School Year 1991-1992
Free the Hole Video
The summer after I graduated, I finally decided to do something with
the Free the Hole footage. I asked Matt Pyson to be in some host
segments for me, and Jen Hoffman agreed to shoot them. The idea was
to shoot them at various landmarks on the Penn State campus, including
the Fighting Red Onionhead and the Obelisk.
We even
managed to convince Gary Cattell, the "Willard Preacher" to
let us shoot him, by telling him it was for a student project featuring
landmarks at Penn State — not entirely a lie.
Tuesday, June 30, 1992I got the camera out of Sparks and lugged it down to Willard. Gary Cattell and Jen [Hoffman] showed up almost at the same time, so we set up a wide-shot to take in him and the passersby. We started shooting when he launched his diatribe against sin, between classes. We'd got a good five minutes on tape when Matt showed up. I had him sit on the steps in the same position as yesterday so that we could get a reverse angle shot, of Gary talking and Matt listening. I don't know how this will all cut together, but I hope it turns out as well as I think it will.
It was pretty amusing — Gary started getting right in Matt's face, decrying homosexual sex, especially anal intercourse. I don't think we'll use any of that, but it was hilarious because Matt just sat there taking it until we told him we had all the footage we needed. Then he practically spat in Gary's face as he stood up.
To appreciate
this response, you have to know that Matt Pyson is a very mild-mannered,
sweet-natured person who hardly ever has a bad word for anyone. Gary's
in-your-face intolerance, though, crosses the line with even Matt.
While we were reviewing the footage later, we discovered a public edit bay in Sparks where I could sign up for editing time without being registered in a video class. Perfect. I finished the video that summer and even entered it in the Slice of Life film festival, held as part of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
While
it wasn't accepted, I made copies for any MPS member who wanted it,
so the tape got some limited distribution. And just this year (2003)
I gave a copy of it to Eric Idle when
he performed in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, during his "Greedy
Bastard" tour. Hopefully,
he found it at least as amusing as the quirky habits of American hoteliers.
("Sauerkraut on the pillow? Must be in Central Pennsylvania.")
We
don't need no excavation... Hey, OPP, leave that hole
alone!
