remusicals

[remusicals]

One of the most special pieces of art we've ever received. 'First Nights at Freddy's' will probably go down as the hardest project in RE history, but nothing makes it more worthwhile than seeing a ton of talented creators come together to show their support with something epic of their own. We are so incredibly thankful to our community for following us on this soul-rending journey to a feature film worthy of the FNAF fandom and #FNAFmusical legacy.

Please show some love to all the artists who surprised us with this masterpiece: @somanyspooky saltyjellybeans (IG) cblofficial16 (IG) dat_sfrina (IG) phant0mh34rt_ (IG) cardamonparade (IG) jay0org (IG) @jmouseee @sm0lcatfish mayornotundertheplumtree (IG) @crs1fyil3r @nuancedindev0rs @starchytart @lexusinsannus @blurick07

[remusicals]

Why and how did you come up with the design of The Beard?

(your mascot of course)

Gather round, children, for a tale of Mystery, Wonder, and The Weird Stuff One Does At 2AM! Though I’m suspicious a number of you are already authorities on that last one��� 🤨

Before “The Beard” became an RE staple, “The Beard” was a short horror film concocted one autumn at Ithaca College. A student-run horror film festival was fast approaching and, two days from its submission deadline, Nate and I decided we wanted to enter a film of our own.

There were traditionally only two types of horror films screened: blood-and-guts slasher extravaganzas, and arthouse shorts where capitalism and existential dread comprised the bulk of the scares. We wanted to try for a third option: something fun and shlocky, a nonlethal monster movie with a sense of humor. And so, at 2am that night, we dug through our meager costume supplies, looking for the most absurd monster mask we could find.

All we managed to summon was a familiar, shabby yellow wig.

Not only did the short perform well at the film festival (and it even got a rerelease years later on RE with a new soundtrack!), it led us to develop new concepts further exploring The Beard, such as a web game and a recurring cameo on another series. A longer sequel was even tossed around, which depicted The Beard’s origins as an escaped lab specimen, as well as his chaotic war against other destructive abominations a la ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ and ‘Alien vs. Predator.’ Though we ultimately abandoned the sequel, the character persisted.

Eventually, Singachu came along, and with it the opportunity to smuggle in some self-absorbed in-jokes and easter eggs for our newly-developed video game musical series, RANDOM ENCOUNTERS. Hiding The Beard amongst some Pokemon could easily have been a one-off oddity, but fans found this quirky creature intriguing. By his third or fourth cameo, Encounterers had become invested in The Beard and his inexplicable presence in each musical.

Aside from The Beard’s alleged obsession with watching reruns of House, concrete lore remains slim. A short featurette (“Glimpse Into The Beard”) was our sole answer to the growing questions surrounding him, providing only the barest of insight into our enigmatic mascot. After all, a timeline-hopping, multiversal entity is better suited to a flexible existence (one free of pesky concepts like “continuity” and “canon.”)

Despite having little to no apparent connection to either video games or musical numbers, The Beard has become an iconic representative of the harmless nonsense and wholesome antics RE’s videos (and community) embody. We can’t say for sure what will come next for him; only that it will most assuredly be a very random encounter. ❤️

[remusicals]

It was about this time last year where I got a last second email from Matthew Patrick informing me he’d had an Ollie-related change of plans and needed to reschedule filming. He was super apologetic, but he hardly needed to be. Even (especially?) on set, things happen. Family comes first.

But it was indeed a wrinkle. We’d set up around a filming schedule for Nathan Sharp (who also famously Wants To Battle), and his own shooting calendar was now running headlong into MatPat’s proposed shoot dates. How could we accommodate the meticulous schedules of two important guest stars while still capturing every shot we needed?

It turns out, with great flexibility from them, and quite a lot of fun!

Matt headed straight to set with us only hours after wrapping up his Thankmas appearance, and was there to great Nate at our door partway through the day. Given the holiday season and travel involved, it was like a nostalgic little reunion. Honestly, we should have taken more behind the scenes photos and video throughout the day, but it probably would have strained the otherwise organic, wholesome opportunity of spending a day together. Besides, there were a lot of shots to get through.

Now, a year later, that footage has mostly been edited and released across four new episodes of ‘FNAF: THE MUSICAL,’ and it honestly feels forever ago that these two were in our (other) house, running lines and testing blocking. I wonder how they’re doing right now? I guess the fact that I haven’t checked up on them says what kind of friend I am! 😂

I don’t know when — or if — I’ll ever get MatPat and NWTB back on set together again, but I hope it happens. For as stressful as coordinating them turned out, it was still a little magical having them back. 🥹 I think we could all use that extra magic and nostalgia sometimes, and it’s wonderful to make things that — occasionally — help provide it. ❤️

[remusicals]

You guys have a tumblr? Since when?

