 A very special web show today. We have two very special guests, Bob Lindemeyer and Barry Bosswick, here to talk about a new documentary that is being added to the Life After Movies family, Life After Megaforce. So excited about this one. This one is directed by Bob. You might remember him from Life After Flash. He was also the creative genius behind our other posters and our opening titles and our Blu-ray artwork for our other documentaries. But this time we have Bob talking about his new documentary starring the one and only Barry Bosswick. Welcome, both of you. Let's start by asking what is Life After Megaforce all about? Oh, Barry should answer this one because it'll be a sound bite. Oh. What's it all about? It's probably going to be about 120 minutes. How long is it going to be, Bob? I'm aiming to have it the same length as the actual film, which I think is like 108 minutes. 108 minutes. That's my goal. No, what it's about is a very human story and it's a story of good guys, bad guys. You know, there's a line in the movie, the good guys always win even in the 80s. And I believe that this is going to say the good guys always win even in 2027 when it's finally released. So how did you both connect in the first place? I woke up one morning and he was camped out on my front doorstep with, you know, with his Megaforce outfit on and saying that he wanted to be part of Megaforce. And I let him in, which was the first mistake. And I inducted him into the Megaforce film with the Megaforce clan or cult. We like to call it a cult because there's so few people in it. I met him at my house. I mean, this is true, right? You did come to my house in California when we were doing a, what is it called? Rift track thing. And did you volunteer to come and do that because you just wanted to get my autograph? I didn't have any designs on making a documentary at that point. I just had designs on being able to meet you. The Megaforce rift tracks was offered by our friends as a Kickstarter perk. And basically, if you paid them $200 for them to finish their film that Barry was in, Barry would be forced to do a live commentary of the entire movie. And I was the only guy who paid. You paid? You paid $200? Yeah, I was just a fan. And I collect a lot of movie props and stuff and ended up with one of the mega destroyers as a, I got it from a junkyard and basically restored it. And there's a great Megaforce fan page on Facebook that of course I joined and then became one of the administrators on. And I was just pretty much perfectly happy like celebrating Megaforce that way. And then of course I met Barry which was just kind of a fan mission. It still wasn't about the documentary at all. And we got along well, I thought, fun day. And then of course through working with you Lisa, the Life After Movies project just kind of inspired me to take a crack at it, right? Like I know the guy now and I've got some of the stuff. So let's see, yeah, let's see what happens. Barry, what was it about Bob and his pitch that made you say yes to Life After Megaforce? Regretfully, I said yes at the time when he brought up the idea not knowing that it was going to be a three year battle. But what attracted me to him in the first place was the fact that he was smarter than your average fan was very knowledgeable about this whole Megaforce debacle. And he was genuinely, I think, moved by the film way back when he was a child. And that was very moving to me that here was somebody who some little thing I did years ago actually had an effect on a real human being in a way filled their life with something that they didn't have before Megaforce. And then I filled his life with a good humor and sarcasm and I followed him around the world trying to get him to leave me alone. I tell you, this guy, he's so insistent. He just never gave up. Either convincing me to do something silly or to go somewhere where he was finding some prop or something that he wanted to add to his collection and I went along for the ride obviously because I had nothing else to do for those three years other than to follow him around as he indulged himself in his fantasy world of Megaforce. That's right, that's right. During the DVD commentary, the initial time we met and that's really when the kernel of the idea started because when we started the film, Barry was on the hook to make fun of the movie and I came in super passionate and like a real true believer in what they were attempting and the spirit of what they were attempting and I knew I had Barry when about halfway through the movie and I mean there is actual audio of this where he's kind of like, you know, yeah, like he got it. He got what I got about the film and then I kind of knew like he was on the hook and by the end of the night I was making him wear a blue headband and like it was amazing. Oh well, it was so embarrassing though that first meeting, my God. And then you took pictures. You actually took pictures of me, you know, wearing headbands and jackets and all of that sort of stuff and you had a sense of humor about it. You weren't, you know, and that's what I loved about it. We had a similar sense of humor about life in general but a serious inquisition about this whole Megaforce phenomenon that you were exploring and I was trying to forget. Barry, what was it like working with Bob as a first-time director? I think he, I think once he got the right equipment, you know, and figured out how to work the microphones and the cameras and he, I think it was a real learning experience for him and by the time we hit the desert at the end, my God, he had a full crew and cameras and he had talked every one of his friends into doing it for nothing. And that to me is a true producer and director, you know, is when you can make something like this work and convince people that your vision is worth their time and energy and he is an entrepreneur, producer, director who always was humble and listened to any advice I might have given him about his sometime bad acting. But then, but I had, but who am I to say? Who am I to say what bad acting is? When some of the acting in this movie from me is some of the worst acting I've ever done. So therefore, you know, I was able to sort of make up for lost time and by, and therefore it also encouraged our relationship in the film, you know, where I was teasing him an awful lot and, you know, and telling him he didn't know