On Nov. 17, during The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas (Nov. 17-19), celebrities like Larry David, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Stiller appeared at the Earth to America! show to share some laughs and shine a light on the environmental issue of global warming. To promote the television premier of the show on TBS Nov. 20, the cable network turned to Stun Creative, Los Angeles, to produce a two-minute-and-45-second short film starring Jack Black (The School of Rock, Shallow Hal), directed by Jay Roach (Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery) and written by Mike White (The School of Rock, The Good Girl). The short is running in Regal Cinemas nationwide.
Stun Creative is a hybrid advertising agency and production company with a client base primarily made up of cable networks like TBS as well as studios. In addition to having a running time longer than a spot, this project was unusual in that the director and talent were signed on before Stun Creative came on board. Ron Korb, VP/creative director at TBS, suggested Stun Creative produce it and sent the shop’s reel to Roach who met with them and awarded them the job. “Needless to say, when we heard Jay Roach wanted to work with us, we were thrilled,” said Stun partner/executive producer Brad Roth.
MAKING LIGHT OF A SERIOUS SITUATION
The short film opens in a corporate board room with members of corporate America on one end and children of the world on the other. Jack Black’s character is a lawyer representing the children.
The lawyer for the businessmen addresses Black summarizing the children’s request–they want his clients to stop burning fossil fuels in the hope of preventing a global catastrophe. A little girl nudges the less than focused Black, who says that is correct. Since the businessmen have invested a lot of money in the Earth, the lawyer explains that his clients claim it as their own.
But, taking a position that they are child-friendly, the scheming lawyer for big business says that if the children will drop the lawsuit, his clients will give them a year’s supply of sweets.
Black’s character is delighted and immediately dives into a chocolate bar that has been placed in front of him. Conferring with the children, he says he thinks it’s a good idea, but they won’t waiver. A young boy points out that the opposition is plundering the Earth and heating up the ocean. Another says, “The Arctic’s melting, man.” Their lawyer appears to grasp the gravity of the situation and holds his ground.
“Gentlemen, we will not be bought off by your delicious chocolate candies,” Black declares as he takes another bite of the bar and then throws it at the other lawyer.
The corporate giants’ lawyer then offers entertainment by the Konkleheads.
People dressed in bright clothing along with some in animal costumes run into the room and dance around singing a children’s song about nature’s strength. “I love the Konkleheads,” Black’s character rejoices as he jumps up to dance. Once he realizes that his clients are looking at him like he is crazy, he stops. “No, this offer’s insulting, no, no.”
The next offer rolls in, a free cell-phone in the shape of a bumble bee. Again, the children’s lawyer is enticed, but regains his focus and declines the offer.
His clients stand to loose the earth, he points out. “You want to ruin a planet? Go to Jupiter or Uranus! Global warming is people. It’s people! It’s their future in the balance. The earth is not something we will negotiate.” Raising his voice, he states that they will not settle and his clients cheer.
COMEDIC SENSIBILITIES
This project, which was shot during one day at Hollywood Center Studios, Hollywood, was a good fit for Stun Creative because Roth and partner/executive producer Mark Feldstein are used to working on tight budgets and tight schedules. For this film, there were only three weeks between preproduction and shooting.
In addition, they consider comedy to be their specialty. “Our work is very much steeped in comedy and pop culture. We consider ourselves pop culture junkies,” Roth related.
Beyond the genre, he also noted that having Black, White and Roach attached to the project was a major draw. “You’re dealing with the top talent in entertainment, film, these are the most successful guys in comedy and as we said, Mark and I have always fancied ourselves as guys who understood comedy and hopefully our work has reflected that. So when we just heard there was even the remote chance that [we could work with them,] we were going to make it work no matter what.”
Stun Creative also produced four :30 spots that Rob Meltzer directed to promote awareness of the festival. The spots star George Lopez, Dane Cook, Susie Essman and Triumph the Insult Dog. A two-minute version of the short is also running on TBS.
Susanna Hoffs (formerly with The Bangles and now married to Roach) and Matthew Sweet composed the music for the Konkleheads piece, and Roach contributed lyrics.
Laurie David, the founder of StopGlobalWarming.org (and wife of Larry David), is the creator and executive producer for the comedy special Earth to America!
Brad Rushing was DP. Greg Hayden (Zoolander, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason) edited the short.
