P.P. The Planetary Pal (lost unreleased feature length E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial spoof, 1983-85): Difference between revisions
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'''''P.P. | {{InfoboxLost | ||
|title=<center>P.P. the Planetary Pal</center> | |||
|image=pppogo.png | |||
|imagecaption=Steve Bailey as Helliot poses with P.P. on location. | |||
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span> | |||
}} | |||
'''''P.P. the Planetary Pal''''' is an unreleased parody film that was directed, written and produced by Paul M. Sammon that served as a spoof of Steven Spielberg's ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''. <ref name="cine1">[https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2015%20No%202%20%28May%201985%29/page/n13/mode/2up Cinefantastique, May '85] Retrieved 8 Jun '23</ref> | |||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
The film begins when an alien ship, The Spore Buddy, carrying representatives of Cozmo Beer, “the cheapest beer in the galaxy.” lands on earth and accidentally leaves one of their crew behind when the creature wanders off to lake a leak. The creature meets teenage boy, Helliot (Steve Bailey), who proves to be a sadist who delights in torturing the creature. | The film begins when an alien ship, The Spore Buddy, carrying representatives of Cozmo Beer, “the cheapest beer in the galaxy.” lands on earth and accidentally leaves one of their crew behind when the creature wanders off to lake a leak. The creature meets teenage boy, Helliot (Steve Bailey), who proves to be a sadist who delights in torturing the creature.<ref name="cine1"/> | ||
==Production== | ==Production== | ||
Sammon used his own money for financing, with additional support from a few private investors. Paul Sammon began work on the film initially planned as 10 minute short before deciding to expand the project to feature length (estimated 90 minutes). Sammon formed his own company, modestly dubbed Awesome Productions, to make the film, done between his work at Universal as film publicist on CONAN and DUNE. Working out of a rented storefront in a San Diego shopping mall called Glasshouse Square, Sammon assembled a local crew (at one point over 25 people were involved on the project) and personally oversaw every phase of the production, including pitching in to help build props. A full-scale spaceship interior 25 feet high and 18 feet across was erected for a weekend's shooting in the dead of winter in the Laguna Mountains. During the shoot a film cartridge froze in-camera, requiring re-shooting six months later. | Sammon used his own money for financing, with additional support from a few private investors. Paul Sammon began work on the film initially planned as 10 minute short before deciding to expand the project to feature length (estimated 90 minutes). Sammon formed his own company, modestly dubbed Awesome Productions, to make the film, done between his work at Universal as film publicist on CONAN and DUNE. Working out of a rented storefront in a San Diego shopping mall called Glasshouse Square, Sammon assembled a local crew (at one point over 25 people were involved on the project) and personally oversaw every phase of the production, including pitching in to help build props. A full-scale spaceship interior 25 feet high and 18 feet across was erected for a weekend's shooting in the dead of winter in the Laguna Mountains.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/ei15pp/mode/2up Enterprise Incidents, Mar '84] Retrieved 13 May '24</ref><ref name="cine1"/> During the shoot a film cartridge froze in-camera, requiring re-shooting six months later. | ||
Stephen Bailey, who played Helliot, passed away at 16 from leukemia on March 24th, 1985.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique-1985-july/page/62/mode/2up Cinefantastique, Jul '85] Retrieved 13 May '24</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/606606776/ The Star-News, 25 Apr '85] Retrieved 13 May '24</ref> The film was rumored to be released in the summer of that year on HBO, however no further updates were made after May of 1985. | |||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
| Line 10: | Line 19: | ||
*Michael Stuart as P.P. | *Michael Stuart as P.P. | ||
*Nanci Hunter as Mom | *Nanci Hunter as Mom | ||
*Sally Marsh as Dead Little | *Sally Marsh as Dead Little Sally | ||
*Tony Marcus as Knees | *Tony Marcus as Knees | ||
*Paul M. Sammon as Mr. Pescado | *Paul M. Sammon as Mr. Pescado | ||
| Line 21: | Line 30: | ||
*Head of Special Effects: Michael Stuart | *Head of Special Effects: Michael Stuart | ||
*Creature Designer: Peter Wine | *Creature Designer: Peter Wine | ||
*Model Makers: Jim Dore and Dave Goldberg<ref>[https:// | *Model Makers: Jim Dore and Dave Goldberg<ref name="cine1"/> | ||
==Availability== | |||
The film was completed at feature length. However, during negotiations with a distributor based out of Europe, said distributor was involved in some questionable activity and absconded with the distribution print of the film from the United States. Sammon has parts of the original negative and soundtrack in his possession, but the actual movie itself is lost. When asked whether or not he would be comfortable bringing forth the surviving material, he responded that it would be too difficult due to sentimental reasons being Bailey's passing during production and Larry Ortiz' death in 2015. <ref>Private statement from Paul Sammon, Oct '23</ref><ref>[https://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/obituaries/larry-peter-ortiz/article_e9481058-79cd-11e5-83ba-27fb6d85b77f.html Obituary of Larry Peter Ortiz] Retrieved 13 May '24</ref> | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery mode=packed heights= | <gallery mode=packed heights=250px> | ||
Pp.png|From left to right: Director Paul Sammon, P.P. alien designed by Peter Wine, Helliot actor Steve Bailey. | |||
PP Ship Design.jpg|The Spore Buddy, designed by Michael Stuart and Larry Ortiz, on a table-top set. | |||
Sporebuddy.png|Construction of the life-sized Spore Buddy. | |||
Sporebuddy2.png|The life-sized Spore Buddy. | |||
Sally.png|Behind the scenes photo featuring Dead Little Sally. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Lost films|P.P. The Planetary Pal]] | [[Category:Lost films|P.P. The Planetary Pal]] | ||
[[Category:Completely lost media|P.P. The Planetary Pal]] | [[Category:Completely lost media|P.P. The Planetary Pal]] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:24, 14 May 2024
Steve Bailey as Helliot poses with P.P. on location.