We’ve actually quietly kept an official Tumblr page for years, but it got pretty neglected after Instagram stopped supporting crossposts. We’re trying to stealthily resurrect it, though, since you guys seem fun. As a wise monster sealed inside an 8-bit cave once said, “It’s a secret to everybody!”

Speaking of secrets, do you want to hear one? 👀

The FNAF: The Musical song, “VIRUS,” was actually labeled “REMNANT SONG” at first, and was planned to more explicitly connect to Remnant. We dropped a lot of that later, but some of the files actually still bear the “Remnant” name. 🤫

Aren’t secrets fun? 🤭

[remusicals]

A wild place to eat and b̷̨̫̂̈́e̸͙͉̐͛ ̷͎̤̈́̃e̷̬̓̒a̶͇̽̕ṫ̶̹̌ę̷̇ǹ̴̞̹ 🐸 Let’s be honest, I’d still go back. #tbt #rainforestcafe #threateningaura #todayistheday #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CqaXsr3Lau1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

😱 *immediately closes game again* #truestory #everytime #meme #FNAFmusical #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CqTje2kPFxT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

#tbt Like A+ homework, some props get hung on the fridge. Do you know which musicals these are from? 🤓 #trivia #historytest #youtube #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJR2B0vQJY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

Protect us, Stony! 😰 #itdobelikethat #allfacts #meme #littlemisfortune #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBZX5avR4I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

#tbt to filming #fridaythe13th — Jason was actually pretty chill off-camera. 🤙 Hop into tomorrow’s F13 comments livestream @ 5PT for some on set stories. 😎 #chilldude #behindthescenes #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2_lhFJ55z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

BACK TO WORK, SLACKERS! 🏰 We loved meeting so many of you in so many places during our vacation! Even if we only had a few seconds to chat, it was a blast running into RE fans everywhere! 🥰 #missyoualready #backtobusiness #vacation #disneyworld #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpy4I9mOZhh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

If we add 1985 + the amount of Mike Schmidt’s paycheck… 🤯 #meme #FNAF #FNAFmusical #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvH_Mpr2jY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

#tbt is a perfect time to tell you about an old friend of ours. 🥰 Everyone meet CODY, my fellow Hufflepuff on the left and one of our pre-Random Encounters actors. He helped us film parodies of games like Star Fox and Resident Evil 20 years ago, and we almost brought him out to Los Angeles to play Grandpa in our “Granny” musicals! We don’t see each other much these days, but Sunrise Comic Con was a good excuse to meet up and wizard it up together. 😎 So glad we still get to connect occasionally with the O-est Gs who helped set the stage for hundreds of video game musicals on YouTube! ❤️ #squad #og #hufflepuffpride #universalstudiosorlando #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpkv9H9uLCU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

Enjoying some fine Florida weather. 💦 *cries in Los Angeleno but no one can tell* #rainedonencounters #splishsplash #whatisthis #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CphMPpxuFqk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

POV: you are trash 🍕 #meme #FNAF #allfacts #nopizza #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CpePCCAjOhp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

Thanks for coming to #SunriseComicCon! We had a great time meeting you, singing some songs, and answering your questions alongside the @fancorrect team! ❤️ Finishing our vacation in Orlando and then heading home to get back to production. We’re so glad to have spent a day meeting you all and are excited for the -next- convention… 😉 #sunrisecomiccon2023 #thankyou #thatsawrap #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CpabvryOiYU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

On our way to #SunriseComicCon and thought #tbt was the perfect time to share this buried relic: a convention photo of me wearing (most of) Ai-Ai’s costume from Super Monkey Ball: The Musical! I think I was answering interview questions during a cosplay event…? 🙈 No Ai-Ai costume this weekend, but I promise this Saturday will be 🍌🍌🍌 either way! 😎 #gobananas #monkeyingaround #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CpSwIYUpfU-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[remusicals]

And without a doubt the hungriest Lamu, too. 😋 Thank @natemare.on.elmstreet for the nightmare fuel, and @gwen_pink_ for the abominable Lamu costume this is based on. #meme #cantunsee #hungrylamu #youtube #randomencounters https://www.instagram.com/p/CpLSy_zvaAa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=