Homestar Runner Wiki - User contributions [en]

Experimental Film

2005-04-28T15:38:15Z

jonner:

[[Image:experimentalfilm.PNG|thumb|Strong Sad does some filming]]
[[Image:gracious.png|thumb|"Ahh! More like our 'I'll murder you in a back alley' host."]]
Strong Sad and The Cheat make a video for They Might Be Giants.

'''Cast (in order of appearance):''' [[Strong Sad]], [[Tentacle Skull]], [[They Might Be Giants|John Flansburgh]], [[They Might Be Giants|John Linnell]], [[The Cheat]], [[Gavin]], [[Lions#.22It.27s_a_lion.21.22|It's a lion!]], [[Homestar Runner]], [[Strong Bad]], [[Strong Mad]]

'''Places:''' [[The Field]], [[The Football Field]]

'''Date:''' July 13, 2004

'''Running Time:''' 3:00

'''Page Title:''' So a guy walks up to an ATM...

==Lyrics==

The color of infinity 
Inside an empty glass 
I'm squinting my eye 
And turning off and on and on 
and off the light

It's for this experimental film 
Which nobody knows about, and which 
I'm still figuring out what's going to go 
In my experimental film

Yeah, you're all gonna be in this experimental film 
And even though I can't explain it 
I already know how great it's

I already know the ending 
It's the part that makes your face implode 
I don't know what makes your face implode 
But that's the way the movie ends

And in my experimental film 
Which nobody knows about, but which 
After figuring out, your face implodes 
It's my experimental film

Yeah, you're all gonna be in this experimental film 
And even though I can't explain it 
I already know how great it— 
Even though I can't explain it 
I already know how great it's

The color of infinity 
Inside an empty glass 
It's for this experimental film 
Which nobody knows about, and which 
I'm still figuring out what's going to go 
In my experimental film

Yeah, you're all gonna be in this experimental film 
And even though I can't explain it 
I already know how great it's gonna— 
Yeah, you're gonna be in this experimental film 
And even though I can't explain it 
I already know how great it— 
Even though I can't explain it 
I already know how great it's

== Easter Eggs ==

*You can click on "Directed by Strong Sad & The Cheat" before the video starts to get a commentary by the directors. Okay, maybe a little more than the directors.

== Commentary Transcript ==

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, hello, this is Strong Sad—

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{The Cheat makes The Cheat noises which sounds like, "And The Cheat!"}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' —and we're the co-directors of this video.

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{Meh!}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Uh, so my portion of this video details the life of a very lonely individual named Rondell who can't deal with the decisions of day-to-day life.

'''STRONG BAD:''' We interrupt this whining to bring you this important headline: "World bored to death by Strong Sad commentary."

'''STRONG SAD:''' Agh, what are you doing here? You're hardly even in this video!

'''STRONG BAD:''' Yeah, well I woulda been the one directing it if weren't for those Super Giant guys.

'''STRONG SAD:''' That's not what they're called.

'''STRONG BAD:''' Whatever they're called, that one right there with the glasses, he started talking all these vocabulary words at me and confusin' me and the next thing I know, I was relegated to this crappy bit part. ''{Referring to the top of two heads (one is wearing glasses, likely They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh)}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Hey, "relegated" sounds like a vocabulary word.

'''STRONG BAD:''' I'll relegate your face to a...bloody pulp!

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{Coffee was being hit with a drumstick}'' {The Cheat noises}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, that part represented hitting coffee with a drumstick. Okay.

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{upon seeing a picture captioned "our gracious host"}'' Ahh! More like our "I'll murder you in a back alley" host.

'''STRONG SAD:''' Uh, so this next part ''{referring to tiny Cheats erupting from cracks in Rondell's hands}'' is an allusion to one of my very favorite experimental films called--

'''STRONG BAD:''' Boring Johnny and the Get Bored Crew.

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{exasperated}'' Would you quit it with the "boring" comments?

'''STRONG BAD:''' Look, if it weren't for that tentacle skull riding the old-timey bike, this video would have nothin'!

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{barely comprehensible}'' You don't like the video, huh?

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, yeah, the first question on that pop quiz was, "Are you all going to be in my experimental film?" ''{Referring to Pop Quiz in clip}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{the tentacle skull is seen in ink on lined paper}'' Oh, look, there he is! Keep on old-timey bikin', tentacle-skull. ''{Gavin is seen}'' Hey, is that Gavin? I didn't know he was in this video. He's got, like, as much screen time as I do!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Hey guys, is this the Super Giants video?

'''STRONG SAD:''' That's not what they're—

'''STRONG BAD:''' Yes. But they cut us out of it.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Oh, weird—then why'd they bother getting somebody who looks just like me? ''{Seeing himself in the clip}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' No, that is you, I just mean they mostly—

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' ''{Seeing Strong Bad and Strong Mad in the clip}'' And that guy looks just like you! And that big guy ''{referring to Strong Mad}'' looks just like Coach Z!

'''STRONG BAD:''' Now this part accurately represents what it feels like to watch this video. ''{Ticking clock shown}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{exasperated}'' Ohhh! This next part ''{as a film with Rondell's face on tears, ignites and disappears to reveal an animated Rondell}'' is all about Rondell's transformation into a new man.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I thought you said that was just an accident that happened because you loaded the film wrong. ''{Rondell turns into animated Rondell}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{embarassed}'' Uhh, why don't you shut up, Homestar?

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I dunno... 'cause I guess I got a lot of stuff to say.

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{when he, Strong Mad and Homestar are seen dancing}'' Check out my dance! Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe! ''{The Cheat joins in}'' Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe! ''{Homestar joins in}'' Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe! Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe!

