True (1998) | The Original Wassup? Short Film

The short film that inspired the classic Whazzup ?! Budweiser ads. Plus interview with the film's creator, Chuck Stone III (Drumline, Uncle Drew).
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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[@bigboydookie]

I was Dookie in the commercials. Charles and I were best friends since our teens. (I met Paul a couple years later, I met Fred when we were older) When we were kids he and I used to make silly recordings at each other's houses, then Charles put me in a couple of his projects for school, and a couple of his music videos. I remember the day he called to tell me he was shooting the short film and how it was about "something we used to do back in the day" (he did'nt tell me details, he wanted it to be a surprise) People always ask; "why were'nt you in the short?" ...at first I thought it was because I was still living/working in Philly while the guys were all in NYC...later he told me; "honestly, I did'nt think your voice could go that deep!" 😄 I remember when the short started blowing up on the festival circuit, and it started getting passed around on VHS. (for all you youngsters; back before the internet was the internet, there was the underground bootleg VHS scene) There's a funny story about how Geroge Clooney was going around saying "WHASSUP!" before the commercials ever existed, because someone had given him a copy of the VHS tape! I was in Charles' apartment the day he got the call from Anheuser-Bush to talk about using the short film as a commercial. Charles was the one who got me the audition for the commercial...I was'nt a professional actor, I did'nt have an agent...he called me one day and said; "you need to get up here on Thursday morning, I put your name on the list." And the rest is history. Charles just wanted to use it as a "calling card" to help him get into movies as a director, nobody ever expected this little 2 min, low-budget short film to blow up into the phenomenon it became. Yo, ReelBlack One...I want to thank you for posting these videos on youtube, and for recognizing and giving props to our stuff. I had actually never seen this interview with Charles before! That was dope. I'm gonna send the link to the guys...

[@Typhon219]

WHASSUP is still how me and the boys greet each other more than any other way. It will never get old. Still makes me laugh remembering how big it got over here in the Uk. We were 16 and I remember being sat on a doorstep smoking a cig with my friends and so many random adults, teenagers and young kids would just smile and throw us a WHASSUP at us as they walked past just because. Good times, good memories.

[@bigboydookie]

@Typhon219 I love to hear this! Thank you! I've always heard how big we were in the UK, and I did 2 UK shows recently (Chris Moyles and Connor Phillips) and the response was amazing! You guys are the best!

[@danielmeixner7125]

You're my favourite of the group dude! The commercial and the original are still so powerful and joyful, all these years later.

[@FTMTradingAcademy]

Recreate a 2020 version!!

[@hoyasaxa703]

That’s awesome and what a ride.. you guys made so many happy times for people throughout the years and plenty of laughter too. Thanks for sharing!

[@zackhample]

NO WAY!! I never knew this was a film before it was a commercial. (Thank you, Reddit, for directing me here.) This is a work of beauty.

[@moviesync3131]

what?

[@missapril9889]

This bring back so many memories of getting on my Mother's nerves...lol Thank you. Rest in Heaven Mom

[@tjhookit]

True

[@QuintinMassey]

R.I.P. Miss April’s mom. You staying alive in our memories.

[@missapril9889]

@@QuintinMassey Thank you

[@DLZ2000]

I saw this as a college freshman at some kind of event in my dorm building, back in the fall of 1999. A few months later, I was kind of surprised to see it as the Budweiser commercial. Now it's in Scary Movie, The Office, etc. True.

[@josesponge2562]

Good story

[@pedrocoelho5950]

True. True.

[@en4m3y]

True.

[@frikaleoteras]

@@en4m3y wazaaaaaaaa

[@margaretmccall7726]

"Word" is still my word. I never stop using it since Larry Blackmon of Cameo said it back in the 80s. 😂

[@gwise8095]

Word2

[@gwise8095]

@SyFy Living you know the vibes

[@margaretmccall7726]

@SyFy Living word😂

[@redpepperdave]

Word!

