Uni Revue 2020 The Movie
WHEN THINGS GO AMISS IN TASMANIA...
Since 1948 the Old Nick Company have presented the Uni Revue on Tasmanian stages without missing a single year come theatre fires, wars, bridge collapses...you could always rely on the Uni Revue! What brings us here? Let us explain. But first, let's address one question the uninitiated might be asking - what the heck is a "revue"? Well according to the dictionary:
"A light theatrical entertainment consisting of a series of short sketches, songs, and dances, typically dealing satirically with topical issues."
You can also watch a video about it here. So since 1948 the Uni Revue has lampooned politics, governments both state and local, even councils; local celebrities and notable persons; the goings-on relevant to Tasmanians of all walks of life - basically all chucked together with a bunch of bawdy comedy and some cheap thrills. That's a Uni Revue. Now, you may be confused as to what the Old Nick Company has to do with the university, and we'll say - nothing at all. Some decades ago Old Nick was spun off from the University into its own not-for-profit entity, and the Uni Revue's brand of gags and low brow humour basically single handedly funded every other Shakespeare and fancy man macaroni play we put on. Then came a little bug...
WHEN TROUBLE BUILDS UP AND LIFE GETS TO YA...
So as you may have heard, there's this little thing called COVID-19 and a global pandemic. Yeah. So you can imagine that shutting the theatres hasn't been a massive boon to Old Nick. We weighed up the options before the theatres had even closed and we knew if we decided to risk it and plough ahead, or even suspend the show for later, the costs we were likely to incur would have ruined the company (what was that about COVID-19 and those over 70 years of age...?) However, we weren't about to throw in the towel and just let a year lapse. We haven't missed one since 1948, so why start now?
We looked at our options for funding this sort of endeavour. See, in the theatre, we open pre-sales for tickets months and months in advance, people get tickets, they then come and see the show, and we can track that right down to the seat. So crowd-funding offers us a platform to essentially do the same - you get to pre-purchase your ticket to the show - in the form of a stream, download, DVD or Blu-Ray - and that in turns helps fund us to put it on.
WHEN THE NEWSPAPER FAILS, AND THE TV TOO...
Yeah yeah yeah, so what's the plan you ask? Well since we made the tough decision to cancel the Uni Revue, we basically started planning where we went to next. So bring in UNI REVUE 2020 (take 2): PUNDEMIC. This will be a Uni Revue first - direct to video, direct to your home. Old Nick in many ways are very lucky - we already work closely with many people with the expertise to make this pivot. Now this does mean you'll get a slightly different show, because no, we're not just going to put it on a theatre stage and film it. We're going all out to make this show a show built from the ground up for video. You'll still get the comedy sketches, the songs, the politics, the Tasmanian point of view; it just may come with fewer jokes you heard your grandad tell you. And stuff that works uniquely on stage will be left there, to make its appearance when we return to the boards in 2021. It'll be written by many of the same people who write the stuff that makes you laugh, and we're taking the opportunity to find previous members of the show and life members of our company to appear or contribute material. All in all, we want to make this every bit a Uni Revue and worth every darn cent.
What's more, you'll be supporting Tasmanian artists during the pandemic, as we toil away over the coming months to deliver this show to you. And if we make a profit, that money will go right back in to Uni Revue 2021 and our many various other projects as the theatres begin to light back up.
The only challenges we really are up against are getting the interest in pre-sales to go ahead, and then filming it fast enough to have it out! We're aiming to release in a June-July window, give or take depending on lockdown restrictions. We're being good boys and girls, and there's stuff we're planning which will only be possible when the lockdown eases. If it shows no signs of letting up, we'll just abandon that content, as we're currently working on a mountain of stuff we can do safely and legally. So we will not be reliant on the whims of government, it may just mean we substitute sketch A for sketch B (and we'll just save anything we can't use for later on anyway...)
YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON THE UNI REVUE!
We've tried to include as many options as possible to suit your needs best. In a nutshell these are:
- Streaming: Basically a rental. Stream it on your device or smart TV.
- Download: A HD version for you to keep forever. Watch it on your smartphone, your smartTV, your smartfridge, wherever!