'''STRONG SAD:''' Ahhh, this is the worst commentary ever!

'''STRONG BAD:''' That's what I've been saying this whole time!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Yeah, me too. Worst commissary ever!

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{during the portion where components of the film are seen pogoing}'' At this point reality and fantasy have collided and everybody... pogos.

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{as an animated Rondell walks up to an animated ATM}'' ''{The Cheat noises}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{angry}'' What do you mean you tried to be as dumpy-accurate as possible?

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{as Strong Bad is seen dancing, with the words "Real Smooth Moves" is seen above him}'' Let's talk about how "Real Smooth Moves" is like the best band name ever. The old Supreme Giants boys could take a cue from that one.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' ''{as an animated table with a muffin on is seen}'' I'm gonna take a cue from that kitchen table and go get me a blueberry muffin! (Pronounced bluebree)

'''STRONG SAD:''' Ohh, what a disaster. I hope I still get paid.

== Fun Facts ==

=== Explanations ===
*This toon was made for the first single from They Might Be Giants' tenth studio album ''[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/The_Spine The Spine]''. The song is called [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Film "Experimental Film"].

*The two head-tops belong to They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh and John Linnell. The one on the left is Flansburgh, as he has black hair and wears glasses, and the one on the right is Linnell.

*The answers for the "pop quiz" most likely refer to the [[Wikipedia:Cotton gin|cotton gin]], an invention that revolutionized the cotton-growing industry; [[Wikipedia:Appomattox, Virginia|Appomattox, Virginia]], a town famous as the location where the [[Wikipedia:American Civil War|American Civil War]] ended; and the all-time career record for home runs in [[Wikipedia:Major League Baseball|Major League Baseball]] (755), set by baseball player [[Wikipedia:Hank Aaron|Hank Aaron]]. The first question was "Are you all going to be in my experimental film?"

=== Trivia ===
*This toon was originally posted on [[The Brothers Chaps]]'s [http://www.thoraxcorp.com/ thoraxcorp.com], but was quickly taken down.

*This toon was released at approximately midnight, Atlanta time, on 13 July 2004—the release date of ''The Spine''.

*As of January 2005, the toon is now available [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/com.apple.jingle.app.store.DirectAction/viewVideo?b=a&videoId=41146400 through the iTunes Music Store] (requires iTunes 4.6 or later)

*The joystick Homestar is using is for an [[Wikipedia:Atari 2600|Atari 2600]].

*According to [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/play.html this Wired interview], TMBG will be making a separate video for the [[Wikipedia:MTV|MTV]] crowd. Choice quote: "I feel like if MTV and Homestar collided, the world might explode."

*Despite "resolving not to feel so bad about wanting to hit Homestar so much" (see Strong Sad's Blog), the commentary shows the first time that Strong Sad has stood up to Homestar. As expected, Homestar doesn't take him very seriously.

=== Remarks ===
*The first line of the song is "The color of infinity inside an empty glass." Strong Sad's glass is full.

*The wrecking ball that swings between Strong Sad and the [[ATM]] in one shot is actually the swinging light bulb painted black.

*Even though Strong Sad says he can't jump in his blog, he jumps here and in A Jumping Jack Contest.

=== Goofs ===
*The clock has 6 seconds between the 3 and the 4.

=== Inside References ===
*Gavin, the cockroach from the Easter egg in [[personal favorites]], makes a cameo appearance.

*When It's a lion! pops up for the first time, the lion is wearing Homestar's hat.

*Near the end, the crowd flips the cards to a picture of an olive on a toothpick. This was the eye from the [[Homestar Jr.]] in [[Where's The Cheat?]]

*When the people in the grandstands flip the scenery cards to the mountain scene, it slightly resembles [[Main Page 2]].

*"Our gracious host" bears a striking resemblence to [[Monte Negro]] in [[Malloween Commercial]].

====They Might Be Giants References====
*United States presidents are [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Presidents a common theme] in TMBG's work; they have no fewer than five songs about U.S. presidents, an album called ''Lincoln'', and frequently mention presidents in songs and on stage. Their [http://www.tmbg.com website] is also presidentially themed.
**It should be noted, however, that while the band chose the album title ''Lincoln'' fully aware of its presidential overtones, the album is actually named after Lincoln, Massachusetts—the town where the two Johns grew up.

*The Tentacle Skull (seen riding the bicycle) is another [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Skulls frequent TMBG theme]. In addition to being mentioned in several of their songs, it appears on the cover of their ''[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Back_To_Skull Back to Skull]'' EP and on the back of their ''[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/John_Henry John Henry]'' album. The skull might also be the [http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Skullivan Skullivan], as mentioned in the companion EP for ''The Spine'', ''[http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/The_Spine_Surfs_Alone_(EP) The Spine Surfs Alone]''.

*[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Coffee Coffee] is yet another common theme in the work of TMBG. The earliest videos and promotional matierials from the 80's show TMBG with cups of coffee. In the film ''[http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Gigantic Gigantic]'', TMBG confesses that they are insanely dependent on coffee.
*In the commentary, both Strong Bad and Homestar get TMBG's name totally wrong (both "Super Giants" and "Supreme Giants" are mentioned). This is, of course, not the first time this has happened. In fact, one of their early EPs included [http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Untitled an answering machine message] in which two people discuss "There Must Be Giants" and "There May Be Giants" and appear to be confused about the whole experience. Also on their song They Got Lost on their live album Severe Tire Damage, the song starts with an announcement of "Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for They Must Be Giants!"

