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♪♪

2
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Good evening.

3
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I'm Helen Mirren,

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and you're watching
"Documentary Now" season 52.

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The single-panel cartoon
"The Far Side"

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left an indelible mark
on American culture.

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But little was known
about its creator Gary Larson

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until one of his biggest fans

9
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decided to tell his story
in the documentary film

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"Searching for Mr. Larson:

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A Love Letter
From The Far Side."

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[Birds chirping]

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♪♪

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Brad: "The Far Side"
is an American classic.

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This single-panel comic
won the hearts of millions

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by offering a daily slice

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of simple, yet elegant
comedic absurdity.

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Running for 15 years

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and translated
into over 17 languages,

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it has become an institution
all its own.

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Its creator is the inimitable
genius Gary Larson.

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After giving so much of himself
to the world,

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Mr. Larson retired in 1995

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to pursue
a life of quiet solitude.

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But for a man
who gave the world so much,

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so little is known.

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Who is the real Gary Larson?

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I was determined to find out.

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This is the totally
unauthorized,

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unofficial,
definitive story

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of my journey to discover
the man behind the myth.

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I'm documentary filmmaker
Bradley Adams,

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and I am...

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searching for Mr. Larson.

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♪♪

36
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♪♪

37
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Hey, I'm Brad.

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That's me.

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[Pen scratching]

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Growing up, I struggled.

41
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I didn't really know
where I fit in

42
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until I got my passport
to "The Far Side."

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Once I crossed over,
I never looked back.

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Just ask this guy.

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[Pen scratching]

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That's my dad.

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Brad: I really, uh,
went crazy

48
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with that "Far Side" stuff,
huh?

49
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Well,
you certainly enjoyed it.

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♪♪

51
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Yes, I did.

52
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My dream was to live
in "The Far Side"

53
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More than a fan,

54
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I was a disciple
of Gary Larson

55
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and his subversive world view.

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So who better to write

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the ultimate love letter
to the man

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and deliver it
right to his doorstep?

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♪♪

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My bags were packed,
my dad was behind the camera,

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and I was almost ready
to hit the road.

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Jim: All set, Bradley?

63
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Pretty much.

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It's fun
to spend time together, son.

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Well, it's fun.

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But don't forget,
I'm the director.

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And this is work, Dad.

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Brad:
Hey, just came to say bye.

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You're actually leaving?

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Yeah, the movie.

71
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We're starting production
today.

72
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Isn't your mom
coming to help?

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She's not in town
till Friday.Oh.

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Well,
I think you'll be okay.

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Making a great documentary
takes sacrifice.

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This wouldn't be easy for me.

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But I knew
that somewhere out there,

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Gary Larson was waiting,

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and I couldn't
turn my back on him.

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All right, well,
wish me luck.

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Make sure
to get the tripod.

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It was a tough farewell,

83
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but once I hit the morning air,

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I felt inspired

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to start my personal journey
of discovery.

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All I knew was that Gary Larson
was rumored to live

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somewhere
in the Pacific Northwest.

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So, I set out from Colorado

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on my voyage across the U.S.
and into the unknown.

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I had a camera,
a full tank of gas,

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and was ready
to hunt down my hero.

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Along the way, I would talk
to anyone and everyone

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about my favorite thing.

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♪♪

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So what do people think
of "The Far Side"?

96
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Ah, here we go.
Hey, sir. Hi.

97
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So, we want to know
what do you think --

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I want to talk to you about
"The Far Side."

99
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Do you know, uh,
the comic strip?

100
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All right, that's okay.

101
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Ma'am? Hi.

102
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So I'm making, uh,
what I would describe as

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a love letter
to Gary Larson, and --

104
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she doesn't want to talk.

105
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Hey, what is your favorite
"Far Side" comic strip?

106
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I've got some mozzarella sticks
if you want to...

107
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take them home now.

108
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During my first stop
along the way,

109
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something strange
began to happen.

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No one would go on record
to speak to me

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about Larson's influence
on their lives.

112
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What's your favorite memory
of having seen this?

113
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Uh...

114
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It was as if reality
had been turned upside down,

115
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and I was inside one of
Larson's absurd landscapes.

116
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And now God was about to hit
the "Smite" button on me.

117
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[Keyboard clicks]

118
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Then James showed up.

