Overlords, Inc.

Spent the last two weekends shooting the latest episode of The Hunted with Abbie Bernstein at the helm as our writer / director / producer. The episode looks like it's long enough to fill two episodes and is chock full of swordfights, locations, stunts, and amazing talent.

In addition to myself and Anthony DeLongis (reprising his role as our meglomaniac vampire baddie Vincent), the episode features Camden Toy (from the "Buffy" episode "Hush"), Bonnie Friedericy (from "Chuck"), and Steve Tartalia (Spike's stunt double from "Buffy").

We spent two weeks prepping for the shoot and working on swordfights. Camden and Bonnie were fantastic and Steve kept us on our toes with some of the fastest swordfights I've seen on the show.

The location was awesome thanks to Anthony, who offered his spectacular home "Rancho Indalo" located at the top of a ridge (and up a very scary road) in the heart of Canyon Country.

I don't want to give away too much, but the episode deals with Vincent trying to organize three other vampire "bosses" to work for him. Comedy and fights ensue in which I get dragged behind a horse and tossed off the side of a cliff. Special thanks to Kendall Wells, Jason Heck (for keeping me from ending up at the bottom of the cliff) and Jessica Cail - I owe you big time.

Here's a few shots thanks to Jess:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2023055&id=1071549257

Anthony's wife Mary is also featured in the episode and managed to snap a few shots as well:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94159&id=543421255

Youtube Contest Judges Announced!

We're quite honored to have assembled such a notable list of judges! In addition to the $1000 first prize, it's a great opportunity for anyone producing their own episode to have their work seen by industry professionals such as (drum roll):

Gillian Horvath - Creative Consultant, Producer, and Writer for TV shows such as "Highlander", "Xena", "Beastmaster", "Forever Knight", "Painkiller Jane", "Flash Gordon", "Queen of Swords", "Mythquest", and "Andromeda".

William Malone - Director on films such as "House on Haunted Hill", "Feardotcom", "Parasomnia", "Creature", "Scared to Death" and on TV shows "Masters of Horror", "The Others", "Freddy's Nightmares", "Tales from the Crypt", and "Dark Justice"

Jeff Pruitt - Stunt Coordinator / Second Unit Director for shows such as "Buffy" , "Sheena", "New Adventures of Robin Hood", "Martial Law", "Power Rangers", "Sword of Honor", "Action Man", "The Hunter", "Open Fire", "Deadly Target", "Scanner Cop", "Martial Outlaw", "Bounty Tracker", and "Timecop - The Berlin Decision"

Anthony Delongis - SwordMaster, Weapons Expert and Actor credited in films such as "Fearless", "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull", "The Rundown", "Secondhand Lions", "Batman Returns", "Far and Away", "Sword and the Sorcerer", "Masters of the Universe", and on TV shows such as "Highlander", "Star Trek Voyager", "Babylon 5", "Queen of Swords", "Magnificent Seven", "Sinbad", and "Conan".

Matthew Gratzner - Co-Owner of New Deal Studios, which is credited with award-winning visual effects in films such as "Dark Knight", "Iron Man", "Watchmen", "Spiderman", "X-men", "Terminator - Salvation", "The Aviator", "Live Free or Die Hard", "Fantastic Four", "Riddick", "Pitch Black", "X-Files", "Alien Resurrection", "Resident Evil 3" and "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen".

Abbie Bernstein - Film Critic and Writer for Fangoria, Drama-Logue, IF Magazine, Dreamwatch, Drama-logue, and writer for guidebooks on Firefly, Serenity and Fantastic Four.

I will also be on the judging panel as Writer / Actor / Director and Series Producer for "The Hunted", Star of "Ring of Steel" and "Dragon Fury", Fight Choreographer, Second Unit Director, and VFX artist on films such as "Crouching Tiger", "X-Men", "Cloverfield", "Riddick" and "Fantastic Four".

Remember, the deadline for episodes is July 12 (so get movin!). Judging will be held July 18 in time for Comic Con and the upcoming Vampire Film Festival in New Orleans. For full contest rules and details, check out www.thehunted.tv

The Hunted - Con Job

Bob, Kevin, Mikey, and members of The Hunted show up to a local Highlander convention in the hopes of spreading the word about vampire awareness (y'know, swords chopping heads off - same dif). Instead, they find fans who are more interested in photos and autographs of notable celebrities such as Braun - swordmaster for the Highlander TV show.

