Archive: March 2009

Tim, the Writer, Director, and Star of the Upcoming Short Film 'The Snuggie Killer' graciously agreed to an email interview. His film's Premiere Party is set for April 4, 2009 in Brooklyn, NY.

Here's my Email Interview with Tim. Based on his hilarious answers, the film should be a big hit.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Tell me about yourself. Is this your first film?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
I’m a graphic designer by trade, but have been making short films for a couple years now.

I started with “I am...BATMAN!” in 2006, and have made a few more shorts since then, including “Dracula, Prince of Marketing,” which was part of the NewFilmmakers Summer in the City series last year.

Not sure where it will lead, I’m just trying to “learn by doing” for now. (I’m starting to realize I need to “learn by learning” as well.)

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
What lead you to do a movie entitled "The Snuggie Killer"?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
A bunch of things. I’d been trying to get a cop show parody going for months, but cast & locations were just not aligning. I was kind of desperate to get something going. Then I saw the new “Friday the 13th” on opening night.

Now, I‘d actually watched ALL of the original films in the preceding weeks, just for fun (and to test my mettle). Anyway, I was pretty disappointed, like I usually am with these remakes. (Yet there I am, opening night.) I thought wow, WE could almost make something scarier than that. Which is not saying a lot.

Then I just immediately thought of the Snuggie, because it’s the perfect outfit for a killer AND a victim. So I wrote it the next day - Valentine’s Day!

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Without giving away any crucial plot points, can you give a brief synopsis of 'The Snuggie Killer'?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
A killer takes his victim’s Snuggie to wear as he continues his spree. The police are baffled, but a tenacious reporter thinks she can crack the case – at her own peril.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Where was the movie filmed?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
In various apartments in Brooklyn, with exterior shots grabbed around the city.
The final scene was filmed at a nice but cheap studio in Williamsburg. I’d just seen it shortly before writing the film, so that scene was tailored to the space.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
What was the budget for your movie?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Not a lot, and I think it shows! But I’ve been trying to get some better equipment, and this was a chance to use some new things.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
What are your distribution plans? Will it be available to view online? Is their a trailer?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Basically, I’m just going to have it on YouTube on April 1, with links from Facebook, Snuggiebook and my home page AVClubProductions.net. And maybe FunnyorDie.com.

I’ll have DVDs to give away at the premiere (and probably stacks of them left over). Maybe submit to some little film festivals...but that’s probably more rejection than I’m up for at the moment.

A trailer is a good idea, even for such a short film. And it would probably be better.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Were any Snuggies harmed in the making of this film?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Snuggies are stabbed and shot, but I assure you it is all movie magic.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Is the main villain of the film the Snuggie, or a Blanket, or what?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
My girlfriend came up with the killer’s true identity, which was so beyond anything I was thinking. I’d originally thought it would be the bitter inventor of the Slanket (or another Snuggie precursor), but that’s because all my story lines come from Scooby-Doo.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
For the World Premiere, will audience members be wearing Snuggies?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Snuggies will be encouraged, and one will be raffled.
(I just got it from eBay & can’t tell if it’s a Snuggie or a knock-off...it does have a reading lamp.)

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Are you a Snuggie Lover, Hater, or Agnostic?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Maybe Agnostic...I had to wear the Snuggie for a few action scenes, and it can be a cruel mistress.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Tell me how you really feel about the Snuggie and those who wear them?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Honestly, I don’t fully comprehend the popularity of the Snuggie. And while I’m obviously hoping to benefit from its prominence, I also want to tell a story that is true to what I feel is the spirit of the Snuggie...which is a ridiculous statement.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
What do you think of SnuggieBook - the Social Network with Sleeves?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
I think “The Social Network with Sleeves” is the best tagline ever. Everything after that is just gravy.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Does the Complimentary Booklight make a cameo appearance?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
It’s in every scene, I think, somewhere. But it it’s featured early on as an important clue.

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
How long is the film?

SNUGGIE KILLER:
Right now it’s 7 and a half minutes, including credits.
I’m trying to tighten it up even more, but it probably won’t change much. (Or get any better.)

MR. SNUGGIE SIGHTINGS:
Thanks, Tim. I look forward to seeing the film and encourage everyone to check it out.

Although this site's photos did not make the editorial cut to appear in the Italian Fashion Magazine Gioia magazine. It did get mentioned by Carole Hallac, in her article related to the Snuggie Cultural buzz in the States, Snuggie Pub Crawls, and a little website called SnuggieSightings.com. Thank you, Carole Hallac and Gioia Magazine.

I'll be a guest on the Dr. Blogstein's Radio Happy Hour on BlogTalkRadio.com on March 31, 2009. Details are available on the SnuggieBook.com Events page.

Background (You'll Need to Read This to Fully Appreciate the Timing of this event in Snuggie History): Don't Bite the Hand That Snuggies You - A Tale of the Tweets

Hours ago I posted the above linked story, highlighting how Sean Percival had gifted a Snuggie to Jason Calacanis...
[Image no longer online]

Jason did thank his old friend for the ultimate gift, but he failed to mention that that old friend was Sean Percival, nor did he link to him (which is the modern-day Blogger equivalent of a Thank You note).

