Showing posts with label empire of planet x. Show all posts
Showing posts with label empire of planet x. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
HAPGOOD of MONGO
Hapgood of Mongo is taking shape in script form, and will be through development and preproduction pretty fast. :)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
HAPGOOD of MONGO
As the sort of anti-Flash Gordon and comedy relief character in Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars, "Happy" Hapgood became one of those "new arrival" characters that are half reviled and ignored and half loved by otherwise alienated fans. Such characters allow people who don't "get" or like an original work to "get" it via the prism of a new character, usually quite alien to the original intent of the original creators- much like the ever-irritating (to me) characters of Berenice Summerfield and Iris Wildthyme in the Doctor Who mythos. To me such characters seem utterly unnecessary and a total copout- rather than deal with the original material respectfully and appropriately, people shoehorn new characters in.
Well then I started trying to redo the public domain Flash Gordon works as animated films, didn't I?
Being too arrogant or too creative to ever normally stoop to use the characters of others except in explicit pastiche, I was struck by the potential for hypocrisy (or at least accusations thereof) in my use of Flash Gordon. That being so, I did some exhaustive scholarship on the man and his (fictional) times. And so arose my strange bump of intuition in relation to Hapgood, the unloved reporter.
In point of fact as a character he's fine. As acted by Donald Kerr he's also a well rounded and finely drawn character, and probably Kerr's finest moment -certainly the actor's only moment "in the sun" as it were.
As such he seemed a perfect subject to use to extend the Flash Gordon mythos.
This is because, despite 75 (count 'em) 75 years of existence, and other than the Filmation 1979 cartoon series (first season anyway) Flash Gordon languishes in the same cyclical storytelling purgatory as the legion of comicbook characters who are his imitators in almost every way. In the original comic strip there is no closure and very little advancement, certainly no character arc to speak of. There is validation of the characters we encounter, but not actual growth, unless we count Zarkov's miraculous transformation from raving potentially homicidal and suicidal lunatic to good-aligned version of Lex Luthor.
My purpose in trying to empower this mythos is to give it its life and its growth. At some point in the unfolding text of the films and other media I intend to create and have others create the story has to be passed from the original protagonists to their successors. The heroes all want to settle down and marry and reproduce. Even my version of Zarkov, with his robot girlfriend, will probably create some unholy engram-imprinted robot child or children at some point- with no doubt disastrous results.
Enter Hapgood. He is the anti-Flash Gordon, a nosy self-centered and "typical" human, not a spit-curled demigod or alien aristocrat. He's also no genius. He is the flip side of heroes like Flash Gordon or John Carter of Mars- antiheroic not by alignment- he's a "good guy"- but in attributes. He is not capable of the fighting prowess of the classic interplanetary hero. He is not capable of the feats of "blue magic" or science of the scientists of Mongo (or Earth). He is in fact almost the eidolon of journalist- a life support system for a point of view.
At least when we first encounter him in my version.
So to the few Hapgood fans out there- please embrace my vision, and when in coming weeks you see the new creation emerge, please PLEASE tell me what you think of my salvaging (and salvation?) of "Happy" Hapgood.
Well then I started trying to redo the public domain Flash Gordon works as animated films, didn't I?
Being too arrogant or too creative to ever normally stoop to use the characters of others except in explicit pastiche, I was struck by the potential for hypocrisy (or at least accusations thereof) in my use of Flash Gordon. That being so, I did some exhaustive scholarship on the man and his (fictional) times. And so arose my strange bump of intuition in relation to Hapgood, the unloved reporter.
In point of fact as a character he's fine. As acted by Donald Kerr he's also a well rounded and finely drawn character, and probably Kerr's finest moment -certainly the actor's only moment "in the sun" as it were.
As such he seemed a perfect subject to use to extend the Flash Gordon mythos.
