It all started a week ago with me in a red thong. No, not for the uh… re-tooling… of the Magic Mike franchise. I’m talking about the making of a video spoof called “Terminator: Nedisys,” which went live this morning. It started as just a crazy idea to have fun with the new Terminator movie, which comes out Tuesday. But then I had an idea about using it as a new kind of an advertising vehicle for our newspaper by promoting businesses through a funny video people would want to share.
Suddenly, our budget expanded exponentially. Special effects costs alone ballooned to a jaw-dropping $12.98.
Still, I’m happy to say our 6-minute film came in under budget in spite of our extensive shooting schedule of: 1 day.
Plus our generous post-production schedule of: 1 day.
As I mentioned, I do wear a red thong in part of this to give the illusion of nakedness. Better here than in IMAX 3D…
By the way, this WILL be showing on the big screen at City Lights Cinemas here in town Tuesday night, before the premiere of the REAL Terminator movie at 7 p.m. If you happen to be in town, please come to the showing!
Hmmm, “showing” probably isn’t the right word…
Ned's Blog 
Well done! What a howl. You really have the walk and affect (or I guess that would be lack of affect) down. James will surely be calling any minute now….
Thanks, Beth! Sadly, my “walk” comes natural… 😉
Such Talent !! James Cameron move over ….
That’s what I’ll be saying in my prison cell: “Move over!”
That was fun to watch. Very funny. I hope you’re getting your acceptance speech ready, because I see great things in your acting future!
Thanks, Carrie! It was a real blast to make.
As far as my speech, it may be read to a jury of my peers instead…
The tan lines are a nice touch
Haha!Yeah, our budget didn’t include a “continuity” person! My fire station was hosting a car wash fundraiser Saturday afternoon. Guess what I wore?
So, will you still continue to write once you become a famous movie star? Should I hold my breath awaiting that event?
(I have to know – did those people in the bar know ahead of time you would be walking in wearing that red thong?)
I’m already back at the keyboard for next week’s column!
By the way, here’s a movie secret: I only had a thong on during the sand dunes scene. In the bar I had pants on. Not that anyone would’ve noticed anyway.
Hmm. Had to re-watch it (ya know, it’s better with the sound on!). You’re right, that bar scene only shows the upper portion of your body, so there’s no way to know whether you’re wearing the thong or pants. I wondered why the bar patrons weren’t running in terror.
Sorry, Ned, I simply couldn’t resist that one. Hopefully, the real movie critics will be kinder. I did enjoy the film clip.
Lol! No worries — I can take it! 😉
Of course you can – you’re the Nedinator!
How many times has we seen the ads saying wear sunblock while time traveling! i hope you also made sure to check for ticks after those hours in and around all that foliage.
Hahaha… another perfect Ned spectacle. ❤ it.
Still going to help though, to undo optical damage.
Hahah! Glad you liked it, Robyn 😉 I realized once I committed to wearing a thong and scooting in the sand, any hopes I ever had of becoming a sex symbol disappeared into…
Well, they just disappeared.
LOL – yes, they just disappeared into those stellar special effects….
P.S. – I;m not drunk – writing on my incredibly frustrating phone which seems to decide for me which words I really want to use as I hit send… sigh…
No need to explain. I HATE texting anything on my phone because I have to go through and re-edit every other word. I’ve actually just stopped in the middle and called the person.
Imagine that… 😉
I think I just made a sound like Chewbacca… I meant to do Homer’s “Doh”!
Damned auto-correct!
I texted my wife once and told her “I feel blessed to have you as my liver.” She thought I was asking for part of hers for a transplant.
Hahahahhaa Best..laugh. of. the. week!
That was hilarious Ned! Wandering around lost in a garden center for 2 hours – ha! – that would definitely happen to me. Awesome advertising for local businesses too. “i’ll be back” ha! Delivering the newspapers – I’d be too nice not to. Are you sure the Nedinator isn’t Canadian? He’s awful polite. Your camera woman did an excellent job. Kudos!
Superb advertising tool.
Thanks, Paul! We’ll see what the response is.
And yeah, my camera woman not only has skills, but she’s pretty damned cute, too 😉
I’m sitting here with the biggest cheesy grin on my face, still chuckling. Well done!
Thanks! Always glad to hear that, Susan 😉
What a fun film! I bet it was a blast to make.
It really was, and the lead roles were all played by firefighter buddies 😉
when is ‘red thong, small town warrior II- electric bugloo’ coming out?
When it comes to me and a thong, no one wants anything coming out…
I wonder if the Nedinator will put on sunscreen before coming back next time?
No problemo.
I think I’ve said this before, Ned, but you are a RIOT. Loved watching this, and I’m pretty sure it was way more fun to create!
❤
Thanks, Anawni! It really was a blast. We only had one full day to do it, so it was a real-life “race against time.” Being able to have all my firefighter pals in it was half the fun 😉
lol You’re a dumbass but I luv u man.
Lol! Just be glad I didn’t get any shots from behind. Then you’d know a lot more about my ass than it’s lack of intelligence 😉
Check my blog today to see just what I thought of this piece of… film-making, Ned…
Hahaha! Thanks, Robert. “You like me! You really LIKE me!”
Don’t get carried away…
I think you should be worried personally!! HA HA!
Wow. That newspaper box was no match for your fury.
I swear, I didn’t see that punchline coming. Me! Of all people! I snorted at my desk.
Well done, sir.
Thanks, Ross. I used the Method Acting approach to that scene by pretending there was bacon inside.
And thanks — it was a lot of fun 😉
Hysterical! Loved the extended version! Maybe Cameron will call…who knows! 😉
Thanks, Courtney! I suppose as long as there is no “extended” version of my thong, everyone’s happy 😉
OMG! OMG! I laughed so hard when the hubs and I watched this the other night. Wandering through the flowers was the last straw – I can’t believe I didn’t see you. I wander in flowers all of the time.
And…last night was the premiere. Did you go???
When I first heard one of the sponsors was a garden center, I thought., “What am I going to do with that?” Then I thought, “Oh, I’ll just get lost like I always do outdoors.”
And yes, it premiered last night at the theater before Arnold’s flick. First time I’ve ever gotten to watch and hear a theater-full of people laugh at something I did. Pretty awesome.
Oh, and Arnold’s movie was pretty good too. Not nearly as much laughing, though…
How awesome is THAT?!? Very cool. Congrats Ned!
Thanks, Michelle 😉
Would it have killed you to hit a tanning salon first? I mean, come on! Your skin almost blinded me.
They make me pay extra!
Will there be a sequel?
You never know 😉
Well one has to mentally prepare you know. Don’t know what you’re going to be wearing or not wearing next..
It’s what I’m not wearing that’s the scariest part.
Uh oh!