YouTube Video Uses Humor To Promote Lent

February 08, 2010 - 9:06 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

MILFORD, CT (February 8, 2010) - Catholic parodist Nick Alexander has released his first comedy music video, based off his parody song "This Time of Forty Days."  This is the first time the popular youth keynote speaker has released a professional video for one of his comedy songs.  It was directed by Brandon Gorrell of Paper Monkey Productions.
 
The song is a parody of "King of Pain", the 1983 hit from the rock group The Police. The introductory line, "There's a little black spot on the sun today" has been replaced with "There's a little black spot on your head today."  The rest of the song is a comic take on the somber season, created in part to appeal to Catholic non-Lenten observers, as a way to encourage them to taking up the Lenten observance challenge.
 
"The key to the success of this campaign is to be funny--but not cross the line into impropriety or offensive humor." Nick says.  "The humor of the song stems from one person's struggles with actually following through with the guidelines for Lenten observance, but it never once ridicules those rules or treats them flippantly."  Indeed, throughout the song there is an encouragement to "watch TV less", to "read a good book", to treat others kindly, and to follow the Friday observance of refraining from eating meat.
 
The video is a new venture for Nick Alexander.  Since 2000's "A Time to Laugh", Nick has been crafting music parodies from Top 40 radio's most recognizable songs, but with a decidedly Catholic comedic twist.  Nick created the video after realizing the potential to have his parodies reach a new audience, through positive word of mouth, particularly through the popular activity of embedding videos onto personal blogs, email, and on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Further, Nick was intrigued about the creative possibilities that a music video entails. 
 
The scenes in the video alternate from a serious, reverent take on the Lenten season to silly, comedic skits.  In one extended segment, Nick is flipping channels to see a chef serving dishes to a special dinner with a priest at the head of the table, only to find each of his dishes rejected for being meat-based.
 
Last October, the pope had called for the use of New Media to evangelize.  "It is not enough to use the media simply to spread the Christian message and the Church's authentic teaching" the pontiff stated, but "it is also necessary to integrate that message into the 'new culture' created by modern communications."  Doing so "supposes a challenge for the Church, maintaining its content unaltered but making it understandable."
 
The responses to the video have been extremely positive, noting the video being "hysterically funny" but also "profound and respectful."  Commenters on the YouTube site share about how the video could work in multiple environments, from youth groups, to school assemblies, CCD classes, and Bible studies.
 
The video was shot in two days in January, at multiple locations throughout the Connecticut area, including historic St. Mary's Church in New Haven, the resting place of Knights of Columbus founder Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney.
 
Nick Alexander's website is at http://www.nickalexander.com/home .  Paper Monkey Productions' website is at http://www.papermonkeyproductions.com . The video "This Time of Forty Days.mov" can be viewed in its entirety at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCmn7pDgXlc .

Contact

Nick Alexander
http://www.nickalexander.com
CT, 06460 US
Nick Alexander - Artist, 203 722-4637

Keywords

Lent, Comedy, Parody, Youtube, Nick Alexander

Category

Catholic Resources

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 7,176

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

When Pope Francis Arrives in North America, There is Only One Network to Watch: EWTN Global Catholic
EWTN Global Catholic Network
September 16, 2015 - 5:17 PDT

GHIRELLI'S WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ROSARIES NOW AVAILABLE
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
September 11, 2015 - 11:44 PDT

The Synod on the Family: Addressing the Instrumentum Laboris
Franciscan University of Steubenville
September 11, 2015 - 10:26 PDT

OCP Artist, Pedro Rubalcava, Writes Song for Pope Francis' Visit
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
September 10, 2015 - 2:50 PDT

Pre-Synod Conference unites Cardinals and men and women living with homosexual tendencies
September 09, 2015 - 2:58 PDT

The Rigging of a Vatican Synod
September 02, 2015 - 3:44 PDT

17 Cardinals and Counting
August 31, 2015 - 3:38 PDT

19th Annual Carnival Announced for St. Ann's Parish
August 28, 2015 - 9:20 PDT

The John Paul II International Film Festival Marks Its Five-Year Anniversary
August 27, 2015 - 6:09 PDT

OCP Pledges to Support the V Encuentro
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 27, 2015 - 2:51 PDT

Thu, Sept 24, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Angelos Sebastian Our Lady of Grace Catholic Chu
August 26, 2015 - 4:03 PDT

Grief, Death, Eternal Life Explored in New Catholic Title by PBM
Pauline Books & Media
August 25, 2015 - 3:55 PDT

How do we live the truth in love when the culture says we're haters?
August 25, 2015 - 9:52 PDT

