Hang On Sloopy: The Movie - An Interview with Producer Dave Whinham.

Remember how disappointed you were when Coupon: The Movie finally hit theaters? I knew I was. The actual coupon was so great but the movie never had the same spirit. In fact, it was one of the biggest failures in cinema history. (Click here to learn more)

I'm happy to report that Hang On Sloopy: The Movie has no such problem. Against all odds, it's a highly entertaining ride well worth the attention of both Bucknutz and just fans of a good documentary. I highly encourage you to give it a look. Sloopy Producer Dave Whinham was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about how he pulled it off. (trailer below)

- It's such a crazy idea for a movie yet somehow you totally make it work. And not just for Buckeye fans, it works on many levels. Was there a single moment of inspiration when you remember thinking, "I am going to make this movie."

YES. LIKE YOU, (AND EVERYONE) I QUESTIONED WHETHER THERE WAS ENOUGH OF A STORY THERE TO DO A DOCUMENTARY. A BRIEF PIECE SURE, BUT A MOVIE? WELL, THERE CAME A POINT IN OUR RESEARCH WHERE IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT EVERYWHERE SLOOPY WENT, SHE MADE FRIENDS AND FANS. THE SONG HAS BEEN A HIT AROUND THE WORLD IN A WIDE VARIETY OF GENRES. IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHNG MAGICAL ABOUT WHAT THIS SONG HAS DONE AND CAN DO. THEN I HAD TO DO IT.

- When you first told people about Sloopy: The Movie, did everybody think you were nuts?

YES. BUT I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO NOT TO SHARE MY DREAMS WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE, SO MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE CLOSE TO ME, AND ALREADY KNEW I WAS NUTS.

- Was there a moment during shooting when you knew you had "the moment" and that this was going to be a worthwhile film? 

I THINK WHEN OUR CO-PRODUCER/DIRECTOR BRIAN GRADY WAS SETTING UP THE STADIUM SHOTS WITH THE CREW FOR OUR SLOOPY PRODUCTION FOR GAMEDAY AT OHIO STADIUM WITH THE MIGHTY OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND. AT FIRST, IT WAS KIND OF A FIRE DRILL, DURING THOSE REHEARSALS LEADING UP TO GAMEDAY, BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE PRETTY COOL.

- Is there a scene or two that you enjoy re-watching the most ?

I REALLY LIKE THE STUFF ABOUT THE RECORD INDUSTRY/MUSIC SCENE IN NEW YORK IN THE 60's...THE BRITISH INVASION WAS COMING AND THE OLD GUARD WAS TRYING ALL SORTS OF CRAZY THINGS TO COMBAT IT. I ALSO LIKE TO WATCH THE THE EPILOGUE.

- Was there anything that surprised you most digging deep into the history of this song?  

YOU KNOW THE WAY IT HAS ENGRAINED ITSELF INTO OUR CULTURE HERE IN OHIO IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. WHEN YOU THINK OF IT, "HANG ON SLOOPY" WAS JUST ANOTHER POP SONG FROM AN ERA THAT PRODUCED THOUSANDS OF THEM. YET SOMEHOW THIS SONG ABOUT A GIRL FROM A VERY BAD PART OF SOME TOWN, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY PARTICULAR PLACE, HAS BECOME TO OHIO WHAT "SWEET HOME ALABAMA" IS TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA. AS WE LOOKIED INTO IT, WE REALIZEDTHAT IN SOME WAYS THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN GERMANY, HONG KONG AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. LIKE I SAID, THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT SLOOPY.

- Tell us Buckeye fans the best way to pick up a copy before Christmas?

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GREAT PLACES ALL AROUND CENTRAL OHIO: WORLD OF BEER, MIKEY'S LATE NIGHT SLICE, COLLEGE TRADITIONS, SPOONFUL RECORDS, LOST WEEKEND RECORDS. YOU CAN CHECK OUT WWW.HANGONSLOOPYTHEMOVIE.COM TO SEE ALL OF THE RETAILERS OR TO ORDER ONLINE.