*The finger that comes up at one point might be a reference to the thumb on the cover of TMBG's "Dial-a-Song" album.

=== Real World References ===
*Strong Sad meeting the [[Wikipedia:Death (personification)|Grim Reaper]] through split screens is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Ingmar Bergman|Ingmar Bergman's]] ''[[IMDB:tt0050976| The Seventh Seal]]''.

*Much of the imagery, and especially the scenes of Strong Sad watching film sprocket holds go by, is likely a reference to one of the first great experimental films, ''[[IMDB:tt0019760|The Man with a Camera]]'' by [[Wikipedia:Dziga Vertov|Dziga Vertov]], which has a section in which the sides of the film are exposed, and the characters look outside their own frame/world at the holes running by.

*Ants crawling out of holes in Strong Sad's hands is a reference to [[Wikipedia:Luis Buñuel|Luis Buñuel's]] ''[[IMDB:tt0020530| Un Chien Andalou]]'' ("An Andalusian Dog").
**The "ants" are actually little The Cheats.
**"Un Chien Andalou" is the inspiration for the song "Debaser" by the Pixies. Frank Black, lead singer of [[Wikipedia:Pixies|the Pixies]], is close friends with They Might Be Giants, and has toured with them.

*The scene of Strong Sad shaving is possibly a reference to [[Wikipedia:Alfred Hitchcock|Alfred Hitchcock's]] ''[[IMDB:tt0038109| Spellbound]]''.

*In the commentary, "Worst Commentary Ever" is probably a reference to [[Wikipedia:The Simpsons|The Simpsons]], where the [[Wikipedia:List of recurring characters from The Simpsons#Comic Book Guy (Jeff Albertson)|Comic Book Guy]] is always saying "Worst [something] ever.".
**The phrase is something of an inside joke in Simpsons lore. Some history ''[http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=451131 Here]''

*The swinging light is an image found at the end of Alfred Hitchcock's ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/ Psycho]'', and was also used at the end of TMBG's music video for ''[http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/The_Guitar The Guitar]''.

*The "color of infinity" line in the chorus may be a reference to ''[[IMDB:tt0241317| The Colours of Infinity]]'', a 1995 television documentary by [[Wikipedia:Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur C. Clarke]] about [[Wikipedia:Fractal|fractal]] geometry. IMDb says: "This show relates the science of the M-Set to nature in a way that seems to identify the hand of God in the design of the universe itself."

*The shot of the ATM with a football helmet chasing Strong Sad may be a reference to [[Wikipedia:Commander Keen|Commander Keen]], Defender of the Universe, who wore a helmet with a similar design (mostly yellow with at least one stripe down the middle) when saving the day!

*In the commentary, Strong Bad interrupts Strong Sad with the phrase "Boring Johnny and the Get Bored Crew". This is most likely a reference to the hip hop group "[[Wikipedia:Doug E. Fresh|Doug E. Fresh]] And The Get Fresh Crew".

==External Links==

*[[HR:expfilm.html|watch "Experimental Film"]]
*[[HR:expfilm_final.swf|view the Flash file for "Experimental Film"]]
*[http://forum.hrwiki.org/viewtopic.php?t=273 forum thread re: "Experimental Film"]
*[http://www.theymightbegiants.com/ Download the song at theymightbegiants.com].
*[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Film This Might Be a Wiki: Experimental Film]

[[Category:Shorts]][[Category:Songs]][[Category:Powered by The Cheat]][[Category:Strong Sad Filmography]][[Category:The Cheat Filmography]][[Category:Homestar Runner Filmography]][[Category:Strong Bad Filmography]][[Category:Strong Mad Filmography]]

dreamail

2005-04-09T23:41:41Z

jonner: spelling and redundancy

[[Image:sbemail122.png|thumb|Strong Bad dreams of flight]]

'''Strong Bad Email #122'''

Strong Bad describes for us what his perfect email would be like.

'''Cast (in order of appearance):''' [[Strong Bad]], [[Female Lappy 486]], [[The Cheat]], [[Homestar Runner]]

'''Places:''' [[Computer Room]]

'''Date:''' January 10, 2005

'''Running Time:''' 3:55

== Transcript ==
'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{singing}'' Oh oh, email's in the backyard, makin' some stew...

<pre>subject: Perfect email
Hey StrongBad
I was just wondering: what do you look for in an email?
Another words,</pre>

''{Strong Bad temporarily stops reading}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh look! And there's some "another words."

<pre> describe that dream email that you would like
to recieve one day.
With lots of anticipation,
Danny Gedgafov from Glenview, IL
</pre>

''{Strong Bad has difficulty reading Danny's name, resulting in the following}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' Danny Geh-geh-geh... gih-gih-gih... Ge-ka-koff...from Gliggityfoo, Illinois. ''{he pronounces the S of Illinois}'' ''{typing}'' My dream email. My "dreamail." ''{clears screen, resumes typing}'' Well plain ol' Danny, there are a lot of email-fish out there in the Email Sea. And while most of them are those nasty bottom-feeders with the suckhole mouth, there are a few that break the glimmering surface of the water, to glisten in the sunset for a few fleeting moments like some kind of glorious e-marlin. Another words, please allow me to ditch the fishing metaphor and hit you with the pink border.

''{A pink border appears around the edge of the screen, causing the center to turn white. The whiteness fades into Strong Bad at the Lappy, which now has a golden chain license-plate cover around its screen reading "MY LAPPY ATE YOUR DOG" at the top}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' OK orchestra, hit it! ''{The orchestra starts up, and Strong Bad sings in an operatic style}'' Email me tonight!

