You know you're getting somewhere when IMDb promotes your latest project on its front page. That's the enviable position Jennifer Shiman, creator of 30-Second Bunnies Theatre, now finds herself. With over 25,000 hits per day, and her parodies of popular movies appearing on Starz, 30-Second Bunnies Theatre has become a genuine phenomenon. Here, Suite 101 speaks with the original Angry Alien.
For those readers who don't know about 30-Second Bunnies Theatre, could you run down its history for us?
"In early 2004, I posted an experiment for my online portfolio entitled The Exorcist in 30 Seconds and Re-enacted by Bunnies. In a few days, the traffic to my website went from 25 visits per day to 3,000 per hour. That's when I thought, 'I better make more re-enactments.'"
What's your background in computer and animation?
"I've been earning a living via digital design and electronic production since 1998. Shortly thereafter I taught myself Flash 4 and I have worked with Flash ever since for my animation production needs. Starting the summer of my sophomore year in college, I worked as a production assistant at Calabash Animation in Chicago, on and off, over the course of ten years. That's where I learned about the animation process."
Where did the idea for 30-Second Bunnies Theatre come from?
"30-Second Bunnies Theatre started simply as an idea for my portfolio. The goal was to make a couple sample re-enactments, hoping that a sponsor such as a movie/entertainment entity would commission a year's worth of them. Certainly the concept of 30-second parodies have been around, but I thought, 'What would make it funnier still? If some sort of unrelated/ironic creature re-enacted the classic film.'
"Because the viewer reaction was so massive to the Exorcist bunnies, I ended up taking some time off to create more. And then Starz Entertainment Group commissioned a bunch more re-enactments, and here we are."
Why did you decide on bunnies?
"When I thought about what creature would be most suitable for re-enacting a movie in 30 seconds, I sketched a bunch of possible characters and fell in love with the bunny drawing. And that decided it."
Why did you choose The Exorcist as the first movie to parody?
"The Exorcist was the first parody, because I had recently viewed The Exorcist again and I noticed how awesome it would be, both condensed and with bunnies involved."
How do you put a clip together? Do you work alone, or who helps you and with what?
"I work alone, except for the voices. Also, once I finish the online version of a re-enactment, Starz (who has commissioned the majority of the completed bunny movies) helps bring the online version to broadcast."
How did the deal with Starz happen?
"They emailed me off my website and proposed commissioning more bunny pieces. It was that simple and direct."
Your Titanic Bunnies clip made it as an Easter Egg on the DVD for James Cameron's Titanic. How did that come about?
"Same way: I got an email inquiry from an editor working on the Titanic DVD."
How do you pick the movies?
"There are various factors: how many requests I receive; whether the movie resonates with me personally; and whether I feel it can be condensed easily."
Which clips are your favourites and why?
"I love them all! For different reasons. Because I love to make them, they all become my favourites by default."
This ends part one of the interview. Stay tuned for Part #2, where Jennifer talks about her Ottawa Film Festival win, her stylistic influences, and why she's the Angry Alien.
