(no subject)

[cleolinda]

OMG VIOLET'S HAIR RIBBON DID MAKE IT INTO THE MOVIE!

Also: writing a parody for a movie that is actually 1) good and 2) intentionally funny is hard, y'all. I've thought up some decent bits here and there, but... I don't think "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Fifteen Minutes" is going to be up there with Troy or anything.

Oh, and since it's come up: I know that I don't hold a trademark on "...in Fifteen Minutes" or anything. It's a free country internet and funny is not a zero-sum thing where if you do it that means I can't or vice versa, or that I was even the first person to do this sort of parody, because I totally wasn't. I'm just saying I've seen a couple of things out there that sort of... well, were extremely (coincidentally?) similar in title, format, and jokes. Seek new and more interesting concepts, people!


ETA: Someone asked me, "Are you actively trying to discourage people from writing shortened parody movie scripts, or just from making them really similar to yours?" Well, I mean, I don't have a copyright on movie parodies, y'all. I can't stop you from writing something like that, nor would I want to. What I'm really asking is for people to try to strike out in different directions and not to use the name "Movies in Fifteen Minutes," if you don't mind me asking too much. I can't bring myself to be a total bitch about it because I don't know if I was the first person to use it, and even if I were, you can't copyright titles, but... I've done six of these now, and it's kind of the name of a series. If you use the name, we run the risk of people stumbling across things and getting confused as to who wrote what. Does that make any sense?

Comments

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

"The World can seem an unforgiving and sinister place, but believe us when we say ther can be much more good in it than bad"? No no no! That sentence bodes Very Ill Indeed. And where are Klaus' glasses?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

See, I still miss his glasses, and yeah, I'm not happy with the whole "This movie is kind of depressing, but NOT REALLY OMG PLEASE BRING YOUR KIDS."

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm hoping to be able to go to a midnight showing. All gothed up of course, if ever a movie merited getting all gothed up for it's ASOUE.

[jennnk.livejournal.com]

well there's the harry on buckbeak "i'm king of the world" moment.

there's the "harry slams face into knight bus window...twice" moment.

and there was another movie reference in there i forgot, but it was near the beginning of the movie.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah... the king of the world bit is so obvious that they might as well have actually had him *say* that--my entire theater burst out laughing. But I'd forgotten about the face-slamming--good call. I don't know how to deal with the hunchback at the Leaky Cauldron at all--how do you deal with something that's already funny?

[srallen.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, the first sequence with Buckbeak had me pummeling my rational mind until it stopped reciting the "airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow" bit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

"Yes but for a creature of that size..."
shut up...
"The wingspan ALONE would have to be..."
*WHACKWHACKWHACKWHACK*
"Oooh! Shiny horsey!"

ummm...

[jennnk.livejournal.com]

make some sort of young frankenstein reference?

[cydcharisse.livejournal.com]

I didn't even THINK of "I'm king of the world!" But it was just so incredibly corny and pathetic, I wanted to sink into the floor, I was so embarrassed for him.

[jean-prouvaire.livejournal.com]

Um. Oh dear. Do you want to discourage people from writing shortened parody movie scripts altogether, or just from making them really similar to yours?

Because I've been trying to write a 15-Minute type thing for "Strange Days," just for kicks, but am also making a concerted effort to write it in my own style and not to rip off any of your jokes. (But it's so tempting to use that "This is so bad. SO BAD." because it applies to pretty much every damn scene in that movie. Can I use it just once?)

You're right, though, it's really freaking hard to make it funny. Three scenes in, I've developed a completely new level of respect and awe for you. :)

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Someone recently read one of my lj reviews and suggested I read Cleolinda's "Troy in Fifteen Minutes." Of course I ended up reading all the movie reviews (except for Van Helsing -- I haven't seen the movie yet, and spoilers make me weep!). Good stuff. Very good stuff. I laff like idjit.

I have to say, we do have similar humour, but I'm more the "[movie name] in a half hour of ranting" type of critic.

I'm still laughing over fifteen minutes of Troy. Not to mention I've been sucked into learning just what was pastede on to what after reading the Hidalgo synopsis.

Looking forward to reading more (and more and more) Cleolinda synopses. They brighten my day.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Awww, I love Strange Days. I mean, I'm not saying it's the greatest movie ever, but... luff.

