Tag: Machinima

The First Episode Of ‘Transformers: Combiner Wars’ Is Finally Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: After weeks of prelude episodes, and the first trailer showing off the series’ fantastic artwork back at SDCC, the first episode of Transformers: Combiner Wars is finally here.

In the series, the Autobots and Decepticons have disbanded and returned to Cybertron. With the days of Optimus Prime and Megatron over, Cybertron is now ruled by a triumvirate. However, an ancient technology has enabled a new threat, the power for multiple Transformers to combine into one massive, dangerous form: Combiners. Who will stand-up to this threat to ensure that the fragile peace that was 4 million years in the making remains?

You can watch the first episode from the US on Go90 right here (this one’s not embeddable, I’m afraid), while international users will soon be able to watch the series on Sohu in China and on Vimeo and YouTube in the rest of the world.

It’s pretty clear that this is a darker Transformers than we’ve seen in some time… this thing is violent, so if you’re planning to watch it with a small child, you may want to rethink that.

http://youtu.be/Dtaws91dGs4

SDCC 2016: Watch The Official Trailer For ‘Transformers: Combiner Wars’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Finally, after four weeks of prelude, the official trailer for Transformers: Combiner Wars is finally here.

The trailer was revealed earlier today during the official Transformers: Combiner Wars panel at SDCC, where panelists also revealed a ton of information about the just-around-the-corner series.

The trailer shows gives us our first look at the fantastic animation for the series, which will debut all 8 episodes exclusively on Go90 on August 2nd.

In the series, the Autobots and Decepticons have disbanded and returned to Cybertron. With the days of Optimus Prime and Megatron over, Cybertron is now ruled by a triumvirate. However, an ancient technology has enabled a new threat, the power for multiple Transformers to combine into one massive, dangerous form: Combiners. Who will stand-up to this threat to ensure that the fragile peace that was 4 million years in the making remains?

Take a look at the trailer below, and read on further to learn about the impressive, diverse voice cast for Combiner Wars.

https://youtu.be/Dtaws91dGs4

– ANNA AKANA, Victorion. With her 1.8M followers across YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, Akana is a social media powerhouse. As an actress, she has had roles in Marvel’s Ant Man, Hello, My Name is Doris, and Freeform’s The Fosters.

 

– JON BAILEY, Optimus Prime. Otherwise known as the “EpicVoiceGuy,” Bailey is perhaps most recognizable as the current narrator of Honest Trailers.

 

– CHARLIE GUZMAN, Menasor. Known best to his 2.6M YouTube subscribers as, “DashieGames,” Guzman has made a career out of gameplay videos. He’s built his impressive fan base by taking games like Grand Theft Auto and Mario Kart, and adding comedic commentary to his gameplay.

 

– RICKY HAYBERG, Computron. Ricky is an actor, writer, and the host for Machinima’s franchise show, ETC.

 

– AMY JOHNSTON, Maxima. Best known for her work with the production company, Bat in the Sun, Johnston has also cameoed in Machinima’s recent Street Fighter: Resurrection series.

 

– JASON MARNOCHA, Megatron. Marnocha is an actor and writer known best for his work on Throne of Atlantis, Deathstroke: Arkham Assassin, and Justice League War Abridged.

 

– LANA MCKISSACK, Mistress of Flame. McKissack is perhaps most well known for her YouTube channel, thanks to her comedy sketches. She also has an extensive list of acting credits that includes Four Rooms, The Magic Pearl, and The Passing.

 

– BEN PRONSKY, Rodimus Prime. Pronsky is a voice actor with various TV and video game credits. He’s provided the voice to characters in shows like Aldnoah.Zero, and Magi: The Kingdom of Magic, and for games such as Dynast Warriors 8 and D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die.

 

– PATRICK SEITZ, Devastator. With over 200 credits to his name, Seitz has provided voices for a variety of well-known films, TV shows, and video games. His work includes Inside Out, Monsters University, and Resident Evil: Damnation.

 

– FRANK TODARO, Starscream. Todaro is a voice actor with various video game credits. They include, Shardlight, Technobabylon, andLittleBigPlanet 1 & 2 where he was the voice of the Buzz Lightyear.

 

– ABBY TROTT, Windblade. Trott is a voice actress with credits that include the TV series The Seven Deadly Sins and Miss Monochrome, as well as the video game Killer Instinct.

After watching Machinima’s Prelude series, I cannot wait to see what Combiner Wars has to offer. Be sure to let us know if you’re looking forward to the series in the comments below!

This Week’s ‘Prelude To Transformers: Combiner Wars’ Is All About Starscream!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re now just a few weeks away from the launch of Transformers: Combiner Wars, and following last week’s Victorion offering, Machinima has just debuted the third episode in a four-episode ‘Prelude’ series that will lead into the main series debut on August 2nd.

The four-part Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars reveals the current state of Cybertron from the distinctive points-of-view of four characters – Optimus Prime, Victorion, Starscream and Windblade. The digital episodes will launch weekly.

This week, no longer a villainous Decepticon, the powerful Starscream reflects on being part of a new unified leadership that rules Cybertron!

The series is available on YouTube, go90, and other social media platforms, and its certainly garnering my excitement for the eight-episode main series.

The Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars episode breakdown is as follows:

1)    Optimus Prime, the former leader of the Autobots, reflects on the great war and how it finally ended with a duel between him and the mighty Megatron.

 

2)    Victorion, a Combiner born from the magic of the ‘Enigma of Combination’, describes her anger with this new state of affairs and proclaims her intention to save the Transformers galaxy from the chaos created in the aftermath of disbanding the Autobots and Decepticons.

 

3)    Starscream, no longer the villain we once knew him as, is now a member of a great ‘Council’ along with The Mistress of Flame from the planet Caminus and Rodimus Prime.  The burden of responsibility is heavy on the three due to the destruction and loss of life from the ongoing Combiner Wars.

 

4)    Windblade, once an official ‘City Speaker’ to the gigantic ‘Titans’ is tired of the bureaucratic non-action of the Council, who seem to sit idly while her people and her cities on Caminus perish. She decides that the only way to end the Combiner Wars is to take matters into her own vengeful hands.

Watch the Starscream episode below, and be sure to let us know what you’d like to see in the main series!

https://youtu.be/OLo8mWubeZA

‘Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars’ Continues With A Victorion Focussed Episode!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re now less than a month away from the launch of Transformers: Combiner Wars, and following last week’s premiere, Machinima has just debuted the second episode in a four-episode ‘Prelude’ series that will lead into the main series debut on August 2nd.

The four-part Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars reveals the current state of Cybertron from the distinctive points-of-view of four characters – Optimus Prime, Victorion, Starscream and Windblade. The digital episodes will launch weekly.

This week, Believing that she was created for a higher purpose, Victorion makes a promise to save the Transformers galaxy.

The series is available on YouTube, go90, and other social media platforms, and its certainly garnering my excitement for the main series.

The Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars episode breakdown is as follows:

1)    Optimus Prime, the former leader of the Autobots, reflects on the great war and how it finally ended with a duel between him and the mighty Megatron.

 

2)    Victorion, a Combiner born from the magic of the ‘Enigma of Combination’, describes her anger with this new state of affairs and proclaims her intention to save the Transformers galaxy from the chaos created in the aftermath of disbanding the Autobots and Decepticons.

 

3)    Starscream, no longer the villain we once knew him as, is now a member of a great ‘Council’ along with The Mistress of Flame from the planet Caminus and Rodimus Prime.  The burden of responsibility is heavy on the three due to the destruction and loss of life from the ongoing Combiner Wars.

 

4)    Windblade, once an official ‘City Speaker’ to the gigantic ‘Titans’ is tired of the bureaucratic non-action of the Council, who seem to sit idly while her people and her cities on Caminus perish. She decides that the only way to end the Combiner Wars is to take matters into her own vengeful hands.

Watch the Victorion episode below, and be sure to let us know if you’re looking forward to all eight episodes of the main series!

https://youtu.be/tAIbv090O80

‘Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars’ Launches Today With An Episode Focussed On Optimus Prime!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re finally just a month away from the launch of Transformers: Combiner Wars, and Machinima today debuted the first episode in a four-episode ‘Prelude’ series that will lead into the main series debut on August 2nd.

The four-part Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars reveals the current state of Cybertron from the distinctive points-of-view of four characters – Optimus Prime, Victorion, Starscream and Windblade. The digital episodes will launch weekly.

The series is naturally launching with Optimus Prime, and honestly this may be one of the coolest releases that I’ve seen from Machinima… well, ever.

The series is available on YouTube, go90, and other social media platforms, and its certainly garnering my excitement for the main series.

The Prelude to Transformers: Combiner Wars episode breakdown is as follows:

1)    Optimus Prime, the former leader of the Autobots, reflects on the great war and how it finally ended with a duel between him and the mighty Megatron.

 

2)    Victorion, a Combiner born from the magic of the ‘Enigma of Combination’, describes her anger with this new state of affairs and proclaims her intention to save the Transformers galaxy from the chaos created in the aftermath of disbanding the Autobots and Decepticons.

 

3)    Starscream, no longer the villain we once knew him as, is now a member of a great ‘Council’ along with The Mistress of Flame from the planet Caminus and Rodimus Prime.  The burden of responsibility is heavy on the three due to the destruction and loss of life from the ongoing Combiner Wars.

 

4)    Windblade, once an official ‘City Speaker’ to the gigantic ‘Titans’ is tired of the bureaucratic non-action of the Council, who seem to sit idly while her people and her cities on Caminus perish. She decides that the only way to end the Combiner Wars is to take matters into her own vengeful hands.

Take a look at the first episode below, along with some key art for the main series, and be sure to let us know if you’re excited!

https://youtu.be/v4i9u_HALwQ

Pretty cool, huh?

Combiner

Geekscape 402: Punishing The Guilty With Lon Strickland!

by Jonathan

‘Daredevil’ Season 2 is almost upon us and that means a new iteration of The Punisher, one of the most mangled and misrepresented characters in Marvel cinematic history! To help us wade through Frank Castle’s movie graveyard, Lon Strickland comes on the show to argue that Dolph Lundgren’s 1989 version is the best so far! Beyond that, we talk about Spider-Man dropping in on the ‘Captain America: Civil War’ trailer, the state of animation in the USA and what it was like for Lon to work at Machinima during their heyday!

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‘Red Vs. Blue’ Makes Its Television Premiere On The El Ray Network This December

by Shane O'Hare

The guys down in Austin are absolutely killing it, this has been the year of Rooster Teeth. Hot on the heels of their merger with ScrewAttack, and Funhaus/Inside Gaming before, is the latest and greatest news for the indie team. Rooster Teeth’s claim to fame, Red Vs. Blue, is making it’s television debut this December on the El Ray Network.

This isn’t THAT big of a surprise considering the fact that Robert Rodriguez was on the RT Podcast last week, where he and Burnie Burns joked about having RvB on El Ray. It was a very wink wink nudge nudge kind of situation. NOW it’s officially official!

El Rey Network will bring the award-winning, longest running sci-fi/comedy series in history, Red vs. Blue, to television for the first time.  Premiering December 5th on El Rey Network, all 13 seasons of Rooster Teeth’s Red vs. Blue have been lovingly and carefully curated and formatted from the original digital shorts into 95 half-hour episodes, which will air weekend mornings from6:00 to 10:00am ET/PT.

“I’ve been wanting to carve out an animated component to El Rey’s lineup and this was just the perfect fit for the network. Red vs. Blue is cool, quirky, badass and a little off-beat,” said El Rey Network Founder and Chairman Robert Rodriguez.  “It’s a truly groundbreaking machinima series, with a strong focus on quality writing and pioneering motion capture techniques.  I can’t wait for the El Rey Network audience to check out.”

“As young independent filmmakers starting out with no crew but a huge desire to make original content, Robert was a huge inspiration. So it seems incredibly fitting that Red vs. Blue will now have a home on El Rey Network,” said Rooster Teeth Founder and CEO Matt Hullum. “It’s the perfect fit for our brand of action, comedy and general animated mayhem.”