119
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He'd come to remove me from
the Applebee's parking lot,

120
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but it turns out
he was a fan, too.

121
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I'm very familiar
with this.

122
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Oh, you know it?
Yeah.

123
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So what -- the documentary's
based on...

124
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It's just about
Gary Larson.
Okay.

125
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And it's my relationship
with him

126
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and getting to know him

127
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and, you know, my connection
to all these comic strips.

128
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Because really...Dude.

129
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Yeah. [Laughs]

130
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That's pretty cool, man.

131
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Smoking dinosaurs.That's right.

132
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Like...[Laughs] That's good.

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...tight.
Always good.

134
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I can just read this stuff
for hours, man.Yeah, me too.

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This project
was already becoming

136
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so much more than
an homage to Gary Larson.

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It was actually changing
the entire discussion

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about "The Far Side."

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♪♪

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Brad: Hi, sweetie.

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Uh, tonight, no.

142
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But, um,
before you say anything --

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Uh, I'm sorry,

144
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but we don't need to talk
about that right now.

145
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I've got this story for you.

146
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I'm sorry
you're feeling dizzy.

147
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You know I don't like
talking about hormone stuff

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'cause it makes me sick
to my stomach.

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Yes,
I care about your health.

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I mean, do you care
about this movie?

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I kept returning to the phrase
"Bearing the burden alone."

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When my wife
yelled those words,

153
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something clicked.

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Maybe I was
bearing the burden alone?

155
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I'm taking it all on myself
to make this film,

156
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yet thousands,
probably millions,

157
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would enjoy it.

158
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It was time for me to offer
"Far Side" fans everywhere

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the opportunity to join
this incredible journey.

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That night, as I waited
for others to answer the call,

161
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a special someone reached out
through the Indiegogo page.

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Brad: What?

163
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Whoa.
Dad, you got to see this.

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It was a bombshell.

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This journey was about
to take a detour.

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Brad:
The next morning as I raced
toward my destination,

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I couldn't help thinking
this was fate.

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My head was spinning...

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Do I look okay?
[Laughs]

170
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...Because I was about
to sit down

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and interview a luminant,
a legend.

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He was quite simply, the man.

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It was none other
than Matthew Walter.

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I guess everyone knows me

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as the creator of
"The Far Side Cave."

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It was a GeoCities fan site
I started around '93,

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and I put up
all "The Far Side" strips

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and did an index
for cross reference.

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Brad:
Oh, I remember that.

180
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You really were
a pioneer.

181
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There was no one
doing that back then.

182
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Yeah, exactly.

183
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This was
a dream come true.

184
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But it soon
took a dark turn.

185
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And then a year later,

186
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I get a cease and desist
from Larson's lawyers

187
00:08:01,655 --> 00:08:04,048
telling me
to take down my site.

188
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I mean, that must have been
some kind of prank or something.

189
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No. It was for real.

190
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And I thought Gary owed me
a big explanation,

191
00:08:11,578 --> 00:08:14,711
so I acquire
his unlisted home phone number,

192
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I respectfully
reached out to him

193
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to ask him what
his [Bleep] deal was.

194
00:08:19,281 --> 00:08:22,850
And I left five messages,
but he never called me back.

195
00:08:22,893 --> 00:08:24,939
But that's why
I wanted to talk to you.

196
00:08:24,982 --> 00:08:29,030
Be careful with him
and your little movie here.

197
00:08:29,073 --> 00:08:30,553
He's not a good guy.

198
00:08:30,597 --> 00:08:33,034
Gary Larson's a dick.

199
00:08:34,165 --> 00:08:36,820
There are moments in life
that are so jarring,

200
00:08:36,864 --> 00:08:38,169
it's like your as lost

201
00:08:38,213 --> 00:08:40,258
as that missing alien
on the milk carton

202
00:08:40,302 --> 00:08:41,608
in the kitchen in space,

203
00:08:41,651 --> 00:08:42,783
where the two other aliens

204
00:08:42,826 --> 00:08:45,437
are eating cereal
for breakfast.

205
00:08:45,481 --> 00:08:49,093
If Gary didn't want to talk
to a superfan like Matthew,

206
00:08:49,137 --> 00:08:51,748
was there any chance
he'd talk to me?

