by RAF KATIGBAK

As the helicopter made its descent, I couldn't help but feel anxious. After all, they agreed to do the interview under two mysterious conditions: (1) that I come blindfolded to preserve the secret location of their global headquarters and (2) that I not print anything bad about their dads.

As I felt the aircraft touch down, I was overcome by a mixed sense of excitement and nervousness - not unlike that of getting an erection at airport customs. After an "all-clear" from the pilot, I removed the blindfold. Standing in front of me were eight young Concordia communications graduates: the heart of the Kidnapper Films empire.

Matt Silver, Pat Kiely, Darren Curtis, Dan Haber, Robb Jamieson, Jared Curtis, Bobby Shore and John Webb are visibly tired, their Gucci suits slumped with fatigue from the month-long, non-stop, on-location shooting in Sweden, Egypt, Japan and the Amazon in preparation for their upcoming comic-film extravaganza. Behind them, the six-storey gold building that serves as Kidnapper HQ is at once intimidating and impressive. "Welcome," they say in mind-meld unison. After boarding the Silver Spoons-style mini-monorail that snakes throughout the complex, I discover that KFHQ is a hybrid world of calculated corporate efficiency and gilded Victorian opulence. Through the labyrinth of corridors we pass life-size bronze fountains depicting various "Favourite Scenes From Ghostbusters: The Movie," ultimately arriving at a large room with a marquee archway flashing the words "Magic Time."

As I wander about, inspecting the various Emmys, Oscars and golden bric-a-brac lining the oak walls and book cases, I enquire about their recent jaunt to the Austin Film Festival where the collective won top prize in the festival's pitch contest and where their film Deadly (directed by Kiely and starring Curtis, Silver and Holly Uloth) caused quite a stir. "It was really exciting," says Haber, crushing a walnut with one of several Gemini awards. "It's nice to get recognition for something you love."

With new offices in Kuala Lumpur, Buenos Aires and holdings that include various "discreet" offshore bank accounts and the merchandising rights to Back to the Future 4, it's easy to lose sight of what makes Kidnapper Films a success: eight friends who grew up with the same sense of humour videotaping home-made sketch comedy in the Curtis family's NDG basement. The auspicious Tokyo Bar debut of the hilarious breakdance send-up The Camel Toe Crew in the summer of 2000 had critics hailing them as a "limber, better-dressed version of SNL," a comparison that has Curtis flattered but wary. "Saturday Night Live is great," he admits, "but it's very pop-culture oriented and inherently temporal. If you look at a show like Kids in the Hall however, it's more character driven and therefore timeless - as if it could have been made yesterday. Or even two days ago."

As the giant plasma screen wall flashes preview clips from their upcoming show (including Privates the Babysitting Clown, Mr. Montgomery and Homeless Boy and an as-yet untitled masterpiece simply known as "46-year-old drug (or pot) dealer"), Silver is confident their mix of live bands and short films inter-cut with live skits and lots of surprises will thrill. "Basically it's going to be a bonanza in every possible sense of the term," says Silver. "Which is to say, whatever bonanza means to you, that's what this show will be."

Kidnapper Films Variety Show, Nov. 4, 8pm, at La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), $8-$10