Sin in the Suburbs 1993
After achieving my goal of directing, I worked hard to stir up more projects. My next project after Bimbos was supposed to be Denise DeBlasio, Suburban PI. A film noir comedy about the secretary of a private eye who becomes a detective when her boss disappears was set in the world of mini-malls and suburbia. Co-written with Lisa Gottlieb (director of Just One of the Guys) for me to direct and produced by Delicious Vinyl (record label of "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina") for Fox Night at the Movies. The only picture the new Fox Channel shot was Encino Man starring Brendon Fraser.
Next, I created a sexy pool boy comedy with the tagline, "He's hot, he's sizzling, he's Cabana Boy!" Director and actor Nick Cassavetes co-wrote one of many drafts with me to direct about a sexy pool boy who falls in love with his rich Beverly Hills boss. I pitched Cabana Boy around town, where an executive at CBS passed. The following season, I watched the CBS movie of the week, Prince of Bel Air, starring Mark Harmon as a sexy pool boy who falls for his wealthy boss, Kirstie Alley. I learned that there is nothing new under the sun. It depends on who gets there first.
After that, I developed a mini-golf comedy set in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for Abe Vigoda and Milton Berle (who were in their 80s). We lunched at the Beverly Hills Friar's Club to discuss. The guys were on board. Producers, not so much! Years later Cocoon, starring old guys energized by alien cocoons in a pool, was a hit.
Tom Coleman of Atlantic Pictures (producer of my film Modern Girls) brought me the title The Legend of the Swedish Bikini. I co-wrote a few drafts to direct. The story was about strong Viking women caught in a storm, who go through a time tunnel, only to arrive at Venice Beach, California, present day. The beefy, husky Viking gals become super sexy during their journey, as depicted by the real-life Swedish Bikini Team. Romantic adventures ensue, but we never get beyond development.
My favorite project never made was the sequel to Valley Girl, titled Vally Girl 2. Brad Krevoy briefly owned the rights and brought me on to write and direct. Valley Girl, directed by Martha Coolidge and launching Nick Cage's career, is one of my favorite films. After several failed script attempts, including one version where Krevoy partnered me with Andrew Breibart (political journalist), who set the film in New Orleans (Valley Girl, really?), the rights expired. A decade later, a fluffy version of the sequel appeared on cable.
Tired of the dangling carrot of next week, next month, waiting for green lights on movie projects, I went to Charlie Band at Full Moon Pictures (produced Assault of the Killer Bimbos) with a low-budget idea, Sin in the Suburbs. Based on a kitschy 1964 film of the same name, my version was a series of short vignettes about a go-go dancer accidentally electrocuted in her go-go cage. She is given special powers to grant sexy wishes. Her first assignment is to turn a dorky librarian into a tiki temptress. Her second is transforming an uptight female executive into a sultry siren who seduces her hot pool boy (I finally got the pool boy story in). I hired my trusted team and tried my hand at topless shots and saucy dialogue. It was more campy than sexy. Erotica was not my genre!
WATCH director's behind-the-scenes of the Sin in the Suburbs shoot 1993
My favorite director's note was given to Tiki Party Guy, Jamie Bozian. Jamie was one of the surfer boys in Assault of the Killer Bimbos and a friend who also grew up in Cincinnati! His nerd character had no dialogue, and wore a silver disco shirt, square sunglasses, and a white cap. My direction was, "Bring out the essence of who you are." Jamie's sarcastic response, "The essence of who I am? Get the fuck out of here!" Yes, that was my directing style!