(mim-uh-zeen) & other loss leaders: The KICK ME Saga

Thursday, March 30, 2023

The KICK ME Saga - Part Ten Aftermath & Exorcism

As said at the end of Part Nine, there was no word about KICK ME until last November. I was disappointed and somewhat bitter about the experience; I was a fan of Gary, from Big Jeter to Chucky Lou A/V Club and had done an article for Mike White's (The Projection Booth Podcast) magazine Cashiers du Cinemart about Chucky Lou, which didn't get publication - and from his previous short films, he's not an untalented filmmaker.

I did have a hint, however - I did work on an unfinished piece he did with Santiago and Sean Hill as a pair of sex addicts who ditch their group session; Patti Myers was also in it and I assume it was intended to be fleshed out further. I was kinda taken aback at the interplay between him & crew (Todd Norris was shooting and Joe Allen gaffing) - but found out later that he'd just broken up with his girlfriend, so I chalked it up to that; everybody has an off day, after all now and then.

Now, to Present Day - the following is what I wrote on my FB page after seeing the finished film:

KICK ME - "The EL TOPO of KCK-based action comedies"

I didn't hate it. Was dubious of the reviews, due to my experience on the film, but I can see now that it'll attract a following - which, of course, is a good thing for all involved. In retrospect, the 10 year delay probably helped, ultimately, allowing things to be reshaped & streamlined into a coherent film. And it probably was just ahead of its time - it doesn't feel like a film shot just over 10 years ago.

I can also honestly say that at the time of shooting, I just didn't 'get it'. AFTER HOURS was the template - but the material we shot came off to me as chaotic & disjointed... just like the shoot itself. And I couldn't see anything coherent coming from it.

I was not on the same page as Gary - and if your job involves tracking the logic of the material in service to the story, it does help to have some awareness with the director. The way things were, I couldn't see any point remaining since there wasn't anything I could do to improve the situation. So I demanded that I not get a credit on the film.

So while I'm glad it didn't ultimately turn out to be the disaster that most assumed it would be - it's still the worst production experience I've had on a project. So, no regrets at pulling that card.

But enough about me...

Santiago Vasquez comes off really well, as this was geared as a showcase for him after FIRST DATE - the film's joke of having him in the role that would've been cast as Pasty White Guy in a more conventional film (Jim Belushi type in his sitcom phase), I finally got. Although there's also something Jon Polito-esque in his performance, too.

The majority of the cast were non-actors, except for Josh Fadem and Walter Coppage (THE UNSEEN - and who is a vast improvement over the guy originally in the role) and everyone is memorable; the breakout character is Eric Logan as Ro-Tel, who really benefitted from the reshoots in being more featured than originally planned (and his character trait featured came out of a prop not being present). For me, the funniest performance is still Jim Schweers' karate student.

The score by Jeff Freling is wonderful, helping in holding the chaos and absurdity together. There's also some background songs written by Gary and Rita Brinkerhoff (bandmate from the late lamented Big Jeter) and an acappella chorale that backgrounds the film's climatic set piece. There better be a soundtrack release...

So, yeah - didn't hate it. The edible did help, I admit. The Gen-Z kids looking for something offbeat and strange will give it a life and it may play well overseas - I'm guessing it'll do really well in genre-themed fests over the next year and maybe some label like Arrow or the Vinegar Syndrome partner labels will make it available.