207
00:08:51,792 --> 00:08:54,403
So I decided to do
some deep research.

208
00:08:54,446 --> 00:08:58,712
Turns out, Gary's reclusiveness
was an open secret,

209
00:08:58,755 --> 00:08:59,756
and fans weren't happy.

210
00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,889
Brad:
People are really mean.

211
00:09:01,932 --> 00:09:05,370
But there was one man
who defended Gary.

212
00:09:05,414 --> 00:09:07,721
His name was Ted Ellis,

213
00:09:07,764 --> 00:09:10,114
an insurance agent
from Boise, Idaho.

214
00:09:10,158 --> 00:09:12,552
Hey, Dad.
How far away is Boise, Idaho?

215
00:09:12,595 --> 00:09:14,118
But even more intriguing

216
00:09:14,162 --> 00:09:17,165
was Ted's claim to be
a childhood friend of Gary's.

217
00:09:17,208 --> 00:09:18,993
And if that were true,

218
00:09:19,036 --> 00:09:22,649
Ted could be my direct link
to Gary himself.

219
00:09:22,692 --> 00:09:24,172
So I drove straight to Boise

220
00:09:24,215 --> 00:09:26,870
and camped out
in his office parking lot

221
00:09:26,914 --> 00:09:29,656
until he arrived for work
the next morning.

222
00:09:30,570 --> 00:09:31,919
That's him.

223
00:09:31,962 --> 00:09:34,443
[Suspenseful music plays]

224
00:09:34,486 --> 00:09:36,750
Jim: Brad! Slow down!

225
00:09:38,099 --> 00:09:40,275
Dad, come on.

226
00:09:40,318 --> 00:09:41,755
♪♪

227
00:09:41,798 --> 00:09:43,713
Excuse me, sir.

228
00:09:43,757 --> 00:09:45,889
Hi, are you Ted Ellis?I am.

229
00:09:45,933 --> 00:09:48,196
How you doin'?
I-I-I'm Brad Adams.

230
00:09:48,239 --> 00:09:49,327
♪♪

231
00:09:49,371 --> 00:09:51,808
He wasn't thrilled to see me,

232
00:09:51,852 --> 00:09:55,856
but finally agreed to talk
if I left by 9:15.

233
00:09:55,899 --> 00:09:58,859
Brad,
Gary has a life of his own.

234
00:09:58,902 --> 00:10:00,425
He has other interests

235
00:10:00,469 --> 00:10:04,342
outside of a comic
he did years ago.

236
00:10:04,386 --> 00:10:06,780
Brad: Yes, but it is
definitely something

237
00:10:06,823 --> 00:10:08,346
that's, uh,
interesting.

238
00:10:08,390 --> 00:10:09,739
Yeah.

239
00:10:09,783 --> 00:10:12,829
Uh, let me ask you
a question.

240
00:10:12,873 --> 00:10:14,831
Why do you need
to talk to him so badly?

241
00:10:14,875 --> 00:10:16,920
I just want to talk to him
about his work.

242
00:10:16,964 --> 00:10:18,879
Well, the work is there.

243
00:10:18,922 --> 00:10:20,141
Just read it.

244
00:10:20,184 --> 00:10:21,882
♪♪

245
00:10:21,925 --> 00:10:24,841
Uh, is it true
that you're the basis

246
00:10:24,885 --> 00:10:26,669
of the, uh,
"School For The Gifted?"

247
00:10:26,713 --> 00:10:29,672
You know,
where the kid is trying to --

248
00:10:29,716 --> 00:10:31,674
No, I know the strip.

249
00:10:31,718 --> 00:10:33,676
He can't open the door
even though it says "Pull."

250
00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:34,982
It's not me.

251
00:10:35,025 --> 00:10:36,853
♪♪

252
00:10:36,897 --> 00:10:38,463
Well, word out there
is that it is you.

253
00:10:38,507 --> 00:10:40,465
Just so you know.You know what?

254
00:10:40,509 --> 00:10:43,251
I've got an appointment.Okay.

255
00:10:43,294 --> 00:10:44,556
Brad:
Thanks for your time.

256
00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:45,906
I actually have
one last question,

257
00:10:45,949 --> 00:10:46,950
and then I'm gonna
leave you alone.

