Depending on how steeped in science fiction/comic fandom you are, and how often you trawl the fanzines and internet for upcoming news or new entries in the world of fan films, this article comes to you either five years too late or right on time.
Whether a lifelong follower or a new initiate into the sci-fi/comic world, be aware that there's a whole sub-genre of these particular brands of entertainment known as the fan film. Shorts(or in some cases slightly longer) made by the common folk, who don't have a bazillion dollars to spend on high tech CGI or happen to have Denzel Washington's phone number pasted with a magnet to their fridge to see if he's available for a 6am call time. Fans are folk who love their series, treat them as gospel(for the most part) and who hold in their hearts a deep and profound dedication and outright love for whatever that one special idea which touched their heart might be.
It is these people, simultaneously mocked and sought after by the Hollywood big wigs who drool at the thought of $10 being plunked down to see their newest theatrical spawning, that keep said wigs in business. For all the people who might not even know where their next meal is coming from, but will spend their last bit of hard cash to buy a cheap camcorder to vid themselves in a Batman costume(and for those of you who might wish insight into this world)...this article's dedicated to the best of the best that have come down the pike in the last few years. Surprisingly, as long as most of these films have been around, there are new folk discovering them every day, and usually through sheer word of mouth. For every misguided, heartrending mockery of a comic movie which comes out(Ghost Rider, Elektra, Daredevil, Blade Trinity, etc.) there's at least one guy sitting alone somewhere trying to write an honest and decent script for a hero he loves, and hopes to find enough earnest, like-minded souls to help him realize that dream.
And sometimes, through divine providence, sheer dumb luck or maybe even the will of The Force...he succeeds.
Herewith, the absolute best I've found so far. If you've seen them already, let's take a trip down memory lane. If you haven't, enjoy the ride...
1 - Batman: Dead End(2003)
Director: Sandy Collora Writer(s): Sandy Collora
The Basics: On a dark, rainy night in Gotham City, the Joker manages to escape from Arkham Asylum. Naturally, Batman hunts him down... and comes face-to-face with not one, but two nightmarish beings a thousand times worse than the Clown Prince.
Director Sandy Collora and his team manage to catch lightning in a bottle and create cinematic history: for the very first time in a film, the essence of Batman and how he operates is captured perfectly. Not until Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins bowed three years later, had anyone even managed to come close. From the somber, atmos-pheric mood and lighting, to the dialogue, to the cowl Bats wears, had any filmmaker actually understood the basic and essential elements of the character. And with such a fully realized imagining of the Clown Prince of Crime in this film, newest Joker Heath Ledger has his work cut out for him in order to top this next year when The Dark Knight comes out.
Clark Bartram plays Batman, and from his physique to convincing delivery of dialogue, to the fact he does his own stunts, he is a force to be reckoned with. Andrew Koenig--son of Star Trek alum Walter Koenig--plays the Joker with malicious glee. Considering the limited amount of characters in this film, it's actually an advantage to the story, as Collora is able to tightly focus on exactly what needs to be done to deliver as visceral and forceful an impact as possible.
Should I tell you who it is that Batman faces off against, in addition to the Joker? Okay, fine...twist my arm(heck, you've seen the poster up top already anyway, who am I kidding). I won't tell you how it hap-pens, but in the midst of apprehending the Joker, Bats runs afoul of first the classic and original Alien, and in short succession, none other than the Predator! Film audiences around the world know what type of menaces these two beings are, so it's fair to say the Dark Knight has his work cut out for him. The work on both creatures is exactingly right as well, especially since Collora--a former worker for creature design mastermind Stan Winston--had access to the right tools to work with.
I won't give away the ending of the film, except to say that it's both startling and provocative. Unfortunately, the very nature of a fan film--a product licensed by someone else being used to create an illicit and thereby unsanctioned film--precluded Collora from making any well-deserved money off of Dead End. However, this film managed to make the rounds in Hollywood and based on the combined strength of this short and Collora's followup, he managed to net not one, but two production deals for feature films. Congrats.
And speaking of the followup...
2 - Superman/Batman: World's Finest(2004)
Director: Sandy Collora Writer(s): Sandy Collora
The Basics: Lex Luthor is running for President of the U.S., and Clark Kent uncovers a scheme that will kill innocent people...a scheme which even the Man of Steel might be unable to stop on his own. Luckily for him, the Dark Knight happens to be in town...