Based on the award-winning Halo® video game franchise, Red vs. Blue is a hilarious and action-packed series set in the distant future that tells the story of two groups of soldiers battling for control of the least desirable piece of real estate in the known universe – a box canyon in the middle of nowhere. Premiering in 2002, Red vs. Bluecontinues to grow as both a global entertainment phenomenon and popular staple of the Halo universe as it enters its 14th season.

“Red vs. Blue embodies the irreverent humor that lurks beneath Halo’s sci-fi universe but also the creativity that is at the heart of our franchise,” said Kiki Wolfkill, Studio Head of Halo Interactive Entertainment and Channel. “Rooster Teeth is a pioneer in web entertainment and machinima with Red vs. Blue, and we consider the series to be an important part of Halo’s history and future. It combines the best of Halo gaming with Rooster Teeth’s edgy humor on a network renowned for high-quality, exciting content.”

Robert Rodriguez is really curating an amazing television network and the introduction of RvB to the channel is going to open the doors for more amazing content.>Be sure to check out the official El Ray Network website for more information and to find out how to get it in your area!

This Week’s ‘Real Fake History’ Shows Little Mac’s Rise To The Top!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Last week, Eric posted an extensive, fantastic interview with actor and Real Fake History narrator Phil Morris, and today, Real Fake History debuted what may be its best episode yet: Little Mac’s rise to the top.

Yep, Little Mac, NES boxer and unicorn Amiibo. He’s not exactly the same as we remember, however, as it appears that all those boxing matches have left the underdog with some severe brain damage.

He was just 17 years old and 107 pounds, but he had big dreams – to join the World Video Boxing Association. This episode details the relationship between Mac and his trainer, Doc Louis.

Take a look at the episode below, and be sure to let us know which has been your favourite so far!

https://youtu.be/EojZOB31ktc

SDCC 2015: Phil Morris, From ‘Smallville’ and ‘Seinfeld’ on Voice Acting, Kung-Fu, and ‘Real Fake History’

by Eric Francisco

If the worlds of pop culture were real, then that time giant kaiju leveled Hong Kong in Pacific Rim or the Crazy 88 massacre in Kill Bill would be significant, cultural watershed moments in the national psyche. Imagine the documentaries! Well, someone did.

Enter: Real Fake History. Founded on the premise that pop culture really happened, Real Fake History lovingly apes the Ken Burns-style documentary and examines fake history as if they were, well, real.

As with all Ken Burns-esque documentaries — however satirical — , the narrator is a major component, and the show’s producers did no wrong casting the legendary Philip Morris.

The son of Greg Morris from Mission: Impossible, Phil Morris has starred in Seinfeld as attorney Jackie Chiles and Smallville as J’onn, the Martian Manhunter. But he has also had a career in voice acting, with his deep, velvet sound providing the chords for shows like Green Lantern: The Animated Series, Dead Space: Downfall, and The Secret Saturdays.

On the Saturday of the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, I had just finished watching Phil and a slew of other prolific cartoon voice actors slay a packed crowd attending the “Cartoon Voices 1” panel. They performed an abridged The Wizard of Oz to the delight of everyone — I especially lost it when Eric Bauza used his Puss in Boots voice for Dorothy’s uncle — but Phil was a standout as the Lion and Oz himself.

One thing you need to know about Philip: He’s a dyed-in-the-wool nerd. He loves Comic-Con, and has relished his roles like J’ohnn in shows like Smallville. He’s seen geek culture change, evolve, and proliferate throughout the years; he can’t believe how big it’s become either.

After the panel, I sat down with Philip to talk about what we can expect from Real Fake History, his time as a voice actor, and the complicated, important intersections of race in geek culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNOBHZ7FYUE

How different is it playing a documentary narrator in Real Fake History versus your other voice over roles?

Phil: It’s really not that different. It was just honoring the structure of it because it’s a bit of a mockumentary. It’s based on the whole Ken Burns documentary style and I’m a huge Ken Burns fan, huge. I love it all, America, Baseball, Jazz, Civil War.

You’ve seen the jazz one?

Phil: I’ve seen almost all of them, The Roosevelt’s, I love it all. National Parks, one of my favorite. I’m huge on that. I’m a big narrator fan. My Dad, Greg Morris, was a huge narrator. He did the first Mercedes Benz commercials and Chrysler commercials, so that was the voice you heard. He was also in the original Mission Impossible as Barney Collier, so voice over and narration has been part of my life since I can remember. I’ve worked with Keith David and I’m friends with Keith David and since he’s one of the major narrators of all the Ken Burns stuff, I’m honoring him as well with all this.

What can you tell me about Real Fake History?

Phil: Real Fake History takes the conceit that comics, TV shows, movies, that universe, whatever it is we’re talking about, Walking Dead, Kill Bill, whatever it is, that it actually happened. In that reality, we have bystanders, eyewitness accounts, which is really bizarre, and then I narrate with incredible integrity. The happenings on Endor, or with The Bride in Kill Bill and the Crazy 88’s.

It’s very exciting.

Phil: Oh, but it’s very real, you know what I mean? Every so often we make a little left turn and we do a little bit of a wink, but not a steady diet of it because it would kill it. You’ve got to see it. It’s very, very clever. Very clever stuff.

That’s a tight line to walk because it is hilarious that we’re going to talk seriously about giant robots tearing up Hong Kong. How difficult is it to tread that line?

Phil: I don’t know if it was difficult, but it was challenging. I think the challenge was in not letting the joke out before you set the hook. Do you know what I mean? That’s the key to this show is you’ve got to set that hook, you’ve got to make people believe, “What, is this real? Is this? Oh, no. Okay.” Then they get the joke and they go along with it, but you’ve got to set that hook. Setting the hook is in the integrity with which they bring it out. It’s really, really clever.

What’s been your favorite episode?

Phil: I think it might be the Kill Bill one. It’s one of my favorite movies, number one. The Crazy 88’s is one of my favorite, that whole scene, that whole katana scene, one of my favorite scenes, number two. The way that we address it in Real Fake History, as though one of the surviving Crazy 88’s is giving an account of this, it’s bananas ridiculous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64RyMzXe4fg

On Kill Bill, you say it’s one of your favorite movies, I understand you also are actually a practicing martial artist. You study wing chun.

Phil: Wing chun kung fu.

Can you tell me very briefly how you got started in that? I think that is really fascinating to me.

Phil: Thank you. Well my Dad, Greg Morris, from the original Mission Impossible, when they first started that show, they were told to go take a self defense class because they were one of the first TV shows to use martial arts moves in the show. They wanted them to know what they were. They went and studied with a man named Bruce Tegner on Sunset Boulevard. I was six, I went and trained with them. I was into it. I was really skinny and I got hurt a lot. It was great, but it wasn’t necessarily for a six year old at that time. Even though I was introduced to it then, it didn’t stick until much later and I started studying with Bong Soo Han, who was a Hapkido master and he choreographed the Billy Jack movies, just fantastic, passed away a few years ago.

I stayed with him, got my green belt, or my blue belt, or whatever it was. I bounced out of that, girls, comic books, or sports, or something else. Later, I was a huge Bruce Lee fan early on, as we all were, the kids my age. I’d always wanted to study wing chun because I’d heard the wing chun was his mother art, which he then extrapolated out to ge kong do and created that. I’d never found a wing chun studio until one day I’m in LA and it’s raining and I see on Venice Boulevard a wing chun studio, I pull in. This Asian guy comes downstairs and that ended up being my masters, his name is Hawkins Cheung, I’ve been with him 30 years. I’m in two hall of fames, I teach every Sunday morning in Burbank at 8:00, and wing chun is part of my soul, part of my spirit.

We just came from the voice acting panel, I told you on the way here, it was hysterical. You’re both a screen and voice actor. They’re different disciplines, but there are similarities. What do you find enriching about voice acting that you can’t do in screen and vise versa?

Phil: In voice acting, I can be more characters than I can look like in front of the camera. My voice, depending on what they are looking for from me, I can be a kid, I can be a dog, I can be an Asian bus driver, I can be a Jamaican DJ. I can be so many things with my voice that I can’t be physically because my physicality is limited. There is that. What I like about voice acting too are the people. The people that I meet, as you saw on the panel, are incredibly talented. Their references go everywhere. They have to because then they’re called on when the voice director wants them to do something to reach into that catalog and pull it out.

They have a wealth of knowledge, a wealth of interest, a wealth of passions that move them and they’re able then to convert that into a vocal ease. On camera is different. People are more bound by what they look like obviously. There’s more ego I think involved in the on camera because it is a full representation of who you are. Whereas voice acting, it’s a representation of the artist and your voice, but mainly the artist’s rendition.

When I’m doing Jackie Chiles or I’m doing a Disney show or any show, that’ me. People see me. They relate to me directly, there’s no indirectness to it, it’s very direct. I rather like it more. I rather like that walking and talking three dimensional field of face acting as opposed to vocal acting more. People have asked me what I like more, I think I like being in front of the camera more. I don’t know quite why.

You talked about this on the panel, which really struck me: minorities in Hollywood. It’s is a very powerful subject to me as well. Your father was one of the pioneering black performers in his era.

Yes.

You’ve also played super heroes, that’s a hot topic lately. They call it race bending. Michael B. Jordan is playing Johnny Storm and people lit a fire, so to speak about that.

Phil: No pun intended! [laughs]

Nope, not intended. But what is your opinion on someone who has also played super heroes and is also a performer of color?

Phil: We have enough renditions of the traditional super heroes throughout the ages. You know what I mean? Where did they come from? They came from somebody’s imagination, somebody’s creativity. That’s all this is. It’s another branch of creativity and expression that is pure. The politicization of this does it a disservice. It hampers the creator into thinking I can only make Johnny Storm a white, blond haired, blue eyed guy because that’s how Stanley and Jack Kirby initially created this character. Okay, that’s what those creators thought about it.

Now we have other creators that have come along in the generation since who go, “Man, this is my take on this particular character.” Why are you going to hamper the creativity of these other creators who have a different take on it because we’re so culturally tied to certain things. It does us a disservice as a people, as a species that we’re not able to open our minds to accept. People ask me all the time, what character would you want to play?

That was going to be my next question.

Phil: Traditionally, I’m always going Black Panther … blah, blah, why, because they’re black? Yes, that’s my limitation. In coming to Comic-Con today, I literally thought about who I’d want to play, I’d want to play Captain America. I think we need a new Captain America.

I think so too.

Phil: With a new ego’s that reflects today’s morality, today’s dilemmas. Back when Captain America was created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon … it was to answer the desperate of the war. Hitler, Togo, Mussolini, and Stalin. He was our representation of what America could do to stop the Axis powers. He came out of that time, he was a hero for that age. We need a new hero for our age. One that represents this pan of racial community that America has become. Until we do that, until we demystify these stereotypes and we knock down these cultural barriers, we should always have cultural identity and awareness and respect and honor, but not barriers.

That it keeps us from understanding and honoring other cultures. From travelling into those other areas to inform me more about who I am. Dude, you’re going to get me on a soap box here, but that’s how I feel about this. That’s why I think this Michael B. Jordan thing’s fantastic. Fantastic, bring it man. Bring more. Bring me a black dare devil, you know what I mean? I’m serious.

On the subject of super heroes now, you’re clearly very passionate about nerd culture, geek culture. You must of seen this culture proliferate. Could you have ever predicted that was where we were going to be?

Phil: No way, no way, and anybody who says they could’ve, they’re lying. Stan Lee couldn’t see this, you know what I mean? Carmen Fantina couldn’t see it. These guys and girls that spawn this industry are so fantastic, but there’s just no way you could of seen that technology would catch up to filmmaking so that you could represent a hero on screen seamlessly without us seeing the wires and the trampolines and all that stuff that they had to use before.

Now even the casual fan can be fully immersed and taken away in a way … cinematically that we could never do before. That has all changed. Bringing a comic book from the newsstand to the big screen is a lot easier. Bringing it to the small screen is even easier. Where as before you could only go to the big screen because of budgets and the film constraints. Now all of that stuff is fairly nominal to spend money on those effects. You can bring it to the small screen like we did in Smallville, it’s a great effect, they’re doing in Arrow like they do in The Flash. You see these shows on television becoming very successful because the technology is able to match the image and the concepts.