258
00:10:46,994 --> 00:10:49,561
You grew up with Gary
in Tacoma?

259
00:10:49,605 --> 00:10:50,911
I did.
Right.

260
00:10:50,954 --> 00:10:52,739
So do you think that,
when he was a kid,

261
00:10:52,782 --> 00:10:54,001
that that area
was the type of place

262
00:10:54,044 --> 00:10:55,785
he eventually
wanted to live in?

263
00:10:55,829 --> 00:10:57,700
I am not gonna tell you
where he lives.
All right.

264
00:10:57,744 --> 00:10:59,615
Uh, by the coastline,
though, right?

265
00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:01,138
By the water?Have a good day.

266
00:11:01,182 --> 00:11:02,574
All right.

267
00:11:05,012 --> 00:11:06,361
Getting warmer.

268
00:11:06,404 --> 00:11:07,492
♪♪

269
00:11:07,536 --> 00:11:08,885
As I drove away,

270
00:11:08,929 --> 00:11:10,844
reality started sinking in.

271
00:11:10,887 --> 00:11:13,847
Ted Ellis was supposed to be
my direct link to Gary,

272
00:11:13,890 --> 00:11:16,719
but instead,
he stonewalled me.

273
00:11:16,763 --> 00:11:18,808
What was he trying to hide?

274
00:11:18,852 --> 00:11:19,983
More important --

275
00:11:20,027 --> 00:11:22,333
how would I ever
find Gary Larson now?

276
00:11:22,377 --> 00:11:23,770
Brad: Hey, sweetie.

277
00:11:23,813 --> 00:11:25,510
Um, do you have a minute?

278
00:11:25,554 --> 00:11:27,817
I could really use
one of your pep talks.

279
00:11:29,601 --> 00:11:30,733
Well,
I know the baby needs you,

280
00:11:30,777 --> 00:11:31,952
but right now,
I need you.

281
00:11:31,995 --> 00:11:36,652
So today,
this guy was very mean to me.

282
00:11:38,567 --> 00:11:39,786
First he said that

283
00:11:39,829 --> 00:11:42,397
my motive for honoring
Gary Larson is selfish,

284
00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:43,877
which it is
absolutely not.

285
00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:45,095
It's the opposite.

286
00:11:45,139 --> 00:11:47,445
Then he said that
I should leave Gary alone.

287
00:11:47,489 --> 00:11:48,882
Like, who is he?

288
00:11:48,925 --> 00:11:52,233
Then he said that
my movie sounds dumb.

289
00:11:55,627 --> 00:11:58,369
What?!
What does that mean?!

290
00:11:58,413 --> 00:12:04,680
♪♪

291
00:12:04,724 --> 00:12:10,947
♪♪

292
00:12:10,991 --> 00:12:11,992
[Phone beeps]

293
00:12:12,035 --> 00:12:12,993
[Scoffs]

294
00:12:13,036 --> 00:12:15,473
♪♪

295
00:12:15,517 --> 00:12:16,736
Did you hear that?

296
00:12:16,779 --> 00:12:18,085
Was I the only one

297
00:12:18,128 --> 00:12:21,305
who understood
the importance of this film?

298
00:12:21,349 --> 00:12:24,004
It's moments like these
when reading "The Far Side"

299
00:12:24,047 --> 00:12:26,746
is like staring into a mirror.

300
00:12:26,789 --> 00:12:28,269
Like in this panel,

301
00:12:28,312 --> 00:12:29,966
that's me, Clark Kent.

302
00:12:30,010 --> 00:12:32,186
And there's my wife, Lisa.

303
00:12:32,229 --> 00:12:33,709
And that's my film,

304
00:12:33,753 --> 00:12:35,102
and she thinks it's stupid

305
00:12:35,145 --> 00:12:36,886
and that I should
just hang up my cape.

306
00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:38,540
And it's driving me cuckoo

307
00:12:38,583 --> 00:12:40,237
because she totally
doesn't have a point,

308
00:12:40,281 --> 00:12:42,849
and I have to keep scouring
the "Planet Daily"

309
00:12:42,892 --> 00:12:44,415
searching for Gary Larson.

310
00:12:44,459 --> 00:12:48,637
It's like Gary
has a window into my soul.

