Kelsi Swears

Alright, you know Mormons don't swear and they've got their own "swear" words like "gosh" and "darn" and "fudge" and "dang" and so on. But it seems that recently, a lot of those words are basically the same as real swear words in Mormon culture. I mean a lot of Mormons are almost as easily offended by those words as by real swear words, just because they know they're replacing the actual word. And, alright, I get it. Those words are too close to the actual word, so what's the point? But, seriously, when you're in pain or when you're frustrated, you just HAVE to shout something.

So over the years, I've come up with some of my own swear words. Some original, some not:

Fudge muffin- This is probably the one I use the most. I use it in all context. It's the universal "swear" word. As a frustrated thing to shout "Oh fudge muffin!" (or when I'm in pain). Or when I'm confused "what the fudge muffin?". Or when I'm insulting someone "he's such a fudge muffin". Or when I'm describing something "that hurt like a fudge muffin".

Sweet celery sticks- I don't use this one as much as I used to, which is a shame because I really kind of like it. I have no idea how I came up with it. It's just something I shout when in pain or angry.

Mother hugger- Another one I shout when in pain or angry. I also use it as an insult "you mother hugger". Sometimes I use it as an adjective "she's such a mother hugging idiot". I didn't make it up because I've heard a few people use it before, but it's definitely not a common one you hear everyday.

Gosh didily darn- Another cry for pain or anger. A twist on two of the Mormon "swears".

Mother of Pearl- Definitely not an original one, but I use it a lot. An exclamation. I also say "sweet mother of Pearl" when particularly excited.

For the love of Pete- I don't know who Pete is, but I use his name in vain a lot. Just another exclamation. I mostly use this one when frustrated.

Sweet mother of all that's holy- I never vary the wording on this. Never "mother of all that's holy" or anything. It's always exactly as I wrote it.

Mother of Moses- Yet another exclamation. Sometimes it's "sweet mother of Moses" when I get really excited.

Then of course, I still do use the "Mormon swear words". I can't help it. I was raised a Mormon.

Don't Be a Stooge

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful father who introduced me to many classic things (shows, music, etc). One of those things was the Three Stooges. I was pretty young when I first saw them, but they're all pretty simple to understand, and as a kid, you kind of are entertained by physical comedy, so I latched on to them quickly.

(left to right) Moe Howard, Curly Howard, Larry Fine

The Stooges are like the epitome of slapstick comedy. I mean, there was always Charlie Chaplin and other silent film stars who sort of invented the idea of slapstick in our day and age, but the Stooges defined it.

I looked up the exact definition of slapstick comedy. Wikipedia says it's "a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity which exceeds the boundaries of common sense" and the Encyclopedia Britannica defined it as "a type of physical comedy characterized by broad humour, absurd situations, and vigorous, usually violent action." This is the Three Stooges. 

All the episodes center around three men (who are total idiots and almost completely incompetent) in different situations and how they deal with those situations. Always, they are new hires at a job, or convicts on the run, or salesmen, or waiters in a restaurant, or repairmen, or soldiers in a trench, or something like that. They usually end up causing more harm than good in whatever they're doing. It's hilarious, most of the episodes begin with other people talking about a problem, setting up the episode, and then one of them says something along the lines of "I've just hired three new men" or "there's three salesmen at the door" or "I saw three men outside" or whatever, and it's just like "hmm, whoEVER could it be?"XD.

First there's Moe (Moses Harry Horwitz aka Moe Howard). He's the short-tempered, self-appointed leader of the three, aways bossing the others around and physically abusing them when they do something wrong or annoy him. But despite his outward rather cruel demeanor towards his pals, he is also very loyal and protective of the others, keeping them from harm and doing whatever it takes to save them should it come to it.

