 02:38:01 AM
and also just everyone badly wanted to be wacky, which killed a lot of the punchlines.

This was the real problem I had with it.  What's funny about Mad Men is how serious it is.  If you're going to do heightened, exaggerated impersonations of the characters, THAT'S what should be heightened and exaggerated.  What's funny about the concept is the idea of these buttoned-down characters amidst the neon insanity that was the 1980s, but that juxtaposition never really developed for me.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: Pubrick on March 27, 2012, 06:09:34 PM
I think the real problem with it is that I hate Mad Men.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: polkablues on March 27, 2012, 06:32:47 PM
I forget sometimes you're out of your goddamn mind.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: matt35mm on May 14, 2012, 09:00:44 AM
I saw this story and immediately thought of the "Texting While Walking PSA"

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/texting-while-walking-banned-jersey-town-152720795--abc-news-topstories.html
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: Gamblour. on July 11, 2012, 12:02:03 PM
Matt, sorry just now saw your post. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. I've seen texting/walking bans popping up more and more lately.

Also, we've just completed a new video!

HEbrew: the app for gay Jews
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: polkablues on July 11, 2012, 06:09:31 PM
I was laughing already, and then the hand gesture he does when he says "Jizz-rael" killed me.  Dirty puns are the keys to my heart.
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "1980s Mad Men"
Post by: Gamblour. on July 11, 2012, 09:05:39 PM
Haha, that's awesome. If you listen closely, you can hear both of us start to crack up (I'm behind the camera).
Title: Re: Bland Hack's latest sketch - "HEbrew: the app for gay Jews"
Post by: Gamblour. on February 05, 2013, 03:10:17 PM
New sketch!

If you read Gawker, Buzzfeed, Reddit, or HuffPo, you should watch this.

The Internet Goes to Washington