It shouldn't have happened once, but damned if it didn't happen twice: Collora delivered the goods once again by teaming up the Dark Knight with his sometimes-friend/sometimes-adversary Superman. Michael O'Hearn plays the Man of Steel in World's Finest, and unlike a recent actor inducted into the S-family, O'Hearn is anything but wimpy looking. Like Bartram as Batman, O'Hearn completely inhabits the dual role of Superman and Clark Kent. Wonderful surprises abound in this faux trailer, including a Perry White(Joseph Collora) who fills the screen with his presence in just a few seconds' time, as well as a Jimmy Olsen(Andrew Decker) who sells the character in just as brief a span.
Nina Kaczorowski is at once alluring, sexy and fiercely intelligent in the quick glimpes we see of her as Lois Lane. Two-Face(Michael Antonik) makes a brief appearance, but the main villain is clearly Luthor(Kurt Carley), who in a nod to the Curt Swan comics of the 70's, dons a kryptonite powered battlesuit in order to wipe up the floor with the S-man.
The budget on this film is utilized effectively, and for a "cheapie" fan film, possesses convincing--if not fully overwhelming--flying effects for Superman. Still, it's the bright costumes and the will they/won't they get along aspects of the Superman/Batman pairing that we're in it for. Drawing on several dozen years of comic lore, as well as certain ideas from the 1998 animated World's Finest movie, Collora gives us a brief adventure that is both powerful and satisfying. Personally, I think that if a director for Warner Bros. impending Justice League movie hasn't been found yet, the powers-that-be should hire Collora.
That is, if this next director isn't available...
3 - Grayson(2004)
Director: John Fiorella Writer(s): John Fiorella
The Basics: Taking place an untold number of years after Robin hangs up his cape, Batman is murdered! Now an adult, Dick Grayson(John Fiorella) must reclaim his legacy in order to find out who the killer is, and bring them to justice.
One of the best fan films ever produced, Grayson paints not only a dystopian future for the world of the Batman, it also removes the shiny veneer behind the rest of the superhero community as well. In this skewed reality, both Superman(Paul Hasenyager) and Wonder Woman(Kate Clarke) are government flunkies, basically assigned to keep Dick Grayson in line. The Joker(Brian C. Bethel), as insane as ever, goes after the young daughter of Grayson and Barbara Gor-don/Batgirl(Gloria Payne). The rest of the super-villain community, previously retired, gleefully comes out of hiding upon Robin's reemergence.
Grayson the fan film, designed as an extended movie trailer, is effective and fast-paced in every scene. There are shocks and sur-prises and little homages in nearly every frame. The cast is well managed under Fiorella's direction, and Mark Brodkin is a spitting image for the way Commissioner Gordon is pictured in the comics.
The film is partially based on the four-part masterpiece graphic novel "Kingdom Come" by Alex Ross and Mark Waid. That book, which has affected much of the DC Comics universe's current history, gives a glimpse of a world turned much darker in the ten years since Superman's retirement. Grayson flips the story around to a world from the point of view of Batman's team, and visiting the main site where the full script is available for free download gives further insight into a world where most heroes have either gone underground or now cash government paychecks, police chief O'Hara(Anthony Heartley) is clawing his way to the top of the political ladder, and Catwoman(Kimberly Page, steamy but only mildly competent) is still untameable.
Grayson was produced on a budget just under $18,000, and from both a storytelling standpoint and monetary one, it's a good thing Fiorella chose to give us the highlights. Not only would the Justice League's Hall of Justice and the Flash been unfilmable the way both are presented in his original script, but there are also considerable sticking points in the story's internal logic which the brevity of a faux trailer smartly manages to sidestep.
Considering the fact Fiorella's script will more than likely never be filmed officially by Warner Bros. though, these are minor points. Grayson manages to give us believable realizations of beloved icons, including a maniacal Joker on a par with Sandy Collora's from Batman: Dead End.
John Fiorella continues to work on and produce his own films. But it's high time that like Collora before him, someone in Hollywood needs to wake up and take notice of him quick. This is a talent that, if given the funds and tools to work with, will be able to deliver a cinematic feast for comic fans everywhere.
