6. Mr Custa and The Tree From Outer Space

Rogue android Panseyvet Weedle and Rich Bonus plan to take over the World’s garden centres by introducing them to the flora and fauna of their home planet Solydon. But can Mr. Custa stop them? He’s still stuck on the M25…

Mr.Custa and the Tree From Outer Space

Story Six2010

Enemies of the Earth(Written by Michael Skywood Clifford)
The Hand of Fiendship(Written by Michael Skywood Clifford)
Supermarket Creeps(Written by Michael Skywood Clifford)

Credits

  • Mr. Custa – Mathew Cobb
  • Sia – Sara Beamish
  • Brok – Aaron Nicholas-Wood
  • Fly / Two-Horns / Panseyvet Weedle – Philip Whitmore
  • Rich Bonus – Michael Skywood Clifford
  • Tryllisia – Felicity Mayor
  • Kimalong and Fradinoot – Jamie Jordan
  • Marzipandle – Jenii Lowe
  • Leafy Tree / Security Guard – Lee Bannister
  • Announcer – Lee Bannister
  • Music – AKM copyright free music
  • Mr. Custa Theme – Michael Skywood Clifford
  • Writer – Michael Skywood Clifford
  • Creator and Producer – Philip Whitmore
  • Director – Philip Whitmore
BEHIND THE STORY with PHIL WHITMORE
“THE TREE FROM OUTER SPACE”

I had previously worked with writer/composer Michael Skywood Clifford before, when I asked him to do the “Mr Custa” theme song.

Then one day he contacted me to say that he wanted to write a story about “a flying space greenhouse with matching patio doors”.

A few weeks pass, and I received, from Mike, a story for “Mr Custer.”

Yea, all of the main characters’ names were spelt wrong, e.g- “MR CUSTER”, “CEA” & “BROCK”, but I could see it was a very funny script, and therefore would, in theory, outshine all of my work, which is why I edited it.

No, not really.

The script needed editing because it was originally written as one 35 minute episode, and required editing down to be the desired length- eg, four (slightly overlong) 10 minute episodes, with exciting cliff-hangers.

The original scripts to this story, also had jokes and scenes that were too “adult” in tone. Eg- everything with Brok’s “girlfriend” Tryllisia had to be “toned” down for the Saturday morning kids’ show audience.

And the aliens’ planet “Solydon” was originally written to be “Soyldon” but was misread by just about everybody, including me.