311
00:12:48,680 --> 00:12:50,334
It was a sleepless night

312
00:12:50,378 --> 00:12:54,469
as I metaphorically approached
my in-most cave.

313
00:12:54,512 --> 00:12:56,514
But, as Blake Snyder would say,

314
00:12:56,558 --> 00:13:00,083
"It's always darkest
before the dawn."

315
00:13:06,829 --> 00:13:08,135
What?!

316
00:13:08,178 --> 00:13:10,398
300 grand?!

317
00:13:10,441 --> 00:13:12,922
Jim:
What? 300 grand?

318
00:13:12,966 --> 00:13:14,663
I'm not kidding.

319
00:13:14,706 --> 00:13:16,143
Get in there!Jesus Christ.

320
00:13:16,186 --> 00:13:17,971
That's real!

321
00:13:18,014 --> 00:13:19,929
Brad:
It may have been my awesome
description of the movie

322
00:13:19,973 --> 00:13:21,409
as, "The definitive story

323
00:13:21,452 --> 00:13:23,367
of Gary Larson
and 'The Far Side'."

324
00:13:23,411 --> 00:13:25,108
It may have been
the repeated mention

325
00:13:25,152 --> 00:13:26,631
of Gary's direct involvement.

326
00:13:26,675 --> 00:13:28,372
It's free money!

327
00:13:28,416 --> 00:13:30,331
But I like to think
it was destiny.

328
00:13:30,374 --> 00:13:32,420
Gary himself
reaching out to say,

329
00:13:32,463 --> 00:13:33,421
"Do this for me.

330
00:13:33,464 --> 00:13:34,814
I need this."

331
00:13:34,857 --> 00:13:37,120
Making a documentary
is so easy.

332
00:13:37,164 --> 00:13:39,035
And now that I had
a real budget,

333
00:13:39,079 --> 00:13:40,776
I could finally afford
the tools

334
00:13:40,820 --> 00:13:42,169
of a real documentary.

335
00:13:42,212 --> 00:13:43,387
Aah.

336
00:13:43,431 --> 00:13:45,041
Then I headed straight
to the heart

337
00:13:45,085 --> 00:13:46,260
of "Far Side" country,

338
00:13:46,303 --> 00:13:48,131
Seattle, Washington,

339
00:13:48,175 --> 00:13:50,873
where I opened my new
five-star production office.

340
00:13:50,917 --> 00:13:52,483
How's that for HQ, huh?

341
00:13:52,527 --> 00:13:53,528
Wah!

342
00:13:53,571 --> 00:13:55,095
It was perfect.

343
00:13:55,138 --> 00:13:58,098
Now all I needed
was a real documentary crew --

344
00:13:58,141 --> 00:13:59,360
no offense, Dad.

345
00:13:59,403 --> 00:14:01,101
♪♪

346
00:14:01,144 --> 00:14:03,016
It was only a matter of time.

347
00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,019
[Knock on door]

348
00:14:06,062 --> 00:14:07,194
Brad: Ooh, that's him.

349
00:14:12,939 --> 00:14:14,984
Brad Adams?
Yes.

350
00:14:15,028 --> 00:14:16,856
Here you go.Thank you very much.

351
00:14:16,899 --> 00:14:18,248
Thank you.

352
00:14:20,250 --> 00:14:22,470
♪♪

353
00:14:22,513 --> 00:14:24,124
Look at all of this.

354
00:14:24,167 --> 00:14:28,258
This is Gary Larson's
personal information and photos.

355
00:14:28,302 --> 00:14:31,131
He's just a normal guy.

356
00:14:31,174 --> 00:14:34,047
It's amazing you could do this
to someone for 10 grand.

357
00:14:34,090 --> 00:14:37,137
I would hate it
if someone did this to me.

358
00:14:37,180 --> 00:14:40,053
Really scary.

359
00:14:40,096 --> 00:14:42,185
That's his house.

360
00:14:42,229 --> 00:14:44,448
That's his address.

361
00:14:44,492 --> 00:14:47,799
Everything
was falling into place.

362
00:14:47,843 --> 00:14:50,411
There was only one thing
left to do.

363
00:14:50,454 --> 00:14:53,066
Brad: Hi, sweetie.

364
00:14:55,807 --> 00:14:57,984
Well, um,
I've got some news for you.

