The Hamster Factor (and Other Tales of 12 Monkeys)

The Hamster Factor chronicles Terry Gilliam's struggle to make “a European art film in the Hollywood system.” With verité footage shot throughout the entire production and editing of 12 Monkeys--from Gilliam's efforts to undercut the celebrity status of his lead actors to his reluctant encounters with the market testing process--the documentary traces how ideas are realized, compromised, and eventually funneled through the industry's marketing machine into salable commodities. The Hamster Factor is an intimate portrait of Gilliam's filmmaking methods and an unprecedented glimpse at the strange marriage of art and commerce in Hollywood filmmaking.

[@BriLamberson]

For any kid born in the 80’s who saw this when it came out, you know how important this film is. I saw it when it came out in 96. I was 11 and it stayed with me throughout my entire life. I adore this film.

[@simonearchibald2664]

Agree - but what about the series? So well written

[@chandlerellis5285]

I agree with this comment as movies within our youth just stay with us

[@lutello3012]

17 year old me rented it on tape, and ate tacos. Had to watch my Signature Edition Laserdisc copy when the pandemic started.

[@nicestguyinhouse6112]

I was born in 85, I remember the film being out but never seen it. Over the years, iv seen the 1st bit a few times and last bit a few times overall seeing the whole film probably like 3 times but never in 1 sitting lol. Just watched it tonight for the 1st full run through and is amazing, tbhbi knew it was amazing when I seen the 1st bit of it (in the asylum) and then had to stop watching for some reason plus I'd missed the start. Just realised it was the sane director as fear and loathing and that he's a great guy and director find myself here. Great film, wish I seen it when I was 11 too but glad I got there in the end haha

[@adambazso9207]

Me too. We watched on VHS, my mother, my sister and me. To be honest I didn't completely understand the ending the first time I saw it. Only after the second viewing. It seems to be so effortlessly surreal and 100% Terry Gilliam, a unique vision. Very interesting and sad.

[@MrDruism]

Anyone notice that the writer of this movie wrote some of the best movies ever?! David Peoples wrote 12 Monkeys, Unforgiven W/ Clint Eastwood, Soldier W/ Kurt Russel, and Blade Runner W/ Harrison Ford! Peoples wrote Career defining movies that are all timeless!

[@anthonymusto3537]

"Soldier" not so much

[@sexymonkey-dr8cx]

"best" is of course subjective.

[@juttamaier2111]

The movie is timeless and to this day I think it's Willis' best performance as an actor. Also, brad Pit must have had so much fun doing this.

[@danwest9900]

Bruce Willis portrayed Cole with such emotion and vulnerability! Definitely his best performance.

[@charliechaplinsghost]

It made $170 million at the box office on a $30 million budget so Terry got the last laugh!

[@LordMarlle]

Wow never about knew that, just shows that people were hungry for something a just a bit different

[@lugie69]

@@LordMarlle Truth, Hollywood doesn't know shit about what people actually want to see but they keep stepping on new and creative ideas because no matter how many times they fail they still think they do.

[@hvacando5609]

That's not true Ashlee, check at box office mojo the film grossed $57 million in America and $87 million worldwide

[@pauljeffs7]

The time machine scene holds up surprisingly well due to the lack of CGI

[@chumcool]

Every film should have a documentary like this.

[@diggerdog9205]

Every good film

[@chumcool]

@@diggerdog9205 fuck it, even the bad ones. Use it as a guide for what not to do.

[@slamjackson2137]

Definitely one of the better “making of” docs. Heart Of Darkness for Apocalypse Now is another one. Similar in that the production starts to mimic the plot with them gradually losing their minds, going crazy and struggling with the possible reality of not having any movie at all in the end.

[@Pazuzu82]

This film is a masterpiece

[@UserX860]

One of the best movies of all time !

[@RichardSmith-ky8wj]

12 Monkeys or The Hamster Factor?

[@UserX860]

@@RichardSmith-ky8wj the hamster factor is a making of and no movie. 12 monkeys.