''{The orchestra hits its last two notes, and the Lappy booting sequence begins. However, the Lappy emblem now looks female with blonde hair, and speaks to Strong Bad with corresponding text appearing below it}''

'''FEMALE LAPPY 486:''' Good morning, Strong Bad. You're looking prooty hot. You have one unread messages.

'''STRONG BAD:''' Why thank you, Lappy. You're looking prooty hot too. Onscreen!

''{Strong Bad clears the bootup screen, and reads the new email}''

<pre>subject: French countryside
Dear Mssr. Eleganté, You left your pocketwatch in the hot tub. When will you be
back to retrieve it?
-128 Hot Katies
</pre>

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{typing}'' My Katies 1-128, 
Good to hear from all y'all (especially you, Katie 80). When my raucous schedule ''{pronounced as "shedule"}'' permits, I will triumphantly/abundantly ''{pronounced as triunphantly slash abundantly}'' return to the chateau for my ruby-encrusted pocketwatch. I have plans tonight, however, but I will, furthermore, heretofore, be back on morrow next. Please tell Adelaide that the poached eggs were tremendous. 
Forever Young, 
Chester Eleganté ''{Strong Bad hits enter, and the female Lappy icon appears back onscreen as the email disappears}''

'''FEMALE LAPPY 486:''' Well played, Strong Bad. Those ladies are sure to be all up ons.

''{The pink border and such fades away as we cut back to the normal world}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{typing}'' Oh, man. If I got that email, I would have it bronzed and then dipped in...uh guacamole and The Cheat would read it to me every night at supper.

''{The scene cuts back to the pink border dreamworld, this time at a banquet table (made out of a door) with large windows in the background, a covered serving tray and a golden chalice (or maybe just a doorknob). Strong Bad rolls forward in a plush chair with fork in hand to where the serving tray is. The Cheat's arm improbably stretches out from the right side of the screen and lifts the cover}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' Ooh! Cadbury Cream Egg omelette! ''{calling offscreen}'' Continue, The Cheat.

''{The camera pans to the other end of the table, where The Cheat is sitting in a similar chair, holding a bronze plaque with guacamole all over it. The Cheat starts to read it, then growls, rubs part of the front of the plaque, and continues. The camera pans back to Strong Bad}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{interrupting}'' Oh I love that part! Read it again, slowly, and... backwards.

''{The camera pans back to The Cheat, who starts to read backwards. Homestar Runner walks on-camera from the left side of the screen}''

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' ''{while The Cheat is still reading}'' The Cheat! What's been up?

''{The camera pans back to Strong Bad}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' Hey!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Oh, Strong Bad, found your pocketwatch. ''{Homestar tosses a ruby-encrusted pocketwatch in Strong Bad's omelette}'' Katie 80 said "What's up?" ''{camera pans back to The Cheat}'' So, The Cheat, what's been up?

''{The camera cuts to Strong Bad}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' CRAP THE WHAT?! ''{Strong Bad bangs on the table with his fists}'' This pink border is NOT''{Bangs on table with his fists}'' holding up its end of the bargain! ''{Bangs on table with fists}'' Come on, pink border, ''{bangs on table one last time as he gets up frantically}'' get your head in the game!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' ''{offscreen}'' Pink border?

''{The scene cuts back to the real world, where Homestar is standing to the right of Strong Bad at his computer desk}''

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Strong Bad, what are you talking aboot?

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{looks around for a moment}'' Oh, we're back here.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Yeah. I found your pocket lint. ''{puts some pocket lint on the desk}'' And Marzipan says you're an ogre.

''{The camera focuses back on Strong Bad and the Lappy}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{typing}'' Awww! I knew I should've went with a puffy white cloud border. Those things never let you down. Homestar never woulda shown up in a Puffy White Cloud Dreamail.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I do hate white clouds.

''{A center wipe suddenly happens with white clouds forming the border. Strong Bad's computer desk is now apparently in a submarine, with the text "NUCLEAR CLASS SUBMARINE 'SOCCERMOM'" painted on the inside of its hull. As Strong Bad types, some creature with a huge eye looks in through a nearby porthole. As well, the pinging of a sonar can be heard in the background}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{typing}'' And if you ignore all the facts and scientific evidence, then those weird little kids were right. Thanks for your question, Leonard Nimoy. I'll be back next week to solve another Celebrity Murder Mystery. ''{stops typing and stands up, addressing the camera}'' But right now, I gotta fly.

''{Strong Bad strikes a pose, and strings suddenly appear attached to him. Strong Bad makes various noises as he is lifted away to the upper right corner of the screen, where he gets stuck. The Paper, which now seems to be modeled after the U.S. Constitution, comes down with the Strong Bad email link looking like it's been written on it in marker}''

== Easter Eggs ==
*Click on "e-marlin" to cause an ASCII marlin to jump from the bottom of the screen.
*Click on the graffiti on Strong Bad's dream table to see a zoomed-in view of it. It reads, "Ooh dang, Strongbad! You go child!" and is signed "Jackeé".
*Click on the Lappy's screen at the end of the email to hear additional dialogue from the female Lappy.
=== Easter Egg Transcript ===
''{The Female Lappy appears back on-screen}''

'''FEMALE LAPPY 486:''' Don't fly, Strong Bad. Please come down. I worry about you. I can see the strings.