About Smallville because people have fond memories of that, what’s your fondest memory of working on Smallville as the Martian Manhunter?

Phil: My fondest memory honestly is meeting Allison Mack for the first time. Allison Mack was so kind to me my very first day. So supportive to me. She was like the greeter, unofficial, but she was the first person I met. If anyone knows Allison Mack, you’ll raise your hand, you know what I’m talking about is a true. She is one of the sweetest, smartest women, talented woman I’ve ever met. To meet her first was probably a great blessing because she really welcomed me and she kind of gave me the lay of the land, [because I] hadn’t met Tom yet.

Because I am a fan, I was more anxious doing this show than any other probably because I am a fan. I needed to measure up to my own fandom, but I knew there was a great fan base that was going to look at me and go, “Man, is this our John Jones or is this guy just a scumblebum. That to me, meeting Allison on that first day and having her be so gracious, so welcoming, set the tone for the whole experience I had up in Vancouver doing Smallville.

You’ve had a very prolific career from voice acting to screen acting. What’s been the one most rewarding thing about it when you look back? Not that you’re over it yet.

Phil: The fact that I get to do it. That sounds trite maybe, but there’s a lot of talented people in the world and the fact that I came from my father was no guarantee that I was going to have any talent, number one. Or that doors would open, number two. My father being who he was did not guarantee any of that. He didn’t help in any way. They spend money on you, you’ve got to perform for them. Not your father, not your mother, not your aunt, not your uncle. That’s why I say being in this business and continuing to work is the blessing.

I’m diverse. I like comedy, I like drama, I like Internet stuff, I like big screen, I like small screen. If it’s good, I’m probably there. If it’s a good solid crew that’s working, I’m probably going to be there. I find that’s a blessing. The more I work, the more I find that I’m blessed because I find so many people get off the train, they quit, it discourages them. They can’t make enough money. I have not had that problem and I look at that as a great blessing.

Last words about Real Fake History, what we can look forward to in this upcoming season?

Phil: Watch them all. They’re all funny and comment, comment, comment. Like them. Don’t like them. Do whatever it is you feel. I can’t tell you how to feel. I just know they’re really, really funny and I like them a lot.

Real Fake History can be found on YouTube by Machinima. Their newest episode, “The Battle of Castle Black,” can be found below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heK04CCJzVI

Geekscape Interviews: DC Executive Producer Bruce Timm on ‘Justice League: Gods & Monsters’

by Eric Francisco

Last month, Machinima and DC/Warner Bros. unleashed the exclusive web series Justice League: Gods & Monsters Chronicles. Featuring the Justice League like you’ve never seen them before, the web series is tied to the upcoming Justice League: Gods & Monsters, coming to Blu-ray and On Demand on July 28. The three-part season has already been renewed for a second season next summer.

About a month before its online premiere, I sat down with DC head honcho Bruce Timm in New York City and talked with the man responsible for a solid portion of our childhoods on the exclusive series and what superheroes mean to our generation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNP88Go8C9w

The first thing I want to touch on before we talk Gods & Monsters, Machinima touted its unique millennial audience. Machinima captured my demographic, but you found this kind of success really early on with Batman: The Animated Series, Superman, Justice League. We grew up on that. That was calculated, wasn’t it? To get us from the cradle to the grave?

Bruce: I wish I could say I was that smart.

No?

Bruce: It was just lucky that whenever we did those shows, I just wanted to do a version of those characters that would make me happy. That would please my own inner 12-year-old, and just hoping that other people would still find the same thing about the cool that I did.

At the same time, I didn’t want to hold back on the storytelling aspects of it. I didn’t want to make it a show that only kids would enjoy. That it would be adult in a way that would be not overt, but that so if the parents were actually watching the show with her kids, that they can get hooked on it too.

It just turned out to be just a happy accident that all these years later, it kind of grabbed ahold of people’s imaginations, and here we are.

Let’s talk about the new project. It’s very exciting, obviously you’re taking some of the most iconic heroes and putting a new coat of paint on them in terms of depth and character. It’s not that we haven’t seen an evil Superman before, but what do you hope to do different in this new series? For Wonder Woman and Batman and for everybody else? What is really the goal of the series?

Bruce: I don’t want to say that the traditional version of those characters are worn out or tired, because it’s absolutely not true. I’m sure I’m going to be doing other movies and TV shows with the traditional version of this characters at some point as well. There’s tons of mileage in those guys yet, but at the same time there are certain restrictions that each character has built into them. Just as an example, for the most part I’m a traditionalist myself, and I do understand that you don’t want to push Superman too far over the edge and then suddenly he’s not Superman anymore. At the same time, everybody has their own line in the sand.

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When we did the first DTV Superman: Doomsday, it was a big part of the original comic that Superman killed Doomsday. They killed each other. Part of that was they beat the crap out of each other. If you’ve ever seen that comic, Superman’s like raw and bloody during it. When we were doing that movie version of it, between the time the comic came out and this time we did the movie, DC official policy was that Superman’s skin does not break. He cannot bleed. I was like, seriously? It’s one of the most famous Superman comics of all time, and we’re going to publicize the crap that we’re doing out of this … Publicize the crap out of the fact that we are doing this animated version of it, and you’re saying he can’t bleed? It’s ridiculous.

It was ridiculous.

Bruce: I literally had to get on the phone with the president of DC Comics and try to talk him out of it, and he’s just like, no. Sorry. You have to find some other way to kill him. The logo of the show is the big, bloody S, and Superman can’t bleed? For instance, things like I used to drive me crazy.

The great thing about this is that since these characters never existed before, even though their names did and parts of their origin stories or parts of their background, I can basically make whatever rules I want about these characters which is great. I get on an e-mail chain with DC Comics now, and the shoe’s on the other foot. They’re doing a spinoff comic book based on these versions of the characters, and they run the ideas pass me. Bruce, do you think this would be okay if Superman did this? I was like, let me think about it.

You are relishing that, aren’t you?

Bruce: I try not to be a dick about it, but at the same time, it is interesting to be the final say of what these characters get to do. To me, it’s just very freeing. Say with Superman, if Lois Lane shows up or Jimmy Olson or Lex Luthor either they react differently with Superman than the traditional Superman, or the characters themselves are completely different. In the Gods & Monsters movie, Lois is in the movie, and she and Superman can’t stand each other.

Wow.

Bruce: Luthor’s in it, and I don’t want to … I can’t talk too much about him, because the take on him that we came up with this pretty interesting and different and unusual. Again, we didn’t want to do just Lex Luthor again, we wanted to come up with and reinvent everybody. Kind of keep the core idea of who that character is, but give him a different back story. Give him a different, basically, an alternate timeline. He made different choices in his life then the real one did.

We’ll get back to characters in a second, but what I’m really intrigued about, actually, is the platform. You’re debuting on Machinima.

Bruce: Right.

I would assume that really frees up a lot of what you can and can’t do versus traditional television.

Bruce: Definitely.

What can we look forward to? How different will this show be from other series that were used to?

Bruce: The biggest difference besides the fact that I don’t have to send him through Broadcast Standards and Practices, so I don’t have to worry about making it appropriate for all ages. Technically, we are going under the assumption that it’s going to be around a PG-13. Between PG-13 and R.

Of course.

Bruce: That’s freeing to a degree in terms of content. Weirdly enough, just from a practical standpoint, the thing that’s most exciting to me is about the idea that each episode is 7 minutes long instead of 22 minutes long, and it’s not like each episode ends with a to be continued. Each episode is going to be a solid contained 7 minutes of story. That’s really interesting. It’s completely new for me, and it’s really exciting because it’s a challenge. I know how to tell a story in 20 minutes. I have to figure out now how to tell a story in 7 minutes, and what does that mean, and how do you do that so it’s not just 7 minutes of fighting? It’s 7 minutes of plot and drama and humor and everything else.

What was the learning curve for that going from years of 22 minutes to now, in these seven or so minutes?

Bruce: We’re still in it. I’m still in that learning curve. We’re figuring it out. I think the first three that we’ve done so far, I think are actually a really good example of the kinds of stuff we’ll be doing, because each of the three shorts is completely different.

One of them is, not a comedy, but it’s a little bit lighter in tone. It’s a little bit more of like an action buddy cop movie. One of them is more of a straightforward horror story, and the third one is kind of more of an epic tragedy. It was really interesting that we can do all the different kinds of diverse kinds of stories the normally do on a regular series, but just in condensed form. Some of the shorts will be a little bit heavier on action, and some of them will be more about mood. Some of them would be more about character, but each one is going to be a satisfying, self contained, 7 minute chunk.

I can assume why you’re going that direction, but can I ask why you’re choosing that direction as opposed to the traditional?

Bruce: That’s what Machinima asked us to do. They said we would like to be the length. We said, okay. We’ll figure out how to do that.

Just targeting those guys who are on the subway?

Bruce: That’s the idea, I guess, is the whole YouTube video idea that it’s not micro-content, but kind of macro-content.

 I can’t talk up enough about how much Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League meant to a lot of kids my age. What do you hope fans to take away from these new iterations?

Bruce: Hopefully they’ll be intrigued by these new versions of them, and hopefully even though they can be quote unquote unlikable at times, hopefully they’ll still learn to like and hopefully, maybe never quite admire them, but even that’s a weird thing to me. Like I said, I sometimes think about that. Some of my favorite heroes are dicks. I think James Bond is a dick.

Of course he is.

Bruce: Indiana Jones. He’s a dick, you know, but he’s our dick. He’s our asshole. There’s something about them that still likable, still appealing even though they’re people you probably wouldn’t really want to know in real life.

That’s, again, something I wanted to bring to these characters is that … Batman has traditionally always been kind of a dick.

Haha! Yes!

Bruce: Just to kind of, like I said, play with different flavors of them.

You’ve had a very storied career. Again, I grew up watching your work and the work of DC Animation. Just looking back on your career, does it astound you how much you’ve accomplished and how much you and your teams have accomplished? Does it shock you at all how much influence you have had on generations?

Bruce: It does shock. It’s gratifying, and it’s … Fortunately with the very first show I produced, it was a big, big hit so that helped a lot. Every show since then has had varying degrees of success. It was nice to know even way back even before there really was much internet presence that the show seemed to be popular, and people really loved it and whatever, but it does kind of surprise me now when people your age or whatever come up to me at conventions,”I used to come home from grade school every day and watch Batman: The Animated Series.”

I did.

Bruce: I’m just like, that doesn’t make feel old at all.

I’m sorry!

Bruce: No. It’s all right. It is odd, but it’s good to know, though. It’s cool.

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What can you tell me about what was the initial nucleus of the idea of Gods & Monsters? Again, we’ve seen evil Superman, we’ve seen evil Batman before, but what about those two specifically?

Bruce: It was two different things that converged at the same time. It was a couple of years ago when they first brought out The New 52, and people were kind of freaking out that it was going to be like this big reboot, and it turned out to be actually a pretty soft reboot. Most of the stuff was cosmetic changes, costume changes, and what not.

At the same time, it got me thinking, I remember when they brought back Flash and Green Lantern in the late ’50s for their Silver Age incarnations. They basically kept the name and the gimmick, and they threw everything else out. They changed their costume, they changed the way their powers work, they changed the alter egos. That would be really ballsy if they did that with The New 52. I was a little disappointed that the reboot was as salt as it was, but at the same time I understood it from a commercial standpoint.

That got me thinking, if I did that with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, basically all the characters on DC Universe. If I did that radical of a revamp of them as they did with Flash and Green Lantern in the Silver Age, what would that be like? What would that mean? That just kind of got my wheels spinning, and this is where I ended up.

I know you’re not directly involved in any of the movies, like Batman v. Superman, but what do you think about the culture proliferating and becoming so massive. All these movies become events now.

Bruce: It’s weird. It’s weird to me. When I first got here in New York a couple of days ago, I checked into my hotel, and I walkout of the hotel for a cigarette, and right across the street from me is the Regal Theater, and it’s like big letters. Avengers. It’s like, wow. When I was a kid I couldn’t even imagine that I would be seeing an Avengers movie on a big screen. I went and saw at 7:00 AM because I had to. Yes. A freaking Ant-Man movie. They’re making an Ant-Man movie.