[@ts1603]

But what does it mean thought ? I'm sorry, English is not my mother tongue.

[@McSquiddington]

See, I think this is beautiful, because it depicts friends that have been friends for so long that monosyllabics and borderline-complete inaction are seen as valid ways to spend time together. There's nothing that's as freeing as realizing you've found friends with whom you can have comfortable silences, or with whom you can spend almost an hour making sounds that have no real verbal value. Yeah, it's the basis for the old "Wassup?" commercial, sure, but the game that's mentioned here matters a lot less to these guys than just kicking it together. I always thought you've really matured, socially speaking, once you're willing to just mope around and do nothing with your best friends. No need for board games or video games or even finger food and a hot discussion topic - just some background stimuli to enjoy while you veg out with people you can implicitly trust.

[@inc06nito]

true... true

[@JamalFuckinKilla]

True

[@QuintinMassey]

Dilly Dilly.

[@ahduhm]

true

[@LOJ777]

Lmao not that deep man

[@QuintinMassey]

Damn I forgot that THIS ONE was the original!!! Hahahahaha I freaking love this so much. Still going strong on 2022.

[@Thollis1987]

Commercials used to be so fun and clever. 😁

[@GapofLove]

Man 😂😂😂 I love reel black this gold ASF 💀

[@NatureBoyMickFlair]

I NEVER EVER knew this, always credited it to scary movie 💀😂

[@melirose89]

Scary movie was just parodying the extremely popular Budweiser commercial with these guys

[@QuintinMassey]

It was really cool because at that time you probably already saw this and then they did it in the movie!! Haha it was hilarious. All I remember is his tongue hanging out and then that next Halloween everybody and their gma walking around with that mask hahaha 🤣 🤣🤣

[@LusterBrand]

😐😑

[@JudoLover71]

I loved this commercial when it first aired, because we always said WAZZUP when friends called. It was such a street thing, then to see it on TV was awesome!

[@Telecasterfan]

I like the part where the director breaks down the idea of saying hello to one's friends.

[@Sphendrana]

Wow. The last part about how it's deeper than just the friends saying absolutely nothing, but rather saying nothing and yet everything, through the power of understanding. Wow. I felt that.

[@GMoneyLove]

This piece with the backstory and the original movie is awesome. I appreciate what Charles says about guys and communication. It doesn't always have to sounds like Shakespear to be real. A few friends and I used to coach together and we'd go to these events. We'd be spread out all over the competition area, getting kids ready, fixing equipment, watching the competition, and we had these walkie-talkies we carried in case someone needed something. It got to be our thing that one person would be like "Hey, you out there I need something." "Yeah, man, what's up... hey, where's so and so?" "Wasssuuuuuppp" would erupt through that walkie-talkie, and you'd start hearing this all over the venue. People were looking at us like we were crazy. We'd be laughing till we cried, and all because of this original piece right here. True.

[@justinbunting3027]

Whatsuppppppppp .Best commercial ever and I still do this with my dad even now .He's 78 and I'm 51 .Whatsuppppppp😂😂

[@carmelcapricorn7701]

That's what's up! This commerical is 🔥.📺🎬

[@iskandertime747]

Oh! We had this on a DVD at the video store back in the day! I've been looking for this for so long! This channel is a blessing.

[@lowkeyfallasleep9511]

This was such a pleasant find in my daily rabbit hole

[@dugproductions2556]

Thanks! We should do this throughout the year 😂😆😂!

[@DocWatsonHistory]

Wassapp came back on comms so many times)) SATCOM comms, hearing operators down range laugh was priceless

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

1:26 ah yes, when the speakers for the intercoms for front doors were basically earrapes, miss those days.

[@kt19926]

"Earrapes" 😭😭☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@TeddyStrongBear]

Actually, I thought Wassup originated with Martin! I would hear that wassup on the opening of all of the episodes....

