Sherlock Parody by The Hillywood Show®

Well, well, Hilly the chameleon and Hannah the director extraordinaire are at it again. Sister duo The Hillywood Show's long-awaited Sherlock Parody premiered on Saturday and has quickly gained over half a million well-deserved views.

Perhaps it is strange of me but I first watched season one of Sherlock about three years ago--and kept on putting off watching the rest. Hillywood's announcement of their next parody gave me reason to finally finish watching this spring (I confess that, while I enjoy the show when it's on, I find that I don't overly care for it, which might be a good thing given that there are such long season breaks). 

It's been a properly long wait for the parody, too. But when you see the final video, you see why it was worth all the time and resources. Hilly and Hannah have traveled to such places as Washington and I believe Florida for their videos before, but Sherlock Parody took them all the way to England. There they filmed at action locations from the show, indoors and outdoors. This was in addition to carefully-crafted indoor sets. I think it's easy to say, then, that this parody had their best sets yet--and their sets are always good.

We're always amazed at how well Hilly can play such a variety of characters and also look like those characters--Sherlock was on a whole other level, too. I almost don't know how Hilly managed to get the makeup just right: she not only sculpted the cheekbones but also changed the shape of her eyes to match Benedict Cumberbatch's face. And she really knows how to move both her face and her body to mimic a character. Again, some of her best work here.

Duplicating sets and characters aside, what is so rewarding about Hillywood parodies is the way in which they match the tone of the original work, providing humor and lightness in a way that celebrates rather than belittles said work. So for this parody, they chose a song that somehow set a British tone and also showed Sherlock's way of talking quickly and bouncing from serious to insignificant comments. I'll also add that ever since they started not just changing the song's words but also having someone else do the singing (as opposed to just remixing the song and keeping the same singer), the lip synching has been more congruous and smooth and in character. And the whole thing feels more original.

Oh, yes, and then there are the cameos. Osric Chau from Supernatural has returned for his third Hillywood production. Chris Rankin, aka Percy Weasley from Harry Potter, played a perfect duplicate of Mycroft. And Steven Moffat, co-creator and writer of Sherlock and also writer of Doctor Who, makes his appearance there at the end--Steven Moffat. I know how they met Osric a couple of years ago, but how did these other appearances come about, I wonder?

(One more note that is so small that I have to put as an aside. This is the third time Hillywood has had to put a viewer discretion notice at the beginning of one of their videos. The others were for blood in Sweeney Todd and The Walking Dead. This one is for language. As the years go by, it seems that they're willing to keep including more and more in their videos, of different types of things. Not that I'm asking for it all to be G, but I just hope that they put a cap on at some point and don't just keep allowing more and then more.)

Also don't forget to watch both behind the scenes videos as these are also some of their best. I used to watch their behind the scenes and parodies equally because they were both equally entertaining. But lately the technical aspects have required so much and the shoots have been so tight and busy that their behind the scenes have been more informative and fascinating than strictly entertaining to watch. While I've enjoyed seeing those, the behind the scenes for Sherlock Parody made me realize how much I missed the old behind the scenes vibe. Lots of information about how things were put together but also lots of fun, an hour and a half total of it, too. So don't miss those and give Sherlock Parody another watch while you're at it.

Here's to a million views and more.

The Hillywood Show's Hocus Pocus Parody

Well, well, well, what do we have here? It's the newest parody by The Hillywood Show. Though their last one was very good, it's been several months now since it was released, enough time to make me want something more. Hilly and Hannah have begun asking for regular fan funding through Patreon, and I think they might have been hoping to have enough funding to start this project sooner. Then YouTube was giving problems with the upload and it didn't come out until Wednesday, though it was supposed to debut last weekend. And I didn't have the chance to watch it until last night (which felt really strange because I can usually watch their videos as soon as they're out).

