You know, it’s time. Long overdue, even.
As Ghostbusters becomes more and more popular at summer screenings, and particularly midnight screenings, as more and more people put together a variety of Ghostbusters costumes, each and every screening of Ghostbusters becomes and event. People in jumpsuits and packs get stopped for photos, everybody cheering…
…so why not turn Ghostbusters into a full-blown Midnight Movie? Meaning, why not come up with some audience participation call backs?
I believe it can work – the movie always has a high energy crowd. The movie is a mix of dry humour and supernatural, with a lot of strange things happening. It’s begging to be turned into an audience participation movie.
I’m going to sort out some guidelines and add them here – in the meantime, if you’re familiar with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the kinds of ways the audience participates, start brainstorming.
For those of you not familiar with that kind of midnight movie, imagine the movie starting. We get to the point where Peter goes “You’re right Ray, no human being could stack books like this.” and the audience yells out “Sarcasm!” or “Zing!” Later, when the Ghostbusters logo fades in, everyone yells “Who Ya Gonna Call?”
The one rule, right off the bat, is that the audience participation should be kept within PG-13 limits. Rocky Horror was bawdy enough that the audience could be counted on to be cool with bad bad words, etc. Ghostbusters can have kids watching. BUT… that doesn’t mean it can’t be clever with the double entendres.
Also, rule two (maybe this should be rule one), whatever system we come up with, if it looks worthwhile, only gets applied to Midnight showings, not evening or outdoor showings. Midnight movies are the big parties.
Deal? OK, start thinking.
Someone must have mentioned the throwing of marshmallows…right?
Well, I did, at least – the trouble with throwing marshmallows is that they fit perfectly, and theaters hate it when you throw food. The Rocky Horror show was often never brought back to theaters because of the toast throwing.
I seem to recall they had small bags of mini-marshmallows back in the day, but I haven’t seen them in years. They would have been perfect.
I guess marshmallows would be easier to sweep up, than crumbly toast.
What about silly string for the first time the proton packs are fired? And how about everyone spraying shaving cream all over eachother once the marshmallow man explodes? There has to be a million things to shout back at the screen. Sooo many possibilities.
Wrapped twinkies? Better yet – raise a Twinkie, say “cheeers!” after Egon does his whole Twinkie theory. Then eat
.
What about a crunch bar or saying ‘YEAH RIGHT!’ when Peter hands it to Egon and says ‘you’ve earned it’?
I love ya Chris but this is one that I can’t get behind… the Rocky Horror screenings annoy me to no ends.
I know they’re beloved, the fans really dig them, but I don’t want to see people up in front of the screen poorly acting out the scenes, I don’t want to hear people yelling at the screen because the movie holds up just fine on its own.
When I’m lucky enough to watch the flick on the big screen, the last thing I want is for people to be thinking they’re funnier than the movie and throwing shit all over the place.
Ghostbusters just isn’t that cheesy of a movie to warrant it.
Well, I did account for some of that when I tried to distinguish between evening showings and midnight showings.
Whether we like it or not, the movie is becoming a midnight movie favorite – and when people in the crowd are already dressing up and shouting along with the opening theme, I’m not exactly breaking a paradigm here. I’m suggesting that the trend should just go for it.
A movie doesn’t have to be cheezy to involve the audience – they’re already interacting with it – but it does have to be a comedy.
It’s a c’est la vie situation – it’ll either fly or not. I’m just throwing it out there.
This is a very interesting idea. I’m going to start drafting some thoughts, I’ll post when ready.
When Slimer first appears on screen, have people yell, “BLUTOOOOooo” and as he is being chased off screen, throw Burger rolls at him!
I hate the Rocky Horror Picture Show… Sounds awful.
…actually, sorry to sound so negative – I just like the film the way it is! sorry again!
A simple idea: When Peter comments to Ray that they “love him” (when exiting Ecto-1 before going into the Shandor Building), we shout at the screen “We love you Ray”.
I always thought that just seemed like a natural thing to do in that situation, as far as audience participation goes.
Were Ready To Believe You! We’d love to have this happen. My boyfriend and I’re big GHOSTBUSTERS fans and we’d LOVE to see the GhostBusters at MightNight Party Happen! If you wanna get it started we’re on board! We’ll help!
Drop us a line!