[@reelblack]

Yes. Martin popularized it. Chuck made the short film with his friends, then Budweiser hired them to do a series of ads.

[@shuvodeep]

And then scary movie copied it

[@videogameguy101]

@@shuvodeep They REFERENCED it, not copied it.

[@Qoreay]

I remember doing this is '99-20' all the time when "Scary Movie" not knowing where the idea came from, I was 9 then, I even got a picture of me doing it lolo

[@lizflurquartz4189]

I thought the original was the Budweiser commercial!

[@LOJ777]

No Budweiser hired them to do this after seeing this

[@jcsmooth70]

Shoutout to RISD! Much respect to dude ✊🏾! Met him in school, def down to earth and cool to be around.

[@destressfrlyf843]

Glad they got notoriety & paid

[@rawtrout007]

They only got paid $15 dollars

[@programmer1840]

@@rawtrout007 Fo real?

[@kuro_kei]

true, true.

[@DTA-me3kv]

@@kuro_kei how ya know that?

[@cybersquire]

Amazing background on one of my favorite commercials. It was a cultural meme before we had the word for it. My introduction to this was the Super Bowl ad. I had no idea of the short that created it. It's good that our Creators of Color get the credit they deserve. Off topic: Am I the only one who thinks he looks like an NYC version of Drake?!?!

[@immoralities]

the word meme was invented in the 70s

[@kalaoaflowerpower]

The peak with everyone, was my outgoing voice mail message just before Budweiser commercial days

[@jairreal6905]

Love this. If it would have been re-released now it would be called Wassup: Origins

[@deemune1146]

👍 I used to love this back in the day👍👍

[@universpro7741]

3 times . They're lifetime spend in this legendary video

[@heathertea2704]

LOVE brother's creativity. 💞

[@mclaine7342]

These Guys are legends!

[@RADIORAHEEM402]

He deserves a trophy

[@viralx5389]

yea the guy in the yellow football shirt, thats my uncle 😂

[@SD-hi2vj]

WAAZZZUUUUUUP

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

1998 I remember seeing this on tv when I was in my second year of having my current job that I have now. Wassup has come a long way form this 6 minute version from 1998 to the classic Budweiser commercial.

[@Agret]

It's a 2 minute version not 6 minutes. This has the credits and interview with the director.

[@mrmaxxx94]

That was the truth back in the day for a minute,that was happening back in the day

[@llemos77]

Wow!! Didn’t know this existed! These guys should’ve been in a movie around that whole concept.

[@srobak]

this is great.... now I know the origins of the commercial. to this day still my favorite :D

[@wazmania36]

You guys created history right there

[@gwise8095]

Where are these guys now in life??

[@snellsman]

I hope the wayans family paid these brothers

[@theangryarabian1256]

Your comment from more than a year ago is the newest comment

[@erick._150]

@@theangryarabian1256 “lol”

[@sandyj342]

@@theangryarabian1256 True.

[@jaysmith9933]

Doubtful they got paid, it was a spoof and this was a pretty well known pop culture reference at that time due to the extremely popular Superbowl Budweiser commercial based on this, so everyone knew where it came from when Scary Movie came out.

[@paloalto5965]

@@jaysmith9933 what, isn’t this short film the original?

[@daughterofaking3409]

OMG 😂 y'all come with the throw backs for real.

[@anitapatel3591]

I miss those times. True, true....

[@QuintinMassey]

True. True.

[@LynetteStinson-i2i]

I feel so rested 😮😊

[@gamersquidtv5000]

Yo dookie is build figures? Lol I love that

[@tonianjelica]

So what’s up B?

[@phusicgram]

Golden classic advertising 🕊️

[@LeroneJohnson17]

The original wassup is awesome 😎

[@masterxyr]

it simultaneously feels like they'd have a lot more to say but they just keep on bottling and bottling it up

[@JasonSanders]

YOOO, DOOKIE!

[@Victorsbzh]

It is definitely a masterpiece!

