'Aidan 5' Clones The IndieNet and Beyond... Again

I chat with Aidan 5 stars Bryan Michael Block and Maya Sayre. Plus, Mighty Woman, The Guild, The LXD, Brothers Barbarian, Passenger, Rigamortis: A Zombie Love Story, Vampire Mob, and more.

Welcome to another clone-filled episode of… The IndieNet and Beyond! It’s news and web series episodes. Plus, this time I chat with the stars of the ‘sci-noir’ series Aidan 5, Bryan Michael Block and Maya Sayre.

The last time we spoke to someone working on Aidan 5, it was with some of the talent behind the camera, writer/director John Jackson and executive producer Ben Bays. This time, we talk to the talent in front of the camera, actors Bryan Michael Block and Maya Sayre. Aidan 5 is what the creators call a sci-noir series, but what does that mean? ...MORE

 

 

 

IndieNet and Beyond Turns Into A ‘Vampire Zombie Werewolf’

This was a fun interview with the three stars and producers of the series Vampire Zombie Werewolf. Plus, Mortal Kombat, Mind's Eye and Death Battle!.

We are a few weeks into 2011 and we are catching the flu at The IndieNet and Beyond… or… are we just becoming a Vampire Zombie Werewolf? Are my fangs showing? How embarrassing? More news and web series episodes, plus an interview with the stars and producers of the web series Vampire Zombie Werewolf, which just had episode 5 premiere. This show was a Top Ten pick for 2010 by ScifiPulse and has been nominated for awards by Indie Intertube for 2010.

Last week, I interviewed the stars and creative minds behind Vampire Zombie Werewolf: Steven Lekowicz (“Tad,” Executive Producer/Writer), Tanya Ihnen (“Bunny,” Executive Producer) and Robb Padgett (“The Producer,” Writer/Director/Executive Producer/Composer/Editor). They wear many hats in the creation of this cleverly funny web series, and I could tell quickly during the conversation that they are all close friends.

Vampire Zombie Werewolf is an interesting title and and interesting concept. A web series producer visits a rich couple who will give him some big bucks to invest in a web series, but they have some of their own ideas about what it should be about. However, the Producer quickly learns that this isn’t a normal yuppie couple, but rather two people who are Vampire, Zombie and Werewolf all rolled up into one. He finds it difficult to escape as he learns how they became such beings, which turns into a hilarious story poking fun at some iconic monsters. But where did this odd idea even come from?... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond Looks Into The Future

This week on my column at ScifiPulse I introduce my new big writing & directing project, the scifi web series Reality On Demand. Plus, new episodes of some of my favorite web series.

We are a couple of weeks into 2011, so it is time for a look to the future with The IndieNet and Beyond! More news and web series episodes, plus a look at a new web series close to me. We have some very fun interviews coming up the next few weeks, but I would like to take a little time this week to talk about a new project that hopefully you’ll want to hear about: Reality On Demand.

Web series and other types of new media storytelling have come a long way over the last few years. While the concept of the web series is still relatively young, the leaps that have happened since the first advertiser-supported web series that premiered (The Spot,1995), or the first companion web series—or as the WGA calls it, Derivative New Media—(Homicide: Second Shift, a tie-in to Homicide: Life on the Street), have been amazing. ... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond – Top Ten Web Series of 2010

It was hard narrowing it down to the top ten (plus one) web series, but it's a solid list of web series worth checking out.

The New Year is almost here, so what better time is there to take a look back at some of the best scifi-related web series 2010 gave us. Plus, new web series episodes to take us into 2011. It is even more fitting that we take a look at the top ten now, because this is actually the 10^th installment of “The IndieNet and Beyond.”

I want to start this with a disclaimer: the year of 2010 has given us such a wide range of web series as the concept of the web original grows, that it was tough nailing down just 10. In fact, I could have easily made this list 20, just with scifi/fantasy/horror themes. They are only roughly in any particular order, and there are plenty of shows that almost made this list. But I stuck with ten, since people tend to like top ten lists better than top twenty lists. (Who knew?)... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond Versus Star Trek, Batman, and Quantum Leap

I recently had a chance to speak with Indiana filmmaker Christopher Allen. It was a lot of fun chatting with him about indie filmmaking and fan films.

Christmas approaches, but you get your present early with a visit to The IndieNet and Beyond! More news and web series episodes, plus an interview with Christopher Allen, the director/writer of the fan films Star Trek Versus Batman and Quantum Leap: A Leap To Di For. They are not traditional web series (can you use the word traditional with web series?), but they are independently created and on the Internet for all to see.