[@RichardSmith-ky8wj]

@@UserX860 The Hamster Factor, released in 1996, directed by Luis Pepe and Keith Fulton, is a 1h 28min documentary film. It has a rating of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.

[@UserX860]

@@RichardSmith-ky8wj ok, it's a docu .

[@RichardSmith-ky8wj]

@@UserX860 👍 I appreciate your behaviour. That doesn't occur commonly that someone in an online-discussion reacts like that. Also I was positively surprised to get an answer from you at all since the original comment is 3 years old. Have a god day Sir

[@andrewherrera7735]

I understand why I love the movie. The look ends up sad, nostalgic, and dark so it reminds me of childhood memories that are fading.

[@maisiefrench4424]

I watched this film last night after only hearing about it for the first time last week. I cannot stop thinking about it. I’ve read all the IMDb trivia and am now sinking my teeth into this documentary (which I’m so glad exists). I’m a self proclaimed film buff and will happily say that 12 Monkeys is up there in my top 5 - potentially top 3, I’ll decide after finishing this documentary - films of all time. Thank you Terry Gilliam for blessing us with this masterpiece🙏🏻

[@Vondreema]

I wish there was a documentary for every Gilliam movie, although every one I've watched so far has been the most nerve-wrecking thing

[@alal7722]

Where do they find these focus groups.. That was one of the top 100 best movies ever made easy..

[@MickyMr95]

I don't know if you've read Terry's autobiography, but he explained that the problem with focus groups is that they never experience the film as a normal audience, but as someone who's told their opinion is important.

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

@@MickyMr95 their opinion is important? In the words of Terry dangerous stuff that. I love 12 Monkeys Brazil I like Baron Munchausen I don't care what anyone says

[@Twistedwag]

Note to movie producers: Never trust the opinions of a random group of people found at a mall that had enough spare time to go see a free movie.

[@Twistedwag]

...or Bruce Willis.

[@leocastro5594]

Absolutely LOVE this film, I've watched it 7 or 8 times easily...Brilliant!

[@danwest9900]

One of the greatest films of all time from one of the greatest directors of all time! Terry Gilliam is a genius of visual storytelling!

[@Bruceybaby2009]

This is now one of my favourite filmmaking documentaries. This and Lost in La Mancha of course.

[@wallflipent]

Lost in la Mancha is heartbreaking though...

[@martynhanson]

Try 'They'll love me when I'm dead' 2018 .That's pretty good too

[@Bruceybaby2009]

@@martynhanson watched it! Incredible doc. Enjoyed it quite a bit more than the movie it was documenting lol

[@martynhanson]

@@Bruceybaby2009 I've known about OSOTW since the BBC Arena interview of 1982 and followed it ever since with all the twists and turns. I rate the film very highly. In fact, I rank only Chimes, Kane, Evil and Trial above it. I think, I'm not saying it applies to you, if people knew a little bit about what Welles was trying to achieve it would be more liked. I personally think it's a masterpiece for it's time - 1970-76.

[@slightlyunraveled6344]

Incredible doco about the trials & tribulations of film making. Seems obvious yet startling how the editor is integral to the final story. Thanks

[@bev9708]

Wow, fascinating! Thank you so much for posting it!! All that agonising finally lead to one of my most satisfying cinematic experiences, with that perfect balance between confusion and understanding creating that exquisite tension which is perfectly satisfied by what I found to be a clear ending. I remember talking about it and raving about it for weeks with everyone when it came out.

[@politicallycorrectredskin796]

My only real complaint about this movie was the ending with Science Lady on the plane. I always thought they should have given her a grey or slightly grey wig in the future, to open up the possibility that this was her past self accidentally meeting Crazy Scientist and that they didn't stop the plague after all. But her hair color is exactly the same 35 years later, so it probably is her future self back to stop the plague. It was just always a little too on the nose for me, and I agree with Gilliam that they shouldn't have included the scene. Leave it up in the air for the audience to ponder. No need to hammer it home.

