When we started dating I was working crappy sales jobs and Mr. G was working crappy production jobs. One of his production jobs was walking through a snake pit, but he was delighted to keep the pants and boots. He wore those pants until they were threadbare. They did look good on him.
*0:50 in is Mr. G’s feet
When I went to Mr. G’s apartment for the first time his mother called. Of course he didn’t answer the phone, and we giggled like children listening to her leaving a message on the answering machine.
Robert. Raaaahhhhbert. Your sister tells me you’re standing in a snake pit all day. Raaaahhhbert I don’t like this Robert. This is not a career. (she punctuated This and Not)
And it was fabulous, because I’d never heard a Long Island accent quite like it before.
So now we fast forward fifteen years and Mr. G is casting for something he’s directing. At dinner he tells us he’s cast a monkey, a rattlesnake and a hundred random snakes. He’s irritated that he can’t get a hundred rattlers.
“Why can’t you get a hundred rattlers?” I asked him.
And then he started talking with his hands, “I don’t know. Some regulations say that you can’t sew their mouths shut anymore. I told the producers that I needed a hundred rattle snakes and they kept coming back to me saying that they could only get one. I explained to them that it’s really easy, all you have to do is milk their venom and sew their mouths shut, it’s one little stitch so they can strike but they can’t bite. I’ve done it. Those snakes launched at me for days.”
I shook my head and lowered my gaze. “So what did you do?”
The kids were rapt as Mr G continued, “I got on the phone with the snake guy and said, ‘listen man, I know you can get me a hundred rattlers. You just milk the venom into this little drum and add a stitch. I don’t need them to bite, but I do need them to strike.’ and he told me that he used to do that but some damn law was passed where you’re not allowed to sew animal’s mouths shut anymore.”
“Even snakes?” I asked.
“Even snakes.” He sadly replied.
We chewed our local free range organic chicken breast in silence, hoping the shot would still be good with non venomous snakes.
Like my snake which is non venomous, they will still strike but out of fear and not aggression, it’s really not the same. I’m sure it will still read the same with solid filming/editing.
I don’t know what to say to this whole fascinating conversation. All I could think of was: If I were one of the kids sitting at the table, I’d be thinking to myself: OMG my parents are so cool!
I’m pretty sure they think we’re weird. As they mature they’ll realize that weird and cool are synonymous.
Man can you believe it. First they want to take away cannibalism, now we cant sew mouths shut. What the hell. Why cant we all stay uneducated cave men forever. I mean who needs respect. Why cant everyone just do what they want.
That’s JUST what I was saying!
Yeah it’s illegal. They may be venomous animals but sewing their mouths shut is still animal cruelty. I have seen how this is done and it is more than “one stitch”. But it is cool how casual you are about the torture and mutilation of animals.
Exactly! The casual discussion about how stupid it is that they can’t abuse animals for entertainment. Sick.
Wow… I had no idea they use to sew snakes mouths shut. Without a second thought. Humanity honestly makes Me sick I don’t care what type of animal it is sewing there mouths shut is plain wrong.
On dangerous animals Now I can see something like tape. (Electric / medical tape) something like that. ON the outside. Without piercing them and sewing them. For stuff like medical care and such. But just for our entertainment… no. That’s just torture. … like we have dog muscles and such I’m sure it can be figured out.
Smh how messed up. Humanity is a very entitled species with a lack on moral compass.
MUZZLES* auto correct got me.