by Pat Miller on June 24th, 2009
Beautiful scenery, exquisite swordplay, and lots of dead ninjas abound in Karma Kula: Mystic Warrior, the new live-action martial arts web series by The Ninjai Gang, the folks who brought us animated epic Ninjai: The Little Ninja.
The series stars Ninjai Gang members in their first on-screen appearance together, the trio of badass international siblings – Satya (Uma Thurman’s martial arts double in the Kill Bill films), Subhadra, and Siddha Bellord – all of whom have a deep background in wushu and taekwondo. The Hong Kong natives also co-directed Karma Kula, bringing on fellow martial arts actors Theo Coumbis and Australian actress Rena Owen along with fellow Ninjai members Harsha Brennan and Chang Xing behind the camera.
by Jacob Nahin on June 24th, 2009
Safety Geeks:SVI, the effects-laden green screen comedy web series put out by Pith-e Productions, tracks an “elite” squad of accident investigators and safety professionals who usually cause more trouble than they’re worth. When we covered the launch of the series a couple of months ago, we highlighted it’s main boast: a record-setting number of visual effects. So far, four out of a planned 12 episodes of Safety Geeks have been released. So how does the show hold up?
The offbeat characters in Safety Geeks do an ample job of pulling out a few chuckles. There certainly is nothing safe about this team of screw-ups. One thing’s for sure: whether landing a plane in a parking lot or simply opening a door, destruction won’t be far behind. First up is Reginald Syngen-Smithe (David Beeler), a British billionaire with a nack for unintentionally hurting people.
In fact, that can be said for the entire main cast. Budwin W. Yanker (Tom Konkle) is a character with some serious childhood issues, but then anyone who saw a man’s arms ripped off during a circus probably would be. His flashbacks and inner-monologues deliver what could be an interesting story-arch as the series develops while putting the show’s edgy-foot forward. Konkle fits Yanker’s shoes well and never breaks character. Benton Jennings serves the Brit manservant flavor with cunning precision. Rounding things out, is the sexy Dr. Randi Minky, played by former Playboy playmate Brittney Powell, whose jokes mostly consist of sexual innuendos and seductive body-movements. Powell shows herself to be a very competent actress and fits right in with the veteran improv crowd.
by Reed Kavner on June 24th, 2009
Last month, Revision3, the home of such nerdy programming as Tekzilla, The Totally Rad Show, and its flagship Diggnation, launched a new show that targets a different crowd.
by Marc Hustvedt on June 23rd, 2009
In more news of web series second seasons, Poor Paul returned today kicking off its sophomore run with web television network KoldCast TV, which signed the series before its first season last fall, once again backing the outlandish roommate comedy.
Zack Bennett is back as the eponymous Paul with daytime star Kevin G. Schmidt (The Young and the Restless) and Disney Channel regular Samantha Droke (Suite Life of Zack & Cody) returning as the scene-stealing co-stars. The Disney connection was actually played up in the publicity for the show as we were told that Schmidt and Droke are both starring in another upcoming Disney TV movie, The Princess Protection Program. Who knew?
The only change on the cast was the role of Paul’s roommate Clyde, which is being taken over by Wes Whitworth. Stoner comedian Guillermo Diaz (Weeds, Half Baked) is one of the slew of guest stars announced along with Mandy Jiroux, Elaine Hendrix and Richard Riehl.
by Marc Hustvedt on June 23rd, 2009
This caught me a little off guard but the launch of male-centric video site Break.com’s new spinoff site MadeMan.com this week came, surprisingly, without any video at all. The new portal is the further development of the company’s MadeMan newsletter which apparently has over 100,000 subscribers already. Beverly Hills-based Break Media is really the official company which now claims a network of macho sites on its bench: HolyTaco, CagePotato, ScreenJunkies, Chickipedia, WallStreetFighter and NASCAR-themed AllLeftTurns.
by Ana Hurka-Robles on June 23rd, 2009
Youngish, white, manboy protagonists are the bread and butter of 90% of modern day American comedy. The Frat Pack, The Apatowverse, Lonley Island, Tim and Eric…it’s a manboy world, the rest of us are just living in it.
by Marc Hustvedt on June 23rd, 2009
Lisa Kudrow’s Streamy-nominated web series Web Therapy is coming back for a second season today on LStudio.com. Kudrow returns as online therapist Fiona Wallice known for her curt, questionably-legal three-minute patient sessions via iChat.
A second season, even for a web series, means plenty of notable guest stars, including Kudrow’s former Friends co-star Courtney Cox, who joins the cast for a few “sessions.” Her three-episode run will debut on July 6th. Also on the chat-couch this time are Alan Cumming, Steven Weber, Julie Claire, Dan Bucatinsky, and Victor Garber.
Kudrow has apparently been loving the chance to call her own shots with the project, as she once again works with producing partners Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos (who also directs the series) at Is it or Isn’t It Entertainment.
by Drew Baldwin on June 22nd, 2009
What a busy beginning to the summer! May and June were filled with web television events: Shira Lazar’s GeekOut! ’09, the Independent Television Festival Launch Party, launch parties for new web series The Gloomers, Road to the Altar, and The Day Player, new Web TV Meetups in New York, and of course Tubefilter’s monthly downtown New Media Vault events.
We heard a lot of feedback since our last Hollywood Web TV Meetup in April at Avalon Hollywood, and we are thrilled to announce Tubefilter’s July Web Television Meetup at Busby’s East in Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile is going to be our best one yet! Web television juggernauts Alex Albrecht and Hayden Black will be sharing with us their secrets to becoming the “undisputed sexiest men in web television,” and offer some sneak peeks of their upcoming projects. This is truly the meetup you do not want to miss!
