Transformers Red Magic is a term used to describe a fictional universe in which a series of robotic alien life forms, known as Autobots and Decepticons, battle each other for control of a scarce energy source called energon. This universe is depicted in various forms of media, including comic books, television shows, movies, and video games. First introduced in the 1980s, the Transformers franchise has captured the imaginations of millions of fans worldwide. The concept revolves around the idea of transforming robots, which can change their forms, typically from vehicles to humanoid robots, and vice versa. This ability to transform gives them a strategic advantage in combat. In the Transformers Red Magic universe, the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are the noble faction seeking to protect Earth and its inhabitants from the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron.
In the Transformers Red Magic universe, the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are the noble faction seeking to protect Earth and its inhabitants from the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron. The Decepticons, on the other hand, aim to conquer the universe and obtain more energon to fuel their power. This conflict forms the central plotline of the various Transformers stories.
Curse of the Weredeer
I first met Jimmy Adamson way back in the early 2000s when our bands (him - Sass Dragons; me - Vacation Bible School) were supposed to play a basement show at the Subject House in Elgin, Illinois, but the basement flooded, so he brought the whole show to his house, the slightly less shitty 411 House, in Naperville, Illinois. We hit it off, and our bands played many shows together. He often used my drums. When I left the band Brickfight, he took over the drums. He and his wife (Keri) gave me a copy of The Great Outdoors on VHS as a wedding gift. Jimmy is one of my favorite people, so when he moved to the east coast and started working in the moving pictures business, I couldn’t have been happier for him.
I first met Ben Johnson (pictured to the right; you can tell, because his name is on the photo) just about 2 weeks ago, when I wrote Jimmy (see above) and asked if I could write up his upcoming movie, Curse of the Weredeer, on my fancy new website. Turns out, Ben lives closer to me than most of the people I talk to on a regular basis, so one day we’ll probably get together, have a couple drinks, and talk shit about Jimmy. But until then, he was gracious enough to talk to me about the path that has brought him to where he is today, his production company (ShitHouse Productions), and the new movie.
Curse of the Weredeer is currently in crowdfunding mode over at Indiegogo. As DIY filmmakers, these guys need all the help they can get - we’re talking upper-class genius mixed with lower-middle class budgets. Every dollar helps, and for only $10 you can get a digital copy of the finished movie! Skip your 2nd six-pack of Bud Light this Thursday and help support truly independent filmmaking.
Nervousmaker - First off, let’s talk about ShitHouse Productions – who is this powerful legion of doom made up of, and how did you all get together to start making movies? Is this going to be the first Shithouse release (film-wise, not bathroom-wise), or have there already been others? And I can’t help but notice, since I’m a very observant genius, that Curse of the Weredeer has some clear connections to Tromaville; how did you guys find yourselves in cahoots with the toxic waste capital of the world?
ShitHouse Productions (Ben) - ShitHouse was literally born from the chaos that was Troma’s #shakespearesshitstorm. We all lived, ate, slept, and shit for 8 weeks together in a duplex made to house 3 people, but at its most packed we had 17 folks staying there. We called this “production house” the “shit house” as a term of endearment…
From there, a few of us decided we didn’t hate each other near as much as we hated the rest of the cast and crew, and we decided we wanted to keep making things together. Derek “Woody” Johnson (no relation) had a short he wanted to shoot in Missouri in the spring of 2019, and between the two of us we got the band back together to shoot WetWorks, our first ShitHouse short. From that point…we just started doing more.
We brought a few other #shakespearesshitstorm friends into the mix, and we did a 48-hour Film Project entry called Barlympics, and in late 2019 we helped produce Dwayne Steeler’s epic short slasher, Blood Stab. Then last year, Derek came to me with a script for a trailer called Weredeer. The concept was solid, goofy, and the script was mostly there…but it needed the gentle touch of one of the best writers I know, Mr. Jimmy Adamson.
Jimmy stripped it down, caressed the soft bits, and made the story moan with pleasure. From there, we shot a lot of footage…which I cut down to basically nothing, enraging our DP Sam Zhang (editor’s note: DP in this context is Director of Photography; told you I’m a genius!)… Sam is a beautiful man, with a wealth of knowledge, and an exceptional eye for framing… He’ll clearly excel and one day leave us all behind. But in the meantime, we’re gonna squeeze every bit of juice we can from his tight little body.
The trailer wasn’t meant to be anything more than our entry for the 2021 Tromadance film festival. But everyone that saw it said they wanted to see the actual movie. So fuck us, right? Now we had to make this goddamned thing, FOR REAL!
Luckily our Troma ties paid off and our DEER Uncle Lloyd Kaufman (president of Troma Entertainment and the creator of the Toxic Avenger) offered to come onboard as a producer and that made it more real…with some guidance from me, Derek, and Joe Duff (Derek’s long time butt-brother, and co-creator of Weredeer). Jimmy pounded out one of the most beautiful stories about racial injustice, wrongful imprisonment, the long term effects of hunting on the environment (and the hunters), the need for transparency in our relationships, and most importantly…spending time with the fellers.
Now we’re raising funds because come hell or high water, we’re shooting in Tennessee this October!
Nervousmaker - Jimmy, is this the first feature you’ve written (and if not, what else have you worked on)? How did it all come into your head, and how did you go from being a drummer in the legendary, multi-platinum supergroup known as the Sass Dragons to writing a movie about a deer/man combo?
