None More 80s
April 16, 2015 11:36 AM Subscribe
Last year, Laser Unicorns raised over $630,000 to create their 80s-inspired kung fu cop movie that involved time travel, ancient gods, dinosaurs, and Nintendo Power Gloves. All made with virtual sets and a shoestring budget.
They've now released the movie's theme song, starring David Hasselhoff. How much more 80s could it be? None. None more 80s.
Previously on MetaFilter
Does $630,000 really count as a shoestring budget? Primer supposedly was filmed for just $7,000, which probably didn't leave enough money to even buy shoestrings.
But we always needs more 80s, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:44 AM on April 16, 2015
But we always needs more 80s, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 11:44 AM on April 16, 2015
Primer supposedly was filmed for just $7,000, which probably didn't leave enough money to even buy shoestrings.
given that pretty much the only prop in the movie appears to be made out of PVC and cardboard, I believe it.
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:48 AM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
given that pretty much the only prop in the movie appears to be made out of PVC and cardboard, I believe it.
posted by Dr. Twist at 11:48 AM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
Shoestring budgets exist on a sliding scale. A movie with lots of CGI will cost more than a movie with no CGI.
posted by bstreep at 11:50 AM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bstreep at 11:50 AM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Excellent use of the hackingtoomuchtime tag.
posted by sparklemotion at 11:52 AM on April 16, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by sparklemotion at 11:52 AM on April 16, 2015 [5 favorites]
If you like this sort of 80's montage music then you should already have Blood Bros First Blood as your workout/motivational mix, it's got everything from Karate Kid to Transformers to Rocky to Team America.
posted by furtive at 12:01 PM on April 16, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by furtive at 12:01 PM on April 16, 2015 [6 favorites]
Well, the goal was to raise $100,000, so their $630,019 collection got them to revamp what they already had, add additional scenes, and release it online for free. They didn't reach their $1 million stretch goal of making it a feature-length film, but there was a lot of support from game companies for making a Kung Fury 8-bit game, so that might still be a thing.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:07 PM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 12:07 PM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
That Blood Bros First Blood mix is amazing, by the way. It should come with acid-washed jean jacket and a sample of Polo.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:18 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:18 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Does $630,000 really count as a shoestring budget?
The Directors Guild of America slots $630,000 as a Level 1b Low Budget project. That's the second-lowest level of budget that the DGA recognizes, and at that level it's standard for below-the-line crews to be paid one-third of normal scale, and directors often aren't paid at all.
Now, Kung Fury is almost certainly not associated with the Directors Guild, so the comparison isn't exactly 1:1, but it should give you some general idea of what constitutes a shoestring budget by entertainment industry standards.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 12:19 PM on April 16, 2015 [8 favorites]
The Directors Guild of America slots $630,000 as a Level 1b Low Budget project. That's the second-lowest level of budget that the DGA recognizes, and at that level it's standard for below-the-line crews to be paid one-third of normal scale, and directors often aren't paid at all.
Now, Kung Fury is almost certainly not associated with the Directors Guild, so the comparison isn't exactly 1:1, but it should give you some general idea of what constitutes a shoestring budget by entertainment industry standards.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 12:19 PM on April 16, 2015 [8 favorites]
I backed this movie and when I got the update about a special guest on the soundtrack, I knew it was going to be Hasselhoff. I mean, who else?
posted by Huck500 at 12:23 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Huck500 at 12:23 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm willing to accept the return of the '80s if it means the Mets get to win another Series.
posted by languagehat at 1:03 PM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by languagehat at 1:03 PM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
"I'm willing to accept the return of the '80s if it means the Mets get to win another Series."
Or the Tigers.
posted by TDavis at 1:14 PM on April 16, 2015
Or the Tigers.
posted by TDavis at 1:14 PM on April 16, 2015
I did not realize David Hasselhof had a VEVO channel. I suppose I should not be surprised about that, or that half of the videos are apparently not available in the US.
posted by ckape at 1:20 PM on April 16, 2015
posted by ckape at 1:20 PM on April 16, 2015
This seems like the kind of thing that is good for a music video or a trailer, and so tiresome for anything longer than that.
(To be honest, I didn't even make it through the whole music video.)
posted by smackfu at 1:25 PM on April 16, 2015
(To be honest, I didn't even make it through the whole music video.)
posted by smackfu at 1:25 PM on April 16, 2015
Any idea when the actual movie comes out? Last I heard was sometime in March. That seems to have not happened.
posted by ckape at 1:51 PM on April 16, 2015
posted by ckape at 1:51 PM on April 16, 2015
Crap, I should have put this in the post. The last backer announcement on a release date:
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 1:59 PM on April 16, 2015
...we are aiming for a release around the 22nd to 29th of May.Evidently there are a few more details to work out. 394 VFX shots are complete, sounds like.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 1:59 PM on April 16, 2015
or that half of the videos are apparently not available in the US.