[@marchofthelorex238]

@@politicallycorrectredskin796 Hammer it home that eluded me for years. Which is why I re-watched it so many times

[@politicallycorrectredskin796]

@@marchofthelorex238 Well, hammer by Terry Gilliam standards. But once you conclude that she is from the future you almost eliminate the timeline James Cole represented. If she kills the scientist, which is the implication, then none of that will happen. Still a very good movie, don't get me wrong. The sacrifice of Cole to prevent his own future from taking place at all is very satisfying. But they did lock in the ending, which I think is a slight flaw. All they would have needed was a second wig for science lady. Just a little grey in the temples in 2032 and it would have been perfect for me. All time favorite nonetheless. Everything about Twelve Monkeys is nearly perfect.

[@mrshhjj8899]

@@politicallycorrectredskin796 If she is from the future, it changes nothing on J. Coles timeline. The movie is very determinist in that sense.

[@HardestTargett]

@@politicallycorrectredskin796 if her younger self had been there it would have been too much of a coincidence and people would assume she was in on it or something. Most people don’t like up in the air endings. It was fine how they did it and up in the air enough. Imo.

[@4nem0ne]

man I really want to know what the actors thought about the movie..

[@JackKosherDog]

About a thousand times in the last 2 years, I have revisited this movie in my mind...

[@jonathanpoole5316]

If Terry Gilliam had done nothing else it would all have been worth it for 12 Monkeys. It is a Bruce Willis movie and he plays the hero with panache, he inhabits the role and really carries the movie. I cannot imagine anyone else in the role, and the same for Madeleine Stowe who i had a big crush on beforehand who manages the empathetic connection with James and the audience. It's fantastic scriptwriting, perfectly cast, which really makes the difference, and the production values are right up there and the story is that rare item of genius.

[@christophermaynard1902]

I was at a screening in nyc before the movie came out...the audience hated it....I was young and did not know what to make of it, we were a focus group and we filled out a questionnaire...many were not kind....boy we were all wrong..what a fantastic groundbreaking movie and timeless..

[@bobbydo7777]

I just watch it again last night for the 10th time! It's one of my all-time favorites movies! I just wish someone would explain who the voice was and why did he keep calling him Bob?

[@MrDruism]

The voice was the Homeless man They saw out in front of the headquarters for the 12 monkeys. He was the one that told Bruce about taking out the back teeth would prevent the scientists from tracking you and bringing you back to the future. Dr. Railey sees him later and asks him if he's seen Cole, but once confronted he starts acting like he doesn't know what she's talking about. Also if you didn't know the street preacher that yells to Cole "You! You, your one of us!" as he's standing outside in front of one of those burning barrels. The preacher is in the movie earlier, When Dr.Railey is giving a lecture the preacher is shown in a drawing alluding to that he is a time traveler like Cole and he also was sent to the wrong time before.

[@vanillamidgettv6718]

Love Terry's laugh.

[@Astyeer]

Incredible and priceless documentary! So much insight on the craft of a filmmaker!

[@chrisjenkins203]

The two big factors that helped the film: 1. They shot/kept the plane scene 2. Terry’s willingness to change the boy So much controversy, interpretations, theories, discussion and debate has been born, just based on that interaction aboard the plane. Creating and keeping that scene was a brilliant decision. Wish I could give Terry the credit on that but he certainly seemed resistant to that particular scene. However, he did allow it to be shot and decided to keep it. So, at least he had the foresight and discipline to include it. I sincerely feel that the film would have left the audience feeling drastically unfulfilled, has they not included the scene on the plane.

[@DonsShed]

Don't worry Terry...... I noticed the Hamster wheel whilst watching the movie :)

[@amn1ot1c]

still can't get over the way he completely loses it at that monkey ❤

[@slamjackson2137]

Love seeing those little Philly 90s kids at 14:20.. takes me back

[@zvengally3502]

Great filmaking documentary

[@MrTerraBubble]

best movie to ever grace our mortal souls

[@Thatperson2-u7u]

Great documentary, but don't watch it if you haven't seen the movie yet:)

[@Bruceybaby2009]

That focus group could not have been more wrong. I mean unless that version of the film was wildly different than the final cut..... I can’t figure out how they could be so far off lol

[@MrDruism]

The ones that didn't like it were too stupid to understand it. Dumb people don't like it when they are proven to be or exposed for being dumb, it makes them angry and spiteful.

