Righteous Insanity

New look for Adam's Letter website

The Adam's Letter website has a new look, making it the last of the RI sites to get a real makeover from the crummy MS Word format I've used almost since the beginning. The one thing that hasn't changed at all is the address, www.adamsletter.com

Adam's Letter is a free play about a boy whose suicide note - posted to the Internet - sends shockwaves through his school. Adam calls out a number of classmates for their hypocrisy and their own life issues. It's a sad cry for help that came too late from a boy who was mostly ignored by his classmates, and it's a plea to everyone to look outside themselves and learn to love from one another.

The website is intended to act as a companion with the play and includes web links and phone numbers where students can get help with issues dealt with in the play including alcohol and drug addiction, eating disorders, premarital sex, and suicide. It is also the home for a companion play, Adam's Legacy, that explores the lives of a few students and parents impacted by the letter; and The Waiting Room, a powerful play a few years older than Adam's Letter, that deals with the issue o school shootings.

I've heard some powerful stories recently regarding the play from people who were impacted by what they saw or read. I invite you to check out the website yourself. www.adamsletter.com

Free study guide for Clive the Zombie's movies

The study guide for Clive the Zombie has been updated to include "The House on Zombie Hill." More films with be coming over the next year, but right now you can use the films online for free along with our free study guide. 

Meet Clive, see his films, and discover the meaning behind the madness on Clive's web page. 

10 random facts about Zombies R Friends

1. Zombies R Friends was written a few years before it was produced and intended to be a live action short. The purpose of the piece was to show that while sin might be socially acceptable as the norm, it's still sin, and it still leads to death. The film sat on the shelf until I discovered Clive the Zombie on eBay. Seeing the puppet inspired me to go back to the ZRF script and re-vamp it as a puppet film. 

 

2. Clive the Zombie was discovered while I was on eBay shopping for Puppet Productions puppets. I fell in love, but I could not afford him at the time. I started talking a few theater and effects friends about taking one of my normal puppets and giving it a zombie makeover. I went back to the old eBay listing to get Clive's photo. That's when I discovered that the auction had closed without a sale. I contacted the seller, Sonny Vegas and I ended up purchasing Clive after all.

 

3. Other than Clive the Zombie, the rest of the puppet cast was produced by the now defunct Puppet Productions. Some of the puppets in the film were originally made in 1971. They're still in excellent condition. The PP technology is now being used by Puppets Inc. to make new puppets. I highly recommend them for people looking for durable puppets that look great. 

 

4. All of the actors in ZRF recorded their own dialogue and submitted it via email. Dialogue was then mixed, and the puppets were filmed with the dialogue playing on set. The original dialogue tracks were synched together with the footage in editing.

 

5. Cast member Kayla Perkins introduced me to fellow cast member Daniel Emery Taylor at Fright Night Film Fest in 2009. Daniel is best known for playing Darryl in the cult classic "The Return of the Swamp Thing." 

 

6. Former Righteous Insanity touring company member Nikki Gilbert has a small role in the film. She also appeared in the RI films Flirt Medicine and God Told Me to Break Up with You.

 

7. Several cast members also appeared in the The Last Temptation of Fluffy: Kayla Perkins, Claude D. Miles, Sonny Burnette, Leslie Rogers, Denny Grinar, and Sarah Driver.

 

8. Leslie's brother Brad helped her record her part by reading the other character's lines. His reading was so funny, an extra character was added to incorporate his voice.

 

9. The original song "Creeper" was written and recorded by Alyssa Bentley, a Kentucky native now working in LA as a singer and song writer. Alyssa originated the role of Alyssa in the original cast of back in 1997. Her sisters are two of the three members of the Christian group Kimber Rising out of Nashville. 

 

10. Clive's other credits include the Twilight spoof Georgia on My Mind and The House on Zombie Hill. He also has a music video, featuring a theme song written by one of my students, Jon Driver (Sarah's brother). Clive will have a camero appearance in the fall in the short "A Christmas Gift for Beulah," and three other Clive films are in production - including a possible sequel to ZRF. You can watch Clive's movies and even become his fan on Facebook through Clive's official website. 

We have a winner!

We have a winner! Congrats to Mark Johns for identifying the quote from the Newsboys movie, "Down Under the Big Top." The line was spoken by Phil Madeira, playing a clown and giving instructions on how to take a pie to the face. You don't lick your face as soon as the pie hits you. You count one Mississippi, and then lick.

Contest for 90's Christian music fans!

Contest time! Be the first person to correctly identify the source of the quote below and win your choice of two prizes: 

1. The Righteous Insanity Easter skit collection

2. A copy of my newest sci-fi novel, "Cave World"

Here's the quote: 

"One Mississippi and lick... One Mississippi and lick..." 

Tell me what video (there's a hint) this is from and you win your choice of prizes. 

If you can also identify the person who said the line, I'll give you both prizes or you choice of a second novel or the 2010 skit collection!

New skit - "LUST"

Inspired by the April 14 reading from "My Utmost for His Highest." 