Christopher Allen is an Indiana independent filmmaker who has been making films for years. He has made the more traditional format of feature films with A Certain Justice (2003) and A Time for the Heart (2009), but what got him noticed in LA was when he started making fan films that were put on the Internet. He started playing the fan film world in 2006 with Star Trek Versus Batman. The concept would seem unusual by itself, but even more so when you realize it is the 1960′s Star Trek versus the 1960′s Batman. Where did that idea come from?

“The spark that started it all was a life time of watching Star Trek reruns and Batman reruns on TV in the mid-late seventies and early eighties,” explained Allen. “I was a kid then and the only thing we really had to watch in those days [was Batman and Star Trek]. Before the blizzard of all the cable channels we have now…we only had three or four channels to choose from.” ... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond Visits The ‘Asylum’

This week I speak with Dan Williams, the creator/writer/producer of the new web series, Asylum. Which has quickly become one of my favorite new web series. Enjoy the interview!

It’s time for another fun visit to “The IndieNet and Beyond.” We have more news and the newest web series episodes, plus an interview with Dan Williams, the creator/writer/producer of the new web series Asylum. A procedural, with elements of scifi and mystery. The series premiered December 10th, 2010.

“Asylum is an all new dramatic series that takes place at a hospital for the criminally insane. This is a place where really the most difficult cases in the state go to and because of that the doctors are really left on their own to do what they want and have sort of unorthodox methods of treating the patients,” explained Williams. “When we start off the series, there has been an outbreak of violence at the hospital. So that has caused an officer from the Department of Mental Health to be sent there to check things out and see what is going on. We follow him as he does some digging to find out what is going on in this hospital.”

The series looks very professional and you could probably stick it up on a TV and easily convince someone they are watching a show on ABC or FOX (but then you would fear for its inevitable cancellation by FOX). This creepy series has a sort of X-Files feel and Williams admits he was influenced by that particular cult favorite when it came to the structure of the series.

“I’m a huge X-Files fan. It was one of my favorite shows growing up. We definitely tried to embody that model that the episodes stand alone in that we meet a patient, we figure out what is wrong with them and we see them try to treat that patient. But there is also this overarching mythology throughout this whole series: about the hospital, about the doctors, and about some secrets they’re keeping,” said Williams. ... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond: The ‘Cursed’ Interview

This week I speak to Yuri Brown, creator/writer/star of the new supernatural web series Cursed.

Hello world wide web! It’s time for another installment of “The IndieNet and Beyond.” More of the news and newest web series episodes you are used to, including an interview with Yuri Brown. She is the creator/writer/star of the new supernatural web series Cursed. The series is scheduled to premiere this Wednesday evening, December 8^th.

The series is about an angel incarnate, Crystal Jones, who struggles between a life of being a single mom and a killer of killers. It’s a balancing act between her loved ones and her desire to ascend. Yuri Brown (Deliver Us from Eva) stars in and writes this new web series, which is directed by Jeff Kanew (Revenge of the Nerds).

“[It's] about a fallen angel. She’s an Earth angel that… is cursed. She desperately wants to break the curse and be close to God again,” explained Brown. “So she is sort of on this path and the way that she feels she will be able to redeem herself is by killing bad guys. She feels that if she shows God that she doesn’t stand with them and that she willing to be a destroyer of evil that he’ll reclaim her.”

But things aren’t as simple as just hunting down the bad guys for redemption. She has earthly ties that complicate things: a son, a father, and a lover. ... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond: Inside The Mind of ‘Mind’s Eye’

Hello world! This week I got to chat with Thomas Gofton, creator/producer/director/editor of the new web series Mind's Eye. It was a fun chat and the web series is an ambitious one. Enjoy!

Hello my online friends. It’s time for another installment of “The IndieNet and Beyond.” Along with the usual news and newest web series episodes, there is an interview with Thomas Gofton. He is the creator/producer/director/editor of the new web series Mind’s Eye, a new fantasy web series that premiered on Friday November 26^th. All new episodes go online every Friday until the season finale on May 6^th 2011.

I ran across Mind’s Eye almost by accident a few weeks ago when I saw the trailer. It really caught my eye and imagination, so I just had to track down the creator for a little chat.

The series is about a young introverted boy named Illia Fairchild (Nik MacMillan) and his journeys through life with his childhood friends. Gofton describes it as a normal coming of age story, except… “There is a little bit of a twist of what is going on, because there is an overtone of angelic and demonic forces that are trying to take this boy that was prophesied as the chosen one,” Gofton revealed. ... MORE

The IndieNet and Beyond: Advice From Felicia Day

Another week, another installment of my new column on ScifiPulse. Enjoy!

