By Louis C.K. is self-distributing his latest comedy special, Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theater, for just $5 on his official website. It’s a great deal for fans, and this self-release is a bit of an experiment for the comedian.
If this special is successful, Louis C.K. will do another one to raise money for a movie that he’ll have total creative control on. (His previous film, Pootie Tang, was diddled with by the studio. No doubt some of you are currently thinking, “Wait, Louis f**king C.K. wrote and directed Pootie Tang?” He mentions the incredulity in this stand-up footage from 2004.)
C.K. wrote the following during a Reddit AmA (ask me anything) session:
I’m trying to find out what the potential is with this [comedy special]. But so if I make 8 million [on a second special], which all goes through Paypal right into Pig Newton, my company that makes my show and made the special. Well I would leave the money in there and make a f**king movie.
No word on what the film would be about, but he’s already purchased equipment for it (a RED Epic camera and some lenses). Given the amount of freedom C.K. seems to have on Louie, it would probably be strange in a good way, funny as hell, and/or incredibly honest. We’ve got C.K.’s full answer to the question and two outtakes from Louis C.K. Live at the Beacon Theater after the cut.
[Via /Film, Reddit]
Here’s the full text of what Louis C.K. wrote regarding a movie:
I have a dream, though. You want to hear it? Yeah? Well, okay.
I thought about what if I make another special like this one and I put it up for 5 bucks again and it goes gangbusters. It makes, say, 8 million bucks. I don’t know that that is even possible. I’m trying to find out what the potential is with this one. But so if I make 8 million, which all goes through Paypal right into Pig Newton, my company that makes my show and made the special. Well I would leave the money in there and make a f**king movie.
This special, if it explodes, cause really it’s only been up for 2 days, more like a pre-sale. If it really tears an a**hole into the money monster who then s**ts dollars into my mouth (oh my god what’s wrong with me) then I will use that money to buy a home and get some security which I NEVER have had in my life and have certainly not gotten from my low budget show.
So it would have to be special number 2 that would keep the money in the company and make a movie. I have always put cash back into the work. The profit I made on last year’s season of Louie went to buying a new RED EPIC camera which now sits here next to me and a modest but impressive collection of lenses from Germany and England, which now belong to Pig Newton and will be used to shoot said 8 million dollar movie.
I wrote way too much here that I should keep to myself but f**k it I’m pressing send.
Not all the material from the Beacon Theater show made the final cut. C.K. released two outtakes from the show on YouTube, which you can check out below. Obviously the language is NSFW.
Outtake #1
Outtake #2
