Save the date: Watch the guys riff Sharknado, Live on July 10!

[BathTub]

One of my friends on FB put it this way: "Man, this really feels like a misstep to me. Sharknado is such low hanging fruit, and it was so obviously INTENTIONALLY bad, what's the point?"

I've got to agree. I'll still go to the show, of course, and I'd imagine it'll be really popular (just look at the reaction on the FB page)... but still.

Yeah I haven't watched Sharknado yet because I was never interested in a film made to be bad. I'll probably watch it eventually (assuming it becomes a VOD) but I'll be in no rush.

[RoninFox]

Having seen it once, I think I would put this about on the level of Birdemic in terms of riffability.  So if you're like me, that should be damn good news.   

[josey]

Not having seen Sharknado myself I'm excited about this.  Although some could argue that the movie is too self-aware I still put it with Birdemic from what I have seen.  It was never expected that this movie would be so popular and become a cult hit.  Being a Live show I hope this will draw a lot more people to Rifftrax and further fund future programs.  I would expect that the Rifftrax team have already confirmed the VOD rights to this.  I loved having seen Starship Troopers live and its a shame that we won't likely be able to see it again.  This also hurt their profits so I doubt they would agree to a movie in the future without having both the Live and VOD options in advance.  Exceptions might be made for extreme circumstances given a chance to do a major blockbuster but who knows maybe this will be a major stepping stone for Rifftrax.  I'm sure if you had told them back in 2006 that in 8 years they would be performing Rifftrax Live: Sharknado in theaters all across the US and Canada they would have said "What the hell is a Canada and why are there Sharknados there?"  I would like to go on record that at this rate I expect an Oscar nomination within the next 5 years.

[TheUnabeefer]

I have yet to see the movie, and really have no desire to. I guess I'll probably go to the live show (in theater of course) and I'm sure it'll be funny... but it still just seems like a cash grab.

They claim it was their most-requested, and it probably is considering how many damn "They should totally riff Sharknado ZOMG!" threads have been fucking started on this forum each and every day (about 600 per day by my count) ........ but each of those threads are clearly started by MORONS considering they can't even combine into one motherfucking thread. They have to start a whole new one every 3 seconds..... So those people can't be all that bright to begin with.

So yes, we should totally adhere to the whim of the mass of complete and utter idiots instead of RIFFING DUNE which is what the majority of long-time loyal fans have actually wanted all this time.

Just my two cents.

[Not TV's Frank]

Ima keep this light. I've not seen Sharknado. I wanted to, knowing it was mockably bad, but that I could not possibly riff it and do it justice by my lonesome. A live event sounded fun, and then I read Conor's post, and now I'm really excited. Hopefully I'll make it to Lexington (maybe even with my wife in tow if I somehow bribe/blackmail her into it) and watch the fellas crush this thing live. Welcome, Sharknado. I got a place on my shelf for ya.

[KidFlash]

I have yet to see the movie, and really have no desire to. I guess I'll probably go to the live show (in theater of course) and I'm sure it'll be funny... but it still just seems like a cash grab.

They claim it was their most-requested, and it probably is considering how many damn "They should totally riff Sharknado ZOMG!" threads have been fucking started on this forum each and every day (about 600 per day by my count) ........ but each of those threads are clearly started by MORONS considering they can't even combine into one motherfucking thread. They have to start a whole new one every 3 seconds..... So those people can't be all that bright to begin with.

So yes, we should totally adhere to the whim of the mass of complete and utter idiots instead of RIFFING DUNE which is what the majority of long-time loyal fans have actually wanted all this time.

Just my two cents.

But what happens when you become moderator? Will all of these idiots be banned?

Seriously, though - this one feels awkward. Like the most commercial choice you could've possibly considered. With that realization, though, it's certainly going to get people out. It's not for the hardest of the hardcore, but 600+ theatres all over North America packed with people isn't bad for Rifftrax at all.

