MovieChat Forums > Ah Pook Is Here Discussion > Why is it edited?

Why is it edited?

posted 17 years ago by malexander
2 replies | jump to latest

In the original Dead City Radio audio recording of this poem, as well as the animation's original theater-released edit, "Ah Pook" concludes with this quote:

"Bryon Gysin had the all-purpose nuclear bedtime story... the all-purpose bedtime story, in fact: Some trillions of years ago, a sloppy, dirty giant flicked grease from his finger. One of those gobs of grease is our universe on its way to the floor... Splat."

In every version of the video I've been able to find so far, the audio has been replaced with a different Burroughs poem, "No More Hitlers, No More Stalins." They tried to re-edit the animation to match, but not very well, and I think it ruins the whole ending. Does anyone know why this is? Was there some problem with the Gysin estate? And most importantly, where can I find the original animation cut?

[–] studioaka 12 years ago

Hi Malexander - Found your question by accident doing a search on Ah Pook Is Here (1994) - all these years later! - and thought I'd better clear up the Q...

Yep, you are quite correct about the line that was missing line - at the point where we cut into "No More Stalins,No More Hitlers " - but we never had the Bryon Gyson line as part of the film at any time – due to the reinterpretation of the narrative we made. It was a deliberate choice and part of the original film in order to drive Pook into the reflective & lucid thoughts that make up the 'second part' of the film. Also it always snapped us back to reality when mentioning Brion's name so it had to go (see below)..

William graciously approved the script edit & addition in the spirit of his own habit of cutting up and re-editing his own works ( as of course he did with Hal Wilner on the recordings that inspired this film adaptation) and was very kind about what we did with his words ( even when we added his version of 'Ich bin von fuss bis kopf'!) and I treasure his letters still.

So, we never shot the 'Brion Gysin' line.. ( and yep, maybe we cut the best bit!) so I guess it will just have to rest in peace…splat!

Well spotted and hope that did not spoil it – its an antique now!

Phil.H.

[–] PunchB 11 years ago

Thanks for replying here on IMDb. Just watched the short for the first time and really enjoyed it.