365
00:14:58,027 --> 00:15:00,073
Do you remember
when you said to me

366
00:15:00,116 --> 00:15:03,337
that no one's gonna
want to see my movie?

367
00:15:03,380 --> 00:15:05,295
♪♪

368
00:15:05,339 --> 00:15:08,211
Well, it turns out that,
guess what?

369
00:15:08,255 --> 00:15:09,778
The Internet does.

370
00:15:09,821 --> 00:15:13,521
I raised $300,000
on Indiegogo.

371
00:15:13,564 --> 00:15:19,962
♪♪

372
00:15:20,006 --> 00:15:26,055
♪♪

373
00:15:26,099 --> 00:15:29,276
Yeah, but the money already
goes into production costs,

374
00:15:29,319 --> 00:15:31,800
so that money
is already spent.

375
00:15:33,062 --> 00:15:35,717
Yes, but something's
being born here --

376
00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:37,284
this movie.

377
00:15:39,982 --> 00:15:42,158
Okay,
so you sound very tired.

378
00:15:42,202 --> 00:15:43,812
So we're gonna talk
a little bit later, okay?

379
00:15:43,855 --> 00:15:44,813
I love you.

380
00:15:44,856 --> 00:15:46,206
[Phone beeps]

381
00:15:46,249 --> 00:15:48,034
Jim: She sounds angry.

382
00:15:48,077 --> 00:15:49,818
No, that's just
our banter.

383
00:15:49,861 --> 00:15:51,907
That's how we communicate.
It's fine.

384
00:15:51,951 --> 00:15:54,257
[Horn blows]

385
00:15:54,301 --> 00:15:57,347
To be honest, our playful chat
had triggered some doubt.

386
00:15:57,391 --> 00:16:00,960
Maybe it was jitters
before the big day.

387
00:16:01,003 --> 00:16:04,224
All I know is
I felt lower than ever.

388
00:16:04,267 --> 00:16:06,574
I'd faced hardship before
on this journey,

389
00:16:06,617 --> 00:16:08,706
but something had always
come out of the blue

390
00:16:08,750 --> 00:16:10,056
to lift me up.

391
00:16:10,099 --> 00:16:13,537
Whether it was
the passion of a fellow fan,

392
00:16:13,581 --> 00:16:17,324
or the shared wisdom
from a personal mentor,

393
00:16:17,367 --> 00:16:19,979
or an overwhelming show
of public support

394
00:16:20,022 --> 00:16:24,157
in the form of
lots and lots of money.

395
00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,159
But could I really expect
another miracle

396
00:16:26,202 --> 00:16:28,770
to keep this project alive?

397
00:16:28,813 --> 00:16:30,946
It was too much to ask.

398
00:16:30,990 --> 00:16:32,992
I was ready to call it quits.

399
00:16:33,035 --> 00:16:35,124
♪♪

400
00:16:35,168 --> 00:16:37,997
And that's
when I met Renee.

401
00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,911
What are you guys
filming?

402
00:16:41,087 --> 00:16:44,046
Intrigued by the camera,
she stopped to chat.

403
00:16:44,090 --> 00:16:46,266
Well, we just drive
around the whole country

404
00:16:46,309 --> 00:16:48,224
talking to everyone --
the fans, some experts.

405
00:16:48,268 --> 00:16:49,356
We interviewed
Matthew Walter.

406
00:16:49,399 --> 00:16:51,358
Ah, so you just decided
to make a movie.

407
00:16:51,401 --> 00:16:52,837
That is so cool.

408
00:16:52,881 --> 00:16:55,057
Yeah, it's pretty easy.

409
00:16:55,101 --> 00:16:56,928
Everybody has something
worth sharing --

410
00:16:56,972 --> 00:16:58,278
you know, a story.

411
00:16:58,321 --> 00:16:59,409
I mean, what about you?

412
00:16:59,453 --> 00:17:01,672
Do you have a hobby,
an experience, or something?

413
00:17:01,716 --> 00:17:03,283
I was a combat medic.

414
00:17:03,326 --> 00:17:05,241
I actually just got back
from Afghanistan.

415
00:17:05,285 --> 00:17:06,329
Afghanistan?
Yeah.

416
00:17:06,373 --> 00:17:07,417
We're still over there?