4 - Star Wars: Revelations(2005)
Director: Shane Felux Writer(s): Dawn Cowings, Sarah Yaworsky
The Basics: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...one of the dark-est moments in history has begun. The Republic has been swept away, replaced by Palpatine's Empire. The few remaining Jedi are on the run. Evil is everywhere, and no one can be trusted. But one woman might hold the key to saving the future...
Shane Felux is either a very sweet, charismatic guy...or he's in possession of the Jedi ability to cloud minds. How else to explain that he was able to convince actors, production personnel and visual effects companies from across the globe to work on his own personal pet Star Wars project for free? Maybe it was the prospect of various artists being able to put out their work on exhibit and potentially win future jobs. Maybe it was the chance to just work with a fun bunch of people, away from the narcissistic Hollywood rabble. Or maybe it's just that, well heck, pretty much everybody loves Star Wars.
Revelations is a well thought out, fully realized world with a story that takes place sometime in the early years between the fall of the Republic in Revenge of the Sith and the introduction of Luke Skywalk-er to the ways of The Force in A New Hope. It follows the path of former Jedi Taryn Anwar(Gina Hernandez) as she attempts to find and unlock an ancient item of incredible power, which may give her the ability to defeat Palpatine and his followers...in particular the Sith Lord Darth Vader(Kevin Zabawa in armor, voiced by Jack Foley) and the fallen Jedi Zhanna(Karen Hammang), now known as The Emperor's Hand. Aided by the smuggler Declan(Frank Hernandez) and another former Jedi, Cade(Felux, doing an extended Hitchcock), Taryn stands firm against the evils the galaxy throws at her.
The love which all involved parties in this flick have for Star Wars is evident in each scene and every moment. The CGI in many cases is on a par with any multi-million dollar movie you may have seen lately. The actors--many of them newcomers to the business--give their all. Felux's direction is steady and assured. An extra bonus comes with the free download available from the Revelations website: a director's commentary which gives a decent amount of insight into how such a project manages to do so much with so little.
Shane Felux spent around $20,000 of his own money to finance his passion, and only touches briefly upon the fact that he'll never be able to make a dime off the project. While he does his best to not show any bitterness in his voice, it is there nonetheless...and really, who can blame him? Since my initial viewing of all of these fan pics, I've reached the belief that there should be some kind of accord in place between independent fan filmmakers and the parties whose licensed merchandise they're borrowing to promote their love for said material. As long as no extra profit is made, what could possibly be the harm of at least allowing these folks who have put so much time, energy and love into making their projects, to at the very least make their money back?
Heck, let the original licensee take an initial percentage, if that's what it takes to allow indie fans to recoup. If a fan film costs, say, any-where from ten to twenty thousand to make, why not allow the makers to temporarily charge for their downloads or related fan-zines or DVDs...only until they have recouped their losses, and no more. Let them put a posting on their site which states "(fill in the blank) will be available for public downloading, once we have reached a set goal of 'X' dollars. Due to an agreement with(company name here), we cannot allow free downloads until we have met this goal. Thanks for under-standing, and for purchasing. We hope you enjoy our film." Some will initially balk, yes...but after awhile, this will become a standard, accepted practice. And it will allow for more and hopefully better fan films along the way.
Because of its length(clocking in at around forty-five minutes), Revelations wasn't eligible for some fan film contests, including a primary one sponsored by Lucas himself. However, I'm certain that if included, it would have won hands down. From the casting to the effects to the music score, Revelations is by far the best Star Wars related fan film I've seen. It is definitely worth a look.
5 - Star Trek: The New Voyages(2004-present)
Director: Includes Marc Scott Zicree, Erik Goodrich and Jack Marshall. Writer(s): Includes Eugene Roddenberry, David Gerrold.
The Basics: A brilliant new series boldly goes where the Enterprise crew more than likely would have gone...if the original series hadn't been cancelled.
Star Trek is either a passion or an obsession. There is a differ-ence between the two, and James Cawley somehow manages to straddle the line.
A professional Elvis impersonator, Cawley has been a fan of the original series all his life. Looking for a way to get more Trek in his life, he came up with the idea of self-funding a full-scale production on par with anything the actual series came up with. Making use of the latest technology and enlisting the aid of likeminded straddlers, he shot a full length hour pilot titled "Come What May". Like the original Trek pilot "The Cage", Cawley's own pilot was rejected--albeit this time by discerning fans instead of Desilu studio execs. The writing was lack-luster, the acting was bad, Cawley somehow had the guts to film with his Elvis pompadour still in place...and while the interior sets of the fabled starship Enterprise were faithfully recreated using the actual blueprints provided by Paramount Pictures, the overall effect was laughable.
