Trivia / Eating Raoul

• The Danza: Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov play Paul and Mary Bland.
• Defictionalization: Zig-Zagging Trope. The production was so cash-strapped they couldn't afford a fake newspaper, so the "Cruel Carla and Naughty Nancy" ad was a genuine ad they took out in LA Weekly so they could use it in the film. They got an actual response (but only one) as well.
• No Budget: Made for $350,000, and largely filmed on secondhand film stock.
• Platonic Life-Partners: A Real Life example. Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov were such frequent co-stars that many fans thought they were husband and wife in real life (Bartel was actually openly gay).
• Stillborn Franchise: A sequel, Bland Ambition, involving Paul running for governor of California, was set to start filming in 1989, but the main backer pulled out 10 days before the shoot was scheduled to begin.
• What Could Have Been: Paul Reubens was the original choice to play the sex shop owner, but he backed out and recommended fellow member of the Groundlings comedy troupe (and future Pee-wee's Playhouse castmate) John Paragon to take over.

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