Above Left: Mitch at age 11 (embellishments his)
Above Right: Mitch (age withheld) and Son of Mitch at G-Fest (2019)
My Real Memoir
I got pregnant when I was a kid! And not with human baby, but a monster! To clarify (before this starts to sound like a cross between Alien and Rosemary’s Baby), it wasn’t evil, it was kinda cute. And it didn’t burst out of my chest, it burst out of my funny bone.
Our town acquired its own movie theater the year I turned eleven. Many of my favorite childhood memories are tied to the old La Mirada Theatre, but none are more vivid than Saturday Matinees. For 50¢ we’d see movies that had already made it to television—but in color and “on the big screen!” Because they were for kids, Saturday Matinees showed two types of movies: Comedies and Creature Features, many starring the “King of the Monsters” himself, Godzilla.
So somewhere along the line, my love of comedy and monsters fused. I remember spotting a string pulling an army jeep across a miniature set, and laughing out loud. That was the moment, I think, I became “pregnant” with the idea of spoofing Big G himself.
Five years later, as teenagers, buddy Jeff and I (co-member of the band The Daily Planet) wrote a short parody of the Godzilla movies. We called it Kragira, which sounded suitably kaiju, and planned to film it on Super-8, with all of our (mostly Caucasian) friends playing Japanese people (I know, bad idea). We never shot it. But I did re-write and expand it for a college screenwriting class, and got an “A,” with a note from my prof that said, “You have to make this movie!” I didn’t.
But two decades later, after years of touring and recording sketch comedy albums, I re-wrote and re-titled my long-gestating baby and dreamt up a suitably spoofy new title: Notzilla. (“Notzilla” was later adopted by giant monster fans as a term for any kind of take-off on the kaiju genre.)
A division of Warner Bros. slated Notzilla for production, but folded right before production began. Then, it was tentatively greenlighted by Dimension Pictures. But at the last minute, they decided to make yet another Scary Movie sequel.
More time passed. We moved to Cincinnati, not exactly Hollywood-on-the-Ohio (River, that is), but there’s a substantial filmmaking community here. Coming off my multi-award-winning inspirational drama Healing River, my executive producer asked if I had anything “ready-to-go.” And, in so many words, I replied, “Well, I’ve been pregnant with this little monster spoof for about fifty years.”
And so my baby was finally born!
After winning ten film festival awards and nominations, Notzilla previewed to standing ovations at G-Fest (G for Godzilla). The following year, in the midst of a pandemical theater shut-down, it was released on Amazon Prime, and was immediately proclaimed “a cult classic” in the making by MovieWeb. (Sure enough, since then I’ve spotted homemade Notzilla fan films, ebay collectibles, and fan art from Japan on DeviantArt!)
My little creature feature has now expanded to over 80 countries via Amazon, as well as X-box, Vudu, Apple TV, Roku, Vimio, YouTube, Tubi, Google Play, and more! Notzilla is also available on DVD at all video major retailers.
And so, from the “pregnant” funny bone of an 11-year-old, the biggest little monster ever was born. And now…
He’s attacking the whole world!
My Real Memoir is a series. To read the next one, click here.
Here’s the official Notzilla trailer!
Mitch Teemley 
Wow, this is fascinating! Love the photos by the way, lol.
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Thanks, Tammy!
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For me it’s always nice to learn a little more about some & you are one (smile).
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;>)
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Excellent spoof of a trailer, so I have to believe the movie is fantastic too.
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Thanks, John. Hope you get a chance to see and enjoy it!
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Quite an accomplishment at such a young age.
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Welp, where can I find an 8-year-old boy to watch it with!
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Yep, we’ve had a lot of people say how much fun they had watching it with their kids or their grandkids.
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LOL! And, well done!
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Thank you!
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lolol….”could be Democrat” 😎
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;>) Thanks, I was kind of proud of that line.
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And deservedly so!
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Well Done. I will try to find a way to watch it!
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Great. Enjoy, Michael!
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Brought beautiful memories of my childhood. My father used to take me and one of my brothers to watch at the cinema. Godzilla movies fuelled lots of childhood imagination. I will most definitely enjoy watching Notzilla!
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Congratulations on this momentous occasion. Perhaps one of the longest gestation times on record. Can’t wait to finally meet your scaly offspring.
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;>)
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When I was kid (date withheld) and the TV Guide was a printed thing that came with the Sunday newspaper, I’d always check whether it was a monster movie week! About once a year (my fuzzy memory tells me) some channel would run a Godzilla-type movie Mon-Fri in the afternoon. Those were the best weeks! I’m going to try and convince my teenager who likes Kaiju to watch Notzilla with me.
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Great, Todd. What could be better than father and son satisfying that primal kaiju-watching itch together?
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Big congrats!! 🎉 I never liked Godzilla or Ratan for that matter but you’ve changed all that!
Love the trailer, look forward to the whole shebang! I hope Notzilla doesn’t die in the end.
Btw, was that you in the window with popcorn lady?
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Happy to make a Godzilla convert (sort of), but what have you got against woven palm leaf furniture (rattan ;>). We’re you maybe referring to Rodan? Thanks! And, yes, that was me with popcorn lady (my wife Trudy) in the window.
