The GANGRENE Film Festival hit the stage with a bang on September 5th, 2008 for its 9th installment: The GANGRENE Film Festival: $NINE.99, with a slimy salesman theme, adopted Skeeter as its mascot; a checkered-coat donning, gold chain wearing shyster used car salesman with a big cash smile and plenty of winks. In the spirit of those larger-than-life sales events that are bleated out on the radio as if the dealership owner is hopped up on something illegal, GANGRENE went for the gala sales event style guide, incorporating everything from a used car—the G-ride was actually available for sale on stage throughout the night--to a dazzling daredevil motorcycle stunt. The show opened with the talent of Gerry Phillips, one of just a handful of accomplished hand musicians in the world. Phillips dazzled the crowd with his flatulent and extremely accurate renditions of such great songs as Classical Gas, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Sweet Child of Mine. When the festival coordinator asked Phillips what equipment he would need for his performance, he replied, simply, "I only need two stools, one for me, one for my baby powder." After Phillips finished, the venue lit up with limelight and heavy metal. Motorcycle daredevil, Chuck Money, rode onto the stage on a tricked out chopper, created by Drop Dead Incorporated, wearing a custom suit, designed by Blain Taggert, assembled by Lara Lynn Flint. After flexing the mechanical muscles of his chopper, he delivered a megalomaniac's speech, peppered with a bit of an anti-drug theme.

To the astonishment of the crowd, Money jumped a total of 15 city busses right on stage. To the further astonishment of the audience, Gangrene host, Nate Peck, risked his life by lying down behind the ramp and allowing Chuck to take to the skies again, clearing 15 busses and Peck's vulnerable body. As usual, The GANGRENE Film Festival offered an excellent showing of comedy short films from all over the United States and Canada. Featured directors included: Andrew Wall, director of The Long Wooden Tobogganist, from Winnepeg, Canada; Brandon Lawrence, director of War of Game, from Los Angeles, California; and Brian Watts, creator of The Guacamole Rap, from Bloomington, Indiana. Each director was invited to pick up a sledgehammer and take a few smashes at the G-ride, a used car that was actually for sale throughout the night. With each swipe, the price of the car decreased, from an initial $999.99 to $NINE.99, after all directors had done their damage. To the surprise of festival organizers, the car was actually sold to a group of local teens. They eagerly finished breaking out the windshield and drove it off the stage into oblivion. The GANGRENE Film Festival: $NINE.99 goes down as another triumph from the eccentric and growing comedy shorts gala. Event organizers hope to bring the event back each September for many years to come.