Right.

Bruce: I was like, what?

On DC’s side we’re getting Aquaman, we’re getting all the guys.

Bruce: Suicide Squad. I know, it’s crazy. It’s cool. It’s really cool. It’s stuff that I never even dreamed about, because I thought this is never going to happen. Who knows.

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There’s one question I really did want to ask you as with the godfathers of DC animation. Whenever there are pictures of civil unrest around the globe, and you see people wearing superhero T-shirts.

Bruce: That’s funny.

What do you think about people gravitating towards these characters in ways that go beyond the comic book page?

Bruce: That’s too deep for me, dude.

Really deep? I’m sorry.

Bruce: It’s okay. It’s just that I’m too shallow.

No problem.

Bruce: That’s an interesting though. I hadn’t noticed that before.

Eric: I guess next time you see an AP photo, just check it out. Going back to Gods & Monsters, what’s the most exciting thing, again, about this project as a whole? You’re targeting the Machinima audience, you’re going with Machinima. You could’ve gone anywhere else, but now you’re here. What gets you amped about the project as a whole?

Bruce: For one thing, even when we were doing Justice League, as much as I love Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, Flash, the Green Lantern, I really like the weirder, more obscure characters. Characters like The Question, Warlord, and wannabes to whoever. To me, that’s the stuff that is like, I just think that stuff is really fun to play around with. Here I get to create a whole new universe that’s full of characters I can mash up and mess around with. It’s the same kind of thing that made Justice League Unlimited fun for me. Having this huge toy box to play in.

It’s like a kid playing with his toys.

Bruce: Totally.

Just about some of those auxiliary characters, you showed us a weird ass Green Lantern that even I’ve never seen before.

Bruce: Right.

Eric: What are those meetings like? Is there a a lot of back-and-forth between?

Bruce: That was just something I just thought of on my own. I just thought of, if we’re going to do Green Lanterns, A, they’re space based. Yes. They’re technically aliens. That guy’s probably actually one of the more normal looking Green Lanterns because he’s at least a biped. We’ve seen a lot of alien Green Lanterns in the comics and stuff anyways, but at the same time, I wanted to make them so alien that they’re a little scary. They’re a little bit unrelatable for human beings. I didn’t want them to just be human beings in a funny suit like Star Trek aliens with bumpy heads and shit. Yes. That’s kind of where we’re going there. What does it mean to be a genuinely alien Green Lantern? Somebody who doesn’t think like a human? Doesn’t think anything at all in earthly terms.

https://instagram.com/p/2R-P8WAN1a/?taken-by=ericthedragon

Who were some of your animation idols growing up and influences? You’ve influenced a whole generation. I’m curious about who got you to pick up a pencil.

Bruce: Big ones were probably an awesome Disney animator named Marc Davis who’s one of my all time heroes. Classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes director, Bob Clampett, was like God to me. Alex Toth who designed all those wonderful Hanna-Barbera superhero cartoons in the ’60s was a huge influence. That’s the big few I can think of.

Any last words you can say about Gods & Monsters?

Bruce: It’s awesome. Watch it.

Justice League: Gods & Monsters comes out July 28th.

The First Episode Of ‘Real Fake History’ Recounts The Battle Of Endor!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I think I’ve found a new favourite YouTube series.

A few days back, Machinima launched Real Fake History, a 10-episode series that parodies the History Channel with “Ken Burns style,” shorts. The series recounts the greatest fictional battles and most inspiring stories in movies, TV, and video games, and it’s freaking awesome.

A new episode will launch every Tuesday, and will deliver the never before seen tales of those who witnessed these defining fictional moments.

I was laughing out loud throughout the deadpan first episode, and I really can’t wait to see what happens next week. In this week’s short, learn how “the Milennium Falcon’s mission was almost undone by two co-pilots who had no idea what Nien Numb was saying.”

https://youtu.be/yNOBHZ7FYUE

What else are we in store for this season? Here’s the full list of episodes:

Star Wars: The Battle of Endor

While Rebels and Ewoks fought hand-in-paw, the Milennium Falcon’s mission was almost undone by two co-pilots who had no idea what Nien Numb was saying.

 

Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out

Witness the exclusive, never before seen tale of Little Mac’s rise to champion of the Video Game Boxing Association, and the life-altering costs.

 

The Avengers: Battle of New York City

Super-powered heroes fight for Earth during an alien invasion, but the true stories of loss and heroism happened to regular folks on the ground and in the office buildings Hulk destroyed.

 
Pacific Rim: The Battle of Hong Kong

The Captain of a docked oil tanker is the unintended victim of Jaeger robot Gypsy Danger’s last-ditch defense of Hong Kong.

 

The Dark Knight Rises: Taking Back Gotham City

Military experts weigh in on the tactical benefits of the Gotham Police Department’s unarmed charge towards Bane’s entrenched defensive position.

 

Kill Bill: Massacre At The House of Blue Leaves

On paper, Beatrix Kiddo shouldn’t have had a prayer against the entire Crazy 88s. Medical experts and eyewitness account tell the story of the Crazy 88s literal dismemberment at the hands of The Bride.

 

Starship Troopers: Disaster on Klendathu

The Federation’s assault on the Arachnid planet Klendaathu was a disaster that cost the lives of 308,563 human troops. When you practice on human targets and take hot co-ed showers every day, how can you be good at killing bugs?

 

Starcraft 2: Eugene vs. Jay

When two roommates decide to take their rivalry to the battlefield, only one Terran or Zerg army will survive the fight… or will they?

 

Game of Thrones: The Battle of Castle Black

We examine the lives of the Wilding Giants caught in the needless maelstrom of violence during the Battle of Castle Black.

 

The Walking Dead: Woodbury’s Assault on the Prison

In the middle of a deadly, calculated attack on Rick Grimes and his allies, Michonne discovers two unlikely zombies brought together by fate.

I’m especially looking forward to that Pacific Rim episode, how about you?

The First Episode Of ‘Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles’ Is Finally Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s finally here!

Preceding the release of the Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett produced Justice League: Gods and Monsters on July 28th, Machinima, Blue Ribbon Content, and DC Entertainment have teamed up for Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles. The series turns the DC Universe upside-down. In this dark, alternate world, telling the good guys from the bad guys is never easy: Superman is not the son of Jor-El, he’s the son of General Zod; Wonder Woman is not from peaceful Themyscira, but rather the warring nation of Ares; and Batman is more vampire-bat than man…and he’s not Bruce Wayne. It is unclear if our greatest heroes are here to protect us…or to rule us.

Sounds freaking awesome, right? Well you can watch the first episode right here, right now. Episode two will follow on Wednesday, June 10, and the third and final episode of the first season on Friday, June 12. Then, we’ll see a second season next year!

Take a look at the first episode below, and let us know what you think! Are you looking forward to Justice League: Gods and Monsters next month?

https://youtu.be/tpu6yPAFHrs

DC Comics, RoboCop, Clive Barker and More Coming to Machinima

by Eric Francisco

I grew up in high school watching Machinima. Not just actual short movies made from game movies — the genre known as “machinima” — but the actual brand. I spent entire summer afternoons watching Red vs. Blue like any respectable teenager growing up in the mid-aughts, and Arby ‘n the Chief which was nothing more than a dude playing with Halo figures and making them talk with automated voices. I didn’t have a lot of sex in high school, clearly.

With the massive growth in streaming games and free-to-play MMO tournaments and gamer/geek culture as a whole, I shouldn’t be shocked at how much of a viable brand Machinima has actually become. Yet, I totally am.

Yesterday I attended their upfronts in midtown Manhattan. The booming music, the attractive part-time models serving finger foods, the open bar and the attendance of men and women who looked like they leaped off the pages of GQ and Details legitimately astounded me. It was a complete 180 from what I imagined the collective brand to actually be when I spent those lazy, adolescent days of mine on YouTube. I thought Machinima was just a really professional group of guys operating in a basement, with someone’s mom cooking spaghetti in the kitchen above. I couldn’t be more wrong.

Machinima is still barely second, maybe even third or fourth fiddle to the bigger online networks like Netflix or Hulu, but they have a targeted audience that neither of those major players have: the younger, gamer-centric millenial. While Netflix and Hulu attract a wider range demographic, Machinima are zeroed in on the gaming 16-25 year olds. There’s actually a small overlap with Generation Z, who are just now getting their first jobs at Dairy Queens everywhere.

Such major growth over the last ten years, combined with the current, Twitch-zeitgeist ripe for conquering via shorter, snappier content that is easier to consume than even Netflix (you can’t exactly watch House of Cards riding on a bus, but you can watch Super Power Beat Down), Machinima’s newest slate of orginal and returning programming will most certainly make stuffy, older industry leaders take notice.

The full press release is below, and I go a little in-depth with my impressions.

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 4, 2015 – Machinima’s debut at the Digital Content Newfronts was nothing short of “heroic.” The first global many2many programming service focused on fandom and gamer culture, Machinima unveiled a programming slate designed to elevate and celebrate a global community of gamer, comic and hero fans through the most innovative content on the Internet. Partnerships with Blue Ribbon Content and DC Entertainment,Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Clive Barker, Roberto Orci and Bunim/Murray Productions, along with some of Machinima’s leading creator talent, showcase Machinima’s commitment to developing content across all genres, formats and platforms.

 

“Fandom and gaming engenders so much passion and engagement; it’s a cultural shift uniquely connecting with the most valuable millennials,” said Chad Gutstein, Machinima’s CEO.  “It’s this deep connection to our audience that has made Machinima the ninth largest video entertainment platform in the United States, and the second most watched programmer on YouTube.  With our new slate, we are reminding our fans and our clients of one very important fact: Machinima is back!”

 

Machinima’s programming slate includes:

 

Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles Season 2

 

From visionary producer and animator Bruce Timm (Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series), Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles turns the DC Universe upside-down. In this dark, alternate world, telling the good guys from the bad guys is never easy: Superman is not the son of Jor-El, he’s the son of General Zod; Wonder Woman is not from peaceful Themyscira, but rather the warring nation of Ares; and Batman is more vampire-bat than man…and he’s not Bruce Wayne. It is unclear if our greatest heroes are here to protect us…or to rule us. With Season 1 set to launch in June, Machinima, Blue Ribbon Content and DC Entertainment have already begun development on Season 2, a 10-episode follow-up to the initial limited series.

This is probably the one project I’m most excited about. It’s a genuine Bruce Timm series that takes Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman in entirely new directions. Speaking to Timm (interview coming soon), he told me that the online distribution means they don’t have to abide by any broadcast standards and practices, and that Timm had more final say over these characters than even DC. Stay tuned for our interview later this week.

DC’s Hero Project

 

Machinima, Blue Ribbon Content, and DC Entertainment are setting out to discover the next great creator for the world of DC Comics.  Eight contestants compete in elimination challenges to develop a live-action short video based on their own interpretations of characters from DC Comics’ Starman comic book series. Well-known guest judges and celebrity special guests will join bestselling writer and DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and a panel of esteemed judges to oversee the entire competition.

They chose the semi-obscure Starman. With the proliferation of fan film projects hitting the web, it’s nice to DC actually embracing fan-creation culture and actually giving the OK for people to make expensive fanfiction.

#4Hero

 

A modern adaptation of DC Comics’ cult-favorite classic “Dial H For Hero”, #4Hero is a live-action, VFX-heavy action-comedy about a young woman named Nellie Tribble who is quietly desperate to make her mark on the world, but wholly unprepared to do so. Nellie stumbles upon a life-altering smartphone app that allows her to instantly become a Super Hero for a short amount of time. The problem is her super powers are dictated by whatever is trending on social media at that moment, and they are always only semi-useful.

Dial H For Hero is indeed a classic amongst a certain group of comic fans, but this one is so of the time I’m afraid at how dated it could actually become. The preview video referenced Katy Perry’s sharks from the Super Bowl, as an example.

