Look at this glorious collection of props. One might wonder what kind of shoot an inflatable beach ball, a set of boxing gloves, a game of Twister, a pair of safety goggles and a huggable teddy bear could be used on at the same time. I’ll tell you what kind: a shoot that is, like, totally, epically radical! A shoot that is, like, the most gnarly, fresh, wicked, tubular, bodacious, righteous sort of shoot you can possibly imagine.
“OMG. WTH? LOL!” you may be thinking in your boring and concise 2013 text-based vernacular. But that sort of lame-o modern day attitude will not Marty McFly this month. For this is Germ month at Windsong! And we’re taking it back to the old school, cause we are old fools who are so cool.
As many of you know, the Germ was created to motivate filmmakers to regularly write and produce short films. We give out a “germ” of an idea to use as a starting point and then you take things from there. For our upcoming eighth Germ installment, we are encouraging folks to create something up to five minutes long that includes a dance sequence and is inspired by the greatest decade ever — the Clair-Huxtable-lovin’ 80s.
There is still time to make a Germ of your own. Need some inspirado? Here are some facts you may or may not remember about the decade that introduced us to everything from the A-Team to Zach Morris. Hopefully, they will jog your nostalgia and get your wheels spinning right round like a record, baby, right round.
1. In the 80s, everyone was required to hold themselves up like this for a minimum of 30 seconds in order to pass high school phys ed.
Source: entertainmentguide.local.com
2. For a short time, while Patrick Swayze was alive, women could fly.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
3. Detention was a place where the Brain, an Athlete, a Basket Case, a Princess, and a Criminal could all get along together for 97 minutes.
Source: liketotally80s.com
4. Exercise used to make people’s bodies get colder, rather than warmer. So everyone dressed accordingly.
Source: sneakerreport.com
5. Zombies had mad dance skills in the 80s. But then the government cut funding for zombie art programs in the 90s, leading to the completely uncoordinated zombies we have today.
Source: mjworld.net
6. Kevin Bacon saved dance and rock music from oppression in 1984. A pretty amazing feat for someone who is busy knowing every person in the world through mutual acquaintances.
Source: popeighties.com
7. Bill Cosby taught America how to dance. And parent. And wear colorful sweaters.
Source: giphy.com
8. One of the hottest celebrity trends of 1987 was “rain dancing.” Ego-inflated actors across America joined together in an attempt to stop the California drought through various forms of dance and prayers to “the rain gods.” It didn’t work. The drought continued until 1991. It ended abruptly when Chuck Norris finally looked up at the sky one day and said, “Just. Stop. It.”
Source: ajourneythroughsequinsandshoulderpads.blogspot.com
9. For a short time between 1987 and 1995, group dance was the most popular sport in America. People like Stephanie Tanner (pictured here) brought in higher salaries than many of the leading NBA and NFL starts of today.
Source: fanpop.com
10. Jessica Rabbit and Skat Cat were among the decade’s top voices in support of cartoon-human relationships.
Source: imdb.com
Submit Your Own Film
Well. There ya have it. If that list doesn’t get you so-excited-you-just-can’t hide-it, I don’t know what will. So, come on, Eileen. Bust out those VHS recorders (or something more modern) and get to taping. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17. For more information and to view previous Germs, you can use that new-fangled Internet thing and visit www.thegerm.org.
As 80s royalty Madonna famously said, “Don’t just stand there. Let’s get to it. Make a Germ, there’s nothing to it. Germ.”
So, straight up now tell me, are you gonna make a Germ for Windsong? Oh, Oh, Oh, I’m sure it will be truly, truly, truly outrageous.
OK. I’ll stop now.
Trapper Keepers and Garbage Pail Kids,
Haley
