“He had long ago learned that society imposes insults that must be borne, comforted by the knowledge that in this world there comes a time when the most humble of men, if he keeps his eyes open, can take his revenge on the most powerful. It was this knowledge that prevented the Don from losing the humility all his friends admired in him.” ~ The Godfather’
This post has a few outtakes from this year’s Godfather-themed holiday card, some not-quite-behind-the-scenes images that didn’t make the final cut but are perfect for updating my social media profile pics and annoying everyone who gets annoyed with a mustache. (Why all the ‘stache hate?)
This was a fun one to make – I love a photo shoot where I don’t need to wear pants. In order to get an approximation of the Marlon Brando profile, I had to jut my chin out (Andy later told me that when others imitated Brando’s performance in the film they would stuff cotton-balls in their mouths).
It turns out if you lower your jaw and stick your chin out, you naturally slip into Brando’s signature drawl, and while I contemplated shooting a video of me doing it, I’ll spare you that indignity.
I will not spare you a glimpse of the tighty-whities I donned for the unseen below-the-waist action. Going for something as authentic as possible for a card imitating a movie imitating a lifestyle, I’m not sure how authentic anything can be, and sadly I have no idea what the real monsters may have worn for their underwear-of-choice. These were chosen because I always thought the real Dons would be no-nonsense when it came to undergarments, and though Tony Soprano may have favored baggy boxers, I wanted the classic Don to be more streamlined and elegant, less rumpled and bunchy. These are the kind of painstakingly-detailed decisions one must make when producing the holiday card.
Many people hate a mustache, so clearly I may have to go back to that for more. It’s not a set of grillz, but it seems equally bothersome, and for a trickster there is nothing more joyous than being bothersome. It’s our purpose in the world.