But if there there delays or complications getting this video made, it's all in the past now: the final product turned out great. The subject is the early '90's movie Hocus Pocus, which I had to watch to prepare for the parody since I'd never seen it before. And the song is a medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas, making this the second time Hillywood has used a song from there (Gagaween a few years ago was the first time). The songs work flawlessly and have a lighthearted, fun tone that helps to portray the comedy side of the movie. The chorus may be about kidnapping children, but it's never sinister or dark--just fun and silly. And the fact that the songs are from a Halloween/Christmas movie is kind of nice now that it's closer to Christmas than to Halloween.

I didn't realize until I watched the Behind the Scenes that this parody involved their first complete 360 degree set. And it really is detailed. The costumes and makeup are also so well done, some of their best work. Overall, very polished and yet also filmed and edited together in such a way as to not detract from the spontaneity of the song and storyline. Maybe less people will happen on this parody because less people are YouTubing Hocus Pocus than than are big movies, but it has good rewatchability, which leads to more views (and happy viewers).

The Hillywood Show's Supernatural Parody

There are special moments in the history of The Hillywood Show. They started making YouTube parodies in 2006, they found their special territory with music video parodies in 2009 with Twilight Parody, they started shooting in HD in 2010, and in 2014 they started shooting in 4K, to name a few basic ones. And in May 2015 Supernatural Parody came out and introduced the idea of working with a show/movie's cast in a wholly new (and immersive) way.

I've done it again: I've had the chance to watch some of the show Hillywood is parodying next but have decided not to. If Supernatural is about ghosts and demons, then I think I'd rather not watch. But that doesn't mean I'm not enjoying their video on it. Even to me as someone unfamiliar with the show, this parody shows itself as incredibly special. It's a major moment in Hillywood history. There are the usual great things: the sets, the costumes, the makeup (wow, Hilly keeps getting more and more unrecognizable), the cinematography, the lyrics (whoever sang this cover also did really well), etc. The unique thing, though, is the cast from Supernatural.

Osric Chau had worked with them before on The Walking Dead Parody; now he's back for the show that he is an actor on, along with Rob Benedict. And several other members of the cast have cameos in the parody. It becomes something so amazing that it makes me excited even though I don't watch Supernatural. It's like Hillywood has transcended themselves: they've always been fans for the fans and now they are including the cast as fans. Like when they were doing interviews at The One Last Party and speaking with cast and crew from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, each side mutually excited about the role of the other (in creating either the movies or the videos based around the movies). Special, very special.

And it's also going to be interesting to see how the inclusion of the cast affects numbers. Yes, numbers are not everything, but numbers are still nice. As I write, the parody is already at over 600,000 views, despite having only come out yesterday morning. Will it reach a million by the end of the day? Those are good numbers--this could be another of the videos that really increases viewership of The Hillywood Show.

Oh, yes, and don't forget to watch the two behind the scenes videos.. They're very good.

You know something else? Supernatural Parody has pretty good rewatchability. It's one of those videos that embodies what Hillywood is about: a little silliness and a little fun, but also a celebration of a certain story. Despite what you might call some dark content, it's such a light and bright and even triumphant video. Now go watch it if you haven't already and watch it again if you have.

Let the Ring Go

Since I don't think I'll be able to watch the final installment of The Hobbit until after Christmas, I am much consoled because The Hillywood Show's newest parody also came out yesterday. That's right, they've finally realized their dream to do The Lord of the Rings. Like their Pirates of the Caribbean Parody last year came full circle because they used to work a lot with Jack Sparrow's character, the LOTR parody also finishes things off: before they ever started the show, Hilly and Hannah put together a big production of LOTR over months. Now they get to come back to the trilogy with more resources and their current parody approach.

The Lord of the Rings is hard because it has so many characters, costumes, sets, and scenes. I had no idea how they would approach it, so I didn't even guess at much beforehand. Now that the video is out, it's very smart. Taking the tune from "Let It Go" from Frozen and rewriting the lyrics to come from Sam's perspective (mostly in Mordor) narrows the field while also getting right at the heart of the story. Sam is the main focus of LOTR the way that Darth Vader is the main focus of the original Star Wars trilogy: he's the one who helps make happen the events that really need to happen. So it makes absolute sense to focus on Sam. 

