Steve Martin vs. Terre Haute, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana | Film Feature
Comedy, Documentary
In 1979, Steve Martin fired the first shot in a hilarious 40-year feud. In 2019, Terre Haute goes nuclear. This documentary will tell how Hollywood and the American Midwest can coexist through Bluegrass Music and Manure. Join us for the creation of a doc, a movie, a legacy, and a festival.
Steve Martin vs. Terre Haute, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana | Film Feature
Comedy, Documentary
In 1979, Steve Martin fired the first shot in a hilarious 40-year feud. In 2019, Terre Haute goes nuclear. This documentary will tell how Hollywood and the American Midwest can coexist through Bluegrass Music and Manure. Join us for the creation of a doc, a movie, a legacy, and a festival.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
From the Wild & Crazy People that brought you these:
Comes their latest Wild & Crazy Adventure. And this time....it's TRUE...
In Association with:
The Indiana State University Alumni Foundation, and the cooperation of some members of the Terre Haute City Council.
THE STORY.
In 1979, Steve Martin called Terre Haute, Indiana the “most nowhere city in America” in Playboy Magazine,
He said Terre Haute:
- Smelled.
- Had nowhere to eat downtown after 6 pm.
- Had bad TV reception with only 3 channels that got mostly fertilizer commercials.
While all of this may have been true, the City invited Martin back to show him what was good about Terre Haute. Steve Martin took them up on their offer in conjunction with the pending release of his first movie, "The Jerk", and Terre Haute treated him to a tour of the city like no other:
- He was given a rental Chevy Malibu with the windows smashed to drive in.
- He inspected the ammonia fertilzer plant.
- He was driven through their first automatic car wash.
- He was treated to lunch at The Shuffle Inn.
- He toured Jones and Bevy's Farm Supply and Tractor Repair shop where he was given a $10 gift certificate.
- He was stuck for hours at an infamous train crossing.
- And on the steps of City Hall he was given a plaque proclaming him "Jerk of the Year" 1979.
In front of the entire City, Martin admitted he was wrong and announced he would have the World Premiere of "The Jerk" in their city. It seemed the spat was over and eveyone was friends.
However...
Martin continued to hilariously pick on the city for 40 years on TV, in the press, and in movies such as “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” and “Dead Men Don’t Where Plaid”, where Terre Haute is destroyed by a Nazi Cheese Mold. In the trailer for DMDWP, Martin claimed he made another movie "on location in Terre Haute, Indiana" called “Manure for the Millions”.
He even showed his film footage of his trip to Terre Haute on Steve Allen's show while providing jabs and jokes as commentary, encouraging the whole country to laugh with him at the City. As recently as 2013, Martin said in an interview, “I’m sure Terre Haute has two-story buildings by now.” In Steve's own words:
On the 40th anniversary of Martin’s hilarious revenge visit to the city, Terre Haute will deal the final blow by inviting Martin back once more to see how the city has developed.
The documenary will showcase the 1979 origin of the feud, the four decades it has raged, and the 2019 attempt to get Martin to come back for such events as the naming of The Steve Martin Sewage Treatment Plant. or The Steve Martin Ditch, or the The Steve Martin Manhole Cover at the "Crossroads of America". We will also work to create The Steve Martin Manure & Bluegrass Music Festival.
And we will finally do what Steve Martin jokingly said he did, but did NOT actually do: We will produce the movie 40 years in development: “Manure For the Millions”!
We'd love to take you along for the ride every step of the way--the development, the meetings, the creatvity, the production, the screenings, the festival and the fun. Experience it in person in Terre Haute as our guest, or via the internet. But, either way, join us.
We're gonna' party like it's 1979.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Weekend Interview shoot in Terre Haute
Costs $1,500
Crew, hotel, food, and gas for our first round of interviews plus meetings with the City and Mayor.
Second Production Weekend in Terre Haute
Costs $1,500
Crew, hotel, food, and gas for ou second round of interviews plus meetings with the City and Mayor.
Website, Poster, and Graphic Design
Costs $1,000
Pay cartoonist to complete poster (rough featured) & register and create website & hire designer.
Misc Equipment
Costs $1,000
We have cameras, lights, & mics. Need lavs, black backdrop, & consumables: cards, bulbs, tape, etc.
Editing Interview Footage
Costs $2,000
To complete a rough assemblage of Interview Footage from Terre Haute Shoots.
Hire Social Media Coordinator and Content Creator
Costs $5,000
SM is vital. It's a full-time job. Need a team focused on it daily, creating content & excitement.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Gary Wood plans to be an overnight success....probably not tonight.
Your contribution will allow Gary to pull the same creative team together that produced "Saving Star Wars" and "Open Mic'rs".
Gary has been attached to the comedy and entertainment business for over 25 years as a comedian, writer, critic, instructor, marketing coordinator, social media expert, consultant, event coordinator, producer and was the Asst. Operations Manager for Crackers Comedy Club in Indianapolis, IN during the 1990’s. He has performed, produced or consulted for comedy clubs from Myrtle Beach to Milwaukee, Cleveland to Chicago.