what he was doing when in reality he did know what he was doing and that's one of the things I really was appreciating about him. Well, let's talk about the future here, Bob. Right. Bob, what would, if you had to envision another documentary coming out of your soul, what would it be? The only other thing I, you know, this one has been so hard. I've kind of questioned, you know, starting it. I was like, oh, I can make lots of documentaries about things that interest me. But I'm not quite sure anymore, honestly. You know, if I were to do one, and this won't mean a lot to you, Barry, because you don't watch movies. There was a movie in the, in the 70s called Ghana 60 Seconds, which was kind of famous about a guy who takes a Mustang named Eleanor, like my daughter, which is interesting. Not a coincidence. It's basically a 45-minute-long car chase through downtown L.A. and they only use one car. There's no stunt cars. Bob, why Megaforce? What is it about this amazing 80s film that you wanted to do this documentary on? Well, there's a couple things. At the time, I was 11 or 12. It was a big summer for movies. Blade Runner, The Road Warrior, and as a kid, those movies were marketed towards me. I wasn't really, like I knew I was supposed to like them and think they were cool, and obviously they were cool. I didn't quite get them, because they were kind of batting above my maturity level at the time. And that same summer, Megaforce came out and Megaforce hit me like right where I was at. Very clean, very clear, like good guys versus bad guys. Like Megaforce is just playground rules. It's like you and your buddies on the playground and your enemies, your friend, and you run around, and it was basically a really great recess or played a hyper-visualized on the screen. So to see our play patterns and our spirit like projected on the screen in like this massive spectacle, it was just playing with the best toys around with your best buddies. I'm sure the next question, so why the documentary kind of feeds into that, like ultimately I just got really tired of people picking on it. A more cynical person could probably poke a lot of fun at it. Ultimately they're missing the point. Like it wasn't meant to be anything else, but what it was. And for any artists to actually make good on their vision and what they were trying to say, right? How Neaton wasn't trying to say anything different than what came out in that movie. Like I think that should be celebrated at least appreciated. And definitely not disparaged or picked on. And I'm not saying it's any Lawrence of Arabia or anything. I'm not deluded about that. But at the same time, like if you meet the film where it's at, it's equally as good and enjoyable. I don't know, it's honest. And as a 12-year-old kid and as an over 50-year-old who can remember when he was a kid like I still appreciate that. Flash Gordon 2. It's a similar spirit of remembering and there's an actual physical piece of artwork out there that you can watch and remember those times. And if you're lucky enough, you can become friends with the hero of your movie and make him play Mega Force with you when you're 53 years old. Hey, you know Bob, you know what you have to learn the art of? Sound bites. Lisa, can I say something? This is what attracted me to Bob. I mean, he was so verbal and so passionate about this experience in his life. And nobody had ever come up to me and said that before. And nobody had ever said how important this movie was. I had the same sort of backwash that he had all of his life with people making fun of it and this and that. And I made fun of it. But all of a sudden, here's somebody with a genuine feeling for something that I, you know, did. And how could you not love this man for that kind of sincerity? So Barry, before Bob came into your life for the documentary, what did you think about Mega Force? What was your opinion on the film? How did you feel fans felt about it? My opinion was disappointment in a way. I just, when I was making it, thought it was better than I think it actually was. And I had thought that I was better in it than in a way I was. And I cringe at some of it because I had just come off the stage doing the Pirates of Penzance and I'm and I they wanted me to play this part because of this Pirate King aspect that I had in my head and in my body at that time. And when I watched the movie I didn't, I don't think I toned it down enough for film. I was still giving a very theatrical performance and in a way it sort of went along I suspect with the tone and size of the movie but personally I I didn't I didn't think it was my best work but and also I was disappointed in that it wasn't that they didn't make a sequel to it because I had a two or three picture deal as Bob will tell you but you know by doing Megaforce was such a fun thing because we are working with big pieces of equipment large amounts of vehicles real army and Air Force guys or wherever they were from and it was a big budget movie and I and everybody that they cast in it I thought was wonderful and not that I ever talked to any of them but they were really good in the final analysis and so I had really mixed feelings about it but ultimately I did the film it wasn't successful and I went on with my life and then this guy named Bob comes into my life to remind me of this time in my career and it refreshed a lot of good and faulty memories of Megaforce and and then he told me everything that I should have remembered about Megaforce and told me what a good time I had and told me how good I was in it. Has doing this documentary with Bob actually changed how you feel about Megaforce? How I feel about Megaforce now is that it actually meant something and as opposed to just a sort of cheesy entertainment and because Bob isn't what I've realized and discovered isn't the only person who has been affected by this I do conventions during the year and people come up to me mostly guys but some women and they say it was meaningful because I went to it with my father and my memory of Megaforce was always coordinated and connected to my memories feelings for my father because maybe some of them didn't have a great relationship and that was what they could share was this one movie that as Bob had said earlier good guys, bad guys very clean, very acceptable kind of entertainment and I think because I've reexamined with Bob over the years and