== Fun Facts ==

===Explanations===
* "You have one unread messages." is a reference to many computer programs that do not special case the number one - mostly because computer programmers are lazy. A correct program would have had the Female Lappy 486 saying, "You have one unread message." It is interesting to note that some programmers would "special case" the number one scenario by saying, "You have one unread message(s)." This approach does not require any extra code - just two extra text characters.
* Strong Bad's pronounciation of "schedule" is the British pronunciation of the word.
* The misspelling of "prooty" when Lappy 486 says "pretty" is a reference to old speech synthesizers like [[Wikipedia:Software Automatic Mouth|Software Automated Mouth]] that forced the user to use phonetic spelling to make the words come out right.
===Trivia===
* Unlike most other emails, the end screen does not have any sort of "back" button.
*This is the first e-mail to play the Lappy's start-up sequence outside of its debut e-mail. In fact, it is the only e-mail to show any of Strong Bad's computers' start-up sequences for a second time other than its debut.

===Remarks===
* At the end of this email, [[The Paper]] seems to have been replaced by the U.S. Constitution. One can assume that this is Strong Bad's 'Dream Paper'.
* Strong Bad makes very subtle fun of Danny's misspelling of "receive" by having the 128 Katies ask him when he will be back to "retieve" his pocketwatch.
* Strong Bad finally spells "y'all" correctly. (Or as correctly as such slang can ever be spelled, anyway.)
* Homestar pronounces the word "about" with a stereotypical Canadian accent as "aboot."
* When Strong Bad gets up, the customary "get up noise" does not occur.
* This is one of the few emails when we see Strong Bad actually "typing". One of the other times we see this is in [[dullard]], but Strong Bad's style of typing has changed since then.

===Goofs===
* The abbreviation for "Monsieur" is "M.", but it is misspelled as "Mssr." in the "French Countryside" e-mail.
** Actually, "Mssr." is the French abbreviation for Monseigneur.
* There is no back button at the end of the email.

===Inside References===
* The phrase "all up ons" is from the email [[suntan]].
* The Celebrity Murder Mystery is very similar to a comment made by Homsar in [[suntan]].
* When the female Lappy says she can see the strings, this is similar to an easter egg in [[lunch special]] when Homestar says this about Bubs levitating.
* The strings pulling up Strong Bad may be a reference to a similar flight made by Homestar in [[A Decemberween Pageant]].

===Real-World References===
* Strong Bad's dreamail dinner table is made from the front door from the show [[Wikipedia:227 (TV series)|"227"]] and is signed by actress [[Wikipedia:Jackée Harry|Jackée Harry]] who played Sandra Clark on the late 80's sitcom.
* Strong Bad has two [[Wikipedia:Cadbury-Schweppes|Cadbury's]] [[Wikipedia:Cadbury's Creme Egg|Creme Egg]]s on his plate. These are chocolate Easter eggs with "cream" (which is pretty much frosting) inside. They're sold around Easter in the US, Canada and the UK, but are available year-round in Australia.
* The Female Lappy 486 is a reference to the 1968 Kubrick classic, ''[[imdb:tt0062622|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' and the HAL 9000 computer's famously dry, "[http://www.palantir.net/2001/sounds.html Good morning, Dave]."
* The pink border is a reference to shows like [[Wikipedia:Saved by the Bell|Saved by the Bell]], which used the same border for its dream sequences.
* The sign-off "Forever young" also appeared in an easter egg in [[personal favorites]]. It could be a reference to one of two songs of the same name: a Bob Dylan song from 1973 that became a hit for Rod Stewart in the 80s, or a (different) song by the 80s synth-pop group Alphaville.
* The email at the end is a reference to the mid-70's TV series [[imdb:tt0074007|"In Search of..."]], hosted by [[Wikipedia:Leonard Nimoy|Leonard Nimoy]], a show that dealt with "investigating" the paranormal and unsolved mysteries in usually sensationalistic ways. Strong Bad's line "And if you ignore all the facts and scientific evidence" reveals this, since this is how most "sensationalism" is achieved. Or it could be loosely referring to Treknobabble, a gimmick used on ''Star Trek'' to conveniently explain scientific happenings with terms that, while they sound impressive, are scientifically questionable.
* When Strong Bad says "On screen!" it is a reference to innumerable Star Trek episodes in which the captain gives the same command.

== External Links ==
*[[HR:sbemail122.html|view "dreamail"]]
*[[HR:sbemail122.swf|view the flash file for "dreamail"]]
*[http://forum.hrwiki.org/viewtopic.php?t=1703 forum thread re: "dreamail"]

{{Strong Bad Email}}
[[Category:Lappy 486 Emails]][[Category:Homestar Runner Filmography]][[Category:Strong Bad Filmography]][[Category:The Cheat Filmography]]

Experimental Film

2005-02-19T13:09:47Z

jonner:

[[Image:experimentalfilm.PNG|thumb|Strong Sad does some filming]]
[[Image:gracious.png|thumb|"Ahh! More like our 'I'll murder you in a back alley' host."]]
Strong Sad and The Cheat make a video for They Might Be Giants.

'''Cast (in order of appearance):''' [[Strong Sad]], [[Tentacle Skull]], [[They Might Be Giants|John Flansburgh]], [[They Might Be Giants|John Linnell]], [[The Cheat]], [[Gavin]], [[Lions|It's a lion!]], [[Homestar Runner]], [[Strong Bad]], [[Strong Mad]]

'''Date:''' July 13, 2004

==Lyrics==

The color of infinity 
Inside an empty glass. 
I'm squinting my eye 
And turning off and on and on 
and off the light.

It's for this experimental film, 
Which nobody knows about, and which 
I'm still figuring out what's going to go 
In my experimental film.

Yeah, you're all gonna be in this experimental film, 
And even though I can't explain it, 
I already know how great it's.

I already know the ending. 
It's the part that makes your face implode. 
I don't know what makes your face implode, 
But that's the way the movie ends.

