fre ns.... BUDDIES........ hi
The Lost Light crew is big on movie night, we all know this. But when Jackie Chan and Spy Kids are no longer enough, it’s time for the squad to come together and make their Own Movie.
THE ZOMBONI: A LOST LIGHT PRODUCTION
A determined private investigator (Nightbeat) follows someone he suspects of being a zombie murderer onboard the cruise ship Lightanic. His suspicions are confirmed as passengers are discovered dead.
He teams up with the ship’s chief of security (Ultra Magnus), a helpful bartender (Swerve), a cheerful janitor (Rodimus), and an angry cowboy (Whirl) in order to find the culprit before it’s too late. But it soon becomes apparent that not everyone can be trusted.
Written by: Drift and Frend
Directed by: Drift and Frend
Special Effects: Brainstorm
Private Investigator: Nightbeat
Chief Security Officer: Ultra Magnus
Security Officer/Victim #2: Drift
Movie nights can be pretty crazy. In this particular instance, you all are watching a Lost Light Original production. A lot of work has been put into making it, and it’s very exciting!
Rodimus: Kinda smug because he's the star. 10/10 Rodimus stars, would watch again.
Ultra Magnus: Sighs and fidgets uncomfortably in his seat because it's kind of a trainwreck and he has Regrets™.
Drift: He thinks it’s a great testament to how hardworking the Lost Light crew can be, but sighs when everyone laughs at what was supposed to be a serious scene. (He co-wrote the script, after all. It kinda hurts. Friend pats his hand.)
Whirl: Gets increasingly agitated because most of his lines were cut out and redubbed. You didn’t see them redubbing Nightbeat, did you? (This mostly being because Nightbeat actually stayed pretty close to the original plot and Whirl decidedly Did Not). Complains Very Loud. 1/10 stars. Let him speak, you cowards.
Swerve: Nonstop commentary and very loud laughter. This right here? Cinematic masterpiece and he Will recommend it to everyone, and he Will demand that it be played at all movie nights for the foreseeable future. Just look, he’s on TV! (probably makes a themed drink based off the movie as well. maybe even shirts!)
Nightbeat: outright refused to read the script and just did his own thing; he was gonna solve the mystery All By Himself. He points out plot holes (both in-character and as he sits watching the finished product).
Megatron: He just. Doesn't understand what the point of the movie is but he can't stop watching. what is this. the decepticons were never like this
Rung: He did the voiceover for Whirl when he went off-script, and is pleasantly surprised that his name is spelled right in the credits (courtesy of human buddy!). He's one of those people that stays for the credits.
Brainstorm: Proud of the special effects; he did very good. Good job, Brainstorm. (Did you see that explosion? Amazing! It wasn't part of the script, but still)
Tailgate: He’s having a lot of fun with watching. He played his role of Victim #1 very well, it's just so sad he cry. (And that moment where the movie cuts to Cyclonus saying “no”... what a mood)
Rewind: If you sit next to him, he'll quietly tell you behind-the-scenes facts every now and then.
Cyclonus: Perplexed and a little miffed because he had made it clear he wanted no part of the movie and he’s there for a scene anyway???
Getaway: Seems stoked about the whole thing, telling everyone what a great job they did, even if he's secretly salty they didn't invite him to be a part of the movie making process. Why not? He would've been a great lead.
7 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT ZOMBONI
- In the film, the masterfully executed plot twist is that the janitor (Rodimus) was the Zomboni all along. This was almost not the case, though, since cowboy actor Whirl’s adlibbing turned into a massive fingerpointing and scapegoating session (“Maybe we’re ALL the Zomboni! Maybe the Zomboni is the FRIENDS we made along the way, huh?!” to which Rodimus completely skipped over all the foreshadowing and retorted “SHUT UP WHIRL I’M THE ZOMBONI”) that would have ended in a real duel “cowboy style” if Magnus hadn’t broken character and intervened
- In a blink-and-you-miss-it shot of Tailgate dying in the hallway, there is a point where all of the garish fake energon he is covered in suddenly vanishes. This is because the real janitor of the Lost Light came and cleaned up the mess in the middle of the take, and it was removed in the final cut.
- Budding actor Cyclonus stole the show with his iconic one-liner in response to Tailgate’s death, “No.” When inquired about his inspiration for the emotionally-charged line, actor Cyclonus stated that he had never agreed to participate in the film’s production in the first place, and that it had just been his response to the question, “Do you want to be in our movie?” edited in without his consent.
- Actor Swerve was known for halting production mid-take to ask questions about his character’s motivations. (“So in the interest of believability, why am I running down this corridor again?” “Because you’re getting chased by a murderer? Is that incentive enough?” “Yes, but why this corridor?”)
- Observant viewers will notice that throughout the film, not a single informal slang word is used. This is because Ultra Magnus took it upon himself to proofread the script once it was complete and ensure that it was professional.
- Whirl’s character underwent the most growth from the film’s conception to release, going from “angry cowboy” to “tender and compassionate cowboy.” This change is owed to Rung dubbing over the original name calling and heckling with much kinder lines.
- Special effects coordinator Brainstorm doubled as one of the victims of the Zomboni - a kindly and ethical doctor who seems to know that the janitor may not be what he seems. All of his lines directed at Rodimus’ character - such as, “you’re looking a little under the weather, friend” - were ad-libbed, “just to add a little pizzazz.”
