Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation (Video 1989)

A shot-for-shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark started by three 12-year-olds and completed over a period of six years.

Director:

Eric Zala

Writers:

Lawrence Kasdan, Philip Kaufman (story),

Stars:

Chris Strompolos, Angela Rodriguez, Eric Zala

Cast

Credited cast:
Chris Strompolos	...	Indiana Jones
Angela Rodriguez	...	Marion
Eric Zala	...	Belloq
Ted Ross	...	Toht
Alan Stenum	...	Sallah
William Coon	...	Brody
Kurt Zala	...	Gobler
Clay LaGrone	...	Satipo
Sam Cummings	...	Barranca
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Bales	...	Dietrich

Storyline

This is a shot-for-shot remake of the original Raiders of the Lost Ark, made by three teen-age boys in Mississippi over the course of seven years. Their production wrapped in 1989, and was shelved and forgotten until 2003 when a copy fell into the hands of Eli Roth (writer/director of Cabin Fever who passed on a copy to 'Steven Spielberg' . Spielberg congratulated the boys on their hard work, and said he looks forward to seeing their names on the big screen. Scott Rudin and Paramount have purchased the trio's life rights and will be producing a film based on their adventures making their remake, known as _Untitled Daniel Clowes Project (2006)_ .

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Plot Keywords:

remake | obsession | indiana jones | true life adventure | coming of age

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1989 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Biloxi, Mississippi, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rolling Boulder Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Eli Roth brought the tape to the attention of both Harry Knowles and Steven Spielberg. Roth had a copy in his collection of videos for years before showing it at Harry Knowles' 'Butt-numb-a-thon' film festival in December, 2002. The response was so overwhelming that Roth took the tape to his very first meeting at Dreamworks, and gave it to an executive to give to Steven Spielberg. The executive called Roth the next week saying that Spielberg loved it and wanted to contact the filmmakers. Roth had never met the filmmakers, but google searched every name in the credits until he got a hold of Jayson Lamb, the cinematographer. The three filmmakers, Lamb, Strompolis, and Zala had not spoken in years when Roth contacted them out of the blue saying that Spielberg wanted to write them a letter. This reunited the friends, who began touring the world doing charity screenings with the film. Roth felt that the film was so powerful he had to do whatever he could to make sure fans around the world saw it.

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Connections

Featured in Backyard Blockbusters (2012)

User Reviews

Incredibly good.

I just got back from the Indie SF Film Festival where this film was showing, and all I can say is that a few minutes into the film (home Betamax video camera (not Betacam)) I was in tears laughing.

True to Zala's comment during the Q&A at the end of the feature, there is no better audience to watch this with than a theatre filled with San Francisco Bay Area indy film makers and enthusiasts.

There were cheers. There was applause at key moments in the film. There were the obligatory "Oooooooohs" for the kissing scenes. Home made stunts: SFX: chase scenes: you name it, this film had it.

In case you don't know, this is a video production done by a bunch of middle-school cum high-school students who wanted to do their version of Spielberg's and Lucas' "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Nearly every shot is duplicated with a home video camera, showing the raw energy, "spunk", and otherwise enthusiasm of young aspiring film makers.

Seeing this production reminded me of all the video "films" my friends and I shot during the early 80s. Though not comparable in length, they were certainly comparable in zest for the medium. I, and the rest of the audience tonight at the Victoria theatre (off 16th and Mission) were kindred with Zala and company. Everything from the "adult supervision" who was more immature than the actual cast and crew, to the truck dug out of the swamp, to the good natured destruction of personal lives for a greater glory! It goes without saying that there's a huge cheese factor in this film, but its amateur quality striving for professionalism is its absolute charm, and does not fail from opening sequence to end credits.

But, with all highs, there are some lows, and regrettably the tragic loss of Snickers was keenly felt amidst tonight's group. Salute to a K-9 actor from all of us who've used their pets in various productions.

To conclude; if you're even a small Indiana Jones fan in the slightest, then you must, nay, need to see this production in all of its 20th dupe VHS glory. A must see for all film students, teachers, and professionals alike.

Enjoy! :-)