A Q&A With Joel Hodgson of MST3K and Cinematic Titanic [Interview]

Joel Hodgson of MST3K was at New York Comic Con this weekend doing the Nerdist Podcast with Guillermo Del Toro and he took a few minutes from his busy schedule to chat with me about his newest endeavor, How to Have a Job Like Mine, premiering at The Colonial Theater this Friday October 19th.

I asked him a few questions about the event, and if you’re a fan of MST3K you really shouldn’t miss it. You can still pick up tickets here.

So tell me about How to Have a Job Like Mine?

It all starts with me when I am 5 years old and I believe that God is making the movies. I actually believed that God is producing movies. This is based on seeing, the movies that were these kind of epic comedies that were coming out when I was little like Around the World in 80 Days, The Great Race and especially It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

Ultimately it’s a lot of explanations about Mystery Science Theater and how it came together. It’s a very in-depth talk about the creation of the show.

How did the idea of doing a presentation like this come up?

I actually got commissioned by one of the executives at Shout Factory, who said that I should put together a video of my projects other than Mystery Science Theater. When I started thinking about it, I started scanning all these images, photos and things I had saved over the years. It all just sort of started to fall into place as I was putting them into Keynote.

I am still figuring it out. Its all really peculiar, I mean its funny how you actually have to book dates to kind of be ready and then be making as you are getting ready for the show. I have put a moratorium on making slides, I am all done importing it but I am still arranging it and getting it in shape.

What do you think fans of Mystery Science Theater and Cinematic Titanic will take away from the presentation?

That’s a really good question. More than anything, the premise of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is that it is completely made out of other things. From the sets, to the robots, to the movies, everything is comprised out of other elements. I go into detail explaining the different elements the show is made out of.

It’s really for Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans that want to know more about the creative process of the ideas.

What are some other events you have coming up that fans should be on the lookout for? I heard you will be teaching a college course on movie riffing?

I think so. We haven’t made a deal yet. I met with the college again and they seem interested and if all goes well I will do my second course in Movie Riffing at Bucks County Community College in early spring next year. The last one was really great and we have a couple of venues lined up to showcase the students, which might be happening at The Colonial and Bryn Mawr.

Hopefully I will be able to get a few more venues together.