Clive Barker’s Creepy Pasta

 

For the first time, horror legend Clive Barker is stepping away from the creatures of his own imagination and entering into the world of Internet horror fan fiction, affectionately known as Creepy Pasta.  Starting with viral urban legends (e.g. Jeff the Killer, Slender Man and Ben Drowned), Clive Barker’s Creepy Pasta is an original series of live-action, blood-curdling short films.  These new tales will be curated and adapted by Barker from submissions obtained through the creepypasta community, and produced by Machinima to scare you to your core.

The second thing I’m most excited about, and if it weren’t for Bruce Timm this would probably be my number one. I’ve always been fascinated with folklore, even in the age of the internet such stories survive and thrive in ways even sages around the campfire couldn’t imagine. They definitely highlighted Slenderman but he wasn’t the only story. I question the legalities of this, but no one really questions the legality of the Jersey Devil or Bloody Mary either. The logo looked a little cheap, but it also had the DIY aesthetic that these stories were bred from anyway, so not a big deal. Can’t wait.

RoboCop

 

“Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.” OCP’s Security Concepts Division’s RoboCop program is back in an all-new, short-form limited web series, based on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s 1987 classic action film. RoboCop returns to Delta City where viewers ride along with the now standard-issue RoboCop officers as they respond to calls from dispatch. Tapping into current themes of the surveillance state, the series is shot from the first person point of view of the RoboCop officers’ heads up display, along with security cameras, dash-cams, and drones.

 Literally COPS but with RoboCop officers.

Happy Wheels

 

“Choose your inadequately prepared racer, and ignore severe consequences in your desperate search for victory!”

 

                                                                        – Happy Wheels

 

Machinima will bring audiences an all-new original animated series based on Jim Bonacci’s hit online game Happy Wheels and produced by BMP Digital, the digital division of Bunim/Murray Productions (‘The Real World’, ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’). This must-see 10-episode short form series, which will feature fan-favorites such as Wheelchair Guy, Irresponsible Dad and Lawnmower Man, will expand upon the game that has more than 8 million players a month and showcase its notorious dark humor and penchant for blood and gore. Additionally, with over 3.1 billion video views amassed, BMP Digital is looking to leverage the voiceover talents of YouTube influencers such as Toby Turner (15.2M YouTube Subscribers, Cartoon Network’s The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange) and others who have made this game so iconic.

This is where Machinima began to lose me, despite being their target demo. The promo video was funny enough, but I didn’t play Happy Wheels and it’s supposed to be a dark satire cartoon. They didn’t show too much beyond actual game footage, so I’m still kind of confused as to what the final product will look like.

Jerome ASF’s The Baka Chronicles

 

Adding to the gaming fervor, Machinima’s iconic Minecrafter Jerome ASF (3.6M YouTube Subscribers), will be teaming with N00b Adventure creator Jim Schwerfeger for an all-new series – The Baka Chronicles. Featuring Jerome ASF’s most beloved character, Baka, the series follows two unlikely server admins who problem-solve the hilarious antics of griefers, trolls, and kids who wreak havoc across their favorite multiplayer Minecraft server. Little do our heroes realize this job is a massive headache.

Out of all the projects announced by Machinima, this one is actually machinima. Can’t say I’m too interested, and the title reeks of weeaboo (which is the point, I guess). It’s a Minecraft series in the same sense that Red vs. Blue was a Halo show. There is an untapped market for kids and Minecraft, and while The Baka Chronicles could skew older, they’re missing out on a lucrative 9-12 year-old demo on broadcast.

Also, the presentation made it clear that their audience totally gets it. These upfronts are attended by much older, wealthy executives who totally don’t understand young gamers who are much like their own nieces and nephews. During a brief preview of an episode, one character literally stopped to jump in front of the character and (in a goofy, dumb bear voice) told the brand execs that while you don’t understand these jokes, our fans do. “So give us your money,” he told them, and everyone laughed semi-uncomfortably.

 High School 51

 

Created and produced by Roberto Orci (Transformers, Amazing Spider-Man 2, Star Trek, Sleepy Hollow, Lost, Fringe) and Legion of Creatives, and starring Orlando Jones (Sleepy Hollow, Tainted Love, Drumline, MADtv), High School 51 is as out of this world as the name implies.

 

Hidden away in the heart of Area 51, Dream Lake High School is filled with mind-blowing technology, top-secret government programs and a student body that is cool, quirky, attractive, and…well, alien.  No one from the outside has ever been allowed into the school and no human has ever attended…until now.

 

For 16-year old Alex Valencia, the first and only human ever to attend Dream Lake, high school is going to be tough. Fitting in will be one thing but his biggest challenge just might be saving the human race!

I spoke to Orlando Jones about this series so be prepared for the interview later this week. I can’t get too excited at the name Roberto Orci (during the announcement, Power Rangers was curiously mentioned amongst Orci’s credits) but the brief preview we saw looked intriguing and fun enough. It’s evocative of Roswell and Smallville, but for a very current audience that’s fully tapping in to the mainstream geek culture in ways that Roswell only accidentally attracted.

It’s definitely an Orci product though, as that man can’t get enough of government conspiracies.

 Returning Series

 

Additionally, Machinima is announcing the return of some of its most popular shows including AFK, Chasing The Cup, Realm, Battlefield Friends, Sanity Not Included, Deck Wars, and ETC.

Stay tuned for the interviews with Bruce Timm and Orlando Jones later this week.

 

‘Dragon Ball Z’ Fan? You Need To Watch This Pilot!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Unfortunately, I’ve never watched Dragon Ball Z in my entire life. My friends freak out every time they’re reminded of that fact. I’ve had DVD’s lent to me multiple times, and they’re always returned without ever leaving their cases. I do want to watch it, and the limitless praise that I’ve heard for the series makes me ashamed to say that I haven’t. It’s on the list, okay!?

That being said, I could not take my freaking eyes off of this.

The project is called Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope, and a few days back the 13-minute pilot for the potential fan created web series hit the web, and it’s totally hype (as Shane O’Hare would say).

The series is an adaptation of “The History of Trunks” TV Special, and tells the story of a post-apocalyptic future where 2 Androids have murdered millions of people, and only 2 young warriors can rise up to stop them.

Did I mention how freaking cool this is?

The series comes from Robot Underdog, and the short’s cast and crew includes lifelong martial artists Amy Johnston, Tyler Tackett, and Anton Bex, as well as Jack Wald’s premiere as the young Trunks. As awesome as the pilot is, Robot Underdog needs help to continue the story. The company is currently seeking donations to complete episode two and three of the project, so be sure to head here if you want to help out!

Take a look at the pilot below (and be sure to check out Robot Underdog’s fantastic Miles Morales short here), and be sure to let us know what you think! I can’t wait for the next episode!

The Latest Episode Of ‘Super Power Beat Down’ Pits Batman Against Darth Vader!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The latest episode of Machinima’s bad-ass Super Power Beat Down is here, and it makes for what must be the coolest matchup yet: Batman vs. Darth Vader.

Instantly, you’d think that Batman wouldn’t have a chance against the power of the Force, but he definitely has some tricks up his sleeve, doesn’t he? As Machinima notes, “This will be Batman’s third appearance and Darth Vadar’s second appearance in the beloved live-action series that pits two super powered legends in a winner-take-all battle – with the victor determined by more than a 1/4 million fans who cast their votes on the SPBD home page. The Caped Crusader is currently 1-1 on SPBD, with a decisive victory over Deadpool and a crushing defeat at the hands of Wolverine. Vader, meanwhile won his only death match as he took down Gandalf in 2012.”

The show averages an impressive 1.8 million views per episode, which is definitely a testament to how freaking cool it is.

You can take a look at the latest episode below, and be sure to let us know who you think should win!

http://youtu.be/nj23dwWHukY

‘Assassin’s Creed’ Goes Musical, And It’s Freaking Hilarious!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s a damn good week to be an Assassin’s Creed fan. Both the long awaited and gorgeous Assassin’s Creed: Unity, as well as the completely-different and definitely intriguing Assassin’s Creed: Rogue will be hitting store shelves this Tuesday, and I know many, many folks who have elected to take the day off of work in order to put as much time as possible into both of these titles. Sadly, I’m not one of those people, but my time will definitely come.

To celebrate the looming release, Machinima has just debuted a fabulous and hilarious short called Assassin’s Creed: The Musical. If you’re not an AC fan, you probably won’t understand much of what’s going on (nor will you likely be reading this post), but I was in stitches for the duration. Especially “Leap of Faith” (you’ll see what I mean when you watch the video below).

Here’s what it’s all about:

Just days before the launch of Assassin’s Creed Unity, the smash hit franchise Assassin’s Creed gets the Off-Broadway treatment as Machinima Prime brings the violent video game into the world of musical theater with the launch of Assassin’s Creed: The Musical. Inspired by an improv’d bit during an episode of Inside Gaming q&a last year, Prime has produced a three-song musical theatre experience for the popular gaming franchise that debuts on Thursday, November 6.

 

Featuring the characters from past games including Altair, Ezio, Connor, Edward, Aveline, even Desmond Miles in elaborate costumes, the video is directed by Brendan Bradley with original songs by Cormac Bluestone and Joel Rubin. The video stars Machinima Inside Gaming hosts Bruce Greene and Eliot Dewberry along with an accomplished group of musical stars including Matt Caplan (Bway’s Rent, South Pacific Revival, Spiderman Turn Off The Dark, High Fidelity), Jonah Platt (HAIR Hollywood Bowl, a regular at Rockwell Stage including a Bway World Best Actor Nominee for BARE), Ben Palacios(SPANK! National Tour and youtube parody singer), Jaquita Ta’le (from the Hip Hop/R&B/Reggae group Nola Darling).

 

The first song “The Assassins Creed” is a rousing number with hints of Lion King imagery, followed by a monster anthem/torch song “Leap of Faith,” and concluding with a chorus number  that will make everyone familiar with Broadway think of the hit musical Assassins!”

Take a look at the short below (with a warning that it will probably be stuck in your head for some time afterwards), and be sure to let us know what you think! Assassin’s Creed: Unity and Assassin’s Creed: Rogue both release on November 11th. Which are you planning to pick up?

http://youtu.be/KycIuE_Md2c

This ‘Hotline Miami 2’ Short Is Ridiculously Violent, Totally Awesome

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We’re still a ways away from playing Hotline Miami 2, as the game is set to hit Steam early access in early 2015.

Machinima is obviously excited for the game’s release, and has just released a fantastic new live-action short titled Hotline Miami 2: “Do You Like to Hurt People”. If you’ve played or experienced Hotline Miami before, you’ll know that this one isn’t for the faint of heart, as just like the game itself, the short is brutal, bloody, and violent.

The short follows a murderous vigilante in an animal mask as he embarks on a bloody rampage through a seedy Miami drug den on New Year’s Eve. Yep.

Take a look below, and let us know how much you loved it (and hot freaking awesome the game is).

http://youtu.be/xJuR48PSCW8

The Premiere Episode Of ‘Dr. 1Up’ Diagnoses Solid Snake!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I can’t wait for more Dr. 1Up.

The web series premiered today as part of the newly re-launched Machinima Prime. In the series, the biggest and most fearsome names in the video game universe – including Master Chief (Halo), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) and Nathan Drake(Uncharted), Raiden (Mortal Kombat) – visit Dr. 1Up in his office so he can treat their ailments.

The series starts in the doctor’s waiting room, and we get a great cameo from The Last Of Us alumni Joel and Ellie.

Here’s the series’ synopsis:

Dr. 1Up is visited each week in his office by the biggest and most fearsome names in the video game world – including Master Chief (Halo), Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) and Nathan Drake (Uncharted), Raiden (Mortal Kombat), and much more – so he can treat each character’s ailments. Dr. 1Up is directed by Ukrainian Yuri Baranofsky (Break A Leg, The Temp Life, Leap Year) and written by Woody Tondorf (The Morning After, The Dark Knight Legacy).  The series stars Noel Carroll as Dr. 1Up, YouTube personality Bree Essrig as Nurse Janet and Haley Mancini (Most Popular Girls In School, Smosh’s 16 bit High, Mad Men) as Dovahkiin. Additionally, each episode will feature notable actors and YouTube personalities including Inside Gaming Host Adam Kovic who plays Master Chief and premiere voiceover star Matthew Mercer (Attack on Titan, Destiny, Arkham Origins, Resident Evil) who portrays Solid Snake.