So Snuggie Karma has come down and blessed Sean with a box of a Dozen Designer Snuggies. Here's his Tweet announcing the warm and cozy event.


Camel Designer Snuggie, Pink Plush Snuggie, Leopard Designer Snuggie.

Let's Reflect. Sean gives a Snuggie. He receives a Dozen in return....

Agreed, Sean. #life-is-good

I joined Twitter early in the life of this site, which sprang forth from the loins of the Internet on January 10, 2009. Via Twitter, I was able to secure the Tony Kornheiser PTL Snuggie Sighting pic here's the historic Tweet.

I've been able to connect to some very cool people through Twitter, such as:
TrailerParkNews - empty your bladder before reading any of their stuff.
1millionsnuggie - check out their upcoming Snuggie Event.
A former Little League Teammate of Mr. Snuggie Sightings (He has no idea I'm doing this - follow him and tell him he was a great second baseman)
Sean Percival - He's a Must Follow - here's Sean's website SeanPercival.com. He's the Director of Content at Tsavo and Editor at lalawag.

Ok. I'm putting it out there. Sean has MAD skills when it comes to Social and Viral Marketing. I've been studying his game, following his Tweets, etc. from afar. So, when Sean joined SnuggieBook.com on day 2 or 3 of the Social Network with Sleeves' existence, I knew I was onto something. For a Social Network to succeed, it needs either the right content, or the right people. Sean brought both to SnuggieBook. He posted pics from his lalawag Snuggie Off - Go there to place your vote. Snug the Vote!

When I saw Sean's Tweet the other day about sending a Snuggie to Jason Calacanis, I started tracing back in the Twit-Stream until I found this - Jason Calacanis cracks on Sean for wearing a Snuggie.

Apparently Mr. Calacanis saw the Snuggie-Off and was wishing Sean well at SXSW. Sean in return sent Jason a Snuggie as a gift. This ended up being posted upon the Snuggie's arrival:
[Image no longer online]
If you click that pic, you can see Jason's post regarding the 'most amazing gift ever...from an old friend'. I noticed two things on this post:

1. Jason now spelled Snuggie correctly.
2. He didn't link to, or mention Sean as the source of the Snuggie gift. Where's the link? I'm THIS close to filing this under Attribution Fail.

All I can say is Don't Bite the Hand that Snuggies You.

...and now you know...the rest of the Snuggie Story.

File this under my second attempt at a Snuggie Pulitzer. Here was my first - Snuggie Scam.

If there had been an Internet in the 1980's...there would have been a SlimSuitSightings.com. Our loss. Moment of silence...then just click play.

[A CollegeHumor video played here. Its old Flash player no longer runs in browsers.]

Source=CollegeHumor.com
These guys were way too ahead of their time.

Did you know that New York City has already done a Snuggie Pub Crawl? They did it on March 14, 2009. I will be updating SnuggiePubCrawls.com shortly to update the list, dates, locations, etc. So New York City is in the top 10 as far as hosting Snuggie Pub Crawls. The Minneapolis Snuggie Pub Crawlers also appear in this video, along with a couple of Snuggie Bike Riders at a strategic point in this song by Holly Yarbrough.

You've Got to Do It in a Snuggie from Snuggie Sightings on Vimeo.
Song: You've Got to Do It
Artist: Holly Yarbrough
Album: Mister Rogers Swings! Holly Yarbrough sings the Fred Rogers Songbook

NYC Snuggie Pub Crawl Photo Credits: Jennifer Sutton
Also Featuring Minnesota Snuggie Pub Crawlers (please send me a link for proper credit).
Snuggie Bike Riders: Cheri Layton, and PajamasandCoffee.com
Video Created Using: Photodex

We previously featured Holly Yarbrough in our Month 2 Thank You Video, which is recopied below

Month 2 Thank You Video from SnuggieSightings.com from Snuggie Sightings on Vimeo.

Umm...check this crazy pic out.

These kids are rocking the Snuggie World Tour. The first Snuggie on the left (and this kid is obviously playing bass, because he's not even looking at the screen) is a Plush Chocolate Snuggie with pockets. Eddie Van Snuggie in the middle appears to be sporting the Camel Print Designer Snuggie. Little Snuggie Drummer boy is wearing the Black Snuggie (yes, Black Snuggie).

I just posted earlier today the Pink Snuggie and now someone out there just couldn't resist seeing the Pink Snuggie and raising the stakes with close to a Snuggie Full House. The thing that kills me about this pic is how the Leopard Snuggie is just laying at their feet. They are such Snuggie Rock Stars. This pic is such Snuggie Decadence. 'Yeah. We got a Leopard Designer Snuggie. Your point? Excuse me. I have a hotel room to trash.'

That's all well and good, kiddos, but where is your Zebra Snuggie? Hmm?

Here are a lot of Snuggie Pub Crawl pics from San Francisco this past weekend.

Photo Source: Flickr User Calmenda (with his permission).

There are also additional San Francisco Snuggie Pub Crawl Pics Here

Do you have pics of people sleeping in Snuggies? I have a photo montage planned around this, set to music, and need any Sleeping Snuggie pics. Please send them in.