Tragedy + Comedy = Spoof Health Care PSAs

CREDITS:

Credits are important! Especially to the people who make this stuff. So all the video credits are here, in small overlooked writing at the very end just like usual. But also, it should be noted that the creation of Funny or Die, apart from YouTube, has been a major catalyst for all this. YouTube lowered the barriers to entry for everyone, but Funny or Die created a gathering place, and a community, and Will Ferrell made it a cool place to give up a few hours of your unpaid creative time to cameo across it. Ergo, Hamm, Milano, Mandy Moore, Natalie Portman, Lindsay Lohan). In the credits for the Prop 8 vid below, you’ll note a “thank you to Adam McKay for the nudge” — McKay’s politics are no secret, and his role as a catalyst for this kind of humor-as-activism should not be understated. Funny or Die has also helped to mint new behind-the-scenes stars — again on the credits page you’ll notice a few repeat names (Jake Szymanski, Drew Antzis, Eric Appel, who did the Lohan video) — Funny or Die is a whole new space in which to prove yourself. And change the world. Pretty good deal. Credits below.

“Don’t Ruin American Healthcare!”
Written by: Rob Kutner & Sheryl Zohn
Directed by: David Brundige
Edited by: Micah Baskir
Cinematography: Chris Freilich
Artwork: Annette Price

Special Thanks to:
Alissa Ford, Ted Lyde, Googy Gress, Amir Talai, Ruth Silveira, Tim Carvell, and Eric Drysdale

“Death Panels Are Real”
Credits: Starring Seth Morris, Jon Daly, and June Raphael.
Written by Seth Morris.
Directed by Brad Schulz.
Makeup by Kat Bardot.
Wardrobe by Leslie Schilling.

“Death Panel Advisors”
Credits: Starring: Brandon Johnson, June Raphael, Peggy Chilton, Donald Monroe, and Seth Morris.
Written by: Seth Morris
Directed by: Ryan Perez
Director of Photography: Antonio Scarlata
Visual Effects: Dustin Bowser
Makeup by: Kat Bardot
Produced by: Sean Boyle

“Protect Insurance Companies”
Will Ferrell, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant, Masi Oka, Jordana Spiro, Linda Cardellini, Donald Faison
Written by Lauren Palmigiano, Chad Carter & Peter Koechley
Directed by Drew Antzis
Produced by Chris Bruss, Lauren Palmigiano, Laura Dawn of MoveOn.org & Peter Salett
Edited by Drew Antzis & Laura Dawn

“Lex Luthor Bailout”
Credits: Starring: Jon Hamm
Featuring: Johanna Parker
DP: Christian Sprenger
Written and Directed by: Eric Appel

“The Uncler”
Starring Seth Morris, Alyssa Milano, Zoe Jarman, Josh Simpson, Ryan Perez and the California Grocery Mart guy.
Shot by Christian Sprenger.
Written and Directed by Jake Szymanski.
Produced by Mike Farah, Lauren Palmigiano, and Josh Simpson.
Special Thanks to
Maeve’s Residuals
11042 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604

“Wall Street Beggar”
Written, directed and produced by: Andrew Pifko
Cast : Andrew PIfko Lazarus Powell

“Prop 8: The Musical”
Conceived and Written (six weeks later than he shoulda) by-Marc Shaiman
Directed and Staged by: Adam Shankman
Produced by Adam Shankman, Marc Shaiman and Mike Farah
Associate Producer: Lauren Palmigiano
Edited by Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis
Cast (in order of appearance)
California Gays and The People That Love Them
Jordan Ballard, Margaret Cho, Barrett Foa, J.B. Ghuman, John Hill, Andy Richter, Maya Rudolph, Rashad Naylor, Nicole Parker
Proposition 8’ers and The People That Follow Them
Prop 8 Leader- John C. Reilly
Prop 8 Leader’s #1 Wife- Allison Janney
Prop 8 Leader’s #2 Wife- Kathy Najimy
Riffing Prop 8’er-Jenifer Lewis
A Preacher- Craig Robinson
Scary Catholic School Girls From Hell-Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke
The Frightened Villagers
Katharine “Kooks” Leonard, Seth Morris, Denise “Esi!” Piane, Lucian Piane, Richard Read, Seth Redford, Quinton Strack, Tate Taylor, Brunson Green
Jesus Christ
Jack Black
A Very Smart Fellow
Neil Patrick Harris
Piano Player
Marc “Marc” Shaiman
—-
Co-Choreographer: Anne “Mama” Fletcher
Recorded and Mixed by Frank Wolf & Greg Hayes
Director of Photography: Michael Barrett
Camera Operators: Jake Szymanski, Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis
Production designer: Nelson Coates
Costume designer: Shanna Knecht
Costume assistants: Leslie Schilling, Annalisa Adams, Elizabeth Abate
Hair: Laura Sanchez
Make-up: Shauna O’Toole, Atticuss Sharp
Production sound: Bradford Craig
Music editor: Lisa Jaime
Music assistant: Brian Naguit
Snacky: “Snacky”
Special Thanks to Adam McKay for the nudge