As a performer he opened for such acts as Chris Rock, The Amazing Jonathan, Kevin Meaney, Tommy Davidson, Pat Kilbane, Mark Curry, A. Whitney Brown, Costaki Economopolis, Rodney Carrington, Tim Wilson, Etta May and many more and maintains personal and professional relationship with a variety of talent. A native Hoosier, Mr. Wood also has an intricate knowledge of the Indianapolis and rural areas surrounding it. As a club owner and booker, he has produced and coordinated shows starring Barry Crimmins, Mike Armstrong, Dave Hill, Donnie Baker, Greg Hahn, John Mulrooney, John Wing, Auggie Smith, and more.
Mr. Wood created WoodWorks Films, a small, sole-ownership, video production company with nothing but an idea. It specialized in corporate videos, television reality shows, comedy shorts, music videos, feature films, screenwriting, video post production, and more.
He has produced corporate videos for such business as IMAX, Hatworld/Lids, FoamXPerts, Likens’ Outfitters, Herron School of Art & Design, The Indiana State Museum, and more. He has also produced music videos for Saving Abel, PictureYes, Corey Cox, and more.
As a feature film producer, he wrote, financed, produced, directed and edited two award-winning feature films, one based on his early years as a stand-up called “Open Mic’rs” that traveled around the country, starred Cindy (Caddyshack) Morgan and many comedians such as Etta May, Dave Dugan and more, and even won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress at the Broken Lamp Film Festival in Dayton.
Left: The cast of "Open Mic'rs" at the IMAX premiere. Middle: Cindy Morgan and Gary at the IMAX premiere. Left: Artie Widgery, Ciny, Gary and Rupert at the IMAX premiere. All agreed that Gary should soon shave his head.
His first film, “Saving Star Wars” has achieved cult status with showings all over the world and on the Internet. It starred Dave (Darth Vader) Prowse, and won Best Picture, Acting and Audience Choice Awards all over the America and at the prestigious London Science Fiction Film Festival in England, where he was nominated for Best Screenplay.
Left: The cast and crew of "Saving Star Wars", including Dave (Darth Vader) Prowse. Right: Gary encourages the cast to appreciate how clever he is as they go over the script.
As a freelance writer, he was a regular contributor to Cinefantastique Magazine and other national and international publications and well as the books, “The Stephen King Story” (A&M), “The Stephen King Encyclopedia”, “Stephen King Goes to the Movies”, and “War of Words: The Censorship Debate” (A&M). He has interviewed celebrities and artists from Stephen King to Rob Reiner, from Barbara Bush to Denise Crosby, and more. He was one of only two journalists allowed on the set of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II”; The other was Barbara Walters.
Gary's first celebrity interview: Louis Gossett Jr. Published in Starlog Magzine. Yes, those are "Writer Patches" on his elbows. He still wears them today and has yet to fully button up his shirt.
Mr. Wood is also a veteran of the United States Navy. HIs favorite color is red, but don't bring it up.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
From the Wild & Crazy People that brought you these:
Comes their latest Wild & Crazy Adventure. And this time....it's TRUE...
In Association with:
The Indiana State University Alumni Foundation, and the cooperation of some members of the Terre Haute City Council.
THE STORY.
In 1979, Steve Martin called Terre Haute, Indiana the “most nowhere city in America” in Playboy Magazine,
He said Terre Haute:
- Smelled.
- Had nowhere to eat downtown after 6 pm.
- Had bad TV reception with only 3 channels that got mostly fertilizer commercials.
While all of this may have been true, the City invited Martin back to show him what was good about Terre Haute. Steve Martin took them up on their offer in conjunction with the pending release of his first movie, "The Jerk", and Terre Haute treated him to a tour of the city like no other:
- He was given a rental Chevy Malibu with the windows smashed to drive in.
- He inspected the ammonia fertilzer plant.
- He was driven through their first automatic car wash.
- He was treated to lunch at The Shuffle Inn.
- He toured Jones and Bevy's Farm Supply and Tractor Repair shop where he was given a $10 gift certificate.
- He was stuck for hours at an infamous train crossing.
- And on the steps of City Hall he was given a plaque proclaming him "Jerk of the Year" 1979.
In front of the entire City, Martin admitted he was wrong and announced he would have the World Premiere of "The Jerk" in their city. It seemed the spat was over and eveyone was friends.
However...
Martin continued to hilariously pick on the city for 40 years on TV, in the press, and in movies such as “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” and “Dead Men Don’t Where Plaid”, where Terre Haute is destroyed by a Nazi Cheese Mold. In the trailer for DMDWP, Martin claimed he made another movie "on location in Terre Haute, Indiana" called “Manure for the Millions”.
He even showed his film footage of his trip to Terre Haute on Steve Allen's show while providing jabs and jokes as commentary, encouraging the whole country to laugh with him at the City. As recently as 2013, Martin said in an interview, “I’m sure Terre Haute has two-story buildings by now.” In Steve's own words:
On the 40th anniversary of Martin’s hilarious revenge visit to the city, Terre Haute will deal the final blow by inviting Martin back once more to see how the city has developed.
