The Bet

The Bet (1996)
By Dave Greber and Jesse Wallace
7:00 min
VHS

The Bet (2011)
By Dave Greber
4:00 min
HD Video

I recently remade my first "art film", The Bet, for an exhibition at the Antenna Gallery in New Orleans in May 2011.  The process was a great exercise in revisiting my personal consciousness at an age and exploring the cyclical nature of creativity throughout my life.  At the age of 14, half of my age now, I experienced a period of explosive adolescent expression, based on a relatively sophisticated sense of humor and the discovery of a camcorder.  I feel a similar creative freedom with my artwork now, this project is a link between these two periods of spiritual growth in my life.

“My Mom says my work has really improved”

Opening May 14 from 6-9 and closes June 5th at 5pm

At Antenna Gallery 3161 Burgundy St.  New Orleans, LA

The Bet (1996)
Script by
Dave Greber and Jesse Wallace

A:  The Straight Man

B:  The Con Man

C:  Bartender

A:  Bartender, get me a drink of your finest ale.  (bartender brings drink, a takes a sip)  Much better.

A:  Haven't you forgot something?  (gives bartender some change)

C:  A tip!

The Con man walks in a sits down next to Straight Man.

B:  What do you recommend?

A: This.  (pushes drink to B)

They both drink

B:  What do you call this?

A:  I dont know but it sure puts hair on your chest.

B:  Do you know what time it is?

A:  No.

B:  6am on the dot.  Thats a nice lighter you got there.

A:  I know.

B:  There's a game we used to play...

A:  Oh really and what do you call this game of yours?

B:  Its a little game called "Foot in your Eye."  wanna play?

A:  YES.  But tell me how do you play this game?

B:  Well, you only need a couple of things:  a purple ribbon, a knife, and a set of car keys.  Still interested?

A:  How about a pinky?

B:  We could use... it.  and a lighter.

A:  I still dont understand how to play!

B:  Why dont you just play and find out?  (serious)  If you had the chance to, would you give up your pinky finger for a Volkswagon Jetta?

A:  My pinky?  thats just not funny...

B:  My Volkswagon Jetta aint so funny neither!

A:  Is this some kind of a joke?

B:  Here's the game.  You take the lighter, you light it ten times in a row...

A:  Without fault?

B:  Without fole.  If you can do it, I'll give you my Volkswagon Jetta.  But if you cant do it, Mr. Butcher here (the knife) cuts off your pinky.  (laugh)

A:  I agree.

B:  Sounds great.  So lets get this show on the road, big guy.  Put your hand on the table.  Are you ready.

A:  I'm ready.

The Straight man tries to light the lighter and fails immediately.

B:  I'll give you another shot.

The Straight man tries and fails again.

B:  HaHaHaHa.  One more shot, punk.

The Straight man tries and fails again.

B:  HaHa.

The Con Man chops off the Straight Man's pinky.

B:  You lose tough guy.  (hands Straight Man a cup) Put your hand in this, stop the bleedin'!

Straight Man puts hand in cup and it fills up with tomato juice.

A:  I'll kill you.  I'll kill you I swear to... (car keys)

B:  HA HA

A;  Move away.  Move away from me, man. (drinks cup full of tomato juice).  Do a close up.

The Con Man leaves with the car keys.  He has won the bet.  

THE EHT