THE END…A Thanks and a New Beginning!

And changed our name

by Lew Ojeda

Eight years ago, I co-founded this website with the hope of influencing, in some small way, how we look at movies and entertainment. I’ve long been a fan of the unusual in movies, music, TV and other media. The Underground Multiplex was to become an outlet for that expression and to give a voice to film independents often lacking in media. When we created content, we kept consciously in our minds the phrase “free media,” not just because we were not charging for anything we would have posted, but as a call for eliminating the restraints of corporatism on those creating content for the Internet and for larger screens.

During these years, we took every chance we could to get our message out. In so doing, we accepted tasks beyond our original intent of creating content and towards the goals of helping other creators get noticed and not get lost in the rush for the “brand new thing.” The life work of local artists, we felt, needed attention before the fog of obscurity hid them forever. Entertainment venues with glorious histories needed to be saved and those with sordid histories needed staff changes or to be closed.

We’ve hosted award-winning film programs centering on underrated, underappreciated and just plain bad-ass strange movies. We’ve presented primitive podcasts to give voice to independent artists and filmmakers, along with their admirers and tireless supporters. We’ve even attempted a radio comedy show and aired a few episodes.

We’ve accomplished a great deal, but I feel it’s also time to expand our reach, have a more concentrated approach with a fresh site and changes to what we do.

Our new website (currently under construction) and name will be THRILLO PAD PRODUCTIONS. The name comes from the location of where the two co-founders, myself and Tyler Pistorius, currently live.

Thrillo Pad Productions (TPP) will concern itself primarily with content production. Tyler is currently working on a short film and feature film. I am currently in post-production for the political comedy album, “Donald J. Trump: A Very White House Con Job.” My main concentration for TPP will be the production of “Vital Indie Media,” the vlog podcast centering on the unusual movies, music, TV shows and other ephemera in my collection. In the future, I will continue interviewing those who make a difference locally creating great art, music and movies.

So with this post we say goodbye to The Underground Multiplex and welcome to Thrillo Pad Productions. If you’ve been following us here on Facebook or on Twitter, please join us on our new Facebook page. We will announce there when the new website is up and running along with more social media connections so that you can join us in our further adventures!

It seems appropriate to make this announcement on Thanksgiving Day, because I give thanks to everyone who has made TUGM a great blog for the last eight years. Thank you all so very much and now let’s go on for many more years at Thrillo Pad Productions!

“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” Cancelled by TLC. Strike That Line! Predicted It!

The future Baby Jane Hudson

by Legendary Lew

According to TMZ, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” star mama June had a bit of trouble with her dating preferences, choosing a convicted child molester to fulfill her needs and Phil Robertson’s moral standards.

The Learning Channel, unable to learn from what should have been a somewhat predictable common sense disaster in the making, reacted thusly:

And so, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” is no more. It seems a shame to stop production, since you could have titled a potential new series, “To Catch a Predator’s Boo Boo.”

Oh well, looks like Honey Boo Boo will have to head the ways of Baby Jane Hudson by going insane and starving her sister to death in sixty years. But for now, you can hear how Strike That Line! predicted a catastrophe for fame hungry no talents in the episode “Tinkle Tinkle Little Star.”

Palin Drunken Brawl with Pictures (!) Found by the Strike That Line Crew!

The folks at Strike That Line! were able to find pictures from the scene of the recent Alaskan brawl involving the Palins. For the first time, see exactly what Bristol Palin was referring to in her statement to police. Please note that this video is NSFW:

 

 

If You Want to Know What The Underground Multiplex is All About, Come to Our Series on Friday Nights in January

by Legendary Lew

Earlier Effort by Joe

Starting tomorrow night at Chicago Filmmakers, The Underground Multiplex will be presenting what will be, in fact, perhaps the most comprehensive overview of what we’ve been up to since our inception in November 2010.

Back then, director Joseph R. Lewis and I had this crazy notion that perhaps we should begin an internet media co-operative that focused on the greatness of independent underground entertainment. We further emphasized that Chicago had to be the main focus of our attention, as we believe (and still do) that the decentralization of entertainment, with the advent of the internet, can help bolster each different region’s importance in the arts. Spreading this idea could keep very talented Chicago artists home, instead of fleeing to NYC or LA for the temporary fix of finding work that immediately pays something.

Film genius Ernie Tarte will be there for Strike That Line! 1/24

Joe had already made a number of films for over a decade. One of those films, The Adventures of Miss Girl, gets its world premiere tomorrow night along with Sci Fi Sol, which makes its return to Chicago screens this year.

However, this Friday series–dubbed “Friday Night VOLUME“–will present a fuller menu of what TUGM has to offer. As we progressed over the years, we’ve learned to perfect (out of necessity) presenting a variety of experiences for little money. As will be the case with VOLUME, we’ll have films, vaudeville-type entertainment, a varied music soundtrack, live Q&A and live performances (including Dr. Dredd’s Wagon of Wonders and the first-ever live presentation of the radio comedy Strike That Line!

Please join us! Check this link for the entire line-up. Head over to Chicago Filmmakers to purchase pre-show tickets.

 

Mediatrocities #8: Strike That Line! Podcast with Episode Titled “Tinkle Tinkle, Little Star”

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, are you lucky to have stopped by here today. Well, are you? You just happened to stop by when the radio play sketch comedy was christened with its new name, Strike That Line! Confused? Startled? Intrigued? Perhaps, my friends, you should give a listen as Ernie Tarte, the world’s least known film auteur, takes on the world of reality TV.

In this episode, Hollywood TV producer Cash Johnson teams up with Dolly Dentura, CEO of Dentura Enterprises and owner of all you see above (until she changed all the logos and trademark names) to present TV’s newest reality TV series. Feast your ears as Tarte tries to make art when he should have been making tracks.

Strike That Line! is a production of The Underground Multiplex.
Starring Tyler Pistorius, Joseph R. Lewis, Barry Brennessel and Lew Ojeda. Written by Lew Ojeda, Tyler Pistorius and Joseph R. Lewis. Theme music by Lucas Herzog. Special musical guest: Honey & The 45s. Produced and directed by Lew Ojeda.

This podcast is intended for mature audiences and those with highly dysfunctional families.