And in my experimental film, 
Which nobody knows about, but which 
After figuring out, your face implodes. 
It's my experimental film.

Yeah, you're all gonna be in this experimental film, 
And even though I can't explain it, 
I already know how great it-- 
Even though I can't explain it, 
I already know how great it's.

[Instrumentation]

The color of infinity 
Inside an empty glass. 
It's for this experimental film, 
Which nobody knows about, and which 
I'm still figuring out what's going to go 
In my experimental film.

Yeah, you're all gonna be in this experimental film, 
And even though I can't explain it, 
I already know how great it's gonna-- 
Yeah, you're gonna be in this experimental film, 
And even though I can't explain it, 
I already know how great it-- 
Even though I can't explain it, 
I already know how great it's.

== Easter Eggs ==

*You can click on "Directed by Strong Sad & The Cheat" before the video starts to get a commentary by the directors. Okay, maybe a little more than the directors.

== Commentary Transcript ==

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, hello, this is Strong Sad--

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{The Cheat makes The Cheat noises which sounds like, "And The Cheat!"}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' --and we're the co-directors of this video.

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{Meh!}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Uh, so my portion of this video details the life of a very lonely individual named Rondell who can't deal with the decisions of day-to-day life.

'''STRONG BAD:''' We interrupt this whining to bring you this important headline: "World bored to death by Strong Sad commentary."

'''STRONG SAD:''' Agh, what are you doing here? You're hardly even in this video!

'''STRONG BAD:''' Yeah, well I woulda been the one directing it if weren't for those Super Giant guys.

'''STRONG SAD:''' That's not what they're called.

'''STRONG BAD:''' Whatever they're called, that one right there with the glasses, he started talking all these vocabulary words at me and confusin' me and the next thing I know, I was relegated to this crappy bit part. ''{Referring to the top of two heads (one is wearing glasses, likely They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh)}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Hey, "relegated" sounds like a vocabulary word.

'''STRONG BAD:''' I'll relegate your face to a... bloody pulp!

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{The Cheat noises}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, that part represented hitting coffee with a drumstick. Okay. ''{Coffee is being hit with a drumstick}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' ''{upon seeing a picture captioned "our gracious host"}'' Ahh! More like our "I'll murder you in a back alley" host.

'''STRONG SAD:''' Uh, so this next part is an allusion to one of my very favorite experimental films called--

'''STRONG BAD:''' Boring Johnny and the Get Bored Crew.

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{exasperated}'' Would you quit it with the "boring" comments?

'''STRONG BAD:''' Look, if it weren't for that tentacle skull riding the old-timey bike, this video would have nothin'!

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{barely comprehensible}'' You don't like the video, huh?

'''STRONG SAD:''' Oh, yeah, the first question on that pop quiz was, "Are you all going to be in my experimental film?" ''{Referring to Pop Quiz in clip}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh, look, there he is! Keep on old-timey bikin', tentacle-skull. ''{A cockroach appears.}'' Hey, is that Gavin? I didn't know he was in this video. He's got, like, as much screen time as I do!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Hey guys, is this the Super Giants video?

'''STRONG SAD:''' That's not what they're--

'''STRONG BAD:''' Yes. But they cut us out of it.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Oh, weird -- then why'd they bother getting somebody who looks just like me? ''{Seeing himself in the clip}''

'''STRONG BAD:''' No, that is you, I just mean they mostly--

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' ''{Seeing Strong Bad and Strong Mad in the clip}'' And that guy looks just like you! And that big guy ''{referring to Strong Mad}'' looks just like Coach Z!

'''STRONG BAD:''' Now this part accurately represents what it feels like to watch this video. ''{Ticking clock shown}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{exasperated}'' Ohhh! This next part is all about Rondell's transformation into a new man.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I thought you said that was just an accident that happened because you loaded the film wrong. ''{Rondell turns into animated Rondell}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{embarassed}'' Uhh, why don't you shut up, Homestar?

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I dunno... 'cause I guess I got a lot of stuff to say.

'''STRONG BAD:''' Check out my dance! Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe! ''{The Cheat joins in}'' Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe! ''{Homestar joins in}'' Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe! Ooh, ah, ooh side-swipe!

'''STRONG SAD:''' Ahhh, this is the worst commentary ever!

'''STRONG BAD:''' That's what I've been saying this whole time!

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' Yeah, me too. Worst commissary ever!

'''STRONG SAD:''' At this point reality and fantasy have collided and everybody... pogos.

'''THE CHEAT:''' ''{The Cheat noises}''

'''STRONG SAD:''' ''{angry}'' What do you mean you tried to be as dumpy-accurate as possible?

'''STRONG BAD:''' Let's talk about how "Real Smooth Moves" is like the best band name ever. The old Supreme Giants boys could take a cue from that one.

'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I'm gonna take a cue from that kitchen table and go get me a blueberry muffin!

'''STRONG SAD:''' Ohh, what a disaster. I hope I still get paid.

== Fun Facts ==

*This toon was made for the first single from [[They Might Be Giants]]' tenth studio album ''[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/The_Spine The Spine]''. The song is called [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Film "Experimental Film"].

*The two head-tops belong to They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh and John Linnell. The one on the left is Flansburgh, as he has black hair and wears glasses, and the one on the right is Linnell.

*This toon was originally posted on [[The Brothers Chaps]]'s [http://www.thoraxcorp.com/ thoraxcorp.com], but was quickly taken down.

*This toon was released at approximately midnight, Atlanta time, on 13 July 2004 - the release date of ''The Spine''.

