So yes, you read that right... Amber Benson of 'Buffy' fame will be playing a vampire in our show instead of slaying vampires. :)
If you didn't know, Amber has officially attached herself to play Amelie (the founder of Morganville) in our adaptation of The Morganville Vampires book series into a web series called Morganville: The Series.
We're very excited to have her involved. But of course, the Kickstarter campaign has to fund first. Today we crossed the $25k mark towards our goal of $75k... so we're 1/3rd of the way!
Here is some nice coverage of Amber's involvement in the campaign and hopefully the series.
And here is the link to our actual Kicstarter campaign page.
We've got some really interesting rewards too. For only $40 you can get a digital copy of the script, exclusive postcard artwork and an HD download of Season 1. Or for those with deeper pockets, the $500 level you get all of the above plus a complete set of all 15 Morganville books autographed by Rachel Caine the author, along with a DVD, a poster and I forget what else. It's a lot.
So please help if you can! A tweet or FB post is almost as good as becoming a financial backer. Almost. :)
Thanks!
Blake
You've probably heard of Kickstarter because of the Veronica Mars or Zach Braff movies that raised millions of dollars recently to fund their projects. Well, I'm involved in one now too. But we're not Hollywood millionaires looking for handouts. We're indie filmmakers looking for handouts.
In all seriousness, Kickstarter is a great way to crowd-fund all kinds of projects.
In all seriousness, Kickstarter is a great way to crowd-fund all kinds of projects.
I am fortunate to be working with the international best-selling author Rachel Caine in bringing her book series THE MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES to life as an online TV series.... and we could use your help.
Here's the link to our Kickstarter campaign:
We're attempting to raise $75,000 to fund the essential expenses of shooting one season (six episodes, approx. 45-60 mins of content). That primarily being cast/crew, equipment rental, post-production, visual FX, music and of course the rewards (incentives) for contributing. Speaking of these, there are some really unique ones that involve sock puppets and ponies (not really, but maybe).
Here's the campaign video (also on the Kickstarter page):
Morganville: The Series | Kickstarter Campaign Video from Blake Calhoun on Vimeo.
So please check this project out and help if you can. Even a Facebook share or tweet is a big help. Although money helps a lot more.
This is the first of 50 or so post you'll see from me on this. I'm kidding. :)
More links:
www.morganvilletheseries.comUPDATE 6/11/13 (evening): So far so good... almost 10% of the way towards our goal!
Here's the press release that went out today too:
MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES TAKE A BITE OUT OF WEB TV
June 11, 2013
Rachel Caine, author of the New York Times, USA Today and #1 internationally bestsellingMorganville Vampires novels, announced today that the series is being adapted for a web TV series in partnership with Streamy award winning producer/director Blake Calhoun and Loud Pictures (Pink, Continuum, and TheWB.com’s Exposed).
Both are based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas.
“We want to make this show for the fans worldwide,” said Caine. “They’ve been incredibly dedicated, and the numbers of petitions and emails make it clear that they would love to see these characters on screen. We think a quality web TV series is a fun and groundbreaking way to make that happen.”
The fifteen-book saga has global popularity, with translations in 20 languages. The first novel, Glass Houses, was voted the most popular book among UK school children in 2013, ahead of smash media-fueled hits like Twilight and Harry Potter. “These books will make great television,” said Loud Pictures’ Calhoun. “They’ve got involving, dynamic characters, action, adventure, friendship and some very real high stakes. I’m looking forward to working with Rachel on bringing this to life.”
In order to raise the necessary funds to do a web TV show with high quality production values, the partners have turned to Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com) to raise the $75,000 needed to cover the essential first season costs of actors, crew, equipment, effects, and music, among other expenses. The $75,000 is estimated to cover six 8 to 10 minute episodes, for a total of approximately 60 minutes of content.
“If we reach that goal, we can turn out a very solid TV-quality viewing experience for the fans,” said Caine. “If we go over, we can add more episodes, more effects, better locations, and make the drama even more compelling.”
Caine is penning the scripts for the first season’s episodes, which will begin filming in September 2013 if the Kickstarter goals are reached. The team plans to release the preview trailer of the new series in December 2013, to follow the launch of the fifteenth and last novel of the Morganville Vampires, Daylighters.
Bestselling YA author and actor Amber Benson (Buffy, Ghosts of Albion, Chance) is attached to play the part of Amelie, the vampire founder of Morganville. Casting for additional parts is scheduled to begin after the successful conclusion of the Kickstarter fundraiser.
Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2059515068/morganville-the-web-tv-series
Website: http://www.morganvilletheseries.com
Twitter: @MV_The_Series
Website: http://www.morganvilletheseries.com
Twitter: @MV_The_Series
Producers:
Rachel Caine/Pen Ultimate Productions: http://www.rachelcaine.com
Blake Calhoun/Loud Pictures: http://www.loudpictures.com
Publishers:
Penguin Books/NAL:http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Search/QuickSearchProc/1,,Author_1000060251,00.html
Allison & Busby (UK): http://allisonandbusby.com/series/the-morganville-vampires-series/
Rachel Caine/Pen Ultimate Productions: http://www.rachelcaine.com
Blake Calhoun/Loud Pictures: http://www.loudpictures.com
Publishers:
Penguin Books/NAL:http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Search/QuickSearchProc/1,,Author_1000060251,00.html
Allison & Busby (UK): http://allisonandbusby.com/series/the-morganville-vampires-series/
Thanks!
Blake
