"Where Movie Critics Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine"
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PART ONE: |
"Star Trek" TV series creator, Gene Rodenberry, said in a book that Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner) was born in a small town in Iowa. Steve Miller read this and in 1984 declared Riverside, Iowa the future birthplace of Captain Kirk. This started "Trek Fest" - an annual town event celebrating the famed TV show. Now, after 20 years of ignoring invitations to come to Riverside, William Shatner beams in town to film a sci-fi movie called "Invasion Iowa." But wait! Is this really a movie? No, it's a reality TV show!
"I got hosed by Shatner!" said Dan Kraus of Riverside, after finding out he was tricked by the producers into thinking he was an extra in a movie. He played a fireman in a fake movie scene with Shatner, putting out flames on a burning car. Kraus said Shatner accidentally sprayed him with the fire hose while shooting the scene, but realizes now "it was no accident."
That's right, folks. All the fine citizens of Riverside have been hosed by William Shatner, fooled into thinking they were taking part in a real Hollywood movie. It was all one big elaborate hoax. The "Invasion Iowa" screenplay was supposedly written by Shatner and Leonard Nemoy (a.k.a Mr. Spock). Local residents auditioned for roles in the fake film and others were hired to be part the movie's fake film crew.
The cast members include Brooke Lemke (Iowa City), Wayne Simon (Riverside), Leann Sexton (Riverside), John Conway (Wellman), Mike Poch (Riverside), Ryan Baumbach (Iowa City), Brandon Kaufman (Riverside) and comedian Bill Blank (Des Moines). The locals selected as crew members were Scotty Riggan (Riverside), Jim Pickering (Riverside) and Diana Schultz (Riverside). They were given front-row seats to all the on-set and off-set shenanigans, including attending dailies in Murphy's Bar & Grill (a local bar and family restaurant) and becoming confidants of Shatner and company.
Oh, and a fake documentary about "Invasion Iowa" was filming right alongside the movie. Everywhere you looked, video cameras recorded everyone and everything. Of course, the crew was actually filming a reality television series called "Invasion Iowa" to be aired on Spike TV in 2005. The producers, Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese (creators of "The Joe Schmo Show"), William Shatner and Gary Benz, said the idea was to bring the craziness of Hollywood to a small town and get the people's reaction.
I had the good fortune to be in Riverside for several days and was shocked right along with the townspeople when Shatner announced the movie was a hoax. I was even more shocked by the negative, knee-jerk reaction from the news media.
The editorial staff for the Iowa City Press-Citizen said in their September 30 piece called Riverside, IA: Birthplace of Captain Jerk that Spike TV and Shatner owe Riverside and other Iowans an apology. "Think of the disappointment of Riverside residents, who have for 20 years, tried to get Shatner to attend a 'Trek Fest'...They now get to tell everyone, 'We got fooled.'" The editors predict the Spike TV show "will be about how easy it was to fool those hicks in small town Iowa…look at those Iowans…Ha, ha isn't that funny?...If the actor and cable network care more about decency than their wallets, they'll just spike the Riverside episode altogether."
Did the editors even read the show's press release before they formed their opinion? The producers have made every effort to let the media know this will be a positive thing, not a cruel gag. The September 29 release clearly states the show "lampooned the craziness of Hollywood before an audience of 'small-town America.' Shatner played the role of an increasingly over-the-top version of himself. His eccentric faux 'entourage' ranged from his harried, neurotic assistant, to his spiritual advisor, to his flighty leading actress, all of whom were played by improvisational comedic actors."
The Cedar Rapids Gazette editors said (October 4, 2004) that "Invasion Iowa" "was cheesy, a bit distasteful and just plain weird…it seems like this will be must flee TV." Perhaps you should take the advice from your Gazette columnist, Mike Deupree, who said in his October 7 column "Maybe it would be a good idea to put the recriminations about the prank on 'hold' until we see the result."
I was in Riverside on the evening of September 28 and heard Shatner give his speech to about 800 people at a town gathering - a very sincere (and emotional) presentation that came from his heart. Shatner said (in part): "This whole project began when we started searching for the perfect town to serve as a setting for our movie. We needed a town that encompassed the very best that America has to offer. We found that and so much more in Riverside. However - we've been keeping a little secret from you. The movie you think we've been filming isn't a movie at all. This has actually been an elaborate experiment - a living, breathing stage play with an audience of you. That's right. This movie, this production and all the craziness you've witnessed, both on the set and off, is actually the most complex soap opera in history. Everything in front of and behind the camera was faked…you, the people of Riverside, are about to become the stars of your very own TV show!"
The audience erupted in a loud applause. I even heard high school kids cheering on Shatner as he presented the town with a check for $100,000 to use as they wish. Shatner added, "We came because of your love for science fiction and we stayed because of your warmth, hospitality and spirit. The people of this town are the polar opposite of the types you too often find in Hollywood."
