'We used a beachball as an alien!' John Carpenter on his gloriously shonky sci-fi comedy Dark Star

John Carpenter, writer and director of the cult sci-fi comedy Dark Star, once described their film as 'gloriously shonky' - a term he used to describe its amateurish yet endearing quality. The movie was shot on 16mm, with an unorthodox production process that involved long gaps between shooting scenes due to lack of funds.

Carpenter partnered Dan O'Bannon, his classmate at the University of Southern California, for this project in 1970. They drew inspiration from films like Dr Strangelove and 2001. The story revolves around a spaceship crew members trying to prevent their ship's control system from crashing an unstable planet into the bomb on board, which will eventually destroy it.

A major plot point in the film is an extraterrestrial encounter where an alien is represented by a beachball with two bathroom plungers stuck on the bottom. Carpenter thought this ridiculous image could be utilized as the basis for their character's intergalactic companion and had Nick Castle create its distinctive appearance.

The production faced numerous challenges, including issues with equipment and crew members getting lost in the space. The film also features an infamous scene where a crew member stabs himself on camera with a knife during filming.

Filming took place over three years due to these difficulties, as well as issues with actor availability. One notable issue was that Lieutenant Doolittle's character made several trips to talk to Sgt Talby in the ship's observation dome; each conversation side of this scene was shot at different times due to various delays and rewrites.

Dark Star faced initial confusion among audiences upon its release, but it has since garnered a cult following. According to Carpenter, this confusion inspired Dan O'Bannon to write Alien after he left a screening where many viewers did not understand the film's tone or humor.

The road to success is always under construction . It sounds like John Carpenter and his team took one for the team with Dark Star - it wasn't easy, but their shonky production process actually ended up making the movie all the more lovable . I mean, who needs a perfectly shot film when you can have one that's got character? And let's be real, an alien represented by a beachball and plungers is just the best . I think it's awesome how they pushed through all their challenges to create something truly unique... even if it did take three whole years !

The way they made Dark Star is so... lovable? Like, who makes a movie with such crazy production issues and still manages to make it work? I mean, it's like they threw everything at the wall and hoped something stuck! But, you know, in a good way. The fact that it's "gloriously shonky" is part of its charm. And who can forget that iconic alien beachball? That scene always cracks me up! I'm not surprised the film took three years to make – it sounds like they had some real problems to iron out. But, in hindsight, it's kind of cool that they pushed through and made something so... unique.

I'm like totally down with the idea of 'gloriously shonky' movies ... but at the same time, I think they're kinda cheesy and don't really hold up that well, you know? I mean, who needs a 3-year shoot schedule when you can just get it over with, right?

But what's wild is how Dan O'Bannon took those audience confusions and turned them into Alien... which, let's be real, is like, way more iconic than Dark Star . And I guess that's kinda cool in a weird way? Like, who knew confusion could be a blessing?

And can we talk about how ridiculous the beachball alien looks? I mean, it's actually kinda genius? Nick Castle must've had some mad skills to make it happen! ... but still, it's pretty silly. I'm torn between loving the weirdness of Dark Star and hating how rough around the edges it is

I think its pretty cool how Dark Star was shot on 16mm and had all these quirks that make it so endearing . I mean, who needs a fancy production process when you can just go with it and have fun? The fact that they had to wait for days between shooting scenes because of budget constraints actually sounds like it added to the charm of the film. And that iconic alien beachball thing? Genius! It's amazing how something as ridiculous as that could become a character in its own right. I love how John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon were just able to roll with the punches and make something truly unique happen.

I'm still mind-blowed by the story behind Dark Star . I mean, who would've thought that a movie about a spaceship crew trying to save the world from a giant bomb could be so... shonky? It's crazy to think that John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon had to deal with equipment issues, lost crew members, and even a knife-wielding accident on set . And let's not forget about that iconic alien beachball thingy - it's just genius! I love how the film has become a cult classic despite its initial confusion among audiences. It's proof that sometimes, movies can be so bad they're good?

I'm still not convinced about this 'gloriously shonky' thing John Carpenter is going on about... I mean, sure, Dark Star is an old-school weirdo sci-fi flick that's gained a loyal following, but was it really meant to be some kinda art project? It just feels like they managed to scrape together something kinda funny and awkward with the budget they had.

I'm also not buying into the idea that because of its initial confusion, Dan O'Bannon wrote Alien. That's like saying I started writing this blog post because you commented on my last one... doesn't quite add up . Either way, Dark Star is still a weird gem, but let's keep it in perspective, okay?

omg can u believe they used a beachball with plungers as an alien?? that's just crazy! and i love how John Carpenter described Dark Star as 'gloriously shonky' - it's like he was embracing the imperfections and making them into something awesome. I mean, who needs perfect production when you can have a crew member stabbing himself on camera with a knife? and btw, 3 years of filming is just crazy - talk about a long and grueling shoot!

I'm loving how retro and shonky Dark Star is, like Carpenter said it is "gloriously shonky" - that amateurish yet endearing quality still holds up today . I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a sci-fi comedy with a beachball alien and a knife-wielding crew member? But seriously, it's crazy to think about how much production issues plagued this film. Three years of shooting due to equipment problems and lost crew members? That's some next-level dedication (or craziness?) . And can you even imagine the delays and rewrites for that infamous Lt. Doolittle/Sgt Talby scene? It's wild that it eventually became a cult classic, though. I guess sometimes you need a little chaos in your sci-fi to make something truly special...

I just got back from the most random trip to the beach and I saw these tiny crabs scurrying around on the sand . It made me think of how much I love watching old sci-fi movies for their campy humor, like Dark Star. I mean, who comes up with a plot involving an alien represented by a beachball and plungers? Genius, right? Anyway, I've been meaning to try out this new coffee shop downtown that's supposed to have the best lattes... has anyone tried it?

Dark Star is like my favorite weird cousin that nobody really gets . I mean, it's like John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon took all these crazy ideas, threw 'em in a blender, hit puree, and out came this gloriously shonky masterpiece . The beachball alien thing? Genius . And can we talk about the production process? 3 years of filming? That's like making a movie with your friends who never show up to the party . I love how it's all so messy and imperfect, but still manages to work somehow . Cult following or not, Dark Star is like my guilty pleasure .