By Susan Polk

Directed by: Arthur Borman

Starring: Stephen Rappaport, Michael Riley

Now playing at: Cinema Nova

Rating: ***

You don't have to have any knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes of a film production to enjoy The Making of... And God Spoke, as it is a hilarious film unto itself, but to those in the know, this film is doubly funny as it manages to poke fun at every aspect of the industry in a way that must have many real-life filmmakers writhing with embarrassment.

Filmed in a "mockmumentary" style, a camera crew follow producer Marvin Handelman (Stephen Rappaport) and director Clive Walton (Michael Riley) as they stuggle to bring "the greatest book ever written" to the silver screen. Oozing slick integrity, the pair manage to convince themselves and the studio that the film will be a sure hit (more successful than their previous classic Nude Ninjas, even), and the farcical machine goes into motion a la Hollywood. All the "boring bits" are to be left out, of course, and the same goes for the "depressing parts - like Job and the Revelations."

Rappaport in particular provides the comedic anchor in this film, keeping the project afloat in spite of the increasing difficulties in production (such as Eve's snake tattoo and a buffalo destined never to make it into the ark scene), while Riley plays the sort of psuedo-self-effacing director that makes you want to drop several atom bombs on California just to make sure you haven't missed any of his ilk.

The remainder of the crew are nearly as self-centred, and as the whole project runs off the rails and out of funds the humour increases exponentially, leaving the audience wondering how on earth any film is ever completed. Certainly nothing is sacred in The Making of... when it comes to egos and money, and the bible is no exception. Even Moses (played by well-known hasbeen Soupy Sales) is forced to sell out in the end, endorsing a well-known beverage atop the mountain along with the Ten Commandments.

The final redemption of Handelman and Walton says much about the industry and the public it caters to, adding a final and triumphant (if thoroughly undeserved) justification for their labors. Oddly, by this time you actually want them to succeed, in spite of their absurd notions of reality and their misplaced sense of cinematic values.The only unsettling thing about the film is that it is probably more real than any of us would like to believe, but in the case of The Making of... And God Spoke, truth is stranger - and easily as entertaining - as fiction.