On the first watch, this video reminded me somewhat of Hillywood's Breaking Dawn (Part 1) Parody (which remains their most-viewed parody). There is humor, some parodying, but also a love of the material. That's a winning combination that is also very Hillywood. It's silly to combine Frozen with Middle-earth, yet the combination also works so perfectly to express the theme of letting go of what drags you down, of what you do not need. Bartok's appearance as Gollum is hilariously lovely, and everywhere there is such detail in costumes and other visuals. Hilly as Sam and Hannah as Frodo both gave great performances; there is such momentum in this parody. It's reliving what's important about this story--in a light and wonderful way. 

There is one 45 minute behind the scenes video, with another (I'm guessing shorter) one on the way. After watching the behind the scenes, go back and watch the parody again. And again. And then again, for good measure. Then make your friends watch it. Ah, I love The Hillywood Show.

The Walking Dead Parody

I'm usually quicker when it comes to The Hillywood Show. But it feels like everything has been off this time. 

First, they announced that their next parody would be based on The Walking Dead. I know it's a popular show, but I've never watched it. Still, this wouldn't be the first time I watch something just for Hillywood--I had been telling everyone I'd get to Doctor Who eventually, but it wasn't until the time in between Hillywood's announcement and their DW parody that I finally watched the 2005-2013 episodes. Although TWD never interested in me, I vaguely thought I would watch at least one episode before the parody. But I've been busy, so time went by until Monday, when this came out:

Trouble is, I started getting sick over the weekend (and as is often the case, I know who got me sick--you know who you are). And Monday was my worst day. I was watching Tangled and getting very sleepy--but the parody was out when the movie was over. So I opened my laptop to watch, said, oh, that's nice, and then closed my laptop and fell asleep. Not the gratitude Hillywood deserves.

I still haven't watched the two behind the scenes videos, over an hour of footage that I'm sure is wonderful, as usual. It feels strange to talk about the parody without having seen the extra footage. And it's also strange to talk about a parody whose source material I've never seen. It feels like that hasn't happened with Hillywood in a while--though it's only technically been since their Warm Bodies Parody last year. And that was another zombie one. Coincidence? But that parody had such a perfect storyline of its own that it wasn't really necessary to have seen the movie first. 

This parody is a little different. I understand that it has different moments from the show, but it also has less of a storyline. It's more about setting than events. The characters, the type of situation going on, the places. So that's easy to follow if you haven't watched the show. And what stands out right away with this video is sleekness. Perhaps the new partnership with Nerdist is paying off because while Hillywood's always been sleek, it's even more so this time. And the slow-motion on the dances, that just fit so well and looked so good. 

While Hilly's played plenty of male characters and has had some amazing makeup, her character here is so fully put together that it did take me a moment to realize it was her--and I'm always expecting her to be in a new video. I'm always looking to see who she'll be, and as good as the makeup and acting are, I can always tell. But this time it did take me a moment. 

So I'm still not really interested in watching The Walking Dead. Funnily enough, the very parody that could have been reason enough for me to watch the show has also half convinced me that it isn't the type of thing I want to watch. I'm so strange. Anyway, though, this was another polished video from The Hillywood Show.

Gifts from the Doctor

That title sounds funny if you're not thinking of Doctor Who, doesn't it? But ever since I started watching, the phrase "the doctor" only reminds me of one character. Of course, the gifts I refer to come not specifically from the Doctor, but almost. The Hillywood Show has been shipping out the gift packages that went with donations to their Doctor Who Parody fund. Mine arrived this week.

I had kind of forgotten what my package included. I have an autographed photo, a thank you note (handwritten on the back), and a new wristband (I still have my thinner, white one from years ago). I think I have six autographed pictures now? Time to get another frame--and also time to watch the parody again:

What's more exciting is that these gifts come right before Season 8 of Doctor Who begins airing next week. This is the first time I'll be watching the episodes as they come out. I'm so very glad that they air on the same day in the U.S. as in the U.K. 

