| Evolution: The Musical! | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Kenny Taylor |
| Produced by | Kenny Taylor Andrew Bancroft |
| Written by | Andrew Bancroft |
| Starring | Tonya Glanz Jon Wolanske Melanie Case Andrew Bancroft |
| Music by | Olive Mitra Andrew Bancroft |
| Cinematography | Brian Relph |
| Editing by | Eric Schultz |
| Studio | Mothership Pictures illBilly productions |
| Release date(s) | San Francisco International Film Festival May 6, 2008 |
| Running time | 36 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Evolution: The Musical! (2008) is a short musical comedy depicting the struggle between Evolution and Creationism, through two groups of fictional characters: "The Beasties" and "The Blesseds". While the bulk of the film surrounds the struggle between these two groups, a love affair develops between two of the characters on either side, as the film progresses.[1]
Contents |
The film begins in a church on the edge of a forest, which is home to "The Blesseds". Inside the church, Mary Catheter (Tonya Glanz) is requesting a trip outside the church for her birthday. Father Catheter (Jon Wolanske), her father and head priest of "The Blesseds", will not allow the request because he fears it will be too dangerous. Mary questions her father’s judgment, so Father Catheter and Mother Grizzard (Shaye Troha) begin a hip-hop musical number, Who Begat, about the lineage of The Blesseds (Creationism).
The focus of the narrative then turns to "The Beasties", who dwell in the forest near the church. A "Beastie" named Flippy (Paco Romane) asks another "Beastie", Wog Wog (Andrew Bancroft), how the Beasties came into existence. Wog Wog begins a song "Thumbs", which depicts the history of The Beasties (Evolution). At the conclusion of the song, Queen Bonobo (Melanie Case), queen of "The Beasties", is informed that her husband, Chief Cranius, has been killed by "The Blesseds". "The Beasties" then exit the forest in search of revenge.
Back at the church, Father Catheter explains to "The Blesseds" how he had gone into the woods, and killed the leader of "The Beasties". It is at this point that "The Beasties" burst into the church and begin to taunt "The Blesseds" in musical fashion, with another song "Pagans". It is also at this time that the love story begins, when Mary and Wog Wog see each other for the first time. The sequence ends with Queen Bonobo taking Mary hostage in retribution for killing their chief.
"The Blesseds" find "The Beasties" in the forest, and the two groups close in on each other. But before they meet, Jesus (Sean Hayes), appears and persuades his followers (The Blesseds) not to choose a path of violence. "The Beasties" take advantage of this opportunity, and close in on the Blessed group. At this point, Charles Darwin (Joe Higgins), appears and stops the Beasties in a similar fashion. The two groups make amends momentarily, but resume fighting when they see Jesus and Darwin fighting. Wog Wog and Mary flee to the ocean. The film concludes with another song "We've got to Evolve", which brings the two groups together in peace.
Evolution: The Musical was jointly produced by San Francisco based production companies illBilly productions and Mothership Pictures. Andrew Bancroft wrote the screenplay, wrote seven original songs, helped compose the music, and played the "Beastie" character Wog Wog. Kenny Taylor directed the film, worked closely with editor Eric Schultz, and made a cameo as the "Blessed" character Eziekiel.
Evolution: The Musical was filmed entirely in the San Francisco Bay Area, in California. Specifically, all of the outdoor scenes were shot in the Marin County Headlands, and the Church scenes were shot in Oakland, California.