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Mega Madness: The Ultimate Gremlins Companion (* unfinished project *)

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 (Edited)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/ThrowgnCpr/faneditorg/MegaMadnessAdvert1b.jpg

A ThrowgnCpr/InvisibleWolfMan co-production - “Fantastic ideas for a Fantastic FanEdit, making the illogical</span> logical.”

Yes, friends you have read correctly. A project born out of a love for two simple things; children’s audio books and the movie GREMLINS. We are currently researching into this project in our spare time (I’ve got a full work load and ThrowgnCpr has not only a full work load but also a few other projects that are always ongoing) and we are aiming towards a release of June 8th, 2009 to coincide with the film’s 25th anniversary. Due to the knowledge of certain existing materials we’ve been able to pool together so far this is already promising to be a multi-volume set. Here is just a minor preview of the materials we’ve been able to assess so far:

• Hardee’s Gremlins 5-part record set from 1984 movie tie-in promotion
• Official GREMLINS read along record which was sold in retail stores
• The vintage 1984 commercial for the Hardee’s record set
• GREMLINS and GREMLINS 2 Topps cards
• GREMLINS and GREMLINS 2 LP soundtracks
• Various GREMLINS books (novelizations, children’s books with drawn artwork)
• Marvel Comic adaptation of GREMLINS
• The Official Movie Magazine
• Vintage 1984 PSA: Proper Care Of A Teenager (an PSA against drunken driving that actually manages to make 30 seconds of various GREMLINS clips seem scary)
• GREMLINS 2 music video
• Footage of the Gremlins Onride at Movieworld Germany
• Various GREMLINS video games footage “play-throughs”
• Brief 3D Gremlin clip
• Vintage 1984 Siskel & Ebert X-RAY clip that focuses on the then-recent PG-13 rating</span>

And that’s just a PREVIEW! We’d like to find out what other materials are out there so don’t be afraid to mention something you’ve noticed or remembered. Perhaps you have an old magazine clipping of a theater ad or maybe a magazine article or better yet, a VHS that has GREMLINS releated advertisements for the films themselves as well as movie related merchandise.

We will create a fanedit out of the Hardee’s read along audio books using the audio from the records and footage from the film. Additionally the unaltered audio from the read along books will accompany a video presentation of the pages from the books (think along the lines of MoveAlong’s bonus feature on The Story of the Empire Strikes Back). Since there are a total of five, it’s possible that the Hardee’s read along book edits will take up 2 discs alone! The rest of the set will be comprised of these other various materials available to us at the time so the possibilities at this point are just endless. We welcome all comments, feedback and suggestions and we’ll try to answer questions when time permits.

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Flippin sweet! I used to have some Gremlins records around, I'll dig around to see if I still have any.

FE<3OT

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We actually have the records. I've got a set of them I received a few years back that are used but in good condition. I also recently managed to get the entire record set NEW & SEALED. The reason I've gotten the second set is because the unused records might offer a better and much cleaner transfer from record player to .wav format, which will lead to less click and hiss reduction thus preventing audio frequency loss. An expensive way, but the right way to go. I'm sure glad if you can find anything else GREMLINS related, though reave!

Best Regards,

InvisibleWolfMan

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This is going to be a fun project to work on. ...and yes, we will take whatever anyone has, or if you can think of something that would be cool for us to include and look for. let us know!!

ThrowgnCpr’s edits on Fanedit.org

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I'm sure you are already aware of this site, however I wanted to suggest that a "references" compilation could be cool. All the bits from Simpsons, Family Guy, etc that feature Gremlins.

Also, I loved the Gremlins ride and it was so disheartening when I went one year and it had been closed to make way for a new piece of crap ride. I however, am referring to the Australian Movie World version. Which was similar but had some differences to the German one. Perhaps you could try and track down video of this one to show the difference? I know Alf wasn't there, people on the net say it was Beetlejuice but it was so long ago I can't be sure. There's some minor info here.

To contact me outside the forum, for trades and such my email address is my OT.com username @gmail.com

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klokwerk,

We are aware of that site (it's one of the first things I found online) and we do hope to compile all references to GREMLINS that we can find clips for (there's even a reference on FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR). Thanks for letting us know about the Australian version of The Great Gremlins Adventure ride, and I'll look into it as far as I can. Perhaps someone was smart enough to use their camera back then.

I wonder what else someone will turn up for us?!?