*As of January 2005, the toon is now available [http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/com.apple.jingle.app.store.DirectAction/viewVideo?b=a&videoId=41146400 through the iTunes Music Store] (requires iTunes)

*Strong Sad meeting the Grim Reaper through split screens is a reference to Ingmar Bergman's ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050976/ The Seventh Seal]''.

*Much of the imagery, and especially the scenes of Strong Sad watching film sprocket holds go by, is likely a reference to one of the first great experimental films, ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019760/ The Man with a Camera]'' by Dziga Vertov, which has a section in which the sides of the film are exposed, and the characters look outside their own frame/world at the holes running by.

*Ants crawling out of holes in Strong Sad's hands is a reference to Luis Bunuel's ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0020530/ Un Chien Andalou]'' ("An Andalusian Dog").
**The "ants" are actually little [[The Cheat]]s.
**"Un Chien Andalou" is the inspiration for the song "Debaser" by the Pixies. Frank Black, lead singer of the Pixies, is close friends with They Might Be Giants, and on some occasions has even subbed for Linnell in concert.

*The scene of Strong Sad shaving is possibly a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038109/ Spellbound]''.

*In the commentary, "Worst Commentary Ever" is probably a reference to the [http://www.thesimpsons.com/ Simpsons], where the Comic Book Guy is always saying "Worst <nowiki>[something]</nowiki> ever.".
**The phrase is something of an in-joke in Simpsons lore. Some history ''[http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=451131 Here]''

*The swinging light is an image found at the end of Alfred Hitchcock's ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/ Psycho]'', and was also used at the end of TMBG's music video for ''[http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/The_Guitar The Guitar]''.

*The "color of infinity" line in the chorus may be a reference to ''[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241317/ The Colours of Infinity]'', a 1995 television documentary by Arthur C. Clarke about fractal geometry. IMDb says: "This show relates the science of the M-Set to nature in a way that seems to identify the hand of God in the design of the universe itself."

*[[Gavin]], the cockroach from the easter egg in [[personal favorites]], makes a cameo appearance.

*The answers for the "pop quiz" most likely refer to the [[Wikipedia:Cotton gin|Cotton gin]], an invention that revolutionized the cotton-growing industry; [[Wikipedia:Appomattox, Virginia|Appomattox, Virginia]], a town famous as the location where the American Civil War ended; and the all-time career record for home runs in Major League Baseball (755), set by baseball player [[Wikipedia:Hank Aaron|Hank Aaron]]. The first question was "Are you all going to be in my experimental film?"

* In a Calvin and Hobbes strip, Calvin sometimes would use "The Cotton Gin" as an answer to problems he did not know, even on math tests.

*When [[Lions|It's a lion!]] pops up for the first time, the lion is wearing Homestar's hat.

*United States Presidents are [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Presidents a common theme] in [[They Might Be Giants|TMBG]]'s work; they have no fewer than five songs about U.S. Presidents, an album called ''Lincoln'', and frequently mention Presidents in songs and on stage. Their [http://www.tmbg.com website] is also presidentially themed.
**It should be noted, however, that while the band chose the album title ''Lincoln'' fully aware of its presidential overtones, the album is actually named after Lincoln, Massachusetts - the town where the two Johns grew up.

*The [[Tentacle Skull]] (seen riding the bicycle) is another [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Skulls frequent TMBG theme]. In addition to being mentioned in several of their songs, it appears on the cover of their ''[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Back_To_Skull Back to Skull]'' EP and on the back of their ''[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/John_Henry John Henry]'' album. The skull might also be the [http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Skullivan Skullivan], as mentioned in the companion EP for ''The Spine'', ''[http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/The_Spine_Surfs_Alone_(EP) The Spine Surfs Alone]''.

*[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Coffee Coffee] is yet another common theme in the work of TMBG. The earliest videos and promotional matierials from the 80's show TMBG with cups of coffee. In the film ''[http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Gigantic Gigantic]'', TMBG confesses that they are insanely dependent on coffee.

*According to [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/play.html this Wired interview], TMBG will be making a separate video for the MTV crowd. Choice quote: "I feel like if MTV and Homestar collided, the world might explode."

*The first line of the song is "The color of infinity inside an empty glass." Strong Sad's glass is full.

*Despite "resolving not to feel so bad about wanting to hit Homestar so much" (see Strong Sad's Blog), the commentary shows the first time that Strong Sad has stood up to Homestar. As expected, Homestar doesn't take him very seriously.

*The shot of the ATM with a football helmet chasing Strong Sad may be a reference to [http://www.3drealms.com/keenhistory/ Commander Keen], Defender of the Universe!

*In the commentary, both Strong Bad and Homestar get TMBG's name totally wrong (both "Super Giants" and "Supreme Giants" are mentioned). This is, of course, not the first time this has happened. In fact, one of their early EPs included [http://tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Untitled an answering machine message] in which two people discuss "There Must Be Giants" and "There May Be Giants" and appear to be confused about the whole experience. Also on their song They Got Lost on their live album Severe Tire Damage, the song starts with an announcement of "Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for They Must Be Giants!"

*The finger that comes up at one point might be a reference to the thumb on the cover of TMBG's "Dial-a-Song" album.

*In the commentary, [[Strong Bad]] interrupts [[Strong Sad]] with the phrase "Boring Johnny and the Get Bored Crew". This is most likely a reference to the hip hop group "Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew".

*The joystick Homestar is using is for an Atari 2600.

*The clock has 6 seconds between the 3 and the 4.

*Near the end, the crowd flips the cards to a picture of an olive on a toothpick. This was the eye from the [[Homestar Jr.]] in [[Where's The Cheat?]]