[TheUnabeefer]

Yeah, I'm doing my best to not complain about the riff or choice of movie until I see both in their entirety.... but my main complaint I will stick with is the whole "people requested it" argument. (which I outline my issues with that up there already)

And yes, I will ban EVERYONE when I am global moderator. Not all at ONCE, mind you.... but over time each and every one of you will... be... banned.

[losingmydignity]

Like peace, I'll give it chance, but with some degree of skepticism. Of course my number one choice for a live event is something like Frankenstein Island so who's going to listen to me anyway?

[Trekker4747]

I have yet to see the movie, and really have no desire to. I guess I'll probably go to the live show (in theater of course) and I'm sure it'll be funny... but it still just seems like a cash grab.

They claim it was their most-requested, and it probably is considering how many damn "They should totally riff Sharknado ZOMG!" threads have been fucking started on this forum each and every day (about 600 per day by my count) ........ but each of those threads are clearly started by MORONS considering they can't even combine into one motherfucking thread. They have to start a whole new one every 3 seconds..... So those people can't be all that bright to begin with.

So yes, we should totally adhere to the whim of the mass of complete and utter idiots instead of RIFFING DUNE which is what the majority of long-time loyal fans have actually wanted all this time.

Just my two cents.

I suspect that the guys aren't going for "most requested" by each individual time it's suggested and have some sort of "filtering mechanism" by which to know if 100 separate people are requesting it or if it's one person requesting it 100 times.

Also keep in mind that, at the end of the day, Rifftrax is a business and they have to go with a business model that gets the most profit for the least amount of cost. Over the last couple years they've by and large switched to doing more VOD movies and shorts than they have MP3 "podcasts."  The former options get them more money as a person doesn't have to own the title and gets the riff and movie already synced up in one package.

To do an MP3 riff they have to select a movie that most people already have or can easily get a hold of and then among those people they have to be willing to deal with syncing the movie or ripping the mixed riff.

For example, I don't own "Super Mario Brothers" on DVD or any  format.  If that riff hadn't been released as a VOD I wouldn't have bought it.  Which means that's $4.00 that they wouldn't have gotten, and that'd probably hold true for a great number of people since it's likely very few people own or can get a hold of the movie.  Likely not profitable.

Releasing it as a VOD people can buy it at $10 for both the movie and riff, thus it can reach a larger audience.

Which brings us to Sharknado and your suggestion of Dune. 

It's likely the rights holders of "Dune" hold the movie closer to their chest and are less willing to license it to Rifftrax for mocking in a VOD or even a Live! event.  This means any Dune riff would likely have to be an MP3 riff which brings us to the aforementioned problems.  It can't reach as many people which means less money for the amount of money, time and effort invested into it.   I don't own Dune on DVD, I'm not going to buy it just for a RT on it, ergo at least 4 less dollars in their wallets. 

Dune could still likely be on the table for all we know but at the end of the day Rifftrax has to go with the more profitable route.  So you either go with a 30-year-old sci-fi movie with probably a fairly small fan-base/people who want to see it Riffed (as I understand it's very well liked among fans. And we already see the backlash they got over Riffing the "satire" of Starship Troopers) or you go with a movie like "Sharknado" that's only a few years old that's pretty much universally known right now around the Interwebs as being terrible.

(And I know this was intentional hyperbole on your part but I don't think the number of Sharknado request threads has been *quite* that high.)

They have to go with what they think will make them the most money and, clearly, they think this is the route to go since this is the first time I think I've seen them advertise the Live Riffing AND the rebroadcast! So they clearly think this is going to get them a great number of viewers.  And they're probably right considering the meme levels of terribleness the movie has achieved.  Dune can't make that claim.

The guys have to find a balance between satisfying their audience, making a profit for the business and probably keep themselves entertained and happy on some level. (Remember, they probably have to watch these movies 10 times or so to write the entire riff.)  If movies like Zardoz and Dune don't satisfy those requirements then they're not going to go with those movies.  The vast number of VODs they do are really obscure movies that'd be out of place in the $1.00 VHS bin at Wal-Mart in 1987, and they often end up being some of their best efforts.   The Super Mario movie is one people have been requesting for ages as well and it was simply an "okay" Riff, but their other VOD efforts have been far superior.  But they did it because, evidently, they could buy the rights to it on the cheap enough to make the effort worth it.