417
00:17:07,461 --> 00:17:08,679
Yeah.

418
00:17:08,723 --> 00:17:10,246
Oh, wow.

419
00:17:10,290 --> 00:17:12,901
Well, uh, you could do that
as a story,

420
00:17:12,944 --> 00:17:15,121
or maybe something
less depressing.

421
00:17:15,164 --> 00:17:17,862
You could do
a favorite dessert,

422
00:17:17,906 --> 00:17:19,864
uh, you know,
a pet that you love.

423
00:17:19,908 --> 00:17:21,344
Anything like that.

424
00:17:21,388 --> 00:17:23,042
Hearing myself speak about

425
00:17:23,085 --> 00:17:24,434
the amazing journey
of this film

426
00:17:24,478 --> 00:17:26,480
put everything
back into perspective.

427
00:17:26,523 --> 00:17:28,569
You don't need
anyone's permission

428
00:17:28,612 --> 00:17:30,136
to tell your story,

429
00:17:30,179 --> 00:17:31,659
or anyone else's story.

430
00:17:31,702 --> 00:17:33,704
Just create.

431
00:17:33,748 --> 00:17:35,358
You are inspiring.

432
00:17:35,402 --> 00:17:39,754
Turns out, the miracle
I was looking for...

433
00:17:39,797 --> 00:17:41,016
was me.

434
00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:43,236
♪♪

435
00:17:45,412 --> 00:17:47,153
♪♪

436
00:17:47,196 --> 00:17:48,937
Great.
Thank you very much.

437
00:17:48,980 --> 00:17:51,679
Brad: I set out that morning
feeling massively energized.

438
00:17:51,722 --> 00:17:55,204
Once Gary Larson experienced
the passion of a true fan,

439
00:17:55,248 --> 00:17:57,076
who knew what was possible?

440
00:17:57,119 --> 00:17:58,642
Maybe he'd even
come out of retirement.

441
00:17:58,686 --> 00:18:02,124
The moments
before meeting Gary Larson.

442
00:18:02,168 --> 00:18:03,778
After all I'd been through,

443
00:18:03,821 --> 00:18:05,040
anything short of that

444
00:18:05,084 --> 00:18:07,129
now seemed like
a total failure.

445
00:18:07,173 --> 00:18:10,306
♪♪

446
00:18:10,350 --> 00:18:14,658
Brad: All right, so, South Maple
is one street that way.

447
00:18:14,702 --> 00:18:18,314
Jim: You're gonna walk up
and just knock on the door?

448
00:18:18,358 --> 00:18:20,142
Dad, I'm gonna make sure
that he knows

449
00:18:20,186 --> 00:18:22,188
that we were very respectful
of his privacy,

450
00:18:22,231 --> 00:18:23,232
all right?

451
00:18:23,276 --> 00:18:24,581
I'm not some crazy person.

452
00:18:24,625 --> 00:18:26,192
This is for a film.

453
00:18:26,235 --> 00:18:28,455
♪♪

454
00:18:28,498 --> 00:18:30,370
So many cars.

455
00:18:30,413 --> 00:18:32,154
♪♪

456
00:18:32,198 --> 00:18:34,548
I thought
it'd be easier to park.

457
00:18:34,591 --> 00:18:39,161
♪♪

458
00:18:39,205 --> 00:18:41,250
What the hell?

459
00:18:41,294 --> 00:18:42,860
Why are there so many people?

460
00:18:42,904 --> 00:18:45,124
Oh, this can't be it.

461
00:18:45,167 --> 00:18:46,864
♪♪

462
00:18:46,908 --> 00:18:48,431
No.

463
00:18:48,475 --> 00:18:49,606
♪♪

464
00:18:49,650 --> 00:18:51,217
[Car door closes]

465
00:18:51,260 --> 00:18:53,262
What is happening here?

466
00:18:53,306 --> 00:18:54,263
Woman: Sir!

467
00:18:54,307 --> 00:18:55,482
Gentleman?
Hi.

468
00:18:55,525 --> 00:18:57,310
I'm gonna need you
to move that vehicle, please.

469
00:18:57,353 --> 00:18:59,007
Why are there
so many trucks?

470
00:18:59,050 --> 00:19:01,401
What is this?It's Ken Burns.