Then there's Larry (Louis Feinberg aka Larry Fine). He's the middle man, always getting stuck in the middle of everything. He does a lot more reacting than acting, always in the middle of Moe and Curly's antics. Of course he's not completely innocent. He often accidentally clunks Moe over the head and gets punished for it or something. He also is known for committing rather random acts and giving out random comments (yelling like Tarzan in the middle of a court room, smiling creepy at a camera, etc). He also plays his violin a lot. His wild hair makes for a great grabbing tool for Moe.

Lastly is Curly (Jerome "Jerry" Lester Horwitz aka Curly Howard). He's the most child-like of the three and receives the brunt of Moe's bullying. He has a high, squeaky voice and waves his arms and fingers around a lot like a little kid. He is the most popular of the the Stooges with his famous "nyuk nyuk nyuk" laugh, and "woob woob woob", and barking at things, and "soitenly" (certainly), and "nyaah-aah-aah!", and so on. He has an indestructible head which always wins out by breaking anything that assaults it, including saws, axes, etc. (Then he'll point at it with his trademark "oh look" and Moe will get angry that he broke whatever it is XD).

It's funny, like I said, Moe is the bully, the one who is always hitting the others, and they rarely ever hit back. They mostly whack him on accident which ticks him off and he'll hit them, which then upsets them, but they won't retaliate because they're not "tough guys". Sometimes they'll bump him telling him to leave whoever he's picking on alone, but it only gets them slapped as well. Their "revenge" is pretty funny though. They always wave their hand back and forth in front of his face and he can't help but follow it hypnotically. Curly also grabs his elbow a lot and shakes it in annoyance after he's been slapped XD.

Despite his abuse, the other two see Moe as the brains and they are always looking to him for approval ("Moe, I finished the drawer." "What do you want me to do? Kiss you?" "Well…" "*slaps* Get out."), for instruction ("Hey, Moe, we're in trouble" "What's the matter?" "How are we going to fix that hole?" "Put a patch on it, egghead."), and for help when they're in trouble. Sort of like a bossy older brother with little brothers who look up to him.

It's strange, as I write this, it sounds like such a horrible and abusive show, but remember, it's slapstick. Everything is so over-the-top and exaggerated, the slaps and hits have goofy sound effects, and everything is just so ridiculous that it comes across as hilarious.

Around 1:12 Curly does the hypnotizing hand thing.

At about 0:30 is the elbow shake, sometimes it's 

more tantrum-y than this one though.

Since they were filmed in the 30's, there's a lot of references to WWII. Brush up on your history, people, to understand some of the jokes, they're pretty hilarious. OMG the way they just smack those Nazis, and Axis powers, and Hitler, etc. around… XDD I'm just like "oh snap". Of course, nowadays, some of that stuff is not "politically correct", but I still get a kick out of it, especially putting it in context.

There's also been a couple other stooges who replaced Curly in later years, but really, the best were the original three.

Actually, technically, Curly was not part of the "original" three stooges. Moe, Larry, and Moe's other brother, Shemp were part of a stage act with an actor called Ted Healy. Healy played the straight man who would try to perform some task (singing, telling jokes, etc), but was always interrupted by his three assistants which he

The only time all three Howard brothers appeared on screen together
in "Hold That Lion". Jerry/Curly was visiting the set one day
after his stroke and they decided to put him in for a cameo.

reacted to with physical abuse. However, the three assistants were so well received by audiences that they were offered their own contract… which Healy then threatened to sue because they were "his employees", so the offer was withdrawn. But when the three found out what had happened, they broke away and began their own career, calling themselves the Three Stooges (with Moe taking over Healy's role as the bossy abuser). Healy was so enraged, he threatened to bomb the theaters that they were performing at. After some time, the Stooges temporarily rejoined Healy, but his alcoholism and abrasiveness made it short-lived. Shemp eventually quit and began his own career. Moe and Shemp's younger brother, Jerome, replaced him, going by the stage-name Curly because he shaved his head after Healy remarked that he did not look very funny. Like I said, their rejoining Healy did not last long and they soon quit for good, which is when their contract with Colombia Studios began… thus the shorts began. And they became wildly popular. However, they were not aware of their popularity, being told that the desire for shorts were in decline and that their profits were not as high as they actually were. Only after they stopped making the shorts did they realize how valuable they were to the studio. Curly had a stroke after several years and could no longer perform, so he was replaced by Shemp once again. After Shemp died of a heart attack, he was replaced by Joe Besser, who was then replaced by "Curly Joe" DeRita. Moe was the last surviving Stooge who died in 1975. Their official running years spanned from 1925-1970.

