"Calm Down, Baby:" New Mac Lethal Video with Behind-the-Scenes Action
By TIMOTHY PHILLIPS
Mac Lethal - "Calm Down, Baby"
Considering that the production of this video took up a considerable chunk of my life earlier this year, I'm rather embarrassed that I was not aware until today, Election Day 2008, that the finished product has been up on YouTube for a whole bloody week!
Now, you'll want to know how I, Timothy "Tim" Phillips, former adversary of one David McCleary Sheldon, was involved in this filmation. Well, ages, nay, eons ago, Mr. Sheldon and I -- barely passing acquaintances at the time -- became full-on rivals when I entered into an understanding with a Ms. Sarah P------, upon whom, at the time, Mr. Sheldon had his eye. It was an unfortunate alliance for me, but I am glad that it provided artistic material later in life for Mr. Sheldon. Really, I needn't go on; it's all in the song.
Fast forward several decades, and here I am, still and ever Tim Phillips, being asked by my own age-old enemy (now a famous rap-star aliased "Mac Lethal") to make a cameo as myself in the musical video for his autobiographical hit song "Calm Down, Baby" off his major-label debut album, 11:11.
Though my part of the video was shot in a single day, I spent weeks and weeks getting into character, watching the great performances -- Olivier's Hamlet, Wells' Macbeth, Sandler's Madison and so forth -- and teaching myself the art of "method acting."
My part of the video (as well as anything else you see that appears to have been filmed in Oriental surroundings) took place in an Overland Park sushi house. I snapped a few photos when I wasn't being asked to do anything, which was most of the time I was there. As you will see, when I do finally enter the scene, during the middle part of the narrative, I, Tim Phillips, appear only for an instant and am then immediately pawed off screen by Mr. Sheldon and his associate, Mr. Aguilar (known to some as "Sku") and tarred with the epithet "asshole." But, as all of us in the profession know, there are no small parts, only small actors!
I did not accept any money for my work. In fact, the whole video, which was shot and directed by Mr. Sheldon's friend, Mr. Kyle Harbaugh, cost only $6,000 to make. $6,000! That included the cost of blank-loaded pistols and machine guns, breakable bottles made of sugar crystals, gallons of fake blood, a grenade launcher, a van which explodes, and scads of demolitionary devices known in the industry as "squibs" -- those devilish little things that do everything from upsetting pretzel bowls to causing blood to burst out of clothing when a person is supposed to have been shot by a gun.
Unfortunately, when acting, one can't always wear eye protection, lest that "fourth wall" between actor and audience be violated, and sometimes flying debris can result in injury.
The gentlemen who play the villains in the film -- all different-sized blokes in white suits and masks -- were outfitted with squibs that forced blood to erupt from their costumes. Behind each explosive, a piece of armor was affixed to the body so that, heh, the explosion went outward only.
It was quite a thrilling experience. I sincerely thank Messers Sheldon, Aguilar and Harbaugh for allowing me to be involved, and I wish them all success with their future endeavors.
Meanwhile, if YOU are a film producer or director and would like to bring a seasoned, dedicated and versatile talent to your next project, by all means, contact my agent, Darren Lamb.
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