*When the people in the grandstands flip the scenery cards to the mountain scene, it slightly resembles [[Main Page 2]].

*"Our gracious host" bears a striking resemblence to Montenegro in [[Malloween Commercial]]

*The wrecking ball that swings between Strong Sad and the ATM in one shot is actually the swinging light bulb painted black.

*Even though Strong Sad says he can't jump in his blog, he jumps here and in A Jumping Jack Contest.

==External Links==

*[http://www.homestarrunner.com/expfilm.html watch "Experimental Film"]
*[http://www.homestarrunner.com/expfilm_final.swf view the flash file for "Experimental Film"]
*[http://forum.hrwiki.org/viewtopic.php?t=273 forum thread re: "Experimental Film"]
*[http://www.theymightbegiants.com/ Download the song at theymightbegiants.com].
*[http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Film This Might Be a Wiki: Experimental Film]

[[Category:Shorts]][[Category:Songs]][[Category:Powered by The Cheat]][[Category:Strong Sad Filmography]][[Category:The Cheat Filmography]][[Category:Homestar Runner Filmography]][[Category:Strong Bad Filmography]][[Category:Strong Mad Filmography]][[Category:Tentacle Skull Filmography]]

Talk:Experimental Film

2005-02-19T12:58:12Z

jonner: /* Disputed Fun Facts */

== Disputed Fun Facts ==
*In the commentary, The Cheat has probably his most comprehensible lines ever, and at least one is even completely decipherable ("You don't like the video, huh?")
**I couldn't comprehend any of what The Cheat said.
**I agree. The first thing he says can be easily translated to "And this is The Cheat."

*In the commentary, Strong Sad's remark that it's the "Worst commentary ever" might be a refrence to the comic book guy on The Simpsons.
**How? And in what way?
***The comic book guy is a movie/series/comic-nerd stereotype, saying things like "worst episode ever", "worst cross-over ever" etc. For more information consult http://www.snpp.com/guides/cbg.file.html

Methinks the link to They Might Be A Wiki should be http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Untitled/Lyrics
*The comment about the glass being full seems a bit unnecessary.
**Second That.

*The shot of the ATM with a football helmet chasing Strong Sad is a reference to [http://www.3drealms.com/keenhistory/ Commander Keen], Defender of the Universe!
**That's a big stretch. The only thing I can find in common is that the ATM has a mostly-yellow football helmet. Are yellow football helmets that rare? The ATM is doing nothing like Commander Keen (i.e. jumping, zapping, etc.) and I don't recall any Strong Sad-like enemies in the games.

==I just can't resist==

The first line of the song is "The color of infinity inside an empty glass." Strong Sad's glass is full. 

* But Strong Sad would still think of it as "not-really-empty", wouldn't he? Okay, okay, bad joke over. --[[User:Jay|Jay]] 01:44, 7 Dec 2004 (MST)

:But what is an "[[Wikipedia:Is the glass half empty or half full|empty glass]]" anyway?[[User:Tom|<nowiki></nowiki>]] -- [[User:Tom|Tom]] 11:28, 7 Dec 2004 (MST)

== I've been listening to too much music ==

Ok, this probably isn't very relevant, but I've noticed some paralells between this video and the tracks on TMBG's album Apollo 18. Only the people who have heard the CD will probably understand some of these. Also, I'm gonna skip the one's I haven't figured out yet.:

1 (Dig My Grave): Strong Sad as the grim reaper

2 (I Palindrome I): The palindromic formation of the ATM machines saying "experimental film" in the Artic.

3 (She's Actual Size): I dunno, maybe the giant finger coming from the water, since the song is about a really big woman.

4 (My Evil Twin): Everybody meeting their counterparts (and pogo-ing).

5 (Mammal): Another dubious one. Maybe the glass of water in the beginning (the lyrics in the beginning of Mammal are "glass of milk")

7 (Spider): Gavin the Cockroach. Ok, so he's not a spider per se, but he's another icky bug.

8 (The Guitar): The lion (since half of this song is about some lion)

9 (Dinner Bell): The muffin on the table.

10 (Narrow your Eyes): Strong Sad narrows his eyes after the ATM says "Check Balance??".

11 (Hall of Heads): John and John's heads, of course. Also, the "Our Gracious Host" guy.

15 (Turn Around): The skull guy riding the bike (Turn around/ turn around/ it's a human skull on the ground)

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Of course, I'm skipping over all the "Fingertips" songs, that would take up way too much space. Anyway, if anyone else has heard this CD and noticed any more paralells, please post 'em.

:Oh, you are going to love [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page This Might Be A Wiki], the wiki dedicated to TMBG. Check out [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Film their page for Experimental Film] and especially the [http://www.tmbw.net/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Film/Interpretations interpretations page for the song], where you can pretty much add what you added here. I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.[[User:Tom|<nowiki></nowiki>]] -- [[User:Tom|Tom]] 22:00, 30 Dec 2004 (MST)

==Awkward Actions...==

Alright, after watching this a few times, I have a question. At two points in the video, Strong Sad is bobbing his head, and you can see a film reel right next to him, then the rest of the page is blank. However, I can't figure out exactly why Strong Sad was doing. Was he nodding his head to the beat of the song or following the film reel as it moved up toward the top of the screen?

*Hmm, I always figured he was watching the film, which seems to make sense considering that he then jumps across the reel. The way I look at it, he watches the film, then decides to interact with it in some way, in this case jumping across. And Strong Sad himself doesn't really seem to acknowledge the music in the movie. It's a very good question though. --[[User:Ogog|Ogog]]