And I've course I will have some copies available at Colin's Coffee too. - Colin G.

Click here to learn more and how to purchase Hang On Sloopy: The Movie

Hang On Sloopy: The Movie is a "ROCKumentary" about a university and an entire state's incredible 50-year love affair with a rock song. Produced in Columbus, Ohio by Dave Whinham and Brian Grady, the piece explores many untold and magical stories about how a random rock song, about a "girl from a very bad part of town" became to the State of Ohio what "Sweet Home Alabama" is to the State of Alabama.

Director Wes Orshoski Talks to Brian Phillips about The Damned and Lemmy

Tomorrow night - Wednesday, August 19th - for the Reelin' and Rockin' film series at the Gateway Film Center we're screening Wes Orshoski's new work "The Damned: Don't You Wish We Were Dead." The "Lemmy" director shot me a call recently to chat about the film. In making the movie Wes unearthed some cool stuff I did not know, most notably how close The Damned came to being produced by noted recluse Syd Barrett. 

The reviews have been across the board excellent. Listen to the interview over on CD1025.com (or just click below) and then join us for the screening! Happy hour at 7pm in the Torpedo Room. Movie begins at 8. $5 admission, proceeds to CD1025 for The Kids.

Colin here, full disclosure: Wes is a longtime friend of Watershed, going back to the almost underage beer-drinking days at Frankie's in Toledo. He was hanging around rock clubs with a camera back when you had to use this thing called "film." I can personally vouch for his rock n roll bona fides. Nobody is more legit and it's no surprise critics the world over now rave about his movies. I'm a fan. Brian is a fan. Bono is a fan. Lemmy is a fan. And if you aren't already, you are going to be a fan of Wes Orshoski. Dig it.

Official trailer for the film THE DAMNED: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead, the authorized documentary of the punk pioneers.

Hard Core Devo Live @ the Gateway Theater Reelin' & Rockin' Movie Series This Wednesday - by Ricki C.

I never really had a lot of fan involvement with Devo.  One Friday night in 1976 a couple of my reprobate Service Merchandise buddies & I made a road trip to Akron to catch ‘em at a bar after I read a feature about them in New York Rocker (my rock & roll Bible after the sad, slow demise into irrelevancy that Creem magazine began in 1975 or so).

The Mothersbaugh & Casale brothers were all right that night, but included a synthesizer in the set, and I think our final conclusion was: “They’re kinda art-y.”  “Kinda art-y” was a kiss of death pronouncement in our West Side rocker eyes.  We were guitars ‘n’ drum boys.  

I will say this, though: in our current era of mega-bands like The Who and The Rolling Stones criss-crossing America playing their Greatest Hits to the classic-rock throngs in gynormous arenas & stadiums, I have to admire Devo for making a film of themselves playing their LEAST POPULAR SONGS from 40 years ago.  It's a pretty interesting and impressive concept.  (Although it is still "kinda art-y.")  

You can learn everything you have ever wanted to know about early Devo – before they became, in Colin’s words “just another pop band on MTV playing ‘Workin’ In A Coal Mine’ and wearing red flowerpots on their heads” – at this month’s Reelin’ & Rockin’ at the Gateway presentation of Hard Core Devo Live, this Wednesday, June 17: happy hour at 7 pm, movie to follow at 8 pm.  Be there or be a mongoloid.  (That is a Devo reference, do not send us PC letters at Pencilstorm.) – Ricki C. / June 13th, 2015

It's not gonna come as a surprise to anybody who reads Pencilstorm that Ricki C. is a grouchy, 62-year old who hates synthesizers (and art) with a passion.  That does not mean this Devo movie isn't great.  Give it a chance. - Colin G.

   

Reelin' and Rockin' @ the Gateway: "Revenge Of The Mekons" by Ricki C.

The Mekons have been around since 1977, and yet I don’t really know that much about them: which is why I’m really happy that Colin and Brian Phillips are bringing the documentary feature “Revenge of The Mekons” to the Gateway Film Center this Wednesday, April 15th at 8 pm as this month’s Reelin’ and Rockin’ @ the Gateway presentation.  

