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I wasn’t a fan of Dead End, myself. I mean, the effects were good- which, yes, I realise is all Collora was trying to prove- but that’s about it, and once the fans turned it into ‘the great unknown Batman film’, I just didn’t get the appeal. So yeah, top marks to Collora, but head-shaking to the fanboy community.

Did you know Donald F. Glut- a reasonably prolific TV writer who created the Masters of the Universe- made a Spider-Man fan film before he went pro? I’m not sure if it’s any good, but yeah, there you go.

Speaking of rage over comic-to-film adaptations… I think some fanboys are gonna go fucking crazy (in a bad way) over Spidey 3. I saw it last week, and anybody reading this comments section who works in a comic book store or whatever, be prepared for some major bitching. I loved it, but I’m not sure it’s what fans are expecting.

I think the main reason that these guys aren’t being snapped up is pride. It’s pretty embarassing for both DC Comics and whatever studio they’re teamed up with for the property to make it known that someone with no rights or permits and a miniscule budget is able to make a movie that’s as well received or moreso than their blockbuster.

Also, I’m sure that DC has a hard enough time with unsolicited scripts. They probably don’t want to encourage people.

You’re dead on about that “Alex Ross painting come to life” comment, for a moment I tohught that first Batman image WAS a Ross painting.

I saw the Grayson trailer around three years ago and was blown away, mainly because I really didn’t know there was anything like this going on at the time. Glad this popped up to make me remember.

Crap, crap, and more crapola.

I hate these fanfilms, crammed down my throat through various net-venues by fanboys who geek out over seeing something that doesn’t half-suck; I don’t understand nor care about the fanfic/fanvid communities, and find it insulting when someone tries to tell me that Batman: Dead End is good. It’s like the slow kid getting a gold star when he manages to remember to put five fingers on each hand of the stick figures he’s scrawled out.

Too snarky?

Probably, but I’m astounded at the unwarranted popularity of some of these fanfilms that are out there.

I wish you would of expanded you horizons with this article - you basically wrote about the same fan films a million other articles write about without doing an ounce of homework. It was entertaining, but in a total I have seen this Episode of Happy Days a millions times already kind of way.

Donald Glut did not create Masters of the Universe although he did write for that and many other animation shows.

And how can Fan Films be crammed down anyones throat - if you don’t like what you see or hear then move on. It is as easy as that.

And Spidey 3 is going to rock, but I am sure fanboys will piss and moan over it. That is all fanboys do.

Thinking about all the time, money, talent, technical skill and personal sacrifice that was wasted on these masturbatory fan projects depresses the hell out of me.

Fan films really only work when they’re played for laughs: Pink Five, TROOPS and the shorts Zeb Wells did before he went pro are prime examples.

These skilled filmakers would be a lot better off making original films of their OWN characters and ideas rather than ones owned by entertainment megaconglomerates. Maybe they just lack the imagination required to do so - seeing as how half the ideas and dialogue from that “World’s Finest” fan trailer were just lifted from the WB animated film of the same name, that’s probably the case.

I wish you would of expanded you horizons with this article - you basically wrote about the same fan films a million other articles write about without doing an ounce of homework.

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion… but this part I take exception to. I assure you there was a great deal of homework. When I got the idea for this week’s topic I went looking through dozens of other comic and superhero fan films. I’m always interested in these kind of DIY efforts and it resonated with me as a new 21st century version of a fanzine.

But like most fanzines, you have to wade through a great deal of crap to get to the occasional promising newcomer. I didn’t write about the vast crop of crappy ones because most of them were AWFUL. Really, they were. The typical fan film I saw was an actor in a bad costume coming out of the shadows to confront a thug or group of thugs and beating the crap out of them. The end. I must have seen twenty or thirty like that. (In fact that’s probably the biggest flaw with Dead End… but it’s basically designed as a calling card, it wasn’t really supposed to be more.)

But I see no need to call the horrible ones out by name just because I can — these are folks obviously trying to do something they feel really strongly about and if they fail miserably, well, so do lots of other fan creative endeavors. I really don’t think it necessary to kick someone who’s already crippled.

