Horrific Pulpy Goodness

So as some or all of you are no doubt aware, I've been making a (mostly) weekly webseries since last Halloween. The concept, initially, was to show a new storyline in four or five parts every month, with new characters but in the same world. Sort of a cross between The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone and any other episodic television show ever.

I've decided though, that the system is imperfect. The main reason for this imperfection being that I'm asking you, the viewer, to a) come back at least four weeks in a row, without b) giving you any reason inside the episodes (aside from them being awesome) to come back after those four weeks.

So now I'm giving you a reason to come back each and every week for all eternity with a little thing I like to call continuity. Instead of trying to build an entire world through stories about disparate people who probably don't even know of each other's existence, I'm going to try and build a more coherent network of characters and relationships. Basically, I'm going to stop going about trying to create a whole universe backwards.

So starting July 3rd (or whenever the hell after my new camera arrives... we're switching to HD, baby!) you'll get a continuing storyline focusing on characters who will grow and change and become more loved or hated than they could in the four episode arcs that usually ended in death up until this point. Of course people will still die. Just not everyone all the time.

You can expect to see some old faces (Mark Benson as played by Jamie McAllister in Necrotesque and Liam Reiniger as played by Duncan McEachern in The Horror in the Eidolon Apartments being two early candidates) as well as many new ones in the new, continuing story which is just over the horizon. It's going to be fun for me to bring back old characters and finally get to develop everyone a little more, and hopefully it'll be fun for you, the viewer as well.

The first season is going to run from July through September and consist of eight to twelve episodes. That's as far ahead as I'm willing to plan because let's face it: this, like everything that has come before it, is one giant experiment in internet entertainment.

Anyways, to those of you who have been watching thus far, thanks for tuning in. For those of you just joining us (or planning on joining in now that you know we exist) welcome! And to all of you: Enjoy!

If you haven't already, go over and check out the start of things to come.

Necrotesque Time Lapse

Some of you might have seen this on the production blog, but I figure I might as well post it here too (so that this blog doesn't fade entirely into obscurity).

This is a time lapse video of the final day of shooting for Necrotesque. We shot two episodes (11 & 12) over about 8 hours from noon until 8pm, plus an hour on either side for me to set up/break down. Anyways, those of you looking for a peek into my methods and the madness which is no budget web series production, check it out. Those of you not interested, move along, there's nothing to see here.

Episode Four

After last week's fiasco, I started uploading the video yesterday at 3pm.  And it's a good thing that I did.  Although I wonder how much skullduggery has been going on, with people watching straight from my Revver page in the wee hours of the morn.  Ah well, I guess I should be flattered.

Anyways, here's your weekly dose of Necrotesque.

And feel free to join the facebook group, if you haven't already.

Sometimes the Internet Scares me a Little Bit

So I've been trying to figure out what the hell is up with Revver (the link doesn't work because the site is down).  It's kind of nerve racking since in about twelve hours I'm supposed to be uploading a video to a site that, for all intents and purposes, doesn't exist.

Google is fairly devoid of recent news, except this tidbit gleaned from Wikipedia: "As of November 12, 2008, Revver's site has been down for several days, so it may currently be defunct." Which is hardly encouraging.

But then I read this article, which is slightly older, and discovered something interesting.  My twitter got quoted.  Weird.  Oh, and there was also a plausible explanation for why revver is down ["they are in the middle of major migration from a CDN/provider to a tier 1 & top technology provider which “should make the quality of Revver videos displayed better then ever” (could take a few days)"].

But I was quoted and I could have never known.  Hell, I didn't know for almost two weeks.  And the funny thing is, I wasn't even worried about Revver in that tweet... more so my own inability to get videos online, on time.  But still, regardless of the quote being out of context, it's strange to be surfing the internet and all of a sudden, there's a picture of you, and some words you once typed, and you're all, "What the hell?  What am I doing here?"