more people have come out of the woodwork to tell me similar stories I now think that it's it wasn't just a total waste of time Did you think it was at some point? Oh, I think after after I did it and I'd spent the money the little money that they gave me I probably I just forgot about it and lived in my the darkness of my humiliation for it and and so Did you get kicked on by your peers for being in Megaforce? I have no peers I have there's no peers here I know I I think at the time I made it you know it was it was a big deal I mean to be cast as the lead in this big movie I'm sure a lot of other actors tried out for it and didn't get it and a lot of actors turned it down I was probably the seventh or eighth person who was asked to do this Bob you can probably tell me all of the actors who said pile of crap and I am not going to do it and so they would turn it down when they were presented the script and I obviously didn't know any better and or I needed the job in 1980 what three two one one yeah so I was I was just doing a lot of stage things and and I thought it was an opportunity to you know hit the big time well there was and there was no I mean right that was how needed his fourth or fifth movie every single one of his movies was a massive hit like there was no with the people involved there was no reason to think that it wasn't going to be very successful no no that's true and I think it was it was a calculated risk actually it was no risk at all it was just a nice job I did and I probably didn't have anything else at the time so you know put me in a jumpsuit and take me out in the middle of the desert you know that's a good idea we've already done that I think a couple of times you Bob and I so what are your plans for release do you have a release stage or a timeline any dates that you can share with people so this coming year is the 40th anniversary of Megaforce and it seems appropriate to you know since our film is such a celebration of it and hopefully with the 40th anniversary there'll be more opportunities on a lot of different channels and internet sites or DVD re-releases for people to rediscover the movie because you know that's one of the main goal the initial goals of making this documentary was you know take another look maybe not be so jaded about it and I think you'll find something that you'll be entertained by you know and that's not like that shouldn't be a dirty word just being able to go to a movie theater and have a good time with your dad or your son and come out and go man that was super bitchin mega cool like I think that's more than fair I don't think everything has to be about you know drama and deep relationships the irony of course is my documentary has turned into a very deep relationship with my friend and mentor Barry Bosway during this process what have you learned about life from Ace Hunter your hero well what I learned from Ace Hunter is not to invite girls to do cool stuff but what I learned from Barry Bosway is you know so Barry is my senior by a little bit and when we're not filming stuff and we're just hanging out there's a this is gonna be one of those long ones again well cut it short cut go right to the heart of it just watching the way like Barry takes things in stride especially with the ridiculousness of this project and just always always in it to win it always happy always kind of rolling with things and he has a real he has a real curiosity about like everything that I've seen like every time I've hung out with him he's just taking it in and like experiencing it and really like there's a presence about him and when you're around him you feel that way too that like I really aspire to be more like that like genuinely oh that's wonderful that's wonderful thank you for that I had no idea that I had any influence on your actual real life at all I mean I know that making this documentary filled up some a lot of your creative energy and stuff and you've traveled all over the country and maybe the world to interview the only people who are still alive and once you got past their initial reaction of why are you doing this you got to a lot of interesting interviews yeah a lot of interesting stuff you collected not only things from metaphors you know physical things but I think you collected a lot of memories and heart you know from your exploration of this part of your life for sure for sure well and I mean I would hope and like I feel that you know it was the same for you right like as far as like our shared experience and some of the things that we've done and some of the people you've met through this even if it's like reconnecting with you know metaphors folks or meeting some of my friends or whatever like it's been a real like our relationship is I feel that it's just come so naturally and I mean honestly it's hard for me to be making this film because I'd rather just turn off the camera and like hang out and be real and it's been a real struggle especially the last year it's like oh my god this would be amazing for the film but this is a real you know a real interaction with a real human being and we have mutual love and respect for each other like I can't pull out a camera during this you know but you did you did and you put a camera on everything if it was only real so you have a very very impressive collection Bob as we know from life after flash it goes beyond mega force but how many original mega force vehicles do you actually have? four and one on loan so I've got two functional mega buggies and a functional motorcycle and then two crashed dune buggies and then this bike I don't know if you can see that's on loan from another mega force fan David who loaned it to me for the film is really special about this film is that you know the life after series celebrate iconic films and the people who are part of it but yours has felt like it's gone beyond that where it's almost become more about this amazing relationship between the two of you and I think that's really special because not only you'll appeal to mega force fans but then that should connect with a wider audience who may not have even seen mega force at all mega force fans will be happy yeah yeah no it's real bromance it is a bromance for sure and I think that's going to be one of the takeaways I think when people finally see this is it starts out as one thing and ends up us announcing our marriage yeah I mean funny thing