The co-writers/directors of Running the Bases discuss how some movies sink to a new low to get big laughs.
While movies are starting to pick up again in popularity at the box office, one noticeable trend is how some movies will “sink low” to get big laughs from audience members, leaning more towards “gross” or “shock” humor.
One recent example is Thor: Love and Thunder, with a revealing moment (literally) where the power-hungry Zeus strips the hero away of any of his clothes – leaving his allies laughing and eating grapes while he’s being humiliated. (By the way, this is the first Marvel movie that shows off bare buttocks.)
Other movies lean on tactics like violence (someone getting shot in the head in The Lost City) or even gross-out moments (fart jokes in most given films) to get chuckles out of viewers. But the question is, are Hollywood producers going in the wrong direction with this?
Here to discuss the topic further is Marty Roberts and Jimmy Womble, the co-writers and co-directors of the new Christian drama Running the Bases. This is their first time directing a film, but they wanted to share their experience from doing so, and explain why it’s important for humorous moments to come from the heart, and not other given body parts.
Q&A:
- Why do you think Hollywood producers and filmmakers lean so much towards “cheap” humor effects for their films?
- It seems to stray a bit from earlier films, which relied more on situational humor and performances to get laughs. Do you think audiences have changed, or perhaps just adapted to what movies offer nowadays?
- With your film Running the Bases, you stay true to Christian themes, but you also work very closely in getting some good laugh-out-loud moments with the film. How did you pull this off?
- What kind of writing process did you use when it came to creating your characters and the situations they get into?
- What have critics and audience members thought about the film? Is it something you think other up-and-coming filmmakers can learn from?
- What advice would you give to those trying to find the right tone for their film?
- Now that you’ve completed work on Running the Bases, are you possibly looking at making another film with this style? Or are you going to take a break for a bit?
- Where can people learn more about the film and where they’ll be able to see it?
You can watch the trailer and visit runningthebasesmovie.com to find out where the movie is playing near you.
GUESTS: Marty Roberts or Jimmy Womble. AVAILABILITY: Immediate
MARTY ROBERTS – Executive Producer / Director / Writer
Marty Roberts, a co-founder of UP2U Films, is the recipient of multiple Telly Awards and Communicator Awards for his high-quality productions. He’s worked with PBS, CBS, NBC, and Fox Sports. His artistic video worksharness the turmoil of life’s journey to shine new light into a dark world and plant seeds of grace in households across the nation.
As one of the directors of the 2022 feature film “Running the Bases” (Brett Varvel, American Underdog, Gigi Orsillo, Family Camp), which opened Sept. 2022 in more than 1000 cinemas, this North Dallas native longs to leave a legacy of healing and draws on his deep spirituality to inspire his work.
Learn more at Marty’s IMDb site: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3827693/?ref_=nv_sr_2
JIMMY WOMBLE – Director / Writer
In 1989, Jimmy Womble began a 20-year career in the mail room of corporate giant Electronic Data Systems (EDS). He soon worked his way up to working in the EDS broadcast studio, learning how to produce, direct and edit video. He honed his skills to the point where he worked directly with the CEO. Jimmy’s ability to evoke emotion often left clients in tears, puzzling some of his co-workers.
In 2009, Jimmy founded his company, Womble Media Productions, producing marketing and training videos for Fortune 500 companies, as well as producing motorsports content. He has received numerous awards as a producer, director, writer, and editor.
Jimmy Womble is a writer/director of the feature film “Running the Bases” (Brett Varvel, American Underdog, Gigi Orsillo, Family Camp), which opened Sept. 2022 in more than 1000 cinemas.
(Screener available upon request.)
MEDIA CONTACTS: Tamara Colbert, c: 626-244-5571; e: tamara@ohsweetliberty.com; or Jerry McGlothlin, 919-437-0001 or jerry@specialguests.com.
