Clerks & Hollywood Shuffle - Do You Even Binge? Ep 41

Week 7 of our Indie Movie Explosion series goes "guerrilla" as we break down the films that proved you don't need a budget, just a stack of credit cards and a lot of nerve. We’re diving into the convenience store philosophy of Clerks (1994) and the razor sharp satire of Hollywood Shuffle (1987).

Clerks (1994) The $27,000 miracle that launched the View Askewniverse. We discuss how Kevin Smith financed the film by selling his comic book collection and maxing out ten credit cards, the "shoe polish" sign that explained why the shutters were always down (because they were actually filming at night), and the original "dark ending" that almost killed Dante Hicks. Plus, the legal battle with the MPAA that gave the film an NC-17 rating just for the way the characters talked.

Hollywood Shuffle (1987) Robert Townsend’s middle finger to Tinseltown. We break down how Townsend used a "UCLA student" cover story to shoot without permits, the 17 day shoot that was spread over two and a half years, and the brilliance of the "Black Acting School" vignettes. We look at the similarities of In Living Color and why Townsend had to barter moving refrigerators just to get warehouse space for his big finale.

Join us as we discuss:

The Clerks logo trivia: Letters stolen from Cosmo, Rolling Stone, and a box of Goobers. 

Why Robert Townsend had to climb through crevices in Mandeville Canyon at 5:30 AM to dodge the cops.

The Star Wars debate: Were the independent contractors on the second Death Star "innocent victims"?

And the real-life Winky Dinky Dog inspiration that every LA local recognizes.

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Executive Producers: Felipe Esparza & Lesa Esparza
Producer: Rommel Suniga
Music: Isaak Wintringham

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Hear about Felipe's tour dates, new merch drops & more by signing up @ http://felipesworld.com Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix’s “Gentefied”, NBC’s “Superstore” and Adultswim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What’s Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.