In the stunt above, they're… IDK painters, construction workers? I can't remember, it doesn't matter. But, Larry and Curly are supposed to saw the table in half that Moe is standing on and it collapses underneath him. However, the table collapsed the wrong way and Moe fell hard on his side. You can see the others looking at him concerned. But Moe-- trooper that he is-- gets up, walks over to his mark where he was supposed to fall, and pulls off the double slap. Moe did actually break three ribs in that fall.

There's not much else to say because you really have to watch it to appreciate the sheer hilarity of it. All the slapping, the eye-poking, the pie throwing, the cross dressing, the crazy dancing, and more. Gotta love it!

QUOTES (because it's not all physical humor):
Moe: (to Larry) How do you spell chrysanthemum?
(pause as Larry thinks)
Moe: Oh ignorant, eh? *slaps* (to Curly) How do you spell it?
Curly: C-H-R-Y-S-A-N-T-H-E-M-U-M
Moe: Why weren't you here a minute ago? *slaps*

(Moe has his eyes closed, thinking he's talking to a maid)
Moe: Kiss me. Ah, kiss me!
Curly: *kisses* Anything else, sir?
Moe: I'm poisoned! I'm poisoned!

Moe: My name is Moe. In Pig Latin that's oe-May.
Larry: My name is Larry, now what's that in Pig Latin?
Curly: Oe-May.
Larry: It's array-Lay.
Moe: Boy are you umb-day
Curly: Oh you mean I'm Umb-day in pig language?
Moe: You're umb-day in any language.

Fire Chief: If this were the army, I'd have you shot at sunrise.
Curly: But you couldn't do that, Cap. We don't get up that early.

(A golf ball hits all three in the head)
Moe: (to Larry) Oh a wise guy, a head clunker, eh? *slaps* Get out!
Curly: He didn't do it.
Moe: Then you did. *slaps*

(Barricading a door. They pick up a mattress and push it against the door, but Curly gets caught in between)
Moe: Someone's in the mattress. Quick! Kill him!
(Larry hits the mattress with a chair)

Moe: Next time you shoot yourself, shoot yourself in the head.
Curly: I'll make a note of it… How do you spell "head"?
Moe: B-O-N-E. Head.

(Taking down a telegraph in morse code)
Moe: What did it say?
Curly: Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
Moe: *slaps* Ah shut up (to Larry) What's that mean?
Larry: Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh
Moe: You too? *slaps*

Man: Is this work in competent hands?
Curly: Certainly. We're all incompetent.

*eye poke*
Larry: I can't see! I can't see!
Moe and Curly: What's the matter?
Larry: I got my eyes closed.

(They pretend to be in the middle of a conversation, acting nonchalant)
Moe: I say, Jasper, what comes after 75?
Larry: 76.
Moe: That's the spirit!
or
Larry: Say what ever happened in 1776?
Curly: Which street?

Moe: If this were my place, I'd throw you out of it.

Larry: Maybe we should lock the door in case our adversaries come back
Moe: "Adversaries"? When did you get so smart?
Larry: I've been smart all the time, only you didn't notice. Say, when I come back, I'll give you the password.
Moe: Brilliant. What'll it be?
Larry: "Open the door".
Moe: *slaps*

Moe: We've got to find a place to hide. If we're discovered, we're lost.
Curly: You're crazy. If we're discovered, we're found.

