“Weird Al” Yankovic, who resurrected his recording career with a No. 1 album in July, has long resembled Jesus, and now he’s playing him in The Moving Picture Co. 1914, a 22-minute silent film directed by triple Emmy winner Mark Kirkland, who directed around 80 episodes of The Simpsons.
“It’s the role Weird Al was born to play,” says the film’s dp, Roberto E. Lepe. Kirkland adds: “He plays an actor re-enacting the Last Supper for a silent film in 1914, but a chase scene disturbs the supper.” The film had its Oscar-qualifying screening the weekend of Sept. 20, when it also won two awards at the Big Bear festival.
“Al was the first person who came to mind,” says Kirkland (also appearing: Robot Chicken producer Matt Senreich and Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler). “We all know Al is the king. Now he’s the King of Kings.”