I don't really have the right to chase people away from the basic short script movie parody format. I've decided to pick my battles, and the battle I've picked is Please Don't Use the Name "Movie in Fifteen Minutes." But I'm not even sure I can really ask that, even. I really appreciate you asking, though--lots of people have been writing these things, some of them before or without even having heard of mine, so I know I can't really stop people.

[jean-prouvaire.livejournal.com]

Really? You're the first person I've met who's even seen it! *grin* It does try hard, doesn't it?

I was actually thinking of calling it a "Michael Wincott-sized Version." Or something to that effect. He's my favorite actor and he's the entire reason I watched the movie in the first place, but he's really teeny.

Have you ever read Evadne's "Breadbox Editions," over at fanfiction.net? I don't know if she does them anymore, but they're worth a look.

*shrug* I figured I should ask, because you've kind of taken over LJ with these, so they pretty much do belong to you now, if they didn't before. We bow to the "Troy in 15 Minutes." :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Awww, thanks! I feel like this huge bitch, but... I mean, you can imagine how you'd feel if you had a thing and suddenly people were using the same title and sort of stepping on it.

Strange Days is one of those movies I think I love in spite of itself. I'm mostly there for Ralph, though. :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I forgot to say--I haven't read much of anything over at ff.net. Maybe a couple of LOTR parodies. I'd love to read them, but I'm worried about maintaining some sort of "No, I couldn't have copied you, because I've never read you" defense. None of this makes sense right now, probably, but... in a week or so, with any luck, it will.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

"Hamlet in 15 Minutes," a play that devolves into "Hamlet in 1 minute" for the encore, is burst-your-sides funny when seen in live performance. I saw it umpteen years ago off-Broadway somewhere, but I think it's one of those acting-troupe staples that shows up a lot. Have you ever thought of putting up one of your 15-minute movie reviews in performance somewhere, somehow? The long-buried student-filmmaker in me thinks that would be sparkly, and the convention-goer in me thinks she'd actually attend a cabaret to see that sort of thing.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Hamlet in 15 minutes, is actually the second act of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, and is well worth seeing if you get a chance. They do _all_ of the plays except Hamlet in the first act, and Hamlet several times in the second, including forwards, forwards _faster_, and backwards.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Backwards! The troupe I saw must not have done that part -- you'd think a person would remember something like that (and no doubt would be traumatised for life). Or maybe it's buried memories of that, plus the trauma from seeing the "Nicholas Nickleby" Happy Meal version of "Romeo and Juliet" on stage as a small child, that has driven me into a life of sarcasm.

Hmm... "Troy," backwards... I'd pay to see Cleolinda do that one.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

*is tempted*

I mean, hell, I'm already doing the Prisoner of Azkaban time-travel stuff as we speak...

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Oh, and they also do...

'The Bibe: The complete works of God (abridged)' and 'The Complete History of America (abridged)'... and I think a 'Greats of American Literature' as well.

Another group (Reduced Wagner Company) did a 'Complete Ring Cycle (abridged)' at the Edinburgh Festival last year. There were two of them, plus a pianist. The swordfight (with the actor playing both sides of it) was amusing, but the peak has to be Brunhilde asking if she can do 'the bit with the helicopters in it'.......

[hecatemacbeth.livejournal.com]

OMG. That is so freakin' awesome.

I can't wait.


<3the girl who reads depressing sinister things of all ages.

[armandru.livejournal.com]

Not to be an idiot here, but what ribbon? *blush*

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

In the books, every time Violet gets down to inventing something, she ties her hair up with a ribbon. Based on the first trailer I saw--what with those braids she's got--I was afraid they weren't going to use that. Which is weird, because it's a major character thing she does. :)

[punkiejeannien.livejournal.com]

just as long as you include the audience making kissy noises at ron and hermione, we're all good ;o)

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

And the weirdos getting all hot for [fill in adult character's name here]. :P Yep, they exist.

[ohgeens.livejournal.com]

did anyone else laugh really hard when Harry was trying to be all serious, crying and yelling over his betrayed parents?! Poor Dan, i just couldn't take him seriously at all!

[cydcharisse.livejournal.com]

I personally wanted to just bury my face in my hands, and/or hit the fast forward button.

