The filmmakers took a break between shots to adjust the camera and lighting for the next take. As they reviewed the previous shots, their star received a make-up touch-up. The bright lights were causing his white face paint and green hair dye to run.
When they were ready to resume, the actor once again repeated his lines, strutting around in his green vest and purple suit, flicking his tongue out over his lips in an awkward habit.
The filmmakers cut the scene and congratulated each other on the success. They were filming a new Batman movie that took place two months after the conclusion of July’s blockbuster, “The Dark Knight.” It was their first filming session, and the groups of filmmakers were making great progress.
Their star went to drink some water between takes and was greeted by the owner of the house they were filming in. “Nice makeup,” she said.
They were not on a sound stage or the lot of a billion-dollar production. The actor playing The Joker was not a Hollywood prima donna but mild-mannered 21-year-old Craig Deering of Illinois.
The house’s owner was Deering’s best friend and fellow film maker Allen Murphy’s great aunt Mary’s. While watching the filming, she told her nephew that while she always supported the arts and was glad to help, she had not expected college students running around her house dressed as Batman and an evil clown.
“She watched a little bit through a window and like peered in a couple time, and I think she might have freaked out a little bit,” said Deering.
“In my family, she should have known better,” Murphy, 20, joked.
With their initial success tucked away, the guys decided to venture into feature-length territory. (Photo by Dan Drake)
Deering and the rest of the filmmakers are part of Evil Iguana Productions. The group creates and posts their films on YouTube and suddenly blew up when they spoofed “The Dark Knight” trailer in the summer.
The filmmakers are a bunch of college kids who have been making movies together since high school with nothing but Deering’s father’s video camera and some editing software.
It wasn’t until July when the group released “The Dark Knight” spoof that they became stars. In the four months since its release, the video has received over 5 million views. Their new Batman movie is a follow-up to their spoof of “The Dark Knight” trailer that they released in July.
“I am like really happy that it is getting that good of reviews and like people are still watching because, honestly, when we were making it, and we were about to release it, I was so scared to release that video because I thought we were going to get shot down,” said Deering sitting down to chat with Blast recently. “(I thought) everyone was going to yell at us for like trying to spoof Batman and telling us it was crap, and I was expecting to take it down. But, all the positive feedback and stuff is great.”
Deering is the director and editor of all of the Evil Iguana videos, and also came up with the ideas for the “The Dark Knight” spoof, as well as the mockeries they made of “Twilight” and “The Number 23.”
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After the success of their Batman spoof, Deering and the rest of Evil Iguana decided to venture into unknown territory — a 30 to 45 minute serious film about the Joker, set in Christopher Nolan’s Batman universe.
Deering said that making the drama was a challenge and a big change from their previous work.
“This is like by far the most professional we’ve been with a movie, which I thought was really cool, because usually we just get our camera and improvise a lot of stuff,” said Deering.
Two buds
“I was a total nerd (in middle school): big glasses, comb over. ‚ I think my graduating class was like 21, it was really small. I tried my best to fit in with the rest of the class, though‚ I was never considered one of the “cool” guys, but it was alright,” said Deering.
Today, Deering has people requesting to be his friend on Facebook whom he has never met but feel they know him through his Youtube series, “The Allen and Craig Show,” and his various film spoofs.
I have been inspired by EIP to actually start progressing and making films of my own… Normally i would have been to scared because my own show Speaking Out!! With Kim and Brian have not had the best views of course our show isnt as comical as EIPs shows, but my cousin and other friends have wanted to assist me in my films, so i am hoping for the best.
I dont know if Craig or whoever answered my email about this idea i was going to do, but i did tell him/them that i do plan on placing their name into my first film as being inspired by and some other tacky heart felt message behind it, lol… So i dont think they thought i was serious, but i hope they do because i am in the middle of filming and nearing the final stages of it…
Thanks for the inspiration guys and always keep up the good work. Just because you cant film it for Youtube doesnt mean you cant film it at all… Sorry just a saying my cousin came up when i spoke about what i could and couldnt do for a film.
Awesome haha. Craig you sure say “like” alot
I’m so happy that Craig, Allen, and all of the guys are receiving such positive feedback for all of their hard work. I’m so proud of you guys and I can’t wait to see the new movie, which I’m sure will be amazing.
great that you’ve guys paid attention to them, it’s just awesome
eip is one of the best crews out there on youtube, so keep supporting them!
I love Evil Iguana Productions! everything they do is brilliant! I hope the never stop making movies!
and seriously, if they make shirts and DVDs i know i will have to buy them.
love you guys
I’m so proud of all the guys for doing what you love to do. It takes some people a long time to figure out what they want to do and you guys have not only figured it out but your actually going above and beyond. Keep up the good work and I can’t wait for the next movie.
I love EIP, always have! I’ll definately be buying a t-shirt and the dvd.
These guys are going to the top, no doubt about it.
Thanks so much for this, Blast!
ha ha , Joe commented. Anywho, i LOVE Allen and Craig, and all the guys working on Evil Iguana Productions. Before i read this (before i knew it was up) i watched every episode of the Allen and Craig show. i LOVE evil iguana productions like woah =D
Everything EIP makes makes me laugh hysterically, especially the Allen and Craig Show. Please, don’t stop making videos EIP, i don’t what i would do without your guys’ great sense of humor, and Allen and Craigs hot bodies(drawn with marker). Haha I love you guys!!!
I LOVE THESE GUYS!
They are AH-MAY-ZING!
Keep up the incredible, fantastic work guys!
With Love,
Meg
P.S. EVERYONE KEEP SUBSCRIBING SO WE CAN SEE TEH REST OF THEIR INTERVIEWS, LIKE DAN DRAKE’S, LARS’, AND ALLEN’S!
Joe’s, Kyle’s, and Craig’s were awesome!
Who the hell is Aunt Mary? lol
I love these guys they have true talent! GOOOO EIP!!
I love them!!!!
And they’re from Chicago! That’s just awesome
they are hilarious
This is so surreal!!! i love you guys. Congrats.
Oh man I so hope there is a sequel to “Fuzz”. Awesome interview. Keep up the good work EIP.
I would totally buy there t-shirts and DVD this is the best stuff on youtube!!!
bet you guys never even dreamed you’d be where you are now.
congratulations, and fantastic interview guys.
I Love EIP! I can’t wait to see them next year at Twicon, The Allen and Craig show is hilarious and the Twilight spoof too XD
Hell yeah Evil Iguanas gets noticed. It’s about time. Te best thing in the world right there. I spread all the love at my school by telling everyone to check them out. I bet they’ll get plenty enough money to buy more high end equipment once they sell merch. Once again, funniest people in the world right here. I love Evil Iguana Production.
I could not be more pumped for EIP. These guys are funny, amazing and deserve to make it. I’d support these guys and buy anything they put out.
Congratulations! You guys are gonna go far.
This group is fantastic. All of the positive feedback they are getting is so well deserved. Can’t wait for the new film guys.
Hahahaha awesome. My name’s in teh internetz nao.
Hai!
How did these guys ever go under my radar? Cool Stuff.
haha
this time craig has the spolight
how cool is that?!
These guys are so talented. My friends get so pissed when i start to quote them… well i kinda do it 25/8 but it is just because they are THAT funny. Honestly i hope they make it huge so i can say “I used to watch those dudes way back when”
Talented, Adorable, and Hardworking what more could you ask for!
Rock On EIP ROCK ON!!!!
Sammie