[@RR64434]

One of my top ten movies of all time, but that’s because I love movies that make me think. I am not a Hollywood Blockbuster fan where there is no intelligent dialogue and the characters are forgettable.

[@Jack.Waters]

This was simply Brilliant!

[@nexussever]

I have wanted to see this ever since it first came out- well worth the wait. Now, on to re-watching The 12 Monkeys.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

"Then, they took everything about me and put it into a computer where they created this model of my mind. Yes! Using that model they managed to generate every thought I could possibly have in the next, say, 10 years. Which they then filtered through a probability matrix of some kind to - to determine everything I was gonna do in that period. So you see, she knew I was gonna lead the Army of the Twelve Monkeys into the pages of history before it ever even occurred to me. She knows everything I'm ever gonna do before I know it myself. How's that?"🖕

[@Ocelot10]

Perfect.

[@cpcnw]

The subconscious mind knows ahead of the conscious mind by a few milliseconds. The delay in 'read back' can create odd DeJa Vu feelings or even slow motion effects at times when the brain is in very high energy draw like during a life threatening event [RTA for example] See YT Tempus Fugit Radio4 - In addition the brain uses 20% of the bodies energy intake maintaining the cell membrane potential of the neurons. Vision takes a third of all brain activity, much more than the simple eye camera suggests. There is increasing evidence that consciousness does not originate in brains, but time is only created by the brain and as crazy as all this seems, reality only exists when we observe it. In other words our worlds are created by our brains, and does not exist as we think it does when we don't observe it. For a real mind blower see the Donald Hoffman stuff..... "There is this guy, and he is always requesting shows that are already played. Yes. No. You have to tell her before. He couldn't quite grasp the idea that the charge nurse couldn't make it be yesterday. She couldn't turn back time, thank you Einstein! Now he, he was nuts! He was a fruitcake, Jim!"

[@politicallycorrectredskin796]

Typical example of why test screenings and focus groups are a waste of time. Make anything and some people will love it and others hate it. Too intelligent and the dumb people will hate it, too dumb and the smart people will. 12 Monkeys is easily one of my top 10 movies precisely because it dares to be ambiguous about itself. But if people don't like ambiguity then they probably won't like it.

[@dogchaser520]

Ahhh, just reading about Lost in La Mancha and The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Watching the second right now. What a weird and perfectly quixotic tale.

[@paradigmshift1979]

12 monkeys is an awesome film

[@AndyFelbab]

Damn check out our boy Bradley Pitts putting in the work and research for this role!

[@HardestTargett]

32:00 love to see an actor try to talk sense into a director. Bruce wasn’t wrong. Also this wasn’t the first or even second movie he was killed in.

[@T4SelNiNO]

I'd forgotten he was involved in Monty python. Multi-talented

[@BrentHutchinson1]

Lol omg, TG has an infectious laugh! I saw 12 Monkeys in the theater w my mom when I was 12. I loved it but didn’t get it. As I got older and watched it over and over again it is just genius. It’s so genius that they sent him to the wrong time period. “1996 is the future.” “No, 1996 is the past!” The dream of BW’s death turning into deja vu but witnessed by a young Bruce Willis - they’ll never be a story like it, it’s just brilliant. This is my favorite movie. I’ve watched it over 50x and I still laugh and am completely blown away by how brilliant and bizarre it is. Brad Pitt is genius as well.

[@MurderMostFowl]

Great documentary... but damn, I never realized how much Bruce Willis back-seat drives on the set.

[@brandonzamudio1237]

AICNMurderMostFowl least it shows that he cared, unlike it seems nowadays. But I get where you're coming from

[@marcouellette4671]

Terry has always been ahead of his time.

