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A Glitch in the System

With US Presidential and Presidential candidates fessing up to taking a puff of weed and with the debate in the US continues on to decriminalizing marijuana and the legalization of it, "Glitch" a 2011 short film was way ahead of its time in dealing in this topic. A political satire, "A Glitch In the System" is a slap stick comedy about a man (prisoner 8675 309 a.k.a Buddy) locked up and released 25 years later for marijuana possession and due in part to an error in the jurisdictional computer system. Imagine how much the world has changed in that amount of time. Can our unfortunate stoner cope with the changes? Cell phones, no smoking ban and over priced shake. Can he get a job? Or is he better off staying in the slammer. Has justice been served? You be the judge.

  • Randy Sparks
    Director
    Tacoma Chalk Off
  • Justin Peterson
    Director
    All About Haggarty; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days
  • Randy Sparks
    Writer
    Tacoma Chalk Off; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days
  • Christopher Wood
    Writer
  • Randy Sparks
    Producer
    Tacoma Chalk Off; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days
  • Dave Graham
    Key Cast
    "Buddy DeLorean"
    It Don't Rain on Sunny Days
  • Dawn & Merl Sparks
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 11 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    250 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:19
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2010 Tacoma Film Festival
    Tacoma, WA
    United States
    World Premiere
  • 2011 Art on the Ave Tacoma Filmmaker's Showcase
    Tacoma, WA
    United States
  • 2011 Gig Harbor Film Festival
    Gig Harbor, WA
    United States
  • 2020 West Sound Film Festival
    Bremerton, WA
    United States
Director Biography - Randy Sparks, Justin Peterson

Randy Sparks holds two college degrees: B.S. in Business and a MBA from City University of Seattle. Currently he resides in Tacoma, WA. His art background began at an early age.
In 1968, at 10 he loved filming homemade movies, which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in. His proudest film of the time "The House of Blood" a 10 min super 8 flick.
In 1971, he concentrated on writing plays, songs, poems and art. Years later his college Art Professor told him that he would do well in making a career in Art. He said Randy drew like Michelangelo.
In 1975, Randy began four years of study in live theater involving plays, operas and variety shows. He would work closely with the companies' producers and directors particularly in areas involving lights and sound, acting, and set construction.
From 1979-1996 he was busy going to college, raising two children and performing live music. It wasn't till 1997 that he got involved with digital photography and video. He spent the next 2 years as an assistant photographer for the Seattle Seahawks, working with team photographer Corky Truin and a year with comedian/fine art photographer Rod Long.
In 2003, he begin filming promotional videos, music videos and concert videos. In 2007, he moved his energy towards creating his own pictures as a producer, director and co-writer. Film successes include: Tacoma Chalk Off; It Don't Rain on Sunny Days; A Glitch In the System; Tacoma's Rock-n-Roll Legends (79k views on Facebook) and his current film Rose Colored Shades.

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Director Statement

Production Notes:
"On Location Stories"
The unspoken mantra for virtually all slim-budget productions is “shoot first, ask permission later.” So when producer Randy Sparks needed to secretly stage a scene for his comedy “Glitch” in front of a bank, he knew it came with some risk. “When you’re the producer, you’re responsible for everything - and everyone,” he says. Randy certainly couldn’t afford he or any of his crew members getting hauled off to the pokey (though such a thing would have made excellent press for a film about a parolee run through the judicial wringer). Luckily he got the footage he wanted without any threat of a shakedown.

“Glitch” may have received a visit from the supernatural, however. After deciding to shoot inside Tacoma’s former City Hall, Randy found out the building was considered haunted. He kept this to himself so as not to disturb the crew, yet some experienced claustrophobia and difficulty breathing during their time in the character Buddy’s jail cell.

Despite these minor hiccups, Randy considers “Glitch” the most efficient production he’s worked on. While cementing relationships with his regular volunteers, he constantly keeps an eye out for new talent to invite on his team. His next project Rose Colored Shades begins shooting 2012 with local comedian Rod Long.

02-20-15 Update:
OMG!!! Last night I watched the new episode (S13, Ep 07) of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO. In the show"s final segment "New Rules", he ending on a note that made me wonder if he or someone on his writing staff may of seen my short satire "A Glitch In the System" on Tumblr and was so inspired by the movie's premise statement that he incorporated certain elements in the ending of "New Rules". There was so many similarities between Bill's commentary and my beloved flick and it's description, it was uncanny. He even used a few buzz words, key points and statements that I had to stop and say.... OMG. Perhaps its nothing more than one of those moments where all great minds think alike. Perhaps it may of been pipe dreaming on my part. I don't know, but if you seen "Glitch" and the Real Time show last night... well, you be the judge. In any case, I'm a happy camper and glad the issue is center stage. Pardon the pun. R. Remember it's all about the tags.