Back in the 80s, my actor brother tanked at an audition for the Shaw Festival and in his dispair, he wrote to Christopher Newton almost a letter a week for a year. Well not quite a letter-a-week, but he did adapt his letters into a great chapbook detailing the year in a life of a struggling actor as he wades through audtions and low-paid jobs. If you email him, he might have a copy around somewhere.
In the same vein, I’ve started to send commercial spoof ideas to Rick Mercer. He’s responded in the past saying according to his lawyers, he can’t use them (or was he being polite and doesn’t like them?) and commented on the antics in my gallery. Here’s another scene I’ve sent to him:
Scene: Outdoors, a city park seen from a static camera, overlooking a somewhat busy walkway. An “actor” dressed in city worker’s uniform comes into frame and holds a shovel up. Jokingly, he swings the shovel in the air like it was the world series. He winks knowingly at the camera, suggesting something good is going to happen.
Scene: Goofy, loopy cartoonish music plays as we see the same park at a slightly longer shot. We can see that there are people walking past the Actor as he digs a hole next to the sidewalk. A man passes him and the Actor lets fly with the shovel blade to the back of the Pedestrian’s head. Whack. The Pedestrian stumbles and falls. He gets up holding the back of his head and starts to verbally abuse the Actor but we don’t hear what he says due to the loopy music. The Actor drops the shovel and with balled fists, nails the Pedestrian square in the nose. The Pedestrian goes down and struggles to get back up, angrily protesting as he rises. The Actor kidney punches the Pedestrian and he goes down again.
After a few good shots, the Pedestrian comes back into frame with a bloodied nose, puffy eye, etc. He’s a mess. As the Actor hauls back to land another blow, the Pedestiran holds up his hands in fear. The Actor stops and starts to laugh. Jovially, he takes the Pedestrian by the shoulder and points out the hidden camera there… there… and there.
Logo: Just for Laughs Gags! Your Pain is our Pleasure!
Oh Rick, can’t you see that I am aching here? Please put me on your payroll!
