RiffTrax Apprehends Van Damme Classic 'TimeCop' For New Live Show With Kickstarter Launch

Well, classic might be in a more ironic sense, but the annual tradition continues

It’s that time of year again, and RiffTrax is ready to surf all the way to the crime-riddled streets of the future. The movie riffing troupe composed of Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy has launched their annual Kickstarter to fund their live show, their 12th campaign. This year, 1994’s TimeCop is the film chosen for their 36th live show, with a $350,000 goal.

It’s a return to schlock for the crew, as the science fiction film stars Street Fighter and Universal Soldier star stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, where, according to the campaign’s own plot synopsis, in the futuristic world of 2004, he’s isn’t just doing leg splits, he’s splitting the very barriers of space and time. After the death of his wife, played by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’s Mia Sara, at the hands of time-traveling goons, he is recruited to an elite task force of time-based police officers. Why does the government have an elite task force of time-based police officers? TimeCop, which is indeed one word, may, or may not, have answers to that perfectly reasonable question! Unfortunately, a U.S. Senator (Ron Silver) has gained access to their system of time travel and he’s using it to commit unspeakable evils - huge campaign finance violations - across generations. As Rifftrax puts it: Imagine a nightmarish world where stuff like THAT happens. You can’t! Will the Timecops stop the senator in time to save the future?

Rifftrax Kickstarter Campaign’s Final Days Get Pintense

Hints started on February 26, with a brief misdirect on the day of the Shrek 5 teaser release. The riff of the film will be performed live by the trio live at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville, TN on June 26, and be broadcast to the big screen in over 700 movie theaters across America on Thursday, August 14 with an encore on Tuesday, August 19 as a Fathom Event, as is typical. The 35-day campaign length and $350,000 goal is identical to last year’s for Point Break, though it seems they’ve reserved the comparative week after what they had for that film (August 8 and 13). As we get into backer rewards is sure to announce stretch goals of various scopes as the days go on.

The $5 and $10 rewards are the traditional Thank You where you’ll be listed on a thank you page on the company’s website, and Shorts Collection, where you’ll receive digital downloads of two never-before-riffed shorts that will be backer-exclusive. In many cases, the higher on the backer reward ladder, the more previous rungs you collect by backing so high. A $20 pledge adds a free “Just the Jokes” audio-only pre-existing riff of your choice. $40 is the Live Show Download Package, which adds a digital download of the RiffTrax Live Show delivered on its digital release date. The $60 Super Package adds a load of digital goodies and an invite for a RiffTrax The Game TimeCop Party! Those digital goodies include, at the very least exclusive behind-the-scenes video, a signed copy of a rehearsal script, live show avatars, the TimeCop-themed end credits song by the RiffTones, a signed digital thank-you photo, and a mini-poster of the live show signed by the trio. The RiffTrax The Game TimeCop Party will be played exclusively with clips from the film. The trio and some of the RiffTrax staff will play a round or two, and backers will be able to play along with them! A VOD will also be made available for those eligible but unable to attend. Patrons pledging at this level (or higher) get a bonus collectible medal which ships free. It can be bought as an Add-On, but if you're already their patron at any paid level, or become one during the campaign, you'll automatically receive one for free when shipping rewards begins.

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The $80 Digital Only+Digital Stretch goal adds all of the digital Stretch Rewards from higher levels that get unlocked during the course of the campaign. $100 adds the Live Show DVD and exclusive access to pre-sale tickets for the June performance, where a secret purchasing link. Patrons get a Timecop-related design on a new merch item every quarter for staying a Patron for one year. $115 adds a die-cast brass pin featuring a unique soft enamel TimeCop-related design with black plating and rubber clutches, designed by the returning Nikol King. $130 is when the exclusive backer shirt designed by Adam "ApeLad" Koford comes in, and like last time, the design will be revealed over the campaign. $150 introduces the new ornament, the bipedal Candy Lion from the short short “Santa and the Fairy Snow Queen” where their face will emblazon the 3" brass ornament with his memorable catchphrase, "I Can Eat Candy" underneath as another Nikol King creation. $175 gets your name in the live show credits, with a submission deadline of May 30. All 80 $250 spots, the “Your Face On the Big Screen” level for including a photo with that name have already been taken. $225 gets an autographed 8x10 photo or art piece from the show that is hand signed in sharpie by the guys. $400 opts for a minute-long video message from them instead, with content subject to approval. $405 gets a video message from the B-team, Bridget Nelson and Mary Jo Pehl, but the ten spots each are quickly running out. However, if the previous campaign is any indication, more slots can open up later down the campaign. Speaking of which, Corbett’s limerick writing is back but nearly gone for 8 people at a $495 level. Same for Mike’s "underpants guy" drawings at $595. “Write a Pre-Show Slide” is back at $675. The guys give the topic for the joke, and the five pickers write their punchlines to be seen in the pre-show, overseen by the RiffTrax writers to ensure nothing goes wrong. It comes with a "Kickstarter Guest Slide Writer" end credit. Five more backers at $775 have already secured the chance to write singular riffs for the live show. Kevin’s jingle writing returns at $975, can be 15 seconds to 1 minute.

Finally, the two biggest rewards are already sold out. At the $1,095 reward level, all three of the guys’ scripts have been claimed, and will be autographed. At $2,395, twelve VIP guests of honor and +1s will be seated in the first 5 rows at the Belcourt, while the guests also appear on screen for a special thank-you, have their photo in the end credits, attend the rehearsal the day of the show, and a Meet & Greet the day before with the guys. All 24 receive unique collectible VIP lanyards, plus a Special RiffTrax Swag Bag, while taking on responsibility of travel and housing costs.

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Source: Kickstarter