By Kristy Puchko | Film | March 31, 2020 |
By Kristy Puchko | Film | March 31, 2020 |
Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of Tank Girl, an audacious comic-book adaptation that starred Lori Petty as a badass bombshell with no fear and plenty of flare. Directed by Rachel Talalay, the film tanked at the box office. But over the decades, it’s become a beloved cult favorite. So, to celebrate its legacy, Talalay and her leading lady reunited on Twitter for a tweet-along rewatch celebration with the hashtag #TankGirlLives
Here’s what we learned from following along.
Lori Petty did a lot of ad-libbing, much to the delight of her director.
Some hot @loripetty adlibs with the classic P-P-p-pow #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
This whole fashion scene was basically ad-libbed by @LoriPetty Say no more. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
I had 38 hair styles in this movie. All awesome. #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
"Have we left ourselves in ourselves in our purse?" I was a hot mess improvizing fool lol #TankGirlLives THE GLAMOUR HAS LEFT THE BUILDING THE SUPER HAS LEFT THE MODEL LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
But it wasn’t all fun and games for Petty.
Dropping @loripetty down the pipe in the straitjacket — that was pretty much hell! #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Okay that drowning tube was the only time I was scared #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
I jumped off of the top of that semi in REAL LIFE because no one told me it was meant to move and I thought we were all gonna die. The stunt guy just said "Good Roll!" And we kept working lol #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
Talalay shared a behind-the-scenes secret of how the shower room changed from script to screen.
This was written as the showers being brutal and abrasive but it appealed to me to have her go against the misery and find a way to enjoy herself no matter what. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
She also shared some studio notes.
First big argument of the movie — Girl U Want - one of the (male) producers
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
didn’t like the singer’s voice — wanted to rerecord more ‘lyrically’. I love the rawness of this
version. #TankGirlLives
2nd argument. The studio insisting on this voiceover, which I didn’t want. They also wrote a really serious one, which we all hated. They thought the audience was confused by the concept of the movie (Huh) #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
in an outtake, the stunt water buffalo rider fell off. Studio wanted to use that, I thought it was a bad intro for our hero. Writer Tedi Serafian convinced them not to use it. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Adding the on-the-nose flashbacks to the family dying and Sam — studio notes. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Even in an R-rated movie, some things were censored.Didn't need it lol <3 #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
Tank Girls Bedroom was a brilliant set, decorated with dildos. this offended one of our execs. Snip - out it went. Wonderful screenwriter Sean Hood did the shopping. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
animation panels to kill kesslee without gore #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
The kangaroo-man hybrids known as the Rippers were designed by the late special effects master Stan Winston.
I can’t say enough amazing things about our ripper team. And Stan Winston’s work. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Ann Cusack pops up to play an eccentric pack rat, but she was intended to play Sub Girl.
Ann Cusack had a bigger role as Sub Girl but we ran out of money to do the sand submarine work. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
A lean budget meant a lot of other big ideas had to be cut or swapped for cheaper solutions, like comic page inserts.
This animation sequence was my idea of having some action that we couldn’t afford to do live-action. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
It was producer Aron Warner’s idea to do the holographic head. We wanted to do multiple TV screens as his head/mask but it was way too expensive. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
we also shot a coda with everyone in the desert in the rain. But I like the animation too. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Playing a Ripper was rough.
I never saw the kangaroo actors out of make up. We were always getting our makeup put on or taken off at the same time. Then workout. Then soak in bath. Then shower then oil up then sleep then up in 5 hours… #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
the Ripper armor was an addition from Tony Gardner Alterian Studios. Just to make the Ripper outfits even more like wearing couches in 110 degrees. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Less so if you were Ice-T.
Stomp! Just the coolest in 1995. IceT was scripted to dance but he knew his character wouldn't. So right. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Ice T wouldn't dance so they made him a throne. OG MOVE @FINALLEVEL <3 <3 <3
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
Petty wants you to know her onscreen beastie beau was hung.
They made Booga a huge penis but never shot it. #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
- #TankGirlLives BFF @GlassHair <3 https://t.co/hrNxA4POoL
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
Doug Jones (Hellboy, The Shape of Water, Star Trek: Discovery) was one of the “additional Rippers.” I had a guess on which one.
Is Doug Jones the Ripper in the white dress shirt and suspenders? pic.twitter.com/Ms7Cg38z2H
— Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko) March 30, 2020
Jones confirmed!
You have a good eye, precious Kristy!
— Doug Jones (@actordougjones) March 31, 2020
Other future big names helped mold the magic of Tank Girl, including Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, who was this movie’s production designer.
Time for a shout out to designer (now famous director) Catherine Hardwicke. What joyous genius. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
one of my regrets is that I didn’t do justice to all the amazing props and set design pieces that Catherine and Jamie designed. many didn’t end up on camera. If i did it again, i’d have a montage-of-cool for every set. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
West Wing’s Richard Schiff played a gun-toting creeper who watch Petty’s scissor play striptease.
And here comes Richard Schiff - now emmy winner from West Wing. Now Good Doctor #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
The second unit director for Tank Girl went on to direct a much-adored comic book movie in 2018. We’re talking animation mastermind Peter Ramsey of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.
Correction: Ripper Attack. Our 2nd unit was directed by @PRamsey342 of Into The Spiderverse fame. He also storyboarded for us. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Helmer of the movie adaptations of the Broadway musicals Rock of Ages and Hairspray Adam Shankman was the choreographer for the classic Tank Girl tribute to Cole Porter.
Adam Shankman (who directed the Hairspray remake) was our choreographer. @loripetty had to do everything. Some verses were cut - dammit. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Sharon Stone visited us at this location. Watched the dance numbers. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Musicians got in on the fun too. Punk rock icon Iggy Pop agreed to pop in to play a pervert. Talalay shared why, while Petty shared his penchant for peanut butter.
I had worked with Iggy Pop on CryBaby and he did a song for on Freddy’s Dead #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Iggy Pop had a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast every morning, waiting for his car… :) #TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020
Courtney Love had thoughts on the soundtrack.
I also love Devo. Kudos to the unsung hero Bonnie Greenberg Music Supervisor for pulling this all soundtrack together — Courtney Love sent mix tapes of ideas. #TankGirlLives
— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) March 30, 2020
Plus, we have Tank Girl to thank for the creation of The Spice Girls.
Check out EW’s anniversary interview for the hilarious true story.
And that’s all folks.
Thank you ALL <3 Let's Do It #JoanJett <3#TankGirlLives
— loripetty (@loripetty) March 30, 2020