Bostonist Interview: Brad Neely, Animator

Do you know if a video is going to rule the internet before you post it?

Wow. I guess the safest way to answer that is to say that I hope for all my stuff to rule, but I do know that some will have broader appeal than others. It’s important for me to stick to what I find funny and exciting. Trying to engineer a “Hit-generator” every time might get me in trouble.

Publishing on the internet gives you the freedom to say things that would never make it to television and to invent ever newer ways to say "shit" and "fuck." How has the absence of a censor helped or hampered your creativity?

Television S+P has very erratic, vacillating dos and don’ts. Often it’s a roll of the dice whether you’ll get caught for a naughty or a nice. The people at SuperDeluxe are pretty giving, but there are still places and happenings that need to feel necessary. I love to get gross, but hopefully I can explain every turd and every fuck-word.

You'll be at ROFLCon this weekend with the creators of Homestar Runner, Red vs. Blue, Lolcats, and Stuff White People Like. Is this a big deal? Is there now a canon of internet humor?

I have no idea. Lots of talented people are trying it out, making it work. Personally I fear the day when no one cares and everyone goes back to America’s Funniest Home Video on Television.

Coincidentally, the IFF Boston is screening We Are Wizards, a movie about Harry Potter fan art in which you are featured. Is Wizard People, Dear Readers fan art or something else entirely?

I enjoy the movies and never read the books. I am a fan of that myopic young god who only wants to get through finals despite having to save to world for his totally unsupportive support group.

Fan art? Sort of. Though I kinda think everything is. Everything is a sort of response. Now, I’m in no way comparing myself to either Neil Young or Skynyrd, but their song exchange ["Southern Man" and "Sweet Home Alabama"] is a great example of people making great things out of hateful (or at least passionate) responses. I sound stupid. Right?

You don't sound stupid. In fact, Bostonist refers friends who have never read the Bible to your retelling of Genesis 19. What draws you to biblical stories?

I like to focus on what is in us, what we are and what we can’t escape. Flesh, blood, family, history, religion, do-do, sex, murder, love. We’ve always been telling stories wherein we try to explain and describe our predicament. I’m just trying to follow in the line of tradition.

Do you take requests? Bostonist would love to watch the Professor Brothers tell the story of our local hero Paul Revere.

That! That… is a great idea. My first inclination is to show that Paul Revere was only acting in a way that he believed would bolster the Silver business. I suppose NOT alerting us the coming of the British would help facilitate their success and therefore create more of a call for silver tea pots… so unfortunately… that‘s backwards.

Image from Brad Neely's website Creased Comics.