Doctor Who Parody

Let's see, how long did it take for everything to go full circle? Was it four months? Four months from when The Hillywood Show announced they would be parodying Doctor Who and I decided it was time I started watching the show to the release of their video--it felt like a long time to wait, but maybe it was all a rather quick process, after all. In five months, I've gone from being one of the group who were confused about what Doctor Who was really about to being a bit of a fan. And now, today, the long-awaited parody came out. It was worth the wait.

On the third view, it struck me that what this video is about is, essentially, what the show is all about. In under five minutes (not including credits), Hillywood has packed in so much. They really know how to successfully enter a new world and capture its tone. I have already mentioned that I am thrilled that they chose the tenth doctor, but we don't just see one companion. Rose, Martha, and Donna all feature, in an homage to the tradition of companions who all come and go but all are important. The rather large cast of creatures and villains represents that aspect of the show. Then there are the quick changes in emotional range, all wrapped up in a single song. We see the tragic moments with Rose and also the lighthearted moments with Donna. That's how the show is: it gives us fun and comedy and it also gives us tragedy and sadness. That's one of the things that makes it good. 

I already felt certain that Hilly was playing the Doctor, and she was wonderful, as always. I wasn't, however, expecting Hannah as Donna. Perhaps I was surprised because, when they revealed that the tenth doctor would be the focus, they also revealed Bad Wolf Bay, which made me think of Rose. I always thought Hannah might play Rose. But she was a fantastic Donna. Along with Mrs. Lovett and Alice, I think Donna has turned into one of my favorite of Hannah's roles. 

If the parody was missing something, it may have been England. The sets are limited to Bad Wolf Bay and the TARDIS, inside and out--because I think that's all that they could do. And even that was quite a bit. The TARDIS, how wonderful. I was expecting the outside, but the inside, too? Lovely. And the Daleks. There were Daleks. Two of them. How did they manage to get those? Even K-9 had a cameo. And, of course, all of this is in addition to all the wonderful creature costumes. Have they ever included so many special costumes? They really put everything into this one video.

And because we all enjoy behind the scenes so much, in addition to the 50 minutes of Behind the Scenes, there is a second, 20 minute video with even more footage. Hillywood fans, we're getting spoiled. (Maybe not since it was about a six month wait since the last video. It's okay, though, we'll wait.)

The old Hillywood episodes used to center around time travel through the DeLorean; it seems only fitting that they should return to time travel once again. I wonder if, perhaps, in the future, the TARDIS might take over a similar role to the DeLorean's. What a grand old time it all is. 

Doctor Who? Doctor Hilly?

A ripple within a timeline creates another ripple than will later return back to the grasp of the first ripple. 

So it was that after The Hillywood Show announced that their next parody would be based around Doctor Who, I decided that it was time to listen to everyone and watch the show. So it was that while they were busy raising funds and getting into pre-production and filming, I became a bit of a fan of the show, watching the new series and then starting in on the classic episodes. And then, while I am in the middle of black and white episodes with William Hartnell, along comes the teaser trailer for Doctor Who Parody. 

Life is a curious thing, fraught as it is with such tender emotions and then with such wailing of excitement over something so small and insignificant. But the coming of this parody, that is me coming full circle. The very reason that I first got into this show that I am now enjoying is finally coming to fulfillment. And as every Hillywood fan will attest, their videos are nothing like insignificant to us.

I am very much excited to find a cloudy beach scene in the teaser; it is a location that can be none other than Bad Wolf Bay. And those shoes and pants can belong to no other but the tenth doctor. I am utterly pleased by both of these facts. I was selfishly hoping to see my favorite doctor in the parody and it seems that, in fact, I will. But we are left with the question of casting, since the teaser's view goes no higher than the knee. I suspect, however, that Hilly will be playing the doctor. Doesn't it just look like that could be her? And I've long thought that Hannah would be well-suited to play Rose, if Rose is in the video. Was I perhaps right in both casting guesses?

As far as how the rest of the parody will go, I really have no idea. Bad Wolf Bay is such a sad place, and while Hillywood never disrespects the original material, they do have to lighten things up--so how will that happen? And will there be other locations, as well? Probably, but how many? I am reminded of one last point: didn't they already do a good job on the teaser? It's lovely. It's so short and simple, but it gives us so much that we want to see, so much that plays on our emotions and our memories. I can't wait until the video comes out later this month. 

Funding Hillywood's Latest

Ah, yes, it has happened again. The Hillywood Show is planning to parody something that I have not yet seen. The trouble is, I haven't known where to start with Doctor Who. People tell me I can start with the newest series, but I usually like to start at the very beginning and work my way forward when investigating a new franchise/show. I think, though, that maybe I will go ahead and start with the new series soon, aye? I must prepare for the parody.

But that isn't the only way we must prepare for this parody. As Hillyfans know, The Hillywood Show was receiving funding from producers for a time, but they are, at least for now, no longer receiving those funds. And yet here we, the audience, are, quietly expecting the same level of quality we are accustomed to. The solution? Another GoFundMe, this time for Doctor Who Parody.

As they have done before, you can receive rewards for donating certain amounts. But, really, it's all about everyone giving what they can to help continue the show we all love. What, after all, would my YouTube be without The Hillywood Show? As of now, they're about a third of the way toward their goal; will you help them reach it?

(Oh, and I know a chocolate review was due today. It will come soon, although I may do a different sort of post tomorrow.)

A Very Hillywood Christmas

For the first time this year, The Hillywood Show offered Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales at their online shop. It was all, apparently, a big success as they had to restock t-shirt sizes more than once. I received my order yesterday and just had to give one quick note of everything; let's pretend they're my early Christmas presents to myself. 

Since every t-shirt was getting signed by Hilly and Hannah that weekend, I ordered the shirt that goes with their Warm Bodies Parody. I like the design, but I don't really wear red--or t-shirts with graphics. So what better shirt to get signed (since, you know, you don't want to just wash away the signatures). But here's what's interesting: they signed on the heart. I wonder if the ink will take longer to wash away from there? If so, that's pretty nice. 

I had also been eyeing the Hillywood charm bracelet since it first showed up in the shop; now at last was the time. The extension on the bracelet is, naturally, way too wide for my little wrists; while I do like loose bracelets sometimes, the charms on this one make it so that it really can't be too loose. But you can always put the clasp into one of the regular links to make it as small as you need. It's a pretty bracelet, though not terribly practical with all the charms. At least I'm enjoying seeing it hanging with my other bracelets, out in the open (keep as much jewelry visible as you can, I think). 

Since it was also the Christmas sale, included with orders of two items was an autographed photo. Mine was from Harry Potter Friday Parody. Perhaps instead of framing all my autographs, I should start a photo album with them? Either way, it's always nice to see my Hillywood collection growing. 

Captain Hilly Sparrow Is Back

Pirates are always in season. While The Hillywood Show, lately, has been keeping to parodies of more recent movies, this month they have gone back to their roots with a Pirates of the Caribbean Parody. It was several years ago now, before the viral Twilight and Harry Potter and Lady Gaga videos, that Hillywood was still doing Jack Sparrow-centered episodes. For someone who has been a fan for a few years, it's exciting to see the return of Hilly as Jack. 

As you can see, this video is in the music video style they are now known for. But that's not the only thing that is different from the old episodes: the sets, the makeup, Hilly's imitation of Johnny Depp's facial expressions, and the production value as a whole has all grown. In these five years, Hilly and Hannah may have set Jack aside, but they've still been busy making new content and improving their methods. It shows; this video is sleek. I think they have also been learning how to give a video good rewatchability. That was one of the things I said was good about their Breaking Dawn Parody (for Part 1), and that video how has over 21 million views. At first, I admit, I did think that this Pirates video could use a little more plot; plot, however, is one of the things that can drag a YouTube video down and make it less rewatchable. And a simple plot is fitting to POTC and to Jack Sparrow himself. The "Jack is Back" thing is, really, enough.

Oh, yes, and you must watch the Behind the Scenes, as well. That's thirty-eight minutes of Hillywood goodness. See the ship they filmed on, the mansion they used for some of the indoor scenes, and just how they got that amazing Kraken. It's like we've finally connected the dots between the original episodes and the later music video style parodies. The Hillywood Show is great. 

