Superhero Casting Rank the Prank

Except for the laughs!

Imagine if you had the chance to play epic pranks

on an unsuspecting public.

And access to the best special effects artists in the world.

And imagine if a panel of Ranksters thinks your Public Prank is SO good

you get to stage a Mega Prank on a target of your choice.

Well, quit imagining. This is Rank The Prank.

Which teams are battling today? Let's meet the Green Team.

-Hi, I'm Priya.

-And I'm Cosy.

-And we're...

-BOTH: The Beastly Besties.

When we're together, I think we're always joking around and laughing.

So I think that makes us perfect pranksters.

For our Public Prank, we want to scare unsuspecting members of

the public with crazy creatures that come to life.

-The robot will be like...

-THEY IMITATE ROBOT

Our lizard would be like...

-SHE GROWLS

-Eurgh!

Our Mega Prank would be on my class at school.

-Fingers crossed that we get to do our Mega Prank.

-BOTH: Ooh!

So you better watch out for the Beastly Besties.

We could be coming for you.

Who, me? What have I done?

Well, the Beastly Besties certainly mean business.

Now it's time to meet the Blue Team.

-I'm Joe.

-And I'm Will. And we're...

We just love spending time together.

We've been best friends since we were born.

We love playing pranks together, and we have such a laugh.

We want to frighten the public when they think

a real dinosaur is chasing them.

I can't wait to see the people's reactions.

Our target for the Mega Prank is our drama teacher, Phil.

He acts like a big kid, and we want to make him laugh.

Keep your eyes peeled.

Because the Cheeky Pranksters are about to get pranking.

Ooh, I like it!

But to give their pranks that Hollywood magic,

it's time to call in the real experts.

Effectors, show yourselves!

I'm Shaune Harrison, prosthetic supervisor.

I've worked on many high-profile movies and TV projects.

I use silicon prosthetics, make-up, hair pieces, paints,

all to make creatures look either incredibly scary

or incredibly handsome.

So, come on, pranksters,

I'll make you believe that make-believe is believable!

Is that right?

I've no idea, Shaune.

You stick to your prosthetics

and I'll find someone to make us a dinosaur.

I'm Rob Mayer, creature effects designer.

In my career, I've worked on many films and TV shows.

I create fantasy creatures, sci-fi aliens

and realistic animatronic animals.

I can even make young people look ancient.

For instance, I'm only nine years old.

That's how good I am.

So if you pranksters want something that's out of this world,

then I'm your man.

That's the special effects taken care of.

Now, for today's prank location - a museum. Ooh!

So, Beastly Besties, Cheeky Pranksters.

We know what your ideas are, but the other team doesn't.

So, Priya and Cosy, do you want to reveal what your prank is?

# Ba-ba-ba-ba! #

So we're going to do it about an exhibition of a robot and a lizard.

Then we're going to have them kind of come alive.

And maybe scare some people or have a fight or something.

-A little fight, yeah.

-In front of loads of strangers.

-Hopefully, we're just going to scare loads of people.

-Fantastic.

I think the other team's idea is very good,

but I still think we're good enough to beat them.

Let's have a look at your ideas.

First, a caveman runs in, shouting, going, ugh, ugh!

-With a massive egg. Like a dinosaur egg.

-OK.

And he passes it to a random member of the public,

and then this animatronic dinosaur comes in, stomping,

making loads of loud noises.

Scares the public and hope that they'll drop the egg,

and that's our amazing prank.

The other team seem really confident in their idea,

but the Cheeky Pranksters better watch out.

Cos the Beastly Besties have got this.

-So, Priya, Cosy, you guys are up first. Let's go.

-Let's go.

So we've got an intergalactic battle versus a dinosaur on the loose.

But only one team will go through to stage a Mega Prank,

and only the Ranksters will decide who faces...

IN OMINOUS VOICE: the ejector button of doom!

Time to take a trip behind the scenes.

I'm really excited about meeting the Effectors

and seeing all the ideas they have.

So the Beastly Besties' idea takes place

in a fantastic film and sci-fi exhibition.

We have a giant robot costume. Someone sets off an alarm,

and all manner of chaos breaks loose.

So, let me introduce HB5.

-Whoa!

-That's awesome.

-He's so cool.

When I first saw the robot, I thought instantly of my drawings

because it looked exactly like that,

and I was like, was this custom-made?

-Now, who wants to try this on?

-Me.

-Me.

-OK.

So, if you pull the hand controls open and closed,

it'll open the hand and close the hand.

'Rob was just like a kid. He was just like one of us.'

-Very enthusiastic.

-He was as enthusiastic as we are.

So what's the big red button for?

Who can resist a big red button that says "push red button"?

So someone can press the button themselves.

