“Scream of the Bikini” is supposedly an action-spy-thriller made by a South American director in the 1960s, translated in German, dubbed in English and only recently uncovered by Golightly Productions.
Photo provided
Kiff Scholl, left, of Auburn, directs on the set of “Scream of the Bikini.”
Kiff Scholl, left, of Auburn, directs on the set of “Scream of the Bikini.”
But as the hometown paper of Golightly Productions director Kiff Scholl, The Citizen has the real scoop: The film is the winner of Best Comedy at the ThrillSpy International Film Festival, an upcoming feature at the B-Movie Film Festival in Syracuse Nov. 7 and the first full-length film by Scholl, whose family and artistic roots are in Auburn.
“It was a wonderful, wonderful surprise,” Scholl said. “There a was a big chance that my friends would think it's hilarious and everyone else would think it's stupid.”
Not really a vintage find, “Bikini” relies on parody to set it apart in the comedy-thriller-spy genre it shares with movies such as “Austin Powers.”
“Ours is not so obviously a joke,” said Scholl.
The film is dubbed, with no sound recorded during filming, to intentionally disguise the movie as a cheap production from a time when sound recording often wasn't within a producer's budget. But this artistic choice was truly frugal for Scholl as well.
It was a well-thought out decision that solved a few of the film's most fundamental problems, Scholl said.
“We had to do something really different and special to stand out because we didn't have the money to impress,” he said.
The dubbing saves on sound production, one of the most expensive aspects of moviemaking and also one of the most difficult to do right, Scholl said. Dubbing also contributes to the authenticity of the film's vintage pitch, making it almost believable and less similar to faux 1960s spy-thrillers that preceded it.
“You have to do something different, original, if you want to stand out,” he said. “While nothing's really original, we don't think anyone's really done a spy-thriller parody like this.”
Scholl directed, co-wrote and associate-produced the film. He also plays the role of Fabrizio, an angry fashion photographer.
He put the film together with a team of individuals he has met since moving to Hollywood in 1994, including executive producer Kelsey Wedeen, associate producer Rebecca Larsen, co-writer and associate producer Bill Robens, associate producer, director of photography and editor Darrett Sanders, and composer Bill Newlin. Nearly all members of the production team double as actors in the film.
Scholl said he enjoyed working with his team because they believed in the film as much as he did.
But, he said, “This movie was such a risky sort of concept we didn't know if anyone would get it.”
After winning Best Comedy at the ThrillSpy International Film Festival earlier this year, fears of a failed artistic risk were put to rest.
But the film also put on the line Scholl's directing reputation, in its molt stage, by breaking onto the feature film scene with a B-movie, a category Scholl defined as “kind of crappy.”
“I didn't want people to think I was doing this just as a goof,” he said. “This is a serious venture. This is a serious first stab at film making.”
A serious first stab in film that was a lifetime in the making. Scholl said his interest in film originated in acting, which dates back to his childhood.
Scholl's mother, Pamela Anderegg, has a background in theater and always encouraged her son's interest in the arts, Scholl said.
Anderegg, who still lives in Auburn, recalled traveling nearly four hours south to her son's college theater performances at SUNY New Paltz, driving there and back Friday night, in order to deliver a sermon at the church where she ministered the next day.
“Not just as plain support,” she said, “He was good. He's a joy to watch.”
Anderegg went to Washington, D.C. to see Scholl's film at the ThrillSpy Festival earlier this year, but is looking forward to seeing it again in Syracuse, she said.
She said she knew Scholl had the limelight bug when, at 6 years old, he came home from a play and said he did not like it because he wanted to be on stage, not stuck in the audience.
“He's highly inventive, creative and just fun to be around,” she said, giving examples of how Scholl used his passion for acting and the arts to ease difficult phases of life, such as high school.
Scholl said one of his most vivid memories of high school dates back to when he was new and nervous and alone. He tried out for the school play and landed a part. He does not remember the details of his audition, but will never forget how terrified he was or the review he received from local media after the first performance.