Remember: #JackisBack

The Hillywood Pirates Return

Once upon a time*, The Hillywood Show heavily featured Jack Sparrow. They never directly and singly parodied Pirates of the Caribbean, but Jack and Will were constantly there throughout the original episodes, moving through the stories of different movies. Jack Sparrow is classic Hillywood, even if he is from their early days.

At last, however, there will be a new Pirates parody. We were all, I think, half expecting a video when On Stranger Tides came out, but sometimes timing just doesn't work out. And I think POTC was a big enough thing that it doesn't matter if it's been a few years since the last movie came out: we'll all still be excited to see what The Hillywood Show does with it this time.

As they have done a couple of times in the past, Hilly and Hannah have started a GoFundMe for the parody, complete with different prize levels. Because they're sure to use their funds wisely, click here to donate. Thar be adventures and salty old pirates ahead.


*Who else is looking forward to Once Upon a Time tonight?

The Hillywood Show Strikes Again

I never got around to watching Warm Bodies, so the occasional circumstance happened that The Hillywood Show parodied a movie I hadn't yet watched. But I had seen the trailers and knew the basic plot . . . and their video portrays its own version of the unfolding plot line. It follows the story like a mini movie.

I confess that I haven't been posting on Hillywood as much because I haven't really liked a couple of their recent videos. I was getting worried that, after so many years, they were starting to go in a direction I wasn't interested in following. Yet, although I have no connection to Warm Bodies, I kind of liked this parody. The quirkiness is reminiscent of the early Hillywood Show episodes, the minor darkness of their video for The Dark Knight, the color palette of The Runaways, and the dance sequence of their Eclipse parody. All the pieces come together in that endearing way that also puts you into awe (they filmed in and around a plane?). And that final dance sequence--it's up there with their best work. 

What Did Those Dwarves Do to Poor Bilbo?

It turns out that I was right when I guessed that The Hillywood Show's video based on The Hobbit (which they have titled "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Parody") would portray the Unexpected Party scene at Bag End, starring Hilly as Bilbo.

First for the things that I like about this parody. Despite the dozens of characters Hilly has played in the past, I was having a hard time picturing her as Bilbo--but she's hilariously cute in this role. And all those dwarves, what a makeup and costume extravaganza. They go into the infamous pile of well-done Hillywood characters. I enjoyed Hannah's Frodo cameo: it's randomness fits in well with how the movie is incorporating Frodo even though he isn't in the book. Gandalf's line at the end of the parody has perfect placement, a little twisting of lines/meanings.

But there are things I don't like, too. I hesitated over how to put it since I do support Hillywood so much, but it wouldn't be worth anything to anybody to only say positive things, would it? So here it is: I don't like the song choice or approach. One of the reasons that I got into Hillywood was because, in the world of YouTube and parodies, there are only so many clean and wholesome laughs, if you will. And while Hilly and Hannah have said enough about themselves in interviews/livestreams/etc. that I know they're not advocating everyone going and getting drunk and wasted, I would still rather watch something else. The concept works just fine with the scene, but I was anticipating something different from them. Something a little more Middle Earth in tone and such.

I still enjoyed the behind-the-scenes, though. This was an intense day of filming for this parody. So I'll sit back and enjoy the things I enjoy and not fuss over what I didn't like.

Hillywood Hobbits

Infamously, yet also half secretly, one of Hilly and Hannah's videos before the formation of The Hillywood Show was based on The Lord of the Rings. So it's no surprise that they would make a parody for The Hobbit, too. The surprise is just that filming is already over--usually they like to watch a movie first. But the official announcement, which you can see here, identifies the project they have been working on as "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Parody."

Since they have had to work with trailers and other material from the movie that has been released already, I'm picturing this video as focusing on one scene, possibly the scene when the dwarves arrive at Bag End and explain their quest. If that's the case, wow, that's one detailed set to replicate and tons of detailed costumes to put together. And what characters will they be playing? Will Hilly be Bilbo? Will they introduce other characters? How is it going to be structured?

I'm very excited and also very curious; this has potential to be one of their best videos and also one of the videos that widens out their audience.

