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Weird Al Yankovic's Brain
By Jonathan Weichsel
The first Orange County Fair, held in 1890, only consisted of a horse race and a few exhibits. The fair has really grown in the past 119 years, because this year fairgoers are treated to Al's Brain - A 3-D Journey Through The Human Brain with Weird Al Yankovic, a 3-D extravaganza that actually journeys inside the brain of one of America's premier humorists.
I was lucky enough to attend the world premier of the ten minute film, which is playing exclusively all summer long at the Orange County Fair.
Since this was the premiere, Weird Al was hanging around the lobby, shaking hands, mingling, and horsing around with the kids who showed up. I was able to pull him aside for a few minutes to ask him some questions about the upcoming film.
Valley Scene: Is this the first film you've directed since UHF?
Weird Al: I've directed music videos. But this is the first 3D movie about the brain I've directed.
Valley Scene: You seem to really get along well with kids. What do you hope children will get out of this movie?
Weird Al: The same as I hope everyone will get out of it. The movie is educational and funny, and hopefully people will have a great time and walk out of the theater having learned something.
Just then the doors to the theater opened so I went inside and took my seat. The film itself was a real blast. It starts out with Weird Al giving a lecture on the workings of the brain in his signature family friendly, good-natured style. During the lecture, Weird Al is assisted by an animated owl that flies about showing off the film's state of the art 3-D effects, as well as many celebrity guests, including cult comedy stars Tim and Eric.
There are many comic scenes, including one where Al floats off the screen and out into the audience. But the real reason to go see the film is the three minute music video for the song Al's Brain. The visuals in this video are so psychedelic, move by so quickly, and are full of so much vibrant color that I would be hard pressed to put them into words.
The song itself is about the workings of the human brain. Since it is a Weird Al song, it is funny, quirky, and full of catchy hooks. The visuals portray, in 3-D CGI, the workings of the human brain as Weird Al is describing them in comedic lyrics. We see brain cells, nerves, electrical impulses, chemicals, and the various lobes and cortexes all working with one another during the normal operation of the brain. The various parts of the brain are animated in a colorful, cartoon-like, psychedelic style that just blew me away. The experience was more like taking a roller coaster ride through the brain, rather than just watching a movie about the brain.
After the film, I got to speak with Michael J. Morreale, the visual effects supervisor on the film, and VP of productions at Amalgamated Pixels.
Valley Scene: What was it like working with Weird Al?
Michael Morreale: It was a wonderful experience. Al came in knowing very little about 3-D, but he was a quick learn, and was always willing to listen to us and to rely on our experience.
I also bumped into the director of photography, Peter Anderson. When I asked him what it was like working with Weird Al, he replied, possibly referencing the talking owl featured in the first part of the film, "It was a hoot."
So, check out the Orange County Fair this year. There are tones of activities and rides, lots of food, and fairgoers get to go inside Al's Brain.
The Orange County Fair is located at 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, right off the 405. Al's Brain is free with admission and runs through August 9th.