Attorney: (super fast) Doyousolemnlysweartotellthetruththewholetruthandnothingbuththetruth?
Curly: Huh?
Attorney: (super fast) Doyousolemnlysweartotellthetruththewholetruthandnothingbuththetruth?
Curly: Are you trying to give me the double talk?
Attorney: (super fast) Doyousolemnlysweartotellthetruththewholetruthandnothingbuththetruth?
Judge: Why don't you answer him?
Curly: He's talking pig latin, I don't know what he's saying.
Judge: He's asking you if you swear--
Curly: No! But I know all the words.

Larry: What'dya wake me for?
Curly: You snore like a roaring lion.
Larry: I do not. I stayed awake all last night to see if I snored and I didn't.

Moe: *slaps*
Curly: What's that for?
Larry: We didn't do nothin'!
Moe: That's just in case you do and I'm not around.
or
Moe: That's for what you were thinking.

Loudspeaker: Calling Dr. Howard, Dr. Fine, Dr. Howard.

(listening at a door)
Larry: Oh boy! Success!
Moe: Yeah, listen to those kisses!
(Grabs Larry and starts kissing him. A man walks by, staring)
Moe: (pushes Larry away) Cut it out *slaps*

(Curly has passed out)
Moe: Speak to me, kid. Say something. Come on, say something.
Curly: Something.
Moe: *head clunk*

(Curly is doing his laundry on the golf course and hanging it on a line)
Moe: What are you doing?
Curly: My washing.
Moe: Oh Lady Godiva, eh? *slaps*
Larry: Hey, little Sammy wash his shirty?
Moe: Hey, any of your clothes on that line?
Larry: No.
Moe: Then stay out of it. *slaps*

Repeated lines:
"A tarantula!"
or
"An octopus!"
or
-"Gentlemen."
-*looks behind*
or
"I'm a victim of circumstance."
or
"Spread out."
or
"Hey, wake up and go to sleep."
or
"What's the (big) idea?"
or
-"Use the tools."
-"What tools?"
-"The tools we've been using for the last [ten] years."
-"Oh those tools."

Slaps, Hits, Eye-Pokes, Etc.

Classic Pie Fight

Swinging the Alphabet: a famous song from the shorts

Some Funny Moments

(For those who don't know, the guy with the center part 

who kind of looks like Moe, is Shemp)

A Plumbing We Will Go: one of my favorite episodes 

What's the Sitch?

So… I'm not exactly sure what brought this on. I was just thinking lately about a show I used to watch a long time ago back in my childhood years (ah, the better times). You may have heard of it: Kim Possible. As I thought about it, I remembered how freakin' AWESOME it was and decided I needed to make a tribute to it because really…

This theme ranks in my top 5 catchiest theme songs ever!

Since most people don't know (unless you're a 90's kid), Kim Possible is about a teenage girl who balanced high school with saving the world. She wasn't a secret agent, like she didn't have two identities, nor did she work for the CIA or anything, she was just pretty much a freelance agent. She was basically a superhero, but without a double identity. Then of course she had her side-kick and best friend, her tech guy, her arch-rivals in both school and in world-domination, etc.

This show was awesome. I'm not just saying that out of nostalgia (well, partially). But, I mean, it broke a lot of boundaries (in a good way). Like, it was cliched and had a lot of stereotypes, but then at the same time it broke so many stereotypes and just rolled with whatever.

Because there's mad scientists with their crazy schemes, and there's the stuck up cheerleaders, and there's eccentric billionaires, mysterious and ancient Chinese legends, and many other things. But the show chooses to do the most unexpected things with all of this. Ex 1: the scientist is brilliant and is able to invent anything of course, but he is unable to come up with actually devious plots that work. They're always far too complex and/or have many holes. Ex 2: the billionaire had no plans of becoming evil until it was suggested to him, then decided randomly, "hey, I could take over the world if I wanted".

Then there is rapping, there are robots, there's nacos (nacho-tacos), there's cool gadgets, lots of pants falling down, kung-fu, and screaming all mixed with high school drama.

