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June 4, 2012

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‘Hillywood Show’ gaining an audience

Their film parodies are on the Internet now, but they have bigger dreams

By (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Vegas Goes Hillywood

Vegas Goes Hillywood

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The Hillywood Show creators and local filmmakers Hillary and Hannah Hindi, fresh from a Twilight Convention, sat down to discuss the history of their work, from their early work all the way to their Twilight Parody, which has received over two million views on YouTube, as well as their latest video "The Dark Knight".

Six hundred. That’s about how many e-mails local sisters Hillary and Hannah Hindi get every day in response to the parodies of popular films that make up their Internet sensation, “The Hillywood Show.”

Most of the 10-minute episodes start with a recognizable character played by one of the sisters. In the “Twilight” parody, for example,

19-year-old Hillary Hindi leads a cast — recognizable as characters from the popular book-turned-film.

There is teen angst and unreturned love in the high school cafeteria. Suddenly, a beat kicks in and Katy Perry’s voice picks up the opening lines of “Hot ’n’ Cold.” This isn’t just a “Twilight” tribute, it’s a vampire music video.

“It’s growing and getting really big,” Hannah Hindi, 23, says. “Once we did the ‘Twilight’ one we have over 2 million viewers now.”

What started as an entry into an AOL-sponsored competition has spawned an ongoing project for the self-taught sisters. They write, shoot, direct and edit their own short films with almost no assistance. If both Hindis are in a scene they’ll pass the camera to a crew member. Grandma makes the costumes. Other than that it’s all Hannah and Hillary.

Early episodes centered on Johnny Depp characters such as Sweeney Todd and Captain Jack Sparrow. In the Hindis’ hands, Sparrow has had his own talk show and cruised the Las Vegas Strip in a limousine dubbed “the Black Pearl” — piloted by Depp’s rendition of Hunter S. Thompson.

The sisters inject plenty of humor into their films, but they don’t make fun of their subjects for a very simple reason: They only parody films they like.

They are in preproduction for a parody of “Twilight” follow-up “New Moon.” There’s plenty to do before the camera rolls in December with casting, costuming, scouting locations and makeup tests.

So far “The Hillywood Show” isn’t turning a profit.

“We don’t have anyone sponsoring us. Everything comes out of pocket,” Hannah says.

Still, they’re optimistic.

“Hopefully a network will pick up ‘The Hillywood Show’ and turn it into a fun teen version of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ” Hillary says, dreaming aloud.

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