ShitHouse Productions (Jimmy) - Curse of the Weredeer is the first feature I've written that is actually being produced! Ben and I have another adventure/fantasy/comedy script finished, called Florida Man. We'll make that as soon as we sucker someone into giving us a million dollars. I've also written 3 or 4 other scripts that nobody should ever read. The general idea for Weredeer, along with most of the character names, came from the brilliant minds of Derek Johnson and Joe Duff. It is their baby. Those two, along with Ben, were gracious enough to let me kidnap their baby and take it on an absurd, homoerotic joy ride. My goal, first and foremost, was to make myself and our friends laugh. I didn't really think it would get approved by Lloyd Kaufman, so I wrote the most insanely dumb thing I could think up. And had a good time in the process! Our script is gross and stupid and kind of offensive. But the characters are lovable rednecks with a lot of heart, and the audience will hopefully root for them.
At some point I realized that I wanted to branch out a little from getting naked and pouring beer on my dick in punk rock bands. I lucked out when I got involved with Troma and met John Brennan (producer of #shakespearesshitstorm/Music Director of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs/beloved musician). He took me under his wing and got me on #shakespearesshitstorm, where I met Ben, Derek, and the rest of the lunatics with whom we're making this idiotic movie.
I love Sass Dragons, and I'm fortunate we still get to play together once in a while! Also, Dethwarrant is even writing some music for Curse of the Weredeer, which brings it full circle. And I play drums in John Brennan and the Bigfeet! So I'm not out of the music game just yet. It keeps pulling me back in. Like that Italian guy from Godfather 3!
Nervousmaker - Ben, what else have you worked on in the past? Word on the street is that you’re the ringleader of this ragtag motley crew of indie filmmakers…
ShitHouse Productions (Ben) - As for me…I guess by default I fell into sort of a producer role. I dunno why or how that happened, but the team leans on me to keep these things moving and keep the band together. It’s actually pretty uncomfortable. I’d rather just be along for the ride, but if we all did that, shit wouldn’t get made! It also probably helps that I have some family land, and a laundromat with an empty warehouse space attached…so we can yell, get mad, throw things, and ultimately bugger each other if we want to…for no cost!
I’ve lowkey been involved with Troma since 2000. I was an office boy and my first credits were on the reshoots for the R-rated Blockbuster release of Terror Firmer and then as a post-production assistant on Citizen Toxie. It’s a long story, but for like literally 15 years I did what people say you should do: got a corporate gig, chased insurance and higher paychecks, built a “real” life, and then in 2017 my job was outsourced. I got a severance package, sold a house, and moved back to Tennessee. I think that’s also why I fit the role that I do in ShitHouse… Corporate America taught me time management, how to bend my communication strategies to meet my audiences, and generally how to work with other people, whereas Troma taught me how to be stubborn, overly righteous when there’s no need for it, and how to yell to make a point. I feel I’ve deftly blended the two, and that seems to make things work.
I dunno. This is an uncomfortable question and you shouldn’t have asked it. Ignore all of this and just say that I said, “We’re just homies making movies for homies.” (Editor’s note: Oops…)
I dunno. This is an uncomfortable question and you shouldn’t have asked it. Ignore all of this and just say that I said, “We’re just homies making movies for homies.” (Editor’s note: Oops…)
The Transformers Red Magic series often explores themes of teamwork, loyalty, sacrifice, and the consequences of war. It showcases the internal struggles of the characters as they navigate their allegiances and grapple with their own desires for power and control. The Autobots frequently work together to devise plans and strategies to thwart the Decepticons, while the Decepticons employ cunning and brute force to achieve their goals. The Transformers Red Magic franchise has expanded over the years, spawning numerous sequels, spin-offs, and reboots. This includes various toy lines, animated series, live-action films, and even theme park attractions. Each iteration of the Transformers universe aims to captivate and entertain viewers with its unique blend of action, adventure, sci-fi elements, and memorable characters. Transformers Red Magic has become a cultural phenomenon, resonating with both children and adults alike. It has cultivated a dedicated fanbase and has transcended generations, with new stories and characters continually being introduced to keep the franchise fresh and exciting. The world of Transformers Red Magic continues to evolve, ensuring that it remains a beloved and enduring part of pop culture..
Reviews for "Red Magic: Empowering Transformations for Transformers"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with Transformers Red Magic. The storyline was confusing and felt rushed, with no real character development. The acting was also subpar, with poorly executed dialogue and stilted performances. Additionally, the special effects were overwhelming and made it hard to follow the action. Overall, I found the movie to be uninspiring and lacking the charm of the original Transformers series.
2. Mark - 1/5 - Transformers Red Magic was a complete disaster in my opinion. The plot was incoherent and seemed like a desperate attempt to milk money from the franchise. The acting was wooden, and the characters were one-dimensional. The action sequences were too long and became monotonous. I was eagerly waiting for the movie to end, and regretted wasting my time watching it.
3. Lisa - 2/5 - Transformers Red Magic failed to capture the magic and excitement of the original films. The script was weak, filled with clichés, and lacked any depth. The constant explosions and action sequences became tiresome quickly. The Transformers themselves felt like an afterthought, with little focus on their stories or personalities. I was left feeling underwhelmed and longing for the quality of the earlier movies.
4. John - 3/5 - Although I love the Transformers franchise, I was let down by Red Magic. The movie had potential, but it was let down by a convoluted plot and confusing storytelling. The pacing was off, with long stretches of boredom and sudden bursts of action. The characters lacked depth and failed to make a lasting impression. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to create an engaging and memorable Transformers movie.