The characters are all great. The show has come up with some really original, fantastic ones:

Kim Possible

Obviously the main character. She's captain of the cheerleading squad and honor student who saves the world on a regular basis. She uses her cheerleader moves in her world-saving. And in her travels, learned other fighting skills such as kung-fu and karate. Daughter of a rocket scientist and a brain surgeon with two boy geniuses for brothers, she's the most mentally average one in her family. She's a considerate, sympathetic, non-self-absorbed popular girl (one of the few on the cheerleading squad). However, she's never had a boyfriend-- been too busy. She never notices the fact until later in the show when it is pointed out to her.

Ron Stoppable

Kim's best friend since preschool. He's sort of an underdog, but is still friends with the pretty and popular Kim. He is Kim's sidekick on her missions to save the world, though he is not quite as capable and agile as she is. He is not useless though and often saves her life. He actually attends this… academy or something in China and is empowered/implanted with the secret monkey power (or something, I can't exactly remember) and is able to awaken it in times of great peril and becomes this totally boss warrior. He invented the naco (nacho-taco) which is sold at Bueno Nacho (the restaurant where they frequent) and gets profit from it. He has a deep fear of monkeys that roots back all the way to his childhood (which is my the monkey powers are ironic).

Rufus

Ron's pet naked mole rat and Ron's other best friend. He assists in Kim's missions as well, usually to crawl into small spaces or bite through something. Ron bought him because his dad was allergic to all types of fur, so he had to find a hairless pet. Rufus usually hangs out in Ron's pants pocket. He shares all his master's quirks and personality traits. He speaks in small grunts and squeaks, kind of like R2-D2-- almost comprehendible english.


Wade

Kim's tech boy genius who never leaves his bedroom. He contacts her by way of her cellphone (they were face timing before it was cool) with updates on missions and gadgets. He is the one who invents/updates gadgets for her and gets her rides around the world.

Dr. Drakken

I believe he is the most reoccurring villain on the show, so I'd consider him Kim's arch-nemesis. He's the mad scientist I was talking about before. He's a total genius, but also completely incompetent.

Shego

Drakken's side-kick. She handles most of the hands-on, physical part of the job (fighting Kim, breaking into labs, etc). She has a power where her hands glow green with, I believe it's, plasma. She's a lot more competent than Drakken, but she mostly sits back and waits for Drakken's orders, giving him attitude and lip the entire time.

Bonnie

Kim's rival at school. She embodies your typical jerk cheerleader. She's jealous of Kim's popularity and constantly tries to one-up her.

Señor Senior Sr. and Señor Senior Jr.

 A father/son duo. They are the billionaires. Ron accidentally suggested to them that they could easily take over the world with all the money they had and Señor Senior Sr. took it to heart. Señor Senior Jr. is not as passionate as his father and dreams of becoming a teen pop sensation.

Monkey Fist

A man/monkey hybrid, I think is best to describe him. I can't remember his backstory, but often when there's something going on involving an ancient curse, monkeys, ninjas, or something, he's involved. Oh, let's not forget his side-kick monkey-ninjas.

Steven Barkin

A substitute teacher at Kim and Ron's school who seems to do literally everything. It's like there's no other teacher or staff member. He's always subbing for all the classes and extra-curricular clubs. He's very strict and hardcore. He takes a particular interest in Ron and is always picking on him.


Many of the characters have backstories (particularly the villains) of how they became the way they are and are more complex and interesting than how I've described them. The show is actually quite good good with suspending your disbelief in many aspects. But I mean, it is still a kids show, so its not like it's SO deep and dramatic.

The show spoofs a lot of pop culture which I always find amusing. Like Smarty Mart= Walmart, Bueno Nacho= Taco Bell or McDonald's, it spoofs Indiana Jones a lot (ex: "monkeys! Why did it have to be monkeys?"). That's all I can come up with after not watching the show for several years.