Seems to me that if these are the ones that keep getting written about, it’s because they are the ones that rise to the top. Sorry if it’s old ground, but you know, not EVERYONE who reads this thing is up on the subject.

If it makes you feel better, there were a couple of comedic shorts that almost made the cut, but they looked a little too Saturday Night Live to me: “Super Precinct” and “Fast Times At Hero High” both were pretty funny.

Grayson is the only one I’ve seen in it’s entirity, although I’ve seen snippets of the others mentioned at various cons. Grayson in particular stood out to me simply because at that time the last theatrical Batfilm was Batman & Robin; I got more genuine entertainment from those few minutes of Grayson than from the entire B&R film.

These fanfilms are a lot like fanfic in general; an awful lot of crap, with a few gems here and there, but if you’re opposed to fanfic in general, even the best fanfilms won’t do anything for you.

Dan said…
“It’s pretty embarassing for both DC Comics and whatever studio they’re teamed up with for the property to make it known that someone with no rights or permits and a miniscule budget is able to make a movie that’s as well received or moreso than their blockbuster.”

And Greg said…
“I would hire John Fiorella to direct a Batman film in a hot second. Especially since he certainly knows how to keep one eye on a budget. I bet Sandy Collura could have given us a better Superman movie than Bryan Singer did, especially on the same budget. At the very least, why isn’t DC after these guys to write something for them?”

You know, I think that’s the thing I really don’t like about these fan films. I’m not saying they totally suck or anything, and I know some of the people involved are skilled, but they just get such a comically absurd over-reaction from fans.

Really, on any level, how is ‘Batman: Dead End’ or ‘World’s Finest’ more well-recieved than ‘Batman Begins’ or the ‘World’s Finest’ episodes of the Superman Animated Series? How do they demonstrate superior understanding of the characters; what technical merits do they have that makes it okay for fans to shit on the work of the uber-talented writers and directors that bring you actual movies like ‘Superman Returns’ or whatever?

I can understand, I guess, why you might be inclined to go crazy over ‘Grayson’ if you’ve just walked out of a screening of ‘Batman and Robin’. But to suggest that DC actually hire these guys to write their books, as Greg is… what do you see in those fan-films that demonstrates any real writing talent, let alone a talent that exceeds the actual writers they already have on the books?

I realise that sounds really snarky, but I’m mainly just curious/confused.

I can understand, I guess, why you might be inclined to go crazy over ‘Grayson’ if you’ve just walked out of a screening of ‘Batman and Robin’. But to suggest that DC actually hire these guys to write their books, as Greg is… what do you see in those fan-films that demonstrates any real writing talent, let alone a talent that exceeds the actual writers they already have on the books?

I realise that sounds really snarky, but I’m mainly just curious/confused.

I thought I made this clear; I’m not talking about the WRITING when I’m talking about Dead End. I’m talking about the atmosphere, the character design, the visual sense. I liked what Collora does with that stuff. And the glimpses you get of his version of Superman in World’s Finest suggest to me that he has a better handle on the guy than Bryan Singer did.

As far as the writing is concerned, I want to see the screenplays the trailers are based on. The fragments are tantalizing. I am curious. Especially about Grayson. Chances are a million to one against the movie being made, but I’d think a Prestige one-shot from DC would be do-able. THAT’s what I’m suggesting. I’m pretty sure that at no point did I imply anyone should be thrown off the regular books and replaced with these guys; I just want to see what else they can do.

And I think Fiorella would make a fine DIRECTOR of a Batman movie. Actually I think he’d make a fine director of any sort of adventure movie. That’s the beginning and the end of what I’m saying. The director sets the tone and casts the actors and designs the visual approach. I think Fiorella is a remarkable filmmaker, given what he accomplished and the limitations he was under when he made it work.

