Bedtime stories - Visual Hollywood

Old West
In the Old West story, Jeremiah Skeets is a southern farmhand who is looking to make a
name for himself but feels that his shabby appearance and his old horse might be a
disadvantage. Skeeter decides Jeremiah Skeets should get a brand-new horse—a red one that
whinnies like a Ferrari—for free.
The kids don’t like the idea and suggest that he do what a real gentleman would do and save
a damsel in distress, portrayed in the fantasy by hotelier Barry Nottingham’s daughter Violet,
who Skeeter has hoped to win in real life.
“In the Old West story Skeeter wants a Ferrari and he wants the girl,” says Shankman. “He
thinks he controls the stories, but realizes after this particular story that it’s the kids’
contributions that really matter.”
To prepare for his role as Jeremiah Skeets in the Old West scene, Sandler took riding
lessons. “I used to ride horses when I was young and fearless, but riding a horse at my age is
not something you want to do unless you know how to do it.”
CUE THE CHARIOT
Ancient Greece
The Ancient Greece story opens
with Skeetacus, a cocky, toga-clad
hero, entering a Greek Coliseum at
the helm of a high-speed, horsedrawn
chariot. The crowd roars as he
jumps the chariot over a long line of
elephants.
Shankman explains, “I thought it
would be funny if Skeeter was the
first one to do the Chariot X-Games.
I wanted it to look like motocross, but
on a chariot.”
Presiding over the games from his Royal Box is Emperor Germicus, his lovely daughter
Princess Violetus, Senator Kendallius and Aspenazon. In the stands among the spectators is
Jillius, Patrickus, Bobbius and Skeetacus’ manservant Mickus who is a Satyr.
Outer Space
The final bedtime story takes the
cast to Outer Space for a battle scene
between Skeeto and Kendallo. The
scene reflects the real-life battle to
run the hotel.
Shankman explains, “In the story,
they battle to see who’s going to be
the one to run the new planet of
Nottinghamia.”
Guy Pearce says the no-gravity
battle takes a while to get off the ground—so to speak. “We’re floating around desperately
trying to get to each other and can’t…so a Booger Monster comes out.”
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