I've almost finished writing the best comedy film script I've ever written PONDEROSA.
First of all BONANZA is one of my very favourite shows of all time. Top 5. I watch it now on Foxtel at least few times a week. Back in the 90's it was on Channel 9 at midnight and I finished work at 11pm so I'd watch it before going to bed. I'd go into work the next day and I had a running joke with my work mate Terry Keir.
It went this way.
Did you watch Bonanza last night?
Yes.
And what was the lesson?
DON"T FUCK WITH THE CARTWRIGHT'S.
Six years ago I started writing PONDEROSA a comedy tribute and feature length send up of BONANZA and it's now near completion. I have many excuses for why it has taken so long but over that time I had written 30 pages of notes and had many visions in my head of what was going to happen.
At the same time I was writing another script which has still gone nowhere.
So I've just had some time off work and almost completed PONDEROSA and it's looking good.
So what is PONDEROSA and what is not PONEDROSA.
IT'S NOT
It's not a Zucker Abrahams Scary Movie type. ( Apologies to the Zuckers because they created a comedy genre that has been abused so that films in their style are now ridiculous, or shithouse or both).
So it's not a western in which characters use mobile phones and computers carry automatic weapons and have many irrelevant things going on in the background and foreground. The are no scenes with 10 pointless gags per minute.
IT'S NOT
A gross out western, so that although there's plenty of killings and accidents the injuries aren't highlighted for "laughs".
IT'S NOT
Full of swearing and "cuss words" because I want the biggest audience possible if possible, but there's plenty of sexual innuendo which Is what I use to instead.
IT'S NOT
A lame likable frolic, it's full of comedy. It's fucking comedy.
IT IS Not at all like BLAZING SADDLES in a comedy sense.
IT IS Like BLAZING SADDLES in a style and budget sense. I'm writing a big picture .
IT IS
A big budget big scale western. I can picture a few actors as Ben Cartwright as Ben is hilarious, so Will Ferrell would be my first choice, but there are a few others who would fit.
IT IS
FUNNY for every minute and seldom lets up. I had to write comedy comedy comedy at the top of each page.
IT IS
A film with a paper thin plot and surrounding that plot are many big scenes or big sketches, so in that sense it resembles the MONTY PYTHON films.
IT IS
A film with send ups of other westerns such as Brokeback Mountain, but it's not Zucker like so not every scene is a send up. I've been very selective and as an avid BONANZA and THE VIRGINIAN viewer. I've chosen to tweak scenes from those shows rather than look for film send ups.
IT IS
A film with big scale sight gags but is heavy on verbal jokes.
That's it for now as it's still not completed but getting close.
Note: 2022 and it is complete.
