by John Manalang on May 6th, 2009
What would it be like if Don Michael Corleone’s career as an organized crime king became a complete failure? Instead of worrying about other rival mobs attempting to assassinate him, Corleone would worry more if he could even afford enough bullets to shoot back. And instead of saying that famous line his father taught him, he’d rather say, “keep your friends close…because at least you can ask them for money.”
Well thanks to Streamy Award winning director Blake Calhoun, we’d get a good idea in seeing an organized crime family become unorganized in his latest “mobumentary” web series, 88 Hits, which launched on KoldCast TV this week.
Documentary filmmaker Robert Brewer (played by David Wilk) follows the daily dysfunctions of family boss Paul Pascadelli (played by Paul Slavens), his nephew and under boss Tommy Pascadelli (played by Troy Grant), the main collector Franky Ford (played by none other than…Frank Ford) and head of gambling operations Darnell Washington (played by Oliver Tull).
by John Manalang on April 9th, 2009
If someone would ask you, “What defines your culture?”, how would you respond? One would say it would be the city lights of Tokyo at night if they came from the land of the rising sun. The majestic sight of the Taj Mahal in India would perhaps show the roots and ancestry of the people from that country. Or maybe, just a taste of a fresh taco along the streets of Mexico can define culture to others coming from south.
But to Nando, a photographer who discovers he has some sort of inheritance waiting for him in Beirut Lebanon, we grasp a vivid and uncanny vision of what defines his culture behind his lenses—that definition is simply everyday life.
Flying Kebab is an amazing narrative web series that follows the adventures of Nando, played by Fernando Borges, as he explores his heritage along the street of Beirut while he awaits to unravel his mysterious inheritance. Directed by São Paulo Brazil-based Matheus Siqueira along with associate producer Clederson Perez, the series introduces a new perspective in the way we see life around us.
by John Manalang on April 2nd, 2009
Prior to the big game, dozens of web stars and film celebs flocked the red carpet and it was indeed a sight to behold. Never did the words “exciting”, “creative” and “innovation” become unsaid in each passing moment during the event.
Parading through the red carpet and greeting the media were the stars and talents that created so much great content on the web for us to enjoy. All the familiar faces of film and web entertainment were there, celebrating the moment—from Felicia Day and Obama Girl…sorry, Amber Lee Ettinger to Neil Patrick Harris, Lisa Kudrow, Taryn Southern and Rosario Dawson, everybody was having a complete blast.
by John Manalang on March 28th, 2009
Ladies and gentlemen, the time has finally come to give a proper salute to the best of web television of the past year. The first annual Streamy Awards launches tonight at 7:30PM PST at the Wadsworth Theater in Los Angeles, CA and you better prepare yourself for one hell-of-a show.
Featuring dozens of your favorite web series, actors and actresses nominated in 24 award categories reviewed by The International Academy of Web Television, The Streamy Awards honors all the hard work, sweat and tears by web entertainment producers in giving us the best damn entertainment we can find on our browsers. The show will be streaming LIVE via www.streamys.org.
by John Manalang on March 20th, 2009
Perhaps the answers have finally arrived, thanks to one man who has secluded himself in the name of exploration, spirituality and damn good hallucinogens. His name is Jonas Hawkinus and he’s the star of the new web series, Mountain Man which premiered this week on Strike.TV.
“Mountain Man is a surreal comedy adventure series chronicling the escapades of ex-folk star, anti-government survivalist Jonas Hawkinus,” said producer Matt Enlow. In the series, Hawkinus, played by Mike H. Miller, secludes himself in his underground lair he calls the “Sanctuary”, where he basks his ego and paranoia with the most psychedelic conspiracies—from mistakenly identifying hikers as secret government agents to knocking a satellite out of space utilizing only his power chakras.
by John Manalang on March 16th, 2009
Ah yes, the college dorm life—such wonders it held for many of us. As we hauled our asses out of our beds—hung over or over somebody—to get to our academic destinations, each step we take brings us memories of the night before. From the booze filled conversations, the awkward recitals and to the pleasurable score of the evening, the dorm life would always revolve around the three necessities of college education: drinks, company and sex.
But what if all of a sudden, you witness one of your dorm neighbors being dragged away in a body bag by two mysterious men who seem to have no affiliation with the school or any fraternity. The party stops all of a sudden…
Creators Adam and Nolan Lebovitz introduces their new web series FreshmanJulie, a suspense-thriller about a college newcomer Julie (played by Lindsay Rathert), who documents her daily life with a webcam as she explores the wonder and surprises of first year in the university. Her chronicles took an unexpected turn when she finds out that her dorm neighbor and love interest, Craig (Kevin Reich), went missing.
by John Manalang on March 3rd, 2009
SpaceShank Media’s Alec McNayr and Bob Gustafson (who also created acclaimed Flipper Nation) recently launched their hilarious new web series, My Roommate the Cylon.
Giving much respect and salute to the sci-fi series, this comedy spin-off revolves around the story of three roommates Bennett Jacobs (played by Alex Enriquez), Pjeter Odama (Tyson Turrou) and Dale McKinney (Kenny Stevenson). The catch? Well, after receiving a letter from a mysterious sender, one of these guys apparently had a skinjob—nothing gross or raunchy, it just means that one of them could potentially be a Cylon who wants to eradicate the human civilization.
by John Manalang on February 25th, 2009
Let’s face it, unless you’re some aspiring historian who plans on writing the next world bible, the subject of history is a bit of a drag. Sure, history has shaped the world we live in today (whether you enjoy it or not) and its significant events of the past, including the era we’re living in today, will carry on for generations. But, some may say that history needs a little more spontaneity, enigma and…oddity.
Thankfully, The History Channel has injected a hefty dose of eccentric tidbits into the previous pages of time with their first original web series, Great and Telling Tales with Timothy Dickinson. The 12-episode series narrates bits and pieces of histories most revered events and people, such as the Kennedy/Nixon debate and Rasputin, and illustrates them into a psychedelic caricature of events through its first twelve episodes now available online.. And much of the animated literature that unfolds before your eyes comes from the brilliant mind of Dickinson.