Chocolat: Hillywood Style

I've been watching The Hillywood Show's latest video, President Gaga, quite frequently since it came out. And I also recently (within the last month or two) finally purchased Chocolat--which I have felt the need to own simply due to the fact that I am self-professed chocolate-obsessed (if you don't believe me, visit Chocablog). So in my usual fashion, why not put the two together?

The obvious connection between the two is that the original Hillywood Show episodes were in fact largely made up of Johnny Depp movies; while he doesn't show up in Chocolat until the halfway point, I think his presence in the movie tends to get marketed/talked about quite a bit more. So the question is, if Hillywood parodied Chocolat, would Hilly return to playing Johnny Depp or would they cast someone else and would she play Vianne? If Hilly played Roux, Hannah could be Vianne.

Sets might be difficult: where in the U.S. do you get a location that looks like a little old French town? The best place I can think of is Cambria, CA--and that isn't quite the right look, is it? Of course, if they needed a chocolate expert on hand, I could help out (wink, smile, wink), explaining where you can buy cocoa beans/nibs and historic drinking chocolate.

But you know, a parody would probably focus more on the character of the Comte de Reynaud (played by Alfred Molina), particularly because of what they could make of his ending scene where he gorges himself on chocolate after disparaging it during the whole movie. Now that would be a nice scene to see Hillywoodized.

Lady Hilly Is President Gaga

Hilly and Hannah of The Hillywood Show had been dropping enough hints about their latest video that I guessed it was about the election. But the first time that idea came to mind, I wasn't sure what to think: "they wouldn't do the election? Would they? I guess there are ways to parody politics without getting into politics." And Lady Gaga taking over the election? That's, politically, pretty safe territory--not to mention fitting and hilarious. You can watch the newly-released video here and the behind the scenes here.

I know I'm repeating myself here, but the sets and costumes and production value of this parody are just wonderful. Watch the gloriously long behind the scenes to learn how all these were put together and just where some of those great locations were. And Hilly has a great way of taking over characters. First she was Jack Sparrow, then Bella, then Hilly Potter, now Lady Hilly. She's terrific as Gaga.

A year or two ago, I'm not sure exactly when, I realized that it was, if not a weak point in The Hillywood Show, a place where they could improve to not constantly be using other people's music in their videos. Of course, they always have great song selections, but it's been even better to see them changing lyrics like in "Gagaween," "Harry Potter Friday Parody," and "The Hunger Games Parody." And though Hilly + Hannah's "Saturday Night" single wasn't my favorite, it was a way for them to express what they were capable of. The song in "President Gaga" is sung by them, and what a difference it makes. It's more of them taking over every aspect of production, which is one of the main things we all love about The Hillywood Show. This adjusted approach to music they're been taking is an important step.

Now let's all go watch again.

The Return of Hilly Potter

You can watch The Hillywood Show's new parody, Harry Potter - So You Think You're a Wizard, by clicking here and behind the scenes by clicking here. 

By popular demand, The Hillywood Show has returned with another Harry Potter-based parody, this time focusing on the last movie but with some added twists. Big twists. So if you haven't watched yet, go do so before reading on.

While all the Twilight parodies follow a similar format, there are now three quite different Harry Potter videos: the first is a sketch with dialogue, the second is a music video with multiple scenes, and the newest is mainly a dance sequence. Having a mix of formats in fact makes for a nice collection of videos. And, of course, the format of this latest addition means that Hilly and Hannah didn't have to go scour the world in search of a castle to shoot in (just think of how many t-shirts we would all have to buy to fund that).

What this parody does offer is a healthy measure of ridiculousness and another draught of intense dance choreography. Though there aren't many costumes/makeup jobs, they are all as spot on as always and Voldemort looks properly creepy. And while there may not be too many specific points that are parodied, putting Harry and Voldemort into a twisted dance competition against each other fits in well both with the movie and its trailer: so much seemed to consist of the two running around each other and shouting curses with their wands. That was a nicely handled twist.