That shouldn't be a problem, because Germans love David Hasselhoff
posted by zippy at 2:07 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
That shouldn't be a problem, because Germans love David Hasselhoff
posted by zippy at 2:07 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Is it bad that i have 100% the exact same haircut as Hasselhoff in this?
posted by emptythought at 2:32 PM on April 16, 2015
posted by emptythought at 2:32 PM on April 16, 2015
Well, that was really - and I want you to trust that I am being 100% sincere when I say this - something.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:42 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Wolfdog at 2:42 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Crap. I thought that zarq's Highwayman post had maxed out my '80s quota for the next few months, but clearly there's room for more...
posted by straw at 2:52 PM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by straw at 2:52 PM on April 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
How the might Hoff fallen. Holy crap is he ever desperate for money and attention to be doing this.
posted by NotATailor at 6:00 PM on April 16, 2015
posted by NotATailor at 6:00 PM on April 16, 2015
The appearance of Hitler in this video makes me suddenly aware of how much Kung Fury looks like the second season of Danger 5. So if you're impatient for Kung Fury, you can probably tide yourself over by watching Danger 5.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 6:38 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Parasite Unseen at 6:38 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
How the might Hoff fallen. Holy crap is he ever desperate for money and attention to be doing this.
If I could look that good at 62, I'm good.
posted by fungible at 6:59 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
If I could look that good at 62, I'm good.
posted by fungible at 6:59 PM on April 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
How the might Hoff fallen. Holy crap is he ever desperate for money and attention to be doing this.
The Hoff has quite a life he's living and while he does much that is not self-parody, he also does a LOT Of self-parody, and has done for decades. Even while Baywatch was on the air, I remember him parodying himself in Baywatch in some thing or other.
That he'd be willing to sing (possibly just for the kicks) a totally 80s song for a totally low-budget 80's throwback movie sounds entirely like the kind of thing he would do.
posted by hippybear at 12:58 AM on April 17, 2015 [6 favorites]
The Hoff has quite a life he's living and while he does much that is not self-parody, he also does a LOT Of self-parody, and has done for decades. Even while Baywatch was on the air, I remember him parodying himself in Baywatch in some thing or other.
That he'd be willing to sing (possibly just for the kicks) a totally 80s song for a totally low-budget 80's throwback movie sounds entirely like the kind of thing he would do.
posted by hippybear at 12:58 AM on April 17, 2015 [6 favorites]
Is that... Is that a powerglove?
posted by pseudocode at 4:09 AM on April 17, 2015
posted by pseudocode at 4:09 AM on April 17, 2015
Last year, Laser Unicorns raised over $630,000 to create their 80s-inspired kung fu cop movie that involved time travel, ancient gods, dinosaurs, and Nintendo Power Gloves.
Is that... Is that a powerglove?
posted by Wolfdog at 4:28 AM on April 17, 2015
Is that... Is that a powerglove?
posted by Wolfdog at 4:28 AM on April 17, 2015
The appearance of Hitler in this video makes me suddenly aware of how much Kung Fury looks like the second season of Danger 5.
To be fair, Danger 5 season 2 has more boobs* and blood, but Kung Fury has more money for SFX.
I mean, the Danger 5 vagina assassin scene was done for about three fiddy.
(*By which I mean cleavage, because SBS isn't like that anymore).
posted by Mezentian at 4:39 AM on April 17, 2015
To be fair, Danger 5 season 2 has more boobs* and blood, but Kung Fury has more money for SFX.
I mean, the Danger 5 vagina assassin scene was done for about three fiddy.
(*By which I mean cleavage, because SBS isn't like that anymore).
posted by Mezentian at 4:39 AM on April 17, 2015
How the might Hoff fallen. Holy crap is he ever desperate for money and attention to be doing this.
posted by NotATailor at 6:00 PM on April 16
Why would you not do this. I'd do it. You'd be crazy to not want to wear fingerless gloves and sing in front of a Lambo and ride a T-Rex with a time travelling cop.
posted by Awful Peice of Crap at 9:22 AM on April 17, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by NotATailor at 6:00 PM on April 16
Why would you not do this. I'd do it. You'd be crazy to not want to wear fingerless gloves and sing in front of a Lambo and ride a T-Rex with a time travelling cop.
posted by Awful Peice of Crap at 9:22 AM on April 17, 2015 [4 favorites]
How the might Hoff fallen. Holy crap is he ever desperate for money and attention to be doing this.
Pfft, are we really gonna forget his dick propeller bit 11 years ago in the first spongebob movie?
posted by emptythought at 10:36 AM on April 17, 2015
Pfft, are we really gonna forget his dick propeller bit 11 years ago in the first spongebob movie?
posted by emptythought at 10:36 AM on April 17, 2015
Re self-awareness, I think it was Hoff who said that the producers of Knight Rider sprung for William Daniels for the voice of KITT because they needed a strong actor to make up for him just being eye candy.
Hoff got to the point in his career pretty early where he could concentrate on just having fun, and has done so.
posted by straw at 1:19 PM on April 17, 2015
Hoff got to the point in his career pretty early where he could concentrate on just having fun, and has done so.
posted by straw at 1:19 PM on April 17, 2015
« Older 1:35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | "My culture, their culture, our culture." Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by ignignokt at 11:43 AM on April 16, 2015 [6 favorites]