Status: Lost
P.P. the Planetary Pal is an unreleased parody film that was directed, written and produced by Paul M. Sammon that served as a spoof of Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. [1]
Plot
The film begins when an alien ship, The Spore Buddy, carrying representatives of Cozmo Beer, “the cheapest beer in the galaxy.” lands on earth and accidentally leaves one of their crew behind when the creature wanders off to lake a leak. The creature meets teenage boy, Helliot (Steve Bailey), who proves to be a sadist who delights in torturing the creature.[1]
Production
Sammon used his own money for financing, with additional support from a few private investors. Paul Sammon began work on the film initially planned as 10 minute short before deciding to expand the project to feature length (estimated 90 minutes). Sammon formed his own company, modestly dubbed Awesome Productions, to make the film, done between his work at Universal as film publicist on CONAN and DUNE. Working out of a rented storefront in a San Diego shopping mall called Glasshouse Square, Sammon assembled a local crew (at one point over 25 people were involved on the project) and personally oversaw every phase of the production, including pitching in to help build props. A full-scale spaceship interior 25 feet high and 18 feet across was erected for a weekend's shooting in the dead of winter in the Laguna Mountains.[2][1] During the shoot a film cartridge froze in-camera, requiring re-shooting six months later.
Stephen Bailey, who played Helliot, passed away at 16 from leukemia on March 24th, 1985.[3][4] The film was rumored to be released in the summer of that year on HBO, however no further updates were made after May of 1985.
Cast
- Steve Bailey as Helliot
- Michael Stuart as P.P.
- Nanci Hunter as Mom
- Sally Marsh as Dead Little Sally
- Tony Marcus as Knees
- Paul M. Sammon as Mr. Pescado
Crew
- Director/Writer/producer: Paul M. Sammon
- Producer/story by: Sherri Sires
- Director of Photography: Jerry Sykes
- Production Designer: Larry Ortiz
- Head of Special Effects: Michael Stuart
- Creature Designer: Peter Wine
- Model Makers: Jim Dore and Dave Goldberg[1]
Availability
The film was completed at feature length. However, during negotiations with a distributor based out of Europe, said distributor was involved in some questionable activity and absconded with the distribution print of the film from the United States. Sammon has parts of the original negative and soundtrack in his possession, but the actual movie itself is lost. When asked whether or not he would be comfortable bringing forth the surviving material, he responded that it would be too difficult due to sentimental reasons being Bailey's passing during production and Larry Ortiz' death in 2015. [5][6]
Gallery
From left to right: Director Paul Sammon, P.P. alien designed by Peter Wine, Helliot actor Steve Bailey.
The Spore Buddy, designed by Michael Stuart and Larry Ortiz, on a table-top set.
Construction of the life-sized Spore Buddy.
The life-sized Spore Buddy.
Behind the scenes photo featuring Dead Little Sally.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cinefantastique, May '85 Retrieved 8 Jun '23
- ↑ Enterprise Incidents, Mar '84 Retrieved 13 May '24
- ↑ Cinefantastique, Jul '85 Retrieved 13 May '24
- ↑ The Star-News, 25 Apr '85 Retrieved 13 May '24
- ↑ Private statement from Paul Sammon, Oct '23
- ↑ Obituary of Larry Peter Ortiz Retrieved 13 May '24