Did my Lesbian Rambo predict the election?
November 10, 2008
In 2005, I wrote this opening scene.
EXT. WASHINGTON DAY
An American flag fills the screen, rippling gently in the wind, as credit titles and stirring music begin.
Dissolve to an aerial montage: the Washington Monument, the White House, the Capitol Buildings, etc. (Stock). A morning news broadcast fades up.
NEWSREADER (VO)
In an historic unanimous vote, Congress passed the universal health care bill at 3 am this morning. This is seen as solid evidence of the new bipartisan spirit on Capitol Hill that was promised at the last election. Swift passage through the Senate is expected and the bill could be on the President‘s desk as early as Friday morning.
Dissolve to aerial shot of the Vice Presidential motorcade on the freeway.
NEWSREADER (VO)
In other Washington news, Vice President Walker leaves today on a six nation tour to promote the President’s initiative on global warming…
CUT TO: Air Force Two in flight, buffeted by a heavy storm…
Hey, Film Guy, what delusional universe are you living in? A Utopian Washington doing the people’s business with efficiency and compassion? And this less than a year into Bush’s second term, with Karl Rove predicting a permanent Republican majority? Pull the other one, it‘s got bells on. Reviewers, a humorless breed by and large, missed the irony and snorted derision. Of course they were not going to like this movie anyway.
My assignment was to develop, produce and direct a Lesbian Rambo derivative that could, with a few simple substitute scenes, be sold to broadcasters intolerant of gay themes.
The concept was this: Air Force Two crashes in the Pacific, and the Vice President (DAVID KEITH), together with his gay secret service bodyguard (the magnificent MARIEL HEMINGWAY) and glam reporter (JILL BENNETT) are washed ashore on a remote island held by ruthless insurgents. The rebels, led by a crazed US mercenary (DAVID MILBERN), hunt the VP for ransom.
Big mistake. Mariel Hemingway slaughters them all. Think of it as a campy homage to 80’s right wing gun porn, but with only enough money for a 14 day shoot. Check out the trailer here.
I accepted the budgetary challenge, because it amused me to make a film that Vice President Cheney could sit and watch with his proudly lesbian daughter, each identifying with different characters.
The movie could have started with the poker game scene on Air Force Two, but since Darth Vader had given the office of Vice President such a bad name, I added the opening montage to help create a sympathetic image for the VP, before the audience even meets the character. Then David Keith’s wry charm takes over, and we care about the character’s fate.
Hence the Utopian Washington, mocked by critics. Yet, miraculously, here we are, but 3 years later, at the dawn of a new era in American politics, where the social change implied in that voice over news report, is now within sight.
I am not clairvoyant. I was just trying to fix a dramatic problem! IN HER LINE OF FIRE (mildly lesbian) or AIR FORCE TWO (straight and less fun) should be judged in the context of a 14 day shoot fueled by a budget best described as the smell of an oily rag.
The work of Steve and Bennique Blasini of BFX Imageworks creating the crash of Air Force Two, and lots of digital gunfire/collateral damage was a great help. The staging of gunfights goes a lot faster if the safety concerns relating to blank ammunition and pyrotechnics are not an issue. Just aim the empty weapon and CLICK! The Blasinis will do the rest. To see more of these digital wizards at work, check out their website: BFX Imageworks
As for Washington, it will take a lot of wizardry to repair that dysfunctional institution, but at least the world now has a leader with a powerful intellect willing to try.
haha, nice blog/nice scene.
I’m really thrilled Obama has won…
From the trailer it looks terrible, but whenever you talk about a film of yours it makes me wanna watch it.
And speaking of your films, any idea what happened to the DVD release of Tyrannosaurus Azteca?
Thanks Bob. I am often asked to make “terrible” or at least tired genre concepts. Within the parameters set, I try to create a two faced celebration/satire of the genre tropes involved. 80’s right wing gun porn required its “hero” to have no regard for human life ( to me a contradiction in the definition of a hero) , to blow away hordes of generally third world people who have no choice but to follow orders from their no doubt evil superiors, but are just simply trying to survive in the environment into which they have been born. As such they are thinly disguised white supremacist movies, generally providing at least one sympathetic third world character as a fig leaf. IN HER LINE OF FIRE, made for the Gay and Lesbian network Here! ( and I wish I could have had more Sapphic dialogue, but there is only so many alternate scene you have time to shoot in 14 days) is a curious genre cocktail, as many of my films are. Rambo is now Rambette, fighting to suppress her hard-on for the Jill Bennett character, with a VP who actually encourages her in that direction: ” You’re a marine. Go for it ! ” At the same time she is a total fighting machine, as the genre requires, killing countless human beings without turning a hair. I work with irony a lot. Sometimes it is overt. Other times it is more subtextual, encouraging the audience to reflect afterwards on the morality of the heroes, and examine from a film geek’s point of view what are the hidden persuaders that cause popularity for a particular genre/set piece. I don’t know whether this helps you understand my approach. For most critics who cannot see past micro budget or who despise genre, it is simpler to say I just make bad films.
As for AZTEC REX as it is now called, it has been repeated 17 times on the Sci-Fi Channel. Rigel Entertainment have the DVD rights. I have not been informed of the release date.
I think it is easy for some to say that crap films are made on a tiny budget, but when you are a hired gun, forced the execute someone elses vision, it is often a greater victory to somehow ’smuggle’ in your own ideas and thoughts.
Plus any movie that could be described as ‘lesbian Rambo’ gets my vote. And you also directed BMX Bandits, one of my favourite movies.
Don’t get me wrong, I like plenty of “bad” films. Limitations often encourage creativity. I totally get where you’re coming from.
The thing that seems most interesting about In Her Line of Fire is the lesbian aspect, as the whole Rambo thing has been done plenty of times (a “tired genre concept” as you describe it). Unfortunately the trailer doesn’t seem play this up at all, possibly because the trailer was made to appeal to the non-gay markets as well?
It seems like the last few films you’ve discussed here are work for hire jobs where you’ve been given specific requirements that you’ve had to work with. While it’s clear you enjoy putting your own stamp on these film, do you hope or plan to make films where you have more creative control?
Scott, yes, you are spot on. I am an irony smuggler. In network television, a director is expected to check his film making personality at the door. I have to appear to do it by the numbers, but sneak some ideas in the back way. In fairness to the here! network, they always appreciated my skills at making bricks without straw, and gave me some leeway.
And Bob, I can tell , like me, your taste ranges from high art to trash with flash. You are a full spectrum movie fan. I wish the IHLOF trailer had flaunted its sapphic elements, but they did not want to frighten certain buyers. Certainly I would like the level of creative control I had early in my career in Australia. Now he who pays the piper calls the tune. But the show ain’t over till the fat lady sings…
Hey, Brian this is james, I haven’t hard from alex in like 500 years….i was wondering if you could e-mail me his cell phone or give me a call and give it to me… I hope things are going well & give my best to margaret & eric.
J Stewart.
559-905-2224
jstewart@westlakeaudio.com
Hello. And Bye.