about doing life after mega force right especially under you know after your amazing films it's just like yeah I got the star and like he doesn't care he doesn't remember like what am I going to do and then of course it became me sharing my life after mega force with Barry the trick is how do you market it so you don't just get the mega force fan but you get people who you know are just want this sort of as I said bromance kind of meaningful thing which is couched in the mega force world I think that's the challenge here is but I think it's that's going to take that's going to take the the documentary being seen exposed to critics and bloggers and all those kinds of people who are surprised by its content and its feeling is this the part when you say when I get it done I think I've already said that enough I think you got the point you had to both surmise mega force and life after mega force in one sentence what would it be I would say what John Ebert said about about my movie and and mega force where the director doesn't have a clear sense of it there's lots of motorcycles running around the desert exploding and good guys and bad guys and and it's just supposed to be fun right like very nice movie and your movie that matter Lisa since your name is going to be on it too in a weird way my movie is just like mega force it's a buddy movie and they go off and do battle and nobody dies there's no bloodshed and you come away feeling you know good and hopefully inspired and and hopefully want to go back and watch mega force because I do obviously I'm not getting paid by any mega force people but yeah it needs a second look again man I am terrible at the one liners because I just went on and on again I really did what was the question I lost it it was a half hour ago when you asked it life after mega force means that there is life currently happening with men who so I think mega force it's just a tough one because it because the film is not about mega force really yeah sure but it's about people who make movies and it's about people who love movies and it's about people and a person who doesn't remember making a movie I got one I think I got it I think you're onto something here so mega force for you was completely forgettable and nobody cared about that mega force for me was my favorite movie of the summer and nobody cared about that jump to 40 years later and what you didn't get from making mega force which is the relationships and something you actually remember and a spirit of connection you know you're getting that through life after mega force now with our friendship and the relationships and adventures we've had right like you're going to remember this one right you're not you know and and for me it's about finally being able to share a movie that was so cool to me with my friends and my peers and you know the way I wish it was received back then like I finally get to have that moment where like everybody is excited about mega force and we're mega forcing together and we're celebrating the movie and that was something that I didn't get in the past I think you're also going to say I think you're also going to say when this is out I told you so I told you so I told you so that this movie meant more and and was interesting and entertaining and is about a more universal a theme and a theme that is simple and any 12 year old or 70 year old could understand and be entertained by you have to like check your because I'm at the door right basically that's what it's about I'm an over 70 year old and you're still a 12 year old and I think that's the appeal of it in a way I'm that's all I have to say in fact tonight I'm going to show the movie to my wife for the first time are you really she's never seen it and so I thought this is a perfect time for it tonight I could interview her yeah maybe I should come there and watch it with you guys you better hurry up five after six here I would say it's just pure entertainment and I would say it's something that will surprise you because it's not just about oh here they made a movie called mega force and here's everybody who was involved in it I mean it really is something unique and I think one it's done if it's ever done that that will be that will be a lot of the the critics will say oh my god I was just expecting another you know documentary about the making of godfather or something you know it's if he does his job right he's got something very special here and and I might actually watch it that would be perfect yeah maybe another 20 years somebody you'll meet somebody who'll force you to watch my movie and like I did mega force but you know what I have seen all the footage that you've sent me and it's all really wonderful you know it's all really meaningful and special and well thought out and funny because it has I think it has the combination of yours and my sense of humor which is you know maybe not everybody's taste so therefore the documentary will probably get as many people watching it as the people who actually watch the original movie that'd be like 70 then we're hitting over 80 now right I hope so yeah it might allow Bob to buy another mega force motorcycle or something that he can junk up his garage and you know and test his marriage yeah we're just going to go in the comic con circuit after this that's what I'm going to do I'm just going to be your both assistant for my retirement it's going to be amazing so on that note thank you both so much for chatting today I literally could talk about mega force all day no we can't we can't talk about it all day this is about all it gets so I'm so so so excited that we can finally talk about life after mega force I know Bob you've been working on this for a few years now as is common with the life after movies but so excited that we can share it celebrate it there's a card up above for anyone who wants to watch the trailer thank you both again so much for joining me it has been an absolute pleasure thank you I've looked forward to this and thank you for being as involved in this as you are and for championing Bob's indulgences well thank you for also Barry so yeah without you guys I'd still be here in the backyard with these dune buggies by myself we're also hoping that this documentary is successful so he can sell that crap behind him for a good price right Bob that's right because I know you're keeping track of your hours so thank you Lisa