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Wow! Did you guys ever jog my memory! I clipped a few of the large ads for the movie from the L.A. Times back in '84. This was back when hit movies stuck around for six months. They are different from the original poster art. One was Gizmo in a spoof of the Coppertone Ad, ("You can't get sunburned while watching Gremlins") another featured a Gremlin dressed for back to school carrying a Gizmo lunchbox. Another had Gizmo and Stripe in tuxedos!
By some miracle, I still have these clippings, but they are a bit large and fragile to slap on my scanner. Do you think you could use them?

Just out of curiosity, are these Hardee's records cardboard?

And will you be listing all the Gremlins ripoffs?
Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook,

The Hardee's records (and subsequently all other records) are pure vinyl which are used at 33 1/3 rpm on the turntable. No "McDonald's Quarter Pounder" song promo cardboard versions here! And we'll spend some time covering the various GREMLINS ripoffs (i.e. Ghoulies, Munchies....etc., etc.).

And by ALL MEANS...we'd LOVE those clippings! I'm gonna direct you to PM ThrowgnCpr so you can get his address and mail those clippings directly to him. When you mail the clippings, please put them between two pieces of sturdy cardboard so they don't wrinkle during mailing. Then use a padded envelope (the kind with bubble wrap on the inside). Approximately, how big are the clippings? It sounds like they are large.

And we'll remember you for helping out.....

Kind Regards,

InvisibleWolfMan

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This is a great idea, looking forward to seeing how it all comes together!

I've got a bunch of Gremlins 2 tie-in books I collected when the movie was released if you're interested? Also how about including Chris Columbus' 1982 draft of the Gremlins script, which is much gorier and nastier than the final film (and inevitably inferior)? It's available online if you haven't found it already at http://www.horrorlair.com/movies/gremlins.html.
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I wish I had a copy of it, but I don't. But I remember a commercial during the time of Gremlins 2 that was for some hotel, I don't even remember which one, that had Brain Gremlin telling about the hotel. He was standing in a suitcase, and I remember that this hotel chain did a series of commercials with various celeberties standing in a suitcase on a bed as well. Hopefully someone might have this so it could be included.

I don't remember if they were on the DVD or not, but I remember that the theatrical version of Gremlins 2 had a scene where the Gremlins broke the film in the theatre and Hulk Hogan stopped them. The home video version had a sillier scene involving your VCR breaking. Another idea of something to include.

I could be wrong, but I think I have a copy of an ad for the Gremlins video game for the Atari 2600 I could send. I'll have to go back and look in my collection.

Great project for two great films and I'm looking forward to seeing it.
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djsmokingjam, Thanks for the link to the early GREMLINS draft! It'll be great to have that included somehow.

Number20, I remember the series of commercials you mean but I can't recall the name of the hotel. Can anyone out there remember? Was it the Ramada?

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I remember getting great enjoyment from the ZX Spectrum game; especially the part in the kitchen where you use the "Peltzer Remote" to dispatch gremlins in a variety of different methods!

The adventure game had some very simple animated graphics that you might want to include.

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This sounds so awesome! I can't wait to see the finished product! I love Gremlins!
The only thing I can think of that I have is an original NES cartridge of "Gremlins 2: The New Batch".
Of course, I guess if you wanted to include video from that, you could just find the rom for it.
But if for some reason you could use the cartridge, let me know.

Good luck with this!! I look forward to it!

-Jashun
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Moth3r,

Thanks for the info on that game. We'll look into it.

Jashun44,

Do you happen to have the instruction booklet that came with the cartridge?

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Originally posted by: InvisibleWolfMan


Jashun44,

Do you happen to have the instruction booklet that came with the cartridge?



Hmmm...I think I just might.... I'll try to dig in the ol' box my games are in and find it...
I'll let you know.

-Jashun
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Yet another acquisition:

http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/46371/2001795369205529964_th.jpgCLICK

The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association P.S.A. "Proper Care Of A Teenager." As you can see, they weren't afraid to show the ending (which for the time it was in circulation would've ruined it for many).

http://aycu29.webshots.com/image/47988/2001782551198999501_th.jpgCLICK

Not only that, it WAS pretty gruesome to show it on TV at that time period...and if you couple it with the "3rd rule" of the proper care, it makes it even more graphic. See for yourselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ETAvhS-Ds

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Anyone out there have this:

TNT Monstervision - A Very Joe Bob Christmas - Gremlins ?