In summation, give the guys a break.  At the end of the day they have a business to run, they have to appeal to a wider audience outside of those of us on this board or in social media and they have to keep themselves sane and happy.  So they're going to have to go with choices to best satisfy all of those requirements.

Right now, a RT:Live event for "Sharknado" seems to better fit that than either an MP3 a VOD or a Live! event of Dune.

[KidFlash]

As someone over at Satellite News said, this is probably a 'one for them, one for us' situation, such as one can be in the riffing world, leading up to a Halloween or Christmas show which may be a little less obvious than Sharknado.

(Random Dune comment: The thing with a live show of Dune is that the theatrical cut is 135m. And lopping off the end credits to fit in a two-hour block is probably not a good idea, since it ends with shots of the cast and the cheesy stylings of Toto. That's the bit I want to see them riff the most. )

[TheUnabeefer]

As someone over at Satellite News said, this is probably a 'one for them, one for us' situation, such as one can be in the riffing world, leading up to a Halloween or Christmas show which may be a little less obvious than Sharknado.

(Random Dune comment: The thing with a live show of Dune is that the theatrical cut is 135m. And lopping off the end credits to fit in a two-hour block is probably not a good idea, since it ends with shots of the cast and the cheesy stylings of Toto. That's the bit I want to see them riff the most. )

I don't believe I ever said anything about a LIVE show of Dune!! .... All I ask is for every live show of something the long-time loyal fans of Rifftrax shudder at the thought of (merely to make money... such as is the apparent case with Sharknado) they at least release even AN OCCASIONAL "old-fashioned" mp3 riff for something the hardcore fans have been begging for for a good 7 years.

Not really a demand, but a request. A little love for us Rifftrax fans who helped them start up their little venture years ago every now and then would be really nice.  People like me are usually really unable to make use of the "promotional codes" or "special deals" considering we already have them all. What good is 20% off of something I already own??  Sure, I understand the riff-writing process is a bit of a pain for them.... which is why the Batman And Robin riff as fan-written, and it worked just fine IMO.

You say a "one for them, one for us" thing.... but I haven't really seen one for the "not new to Rifftrax" fans who jumped on Roadhouse the moment it was released in I don't know how long.

THAT being said... I'm loving the hell out of the VOD picks lately! Found Mario Bros to be a bit meh, but Cyborg Cop 2 might just be the greatest movie I've ever seen...  So I guess if this live Shark movie brings in enough money to secure some VOD rights for more movies like Cyborg Cop 2 then I'm all for it.  But if any and all money from Sharknado go merely towards being able to do and release Sharknado with riffs, then it seems a bit of a masturbation showering hot steamy cum on the faces of the people who seem to think that Sharknado was god's gift to the syfy channel.

[Trekker4747]

Maybe if they make enough money doing a Live! Sharknado or other VODs they can do an MP3 Riff of "Dune" as something along the lines of a "loss leader."  A title they know likely won't turn over but they've enough cushion built up to make any loss little to worry about as at least the title gets their name and brand out there.

I don't know. I'm looking at it from a business perspective and if people have been requesting Dune for so long there must be a reason why they haven't done it. It's unlikely they're flat-out ignoring fans. (Like in the case of Zardoz, I believe they've pretty much said that a Riff on that is very unlikely given some of the content in it would be uncomfortable to riff.)  It's more likely there's good reason they've not attacked Dune yet, either not enough material in it to do an entire riff, they don't feel it'd sell well, or whatever.  It's really a question of how well it'd do.  It costs x-amount of dollars to make a riff so when doing it they have to ask them selves if they're going to make at least x-amount of dollars when they sell it.

[TheUnabeefer]

I thought I had killed this thread.

[KidFlash]

Much like the spirit of MST3k, it refuses to die.

[BathTub]

Eh, I couldn't care less about Dune, just because a few people have fetishized it doesn't mean the demand is actually that real or worth the effort.