While we’re on the subject of bafflement, I really am not understanding the hostility in the comments; not you in particular, Rohan, but some of the venom I’m seeing here generally is amazing to me. Because in any other venue, comics readers can’t get enough of this stuff. Marvel and DC have essentially been DOING fan fiction in their regular books for quite a few years now. Practically the entire mainstream output of Joss Whedon, Judd Winnick, J. Michael Stracynski, Brad Meltzer and Kevin Smith…. it all suffers from the same flaws I’m seeing excoriated here in these comments. Not to mention that an enormous number of today’s ‘big-name’ creators came out of exactly this fan-fiction, underground, amateur zine culture; and I don’t know that their approach to the work makes a huge change when suddenly they get hired. Take away the Silver Age pastiche and the fan-fiction ultra-violence/continuity-fix/talk-about-your-feelings-pseudo-slash stuff from current Marvel and DC superhero books, and what’s left? Do we only sneer at it when it’s not official?

Really, on any level, how is ‘Batman: Dead End’ or ‘World’s Finest’ more well-recieved than ‘Batman Begins’ or the ‘World’s Finest’ episodes of the Superman Animated Series? How do they demonstrate superior understanding of the characters; what technical merits do they have that makes it okay for fans to shit on the work of the uber-talented writers and directors that bring you actual movies like ‘Superman Returns’ or whatever?

I BEG your pardon? You are reading things into what’s written that aren’t there. That’s setting up an argument that frankly, I did not make. How is it shitting on something good to suggest something ELSE is good? I really don’t think Superman Returns IS that good, I’ll cop to that — I think almost anyone who was more a fan of the books than the movies would have done better with it, certainly we wouldn’t have seen those vaguely creepy stalker incidents with Superman spying on Lois– but apart from that, I just don’t see what you’re saying. It’s not an either-or assumption. How is suggesting that a Fiorella Batman movie is worth making translate to a slap at Christopher Nolan? — whose movie didn’t EXIST when these were made, by the way. And a live-action World’s Finest certainly doesn’t seem to me to be in competition with an animated one done for television. What I’m suggesting is that these samples, designed to get these guys actual work, seem to be good enough to get them some kind of a gig. I’m wondering why no one’s given them a shot at SOMETHING, especially in a comics industry that’s ALREADY completely dominated by a fanfic mentality.

In terms of the hostility, I would guess the “Those who can, do; those who can’t, bitch about it incessantly” edict to perhaps be true here.

I don’t know if I’d go so far as to suggest that these guys deserve to helm major-studio, big-budget films based on these reels, but they certainly seem cogent enough to deserve at least a chance to pitch at DC and/or Marvel. I would think this would be seen as a great way to “farm team” guys who could turn into great creators.

And these types of projects EASILY surpass the notion of “fanboy masturbatory projects” when you consider they were done as essentially demo reels for one’s professional capabilities. That’s how it works in the entertainment industry–one way to get hired to make stuff for someone else is to prove you can do it by showing it, and that means making and paying for stuff like this. It’s attempted so often and by so many mediocre filmmakers that it’s probably diluted some of its appeal, but I’d be there are offices in Hollywood where the folks who made these films would be welcomed for consideration for pro jobs.

Even though it’s really stupid at times, “Losing Lois Lane” deserves a mention for being somewhat funny. (Ok, it is a tired concept, but it does induce a few chuckles).

And how about the longest fan film ever?…X-Men 3: The Last Stand

LA SHORTS FEST
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Final Deadline MAY 26, 2007
Submit Online: http://www.lashortsfest.com
323-461-4400

11th Annual LA Shorts Fest is the largest short film festival in the world, screening 700 films of every category. We are accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. In past years, 25 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, this years Oscar winner for best animated short film “The Danish Poet” made it’s Los Angeles premiere at LA Shorts Fest in 2006 continuing our streak of the last 8 Oscar winning short films having screened at LA Shorts Fest the previous year. Last year’s award winners received prizes totaling over $100,000. The festival annually attracts more than 10,000 moviegoers, filmmakers and entertainment executives looking for the hottest new talent We have honored some of Hollywood’s legends of the past: Charles Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Robert Wise; along with actors Martin Landau, James Woods, Gary Oldman and directors Tim Burton, Bryan Singer, Jan de Bont and Paul Haggis. http://www.lashortsfest.com 323.461.4400

But Greg, you ARE talking about the writing if you’re saying that you’d like to see the screenplay for ‘Grayson’ turned into a Prestige Format book. That’s what I’m responding to. And I just don’t see anything in the ‘Grayson’ trailer, on a writing level, that puts it above the depressing, post-DKR grim’n'gritty superhero stuff that everybody here says they’re sick of seeing in comics.