Hello online world! It’s time for another edutainment installment of “The IndieNet and Beyond.”

I had something different planned for today, but ScifiPulse had an opportunity during a conference call to ask Felicia Day, creator of The Guild, a question about web series so the topic took a slight turn.

Now if you somehow don’t know who Felicia Day is, then here is a quick primer. The actress is best known on TV by scifi fans as Vi on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and her guest appearances on Dollhouse. She starred in Joss Whedon’s uber-successful Internet musical, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and, of course, created/wrote/starred in the highly successful web series The Guild. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Web Television, so she knows a thing or two about web series.

There are probably a few of you reading this right now that are thinking about creating a web series of your own. So we asked Felicia what advice would she give to people out there that are planning to do their own web series... more

The IndieNet And Beyond: The Beginning

I have a new column on ScifiPulse. Enjoy!

Welcome to the first installment of “The IndieNet and Beyond,” where I talk about the growing way we are getting our entertainment fix. Whether it is on your desktop computer, laptop, iphone, ipad, or whatever gadget you use, we are getting more and more of our entertainment from the Internet. For many years now, I have believed that it is not only the inevitable replacement of many traditional forms of media outlets, but it is also the future for independent creators to distribute their content.

And that is truly what this new column is about: the future of independent creators. Primarily indie filmmaking, since I have the most experience in that area, but really anything creative and uploaded to the web is open to discussion—web series, webcomics, and more. I’ll find it and tell you about it and I’ll also interview the creators so we get into the minds of those who are pioneering unexplored ideas on the Internet... more

SILENCE OF THE BELLE at ArtBeat

I am happy to announce that SILENCE OF THE BELLE has been selected by the Mid America Filmmakers to show twice during ArtBeat, Saturday, August 28th at the Century Center’s Recital Hall in downtown South Bend.

Silence of the Belle - Auditions

From the makers of "Batman | Metaphors" and "victimEYES" comes the dramedy "Silence of the Belle."

Below is all the information you need to know if you are interested in auditioning.

Short Synopsis: Belle struggles over leaving her current boyfriend, who cheated on her, or going back to a 'bad boy' ex. After a shocking accident at work, she awakens in an odd hospital and finds her herself in a bizarre silent film world where she thinks she has found her dream man, but instead finds danger.

The film is a unique mishmash of modern day dramedy with classic silent film horror and even a touch of old school Kung Fu movie mixed in...

Area of Media: HD short film for festival release

Director/Producer: Marx Pyle (Batman Metaphors, Winter's Sleep, The Break)
Director of Photography: Neil Kellen (Batman Metaphors, Forever)
Casting: Julie Pyle (Bloomington)

Audition Locations and Times:

Saturday October 24th (11:00am-4:00pm Central)
Holiday Inn Conference Center
4101 US Hwy 41 North
Evansville, IN 47711
*Walk-ins welcome, but you may also make an Appointment

Sunday October 25th (2:00pm-4:00pm Central)
Henderson County Public Library
101 S Main St
Henderson, KY
*Appointment Only - please email to set up appointment

Shooting Locations: Evansville, IN and Henderson, KY area
Shoot Dates: Filming will be on weekends (avoiding holiday weekends) in
November and December.
Script Availability: Pick-up or E-mail (.pdf file)

Contact Information
Email: silenceofthebelle@gmail.com
Phone: 812.306.6085

Submission Instructions: Open to all demographics, unless otherwise specified. Please submit by e-mail or phone (e-mail preferred). Resumes and headshots are appreciated. Walk-ins are welcome on October 24th, but appointments only on October 25th. If you cannot make it to the audition, you may request a video audition. Call backs will have to be in person. Thank you.

Character Descriptions

[BELLE] [GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 20-30]

Belle is an intelligent, optimistic and charming woman. She works in tech support at her company. Belle has a highly active imagination, which leads to some well... odd behavior at times. She also has the uncanny ability to pick terrible men to date. She sort of knows this, since her friend Louise constantly reminds her, but it still hasn’t really sunk in. Oh, and she can fix a PC like nobody’s business, but tends to be a little accidental.

[LOUISE] [GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 25-40]

Louise works with Belle. She is sort of a big sister to her and is always giving her advice, but finds it doesn’t always stick. Louise is a strong woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

[DON / HANDSOME DOCTOR] [GENDER: MALE] [AGE: 20-35]

Don is a successful businessman who can’t keep his pants on. He says all of the right things and has looks that can melt any woman’s heart… and he knows it. The Handsome Doctor is played by the same actor as Don. He nurses a recovering Belle and wouldn’t mind playing doctor with her after she feels better.