Thankfully, Cawley had the sense to jettison the pilot and start over. Star Trek fans can forgive a lot(allowing Voyager to run for seven years is proof of that), and with a solid script now in place, improved effects, better acting, the pompadour removed and the acknowledgement that "Come What May" was no longer a part of his series' official continuity, Star Trek: New Voyages was finally shown the love by the majority of Trekdom.
The series has grown into a wonder to behold. The first official episode "In Harm's Way" gives a glimpse into a deadly alternate reality where the Doomsday Machine from the original series episode of the same title, has learned to replicate itself, setting off The Doomsday Wars...a war which the Federation is losing. It's also a time travel story in the best traditions of Trek, and allows for an original series actor, William Windom, to reprise the role of Commodore Decker from that selfsame episode. Also in the best traditions of Trek, there are several awe inspiring scenes, not the least of which is the Enterprise entering a planet's atmosphere to fly directly through an oversized Guardian of Forever to travel through time.
William Windom was only one of the first of the original Trek cast to make an appearance. The efforts of the New Voyages crew have caught the attention of several prominent figures from across the course of Trek history, who have lent/are lending their talents to the project. Walter Koenig, who portrayed Ensign Pavel Chekov in the original series, returned to the role in the bittersweet episode "To Serve All My Days". George Takei, best known as Sulu, is in the eagerly anticipated upcoming episode "World Enough And Time". Eugene Roddenberry, son of the late Trek creator Gene Rodden-berry, is a writer and executive consultant for the show. David Gerrold, who penned the legendary "The Trouble With Tribbles" episode and D.C. Fontana, likewise fondly remembered, contribute to the show. The legacy endures.
It was originally James Cawley's intention to film a full 22 episode season each year. This has turned into something of a pipe dream, due to the fact that everyone working on the production is doing so for free, and of course must work standard jobs elsewhere to keep food on the table. Episodes currently come out about once each year, but it's worth the wait for parties on both sides of the screen. The produc-tion of each episode is truly a labor of love for this group, and it shows. The dedication and financial contributions from all involved--as well as donations sent in by fans eager to see more--have allowed Cawley and his friends(and by vicarious extension, the fans them-selves) to live their dream. Thanks to a talented, efficient and solid group, we no longer have to wonder what would have happened if the original series had continued to a fourth season. We can now see it, at the rate of once a year(and perhaps more soon, as Cawley and company seek ways to ramp up production). Finally, as with the other great fan films listed above, there is finally a reason to continue to boldly go...
Official Archives of LanceReviews...
Fan Fare
A sampling of the very best
from the world of fandom...
Director Sandy Collora finally managed to give Bat-fans the Dark Knight they'd been clamoring to see.
Amazingly, Collora managed to perfectly capture the duality of the Batman/Joker relationship as well.
Heroes for the ages: Building on what had come before in the comics, Collora managed to deliver a Batman/ Superman pairing that worked.
The Brave and the Bold: If Hollywood won't give us satisfying portrayals of the characters we love, it's up to directors like Sandy Collora to give the fans what they want.
One of the best cinematic forays into fandom, bar none.
Unbelievable yet true: Another non-Hollywood director who manages to serve up a textbook perfect imagining of one of the most famous villains ever.
Another fan film executed better than the sanctioned stuff which it's based upon...and for which the filmmak-ers can never recoup a single dime.
Revelations provides a darker, grittier Star Wars uni-verse as it takes a look into the seedier side of the galaxy.
Husband and wife actors Frank and Gina Hernandez portray the smuggler Declan and former Jedi Taryn Anwar, respectively.
What almost ended up a laughing stock has now found a soft spot in the hearts of Trek fans everywhere.
Sets like the Enterprise bridge have been duplicated with love and care from the original blueprints.
John M. Kelley is a triple threat for the Trek set: Not only does he look like DeForest Kelley and share his surname...but he's also a doctor in real life!(cue "Twilight Zone" theme)
The definitive Bat-film...at least, until Batman Begins came out..
