So remember when we all feared for our youth for a few hours after watching the elementary school production of Scarface on YouTube? Well, never fear: it wasn’t actually a real production. Nope, turns out filmmaker Marc Klasfeld — the man behind dozens of music videos and commercials, as well as some indie films — and his production company Rockhard Films put the whole fudgin’ thing together. Shortly after the video went viral, Klasfeld called up EW to talk about his YouTube hit. (Watch it again embedded below.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So you found yourself quite a viral hit here with Scarface.
MARC KLASFELD: A lot of people probably know this about me, but I’ve done hundreds upon hundreds of music videos, commercials, and virals. So for me, this was just one more thing that I did. It wasn’t this one-off thing that I did. I did a movie. I did a comedy-satire about the Los Angeles riots called The L.A. Riot Spectacular. I’ve done dozens of controversial music videos. Just last year, I did a very popular viral called “Hammer Pants Dance.” So this is something that is just part of what I do. There are many things that I’m uncredited for, too. But this one just happened to hit that certain nerve and just kind of took off into the pop culture heavens and just exploded. And it’s been pretty interesting to watch.
So how did the idea come about?
This particular idea, I just thought it would be interesting. I thought it was funny. I thought it was satirical. I love viral videos. I’m a huge fan of viral videos. I’ve made a ton of them, and I’m always watching them. And I thought this would be nice fit into the kind of YouTube arena of viral videos. And I was right.
And obviously, you’re a fan of Scarface.
Who isn’t a fan of Scarface? It’s such an iconic movie, [and] people get to relive it through this. It reminds me of an Alien Art Farm music video I did years back called “Smooth Criminal,” where we parodied Michael Jackson. People loved that video so much, because they were living Michael Jackson through another video that wasn’t of him.
The kids were actors. How did you get permission from their parents?
It wasn’t a problem at all. I’ve worked with kids many times. And I have a casting director that I work with all the time. And he helped me cast the kids. And the parents were 100 percent supportive. Particularly the lead kid. The parents are professional. They get it. [Kids are] subjected to things much worse than this every day. So it’s a little bit shocking to us [to see] some of the outrage. Though there has been a lot of positivity around this, it’s just kind of weird, because there is more violence in the Avatar trailer that’s aimed at children or in violent video games. But the parents were completely on board.
A lot of people were upset because they thought it was real. What did you think about that?
Again, I enjoy making provocative art. I like stirring debate and causing conversation. You’re going to get two sides of the coin no matter what you do. People are going to love and hate everything. People loved and hated Avatar. People loved and hated the Jennifer Aniston movie. And people love and hate this. I guess that’s a part of having something that’s successful out there. There’s got to be certain people that hate it for people to love it.
How long did it take to put together?
It took a little while, because we had to get the acting right. So there was a lot of casting, and we came up with some amazing actors. It was a one-take, so it was pretty much just choosing the right take. About a month altogether.
What did the kids think about it? Did they know what they were doing?
They’re seven to 10 years old. Again, to them, they have heard the f-word. They’ve seen more violence in their everyday lives for as long as they can remember. So for this, they’ve seen worse things than this all the time. So this wasn’t that big of a deal for them.
What’s in the future for you?
I’m constantly working on all kinds of projects. So I don’t know. Who knows? I don’t know how I’ll top myself with this, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.
He sounds like a douche, but the video is good. I especially like when the lead is getting shot and he’s just bouncing around
Word.
This video would only have been cool if some school actually did it for real. Now that I know its fake, it sucks.
Holy cow, the ego on this guy! Ugh.
Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one who realized that while reading this. “Well I did this, and I did that, and when I made this…”
Did you also catch that HE called EW up?
Wow, this guy’s full of himself. I almost wish I’d never read this, because it’s kinda ruined the video a bit.
Wow, egotistical *and* inarticulate: how’d they get all those features into one person? Pffft.
Guessing this guy isn’t a parent. I must admit that I love the video, but I would never let my kids near this creep. He acts as if every 7-10 year old has witnessesed a murder.
yea…I don’t know very many 7 year olds who have violence the scale of Scarface in their ‘everyday lives’ ….
He’s talking about TV. Come one, get your head out the sand, people. I am a parent. This is hilarious. Your stuck up attitude will only prove you out-of-touch when your kids come of age. Be real.
the fact that it was “fake” doesn’t make it any more appropriate.
I agree. I assumed it was put together by a non-school entity when I first saw it, but it would be inappropriate to ask young children to speak these lines no matter who it is that asks them to do it.
Is it inappropriate to have child actors star in horror movies? Look at some of the film roles that Dakota Fanning and Haley Joel Osment have done? Is this video really any different?
Nobody who has ever met a small-town stage-parent would be surprised that they could EASILY cast each of these roles, with literally hundreds of children available to choose from. For every Michael Lohan who gets rich and famous at the expense of his family’s (and daughter’s) privacy, dignity, and emotional stability, there are hundreds of Balloon Boy Dads just waiting for the chance to who*re out their spawn.
This happens more and more these days. Everyone says that it’s ok for kids to do a lot of things because it’s nothing they haven’t seen or done before. Well, that’s the problem in the first place isn’t it?
I’m a young liberal guy with no kids, and I think there’s something wrong with this video having kids talk and act that way. This guy IS a douche too, “I’ve done hundreds of videos”. Also, they did it much better in Rushmore, back in 1998!
At least one person on here has pulled the Rushmore reference. Well played, sir. I like how this goof plays it off as though it is his original idea. AND he is actually proud of his Alien Ant Farm video.
Douche.
Healthy ego on this guy.
Okay this guy is a total jerk but the video is actually pretty funny, I’m not sure if I agree that kids see “worse things everyday” analogy but hearing “Fudge” a lot in this did make me laugh admittidly
Why can’t people enjoy a good april fool’s joke?
This guy comes across as a complete narcissist. I bet he’s not even giving credit to the other half of the creative team… because I’m sure there is one.
Wow, people really liked this? Had to turn it off after 10-15 seconds. Can’t believe this was article worthy.