This is because, despite 75 (count 'em) 75 years of existence, and other than the Filmation 1979 cartoon series (first season anyway) Flash Gordon languishes in the same cyclical storytelling purgatory as the legion of comicbook characters who are his imitators in almost every way. In the original comic strip there is no closure and very little advancement, certainly no character arc to speak of. There is validation of the characters we encounter, but not actual growth, unless we count Zarkov's miraculous transformation from raving potentially homicidal and suicidal lunatic to good-aligned version of Lex Luthor.
My purpose in trying to empower this mythos is to give it its life and its growth. At some point in the unfolding text of the films and other media I intend to create and have others create the story has to be passed from the original protagonists to their successors. The heroes all want to settle down and marry and reproduce. Even my version of Zarkov, with his robot girlfriend, will probably create some unholy engram-imprinted robot child or children at some point- with no doubt disastrous results.
Enter Hapgood. He is the anti-Flash Gordon, a nosy self-centered and "typical" human, not a spit-curled demigod or alien aristocrat. He's also no genius. He is the flip side of heroes like Flash Gordon or John Carter of Mars- antiheroic not by alignment- he's a "good guy"- but in attributes. He is not capable of the fighting prowess of the classic interplanetary hero. He is not capable of the feats of "blue magic" or science of the scientists of Mongo (or Earth). He is in fact almost the eidolon of journalist- a life support system for a point of view.
At least when we first encounter him in my version.
So to the few Hapgood fans out there- please embrace my vision, and when in coming weeks you see the new creation emerge, please PLEASE tell me what you think of my salvaging (and salvation?) of "Happy" Hapgood.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Empire of Planet X
Finally done. :) I am happy with it.
If it was a stand alone film rather than the beginning of a series I might cosset it more and delay release but I think it should be done in the true pulp spirit. Do it as well as it can be done on a time and budget limit and get it out to the masses.
Then on with the next ones! (as well as the ever-controversial documentaries MERCHANT OF DEATH and THE THIRD TRUTH...)
If it was a stand alone film rather than the beginning of a series I might cosset it more and delay release but I think it should be done in the true pulp spirit. Do it as well as it can be done on a time and budget limit and get it out to the masses.
Then on with the next ones! (as well as the ever-controversial documentaries MERCHANT OF DEATH and THE THIRD TRUTH...)
IT IS DONE...
Just finished the footage for EMPIRE OF PLANET X!It finishes on a surprisingly grownup note, with Dale and Flash together but their wedding still frustrated, and Dale plaintively having the last word... Then a final preview of evil and the credits roll...
The film has been a lot of fun even though I have managed some days to do no more than ten minutes work on it. As I said in a previous post given the controversy surrounding my documentary projects and related book publishing EMPIRE OF PLANET X is a welcome diversion and a nice reminder of where I used to be focused...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Ah how fondly I remember a few hours ago...
...when I was, somewhat naively, just listening to music and editing animated film footage for Empire of Planet X. Those were the days... oO
EMPIRE of PLANET X: the way ahead
Empire of Planet X is the first film in the planned series. Then come two concurrent films with slightly overlapping narratives- Hapgood of Mongo and Spawn of Sogyambi. Spawn is the story of a duo of heroes fighting the Ming War, the heroes being the two most hairstyle challenged of the heroic Mongovian royalty, Barin and Thun. Hapgood of Mongo tells the story of a victim of Azura on Earth who is mysteriously transported to Mongo in time to basically be the "comedy" antihero of the setup before joining the general cast as a desperately unneeded third wheel. It will be better than it sounds. It pretty much would have to be or why the hell do it, eh?
Then after those two films the fourth planned animated film as yet untitled is the next full chapter with the public domain versions of Flash, Dale and Zarkov and the rest fighting the Ming War. Should they be victorious in that, it falls to me to decide whether the victory over Ming needs two films- I don't think so- or whether the third and final of the first "main story" trilogy should be similar to the public domain "Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars". It has its fans but as it exists there are a lot more people hostile to it. Anyway, that is the basic plan of films. They're fun to do and will find their audience, and make a wonderful release and break from all the silliness surrounding the Khalezov Affair.