And once again, I am so happy that Hilly and Hannah's new partnership with Peter Facinelli and myISH has so far meant that behind the scenes come out at the same time as parodies. Twenty-three minutes of behind the scenes? I watched it without so much as a wink, as quick and excited as I would accept a free chocolate bar. There is some great footage here about rehearsing the dance sequence, recording sound, and working out makeup, so don't skip it.

The return of Hilly Potter is welcome indeed.

Hilly + Hannah = Hillywood?

Two days ago, sisters Hilly and Hannah Hindi of the Internet parody duo The Hillywood Show, of which I am very much a fan, released a new kind of video. Under the artist name "Hilly + Hannah," they released a music video to an original song, "Saturday Night," that is also available on iTunes; you can view the video by clicking here.

They revealed plans for this song months ago, and even then I wasn't sure what to think about it. Parodies and original songs? But they're certainly not the first YouTubers to release music on iTunes, and it's usually a good thing to try out new things--even if they don't turn out perfect, you can learn about what worked and what you did/didn't like about them. So while the song didn't turn out to be my favorite (I suspected it wouldn't be: Hilly and Hannah like hip hop--I don't really), I can respect and maybe even admire the experimentation and branching out.

But my disinterest in this new venture goes deeper than that, into the lyrics of the song and the form of the music video. You see, my love of The Hillywood Show (back when "Twilight Parody" was their only parody apart from the original episodes) grew, in many ways, from watching the behind the scenes videos and seeing how much fun Hilly and Hannah had putting the material together and how positive they seemed as people. That matters for my YouTube subscriptions: I like positive inspiration, if you will, even in my entertainment.

But this music video, while sleekly put together and all, just looks like a music video to me. It doesn't remind me of The Hillywood Show; I know that it isn't exactly a Hillywood production, but still . . . where is the connection to the minds behind the show and the video/song? And then there are the lyrics: they sound like standard hip hop lyrics to me, about dancing and dating/flirting. Is a "just dance" message it? I don't think I have anything against plain entertainment, but something of the wholesomeness, if you will, of Hillywood felt missing from this music video.

So while it was interesting to see something different, it's still going to be the parodies/behind the scenes that I look forward most to seeing.

Dream On

You know what I would love? I would love it if a Primeval movie finally became green lit and Hannah Spearritt and Andrew-Lee Potts were in it and if The Hillywood Show parodied the movie. I would be overwhelmed by excitement if such things came into being (which they won't, which is why I must "dream on").

Of course, a Primeval movie is a possibility. If Primeval: New World (the Canadian spin-off) does well and they get a good script and director, it's probably very possible. But it probably wouldn't feature the original British cast--unless fans all rally together and show how much we love the original cast, maybe? While The Hillywood Show has worked with one or two TV shows (The Vampire Diaries and 21 Jump Street), it is unlikely that they would do another one that does not have at least a medium amount of popularity in the US. So the original series is pretty much out--New World isn't a possibility, either, until it at least gets picked up by a US network (seriously, shouldn't that have happened by now?). But I think if a movie did happen, it might turn out well enough that it would have a good theatre presence even with people previously unfamiliar with either the original or spin-off show. But even then, I don't know if Hillywood would choose it: the CG creature element poses an obvious problem.

But if such a parody happened, here is what it would be fun to see. Hillary I would love to see playing Helen, Jess, and/or Connor. Hannah would be great both as Abby and Emily. Drew Lorentz could come in to play Lester or Matt or Becker. (And they could paint Bartok [their mouse-like chihuahua who was in both the Harry Potter and Hunger Games parodies] green to play Rex...just kidding.) Actually, it's the first two castings I like most: Hilly as Helen and Hannah as Abby. For Helen, Hilly could continue with some of Katherine's "half evil" character from "The Vampire Diaries Parody." And Hannah could take Abby's kickboxing and turn it into a dance number, especially if they focused on Episode 2.4 (the infamous mer-creature episode). If they did that episode, Aria Love Jackson (who was Bonnie in "The Vampire Diaries Parody") could come back to play Caroline. And now that I'm on the subject of that parody, Nick Strong (who played Damon) could probably pass for Connor.

Sigh. I'm ridiculous.