Windows 90-Ate (universe movie)

Windows 90-Ate
The ofificial theatrical poster
Directed by	Garrett Ramos
Written by	Michael J. Bayheimer
Based on	Characters by Levi Trevino
Produced by	Michael J. Bayheimer
Starring	Brian Morris Nicole Carter Shawn Mitchell Julia Gray
Distributed by	Paramutual Pictures
Release date	October 30, 1998 (1998-10-30) (United States)
Running time	86 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$2,000,000

Windows 90-Ate is the third entry in The Motherboard franchise and the first produced film of Michael J. Bayheimer.

Plot synopsis

Workers in an office building begin disappearing after their computers are updated to the latest version. When two employees become suspicious and start investigating, they quickly discover the horrifying truth about the IT Department and the new man-eating computers that are consuming the office.

Cast

• Brian Morris as Tony, the office's supervisor.
• Nicole Carter as Candace, a data entry worker who is the survivor of the film.
• Alyssia Weeks as Carrie, the friend of Candace and a general slacker who somehow gets her work done.
• Shawn Mitchell as Larry, the head of the IT department.
• Everett Woodard as Vince, a sporty office worker who has a thing for Carrie.
• Julia Gray as The Motherboard (Voice).
• Marcus Fleming as Sam, seen briefly in a picture on a desk.

Production

Director Issues

When the idea for a third entry in the The Motherboard franchise was thrown around the table at the then distributor Paramutual Pictures, the original plan was to get Levi Trevino back to direct the movie. After months of negotiations, Trevino turned down the studio, stating he wanted to do other projects and leave the property behind. Now, without a director, the studio turned to an unknown named Garrett Ramos. Ramos had up to this point been known for his music videos and television commercials, but had never taken on the massive project of a feature-length film.

Two months into production, Ramos and producer/writer Michael J. Bayheimer started disagreeing with the direction of the film. Bayheimer went to the head of the studio and complained that if Ramos was to continue directing the film on his own, it wouldn't be the hit they were looking for. The studio stepped in and informed Ramos that if he didn't start doing as they asked, he would be let go without pay (Ramos hadn't fully read his contract at the time of signing, agreeing to a clause that allowed the studio to do this at the time).

Ramos said he would stay on, but his desire to finish the film was severely reduced. As the production continued, Ramos stayed behind the camera, gave little direction, and near the end stopped calling action for the shots. Bayheimer stepped in and started acting as the onset director, and it was he who ultimately finished the film, though he gets no on-screen credit for it in the final product.

Trivia

• Michael J. Bayheimer became one of Hollywood's most sought-after producers/writers after this film soared to #1 at the Box Office (ultimately becoming the highest rated entry in the series at the time).
• Michael J. Bayheimer created the concept for this film, having never seen the first two, after hearing the phrase "horror movie with computers".
• Levi Trevino, the franchise's original creator, was distraught that the series was turned into a gory horror movie and was not what he originally intended. He went on record stating he would no longer be a part of the franchise if it continued. He had a change of mind 14 years later when "diePhone" (2012) was released with him as the sole writer.
• Amy Norman was supposed to come back to voice "Motherboard" as a connection to the previous film. However, due to scheduling conflicts and Levi Trevino not returning, she ultimately didn't take the part. She would return as the voice in future entries "diePhone" (2012) and "Killer App" (2016).
• The inclusion of a photo of actor Marcus Fleming as his character Sam from "Hackintosh" (1983)" was done by the set decorator who loved the first two entries. Fans of the series have speculated that the character Candace is Sam's younger sister, since the photo sat among other photos on her desk.

Quotes

• "I got into computers to get away from this sort of thing!"