Take a look at the Solid Snake episode below, and be sure to subscribe for more!

http://youtu.be/g1kWGzrRWRA

Watch The Premiere Of ‘AFK’s Second Season Right Now!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: As a big fan of AFK‘s first season, I’m now really looking forward to every Monday this month.

Once again, the world’s greatest gamers have stepped away from their keyboards to find out how they will fare in challenges including skydiving, a massive paintball battle, and parkour.

It’s the first-ever original travel competition starring some of the world’s most renowned YouTube gaming influencers, AFK season 2 features elite YouTubers and Call of Duty legends including The Minecraft Project creator TheSyndicateProject and TmarTn. The competition is once again hosted by Inside Gaming’s Bruce Greene.

In AFK Season 2, the stakes have been raised as the destination is San Diego Comic Con 2014. Showing no fear, our intrepid YouTubers skydive over the Las Vegas Strip, parkour in Los Angeles, and lead 200 fans in a paintball domination match at Camp Pendleton. All of that is just the appetizer to the season finale, which takes place at Comic-Con.

You can take a look at episode one below. Be sure to check back next Monday (and the Monday following) for episodes two and three! Don’t forget to let us know what you think! A third season is already in the works, so there should be plenty more AFK coming down the pipeline.

http://youtu.be/fPh9tTGNd5Q

Here are the synopsis’ for the season:

Episode 1
Location: Las Vegas.
Challenges:  Skydive over the Las Vegas Strip, mini Baja dune buggy chase in the desert.

Episode 2
Location: Los Angeles.
Challenges: Tempest Freerunning Academy puts our YouTubers through a rigorous training session and then sets them off on a parkour time trial and style competition.

Episode 3
Location: Camp Pendleton and San Diego.
Challenges: COD skills are put to the test in real life in a massive paintball match of domination, capture the flag, and one v. one. Then, it’s off to San Diego Comic Con to wrap the season.

Watch The Premiere Episode Of The Bandito Brothers’ ‘Chop Shop’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: There’s some crazy talent attached to this one!

Chop Shop centers on Porter (John Bregar), a car thief recently released from a five year stint in prison, who finds himself struggling to rekindle a relationship with his former girlfriend Sofia (Ana Ayora) and their five-year old son he hardly knows. Porter soon reconnects with his old partner in crime Caine (Rene Moran), who’s volatile and aggressive nature puts him at odds against Porter’s new life. Torn between family and friendships, Porter faces the most difficult decision of his life and realizes that to change his future he might have to relive his past.

The excellent 22-minute long premiere episode of the Machinima series hit the web earlier today. The series is six-episodes long, and a new chapter will release each Friday.

Elliott Lester (Blitz) directs the Bandito Brothers (Act Of Valor) and Joshua Weinstock produced series, alongside writers Josh Baizer and Marshall Johnson (Mortal Kombat: Legacy).  Series stars John Bregar (Being Human, Kick Ass 2, The Mentalist), Rene Moran (Shameless, Lie to Me, Switched at Birth), Ana Ayora (Marley & Me, Castle), and acclaimed actor Robert Patrick (Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Sopranos, The X-Files, True Blood).

From releases like Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist to Mortal Kombat: Legacy and now Chop Shop, I can’t wait to see what’s next from these guys! Take a look at the first episode of Chop Shop below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/CfFma53iovg

Red Hood Takes On The Punisher In The Newest Episode Of ‘Super Power Beat Down’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: This is damn cool.

While we may never see the most powerful heroes and villains from Marvel and DC face off against each other on film, television or in the comics, it has happened 4 times already in Super Power Beat Down. DC currently has the upper hand having won 3 of 4 against its Marvel counterparts. Superman got the best of Thor while Nightwing took down Gambit and Batman overpowered Deadpool. Marvel’s only win was a clash of titans as Wolverine became the first competitor to win twice in bringing Batman to his knees – marking the only time a DC character has lost. Marvel, meanwhile is just 3-3 in the series.

Today, in the 12th episode of this popular series, Marvel has another chance as the two biggest gun-toting vigilantes in their respective universes will go head-to-head in a deadly brawl – Red Hood vs. Punisher.

Who do you think will win? Take a look at the video below and find out!

http://youtu.be/rAJvKFTO8Qc

‘Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist’ Is Here! Watch All 12 Episodes Now!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: After what seems like forever, Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist is finally here.

The series takes “the audience back to the formative years of iconic characters Ryu and Ken as they live a traditional warrior’s life in secluded Japan. The boys are, unknowingly, the last practitioners of the ancient fighting style known as“Ansatsuken” (Assassin’s Fist). The series follows them as they learn about the mysterious past of their master, Gōken, and the tragic, dark legacy of the Ansatsuken style. Can their destiny be changed, or will history repeat itself?”

The series looks great, and I can’t wait until I get home from work so I can check it out in full. Be sure to check out our interview with director Joey Ansah here, and take a look at the series below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyVO0NLoLWE&feature=share&list=PLZLTS4u9M_2r89MGqgDNGGxQfmLuhtxqU

Geekscape Interviews: Kelly Miller And Matthew Davis Walker Talk The Art of the Game

by J.C. Marquez

Last year, several students at The Academy of Art University in San Fransisco were given the chance of a lifetime–to work in the video game industry. To make their dream even more unreal, they were asked to work with 2K Games and Gearbox in creating short films based on the Borderlands franchise. The Art of the Game follows the lives of these talented students as they take their passion for video games and the Borderlands franchise, and compete for a chance for an internship at Gearbox.

Geekscape spoke with Kelly Miller of 2K Games and director Matthew Davis Walker of Story Developing to get the inside story on the documentary.

Geekscape: “Please share who you are and how the idea for The Art of the Game came about.”

Kelly Miller: “I work in the marketing team at 2K who launched the Borderlands 2 game, which is quite a while back, and after the game launched, we were really thrilled over how well the game was doing and we wanted to keep that momentum going and kind of think of innovative ways to partner at a community level with the fans, and one of the ideas was to work with a local university, which ended up being the Academy of Arts University, to basically come up with this program which we called the ‘Borderlands Cooperative’, and that was a project where we gave the students in-game assets and wanted to give them real world experience of what it would be like working on a game, and challenge them to come up with storyboards and little short two-minute films based on the world of Boderlands using the in-game assets.”

“So that was kind of the nugget of the original idea, and once we started talking to the Academy of Arts, we realized how excited these kids were, how talented they were, how passionate they were–we thought there may be a bigger story to tell here, and that’s when we got in touch with Matt and Ryan at Story Developing to help us really develop that core idea and see what we could do with, and that’s how the documentary came together.”

Matthew Davis Walker: “Once 2K had approached Ryan Rich and I, we immediately decided that we didn’t want to make a reality show about these kids; we wanted to just sit with them and be with them as they work, and to learn about them and their passion for this industry that they’ve devoted their lives to, and, so, we really just let things happen organically, and the times we weren’t ‘there’, we had purchased some cameras ti give to the kids to have when interesting things were happening to them. It was from that organic process, of meeting them and learning about them, that there other things we wanted to talk about in the film. It was a great organic process–things just kind of happened.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLOM1bZrrdw

Geekscape: “How long was that process–having students pitch an idea, develop a story, storyboard it, and actually produce a finished product?”

Kelly Miller: “I think we started working at the school just about a year ago during the Spring semester where they started working on their storyboards and it went all the way through the Fall semester. So the first half of the project was student had created storyboards and that was where this competition part of the project came in, where they pitched the ideas to us and then we narrowed down to three that we wanted to put into full production, and then right around the end of the year when the next semester started, it was handed over to the animation students at the school, and then they actually took the storyboards and animated them into these three short films. ”

Matthew Davis Walker: “The three finalists were picked in May last year, so before that, from February to May, it was that whole developing and refining process that occurred, and then from that point it was when the Summer semester came in and the animation students began to put it all together in a more finished piece, and then it was their job in the Fall semester to put it all together. It was an incredible amount of work in a short period of time, and this was all on their own time; it wasn’t part of the school curriculum. It was an outside project–and they were so passionate about this opportunity to work.”

“Once the finalists were selected, we started filming them. Throughout that whole period, we would then be traveling around the country shooting different stories–from Wisconsin to Atlanta to Connecticut–to learn about [the student finalists].”

Geekscape: “Those within the Borderlands fan community are among the most fiercely passionate group of fans that any franchise could hope for. That being said, when you received the film footage back from the finalists, were you surprised–because you know you had fans who were going to be more than eager to participate in this kind of venture–by how vast and intricate their films were?”

Kelly Miller: “For sure! Yes! We knew that these kids were really excited about working on this, but when started showing us these storyboards, I mean, we were all basically floored. They way exceeded our expectations. I mean, they clearly were fans of the game and they and they knew the world of Boderlands, and they took these ideas to places we would have never even imagined, and the Gearbox team was also really closely involved in working with the students in helping them direct the finals storyboards that were put into production, and at each phase of the project, I think we had two rounds where they presented to us and we gave feedback and then they made revisions and presented to us again. And at each time, we were like, ‘Wow! These guys are very, very talented. It’s kind of a cycle of they were inspired by the content and assets and world they had to plan, and we were really inspired by their creativity and talent and the ideas they came up with, so I think it was a really, you know, ‘feel good’ project on both sides in terms of the passion for the game and then the inspiration that came out of what we did. We talk about this a little bit in the film and we definitely talked about it a lot outside of that–just the caliber of the material they were producing, and we wanted to put way more than three [finalists] into production. There were a lot of them that we think could have gone all the way and made great films. We had parameters we had to stick to in terms of  how we chose the final one, so the ones that fit those parameters the best were the ones who went into production, but there was definitely a lot of talent and creativity.”

Geekscape: “It seems ever since King of Kong, there has been this fascination with documentaries focused on video game players, and now we have documentaries focused on those who create video games, such as Indie Game: The Movie , and documentaries exploring video game culture, as in Gamer Age. What do you think is going to catch people off guard when they watch The Art of the Game?”

Matthew Davis Walker: “That’s a great question. I don’t know. You know, like with all artistic projects, you live with it for so long and you’re trying to tell this story and you are at this point where you are now sharing it with the world after only–you know–a handful of people have been with the film and so you hope that your message comes across. I think the message that we’d love to get across to people is–I think the film, along with showing that these students who had the chance of a lifetime to work in the industry of their dreams,  shows [the audience] the industry [the students] are entering into and all the leaps and bounds that have taken place within the industry that may have gone maybe unnoticed by the rest of the media and other cultures. I mean, obviously that’s not true since so many who are into this industry and this culture, but I hope people get to see the passion and the work and the creativity these kids put in, and maybe a little glimpse of what these kids can do in the future.”

Kelly Miller: “I think another one of our goals when we set out was, you know, we definitely thought that the students had an inspiring story to tell, but we also, you know, as we got into it, realized that there was a larger story here and we wanted to shed light on why games are such an attractive medium for all artists and storytellers, and also people who play games. One of the tings we talk about in the beginning of the film is how its an often misunderstood medium. I mean, I think that this film will appeal a lot to gamers, but we hope also their parents, friends, aunt and uncle, and the people who are, like, ‘Why do you like games so much?’–that this film will help answer that question and people will see the deep stories and emotion that come out of games, but also the way games can connect people of all ages, and educate and that it is a medium that’s having a greater and greater impact on our culture and in a way that I don’t think people necessarily understand when they think about video games.”

Geekscape: “In an AP report in which you had an earlier interview, you mentioned that video games don’t simply apply to the hardcore PC/console gamer. I completely agree. People in retirement homes have Wii Bowling leagues. Stroke victims, who are limited by certain motor functions, can not only play video games due to the vast control options the medium provides , but they can also participate in  a community of fellow gamers and not be restricted by their physical limitations nor their age difference.”

Kelly Miller: “Yeah, I think that games are kind of the next wave in the way to  connect and tell stories. We talk about how films were the medium this last generation in the way they shed light and helped audiences sympathize with an environment or condition they don’t fully understand. Video games really give you that experience first-hand–to be able to go into the world of what other people experience and give you some perspective, in addition to being entertaining and fun. A deeper experience is happening with games, and I don’t think people who don’t play games necessarily know that about them.”