Right Next to Disneyland: Theater Meets Faith
Saint Luke Productions
August 19, 2015 - 1:29 PDT

OCP Parish Grant Program to Distribute $200,000 to U.S. Parishes
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
August 18, 2015 - 1:23 PDT

Franciscan University Joins With UK School to Offer Online Master of Catechetics Degree
Franciscan University of Steubenville
August 05, 2015 - 2:20 PDT

CONOR GALLAGHER NAMED PUBLISHER OF TAN BOOKS AND SAINT BENEDICT PRESS
Saint Benedict Press & TAN Books
July 20, 2015 - 12:49 PDT

Thérèse Drama Surprises Audiences
Saint Luke Productions
July 16, 2015 - 12:35 PDT

Catholic Press Association Honors Liguori
Liguori Publications
July 10, 2015 - 8:29 PDT

Crosier Order elects master general and councilors
June 26, 2015 - 2:06 PDT

World Library Publications Honored With Three Paul Revere Awards
World Library Publications
June 23, 2015 - 4:11 PDT

Indie Catholic Authors June Ebook Sale Offers the Faithful 17 Books Outside the Mainstream
Four Waters press
June 23, 2015 - 12:10 PDT

Limitless Love in Action: First Steubenville Youth Conference Inspires Teens to Bring the Fire Home
Franciscan University of Steubenville
June 18, 2015 - 2:03 PDT

Franciscan University of Steubenville Athletic Director Enshrined in Sports Faith Hall of Fame
Franciscan University of Steubenville
May 29, 2015 - 1:53 PDT

AWARD-WINNING CATHOLIC AUTHORS TEAM-UP TO PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH FORGIVENESS
Pauline Books & Media
May 27, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

NY CONCERT FOR NEPAL 5/31
May 27, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

Who's responsible for designing the designer?
May 19, 2015 - 11:12 PDT

Thu, Jun 11, 2015- Mass & Healing Service with Fr. Bill Adams at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
May 13, 2015 - 4:21 PDT

Your search for true happiness is over
May 05, 2015 - 1:22 PDT

ValLimar Jansen's latest album "a soulful experience"
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
April 30, 2015 - 1:33 PDT

Uncovering the roots (and branches) of the greatest revolution in the American Catholic Church
April 28, 2015 - 9:45 PDT

NYC May 8, 2015 Spring Fling Catholic Singles Mingle Fundraiser
The Catholic Fellowship
April 18, 2015 - 9:07 PDT

Thank A Nun Day
Image Books/Random House
April 15, 2015 - 12:32 PDT

#TweetingwGod dares young people to believe
April 14, 2015 - 9:54 PDT

Experience Beloved: Finding happiness in marriage
April 13, 2015 - 1:27 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts to participate in 'Beloved' telepress conference
April 07, 2015 - 4:51 PDT

Nobis Media, Marketing & Web Development Company
April 01, 2015 - 5:49 PDT

Catholic toymaker puts Faith in hands and mouths of babies: Pope Francis doll added to line of toys
The Word Out | Marketing For Catholics
April 01, 2015 - 3:48 PDT

Concert Series Concludes with Winthrop University World Percussion Ensemble
April 01, 2015 - 2:48 PDT

Birth Choice Health Clinics Announces Transition to Obria Medical Clinics and Plans for Expansion
March 28, 2015 - 10:43 PDT

OCP releases expanded edition of Mass of the Sacred Heart
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 24, 2015 - 4:43 PDT

Archbishop Aquila, Dr. Edward Sri and other experts participate in 'Beloved' tele-press conference
March 21, 2015 - 11:57 PDT

Priest and Seminarian Join National Three-Point Contest to Benefit Marriage Ministry
Paradisus Dei
March 13, 2015 - 10:20 PDT

Shroud of Turin Exhibit At Holy Spirit Brighton
Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School
March 12, 2015 - 3:58 PDT

Flor y Canto campaign invites the Hispanic community to share their stories
OCP (Oregon Catholic Press)
March 11, 2015 - 4:40 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 10, 2015 - 6:36 PDT

Crisis Pregnancy Center Dream Becoming Reality
TRFC Inc.
March 09, 2015 - 7:04 PDT

Join RealOptions 2015 Walk for Life and 5K Run!
RealOptions Pregnancy Medical Clinics
March 09, 2015 - 2:40 PDT

New Orchestra Comes to Mary's Nativity Church
March 09, 2015 - 12:06 PDT

Paradisus Dei Offers New Marriage Program to Churches at No Cost
Paradisus Dei
March 05, 2015 - 6:25 PST

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »