It seems that some of the best ideas for something creative spring from a passing thought or a joke. Mammoth’s most watched film, “Manos” The Grasp of Fate, started as a casual joke between Wes Brown and I when one of us just said, “We should make a sequel to “Manos” [The Hands of Fate]. Mammoth’s first ever holiday film came to be in a similar fashion. I decided I would dedicate one blog to covering this film, and the other holiday films that followed. Enjoy.
The Christmas Bush - This is the only Mammoth Film to date that is based on a true story. For years, my mom shared a humorous Christmas tale about a “tree” my dad cut down and brought home one year. Well, it seems mom and dad disagreed on what makes a tree a tree and a bush a bush. My dad had either went the old fashioned route and ventured into the woods to find the family’s Christmas tree, or he and mom couldn’t afford to buy one that year so he had to cut one down himself. He brought the arboreal wonder home and they argued over whether or not it was a bush or a tree, and reached some kind of compromise and actually attempted to put the thing up. Christmas tree stands are designed to support trees with some semblance of symmetry, not bushes. Since the stand would not support the fruit of my dad’s efforts, he and mom decided to mount it by tying it to the ceiling (I am not making this up!). Tensions mounted as this foolish endeavor continued and my dad found himself under the tree. He accused mom of pushing it on him, a charge she has denied. The tree was scrapped and I don’t know if the Rhudy home had one that year or not.
It was as I reflected on this comical memory one year that it flashed across my mind that a film could be made based on this. Production began quickly as this movie would need only one prop, a Christmas Bush. Everything just fell into place. Leigh and I actually argued over which bush in the yard I could cut down and use for the film. Fitting isn’t it? The problem solved itself as I drove through town one evening. I passed a Christmas tree lot and spied half of a discarded Christmas tree laying on the ground. I had my Christmas bush. The lot owner had no use for it and gave it to me. I regret not ever taking him a copy of the finished film.
The film turned out very well and was enjoyed by family and non-family. What is most humorous was my dad’s reaction to it. He found it hilarious and said to me, “You know, I did something like this once.” When I delivered the angry line, “I cannot believe how ungrateful you are, there are so many people that would be happy to have this in their house!” My dad laughed and said, “I think I said something like that!” What is funny, is that was just something I added to the story, not an account of it told to me beforehand.
The Christmas Bush would launch a tradition of Mammoth Films producing a Christmas film most every year and the character of Robert Miller who would show up again from time to time.
Christmas Collection 2000 – The next year’s Christmas film was more a collection of skits that were centered on the holidays. It opened with Robert Miller settling to enjoy some Christmas songs on the radio only to have the restful evening disrupted by dogs barking Jingle Bells. It was a weak opening to some funny skits that followed. Carol Peril remains a favorite and is posted on Youtube. The Christmas Visitor told the story of an exceedingly boorish and idiotic man, Larry, paying a surprise visit to unwelcoming relatives. While the relatives in the film didn’t like him, the audiences sure seemed to. It was always planned that Larry would appear again in another film and maybe even an entire Christmas movie of his own, but it never came to be.
Christmas On The Lam – Of all Mammoth’s Christmas films, this one is probably the weakest. It was another film starring Robert Miller. In this story, a good Christmas deed goes awry and he finds himself a man on the run while trying to deliver canned food donations. The film has its humor here and there but is kind of bland on plot and sets. The most vivid memory of this film for me is the wicked headache I had while filming the Chattanooga scenes. It was the day after Thanksgiving and I had one of the worst headaches I can ever remember. However, I only had one day’s access to the set, the actors and location. In the final scenes of the movie, a very haggard Robert Miller turns himself in at the police station. At that point I was feeling so sick, that I didn’t even have to act the part out, I just had to stand there and deliver the lines. Worse yet, a scene soon followed where I had to fall to the floor. Just walking was causing my head to hurt, much less having to thrash around for any reason. Regardless, the show went on and the film was completed. This was Shane Gentry’s first film and his acting talent was, and still is, quite impressive.
‘Twas One Crazy Christmas – Josh O’Dell’s Santa suit and a quick butchering of Clement Clark Moore’s ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas all made for a very brief Christmas film in 2002. Filming had commenced on another project, Bethlehem, TN, but time ran out and this is what audiences got see in 2002. While the premise and short film is cute, what audiences most remember is the blooper real. The funniest moment was the unintentional slip and fall of the lead actor.
Christmas Collection 2003 – Another collection of skits that were quite funny. Carol Peril was revisited with a hilarious scene by Mary (Jeannie) Page. Josh’s Santa suit was put to use again too.
Home For the Holidays – While this film was actually released under the label Segunda Tasa, it is really a Mammoth Film. It has a typical plot of family tension at the holidays. The lead character must endure the disapproval of his father-in-law during a Christmas visit back to his wife’s home. Josh O’Dell played the lead very well and the film turned out well, save some audio quality issues. Jason Millican had his first sizeable role and he too did very well. The newest starlet was his wife Kerry who Mammoth had hoped to see more of in future roles. What is most impressive about this film is how long it is and how little time it took to film. The majority was shot over the course of a single day. While the film was made in 2004, due to some health issues, it was not released until a year later. A funny note on this film was the search for a wild turkey. One was needed to make the film complete. For an entire afternoon, Patrick Mathis and I drove around the Rock Springs, GA and surrounding areas hoping just by chance to get a glimpse a camera shot of one. I ventured to Wal+Mart hoping to find a hunting decoy that could be used to silhouette one on film, but learned they were out of season and not being sold. Just as it seemed that either some really lousy effects would have to be used to complete the film, a wild turkey was found….at the Warner Park Zoo.
Here Comes Santa Clause – This was just a quick little claymation short about a mishap Santa Clause encounters on Christmas Eve. It is posted on youtube along with some critic’s comments on my claymation skills.
Bethlehem, TN – Nearly 5 years after production began, Bethlehem, TN was completed by Mammoth Films. By this time, Josh O’Dell was no longer involved with the project and Chris Harris had become very involved with the company. He did a phenomenal job as constable James Pratt. This film was shot over a grueling 30 days and without his enthusiasm and dedication, it would have never been made. This was a case of things just coming together. Locations, people and props just found themselves available when they were needed. The story is one of a self centered business man finding himself stranded on Christmas Eve in a place far removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life. It is a fine balance between comedy and drama. Only one shot from the 2002 attempt to make the film is included in this cut, although the extra features include an entire scene shot in 2002. I truly feel this was the best holiday film as far as script quality and production value. The Christmas Bush will always been the film that set the tradition, but Bethlehem, TN exemplifies the end goal Mammoth Films sought in producing holiday films year after year.
The question remains now if another holiday film will be made. For now, one is tentatively being planned for 2011, but no roles have been cast and the script is still in development.
Have a Happy Holiday everybody!
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