“Building A Human” is “an instructional film made by The Visitors for Human Collaborators on Edité-Frignim (Earth).”
It’s the latest cheerfully demented creation of Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, the comedic geniuses behind the classic BBC comedy, Look Around You.
Hair and make-up by “Perri” of Mayfair.
British funnyman Robert Popper tweeted this clip a moment ago and watching it, I collapsed into a puddle of helpless laughter.
I’m not sure that’s exactly the response that the over-earnest performer, Mário Attab, wanted to stir in his audience, but at least I did feel something deeply, right? Right!
Here’s Mário’s take on Wordsworth’s “Character of the Happy Warrior,” which is even better, as if that’s even possible:
Follow Robert Popper on Twitter
Jesus helps “Robin Cooper” with his buttock pain (there was an eagle involved, apparently).
Brit wit Robert Popper makes some of the best crank calls I’ve ever heard. His innovation to the art-form is calling into live televised digital cable religious programs and going large with his calls. Praise the Lord!
When 2010 came to an end, so did the brilliant series of twelve, once-a-month comedy shorts we were promised by Jackal Films last January. Jackal is the company set up by creative partners, director Jacqueline Wright and actor/writer Alice Lowe (Jaq/Al, geddit?). Alice is becoming a well-known face on British television from roles on Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, Little Britain, Angelo’s and in the cult film, Hot Fuzz. She also memorably portrayed David Bowie in Snuff Box. These short films are a marvelous showcase for what she (and Wright) can do.
The twelve Jackal shorts also feature some notable emerging UK comedic talent, including Simon Farnaby, James Bachman, Sharon Horgan, Robert Popper and Rich Fulcher and have TV level production values. I don’t think this was an easy—or quick—thing to pull off, twelve short films in one year, and that the quality was consistently very, very high is a testament to the talents of these two hard-working women. Obviously the reason to take on a workload like this is to be noticed professionally, and if there is any justice in the world, let’s hope the industrious Jackal partners are suitably rewarded with a BBC3 series commission in 2011 as well as an HBO or Showtime pilot over here.
You can see all twelve short films at the Jackal Films website (and at special theatrical screenings if you live in the right place). The final, December film, “This Christmastime” (Rock stars do their bit for a good cause with this festive single from 1983) has a rap in the middle of it by Rich Fulcher that saw me with tears rolling down my cheeks I was laughing so hard. Alice (as a Cyndi Lauper-type) delivers a befuddled plea about being a sister herself, that’s equally loopy.
Previousy on Dangerous Minds:
Alice Lowe: Kitty Porn
Baal and trained Relationships Counsellor Wendy Beardman give the benefit of their advice to celebrities: In this show, Cheryl Cole, Brad PItt and Tiger Woods.
Via Jackal Films/Robert Popper
Slightly late notice, but there’s still time to make it, British author-comedian, co-creator and co-star of the brilliant Look Around You (and now a visiting South Park writer) Robert Popper will be playing and discussing some of his favorite prank phone calls. I’m assuming he’ll be giving special attention to the classic “enraged Gordon Brown throws a tangerine” call, but I hope he’ll also play the tape of the time he pretended to be Baroness Margaret Thatcher calling the House of Lords to find her missing apples. It’s my favorite. I laughed until I cried when I first heard this. From the man himself:
If you’re in Los Angeles tonight, I’m going to be playing a few of my phone calls at the Cinefamily Cinema, 611 N Fairfax Ave, West Hollywood, at 10:30pm. It’s an event open to members, but if you’re not a member, just turn up and use the password – which is/are ‘Lithium based batteries’. And it’s free.
Remember the secret words kids!
I was going to post this—Worst/Best Beatles Cover of All Time?—but this is even better. I was crying I was laughing so hard. Part II is even funnier.
Much hilarity from the hilarious Robert Popper:
And on the matter of the decision to give Baroness Thatcher a State funeral, I simply don’t understand the controversy. She most certainly deserves a State burial… and sooner rather than later, I would hope!
Baroness Thatcher’s Bag part II