Swirlee (found live-action short film; 1990): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxFound
|title=<center>Swirlee (1989)</center>
|title=<center>Swirlee</center>
|image=Swirlee2.jpeg
|image=JamesLorinzSwirlee-InfoboxConeHead.jpeg
|imagecaption=Makeup artist Kelly Gleason applying the Softee makeup to Lorinz.
|imagecaption=Makeup artist Kelly Gleason applying the Softee makeup to Lorinz.
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|datefound=07 Jun 2016
|foundby=[https://www.youtube.com/user/artdamaged artdamaged]
}}
}}
'''''Swirlee''''' is a 15-minute short film directed by and starring James Lorinz (famous for his roles in exploitation films such as ''Street Trash'' and ''Frankenhooker'').


'''''Swirlee''''' was a 15-minute short film directed by and starring James Lorinz (famous for his roles in exploitation films such as ''Street Trash'' and ''Frankenhooker'').
==Plot==
''Swirlee'' tells the story of Mr. Softee, a mutant hybrid with an ice cream cone for a head. He was a victim of the anti-miscarriage drug "Nodroppinum," which changed the pregnant mother's child into whatever food she craved at the time (a parody of the Thalidomide scandal from the 1960s). Softee was the head of an ice cream company until he was forced out of business by the artificial ice cream mafia, led by Don Tofutti.
 
Softee lives with his friend Tony, who supports both of them. However, in order for Softee to be kept alive and well, they are forced to leave the air-con at all times, which becomes costly, and Tony has trouble to afford it. Despite this, Softee still has his ice cream fall in drops from time to time. Softee is forced to stay inside to prevent himself melting; frustrated and lonely, he takes in the services of a call girl with whom he just wants a romantic dance. However, she is freaked out by his nature and leaves. Tony is angry at Softee for this because they already have trouble to make ends meet. Softee suggests finding a job at Don Tofutti, but he is rebuffed by Tony, who insists it's a bad idea.
 
Softee goes to meet Don Tofutti, who is playing cards with associates Don Gelato from Italy and Don Sorbet from France (both have names relating to ice creams of their respective countries). Tofutti mocks Softee, who points out that, despite him being made of genuine natural ice cream, he doesn't fit in the modern ice cream business anymore. He forces Softee out, who insults Tofutti, saying his products are unnatural and made from soy. Tofutti, angry, has his men beat up Softee.


==Plot==
Softee, injured, barely makes his way home. Street children even gather around him to eat the ice cream from his head. A broken man, Softee, tries to commit suicide by taking a warm bath. Tony, however, decides to snap him out of his misery by shooting a fire extinguisher in his face. Softee and Tony return at Tofutti's place with guns and engage in a shoot-out so that they take back the ice cream business. It is implied they succeed.
It tells the story of Mr. Softee, a mutant hybrid with an ice cream cone for a head. He was a victim of the anti-miscarriage drug "Nodroppinum," which changed the pregnant mother's child into whatever food she craved at the time (a parody of the Thalidomide scandal from the 60's). Softee was the head of an ice cream company until he was forced out of business by the artificial ice cream mafia, led by Don Tofutti. Softee is a depressed man who just wants to be accepted and at one point, attempts to commit suicide by dissolving in a warm bath.


==Genesis==
==Production==
Lorinz first thought of the idea in film school. In 1989, after securing funds from a television appearance, he filmed a 15-minute test film to attract potential investors for a feature-length version. The film was written by Rocco Simonelli,<ref>[http://www.roccosimonelli.com/apps/documents/ The film's script.] Retrieved 16 May '13.</ref> produced by Roy Frumkes, and co-starred ''Street Trash's'' Tony Darrow as Don Tofutti and a then-unknown David Caruso as Softee's roommate.
Lorinz first thought of the idea in film school. In 1989, after securing funds from a television appearance, he filmed a 15-minute test film to attract potential investors for a feature-length version. The film was written by Rocco Simonelli,<ref>[http://www.roccosimonelli.com/apps/documents/ The film's script.] Retrieved 16 May '13</ref> produced by Roy Frumkes, and co-starred ''Street Trash's'' Tony Darrow as Don Tofutti and a then-unknown David Caruso as Softee's roommate.


Despite the intention to present it as a gritty ''Mean Streets'' style drama, studios would only accept the film if it was retooled as a lighthearted comedy for children. Eventually, the project was abandoned.
Despite the intention to present it as a gritty ''Mean Streets'' style drama, studios would only accept the film if it was retooled as a lighthearted comedy for children. Eventually, the project was abandoned.