Geekscape: “I would imagine–I know the people at Gearbox and 2K are very proud of what they have accomplished and how much the fans have embraced it, but were you taken aback at how much the Borderlands franchise meant to those taking part in the project?”

Kelly Miller: “Yeah. It’s really inspiring and exciting for us–you know, obviously Gearbox made an amazing game and we are really happy to be partners with them to publish it and it has been a great project to market, but every time we go out to PAX, Comic-Con, or any convention, there are always cosplayers dressed up, people always come to the booth and they’re so excited and they want to engage with [us]. It’s such a really positive experience. We see a little bit of that in the gaming community, but when we took it to the school which is a different environment, and we still get the same reactions. People come up and tell us how much the game means to them, and it’s really great to see how the game has affected so many people.”

Geekscape: “Do you believe viewers will have a bigger appreciation for how much work it takes for video game developers to create the content so many gamers enjoy?”

“We really focus on the artistic side and the story side and the experience of games, so we don’t really touch on all of–you know, there’s so much more that goes into a game, but yeah. Hopefully we can shed some light on that part of it so [viewers] really do see it as people’s passion to create good games and entertainment.

Matt Davis Walker: ‘I was just constantly amazed by the kids, and how much they cared about the project and how many hours they put in, and how smart and dedicated they were. One of the great lines from one of the students was telling people that they are actors acting for the characters that they’re animating, so subtle little shifts of the head and eye movement–all those little subtle things in cinema and in great television that really help us sympathize with the characters and their situations–these [students] are doing it in a way that I think a lot of times we don’t always notice but we should, and help people take away [from The Art of the Game] the incredible talent and how much dedication it takes to work in this industry. That’s what The Art of the Game is about.”

Watch The Art of the Game Documentary now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aiBSNumx0A

 

 

Geekscape Interviews: Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist’s Joey Ansah

by J.C. Marquez

Geekscape spoke with talented actor and fight choreographer Joey Ansah, who along with playing the role of ‘Akuma’, is also billed as director and co-writer of the highly anticipated upcoming web series Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist premiering Friday, May 23 on Machinima.com.

Joey Ansah-Director, Co-Wriyer, and star of Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist

Geekscape: “Can you share with us a bit of your martial arts and acting background?”

Joey Ansah: “I’ve been working in the industry for about 13 years—since I was 18 years old. I’ve done martial arts for most of my life—for a good 25 years. I was 5 years-old when I started dabbling—so, I started with a bit of Wushu, actually, but my training really took off with Tae Kwon Do. Earned my first black belt and then, I did Ninjitsu for well over a decade. I’ve done Capoeira for five years, and then I started to cross train. I’ve always been a big Bruce Lee fan, so I’ve always believed in scientifically breaking down and analyzing combat sports and what works and understanding the merits of each system. I do a lot of boxing. I’ve done some Filipino Kali, some elements of Wing Chun, so my trapping game is there which you would have seen in the Bourne Ultimatum. Karate, Aikido–most styles I have crossed trained in, so it means that any film or role I do, I can completely tailor the choreography or the physical performance to that. I’m also an acrobat. I’ve been doing gymnastics, acrobatics and martial arts tricking and all that stuff for well over a decade. So that kind of sums up, in a nutshell, my martial arts background.”

“As an actor, my big Hollywood break was as the character ‘Desh’ in the Bourne Ultimatum in which I had that now famous fight scene with Matt Damon.”

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Geekscape: “I love that fight! Wasn’t it nominated for ‘Best Fight’ at the MTV Movie Awards that same year?”

Joey Ansah: “Yeah, I mean those things are so fucking rigged. They claim it’s from public votes. Matt Damon, for whatever reason, was working and didn’t show up to the [MTV Movie Awards], thus we didn’t get it. It is as simple as that. You mark my words: if I ever get an MTV Movie Award for ‘Best Fight’ in the future, I’m going to mention the fact that I am taking this as a double award for Bourne Ultimatum.”

“I mean, that fight was revolutionary. It was such a proud moment because that was my big break and that fight was very dear to me and we suffered. I mean, the book in the throat [punch sequence] we just did for real. We really went to war on that. Matt and I developed a really good sense of trust and that fight stood out not because it had the most intricate, amazing choreography per se, but because it was an honest representation of violence. When you watch a fight break outside a nightclub or outside a bar, you may be standing on the other side of the main road but you feel—what are the elements that you feel? Chaos, desperation, panic, rage. You get butterflies watching it and you’re not even involved. And how often do you watch a fight depicted in the cinema that makes you feel that way emotionally? Very, very rarely. Because the way combat is depicted on screen, you don’t think it is void of that emotional content that Bruce Lee likes to talk about so much. The nice thing about that fight is we were like two dogs—two Rottweilers. Once we came into contact, we almost didn’t break contact until one of us was dead. And kind of like two hurricanes, we moved from room to room, fighting on every surface, doing everything we could. Even though we are two highly trained agents, there’s still an element of desperation in it, and I think that’s why it stood out so strongly. If you remember, there was no theatrical score—kind of making you feel emotional. People held their breath in the cinema when they watched that for the first time.”

“I was 23 when I did that. When the film came out, Rolling Stone Magazine said, ‘Best Movie Fight of all time.’ And I was, like, ‘Wow. I’m just getting started’, you know what I mean? I can’t wait to showcase to the world through film what I’m really able to do, and what really stuck with me was the importance of that emotional content, so any fight scene I do now, even if it’s not all fantastical based narrative around it, something like Street Fighter where people are doing hadoukens, it still has to have that emotional intensity and reality that really draws you in and makes you care about the characters.”

“Career wise, kind of up to now, before Street Fighter: Legacy, my main job titles were ‘actor’, and I’ve done a lot of straight drama probably more than I’ve done action; it’s just the action stuff is more notable. And a lot of choreography and action direction. Street Fighter: Legacy was my directorial debut in short form, and now Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist is my full-feature length directorial debut, writing debut, every credit you can think of: choreographer, one of the star actors, the lead writer, director, one of the producers, etc. Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist is kind of the total sum of everything that I am and everything that I do, creatively, put together in one package. ”

Geekscape: “All you need to do is catering and you have the entire bill covered.”

Joey Ansah: “It’s a megalomaniac’s dream, isn’t it?”

Geekscape: “Just listening to you talk about narratives through fight choreography and with no music–you clearly understand what you’re doing and how it should be done. When taking on Street Fighter’s most iconic characters such as Ryu and Ken, icons people have loved for over 20 years, how much fun or difficulty did you and Christian Howard [who co-wrote the story over the last three years] experience in developing Ken and Ryu’s relationship as friends and rivals?”

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Joey Ansah: “To be honest, it was a super fun, engrossing experience. It looked difficult on paper, but look—if you love something, it’s not difficult. It is hard work, yes, and there is long hours, but you don’t perceive it to be tough because it’s doing what you love, you know? Christian and I have been massive Street Fighter fans from way back in the day. I first met Christian ten years ago, actually. On a film I was doing, he came on board to be a screen fighter, and he was very talented and I thought that this is a guy I would like to keep working with; I see great potential in this guy. We’ve got the similar mind set creatively, the way we perceive films. When watch a film together, we instantly cite the exact some moments and parts and details.”

“So, you know, any true Street Fighter fan would have played all the games, watched all the main anime, watched the Street Fighter movie, Street Fighter: Alpha Generations, and then the UDON comic book series also gives some nice narrative in places. The problem with the Street Fighter mythology is that it’s very convoluted; it has been retro-fitted as the series goes forward, and occasionally you get some odd contradictions and stuff. To make it even more complex, some of the official Street Fighter animes will provide a certain backstory narrative arc, but then Capcom will say “this isn’t canon.” For lack of there being any other explanation or having a lot of fans are like, ‘I don’t really care if Capcom says it is canon or not—we like this idea.’ Street Fighter Alpha: Generations proposed that Akuma is Ryu’s father other than the bloodline thing. Some people really loved that concept—that kind of Star Wars/Vader and Luke kind of link through destiny, whereas other people were like, ‘No. Fuck that. That’s not canon.’ What we’ve done is left that open—that element has been addressed, but we haven’t definitively said ‘It’s this way or it’s that way.’ We’ve done it in a very tasteful way that leaves you–the viewer–a chance to make up your own mind as to what happens.”

Mas Oyama
Mas Oyama

“It’s interesting—being a massive fan of martial arts and famous martial artists, like stories of Musashi Miyamoto, the greatest swordsman that ever lived, and his Musha shugyo—his warrior’s pilgrimage that he went on challenging people. The famous karate master Mas Oyama who founded Kyokushin karate—and he went off and lived on a mountain for like a year and a half and ‘beasted’ himself, and he shaved his eyebrows off and when he came out [of the mountain], his hair was wild and he developed this technique called ‘The God Hand’ that literally, if he hit you with it, you’re fucked. If you blocked it, it would break your arm. If you didn’t block it, you were mashed up. A lot of the original mythology behind Ryu and Akuma was based on this real life character Mas Oyama. So that’s a great place to start–is to think, ‘What was the foundation for the original creative designers at Capcom? What were their sources of inspiration?’”

Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez
Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez

“Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez and the famous fighter Joe Lewis, who were students of Bruce Lee at one time, they are kind of inspirations for Ken as well. I don’t know how much you know about Benny Urquidez, but he was the first Westerner to go to Japan and beat them at their own game, and he famously wore red trousers. For those of you who don’t know, Benny the Jet was in two Jackie Chan films: Wheels on Meals (he’s the white dude that had that famous fight with Jackie Chan), and also Dragons Forever, that famous fight in the factory at the end. That’s Benny the Jet and he was one of the greatest fighters that has ever lived. If you go watch some of his old fights in Japan, you’ll be, like, ‘God damn! Even his hair is like Ken’s!'”

“We just delved into the body [of the mythology] and said, ‘We need to fill in the gaps.’ A lot of the canon, or what has been established by Capcom—the origins of Ryu and Ken—you can describe as just a backbone…there is no meat on it. There’s no detail in it. It is just a series of events on a timeline.  So we took that backbone and then had to add meat—‘characterization’—into it. Our aim, narratively, is that fans (and Capcom) will hopefully regard this as the definitive backstory of Ryu, Ken, Gouki, Gouken, and that whole subsequent line of fighters, because we tied together all these loose ends into one cohesive story that hopefully now everyone is like, “This is what happened in the past—let’s all agree on that–and now let’s continue to build the world narratively on top of that.”

Geekscape: When you completed Street Fighter: Legacy, did you expect fans to react so positively to it as they did, or did the fan response catch you by surprise?

Joey Ansah: “Yeah, I mean, you set out to do something great, you got to have confidence in your vision. If you’re going out to make a piece of art, and you’re like, ‘Ugh, I don’t know if people are going to like this’, you’re setting yourself up for a fall to begin with. A lot of people don’t know that Capcom—it was positioned as a fan film—but look…I’m an experienced film maker with a lot of experience, all the rest of the crew were [experienced], and I got Capcom to finance [the film] out of the marketing budget this industry fights for, and you will have noticed that Street Fighter: Legacy was released at the same time Super Street Fighter IV came out.”

“There was a bit of worry from some people at Capcom Marketing that ‘Oh, what if fans don’t like it? It could have a negative backlash on the release of the game.’ So I was, like, ‘Look, guys. We’ll take Capcom’s logo off it. We’ll position it more as a fan film that I’ve done that Capcom has endorsed, so in the event fans don’t like it, they can lay all their blame on me. If they do like it, it still gives a positive boost to the Street Fighter brand.’ But it was great—we got 1.1 million hits in the first week, and we created a new channel with no subscribers that wasn’t pushed by anyone like Machinima at the time. It was completely organic. I had to do my own marketing. I got Collider to break the story, and yeah—I think people were just, like, ‘Finally! This has been done right and it is dead faithful to the game.’ [Street Fighter: Legacy] was our ‘dress rehearsal’; it’s not to say that by any means it was perfect, but it was a good first stab and it was a good foundation that we could build Assassin’s Fist on—knowing what works and doesn’t work.”