What's worse, the vampires have shown up for their own taste of fame.

Featuring: Anthony DeLongis, F. Braun McAsh, Robert Chapin, Andrew Helm, Maureen Russell, Morgan Ladd, Patti Pelton, The Contessa, Kit Davlin, Richard Alsabery, Darnell Mayfield, Kerry Glover, and The First-Ever Official Hunted Fans
Mikey: Jochen Repolust. Kerry Glover, Abbie Bernstein, Patti Pelton
Convention Coordinator: Lynn Loschin
Written by: Andrew Helm
Associate Producer: Susie Michaelsen

Subscribe or die!
http://www.youtube.com/user/thehuntedtv
...and check out our $1000 Youtube contest!

New Community Forum!

Sweet! Thanks to our host, Godaddy, I've learned they offer a free forum posting tool called phpbb. Okay, I'm sure everyone else out there has already heard of it, but it's really slick. I'm hoping this might be my answer to having an online resource that will help to hook up writers, actors, directors, etc, to create their own episodes: http://www.thehunted.tv/phpbb/index.php

$1000 Youtube Hunted Video Contest!

So here's the official info for the contest - happy hunting!

Is your boss a vampire? Perhaps your co-worker, pool boy, crazy cat lady down the street, or meter maid? Join us in our fight to prove the existence of vampires among us. Post your video on our YouTube group and help make The Hunted the first internet series based entirely on user content.

Quick steps to enter contest:

Step #1 - Enter contest
Step #2 - Not sure about Step #2
Step #3 - Profit!

OK, maybe with a little more detail (for full details, see http://www.thehunted.tv/contest.html ):

1. Create a 6-8 minute Hunted episode in the style of the show (reality TV) following guidelines for The Hunted, Vampires and Slayers found at http://www.thehunted.tv/profile_frameset.htm

2. Subscribe to our channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/thehuntedtv and upload your episode to this group page by July 12, 2009

3. Also submit a full resolution (NTSC or better) Quicktime copy of the episode to our ftp site at ftp.thehunted.tv (With any FTP program, login with the user name "hunted" and password "Slayer4hire", and drag and drop your episode into this directory). Please keep the file size under 100MB in Quicktime format.

4. Tell your friends and family to watch and rate your episode.

Judging: Episodes will be judged on a combination of Youtube channel views, ratings & comments, originality, storyline, production value, acting, action, and whether or not it makes us laugh. Submissions will also be judged by a panel of professional judges from the entertainment industry including writers, producers, directors and stunt coordinators (Note: exact panel may change, subject to their professional commitments).

Prizes: Top entries will receive global recognition and eternal glory in the form of featured episode placement on The Hunted official website, as well as Youtube, Facebook, and Itunes podcast, and possible screening at 2009 ComicCon in San Diego. The top 3 entries will additionally receive a cash prize of $1000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. (See, we told you there'd be profit)

If you need help creating an episode or would like to offer your services, see our bulletin pages on our Facebook or Youtube group. For more information, thoughts, or observations, email us at contest@thehunted.tv.

Good luck and happy hunting!

The Hunted - Update!

So folks have been asking how the show's going and I realized that no one knows how much activity is going on behind the scenes. So here's the latest on The Hunted:

The Hunted has been invited to be featured at the Vampire Film Festival (http://www.vampirefilmfestival.com/) this Autumn in New Orleans - Jess is stoked!

I've just filled out the paperwork to attend this year's Comic Con as a professional guest and I'm proposing a panel for The Hunted which will include a sword demo. Thanks to Anthony Delongis for offering his time once again to be my dance partner. Our other proposed panelists include Andrew Helm, Kerry Glover, Jessica Cail, Michael Coleman and Bret Culpepper who kicked my ass in gear to do this in the first place. I don't think we'll be doing a booth, but I am in contact with booth babes who may be walking around with our "Bite Me" buttons, which are a big hit.