And then they feel like it's their fault

that all this happened instead of us.

This is going to be a fantastic prank. Don't you agree, HB5?

Nice.

After we've seen the robot,

I just can't wait to see what the lizard's going to be like.

So, for the lizard man character,

I've actually used reptilian textures of a crocodile

as part of the texture for the skull.

-Can we touch it?

-Absolutely.

-THEY CHUCKLE

This is really weird.

This is all made of a silicon, so it's quite soft.

He said it took about seven weeks to actually make.

-What about these?

-They're the hands.

So they're made of the same material.

Oh, they're so thick!

'They were really weirdly heavy'

and really squishy and we were just, like, stroking his head with it.

This is the tail. It's a lot softer. Do you want to have a feel?

This is made of a foam.

Do you think you'd beat the robot in a fight?

-AS GOLLUM:

-My precious!

-Who do you think would win in a dance battle?

-Ooh...

-The lizard.

The lizard cos he's more swift...

-But the robot would be good at doing the robot.

-Yeah.

Action.

We met Richard, who was the robot,

and Garth, who was going to be the lizard.

It looks like he's break-dancing.

They ended up dancing, which was just...

It was really funny cos we were, like, what's happening right now?

LATIN MUSIC PLAYS

'Now that we've met the Effectors,'

I can't wait until we start pranking people.

Watch out, people, it's time for the first Public Prank.

The hidden cameras are rolling, and the pranksters

are in the control room, ready to direct the action.

We've always dreamed of doing a really big prank like this.

It's just a quiet day here at the museum, but little do people

know the new sci-fi exhibition is about to come to life.

LIZARD MAN GROWLS

There's a woman coming towards it, maybe.

Oh, she's about to press the button!

MACHINE: Danger, danger.

ALARM RINGS

LATIN MUSIC PLAYS

My favourite bit must have been the lady dancing.

MACHINE: Danger, danger.

-ALARM RINGS

-Go.

Get ready to dance.

LATIN MUSIC PLAYS

The reactions were amazing.

MACHINE: Danger, danger.

MACHINE: Danger, danger.

She's like, "Argh!"

MACHINE: Danger, danger.

Go and dance with the other person now.

Oh, I'm dancing?

You've been pranked by Rank The Prank.

It came alive and started dancing. Quite surreal.

-It was like a film, wasn't it?

-It was really weird.

I thought the robot was going to attack, then they started dancing.

I thought I was in a dream or summat then.

I am very happy with how it went. It's all in the Ranksters' hands.

Fingers crossed, girls.

But remember, the Cheeky Pranksters' Public Prank is up next.

I can't wait to meet Shaune and Rob

because I'm energetic and can't wait to get started.

The Cheeky Pranksters have had

a really, really cool idea

that takes place in the museum.

Suddenly, a caveman comes from out of nowhere armed with an egg.

They off-load the egg onto the member of the public.

The owner of the egg, which is a giant T-Rex,

comes thundering around the corner.

What do you do now? Do you run? Do you stay? Who knows?

Joe, Will, do you want to meet

-one of the stars of your prank today? The T-Rex?

-Yes.

-Yes.

OK, here we go.

-T-REX ROARS

-Whoa!

That's mind-boggling.

I was gobsmacked and just like...

I could just fall to the ground and cry in happiness.

I was like, "Is this a dream? It's amazing."

He's made of a mixture of plastics and foams and Lycras,

so he's quite lightweight.

We have animatronic eyes and the mouth opens and closes as well.

Who wants to have a look inside the belly of the beast?

-Me, please.

-Perfect.

'Inside the dinosaur, it was really dark and'

it smelt really funny.

So, to enable the performer to see inside,

we have three cameras set into the head.

That means he can see forwards and he can see off to the side

so he doesn't run into any expensive exhibits.

So, T-Rex, do you think our prank will be the best?

T-REX ROARS

So, one of our characters we're doing is a Neanderthal.

There's a few different challenges.

It's slightly subtler make-up,

so he's going to go for a full facial prosthetic.

Oh, it feels really weird.

They're, like, soft and smooth.

It's made of a silicon, and it's all glued to Garth's skin.

Oh, the stuff they used on his face felt really weird

and looked really weird, the way they've done it.

And his teeth, they were just... Urgh!

And then we've just been gluing this beard.

That's all made of real human hair.

Yeah, I was about to say, it feels really...human.

-So, this is the wig.

-Is that real hair too?

-That's real hair.

You're a different person now.

It was very itchy and very warm at the same time,

so it was a bit uncomfortable.

So, Garth, are you ready for the prank?

GROWLS: Yeah!

Now that we've seen all of the hard work the Effectors have done,

we're just ready to get out there.

There's no stopping these boys. Time for Public Prank number two.

