This week on And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Phil Rice, Tracy Harwood and Damien Valentine dive into Michael Is Very Vintage’s hilarious Garry’s Mod space comedy An Astounding Tale from Outer Space. What begins as a simple spaceship emergency quickly spirals into absurdity when an incompetent captain decides that cloning himself is a better solution than actually fixing the problem.

The team explores the film’s brilliant use of slapstick comedy, satirical storytelling, inventive sound design, and surprisingly sophisticated filmmaking craft. From Alien and Red Dwarf influences to hidden Easter eggs, classic action-movie tropes, and the unique creative possibilities of Garry’s Mod, this episode celebrates one of the most entertaining machinima films of the year.

Along the way, the discussion turns to Michael’s growing signature style, the role of game-engine accidents in comedy, the future of machinima creators working in platforms like Garry’s Mod, iClone and Unreal Engine, and whether works like this have a place beyond YouTube in archives, festivals, and cultural collections.

This week's pick is a love letter to inventive machinima, creative chaos, and the enduring power of comedic timing.

01:16 – Damien introduces the film and explains why he picked it

04:05 – Tracy’s reaction: why this is her favourite film of the month

05:00 – Cloning, delegation, bureaucracy and the film’s satirical core

06:30 – Garry’s Mod humour, slapstick physics and six personalities from one character

07:45 – Alien, Red Dwarf, Futurama and classic sci-fi influences

09:26 – The ending, anti-climax as comedy, and why it works

10:00 – Outstanding sound design, voice acting and comic timing

12:32 – Phil’s review: comparing the film to Ridiculous Ties and other animated comedy machinima

13:12 – Why Michael Is Very Vintage is developing a distinctive creative voice

14:20 – Hidden Easter eggs, visual gags and blink-and-you-miss-them details

15:15 – The film’s unique soundscape: cartoon logic, meme culture and deliberate absurdity

18:30 – Recognising an auteur style in machinima filmmaking

19:14 – Deep dive into the film’s references, props, set dressing and visual jokes

23:30 – What the Easter eggs reveal about the creator’s influences and generation

27:55 – Michael’s rapid output and growing body of work

29:24 – Behind-the-scenes videos and custom set construction in Hammer Editor

29:50 – Cinematography highlights and impressive in-engine camera work

30:52 – A broader question: what future exists for talented Gary’s Mod filmmakers?

32:20 – Can skills developed in Gary’s Mod transfer to animation, virtual production and film?

37:15 – Damien on iClone, animation principles and platform-specific comedy

38:35 – Does Gary’s Mod itself become part of the joke?

39:24 – Happy accidents, bugs and creative inspiration in machinima production

44:00 – From software glitches to award-winning films

45:04 – Physics engines, experimentation and unexpected outcomes

46:44 – Final thoughts and audience feedback invitation

47:11 – Closing remarks

If you've ever wondered what would happen if the least competent person on a spaceship cloned themselves five times to avoid doing their job, this episode is for you.

Credits -
Speakers: Phil Rice, Damien Valentine, Tracy Harwood
Producer/Editor: Phil Rice
Music: Phil Rice & SunoAI