[MARK / MYSTERIOUS MAN] [GENDER: MALE] [AGE: 20-35]

Mark is a ‘bad boy’ ex who is a talented musician. He is adventurous and mysterious, but unfortunately he likes to party to the extreme, by way of illegal pharmaceuticals.

The Mysterious Man is played by the same actor as Mark. He is a seductive and mysterious flute player who hides in the shadows of a closed wing inside the hospital. But the dark side of his personality shows through with his disfigured face. He is quick to anger and is happy to replace his loving flute with his lethal
blade.

[THE SEDUCTRESS] [GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 20-35]

A beautiful woman that tries to tempt Belle's man away. Few can resist her charms and even fewer would want to try.

[ANDREW / MALE NURSE] [GENDER: MALE] [AGE: 20-50]

Andrew works in the same office as Belle and Louise. He is constantly annoyed that no one at work ever seems to remember his name.

[CORDELIA / FEMALE NURSE][GENDER: FEMALE] [AGE: 20-50]

Cordelia works in the same office as Belle and Louise. She would rather be anywhere than at this dull office job. She often hangs out with her co-worker... what's his name.

New Film

I'm working on a new film.

I'll be announcing the details soon... very soon.

Batman | Metaphors

I just finished working on a fan film called "Batman | Metaphors." You can find more information about that film at: http://batmanmetaphors.com

I'm Back!!!

Hello world. I've launched a new website called (surprise) MarxPyle.com and I'm going to start posting again to this blog. I doubt I'll post very often, but we'll see.

Casting Call For ‘Bloomington’

This upcoming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Feb. 20-22 in Evansville, IN) there will be auditions for the HD feature length film called “Bloomington.” Four of the leads are being cast in LA, but the rest of the leads and supporting characters are going to be cast in Indiana.

Below is all the info you need to know if you are interested in auditioning.

Short Synopsis: “Bloomington” is a coming-of-age drama that examines the trials an ex-child star goes through as she attempts to figure out the second act in her life. JACKIE KIRK, a former child actress, moves away from California and attends college in search of independence and personal growth. She then becomes romantically involved with a professor. Their relationship thrives until an opportunity to return to acting forces her to make life-altering decisions.

Union: SAG Ultra Low Budget Agreement (SAG or non-SAG actors welcome)
Area of Media: HD feature length film for theatrical release
Production Company: Frontier Studios
Director: Fernanda Cardoso

Audition Locations:

Evansville - Evansville Civic Theatre Annex
Indianapolis - location to be announced soon

Shooting Locations: Indianapolis & Bloomington
Script Availability: Pick-up or E-mail (.pdf file)

Contact Information:

Civic Theatre Annex at Washington Square Mall
1138 Washington Sq
Evansville, IN 47715
Phone: 812.774.2611
E-mail: bloomingtonfilmcasting@gmail.com

Casting in Evansville:

Friday, February 20, 2009 (11am-4:30pm)
Saturday, February 21, 2009 (11am-7:30pm)
Sunday, February 22, 2009 (11am-4:30pm)

Casting in Indianapolis area: TBA

Submission Instructions: Open to all demographics, unless otherwise specified. Please submit by e-mail or phone (e-mail preferred). Resumes and headshots are appreciated. Walk-ins are welcome in Evansville on February 20 and 21, but appointments only on February 22. Thank you.

[RACHEL] [GENDER: Female] [AGE: 18-22]

Friendly and always upbeat, she is a college freshman, a classmate of Jackie’s, also part of the same study team. Sweet, sensitive, the peacemaker in the group, she wants to make sure that Jackie doesn’t feel uncomfortable…LEAD

[SANDY] [GENDER: Female] [AGE: 18-22]

Outgoing and bohemian looking, she is also a college freshman, a friend of Rachel, and part of the study team that includes Jackie. Contentious without meaning to, she feels that Jackie has an edge over the others since she really doesn’t have to go to college and get a job like she and her friends. Later, a catty Sandy makes fun of Jackie’s relationship with Catherine…LEAD

[ZACH] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 18-22]

Almost a “class clown,” he is a college freshman, part of Jackie, Rachel and Sandy’s study team. Phil obviously likes Jackie and asks if she would accompany him to a good old-fashioned college party, where there will be lots of drinking. The two later wind up at his dorm…LEAD

[PHIL] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 18-22]

A college freshman, a little too inquisitive and somewhat annoying and confrontational, he is part of Jackie, Rachel, Sandy and Zach’s study team.

[PROF. HECHT] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 55-65]

Male, in his late 50s, he is a dean with the College of Arts and Sciences at the university. Head of his department, he looks very tired; there is a certain weariness about his demeanor.