I do know this much about The Mekons:

1) Their 1989 album “The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll” is one of the most fiercely intelligent punk-rock records of all time.  For those of you scoring at home, the Ricki C. acid test for whether something is genuine punk-rock is if it makes me wanna break stuff when I listen to it real loud, and – by those standards – “The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll” is right up there with The Clash’s first record Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ “This Year’s Model.”  (Also, I find it cool and appropriate that The Mekons fall right beside The MC5 in my vinyl collection, speaking of fiercely intelligent rock & roll.)  

2) I saw The Mekons live at Stache's in 1989 when they were touring that record, and talk about packing A LOT of magic into a really small space: Langford, Timms, Greenhalgh & company blistered the paint off Dan Dougan's walls.    

3) I know that The Mekons’ “Ghosts Of American Astronauts” (see video below) showcases one of the most subversive lyrics and simultaneously one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in all of rock & roll; from a punk band.  Go see the movie.  Make a new friend, love an old band.  – Ricki C. / April 11th, 2015   

Reelin and Rockin' @ the Gateway admission is $5 (CHEAP!) and  benefits CD102.5 For The Kids children's charity; happy hour begins at 7 pm in the Torpedo Room bar, "Revenge of The Mekons" follows at 8 pm.


Reelin' and Rockin' @ The Gateway Schedule is LOADED - Elliot Smith, Mekons, Devo and more.

Hola, fellow rock n roll/movie fans. Brian Phillips and myself would like to thank all of you for supporting the Reelin' and Rockin' @ the Gateway Film Center film series, which is still going strong three years after we hatched this crazy plan in a bar somewhere.

To get you up to speed, a rock n roll movie is shown the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the fabulous Gateway Film Center. Drinks at 7 pm, movie starts at 8pm. Tickets are only $5, and all profits benefit CD1025 for the kids. 

Check out these upcoming movies:

March 18th : Turn it Up! A Celebration of the Electric Guitar.

April 15: Revenge Of The Mekons.

May 20: Heaven Adores You (New Elliot Smith doc).

June 17th: Devo Hardcore Live. 

Hope you can join Brian and myself for one of these great flicks - Colin G.

Click here for a story of the first twenty two Reelin and Rockin movies.    

Click here for the Reelin' and Rockin' Facebook Page.

Top Ten SNL Sketches By Wal Ozello

Saturday Night Live celebrates its 40th anniversary this week and aired a commemorative episode Sunday night. I compiled my top ten favorite sketches below.

Now let's be honest. There are millions of sketches and it's difficult to choose the best ones. So to compile my top ten, I chose them from memory only. I picked the first ten best ones that popped in my head.  I know I've missed some great ones, and you can probably add several of your own ideas in the comments. I also made sure these were live sketches. No commercials. No digital shorts. No prerecorded materials. No Nightly News. No opening monologues.

Counting down my list. Click on the name to see the video.

10. The Denise Show - This episode stars Adam Sandler and Nicole Kidman.

9. Will Ferrell helps Mariel Hemingway get off the phone - Early Will Ferrell but priceless.

8. Bronx Beat - This is the one with James Van Der Beek.

7. Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder Duet - Eddie and Piscopo.

6. Lunch Lady Land - Chris Farley and Adam Sandler at their best.

5. Samurai Delicatessen - John Belushi's best character.

4. Al Pacino Checks His Balance - Bill Hader is my favorite impressionist.

3. Jingleheimer Junction - This children's show goes awry when Will Ferrell shows up with an F on his shirt.

2. Walken Family Renunion - One of the funniest things I've ever seen on television.

1. James Brown Hot Tub Party - There are tons of amazing Eddie Murphy moments. This is the best.

Wal Ozello is  a science fiction techno-thriller novelist and the author of Assignment 1989  and Revolution 1990. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee. Wal's been watching Saturday Night Live as long as he can remember.

Learn more about Wal Ozello and other Pencilstorm contributors by clicking here