The documenary will showcase the 1979 origin of the feud, the four decades it has raged, and the 2019 attempt to get Martin to come back for such events as the naming of The Steve Martin Sewage Treatment Plant. or The Steve Martin Ditch, or the The Steve Martin Manhole Cover at the "Crossroads of America". We will also work to create The Steve Martin Manure & Bluegrass Music Festival.
And we will finally do what Steve Martin jokingly said he did, but did NOT actually do: We will produce the movie 40 years in development: “Manure For the Millions”!
We'd love to take you along for the ride every step of the way--the development, the meetings, the creatvity, the production, the screenings, the festival and the fun. Experience it in person in Terre Haute as our guest, or via the internet. But, either way, join us.
We're gonna' party like it's 1979.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Weekend Interview shoot in Terre Haute
Costs $1,500
Crew, hotel, food, and gas for our first round of interviews plus meetings with the City and Mayor.
Second Production Weekend in Terre Haute
Costs $1,500
Crew, hotel, food, and gas for ou second round of interviews plus meetings with the City and Mayor.
Website, Poster, and Graphic Design
Costs $1,000
Pay cartoonist to complete poster (rough featured) & register and create website & hire designer.
Misc Equipment
Costs $1,000
We have cameras, lights, & mics. Need lavs, black backdrop, & consumables: cards, bulbs, tape, etc.
Editing Interview Footage
Costs $2,000
To complete a rough assemblage of Interview Footage from Terre Haute Shoots.
Hire Social Media Coordinator and Content Creator
Costs $5,000
SM is vital. It's a full-time job. Need a team focused on it daily, creating content & excitement.
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Gary Wood plans to be an overnight success....probably not tonight.
Your contribution will allow Gary to pull the same creative team together that produced "Saving Star Wars" and "Open Mic'rs".
Gary has been attached to the comedy and entertainment business for over 25 years as a comedian, writer, critic, instructor, marketing coordinator, social media expert, consultant, event coordinator, producer and was the Asst. Operations Manager for Crackers Comedy Club in Indianapolis, IN during the 1990’s. He has performed, produced or consulted for comedy clubs from Myrtle Beach to Milwaukee, Cleveland to Chicago.
As a performer he opened for such acts as Chris Rock, The Amazing Jonathan, Kevin Meaney, Tommy Davidson, Pat Kilbane, Mark Curry, A. Whitney Brown, Costaki Economopolis, Rodney Carrington, Tim Wilson, Etta May and many more and maintains personal and professional relationship with a variety of talent. A native Hoosier, Mr. Wood also has an intricate knowledge of the Indianapolis and rural areas surrounding it. As a club owner and booker, he has produced and coordinated shows starring Barry Crimmins, Mike Armstrong, Dave Hill, Donnie Baker, Greg Hahn, John Mulrooney, John Wing, Auggie Smith, and more.
Mr. Wood created WoodWorks Films, a small, sole-ownership, video production company with nothing but an idea. It specialized in corporate videos, television reality shows, comedy shorts, music videos, feature films, screenwriting, video post production, and more.
He has produced corporate videos for such business as IMAX, Hatworld/Lids, FoamXPerts, Likens’ Outfitters, Herron School of Art & Design, The Indiana State Museum, and more. He has also produced music videos for Saving Abel, PictureYes, Corey Cox, and more.
As a feature film producer, he wrote, financed, produced, directed and edited two award-winning feature films, one based on his early years as a stand-up called “Open Mic’rs” that traveled around the country, starred Cindy (Caddyshack) Morgan and many comedians such as Etta May, Dave Dugan and more, and even won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress at the Broken Lamp Film Festival in Dayton.
Left: The cast of "Open Mic'rs" at the IMAX premiere. Middle: Cindy Morgan and Gary at the IMAX premiere. Left: Artie Widgery, Ciny, Gary and Rupert at the IMAX premiere. All agreed that Gary should soon shave his head.
His first film, “Saving Star Wars” has achieved cult status with showings all over the world and on the Internet. It starred Dave (Darth Vader) Prowse, and won Best Picture, Acting and Audience Choice Awards all over the America and at the prestigious London Science Fiction Film Festival in England, where he was nominated for Best Screenplay.
Left: The cast and crew of "Saving Star Wars", including Dave (Darth Vader) Prowse. Right: Gary encourages the cast to appreciate how clever he is as they go over the script.
As a freelance writer, he was a regular contributor to Cinefantastique Magazine and other national and international publications and well as the books, “The Stephen King Story” (A&M), “The Stephen King Encyclopedia”, “Stephen King Goes to the Movies”, and “War of Words: The Censorship Debate” (A&M). He has interviewed celebrities and artists from Stephen King to Rob Reiner, from Barbara Bush to Denise Crosby, and more. He was one of only two journalists allowed on the set of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II”; The other was Barbara Walters.
Gary's first celebrity interview: Louis Gossett Jr. Published in Starlog Magzine. Yes, those are "Writer Patches" on his elbows. He still wears them today and has yet to fully button up his shirt.
Mr. Wood is also a veteran of the United States Navy. HIs favorite color is red, but don't bring it up.