- DVD: A classic DVD, in all its crunchy standard definition goodness, with a bonus disc featuring old material, behind the scenes, bloopers and more.
- Blu-Ray: The same as the DVD, just in glorious high definition!
There are some other options for those of you out there who like to go above and beyond, so check out the rewards down the right hand side, make a pick, and get on board! Meanwhile check us out everywhere we exist for news, info, to contact us, or just to have a laugh.
Budget Overview
We've basically planned out our minimum budget to get the show over the line. This will include all the filming and editing, music recording including a real band, props and costumes, making the disc media, contingencies, basically everything we might come up against. This is also balanced against a lot of our creatives who have been paid in part for the pre-production work they've done on Uni Revue (the stage edition) and who will be continuing in those roles for the video version. There's already a pile of money invested into this production, so your help is needed to just get us the rest of the way over the line to get the project out the door. We're also fairly experienced with budgets, doing theatrical budgets every year for the Uni Revue. This differs in a few areas, but the concept is basically the same. You have this much money, don't spend more than that!
That all said, if we do make more than our minimum, we're across that too. We have contingency plans to upgrade certain production elements - basically if we make our goal, we'll make the best show we possibly can. But if we go above and beyond, it will reflect on screen in the product you get. Whether it means we can bring in additional camera operators for multi-camera shoots, or secure cool locations, get guest performers, or even stretch out to material that might otherwise seem infeasible, we'll make sure you get every last dollar's worth wrung out of us.
No Reward
Just support us out of the goodness of your heart! Gee whiz, thanks! We'll stick your name in the credits (unless you don't want that I guess...)
Streaming video
Basically a rental, get a web stream! Watch it, enjoy it, and support us!
Download
Download a HD copy of the show to keep forever! Play it on your phone, your TV, your watch; wherever you want!
DVD
DVD! That standard definition wonder disc! Get the show on DVD with a bonus disc of special features.
Earlybird Blu-Ray
Get a Blu-Ray in delicious HD with a disc of bonus features, and pay nothing to have it shipped to you! Lucky!
Blu-Ray
High-Def goodness with a second disc filled with bonus features.
The Revue and a Hoodie
Get a warm show hoodie just like the cast and crew wear! (Note the hoodie pictured is the now defunct SCOMO INFERNO hoodie, this one will be an all new PUNDEMIC hoodie) PLUS get a copy of the show in the format of your choice.
Be in the Revue!
Can you put a price on appearing in our venerable show? What's that? The performers are usually volunteers? Well yeah, sure...but this is a special guest role! You'll be a VIP! (Pending the easing of social distancing restrictions). You'll also get the show any which way you want, and a hoodie for your trouble.
Best seats up North
If you're one of our Northern friends then here's the chance to secure yourself a Princess Theatre VIP package to Uni Revue 2021. Four seats of your choosing to any night (front row dress if you'd like), booked in advance. Plus we'll buy you each a round of drinks pre-show and during interval to keep you well oiled! You'll also get four copies of Uni Revue 2020 in any format you'd like, delivered direct to your door!
Earlybird DVD
Get the show on DVD, plus a disc of bonus features, and sweeten the deal with free shipping! What more could you want?
Mention my Nanna!
Want us to mention your name, or the name of a loved one? You don't get to choose how we use this information (much like when you give personal info to Facebook) but we promise we won't use it to commit any international crimes... Plus you'll get a copy of the show in whichever format you want delivered!
Theatre Royal Foursome, baby!
Front row dress circle VIP tickets to Uni Revue 2021 opening night in Hobart. We'll shout you each a drink pre-show and at interval to keep you lubricated enough to enjoy the show, and we'll even be nice enough to give you free programmes and a show poster if you want it (one for the pool room wall!) Plus this year you get four copies of Uni Revue 2020: Pundemic in any format you want!
The Business Namedrop
We’ll fit your business into the show! It could be a parody of your ad, we could shoot a sketch at your premises, use your products in conspicuously blatant product placement - chat with us and we'll find some way to slip you in (ooh err). A unique way to brand yourself!