[@TexasTomBoeX]

my knee hurts, but i love it...

[@Marie-PoilBelle]

Terry's laughter

[@notarookie1]

jigsaw puzzle part and room spoke to me. I liked the addided stimuli of sound during scene. great doc from my fave director?

[@graemefatbastard8362]

No more paperwork

[@MatthewC33199]

"Bruce Willis has never been killed in a movie before. It's never been done before." Well that changed... a lot.

[@HardestTargett]

He was killed in movies before this. And tv shows too sort of.

[@lugie69]

I love this movie but it always did have the look and feeling of a Terry Gilliam movie battling it out with a blockbuster scifi action movie. Maybe that's why I like it, best of both worlds.

[@Mr3isacrowd]

The Letterman show that is mentioned in the documentary can be seen here on YT. Just type "Terry Gilliam on Late Show with David Letterman".

[@thewellvideoproductions8244]

Great job!

[@bobbest1611]

as a producer or moneyman "the hamster factor" would drive me nuts. even terry gilliam admits that no one will notice the hamster. 29:00 what are all those people doing on the set during that little shoot?

[@politicallycorrectredskin796]

This shot is definitely why they didn't pay Bruce Willis the big bucks for this move. Can you even imagine spending all day naked on a wall because the director wants an almost imperceptible hamster to do the right thing?

[@zookr]

You can't go back, Bob !!!

[@carlostenorio5345]

Adoro esse filme, uma referencia de produção artística para mim.

[@kevinmills3329]

What is the music during the closing credits?

[@pavelb7036]

this litterally shows how different is fiction comparing to reality. how colorful the movie was in contrast with Philadelphia of the 90`s. I`m glad I saw this documenatry after watching the movie for the third and I hope last time. There is nothing more to expect; no hope is left for humanity. Distopia is our society of today. Still young Madeleine is a pure jewel. You just won`t find women like this today, 90`s were a totally different era. Only a few people could get what they really wanted. I can litteraly feel how cold it was living as a single man back then in US. and even those few good things that could save people are now gone. By the way a virus is taking over the Earth today.

[@remussebastianmadmax5816]

i have 6 depresion and iluzion, it real, it genial, univers it capabil for miracol, it legea of atraction, i have connection vith TV , i dont wach tv, i have diagnostic " iluzie psihotica Bizara " ...... The man it a Cretors " Creator, it a loop in the wold....

[@RazaPlaysGames]

58:50 with new Marvel end credit scenes craze. It could end the debate. People that think it ends walk out and those that want answers has to wait till end of credits

[@timetravlr625]

Thank you!! Nice!

[@gabagoolenjoyer]

Bruce was getting on Terry's nerves lol

[@fhetty]

Sex, violence, nudity...of which there is zero in the actual film. I think the only reason the movie got an R rating was because of profanity.

[@JeremiahLambertArt]

the beating of the bum muggers was a bit violent. and there is a like 2-3 frames for bruce's little bruce in the war scene that my lady friend made me rewind and pause on but otherwise i agree. the repeated F word is really the only thing that landed it its R.

[@taters8258]

Bruce willis was nude

[@sebastianmoreno7057]

Terry Terry ole ole ole ole Terry Terry

[@themadplotter]

I always thought that bit at 12:56 was a homage to Kate Bush.

[@BOBBYSOX86]

Terry resembles Ozzy

[@peterobinson2546]

Hey - you have a link from cracked. com :) Interesting docu, man!

[@marchofthelorex238]

They never even considered saving the past just the future, was that why Cole was shot?

[@nidebau]

I think it's a little more twisted then that. The future scientists want to interfere as little as possible with the past, to ensure their present happens the way it does. So why did they tell him to shoot the terrorist in the end? Because they know Cole wants to live in the 90s now and is too much of a risk, so they need to get rid of him. And by telling him to shoot the terrorist, they made sure Cole was killed by the police at the airport. Which fit the whole narrative of "crazy person kidnaps psychiatrist, kills random people and needs to be stopped by the police", so no further questions.