The hidden cameras are set, the dinosaur is poised

and the pranksters are in the control room.

We're pumped and ready to go.

All may seem peaceful here at the dinosaur exhibition,

but things are about to get a little roar-cous.

Go, go, go, go, go!

CAVEMAN GRUNTS

Give it to the boy.

CAVEMAN GRUNTS

T-REX GROWLS

Everyone was just staring. It was just so funny.

CAVEMAN GRUNTS

T-REX ROARS

Go for the girl.

BOYS LAUGH

You've just been pranked by Rank The Prank.

Cheers!

I just got chased by a big dinosaur, and it was pretty scary.

I was really scared of the dinosaur,

but I thought he was all right, really.

It was very scary.

The prank was just amazing.

We are feeling more confident than ever.

Ooh, I like a bit of confidence.

The Public Pranks are over, but which prankster pair will go

on to play a Mega Prank on a target of their choice?

It's time to rank the prank.

Let's meet today's prank-loving panel.

Ranksters, show yourselves.

It was, like, really scary at first.

But then, when they started dancing,

I thought that that was really funny and unexpected.

The thing that made me laugh about it was when they started dancing.

It took them completely by surprise.

That made me laugh.

I thought the T-Rex prank was the best one

because of the way that it interacted with the public more.

But then, as well, the caveman, I liked the way he was speaking.

-HE IMITATES CAVEMAN

-That really got to me.

The ideas were just great.

They were really creative and original.

It's been a really tough choice, but I think we've made a decision.

The hour of judgment is upon them.

It's just like, oh, no, what's going to happen? We don't know.

Which team will make it through?

The pranks are over, it's in the Ranksters' hands.

And who will be sent home packing, Hollywood style?

Green or Blue, jury of Ranksters, it's down to you.

The votes have been counted.

The team going home today is...

HEARTBEAT PULSES

..the Beastly Besties.

Yes!

I pinched myself when they said their name.

I've loved working with the Special Effectors.

But the other team were really great and we're glad that they won.

I can't wait to do our Mega Prank.

-The Cheeky Pranksters...

-Woo!

-..are victorious!

Now it's the Effectors' turn to create a Mega Prank

to play out on the pranksters' chosen target.

Our Mega Prank target is our drama teacher, Phil.

-We've known Phil for years.

-He's a big kid.

And he's one of the best drama teachers we both have ever had.

Phil deserves to get pranked cos he always pranks us.

So we want to pull the ultimate prank on him.

In a million years, he would never guess we were going to prank him.

Watch out, Phil, the Cheeky Pranksters are out to get you.

Now for the location - a film studio.

Special Effectors, time to pack this prank with a punch.

Rob, Shaune, we can't wait to hear about the Mega Prank.

So, Phil is going to be playing the role of an alien extra

in the latest Hollywood superhero movie,

but what he doesn't know is the whole thing's totally made up.

So we've arranged for an eccentric Hollywood director to come in.

-Action!

-And put Phil through his acting paces.

First, he's going to be battling the arch enemy, Octocular,

which is a full costume and suit that we've made for this prank.

And then, after that,

he's going to get a chance to try out for the lead role of Atlanticus.

And do you remember, a few weeks ago, you came to my make-up studio

-to get your face cast?

-Yeah.

Well, we've made these really cool underwater alien heads.

We're going to get you into those heads

and then you're going to go onto set

and he won't know that you're going to be in these masks.

-So, we're going to be in the studio with him in the scene...

-Yeah.

-..and he won't know it's us?

-No.

-Perfect.

-Amazing.

-It's up here.

-Good.

-Are you all psyched up for it?

-Psyched!

-Well, let's do it!

I'd just like to pinch myself because the idea is just so amazing.

Like, I thought, "Am I still sleeping in bed?"

OK, boys, close your eyes and come on in.

'Shaune showed us the masks that he'd made with'

our faces imprinted.

Open your eyes.

-BOTH:

-Whoa!

-What do you think?

-That's really cool.

The Special Effectors have done us proud once again.

We had goggles, tentacles on his head, it just looked so lifelike.

HE ROARS

For my part in the prank,

we had to build this giant octopus-based creature, Octocular.

We made a cool suit with all tentacles

and that all over the place

so it should help set the mood fantastically.

The Effectors have helped us so much.

I am really confident that

they're going to boss the Mega Prank for us.

Calling all prank fans, it's the moment you've been waiting for.

Ooh, shh, here comes Phil.

Phil thinks he's here to audition for a role in

-a Hollywood superhero movie.

-This is Phil.

Little does he know it's all one big set-up

and we're filming his every move.

I was just going,

-HE BREATHES HEAVILY

-"What happens if it goes wrong?"

-So, have you had prosthetics or anything like that done before?

