Uni Revue 2020: Pundemic

Directed by Justin Wildsmith

The first ever Uni Revue movie

As AV became more and more integral to the Uni Revue and its identity online outside of the theatre, discussions had happened over the years regarding the idea of doing a Uni Revue movie and what that would look like. Would it be a narrative, would it be sketches in the style of the stage show, would it be a showcase of the “best of” Uni Revue? Once COVID had backed us in to a corner and we had to make a snap decision, the overwhelming consensus within the company was obvious: the show had to imitate the style of Revue on stage with all of the best bits intact, but it needed to be utterly fresh - no retreads of old gags, no Tasmaniana, no old jokes from chain emails. Below is the main trailer for Pundemic, showcasing the broad range of styles, locations and talent that came together to make this incredible Uni Revue movie.

Buy a copy of Pundemic here

OK Boomer

OK Boomer became the sleeper hit of Pundemic, and is one of its most popular sketches. Originally written in 2019 by Justin Wildsmith, it was originally envisioned as a stand alone music video written with Revue legend Colin Dean in mind based on the popularity of “OK Boomer” memes. In this original form it did not include the “Zoomer” character to counter balance the Boomer. That music video ended up on the back burner, as so many do, but Pundemic gave us a great opportunity to revisit it.

This time it was modified to include a bit of a tit-for-tat generational battle, with a hopeful attempt at reconciliation only to be dashed at the last minute. The pair of performers - Revue legend Daryl Peebles alongside youthful Revue video regular Eve Marsland - reflect this beautifully in their body language and the use of the space between them, ending with them each leaving the frame — and one another — as they go their separate ways.

I believe the reason this song has proven one of Pandemic’s more popular moments is the poignant message which has resonated with our fans young and old.

The video was recorded on 7 Mile Beach and took around three hours all up in a gruelling march along the beach.

Justin filming Daryl and Eve, Photograph by LJ Spanos

The Pundemic poster, made by Alex O'Brien

The concept poster used in the Pundemic pitch, made by director Justin Smith, based on the poster for Outbreak which heavily inspired sections of the film

Shooting Corey Butters for "North vs South"

Promotional image taken for the Pundemic crowd funding campaign

Another promotional image taken for the Pundemic crowd funding campaign

The very first shoot of Pundemic, for the Susan Neil Frasier video that would be held back for 2021's Tool Story due to the delayed court appeal

Thomas Taylor leads in the shoot at Rokeby's car graveyard for "We're Bogan"

Testing costume options for The Man Deloraine with performer and writer Russell Redmond

Ned Townsend and Dan Taylor filming "North vs South" in the Launceston City Park

Thrilling high speed shots on the racing train

Dan Taylor's epic guitar solo in "Thank God I'm A Tassie Boy"

Dan again in "Thank God I'm a Tassie Boy"

In the basement with Sam Graudins preparing to film "The Vigilant News"

Cassie X Facetimes with Karen McMullen in "FaceTime"

The Duplo Masters logo

Dan Taylor touching up Chop Chop while shooting "Thank God I'm a Tassie Boy"

Director Justin Smith cooked curried sausages for the first time ever for a scant couple of seconds of screen time in "We're Bogan"

Russell Redmond shooting finger guns in "Finger Guns"

Russell Redmond poses for socially distanced football at Aurora Stadium

Filming at UTAS Stadium for "AFL With Restrictions"

D20s we used while shooting "AFL With Restrictions"

Russell shows Hamish Levis how to do a proper finger gun while shooting "Finger Guns"

Dan Taylor dressed up for "Jim's Social Distancing"

A close up of a Cheepa plush while shooting "Too Burnie To Handle"

Justin walks several kilometres backwards whilst shooting popular music video "OK Boomer", featuring Life Member Daryl Peebles and Eve Marsland

Lizy Spanos shows off the fabulous Dino Dana outfit made for "Wino Dana"

The Hobart Cat Centre was out of cats when we visited to shoot, so we had to make do with their demo cat

Someone at Old Nick swapped the label on the hand sanitiser...

Mel Ransley and Russell Redmond work on a challenging all day shoot at the Cat Centre for "Pundemic"

"Pundemic" sketch cast Harris, Ruby, Ben, Gus, Mel and Sam ready to film at sponsor Mood Food in New Norfolk

Shooting a real cat at the Hobart Cat Centre

Life Member Craig Wellington and Pussay Poppins preparing to shoot "The Duke of Wellington"

The Theatre Royal kindly allowed us to shoot our closing number "Back In Theatres"

Daryl and Jill embrace their inner Play School host whilst performing "Wrinkly Rhymes"

Closing number on the Theatre Royal stage!

Recording pickups for "Duplo Masters" at React Drama School

Opening Number was shot at Old Nick's Letitia Street HQ

Our fabulous dance troupe learning the ropes ahead of the opening and closing number shoots

Shooting opening number, which was done in a single take. We recorded the whole thing maybe eight or nine times

A promotional shot of Christine taken for "Quarantine"

Christine Green shooting against the green screen for "Quarantine"

Dan Taylor and Russell Redmond assembling the costume for "The Man Deloraine"

Dan Taylor strikes a pose in this promotional image of The Man Deloraine

Harrison helping on the shoot for opening number "Lock Down Uni Revue"

Ruby, Daniela, Ange, Jason and Kyra dancing at Old Nick's Letitia Street HQ

The final pose of opening number "Lock Down Uni Revue"

Harrison in "Emergency Response Action Figure Paula" in a shot taken demonstrating the closed captions, one of the factors which delayed Pundemic's release

The director's young son Ernie scopes out the cartons of Blu-Rays

Julie and production manager Jaen packing copies of Pundemic for crowdfunding backers

Shooting the helicopters for the incredibly high quality special effects

Harrison playing with dolls for "Emergency Response Action Figure Paula", a requested name drop in the show, and also the very last sketch filmed to complete Pundemic.

Setting up to film our news anchors at Old Nick HQ

Dan Taylor's take on Animalia unfortunately arrived too late to be included as a sketch, but the director still has it on his bookshelf. Maybe it'll make an appearance in a later Revue...

The master discs of Uni Revue: Pundemic ready to be shipped to our manufacturer