Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version VT1.00C 11/1/84; site vortex.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ucbvax!decvax!bellcore!vortex!lauren
From: lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein)
Newsgroups: net.tv,net.movies
Subject: Re: Plan 9 on TV next week
Message-ID: <817@vortex.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Sep-85 13:29:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: vortex.817
Posted: Sun Sep 29 13:29:49 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 2-Oct-85 05:55:29 EDT
References: <609@petrus.UUCP>
Organization: Vortex Technology, Los Angeles
Lines: 31
Xref: watmath net.tv:3289 net.movies:7798

Actually, I've already shown "Plan 9" at one of my local L.A. film
festivals, and also at a party following a Usenix some years ago.
Most of Eddie Wood's other works can't really compare, though I haven't
yet gotten around to seeing all of "Glen or Glenda?" (where Ed himself
plays a transvestite) so I can't be totally sure "Plan 9" is the,
uh, "best."  You pick up lots of nice details from these films when
you show them in 16mm.  For example, I first noticed the blinking
highway warning light on the desk of the alien commander during one
of my 16mm screenings.  The "narrator" of "Plan 9" (and some of Ed's
other works) was of course the infamous "Criswell" -- a "futurist"
who wrote lots of books with 99.99% WRONG predictions.  I've seen some
of them, they are incredibly amusing.  But note that both Criswell and
Ed were SERIOUS about these films.  Ed was a flying saucer buff, and
thought that "Plan 9" was making a serious anti-war statement.
Several of the (still living, of course) "Plan 9" stars have appeared
locally at "Plan 9" screenings and have strongly stated that they
did NOT think it was a spoof when they did it!

I tried to get Criswell to come out to one of my film fests (I always
try to get one or two guest stars--sometime I'll tell you about the
time Rocky the Flying Squirrel was leaving messages on my answering
machine regarding my "Jay Ward" film fest).  Unfortunately, Criswell
had already died.  I also wanted Hans Conried for my "Dr. T" film fest,
but he also is no longer with the living.  Unless I start resorting
to resurrecting the dead (and interesting project) I'm going to have
to try get to some of these people faster or I'm going to run out
of guests.  Wait until you see what I have planned for my "Outer Limits"
film fest here in L.A.!  I found some live ones for this one...

--Lauren--
[Exercise for readers: Why is "Plan 9" like Usenet?]