[@dunique26]

Where u be finding this mess? U have introduced me to so many shows, clips etc I have never heard of..

[@brilliantlyblessed559]

What's up, should low-key put this in a commercial to advertise their app.

[@trangwuong7689]

Thanks.

[@brmnplayr]

Lmfao never getting to old for this. 😂😂

[@daisho509]

I just love that people are heart to hearting over this in the comments xD

[@rejeskie]

Michael Scott brought me here 😂😂😂

[@ErickOberholtzer]

My friends have an absurd greeting similar to this. This is a classic 90s movie

[@chrisgrady9409]

I remember this. 🤣🤣🤣

[@SEPK09]

Just picked up on this 2022, seen them all proper funny.

[@Bob18818]

Still love this funny guys

[@jlitakatheicon9005]

I remember this lol

[@lavernletman6332]

Alright, I'll start; Wasssszzzzaah

[@dummybutt4352]

@Lavern Letman Wassszzzzzaahhhhh

[@SD-hi2vj]

Wazzzuuup

[@abhimanyukhadwal]

Whhhhhaaaaaaazzzzaaaaaaaaah

[@Patozzzz]

me gusto la parte cuando dicen “WAZAAAAAAA👻👻👻👻👻👻👻”

[@amandagomez5886]

WAZZUP!!!

[@SD-hi2vj]

Wazzuuuuuuuuuuuuup

[@bibekdhakal6691]

@@SD-hi2vj nothin' ...watching the game, chillin' wassup with you?

[@DTA-me3kv]

2021. And wanted to see the original video.

[@nostalium]

So... It was a short film before it was a commercial before it was in Scary Movie.

[@masonlee5866]

This is so funny and doesn’t feel like a parody because it isn’t.

[@someguyfromcali-22]

I like how you didn't know who was calling. You had to answer to find out. Unless caller id of course but before that. Idk.... different feel to phones calls back then. Using the house phones when those were a thing.

[@TvrdakTom]

True, true

[@braxmaster1]

It’s crazy how I always thought it was the Dudley boys 😩🤣

[@bixby9797]

Jesus, that is so stupid but I can't stop laughing. Never knew where that came from!

[@dramahawkpromotions9621]

Classic

[@lsporter88]

Fools! 🤪😁🤣🤣🤣👍🏾

[@BigBellyBrookes]

Recommended this after watching Oney play Cyberpunk

[@inkymation4985]

I think this is the one louis is talking about in the movie ant man and the wasp

[@ThiagoDibujitos]

WAZAAAAA 👻👻

[@UPBEATFOREVER]

true!true!

[@MartinLawrence-nm8pz]

Dookie stopped going outside for about 10 years.

[@drakesessions3544]

0:59 1:14 YO WHO TRIGGERED THE RAID ALARM

[@kaylao.3326]

Wow, they straight up copied this from them

[@weignerg]

Wassup?!

[@benjaminherrera1306]

WAZAAA 👻👻

[@bigbawlzlebowski8886]

This was before my time but still relevant

[@sonyapeach]

Lol 😂

[@Jirobaay]

Schiaffo al volo?

[@basskickerz4485]

1st Comment again!! #AlwaysAPleasure

[@4ourblitz]

this really the originallll? 🤔

[@kingbronze9477]

Wow

[@shondarpowlessjr2215]

Just Bud

[@parakeet8157]

The 1st guy with TV screen is HYSTERICAL! STILL sounds like their gonna be sick,🤮😆

[@Endoe.McKronic]

Such a stoner!! WASSSUPPP!!!!

[@Rastebb]

One of the saddest things ive seen in a bit.

[@keyasoblessed4439]

😂😂😂

[@atatu4551]

osohozi?

[@seekingyahuah8048]

PJ masks

[@capturedbyshelly]

😂😂😂😭😭😭😭😭

[@georgiasmith64]

Land lines... lmao....

[@laszlomiklos9471]

🤣😂