LUST

By John Cosper

www.righteousinsanity.com

 

CHARACTERS

Lust - A man in a cheap suit, like a flea market or infomercial pitch man

Tim - An average, ordinary guy

 

There's a stool at center stage. Lust walks on stage right. He's dressed like a motivational speaker.

 

LUST: I'm the guy who makes it happen. I'm the guy who can get you out of your seat, rouse you from a state of total peace and serenity, and transform you into a go-getter. I'm the guy who will stop at nothing to make you the guy or gal who stops at nothing. Who am I?

 

He reaches into his cheap coat and pulls out a small, wrapped box.

 

LUST: A lot of people think I'm the guy with the carrot. I can assure you that's not at all true. No, I'm not the guy with the carrot. I'm not the guy who first showed you the carrot either.

 

Tim walks on stage left. (Note: Tim never looks at Lust, but he reacts to him like an inner voice in his head. Lust sees him. He walks to the stool.

 

LUST: I am the guy who reminded you the carrot is there.

 

He sets the carrot on the stool. Tim looks at it, locks eyes on it.

 

LUST: That's right, buddy. It's right here, waiting. Nothing to stop you. Nothing at all between you and your desire except you own free will. (begins to put on an over the top sales persona) And let's face it, your free will wants to make you happy.

 

Dramatic music begins to play. Tim fixates on the box.

 

LUST: And why shouldn't be happy? Huh? Why should you deny yourself of the one thing you want more than anything else, right here and right now? What if there's no tomorrow? What if this is your last night on Earth? Do you want to spend it watching summer re-runs, or some meaningless ball game? Why settle for that when you could have possibly the greatest moment of your life?

 

Tim shakes his head, tries to walk away. Lust follows him, but does not touch him.

 

LUST: I know that little voice inside you is saying. There are better things to do. There are other, more nobler pursuits in this life. Of course there are nobler and better things to do. But what can you do, right here, right now, to help your fellow man? Nothing. Not one single thing. But I'll tell you who you can help. You can help yourself.  

 

Tim turns back toward the box.

 

LUST: That's right, friend. I'm the guy who reminds you who number one is. I'm the guy who makes the moment. The music swells. The crowd begins to roar.

 

The sound of a cheering crowd rises along side the music.

 

LUST: You hear that? That's the sound of a million voices, cheering for you. They want you to go for it. They want you to say yes to you! Don't listen to that inner voice! Listen to the crowd! Listen to those who have gone before you! Listen to the ones who know! Life is not about denial! Life is about going for it!

 

Tim walks over to the box, staring at it.

 

LUST: That's right, friend. I didn't invent the carrot. But every chance I get, I'll be the one to remind you that this is what you want! This is worth any price! Because this is what life is all about!

 

Tim grabs the box, picks it up. The music and the crowd get louder. Lust backs away.

 

LUST: I'm the guy who makes the moment! I'm the guy who makes the music swell and the millions cheer! I'll give you the focus to make it happen, blinding and deafening you to anything that might keep you from seizing the day! But I can't make it happen! No, friend, it's up to you! It's up to you to grab the brass ring! Only you can open the box! Only you can serve you! And the moment you do--

 

Tim opens the box quickly and eagerly. As soon as he does, he tips it so the audience can see it's empty. Abruptly, at that same instant, the music and cheering STOP and the stage lights go out except for a single spot on Tim.

 

TIM: The music stops. The crowd goes silent. All the sound and fury is gone, leaving nothing behind but emptiness. There's nothing gained but a few wasted hours. And guilt. It seemed so important at the time. So urgent. But now, that feeling's gone.

 

Tim walks away. From the darkness, just outside the spotlight, Lust speaks.

 

LUST: I'm not gone. I'm just waiting. When the time is right, you'll hear from me again. (pause) See you tomorrow.

 

The spotlight goes out.

 

"I, Rooster" now on Sermon Spice!

Sermon Spice fans - you can now download the video version of "I, Rooster" from Sermon Spice for use in your worship service. And the price is right at only $9.99. 

Sermon Spice is a great resource for those who like to use video as a part of their worship services, with thousands of videos on a wide range of topics to choose from. If you haven't been there, give it a look.

The End of the World?

The new season of the Sensitive Christian Man is just around the corner, but before it gets released, Righteous Insanity brings you a special edition of the series. In the new video, Scott and his buddy Don discuss current events to try and decide if we're living in the end times.

New Easter Video - "I, Rooster"

At last, the story can be told.

 

Hear the story of Easter as told by... the rooster.

 

Yes, the very rooster that crowed after Peter denied Jesus speaks out in one of Righteous Insanity's most popular skits. Press play and watch the video now.

 

You can get the script for this video and more in our Easter skits package, available through our online store. Use the coupon code "easter" at checkout and save 25% on your entire order through March 31, 2011.

The untold Easter story

The Easter story has been told and re-told from every angle imaginable. We've seen it through the eyes of Christ, Peter, Mary, John, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Judas, Caiaphas, Pilate, the Centurion, and the people of Jerusalem. Yet there is one figure in the story whose tale has not been told - until now.

On Wednesday, Righteous Insanity will bring you his story...