Then after those two films the fourth planned animated film as yet untitled is the next full chapter with the public domain versions of Flash, Dale and Zarkov and the rest fighting the Ming War. Should they be victorious in that, it falls to me to decide whether the victory over Ming needs two films- I don't think so- or whether the third and final of the first "main story" trilogy should be similar to the public domain "Flash Gordon's Trip To Mars". It has its fans but as it exists there are a lot more people hostile to it. Anyway, that is the basic plan of films. They're fun to do and will find their audience, and make a wonderful release and break from all the silliness surrounding the Khalezov Affair.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Secret Sun: Alien Dreaming and the Widening Gyre, pt. VI: Transmission
Flash Gordon as solar phallus, with the goddesses (aristocratic fantasy women) of Mongo (the dark "gypsy" planet, Planet X) craving his light-seed?
Flash Gordon as Mithras, Ming as..? Typhon? Storm Bull?
The Secret Sun: Alien Dreaming and the Widening Gyre, pt. VI: Transmission
Flash Gordon as Mithras, Ming as..? Typhon? Storm Bull?
The Secret Sun: Alien Dreaming and the Widening Gyre, pt. VI: Transmission
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Massive
A massive 3 extra minutes completed on the Empire of Planet X film. Poor day job... remember when you were all-important..?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Empire of Planet X: The final insult
Well perhaps all too believably, I am STILL trying to find time to finish editing this film. For FUCKS sake.
As God Is My Witness,
-I am now going to finish my fucking Flash Gordon animated film NOW.
Good night to all and to all a good night.
Good night to all and to all a good night.
Empire of Planet X
And STILL I am struggling to finish this really fun project. THE THIRD TRUTH is gobbling up so much of my time, I have a PA out on stress leave now for the first time since ever she and I worked together... In five years this is a first. Ah well.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Empire of Planet X
Loving doing this film and looking forward to doing the whole series. If you haven't already, and based on its hit counter, you haven't... :) please check out the related Wiki! It's growing steadily and is much more than just eight pages pimping a film- I am entering information on all related fields including Nibiru, the Annunaki, pop culture Flash Gordon influenced or was plagiarised by *cough* Star Wars *cough* and so on.
Click here to get to the Wiki.
Click here to get to the Wiki.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
SPAWN of SOGYAMBI
I have always loved pastiche and I pretty much made a living off of writing it professionally at one point during my teen years, if you can believe that.
This being the case, and the oh so subtle insertion of certain Outer, Elder, Monster and otherwise squamous Gods into EMPIRE OF PLANET X, it should surprise almost no one that in addition to the film series which will more or less stumble through, deviate from and revere the 1935-1940 vintage public domain works, I will also be doing the Further Adventures of Barin and Thun, the first of which is SPAWN of SOGYAMBI.
From forest to desert, the afro prince of cool and the twitchy tree nerd with the mohawk, the Princes of Hairstyles, will be battling Sogyambi's fell spawn in one of the most out of the way spots on public domain Mongo... And in the process they will be trying to not only gain the advantage in the War Against Ming but also spare the gypsy planet the horror of subsumation by the...
SPAWN of SOGYAMBI!
Not to be missed, true believers! heh.
This being the case, and the oh so subtle insertion of certain Outer, Elder, Monster and otherwise squamous Gods into EMPIRE OF PLANET X, it should surprise almost no one that in addition to the film series which will more or less stumble through, deviate from and revere the 1935-1940 vintage public domain works, I will also be doing the Further Adventures of Barin and Thun, the first of which is SPAWN of SOGYAMBI.
From forest to desert, the afro prince of cool and the twitchy tree nerd with the mohawk, the Princes of Hairstyles, will be battling Sogyambi's fell spawn in one of the most out of the way spots on public domain Mongo... And in the process they will be trying to not only gain the advantage in the War Against Ming but also spare the gypsy planet the horror of subsumation by the...
SPAWN of SOGYAMBI!
Not to be missed, true believers! heh.
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