The animation on this show is actually quite good unlike a lot of 90's cartoons. I don't really know how to describe the writing… I think it's anime inspired. Like you can sort of see glimpses of anime in there occasionally, especially in the episodes with Monkey Fist, or in the bits where there's fighting. The animation too.

Then of course I love all the catchphrases: "What's the sitch?" "Call me, beep me if you wanna reach me", "No big", "That would be so cool if it wasn't about to [kill] us!", "Sick and wrong!", "You think you're all that, but you're not!", "Boo-ya!".

OMG! I almost forgot about the school billboard! It always has hilarious signs posted on it!

Anyways, this show is awesome! If anybody's looking for a great show for their kids, this is it. It doesn't have any disrespect, it's clean, it's fun, it's action-packed. I give it two thumbs up!

The Naked Mole Rap A very famous song from the show. Everyone on Disney Channel knew it back in the day.

And these are two of my favorite quotes from the show (I actually use the lemons one if anyone ever throws that phrase at me). I just have to include them:

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

"Where everything's made up and the points don't matter."

If you've never seen or even heard of this show, I pity your very existence greatly. It is seriously one of the funniest things I have ever come across in my entire life! I go and watch clips of it on YouTube just to cheer myself up.

(Left to right) Brad Sherwood, Drew Carey, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady

It's an improv show. It's got a host and four performers with a live audience. The four performers play a bunch of different games, making up everything off the top of their heads. Some of the games include Scenes From a Hat (where suggestions/scenarios are pulled from a hat [ex: improper etiquette while meeting the queen, things bald people are tired of hearing, rejected state slogans, hillbilly fortune cookies, etc] and the performers act it out), Hoedown (where each performer has to make up a verse to a song), Let's Make a Date (when a performer is on a bachelor-type show where the others are contestants, and has to guess what each of the other performers are supposed to be [ex: a serenader who sings insulting songs, someone who is in love with shoes, a pick-pocket on Mission Impossible), Questions Only (where the performers act out a scene, but can only speak in questions), and many more.

The original aired show had host Drew Carey (he has a very contagious laugh, I'll tell ya). I kind of liked him better than the reboot's host, Aisha Tyler. I liked his banter with the performers. The regular performers include Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie, and Ryan Stiles. There was always a changing cast member sometimes a celebrity or other semi-regulars which included Brad Sherwood, Greg Proops, Chip Esten, or Kathy Greenwood.

The regular three are HA-larious! I can't pick a favorite. It's like picking a favorite child. Ryan and Colin are always paired together and it's too funny! I cannot even handle it. They have excellent chemistry.

I love all the running jokes. There's always stuff about Colin's baldness, Ryan's shoes, Drew's weight, Ryan's height, the Drew Carey Show, Wayne's skin tone, how Colin's always the woman, and Ryan's nose, to name a few.

Anyways, I've managed to pick out my top 11 favorite sketches. That's right, top 11. That's all I could narrow it down to. I can't pick a top 10, not a top 5, and most certainly not a favorite.

(Don't worry, they always explain the game before they start. And you'll catch on.)

GAME: Sound Effects
Situation: Ryan is the husband and Colin is his heavily pregnant wife. They are at an amusement park when Colin suddenly goes into labor.

I'm totally laughing the whole time, but I just lose it when Colin pushes the baby back in to climb down the roller coaster. "Put your pants back on. People are screaming at you with a baby hanging out of you like that." 

GAME: Hollywood Director

Situation: Ryan is a criminal breaking rocks in a prison yard, Chip is the tough prison warden who decides to frisk him because he suspects he's concealing a concealed weapon. Then Wayne flies in on a helicopter to help Ryan escape. Colin is the director giving them notes on how to improve the scene.

"Fu-duh-duh-duh-duh-duh". And the stomp!

GAME: Three-headed Broadway Star
Subject: The name of the "musical" is 'My Favorite Shoe' and the song is called 'You Got Sole'.

