THE AISLE SEAT - by Mike McGranaghan
"FORBIDDEN ZONE 2 INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN"
Captain America: The Winter Soldier? The Amazing Spider-Man 2? Fast & Furious 7? Avengers: Age of Ultron? Sure, these are all much-anticipated sequels. But you know what sequel really gets me excited? Forbidden Zone 2. Filmmaker Richard Elfman has just launched an Indiegogo campaign to make a sequel to his off-the-wall 1980 cult classic. Forbidden Zone was an offshoot of Elfman's theater group, The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, which eventually spawned the rock group Oingo Boingo, fronted by Elfman's brother Danny.
The original Forbidden Zone is the story of the Hercules family, who discover a door in their home that leads to the Sixth Dimension. When daughter Frenchy enters it, she discovers a midget king (Herve Villechaize), a ruthless queen (Susan Tyrell), a gigantic frog, and even Satan (Danny Elfman) himself. The movie mixes live action filmed on intentionally cheap sets with animation and some really great Oingo Boingo-esque music. Everything that happens is hallucinogenic and it's virtually impossible to look away. You never know what you're going to see from second to second. The sequel will find a new family making its way into the Sixth Dimension, where more bizarre things will take place.
A quick personal, but relevant, story. Forbidden Zone is one of my all-time favorite movies. As a hardcore Oingo Boingo fan in high school (and to this day), it really struck a chord. One of the greatest moviegoing experiences of my life took place in 2000, when I attended a Richard Elfman-hosted screening of Forbidden Zone at the Maryland Film Festival. The theater was packed, with many attendees showing up in costume as their favorite characters. I also had the honor to talk to the filmmaker at a festival party and found him to be funny and gracious.
And, most importantly, enthusiastic. This is what makes the prospect of Forbidden Zone 2 so exciting. Elfman won't do it halfway. He knows the legacy of the original. He knows what it means to the fans. What he appears to have on tap for the sequel should deliver all the demented fun you'd expect. (He plans to have daughter-in-law Jenna Elfman "descend from the sky in an aerial ballet of the chicken,” for instance.) The director also promises plenty of music and dance.
According to Elfman's director's statement, more than one million dollars is needed to produce the sequel, but $100,000 - the amount he hopes to raise via Indiegogo - will "get the ball rolling and cover preproduction." There are plenty of rewards available for those who pledge, ranging from signed posters to a dinner party at Elfman's place.
If you're inclined to contribute to Forbidden Zone 2, you can get more information and make a pledge at the official Indiegogo page. See you in the Sixth Dimension!
Buy a copy of my book, "Straight-Up Blatant: Musings From The Aisle Seat," on sale now at Lulu.com! Paperback and Kindle editions also available at Amazon.com!