Not to mention the part when they're all in the Gryffindor boy's room, and they're all making animal noises. Seamus as a monkey? oh. god.

[ohgeens.livejournal.com]

ha ha ha. Unfortunatley i wasn't so discreet in my laughter as it just burst out of me!

Oh god i know. XP

[punkiejeannien.livejournal.com]

the girl next to me just about fainted from joy when snape popped out in neville's grandmothers' clothing!

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

I used to be like that, lol. I've grown out of it, thank goodness. :P

[madamotaku.livejournal.com]

The first the Lemony Snicket teaser looked discouragingly Grinchy to me, but the second one changed my mind. I love the set design and costumes, and the girl playing Violet is amazingly pretty. I'm giving the series a try again and am currently in the middle of the second book right now.

Also, the PoA movie totally ownz my ass. I can see how it's hard to parody though. VH1's ILL-ustrated just did one called "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Puberty" which was SO tediously unoriginal. Harry learning about masturbation and Hermione growing breasts seem to be the only jokes anyone can come up with.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

The first couple of Snicket books are good and all, but they really start to take off around books three and four. Stick with them--they get better and better. :)

[cydcharisse.livejournal.com]

3 and 4 were alright, but after that, I fell into deep, deep, love. My friend and I have "in" days where we wear pinstripes, attempt to make the classrooms dark, and discuss parsley soda.

...okay, so dressing up like characters from our favorite books/shows/movies is all we have to look forward to in life, okay??? hmph.


...^_^

[kotszok.livejournal.com]

Am still for Terminator 2, like a few others! *snickers*

[kotszok.livejournal.com]

I completely agree... you have every right to rule over "Movies in 15 Minutes". I mean, every time I hear that, I automatically think of you. It's YOUR thing, and it's kind of become your child. I think if people want to be original, they should really try to create their own stuff, not mooch off something that's gained immense popularity.

I mean, that's the whole deal behind "copywrite/right? Guuuuh?" and "registered trademark". You ain't gonna create a candy bar and name it Snickers unless you want your ass whupped in court. *nods* Uhuh.

[ohgeens.livejournal.com]

I haven't come across any other m15m-like things, but i think it is completely within boundary's and your right to ask people not to use the name or yur style. It originated with you, and i shall be a faithful follower of m15m until you don't write em anymore! I wouldn't be afraid about being a total bitch about it, you deserve to be if people are ripping you off!

I was trying to think of ways that you could deal with the hunchback of Notre Dame and am drawing up blanks x.x Sorry i couldn't be more help

[bluewasabi.livejournal.com]

Actually, there is a site called "The Editing Room- Abridged Movie Scripts" that does the same sort of thing as "Fifteen Minutes," except in script form. Oh, and it's been around since '98. Here's the link: http://ter.air0day.com/.

Honestly, both the abridged scripts and the Fifteen Minutes are mock-tastic. There's room enough for everybody. I think the problem is that once you start on the idea of having the movie characters comment on the movie, you're sort of forced into making mini-scenes, which is the basis of the abridged scripts, Fifteen Minutes, and a metric ton of Monty Python skits. The only other way to parody a movie, I think, would be to create exaggerated characters with similar names to their movie counterparts, and make the plot itself incredibly ridiculous-- but this method is a lot more difficult.

In short (too late), while you should definitely get the credit for the "Fifteen Minutes" copyright, I think imitation is going to continue to be the highest form of flattery.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much my theory--I mean, clearly I got the idea myself from somewhere, although I can't remember who specifically. The name is the only thing I can really try protect, I guess.

[dragonflyknight.livejournal.com]

It's just much harder to mock movies that are already funny. Movies that are serious, even movies that are considered great movies, such as Citizen Kane, Last of the mohicans, or even transformers the movie (hey, it was Orsen Welles last movie, and if Optimus Prime isn't every boys childhood hero, well then.. I dunno :p) just are so much easier to mock because they take themselves so seriously. It's hard to mock something thats already mocking itself, or is already playing off humorous emotion.

[cydcharisse.livejournal.com]

Violet's ribbon made it in, yes, but Klaus's glasses, alas, did not. *sigh*

[nikka32.livejournal.com]

I ♥ your icon!!!