This one's such a train wreck, it's hilarious. The ones where they all break character just make me laugh harder.

GAME: Moving People
Situation: While tracking some dangerous outlaws, the Lone Ranger- Colin and Tonto- Ryan are ambushed by the outlaws.

"I imagine it's so beautiful over there." The suspense in this video is so great. Will he ever look away from that spot on the ground?

GAME: Stand Sit Lie

Situation: Wayne has talked her boyfriend, Colin into coming into Ryan's tattoo parlor.

When Colin faints XD "You want a barcode?"

GAME: Irish Drinking Song
Subject: Calling out the wrong name in bed

Again with the cracking up. This is a totally classic scene that you must see if you watch Whose Line. I know it seems like it might be inappropriate based on the subject, but it doesn't get very far before everything goes whacky. (In this episode, there was a running gag where Colin would always meow when he couldn't think of anything to say, making everybody else burst out laughing).

GAME: Three-headed Broadway Star
Subject: The name of the "musical" is 'Memorabilia' and the song is called 'I Lost My Legwarmers'.

Oh Colin. "You!" Then when Ryan does it, everyone is all confused XD

GAME: Narrate
Setting: A burger fast food joint

Colin was totally asking for that! (Did anyone else notice that Colin was drinking his fries?)

GAME: Sound Effects
Situation: Batman and Robin get the call that one of their archenemies is wrecking havoc on Gotham City.

This is SO classic. You can't watch Whose Line without watching this scene. "I sure wish those ghosts would leave."

GAME: Living Scenery

Situation: With special guest, Richard Simmons. On a luxury cruise liner, a couple makes the most of a day of sunbathing, water sports, and entertainment.

(This was seriously the best I could find. I'm so mad. At least it's something). I DIE every time I watch this. OMG, I cannot handle it! Their faces! And the audience totally losing it in the background. Poor Wayne. And Greg "I'm just so happy"XDD

GAME: Improbable Mission

Situation: Doing the laundry for the Meir of Moofungistan, washing his burnoose.

You have to skip to 10:52. This was seriously the only clip I could find for some reason. Which I don't get because this is another totally classic scene. The game is two secret agents are assigned a mundane task, but carry it out as though it were any other top secret mission.

"THE CAT!!!" Colin is just so random sometimes, but somehow it always works. 

Making a Video

I've been making more home videos lately after a little bit of a dry streak, and now I'm here to give you a detailed description of my process ;)

One of my most recent videos was "Devil Went Down to Georgia", which I decided is a good embodiment of most things I go through while making a video. Because sometimes I'll make a movie and it's super easy and quick or else it might take forever and is super tedious. There are several steps when I make a movie. Some people just dive right in and wing it. I tend to put a lot of thought and preparation into it.

(Above) Me dressed as the Devil, looking over my storyboard

Anyways, my process:

1) The Subject
I usually choose to make a music video because those are the easiest and I'm usually too lazy to come up with any sort of script (I have in the past. You should check out my pirate videos I wrote for my cousins XD).

2) Storyboarding
Yes, I do storyboard. Sometimes if it's a simple concept, I won't, like if I'm just going to stand in front of the camera the whole time. But usually I want a bunch of different camera angles and such. Also, if I plan on using the green screen to multiply myself, it helps me to keep track of what needs to be filmed at certain times in certain places while I'm dressed up as certain characters.
So with the "Devil Went Down to Georgia", I roughly sketched out what I pictured in my head. There would be three characters: the narrator, the Devil, and Johnny. It would open on the narrator playing on his fiddle, then the Devil would rise up behind him, etc. etc.
I always draw the picture, then write the lyrics as synched with the picture, then add notes as to what should be happening (camera movements, actions, and so on).

