What You Mean We?
| What You Mean We? | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Laurie Anderson |
| Written by | Laurie Anderson |
| Starring | Laurie Anderson |
| Narrated by | Spalding Gray |
|
Release date
|
September 6, 1986 |
|
Running time
|
20 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
What You Mean We? is the title of a 1986 American made-for-television musical short film starring the performance artist Laurie Anderson, who also wrote and directed the piece.
Originally produced as a segment of the PBS arts series Alive from Off Center, the film runs a little less than a half-hour and is broken into several segments.
The film begins with Anderson being interviewed on a faux talk show (the interviewer's voice is provided by Spalding Gray), talking about how her popularity and workload has become too much for one person to handle. So, after speaking to some scientists, she has cloned herself. The Clone is introduced: due to some complications in the process, however, the Clone is only about half the size of Anderson, and has distinctive male characteristics (like a mustache) and an electronically distorted voice. Anderson plays a dual role as the Clone, and the voice distortion she uses is the same as that which she often used in her early 1980s performances when she wished to affect a male persona on stage (which eventually was named Fenway Bergamot). After a few moments, Anderson begs out of the interview claiming to be late for a photo session, leaving the Clone to carry the interview as the opening credits roll.
After the credits, the scene shifts to Laurie's apartment where the Clone is shaving in the bathroom, ranting about an idea he has for the ultimate Rambo/Rocky sequel that would involve Sylvester Stallone playing both roles in a fight to the finish that would end both series. Afterward, the Clone joins Laurie in the living room and starts work on a song. Laurie, however, would rather read a newspaper and complain about the Clone smoking too much. At one point Laurie says, "We have to get a show put together for a fast-approaching opening." "What you mean, we?" the Clone replies sullenly.
The first musical number in the film is an early version—performed by the Clone—of a song titled "The Dream Before" (a.k.a. "Hansel and Gretel are Alive and Well"), which would later be recorded for Anderson's album Strange Angels.
...
Wikipedia