John Mosby recently published a feature on myself and The Hunted for Impact magazine. I haven't seen it yet, but I'll be posting it online whenever it makes its way here from the UK. Upcoming interviews also include Abbie Bernstein article for "If" online magazine and Christopher Moshier for www.fanfilmpodcast.com

Since I've opened the show up to user content, I've had all sorts of interest in folks creating their own episodes. The concept here is to have the first internet series based entirely on user content. However, I'm not approaching just anyone. For swordplay, I've put the word out there to virtually every stage combat organization in the world. I'm sure there's going to be even more interest when I announce the contest I have in mind - the first Hunted Film Festival with cash prizes for best episodes. Users would upload their video on the youtube group http://www.youtube.com/group/thehuntedtv and the winning entries would also premiere at Comic Con.

As for new episodes, here's what's in the works at the moment...

* Abbie Bernstein is currently working on a script for "Overlord" with myself, Anthony Delongis, and a few surprise guests from "Buffy."
* Haven't heard from her in a while, but Dorte Jensen is planning a "Hostel" type episode shot in Germany.
* Logan Boettcher has written a wonderful "Twilight" parody to be shot at a local high school in Palos Verde.
* Another Twilight parody has been proposed by Kendall Wells (student of Anthony Delongis) to be shot in the actual Oregon location.
* Michelle Lee has expressed and interest in shooting an episode and I'm working up a "Big Trouble in Little China" script that will probably include Tim Storms and members of the Reel Kick stunt team, Anthony Delongis, and another surprise guest star. Footage has already been shot of the Chinese New Year's parade in downtown.
* Bret Culpepper, same guy who's kicking my ass to get to Comic Con has several episodes in development and is helping to produce and episode I've written entitled "Vamps Gone Wild" to be shot at one of the local goth clubs like "Bar Sinister".
* A "Beach Blanket Bingo" episode has been discussed with my buddies at Santa Monica's Muscle Beach - proposed training ground for The Hunted.
* Andrew Helm (Evil Kevin) and Maria Alexander are teaming up on a mystery project which I'm dying to see.
* James Houston and Rich Manley from Sidekick Cinema have a badass vampire fight they're looking to commit to an episode.
* I'm cutting together an episode we shot years ago called "The Audition" which features "Muffy" taking out a vampire who decides to crash our audition for new slayers.
* Ed Douglas (from Stalker 2) is choreographing a katana fight with his students for an upcoming episode.
* Patt Paczynski has several episodes in the works and has contacted Chris Vivo and his historical combat class about putting together an episode.
* Mark Bedell in Maine has expressed an interest in developing an episode for his stage combat class.
* I've talked to Chris Ready, Brian and Suki Peters about shooting an episode in St. Louis at the City Museum, which would totally rock!
* Darnell Mayfield and Richard Alsabery may be revising their characters from "Blade in training"
* I've got a couple great scripts "Arsenic and Old Blades" written by Laura Brennan and "Date with an Angel" by my bro Stuart Chapin which we've already shot half the episode.
* And last but not least, there's still the six part pilot episode I'm holding off on shooting until the rest of the show can stand on its own.

In terms of resources, I've got a host of names who are interested in working on an episode or just helping out. I'm thinking about putting together some sort of extensive contact list (like the "join us" page on www.thehunted.tv) for folks looking for cast, crew, equipment, or locations for their episode.

With whatever time I have left, I'm trying to spread the word about The Hunted by immersing myself in the internet - everything from Twitter (which I still don't understand) to Facebook, Myspace, Blogger, Funny or Die, Itunes podcasting, and of course Youtube. If you have any suggestions, please pass them on to bob@thehunted.tv. And if you have anyone who might be interested and/or qualified to shoot an episode, please pass the word.

Thanks guys!
Bob

The Hunted - Rendezvous

Bob is chosen from a lottery to be the latest victim and workout partner for Vincent Marlowe.

For Marlowe, it's better than step-aerobics. For the Hunted, it's their one chance every week to finally kill this guy.

Join The Hunted online at www.thehunted.tv, shoot your own episodes, and help us to become the first internet series based on user content. For more info, contact bob@thehunted.tv