Geekscape: You play the role of Akuma—alongside Ryu and Ken, one of the most loved characters in the franchise. When you put on the gi, put on the makeup, and the costume is complete, what do you feel you need to get across to the audience watching Street Fighter; Assassin’s Fist as to who Akuma is and what do you feel you bring to the character?

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Joey Ansah: “With any experience—even if you’re going for an honest, deep, truly emotional realization, people are always initially blinded by the frivolous surface, so you’ve got to get the look—the external look of Akuma right. He needs to be huge. I got the biggest I’ve ever been in my life. Do give you an example, in the Bourne Ultimatum, I must have been like 78 kilos (171 pounds). In bulking for [the role of] Akuma, I got to 101 kilos (222 pounds) before cutting down. You’ve seen the poster, right? And that maybe doesn’t do justice to how big I am when you see me come into the series. As an actor, it’s a very powerful feeling–wearing the hair, wearing the beads, and you’ve got to adopt a specific kind of posture. You have to change your entire physicality. And I speak only Japanese in the series. I speak exclusively Japanese, so it is the most different character I’ve ever played to myself. It’s cool. I’m very pleased watching it back. I am pleased with the portrayal, and yeah…it feels very powerful as he is one of the most iconic anti-heroes/villains in video game lore.” [End]

Look for Geekscape’s interview with Ryu from Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, actor Mike Moh, this Tuesday!

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Source: Geekscape.net interview was conducted on Wednesday, May 15, 2014.

‘Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist’ Gets A Full Trailer

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist premiere is approaching faster than an approaching shoryuken (May 23rd), and Machinima has just launched the full trailer for the anticipated series.

The series takes “the audience back to the formative years of iconic characters Ryu and Ken as they live a traditional warrior’s life in secluded Japan. The boys are, unknowingly, the last practitioners of the ancient fighting style known as“Ansatsuken” (Assassin’s Fist). The series follows them as they learn about the mysterious past of their master, Gōken, and the tragic, dark legacy of the Ansatsuken style. Can their destiny be changed, or will history repeat itself?”

It looks like a lot of fun, and ALL 12 episodes will be available on May 23rd. The series “is the brainchild of Joey Ansah (The Bourne Ultimatum, Snow White and the Huntsman). Ansah, who also stars in the series (Akuma), wrote the script with Christian Howard, who reprises his role as Ken Masters from the original fan film. The series also stars Mike Moh as Ryu, Togo Igawa (47 Ronin, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai) as Gōtetsu, Akira Koieyama as Gōken, Gaku Space asGōki, Mark Killeen (300: Rise of an Empire, The Dark Knight Rises) as Mr. Masters, and Hal Yamanouchi as Senzo.”

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know if you’ll be watching!

http://youtu.be/99XiMYKsHl8

Top Gamers Go ‘AFK’ In Machinima’s Newest Series

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Machinima is at it again, this time with a hilarious unscripted series called AFK.

According to the show’s description, “Pulling the world’s greatest gamers away from the keyboard to find out how they will fare in a real-life demolition derby or roller derby bootcamp is no easy task. That is exactly what Machinima, in association with GEICO, has done in the first-ever original travel competition starring some of the biggest YouTube gaming influencers”

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Hosted by Bruce Greene, host and producer of Machinima’s INSIDE GAMING, one of YouTube’s most popular daily gaming news shows, the first season of AFK brings the Minecraft Universe center stage as YouTube Minecraft Legends MINECRAFTUNIVERSE and Jerome ASF battle each other in a wide range of events including competing in a real-life demolition derby in Dallas, TX, battling it out for Supremacy in a GTA 5 flash-gaming challenge, a Trials Evolution flash-gaming challenge, and a real-life roller derby bootcamp in Austin, TX.

There are three seasons of AFK currently in the works, so if you like what you see here, there’s plenty more coming down the pipeline. Take a look at the series’ first episode below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/aoanxwPKHUQ

‘Human Revolution – Deus Ex’ Is A Short Film Worthy Of The Series’ Title

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: While it was announced that a Deus Ex: Human Revolution feature film was in the works all the way back in 2012, we haven’t heard any news of the film since (though a new Deus Ex game has been announced).

A short film that was just released by Machinima should be able to fill that void for some time, because it’s freaking awesome. I’ve been a big fan of the Deus Ex series since playing the first game for Playstation 2 in my early teens, and I feel as though this short is a fantastic representation of what a feature could look like.

The video describes itself as:

Based on the video game Deus Ex Human Revolution, the film dives into the world of Adam Jensen, a serif industries’ security consultant that gets augmented after an incident that almost took his life away. Although the film doesn’t follow the narrative of the game exactly, it remains true to the theme while focusing on the relationship between Adam Jensen, and his ex girlfriend Megan Reed, a scientist hand picked by Serif Industries to head Cybernetic Augmentations. Megan is taken by the Illuminati and is asked to assist them in turning on a mysterious device but she refuses to cooperate. Jensen has been looking for Megan since she was kidnapped and has finally pinpointed her location. Adam faces a complication that he did not account for; Yelena Federova, an Augmented assassin is at the facility where Megan is being held. The film also taps, even if briefly, into Adam’s mind and the struggle he must face on daily basis.

The short was directed by Moe Charif, who you’ll also see in the video as Adam Jensen. Take a look at Human Revolution – Deus Ex below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/LO2Rx8YlSWY

Geekscape Talks To ‘Enormous’ Producer Adrian Askarieh!

by Jonathan

Today marks the launch of Machinima’s latest internet-breaking video Enormous, based on the comic book series by Tim Daniel and Mehdi Cheggour. The story, based in a world where giant kaiju-like monsters have devastated modern civilization, takes it’s cues more from human survival stories like The Walking Dead than big monster spectacles like Godzilla or Pacific Rim.

That’s not to say that Enormous isn’t without its huge monsters, as you’ll see if you watch the first video based on the series right here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eq3tCdal2M

One of the people behind bringing Enormous to the online space is Geekscape friend and past guest Adrian Askarieh, Producer of the series and the man responsible for discovering the property while walking a Con floor! We had ourselves a little chat about Enormous (and the upcoming Hitman film Agent 47) and here’s what he had to say about everything:

Okay, I know the story, but why don’t you tell the Geekscapists: how did you get involved in Enormous? How’d you discover it?

I was walking the floor at Comic-Con in 2012 on Preview Night and ran right up onto the Image Comics booth which had this wonderfully unique looking large format graphic novel. After 5 minutes of thumbing through it, I had promised its creator, Tim Daniel, that I would be making it into a high-end digital series within two years.  Who says that deals don’t happen at Comic-Con anymore?!

At what point did Machinima get involved? 

As for Machinima, I was a big fan of what they were  doing and how they were branding themselves with the “Lost Boys” generation of males 16-34. They were my one-and-only choice to partner with. To their credit, they backed us all the way even though this fell a bit outside of their branded video game adaptations.

Why is the web space the right place to launch something like this? What advantages does it give you over traditional media like TV or film?

The upside is incredibly high if you stick with the model. More people have immediate access to content on the Web than on any other format. We felt that the Web was a great launching point for something as ambitious as Enormous simply because it would stand out because if its scope, and hopefully find a life of it’s own.

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Creatively, how do you separate a property like this from Godzilla? How are they different and where do you see Enormous going?

Other than having giant monsters in it, Enormous is as different from Godzilla as Superman is from Thor.  It spiritually shares more attributes with shows like Lost and The Walking Dead.

So what are some of your favorite post-pocalyptic or kaiju stories? Were you a fan of those kinds of properties before discovering Enormous?

Yes and no. I loved the original Godzilla and King Kong Vs Godzilla but never really had the opportunity to delve fully into the whole Kaiju genre. But in a way I think that gives Enormous an advantage in terms of incorporating an outsider’s perspective. In terms of “post-apocalyptic” fare, the original Mad Max and Road Warrior are among my favorites.

Well, don’t leave us hanging after this first one! How many episodes do you guys have prepped, shot or written?

We have the rough outline for 9 more. But it will grow from there.

As video game fans, what can you tell us about Agent 47? Is this going to make Rupert Friend a household name?

We are only in our 4th week of production here in Berlin and it is way too early for me to talk about it.  All I will say is that we all believe that we are making a good movie. As for Rupert, we could not be happier with what he is doing with the character.

Thanks, Adrian. Come back on Geekscape when you return from filming! In the meantime, we’ll make sure everyone here keeps watching Enormous (and why not!?! It has a giant monster in it)!

Enormous_POSTER_HI_FINsm

‘Titanfall: Dropouts’ Has Premiered On Machinima, And It’s Fantastic!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Machinima is great at adapting popular properties into content that fans and non-fans alike can enjoy, and there’s nothing more popular right now than Titanfall. While I haven’t played the game yet (Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare hasn’t left my console in weeks), our very own Josh Jackson thoroughly enjoyed it (check out his review here), along with hundred of thousands of other Xbox One and PC gamers that can’t seem to put the title down.

Titanfall: Dropouts is a scripted comedy series that follows two buddy engineers, Dex and Gif, who are responsible for the maintenance, repair, and deployment of Titans from the ships hovering above the battlegrounds to the Titan pilots fighting below. Every week one Pilot will have to overcome Dex and Gif’s incompetence, whether forgetting to turn on the landing rockets so the Titan craters into the ground, changing the Titan’s onboard computer voice to Russian, or refusing to send help because they feel the Pilot cheated them in poker last night.

It’s simple, and it’s hilarious, and you can watch the pilot below. Be sure to let us know what you think, and be sure to watch out for the next episode!

http://youtu.be/ZJFoNRUxJSg

Watch The First Trailer For ‘Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist’!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We already know how awesome some of Machinima’s web series can be (just look at Mortal Kombat: Legacy), and now the network is set to adapt another classic fighter for the small screen.

Machinima and Capcom have announced Streen Fighter: Assassin’s Fist, a new series that is currently without a premiere date (but based on the teaser trailer, I sure hope that it’s soon).

Here’s the series description:

The live-action series, which is distributed by Content Media, is the brainchild of Ansah (The Bourne Ultimatum, Snow White and the Huntsman), a member of the creative team behind the hugely successful fan film Street Fighter: Legacy—which has received almost 5,000,000 views to date. Ansah, who also stars in the series (Akuma), wrote the script with Christian Howard, who reprises his role as Ken Masters from the original fan film. The series also stars Mike Moh as Ryu, Togo Igawa (47 Ronin, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai) as Gōtetsu, Akira Koieyama as Gōken, Gaku Space as Gōki, Mark Killeen (300: Rise of an Empire, The Dark Knight Rises) as Mr. Masters, and Hal Yamanouchi as Senzo. Through the coming of age story of Ken & Ryu, we are shown the back story of some of the game’s most iconic characters, and over the course of the series we will see how the past, present, and future of all of those characters are intertwined, as the battle to become Ansatsuken Master threatens to tear apart another generation of brothers.

We all know how cool Street Fighter: Legacy was (head here if you haven’t seen it), which makes this project even more exciting.

On the newly found partnership, Allen DeBevoise, Chairman, Co-Founder and CEO of Machinima stated that “This series was meant for Machinima. We have successfully launched popular game-inspired web series in the past, and Street Fighter is about as iconic as they come. We couldn’t be more excited about working with the incredible production team behind the series and the folks over at Capcom to launch not only a compelling and action-packed series in its own right, but also one that stays true to the Street Fighter lore.” DeBevoise continued, “After the success of Mortal Kombat: Legacy 2, we will once again provide all of the episodes on the day of launch to our fans to ensure they get exactly what they want—the entire series from start to finish!”

“We can’t wait for our fans to get the opportunity to experience Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist,” said Matt Dahlgren, Senior Product Manager at Capcom. “Working with filmmakers who are so passionate about the brand was an extremely rewarding process and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Their work embodies the heart and soul of what Street Fighter is and we’re thrilled that Machinima will be able to deliver the epic series to those who care about the celebrated franchise as much as we do.”

Take a look at the first trailer for Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the full series.

http://youtu.be/GYjIT-HALrY