-No.

First up, Phil had his prosthetic ears put on.

Probably just felt really silly. And then the director came in.

-Hello, all. Hello, Phil.

-How you doing? You all right?

When you're ready, if we can have you on the mark, please.

Very nice ears, Phil. Well done.

So, Atlanticus Versus Octocular. We need 100% from you.

Yeah, I can give it a go.

-Give us a "yeah".

-Yeah!

-Whoa, hello! We're off. Good, good.

Think of an animal.

The director asked Phil to act like a mythical enchanted animal.

-Give me the noise. Give me the...

-HE GROWLS

-I like it. I like it.

-Good effort, Phil.

He doesn't suspect a thing so far.

The noise is coming closer, you're scared.

He was just going on, full-out auditioning,

and I've never seen him like that before.

-One, two, three.

-HE GROANS

Keep bashing, keep bashing.

It was just really funny.

Did you know you were a monster, Phil?

-I had no idea.

-HE LAUGHS

OK, now, butter. Can you be buttery?

Oh, that's lovely, some butter. What are your buttery thoughts?

-Bread.

-Bread? Maybe you've seen some bread. Look at the camera.

The camera is some bread that you'd like to spread yourself all over.

-Say it, say it.

-I went to spread myself all over some...

Yeah, that's good, that's good.

Seems Phil's up for anything,

even if the Effectors can't keep a straight face.

'I had to pretend to yawn and scratch my face'

cos I could feel a smile starting to spread.

So what we're going to do now is bring in Octocular.

So he's gone along with the ears and he's pretended to be butter,

but will Octocular make him suspicious?

So, as soon as he's in the room, you just start reacting.

Here we go. It's Octocular. So, come on, let's hear some noises.

-How do we react?

-Stay away from me!

-HE ROARS

Lovely. Rush towards him.

We're going to have huge tentacles coming in, CGI from all directions.

They're behind you. They're behind you now.

-They're between your legs.

-It was so cool watching him.

He just gave it his best shot.

He's pulling your arm, your arm's pulling towards him.

He's pulling your leg.

He's literally pulling your leg towards him.

-HE SCREAMS

-That's it.

We want a bloodcurdling scream, Phil.

-HE SCREAMS

-Yes!

He's beating you, you're vanquished, Octocular slithers over your corpse,

and that's the end of the scene.

Thank you, thank you.

Surely, things can't get any more ridiculous?

-Let's get him into costume.

-Yes, they can.

-BOYS LAUGH

-Lovely. If you can get on the table.

-He looks like a big blue bear.

-There's a mask as well.

-Can you chuck this on?

-Yeah.

There we go. That'll do. Lovely, lovely.

Can't believe he's doing this.

His catchphrase is "into the drink".

-Into the drink!

-I love it.

Let's get some wind in that as well. Can we have some wind? Thank you.

-BOTH:

-Into the drink!

-Into the drink!

More wind, let's have the wind right up.

Can we kick the legs as well?

-I love it!

-Into the drink!

-OK, that's great, let's lose the wind.

-'I'm flapping the cape.

'I was, like, "Yeah,'

"I'm a professional, I'll do exactly what you want."

I think we need the fight scene.

-Can you guys get the hench...?

-Let's go.

So Phil's bizarre audition has seen him melt like butter...

..spread myself all over...

..fight arch enemy Octocular... HE SCREAMS

-..and fly...

-Into the drink!

But will our pranksters' starring role give the game away?

So, a couple of henchmen are coming in.

They're called Chill and Wo.

I was just really nervous. Would he recognise us?

Would he recognise our voices?

Oof, ooh! I just had the jiggle-wiggles.

Here we go, this is Chill at the front with the goggles,

and this is Wo.

It was so weird

cos he kept on looking at us and we kept on looking at him.

There is a reality transformation portal just here,

and Wo is going to hold it and use it to focus Chill's ice rays.

So, Chill gives us the first blast.

-HE SCREAMS

-That's it. Down to your knees, Phil.

That's it. We've got to see the freezing cold through your veins.

You're freezing and you're despairing.

All the way down to the floor. All the way down to the floor.

'When we peel off our masks,'

I don't know what he's going to do.

Chill and Wo are going to reveal their true selves.

Phil, wake up!

-You've just been pranked by Rank The Prank!

-Oh, what?!

I have just had the best and worst day of my life.

'He could've been the big next big superhero,'

but instead he just got pranked.

I honestly couldn't be more proud of them. They're amazing.

Joe and Will, it was an absolute blast working with you.

I think we have started now a massive, massive prank battle

between Joe and I and Phil.

There's nothing I'm going to be able to do to top this.

Nothing whatsoever.

I've just been pranked on Rank The Prank.

CHEERING