When my friends at Free Press informed me about their campaign to stop the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, I was fired up. Part of that was just having watched the movie Fired Up!, but it was more so because I care deeply about this issue. That's why I offered to produce a series of videos parodying those omnipresent T-Mobile ads. I figured having some fun to get people's attention wouldn't be a terrible idea.
Now, I know what you're thinking, but I don't want any parades. Nor do I want any new Twitter followers or someone to create a Wikipedia entry for me (that somehow doesn't already exist).
What I want is to show you how passionate I truly am. And to do that, I'd like to share with you my process in producing these videos, but I feel uncomfortable talking about myself. Like I said, this is only about the cause.
Thankfully, some of the people who worked on the videos were willing to share their thoughts about my un-yielding selflessness that refused to yield.
Andy DeYoung - Director: I could tell Eddie really cared about the subject, but make no mistake: These videos were a vanity project for Eddie. I wasn't allowed to say "action" or "cut." Instead, he made me say, "Eddie" for both. It got really confusing.
I like doing things my own way, no doubt about it. And that just comes from wanting to make the project work. Also, I think Andy is confusing the word "vanity" for "passion."
Anyway, one of the points that I needed to convey about this merger is the estimated 20,000 people who could lose their jobs. That's why--short of stepping in front of the camera--I felt it was crucial that I put as much of myself into the role of the T-Mobile employee as I could.
Casey Feigh - Actor: Eddie insisted I use only his clothes. I think he has some strange thing for seeing his own pants on camera being worn by someone else. Weirdo.
The way I see it, if I'm not "there," then I'm not doing my job correctly.
One of the videos mentions how, if this merger goes through, we're going to see AT&T/T-Mobile, alongside Verizon, lording over 80 percent of the wireless market. That's an insane amount control over any industry. Thankfully, this was something I knew I'd be able to bring out of the actors representing T-Mobile and AT&T.
Milana Vayntrub - Actor: I couldn't get any feedback because he was on the phone the whole time with his publicist. Though, I could swear it sounded like he was talking to a telemarketer.
To be fair, my Dad is both my publicist and a freelance telemarker.
Amanda Lund - Actor: He tried to fire me. Twice. Apparently I wasn't "showing him enough respect." But if you don't have an M.D. or Ph.D., you're not allowed to make people call you doctor!
Like I said, dedication. (Wait, did I say that? Whatever. Still applies.)
I knew I needed to focus on how this is really going to affect consumers. The bottom line is that less choice is going to lead to less innovation and higher prices. So, when I talk about my passion, I mean knowing the choices I have to make to get the most out of my actors.
Zach Huddleston - Actor/Co-Writer: I'm pretty sure Eddie said he was going to feed us. I mean, I saw him walk in with two pizzas, but then we never saw the pizzas again. I'm hypoglycemic.
That's why when Zach says, "I'll never again work for a megalomaniac whose fervor for his causes is only surpassed by his ego," I know he's talking about me. Because Zach always calls me a "megalomaniac."
But it's the motivations behind that fervor that are so important. We broke up AT&T for a reason, and now they're slowly putting themselves back together. No good.
I believe in this cause. The more I can support campaigns like this, the more satisfied I am. I don't care about the credits on my IMDb page that should have been updated months ago or how many people add me to their circles on Google Plus. In the end, it's all about passion. And that's just something Dr. Eddie Geller has in his blood.
Now go check out these videos.