Would be great to include the Joe Bob segments in this set.

Kind Regards,

InvisibleWolfMan

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FULL Gremlins soundtracks and FANGORIA # 37 added to the ever growing amount of stuff we're gathering up. Hoping to find help getting an item in the UK of VERY rare status at the moment....hoping we don't run out of luck as it's as rare as RARE can be.

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InvisibleWolfMan said:

Thanks for letting us know about the Australian version of The Great Gremlins Adventure ride, and I'll look into it as far as I can. Perhaps someone was smart enough to use their camera back then.


I have a segment from an Australian children's morning television show (circa 1995) where the host goes on the Gremlins ride at Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast. Quality ain't so hot but its still very watchable.

If you're interested in this, gimme a PM and I'll put it online.
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I didn't find any ads for the gremlins games in my classic game collection, but if you don't already know, go to www.atariage.com and look at the sections for the Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 for the Gremlins games for those two systems. They are quite different, and they have pictures of the cartridges, box, and manuals, as well as screenshots and the ROMs. (or at least they used to when I last looked a long time ago). I don't know if you can use any of that stuff, but I thought I'd point it out.
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The Griff,

PM sent! This'll be great, as so far I've only found footage from the German Gremlins ride taken by a passenger.

Number20,

Thanks for the info! Every little bit helps!

Kind Regards,

InvisibleWolfMan

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 (Edited)
I've recently got:

- GREMLINS novelization by George Gipe (1st print, UK) ....here is where we find out the "origin of the species" and are also told why Gizmo is the way he is (a long story short; he's "1 in a 1,000")

- confirmation that the vintage 1984 commercial for the Hardee’s record set has been located and put into high quality suitable for DVD. It will be upped and sent to me ASAP.


So, the project moves forward again! I'm going to be compiling all the information concerning the origns, developement, production, release, reactions, tie-ins, and years since into essay form, which we will slowly but surely try to turn into a special documentary for this set. I'll try to be accurate as possible and I will be honest to mention if something is "rumored" or "part of the legend" so as not to present anything without basis as actual fact. I have some ideas at the moment about some special things I'd like to include, so I'll list them below:

1) Peter Gabriel's track OUT, OUT was definately released in the UK as a single. Can anyone out there tell me if there's a music video for this? I have his PLAY THE VIDEOS collection and he at least did not include it there if there is. Or is it possible that there's been a live performance of it? If not, I was curious if someone out there would be ambitious enough to create a music video for it? My idea would be that it would incorperate some animation aspects and clips from the movie itself.

2) GREMLINS...MEGA MADNESS was also released as a single. Same thing applies to this as what I listed above for OUT, OUT with a minor exception; it might require someone to be able to render and manipulate a CGI Gremlin (as closely believeable to the puppet design as possible). It might be TOO ambitious but a short test clip should prove if it works or not. The idea for the video itself can always be changed at any point, even if it means no CGI Gremlin.

3) Is there anyone out there good at imitating voices? You see, for the GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH novilazation the Brain Gremlin takes over for a short chapter (to coincide where the movie scene with the film breaking in the middle and Hulk Hogan threatening the Gremlins). I thought it would be cool if someone can do a good-to-great imatation of Brain Gremlin (actually voiced by Tony Randall) then we could include this as well.

4) Is there anyone out there interested in doing some handdrawn artwork? The "origin of the species" which I refer to from the novilatiztion for the first film would be great to read aloud and I thought that if there where images it would work much better.

5) As for myself, besides the "essay" I'm going to try contacting Micheal Winslow to see if he'd agree to discuss his life and career as I'd like to do a mini-documentary called THE MAN OF 1,000 NOISES which would gave fans out there a nice background of the voice of our favorite Gremlin villian, Stripe (no...Frank Welkner DID NOT voice Stripe. He did, however, voice Mohawk for the second film).

Any/all who can help would be gratiously credited and a select few of them would be among the first to sample the set. Yes, I'm including those of you who have made suggestions and provided info I did not have already (see above posts as well as the future posts below this one).

Kind Regards,

InvsibileWolfMan

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InvisibleWolfMan said:

Hoping to find help getting an item in the UK of VERY rare status at the moment....hoping we don't run out of luck as it's as rare as RARE can be.


What is it, A Mogwai?

This thing just keeps getting more interesting all the time. So much stuff I never knew existed.