==Status==
The exact date that can be applied to the movie is uncertain. However, the inclusion of MC Hammer's song "U Can't Touch This" means that the earliest the film could have been produced was 1990. Oddly, IMDb lists the film as being published in 2000.
Recently, the full version of the short (albeit in low quality) was found and uploaded by youtube user "artdamaged" and noticed by LMW user "unclesporkums" It was also cleaned up and Reuploaded by "Notelu"
 
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NppaTnoU4O0|640x480|center|Cleaned up version of the short.|frame}}
==Availability==
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c81J9RbtZno|640x480|center|The full short.|frame}}
In 2016, a VHS copy of the full short film was found and uploaded to YouTube by YouTuber "artdamaged". It's unknown how artdamaged obtained the film apart from the fact that it was "a copy of a copy." However, when the  VHS was converted to a digital file, the video's aspect ratio ended up being vertically stretch, and when it was uploaded to YouTube, YouTube very poorly squished the aspect ratio back to 4:3, and as a result, the video looks '''extremely''' compressed. Luckily Lost Media Wiki user [[User:Notelu|Notelu]] was able to fix the video's aspect ratio (as well as clean up the film in general) and is now much better quality to watch.
==Resurfaced Trailer==
 
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjQgUiJJkrA|640x480|center|The trailer for the short.|frame}}
==Videos==
{{Video|perrow  =3
  |service1    =youtube
  |id1          =NppaTnoU4O0
  |description1 =Notelu's restored version of the film (best quality).
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =c81J9RbtZno
  |description2 =The full unedited compressed version.
  |service3    =youtube
  |id3          =UjQgUiJJkrA
  |description3 =The original trailer.
}}
==External Link==
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0320555/ IMDb page on ''Swirlee''.] Retrieved 07 Dec '16


==References==
==Reference==
<references/>
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Found media]]
[[Category:Found media]]

Revision as of 14:28, 16 May 2020

JamesLorinzSwirlee-InfoboxConeHead.jpeg

Makeup artist Kelly Gleason applying the Softee makeup to Lorinz.

Status: Found

Date found: 07 Jun 2016

Found by: artdamaged

Swirlee is a 15-minute short film directed by and starring James Lorinz (famous for his roles in exploitation films such as Street Trash and Frankenhooker).

Plot

Swirlee tells the story of Mr. Softee, a mutant hybrid with an ice cream cone for a head. He was a victim of the anti-miscarriage drug "Nodroppinum," which changed the pregnant mother's child into whatever food she craved at the time (a parody of the Thalidomide scandal from the 1960s). Softee was the head of an ice cream company until he was forced out of business by the artificial ice cream mafia, led by Don Tofutti.

Softee lives with his friend Tony, who supports both of them. However, in order for Softee to be kept alive and well, they are forced to leave the air-con at all times, which becomes costly, and Tony has trouble to afford it. Despite this, Softee still has his ice cream fall in drops from time to time. Softee is forced to stay inside to prevent himself melting; frustrated and lonely, he takes in the services of a call girl with whom he just wants a romantic dance. However, she is freaked out by his nature and leaves. Tony is angry at Softee for this because they already have trouble to make ends meet. Softee suggests finding a job at Don Tofutti, but he is rebuffed by Tony, who insists it's a bad idea.

Softee goes to meet Don Tofutti, who is playing cards with associates Don Gelato from Italy and Don Sorbet from France (both have names relating to ice creams of their respective countries). Tofutti mocks Softee, who points out that, despite him being made of genuine natural ice cream, he doesn't fit in the modern ice cream business anymore. He forces Softee out, who insults Tofutti, saying his products are unnatural and made from soy. Tofutti, angry, has his men beat up Softee.

Softee, injured, barely makes his way home. Street children even gather around him to eat the ice cream from his head. A broken man, Softee, tries to commit suicide by taking a warm bath. Tony, however, decides to snap him out of his misery by shooting a fire extinguisher in his face. Softee and Tony return at Tofutti's place with guns and engage in a shoot-out so that they take back the ice cream business. It is implied they succeed.

Production

Lorinz first thought of the idea in film school. In 1989, after securing funds from a television appearance, he filmed a 15-minute test film to attract potential investors for a feature-length version. The film was written by Rocco Simonelli,[1] produced by Roy Frumkes, and co-starred Street Trash's Tony Darrow as Don Tofutti and a then-unknown David Caruso as Softee's roommate.

Despite the intention to present it as a gritty Mean Streets style drama, studios would only accept the film if it was retooled as a lighthearted comedy for children. Eventually, the project was abandoned.

The exact date that can be applied to the movie is uncertain. However, the inclusion of MC Hammer's song "U Can't Touch This" means that the earliest the film could have been produced was 1990. Oddly, IMDb lists the film as being published in 2000.

Availability

In 2016, a VHS copy of the full short film was found and uploaded to YouTube by YouTuber "artdamaged". It's unknown how artdamaged obtained the film apart from the fact that it was "a copy of a copy." However, when the VHS was converted to a digital file, the video's aspect ratio ended up being vertically stretch, and when it was uploaded to YouTube, YouTube very poorly squished the aspect ratio back to 4:3, and as a result, the video looks extremely compressed. Luckily Lost Media Wiki user Notelu was able to fix the video's aspect ratio (as well as clean up the film in general) and is now much better quality to watch.

Videos

Notelu's restored version of the film (best quality).

The full unedited compressed version.

The original trailer.

External Link

Reference

  1. The film's script. Retrieved 16 May '13