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Now in our eighth calendar year!
PCR # 398  (Vol. 8, No. 45)  This edition is for the week of November 5--11, 2007.
 
It Came From The PO Box
THIS INSTALLMENT:   The 42 Story House  |  Back to the CF Homepage
BACK STORY...   Many years ago, I started It Came From The PO Box as a place to review media that genuinely arrived in my P.O.Box intended for my perusal and consideration. Over time, it also became a catch-all column for the odd artifact didn't have any particular place to go in PCR, as well as other stuff that was just sorta handed to me on the street. While these things had no specific time-frame to work in ("just like your opinion of this..."), I tried my level best to get everything done in a timely manner. Easier said than done and I didn't do very well with that. Eventually, as PCR took on new designs and new generic pages were invented to solve the problem of where to put infrequent contributions, the PO BOX column was abandoned (but not the box itself). As my work schedule changed and priorities shifted, things were still coming into the PO BOX --- things I intended to get to and publish in PCR, but never did. I'm ashamed to admit some projects slipped through the cracks and I ran horribly behind.
   The return of this column is my attempt to right this wrong, catch up on these reviews, and set straight my mission to finish the work that has literally waited months for publication (some other, lower priority, or off-the-wall ones have waited years, and I'm digging through them again).
   The spring and summer months have consistenly been my periods for radical change and this year is no different. Despite a "day-job" workload and increased video production taking more of my time, I want to get back to my commitment of sharing my thoughts with the readers who send great stuff to The PO BOX! It's back, baby!     CRAZED FANBOY, PO BOX 13991, Tampa, FL, 33681-3991.
42 Story House
42 Story House
DVD compilation by Todd W. Langen

Review by Nolan B. Canova


Longtime readers of Nolan's Pop Culture Review know that I'm quite a supporter of independent film and a regular attendee of the monthly Tampa Film Review. 90% of the time that's where I get my fill of what indie film has to offer. (For the mathematically curious, I'll go ahead and disclose that 9% of the time it's stuff I find online, like AtomFilms, YouTube or something. That leaves 1% for the stuff handed to me on the street or that actually hits my PO Box like the example I was lucky to receive this time.)

Sometime in mid-to-late-summer (yep, I'm that far behind) I received a this issue's DVD subject accompanied by a very friendly letter from a Hollywood writer by the name of Todd Langen. His listed accomplishments included screenwriting credits for, among other things, The Wonder Years and Teenage Mutuant Ninja Turtles. Charmingly, he seemed almost reluctant to go too much into his Hollywood background almost as if he wanted any reaction to his DVD to be uncolored by unfair comparisons. If that was the case, he needn't worry. 42 Story House is a wonderfully inventive effort, taking the best of his creative mind and applying it with the lowest budget and simplist techinques imaginable. But, I'm getting a little ahead of myself....

Todd said that he went into this project with two criteria:

  • It had to use only ONE location.
  • Everything had to be done with ONE person. (Acting, shooting, editing, etc.)

    You'd think those parameters would strangulate just about any production early on. Todd not only pulled it off, he pulled it off admirably! He got 42 short videos out of that, totaling about 90 minutes. Most are stand-alone, some are tie-ins to other bits, ALL are very funny! They're filmed by Todd, starring Todd. And his house. Turns out there's a lot going on there! I found myself watching not only the video, but simultaneously trying to figure out how he did it! I guess you could call that a truly immersive experience, haha.

    Lest all of you out there think I suck because I ran so far behind (and I do, kinda), I'll inform you that while the PO Box review is a little late, I DID bring his DVD to the Tampa Film Review to share with other film lovers for BOTH August's and September's events! (Excerpts, that is, as the TFR only plays shorts.) It went over extremely well. So, nyah. I'll further note (and I hope Todd sees this part), that for the first time ever, I had people coming up to me afterwards and asking me where they could buy a copy. Thankfully, I remembered Todd's website address.

    My personal review excerpted from Nolan's Pop Culture Review #386, "The Tampa Film Review for August":

    I introduced this entry personally. I am in the process of writing up an "It Came From the PO Box" about it -- 'cuz that's where it came from -- and keep falling behind. But I wanted to expose the TFR audience to filmmaker Todd W. Langen. He is a TV writer whose credits include, among other things, The Wonder Years. I guess he was between jobs or something and decided to make this clever collection of 42 short shorts (one is literally two seconds long). Especially amazing is that he made the film all by himself. That is, he is the only actor, the only cameraman the only soundman -- well, you get the idea. I'm sure it was a lot of work and I think it paid off handsomely. The few skits shown got a great reaction at TFR, lots of laughs, and Paul recommended I bring the disc next time to play some more. Highly Recommended.

    To read other reviews of 42 Story House from that issue, click here

    My personal review excerpted from Nolan's Pop Culture Review #391, "The Tampa Film Review for September":

    Like last month, I introduced this entry personally. Last month we sampled Chapter 4 ("When Toilet Paper Rolls Find Out") through 12 ("I, Narrator"), this month we continue with Chapters 13 ("The Sci-Fi Breakfast") through 24 ("A Great Day").
       "The Sci-Fi Breakfast" shows how Todd defeats an invading flying saucer outside his window (the effects are charmingly home-spun, but effective). Later, what happens when an egg tries to commit suicide ("Egg-i-cide"). "A Great Day" is one of several very funny Langen themes that repeat through the feature that have slighly different twists and endings.
       Especially amazing is that Todd Langen made this feature completely by himself. That is, he is the only actor, the only cameraman, the only soundman -- well, you get the idea. I'm sure it was a lot of work and I think it paid off handsomely. The few skits shown this month got a great reaction at TFR, lots of laughs. I actually had two people come up to me and ask where they could buy the DVD. Todd should be thrilled to hear that! Very Highly Recommended.

    To read other reviews of 42 Story House from that issue, click here

    The online store to purchase 42 Story House is www.42StoryHouse.com.   Price:   $10.00.

    • Can't Stop The Rock
    by Chris Kahler and David "The Rock" Nelson

    COMING

    A Star Is Found
    Our Adventures Casting Some of Hollywood's Biggest Movies
    by Janet Hirshenson and Jane Jenkins with Rachel Kranz

    COMING

    "It Came From The P.O. Box" is ©2007 by Nolan B. Canova.  All graphics this page are creations of Nolan B. Canova, ©2007, all rights reserved. All contents of "Nolan's Pop Culture Review" are ©2007 by Nolan B. Canova.