471
00:19:01,444 --> 00:19:03,403
We just wrapped
his "American Masters" interview

472
00:19:03,446 --> 00:19:04,752
with Gary Larson.

473
00:19:04,795 --> 00:19:06,188
You interviewed
Gary Larson?

474
00:19:06,232 --> 00:19:08,495
I couldn't believe
this was happening.

475
00:19:08,538 --> 00:19:10,540
I had driven
over a hundred miles,

476
00:19:10,584 --> 00:19:13,456
and now here I was
not 10 feet from Gary's house.

477
00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:15,415
Mr. Larson!Okay, no, no,
no, no, no.

478
00:19:15,458 --> 00:19:18,461
But once again, the Universe
was trying to silence me.

479
00:19:18,505 --> 00:19:20,289
Mr. Larson!
That's his office.No, no -- ah!

480
00:19:20,333 --> 00:19:21,334
Let me just --If you could just --

481
00:19:21,377 --> 00:19:22,639
no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no.

482
00:19:22,683 --> 00:19:23,858
It was a true

483
00:19:23,901 --> 00:19:25,294
David and Goliath standoff.

484
00:19:25,338 --> 00:19:28,210
Me and my 73-year-old dad

485
00:19:28,254 --> 00:19:30,386
versus Ken Burns,
Mr. Hollywood.

486
00:19:30,430 --> 00:19:32,171
I want to say
one more thing.

487
00:19:32,214 --> 00:19:33,389
All I wanted to do

488
00:19:33,433 --> 00:19:34,434
was ask Gary
a couple of questions.

489
00:19:34,477 --> 00:19:36,523
That's it.
And I know he's in there.

490
00:19:36,566 --> 00:19:38,307
Woman: All right.I know, I know, I know.
We're going, we're going.

491
00:19:38,351 --> 00:19:40,657
♪♪

492
00:19:40,701 --> 00:19:42,529
I didn't stand a chance.

493
00:19:54,193 --> 00:19:56,238
Jim:
You all right, Bradley?

494
00:20:03,245 --> 00:20:04,812
My journey was over,

495
00:20:04,855 --> 00:20:07,467
and it wasn't the ending
that I had hoped for.

496
00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:10,383
So I went back to the place
where it all began.

497
00:20:10,426 --> 00:20:15,605
And suddenly,
it was all so clear.

498
00:20:15,649 --> 00:20:17,128
My whole life,

499
00:20:17,172 --> 00:20:19,392
all I ever wanted
was to live in "The Far Side."

500
00:20:19,435 --> 00:20:22,308
I thought that
by meeting Gary Larson,

501
00:20:22,351 --> 00:20:24,701
I'd be one step closer.

502
00:20:25,441 --> 00:20:28,314
But if I've learned anything
from "The Far Side",

503
00:20:28,357 --> 00:20:30,577
it's that life is absurd

504
00:20:30,620 --> 00:20:33,928
and it's not always
supposed to make sense.

505
00:20:33,971 --> 00:20:38,324
So in a way,
bynot meeting Gary Larson,

506
00:20:38,367 --> 00:20:41,501
I'm actually closer
to "The Far Side" than ever.

507
00:20:41,544 --> 00:20:42,850
♪♪

508
00:20:42,893 --> 00:20:45,418
Gary may have created
"The Far Side",

509
00:20:45,461 --> 00:20:46,941
but by making this film,

510
00:20:46,984 --> 00:20:49,335
I'm the one who discovered
its true meaning.

511
00:20:49,378 --> 00:20:52,468
And now, I'm sharing it
with all of you,

512
00:20:52,512 --> 00:20:54,340
especially my wonderful family

513
00:20:54,383 --> 00:20:57,517
who were so supportive
of this journey.

514
00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,954
So welcome to "The Far Side."

515
00:20:59,997 --> 00:21:02,913
Gary and I will see you around.

516
00:21:02,957 --> 00:21:05,176
♪♪

517
00:21:05,220 --> 00:21:06,177
♪♪

518
00:21:06,221 --> 00:21:09,180
[Man whistling musically]

519
00:21:09,224 --> 00:21:12,227
♪♪

520
00:21:16,710 --> 00:21:19,713
♪♪

521
00:21:24,283 --> 00:21:27,286
♪♪