“'He hit the stage like a breath of fresh air,'” Scholl recited. “'Look for him in the future - he's only a freshman.'”
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
If you go
What: “Scream of the Bikini,” the feature film debut of Auburn native Kiff Scholl
When: Noon Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: The Gear Factory, 200 S. Geddes St., Syracuse
Cost: Free
Info: Visit www.bmoviefest.com
“It was a wonderful, wonderful surprise,” Scholl said. “There a was a big chance that my friends would think it's hilarious and everyone else would think it's stupid.”
Not really a vintage find, “Bikini” relies on parody to set it apart in the comedy-thriller-spy genre it shares with movies such as “Austin Powers.”
“Ours is not so obviously a joke,” said Scholl.
The film is dubbed, with no sound recorded during filming, to intentionally disguise the movie as a cheap production from a time when sound recording often wasn't within a producer's budget. But this artistic choice was truly frugal for Scholl as well.
It was a well-thought out decision that solved a few of the film's most fundamental problems, Scholl said.
“We had to do something really different and special to stand out because we didn't have the money to impress,” he said.
The dubbing saves on sound production, one of the most expensive aspects of moviemaking and also one of the most difficult to do right, Scholl said. Dubbing also contributes to the authenticity of the film's vintage pitch, making it almost believable and less similar to faux 1960s spy-thrillers that preceded it.
“You have to do something different, original, if you want to stand out,” he said. “While nothing's really original, we don't think anyone's really done a spy-thriller parody like this.”
Scholl directed, co-wrote and associate-produced the film. He also plays the role of Fabrizio, an angry fashion photographer.
He put the film together with a team of individuals he has met since moving to Hollywood in 1994, including executive producer Kelsey Wedeen, associate producer Rebecca Larsen, co-writer and associate producer Bill Robens, associate producer, director of photography and editor Darrett Sanders, and composer Bill Newlin. Nearly all members of the production team double as actors in the film.
Scholl said he enjoyed working with his team because they believed in the film as much as he did.
But, he said, “This movie was such a risky sort of concept we didn't know if anyone would get it.”
After winning Best Comedy at the ThrillSpy International Film Festival earlier this year, fears of a failed artistic risk were put to rest.
But the film also put on the line Scholl's directing reputation, in its molt stage, by breaking onto the feature film scene with a B-movie, a category Scholl defined as “kind of crappy.”
“I didn't want people to think I was doing this just as a goof,” he said. “This is a serious venture. This is a serious first stab at film making.”
A serious first stab in film that was a lifetime in the making. Scholl said his interest in film originated in acting, which dates back to his childhood.
Scholl's mother, Pamela Anderegg, has a background in theater and always encouraged her son's interest in the arts, Scholl said.
Anderegg, who still lives in Auburn, recalled traveling nearly four hours south to her son's college theater performances at SUNY New Paltz, driving there and back Friday night, in order to deliver a sermon at the church where she ministered the next day.
“Not just as plain support,” she said, “He was good. He's a joy to watch.”
Anderegg went to Washington, D.C. to see Scholl's film at the ThrillSpy Festival earlier this year, but is looking forward to seeing it again in Syracuse, she said.
She said she knew Scholl had the limelight bug when, at 6 years old, he came home from a play and said he did not like it because he wanted to be on stage, not stuck in the audience.
“He's highly inventive, creative and just fun to be around,” she said, giving examples of how Scholl used his passion for acting and the arts to ease difficult phases of life, such as high school.
Scholl said one of his most vivid memories of high school dates back to when he was new and nervous and alone. He tried out for the school play and landed a part. He does not remember the details of his audition, but will never forget how terrified he was or the review he received from local media after the first performance.
“'He hit the stage like a breath of fresh air,'” Scholl recited. “'Look for him in the future - he's only a freshman.'”
Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net
If you go
What: “Scream of the Bikini,” the feature film debut of Auburn native Kiff Scholl
When: Noon Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: The Gear Factory, 200 S. Geddes St., Syracuse
Cost: Free
Info: Visit www.bmoviefest.com
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itsmepam wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:44 PM: