Moving Pictures

Moving Pictures (Discworld, 10), Terry Pratchett. Harper Perennial (ISBN: 9780063393356) 2025, first published 1990.

Summary: Victor, a failed student wizard and “Ginger” are drawn to Holy Wood to star in motion pictures but unleash unholy powers.

An old man dies near Holy Wood, setting loose forces long buried. Within months, Holy Wood becomes the home of moving pictures. Alchemists from Ankh-Morpork have invented a process by which tiny demons in a box paint images onto film, shown as “clicks” in theaters with machines using phosphorescent creatures to project the film images.

And so begins a craze that sweeps Ankh-Morpork. And Victor Tugelbend, a student wizard who deliberately fails and Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler, a sausage sandwich vendor are drawn to Holy Wood along with lots of wannabe “stars including Theda “Ginger” Withel. Victor and Ginger become stars. Meanwhile, Dibbler exchanges sausage vending for running the show, making bigger and bigger films culminating with Blown Away (a satire on Gone With The Wind).

Something special has descended upon them all, even Gaspode, a mutt of a dog who starts talking. He becomes Victor and Ginger’s agent (as well as Leddy, the Wonder Dog). On screen, Victor and Ginger have a “chemistry” that crowds flock to see. Posters portray them in a passionate “clinch.” Victor is the dashing hero rescuing the girl.

But it is all unreal, and something more sinister is going on. Ginger sleep walks to Holy Wood Hill, opening a door that releases unholy beings into the world. Victor, along with Gaspode, are the only ones who realize something sinister is afoot. But can they stop it before the beings take over Ankh Morpork?

It all culminates in the premiere of Blown Away. A series of zany scenes follow including a monstrous “Ginger” that holds the baboon librarian in its clutches (a humorous reversal of King Kong) and wizards in wheelchairs and on broomsticks. But will Victor succeed in being the real life hero?

At one level, it is all great fun with lots of satire and tongue in cheek parody of Hollywood. At another level, it makes me wonder about the “unreality” that the industry looses on the world and the consequences. Whatever is the case, I hope Victor Tugelbend will be back, for the name if nothing else!