Oh those poor, disappointed people in Riverside. Give me a break. Ok. I heard reports of a "few" disgruntled folks. And it was expected to some degree since the show had to lie to people to get their final product. I spoke with one person who was mad for about an hour after the reveal, but later realized the show was actually a cool idea and would honor Riverside and its people.
Rhett Reese, executive producer, was so adamant about making sure people understood the show's intentions that he recently sent a letter to Tom Wheeler, manager of the Iowa Film Office, and apologized for the production's "deceptive nature." In part, Reese said, "We are creating a light hearted, silly spoof of Hollywood, and not in any way an exercise in denigration of your state…we plan to celebrate Iowa and its people. The tone of the show will be light and goofy, and the participants from Riverside will come across as the warm, gracious, dignified people they are."
I spoke with Kirk Ward (who played Shatner's illegitimate son) and he decided to get involved with "Invasion Iowa" because of Rhett Reese: "I only knew Rhett. I trusted him because I watched the 'Joe Schmo' shows and he never made a fool out of people. I'm from a small town and I don't want to be a part of something that makes fun of people."
Reese said the people he fooled in his "Joe Schmo" shows said it was "the greatest experience in their lives and say they would do it again in a heartbeat." He said the goal with "Invasion Iowa" is that "people would say the same thing in the end."
Tom Wheeler, manager of the Iowa Film Office, was skeptical in the beginning and later told me via email: "Based solely on the tone of voice of Rhett Reese, co-producer of 'Invasion Iowa,' I feel that we will indeed be shown in a positive light. The degree to which they emphasize our good nature is open to debate, but we'll look good in the end. I think that the premise to contrast Hollywood with Iowa will work…"
The media madness continues…
The Cedar Rapids Gazette's Jim O'Neil (September 30, 2004) reported that Lisa de Moraes (Washington Post TV critic) scoffed at the $100,000 dollars given to Riverside, that it was "coffee money" in the TV industry. Moraes was quoted, "The town ought to suggest that they would feel less deceived if that check had another zero on it."
The $100,000 check given to Riverside was a gift, not a settlement, Ms Moraes. You apparently have misjudged the good citizens of Riverside, Iowa. They respect what Shatner and the other producers have done for their community of 978 people and are thankful. Perhaps you should travel to Riverside, Iowa and meet these folks for yourself. Heck, I'll even treat you to a meal at Murphy's Bar and Grill.
The monetary gifts didn't end at $100,000, though. Members of the film crew, out of genuine love for the people of Riverside, donated $12,000 to an elementary school book fund - OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS. Individual gifts were also given to those who were main players in the show. Oh, and let's not forget the $1,000,000 it brought to this region just from having the movie people in town.
"Invasion Iowa's" exposure to a potential TV audience of 86 million viewers will likely far outweigh the monetary gifts provided by the show. Shatner said at a press conference, "This is a unique program and I believe will receive a great deal of attention. Riverside, Iowa will be a point of destination for a lot people."
University of Iowa alumnus Nicholas Meyer, a director and screenwriter who worked on a few "Star Trek" movies, recently spoke at the University of Iowa. The Iowa City Press-Citizen (October 1, 2004) reported Meyer was "appalled" by Shatner's "Invasion Iowa" and sarcastically said is was a "sweet payback" to a town that honors the actor. Meyer, who doesn't like reality shows period, was quoted, "I read they [the people of Riverside] got some money so it's all right. Isn't that what you do to a hooker? I'm shocked," he said.
What a pompous ass. Meyer was absolutely rude and inconsiderate to the people of Riverside, Iowa. It’s amazing how he is quick to judge when he wasn't even there for Shatner's speech.
When William Shatner first publicly announced the filming of his movie "Invasion Iowa," he said the film's theme would deal with "regret" and "going back in time to fix something that went wrong." How ironic. That's exactly how this show's critics are going to feel after America watches this heartwarming, funny story unfold on Spike TV in 2005. They will "regret" every word they said, but there will be no time travel machine to allow them to go back and "fix" their judgmental, knee-jerk comments.
There is more negativity coming from the press (local and national), but not worthy enough to waste space here (and I have unlimited space). I would love to change their minds, but for the love of God - I'm a Critic Doctor, not a brain surgeon!
The national news media is in for a big surprise come 2005 when "Invasion Iowa" airs on Spike-TV. It's too bad the Iowa press are unwilling to stand behind the show, to have faith in the vision clearly outlined by producers Rhett Reese and William Shatner - "to celebrate the people of Riverside, Iowa and fun at the same time."
But then again, controversy is good for TV.
-- CRITIC DOCTOR
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