3) Costumes
I usually try to put effort into my costumes, but I'm pretty limited. I reuse stuff lying around my house a lot. You'll often see the same jackets and hats in my videos. If there's more than one character, I have to pick out an outfit for each that differentiates them enough from one another (since I have the same face). If I'm using the green screen, I can never wear anything green or yellow because it will disappear into the background. I don't use makeup a lot, but I'm trying to more, it definitely differentiates the characters. Normally, I don't style my hair unless it's specifically called for (I'm too lazy). I usually just tie it back or tuck it under a hat. Any complicated costume, makeup, and/or hairstyle when there's multiple characters equals more coordination on my part because then I have to make sure I film all that character's part before changing.
In the "Devil Went Down to Georgia" I took a lot of care in the Devil's and Johnny's costumes. Johnny's consisted mostly of things I found in my mom's closet (the shirt, the hat, the boots). The Devil's clothes were all mine except for the cape and hat which I found in our costume closet. As for the narrator's, I just sort of threw it together out of my own wardrobe.

4) Props
If there's any props needed, I have to find/make them beforehand. Most of the time I don't have the actual prop and have to make it myself. It's a good thing I'm creative and my viewers have an open mind.
In the "Devil Went Down to Georgia"'s case, I needed a fiddle. I actually wanted to film this video for so long, but I had nothing to stand in for it. And obviously it just wouldn't work without it. I finally ended up ordering a stupid little toy violin off the internet, and when it finally came in, I immediately set to work.

5) Location/Time
Sometimes I get authentic and decide to film on location/at a certain time, so I have to film those bits separately. The entire video might be there, or just a part. Either way, I have to figure out my time schedule. If I'm only using the green screen, I can film at any time in any place pretty much.
With "Devil Went Down to Georgia" I actually had to go out on location to the hill behind my house for part of it. I found the perfect spot with a stump to serve as the hickory stump mentioned in the song.

6) Filming
I take several takes of each shot. Even if I think I've done it perfectly, I typically do it just one more time. It might turn out even better.

7) Green Screen
I use the green screen to put in backgrounds and to multiply myself. So if there's a song with more than one character, I can sing both parts. The green screen isn't hard to set up, and all I have to do is act my part in front of it, then add whatever I want later on the computer. I should mention, the more characters/layers I put, the worse the quality gets, and the longer it takes.
With "Devil Went Down to Georgia", I had three different characters, so I had to use the green screen to add in the other two. I had to figure out which one would actually be on the location. I decided the Devil would be since he "jumped up on a hickory stump", so would actually be touching part of the set. I filmed all his parts, then filmed some shots of the area to serve as background for the green screen. Later, I filmed all of Johnny's and the narrator's parts in front of the green screen and put them over the Devil.

8) Editing
Depending on the video, this could be the easiest or the hardest part. You upload all your footage into the computer and compile it together. Synching together the music with my videos takes some doing, I'll tell you. Especially if there's several green screen layers, it takes forever. This is the time I'll realize that I forgot to film something (even after all my meticulous planning). This is also when I'll search for backgrounds for the green screen if needed.
The "Devil Went Down to Georgia" took some time because of all the characters. I will always try to process the first layer of green screen together, but then mess it up and have to process it all again (it's hard to explain). I also realized that the transition into the "band of demons" was absolutely terrible, but there was pretty much nothing I could do about it without filming it all over.

9) Review
Even after I've finished editing and turn it into an mp4, I'll watch it a couple times and realize that something is missing, or the synch is off slightly at one part, or something. I'll watch it a couple more times, trying to ignore it, but after a while, I'll finally decide to fix it.
With "Devil Went Down to Georgia", there was one moment in the middle where the synch was off ever so slightly and it was driving me crazy. I'll bet no one noticed, but I did. I finally fixed it. Also, the day after I had published it on to YouTube, I quickly took it down before anyone could see it because I wanted to add an extra bit… the foot tapping while Johnny is playing his fiddle. I went outside really fast with the camera, wearing the boots and filmed it, then just added it in.

^^The actual video^^

^^Bloopers^^

Read my VeggieTales videos background post HERE