[@intrograted792]

They can't save the past. Time travel doesn't alter the timeline. Whatever happens always happened. That's why young Bruce saw himself get shot even though that event 'happens in the future'. That's why they're not trying to prevent the initial spread of the virus. It happened, and they can't change what's happened. Instead all they can do is find it in hopes they can use it to discover a cure for those in future Bruce's present.

[@incognito9510]

@@intrograted792 Haven’t seen the movie yet 🙀. Thanks for when I do and I will see if I agree with you 🤷🏻‍♂️. For some reason your explanation is the most logical.

[@ozwunder69]

Great..lucky with got it

[@vaughancapstick9961]

Brilliant

[@JeremiahLambertArt]

31:45 bruce willis' so macho he thinks he can only be taken down by a little girl is from like a crowbar to the face. lol.

[@LordMarlle]

She's a small framed doctor and he's a tough deranged man from the future. It's not about Willis being macho lol

[@JuliusCaesar888]

It's because the sexes are not physically equal and it wouldn't make sense to have a 120lb doctor sending a 200 lb maniac flying.

[@taters8258]

He had a good point though lol

[@florinnatu]

please, what is the musics name?

[@florinnatu]

@⭐️ Jessica I totally love Piazzolla since 4ever, but did not find this one anywhere. thanks so much for the title! 🤗

[@SophyaAgain]

Every time I see humans doing nasty stuff I do recall this movie. That earth would be better off without us.

[@cristiansaucedo4707]

Right. Because we do bad things. But if we didn't, things could be great and there wouldn't be people like you who think so negatively about the human race. We could escape a negative cycle and enter a positive one. Hopefully you could help in that change. Stay strong :)

[@gratefulbear2183]

SophyaAgain existentialist idiot

[@martinjanecek4950]

no.

[@athena8729]

They won't let is watch the movie

[@rz9wb]

That is a long documentary lol.

[@winagantina1258]

Twelve Monkeys (1995) weby.netizenn.one los mortales abian apreciado tan hermosa mujer . Tu..belleza.viaja.al.universo.se.reune.con.estrellas. y.luceros...tu.mirada.enamora.al.sol.....tu.hermosura.quedara.por..una.eternidad. en .los.corazonede. tus.admiradores......feliz Navidad.y.noche.buena....mis. respeto .para.todas.las.mujes.del.mundo...saludos..al.fin.del.mundo

[@Jezabhaal]

Huh

[@emalydirgham5265]

Twelve Monkeys (1995) ⤵⤵ viro.netizenn.one los mortales abian apreciado tan hermosa mujer . Tu..belleza.viaja.al.universo.se.reune.con.estrellas. y.luceros...tu.mirada.enamora.al.sol.....tu.hermosura.quedara.por..una.eternidad. en .los.corazonede. tus.admiradores......feliz Navidad.y.noche.buena....mis. respeto .para.todas.las.mujes.del.mundo...saludos..al.fin.del.mundoos mortales abian apreciado tan hermosa mujer . Asi con toy y sus maNÍ as no se la hay nomas pa ra reirse un rato y no estar triste y estresado por la vida dura que se vive hoy... ðŸ-¤ y.luceros...tu.mirada.enamora.al.sol.....tu.hermosura.quedara.por..una.eternidad.en.los.corazonede

[@justinh1433]

Dirty T ranny hollywood.

[@jeanvint896]

No subs

[@johnnyquest9519]

I never liked this film

[@haleberry2472]

Twelve Monkeys (1995) scops.netizenn.one los mortales abian apreciado tan hermosa mujer . Tu..belleza.viaja.al.universo.se.reune.con.estrellas. y.luceros...tu.mirada.enamora.al.sol.....tu.hermosura.quedara.por..una.eternidad. en .los.corazonede. tus.admiradores......feliz Navidad.y.noche.buena....mis. respeto .para.todas.las.mujes.del.mundo...saludos..al.fin.del.mundo