[PROFESSOR NEWBERRY] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 35-45]

He is a psychology professor at the university whom the students do not afford much respect.

[TEACHING ASSISTANT] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 22-30]

He is Catherine’s teaching assistant, a smiling, overly polite young man who feels uncomfortable and somewhat pitying when he learns that Catherine has no real plans for the Christmas break.

[BILL WHITTEN] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 30-40]

He is a slick film producer. He effusively welcomes Jackie to his apartment where he’s throwing a party.

[LAURA] [GENDER: Female] [AGE: 25-35]

She is the overly outgoing hostess at a film producer’s apartment. She tries, in vain, to make small talk with Catherine.

[TOMMY] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 20-25]

This good looking, and star-struck young actor auditions with Jackie.

[STEPFATHER] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 40-50]

He is Lillian’s husband, Jackie’s well-meaning stepfather.

[PETE] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 4-7]

This lively kid, seen at a family get-together, tries to engage Jackie in conversation.

[UNCLE KEITH] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 38-50]

Jackie’s uncle, he is a jovial, but none too bright fellow, who thinks Jackie’s hit TV series is still on the air.

[OLD AUNT] [GENDER: Female] [AGE: 45-55]

She is one of Jackie’s relatives, seen at a family dinner.

[FEMALE RELATIVE & MALE RELATIVE] [GENDER: Female & Male] [AGE: 30-50]

These two relatives of Jackie’s, seen at a family dinner, inquire about Jackie’s plans.

[OLDER FEMALE RELATIVE] [GENDER: Female] [AGE: 40-55]

This older female relative remembers fondly when Jackie was just a youngster.

[R.A.] [GENDER: Female or Male] [AGE: 20-25]

This university Resident Assistant leads Jackie to her dorm room, surprised that Jackie got a single room. Slightly confrontational attitude.

[T.J.] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 18-22]

A college frat-guy, he is a friendly sort, a friend of Zach.

[MALE STUDENT] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 18-24]

He is an organized, eager-to-impress male student.

[MAN] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 28-35]

Dressed-up but a little drunk, he has accompanied Catherine home for the evening.

[LIBRARY ATTENDANT] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 25-35]

He is a sleepy library attendant who does a double take after recognizing Jackie as a TV star.

[REPORTER] [GENDER: Male] [AGE: 25-35]

He is a hip-looking male reporter who interviews Jackie about her return to Hollywood.

[FEMALE REPORTER] [GENDER: Female] [AGE: 26-35]

She is a good-looking Katie Couric type who interviews Jackie about her new movie.

Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' - The Queen

Oops, I forgot to post this link until now. Here you go.

Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' - The Queen

The Atlantis team arranges a meeting with everyone's favorite Wraith … Todd the Wraith (Christopher Heyerdahl).

The team proposes a plan to help both the Wraith, who are fighting over food, and the humans, who don't want to be said food. Dr. Keller (Jewel Staite) has made a breakthrough after studying Michael's research. Gene therapy that will allow Wraith to gain sustenance from 'normal' food; in essence negating the need to feed on humans. Todd is skeptical, but agrees to the plan...[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' – Whispers

It's time for another Stagate Atlantis review. Enjoy!

Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' – Whispers

"All we need is the prom queen and the kid in the wheelchair." -– John Sheppard

Things take a scary twist this week on "Stargate: Atlantis."

Dr. 'Clone' Beckett (Paul McGillion) is visiting Atlantis and drafted to join Sheppard on a mission to help out an all-female team that has discovered one of Michael's discarded 'mad scientist' labs...[more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' - The Shrine

Hello everyone!

I have new Stargate Atlantis review up at SyFy Portal.

Review: 'Stargate: Atlantis' - The Shrine

After being stuck on top of a Stargate in a flooded valley, McKay falls ill. He is stricken with the Pegasus version of Alzheimer's called "Second Childhood" and is quickly losing his memories.

McKay's sister, Jeannie, is brought to Atlantis to say her final goodbyes to her dying brother.

But Ronon has a risky plan. His people know of a shrine located on the planet Talus that would allow McKay to return to normal for one day before he dies... [more]

Until next time... Marx out.

Review: Firbreather #2

Hello world!

Here is a new comic book review from me. Enjoy!

Firebreather #2

Being the child of a divorced family is tough. Especially when your dad happens to be a giant fire-breathing dragon.

Issue #2 picks up soon after the last issue with Duncan's mom embarrassing him by forcing him to bring cupcakes, on his sixteenth birthday, to high school. As if that wasn't bad enough, his mom finds the gold that he "hoarded" from his dad's stash of treasure... [more]

Until next time... Marx out.