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the internet is weird sometimes.  And a little bit scary.

Necrotesque Episode Two

In case you missed it everywhere else: http://www.revver.com/video/1304282/necrotesque-episode-two/

As an aside, I'm mildly pissed at Revver because their tracking stats seem to be broken for my videos (although the pennies keep rolling in, which is good). I know people have watched the videos, but the view count is jammed.

It's not a major problem, just mildly disconcerting is all.

Also have an idea (or two) for another one minute rant. If only I had spare time.

Necrotesque - Episode One

Check it out here or here. This is part one of twelve with a new episode airing every Friday. Enjoy.

Necrotesque Teaser

Teaser for the series formerly known as Ex Mortuis.  Check it out:

Retrospective: Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

And when I say 'retrospective' what I mean is 'I'm still watching it'. It's just that good. I wish I could send any of you who haven't watched Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (surely the minority) through a convenient link to a website where you could watch it for free.

Unfortunately, those days are past. Instead, you're going to have to bite the bullet (freeze ray beam?) and head over to iTunes, fork over some hard earned cash, and the bask in the glory which is Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. This is for real people. Go forth.

Oh, and I promise this is the last time I'll mention the good Doctor Horrible. Unless of course, there's some new development on that front (fingers crossed).

Internet Series: Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog: Act Three

Earlier today, the internet was introduced to the conclusion to Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.  This series is officially awesome.  It manages to run the emotional gauntlet and is just... incredible.

Act One, although clearly meant as part one of three, stood alone quite well.  But when you add on Acts Two and Three the finished product is just jaw dropping incredible.

3/3 - There is nothing left to say.  Why are you still here?  Go and watch it, from the beginning, through 'til the end, and enjoy every precious second.

Internet Series: Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog: Act Two

So Act Two is out now, with Act Three arriving tomorrow.

Act Two is... well, it's the second act in a three act show. Which means it isn't introducing or resolving, just moving us through the motions so we can get from point A to point B (Act One to Act Three). It's still good, just not quite as good as Act One. Which is to be expected from Act Two.

There are still some excellent moments from Act Two though, particularly the opening musical number, and the closing musical number (and the conversation between Captain Hammer and Doctor Horrible just before said closing number). As a percentage of the whole, 5 or 6 really good minutes out of 13 is a better success ratio than most can manage.

I'm waiting for Act Three now, though, more so than basking in Act Two.

3/3 - If only because you've already seen Act One, and "these are not the hammer".

Internet Series: Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog: Act One

Do you remember that superhero spoof movie from this summer? The one that was called, with ridiculous amounts creative flair, Superhero Movie? Well forget about that. A clever superhero parody just arrived, in the form of Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

Quick background. Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is the brain-child of Joss Whedon (as well as his two brothers and Maurissa Tancharoen). It's a web-series in three parts, chronicling the criminal exploits and love-life of the titular Doctor Horrible. It was shot over six-days on a tiny budget, and is being released via the internet and later on DVD.

Oh, and in case you hadn't figured it out, it's a musical.

It's also witty, funny, and just all around brilliant. Neil Patrick Harris turns in an amazing performance as Doctor Horrible, with Felicia Day and Nathan Fillion doing excellent work in their supporting roles.

I just, I don't know what to say beyond that. I've watched Act One three times since last night and it's still as funny as the first time through. It is what Joss Whedon has historically done best (touching drama, presented in comedic gift-wrap), boiled down to its purest essence. With superheroes. But you know.

Anyways, if you hate Firefly, Angel, Buffy and everything else Joss Whedon has ever touched, then I'm going to recommend you watch Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog anyways. Seriously, give it a shot. Unless you have a cold, shrivled heart, and absolutely no sense of humour, you're going to like it at least a little bit.

3/3 - You're here, on a computer, surfing the net. I know you are. So get on the iTunes store, pay $1.99 for Act One, download, and enjoy. Or be cheap and go here.