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Ah, yes!! Rodan!! It’s all coming back to me….😃
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Like the French sculptor Rodin. Only Rodan’s not French, or a sculptor, or a womanizer, or human, or anything like Rodin, actually.
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Oh yeah! Gotta see this.
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Get your roar on!
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Paid $13.64 on Amazon to see this. What a hoot! The movie captured a the silly inconsistencies and pure phoniness if the originals, and it contained all the wisecracks of of a grown-up eight year old. I didn’t laugh out loud, but kept grinning throughout. It was a stupid movie in the best sense of the word. Thanks for seventy-nine minutes of escape from the depressing realities of the day.
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Please excuse the lack of editing on my part.
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$13.64? Ah, you must have bought the HD download. Bless you. Yeah, it’s pretty much the personification of silly, bad puns and all! Do consider leaving a brief review at Amazon (the more reviews it gets, the more they recommend it). Also, you can rate it from 1 to 10 stars on IMDb (link below). Note: IMDb only recognizes the rating if you rate a few other movies, as well. Thanks for the grins, Rob! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9035000/
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Hello dear nice to meet you,i dont know you , but i am Harold martha be honest i would like to know youchat me from my email (Haroldmartha35@gmail.com)
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Hi Harold, I’m a little unclear. Are you asking me to chat with you by email?
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Yes sir please my dear write me back to email so that i will tell you why i contacted you (Haroldmartha35@gmail.com)
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Wow Mitch congratulations!!
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Thank you, Christina!
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sov you have pictures of you at 13
mention age 11
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I have pictures of me when I was 13, Rudy, but will share them when I get to that age in my memoir posts.
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why do you say if the verses were mixed up
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I don’t know what you mean, Rudy. The picture in this post (above) was taken when I was 11.
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So many layers of fun in this movie, Mitch, beginning with the cutest, cuddliest little monster ever. But I especially enjoyed the plays on words, and the super-imposed text as some scenes began. VERY funny! Also enjoyed watching for you to appear here and there–and even see Trudy in action!
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;>) Aw, thanks, Nancy!
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Saw the movie. Thought it was fun (Notzilla)
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Thanks, Jean!
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I recommended it online.
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That’s awesome, Jean! Feel free to leave a brief review at Amazon, as well (The more reviews it gets, the more they recommend it). Also, you can rate it from 1 to 10 stars on IMDb (link below). Note: IMDb only recognizes the rating if you rate a few other movies, as well. Thanks again! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9035000/
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Oh my gosh!!! I’m so going to find this on DVD somehow!
Congratulations Mitch on birthing your baby for the world to enjoy!!
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Thanks, Stuart! Re. the DVD: Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy all have it online (finding in-store copies is always hit and miss).
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Amazon it is then 😊
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Enjoy!
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Ha! We actually watched it one snow day and I saw a few smirks! I like the like hearted fun, the nostalgia. 🙂
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Thanks, Gabrielle.
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Thank you for sharing!
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Ha! This is too much! Thanks also for the cameo.
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;>) My pleasure, Al.
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La Mirada, Calif? At Imperial Hwy &…. Idaho? Or the mall?
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Yes. The old La Mirada Theatre was in the mall (La Mirada Shopping Center back then). It closed down in the mid-70s, and was revamped as a stage theatre, now operated by Cathy Rigby and her husband Tom McCoy.
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I used to know one of the stage theater directors (I think that was his title)… very early 90s. Totally blanking on his name. Great after parties but I didn’t like his plays.
I used to live over the hill at Gilbert & Rosecrans.
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Whaddya know! I lived on Alicante Rd, across the street from (what eventually became) La Mirada Park, and walked up Adelpha Dr. to school La Mirada High. I moved away in the 70s, but taught at Biola University in the 90s.
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I loved this movie Mitch.
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So glad to hear that, Max! May I encourage you to leave a brief review at Amazon? (The more reviews it gets, the more they recommend it). Also, you can rate it from 1 to 10 stars on IMDb (link below). Note: IMDb only recognizes the rating if you rate a few other movies, as well. Thanks again for the laughs! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9035000/
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I sure will! Thanks Mitch I really enjoyed it.
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Thanks, Max!
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Yay! I’m going to have to watch this one!!
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Just watched the DVD the other night. Love it and loved doing our small parts in it! Yes, please maybe give him a sibling or a love interest……📽🎬❤
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Sequel? We’ll see. Thanks, Kathleeen!
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Congratulations!!! Our youngest is going off to college in the fall and she plans to major in multi-media communications with an emphasis of tv and film production, she has so many big dreams 💗
I can’t wait to watch Notzilla on Amazon Prime with her! Thanks for sharing the story behind it!
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My pleasure. Praying for your media-bound daughter, Debbie. Hope you thoroughly enjoy Notzilla together!
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Thank you very much from prayers, Mitch, always coveted and appreciated!!
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Your talent and ambitions always make my heart smile. And I am so very grateful that you share your accomplishments with us here in this blog space. You give me hope in actuating my own dreams and desires of the heart. Still waiting for the courage part though…as well as the wherewithal that is necessary. Hugs to you for the encouragement you bring to others!
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Thanks so much for your kind words, Dawn. And I’m so glad mine are an encouragement to you!
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