Again, I’m not knocking the short. As you say, as a director, Fiorella demonstrates a bunch of stuff that I assume helped him get more work. I just don’t see what’s so hot about the writing.

“I BEG your pardon? You are reading things into what’s written that aren’t there. That’s setting up an argument that frankly, I did not make. How is it shitting on something good to suggest something ELSE is good?”
Now it’s my turn to think I made myself clear. I actually wasn’t responding to you there, I was responding to Apodaca. The guy I quoted, right at the start of my comment, who mentioned that these shorts were as “well received, if not more so” than actual superhero movies. That’s a fair point, in and of itself, but it reminds me of all those really bizarre discussions on the net about how “Dead End is totally the best Batman movie ever made, take that you hacks and corporate stooges!”

Which seems to be directly shitting on the work of the professionals, to me.

“In terms of the hostility, I would guess the “Those who can, do; those who can’t, bitch about it incessantly” edict to perhaps be true here.”
I don’t know about the other commenters, but I love short film. I love film in general. I have no problem acknowledging that the people who made the short films in question devoted a lot more effort to the projects than I’d be willing to, and have infinitely more film-making talent. But that doesn’t mean I have to like these short films, or understand the fuss over them.

I did like the Blue Beetle/Booster Gold fan-films that were going around on the net awhile ago. They were pretty cool.

Greg said…
“Marvel and DC have essentially been DOING fan fiction in their regular books for quite a few years now. Practically the entire mainstream output of Joss Whedon, Judd Winnick, J. Michael Stracynski, Brad Meltzer and Kevin Smith…. it all suffers from the same flaws I’m seeing excoriated here in these comments.”
Sorry, I meant to pick up on this in my last comment, but totally forgot. The most obvious differences between those guys and the directors you’re talking about- as far as being given work from DC and Marvel- would be Buffy, Barry Ween, Babylon 5, a bunch of best-selling novels, and Clerks. Each of those guys has proven they’re capable of successful, original work, which actually involved writing, as opposed to impressive special effects.

As far as suffering from the “same flaws”, If you can find mainstream comics work from any of those guys that suffers from the flaw of ‘Batman fights Aliens and Predators, while the Joker quotes lines from Burton’s Batman movie’, please, be my guest.

Again, Batman fighting Aliens and Predators is quite cool, visually, which is what Collora was going for. But to compare the writing of that, or ‘Grayson’, to any of the guys you listed… wow.

Actually, I will grant you that, based on the Grayson trailer, Fiorella could easily have come up with the plot for, say, ‘Spider-Man: Reign’. I have no idea if he draws as well as Kaare Andrews, though, so that’s a moot point.

Los Angeles International Short Film Festival

CALL FOR ENTRIES
Final Deadline MAY 26, 2007
Submit Online: http://www.lashortsfest.com
(323) 461-4400

11th Annual LA Shorts Fest is the largest short film festival in the world, screening 700 films of every category. We are accredited by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. In past years, 25 participants have earned Academy Award nominations, this years Oscar winner for best animated short film “The Danish Poet” made it’s Los Angeles premiere at LA Shorts Fest in 2006 continuing our streak of the last 8 Oscar winning short films having screened at LA Shorts Fest the previous year. Last year’s award winners received prizes totaling over $100,000. The festival annually attracts more than 10,000 moviegoers, filmmakers and entertainment executives looking for the hottest new talent We have honored some of Hollywood’s legends of the past: Charles Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Robert Wise; along with actors Martin Landau, James Woods, Gary Oldman and directors Tim Burton, Bryan Singer, Jan de Bont and Paul Haggis. http://www.lashortsfest.com 323.461.4400

Alpha Dog

Young Johnny Trulav (Hirsch) got pushed into the shadows Mafia Pope (Willis), and cultivated in a small band of sound mind monkey herd until its credibility ring is not questioned’60s evrey-bespredelschik Mazurski (Foster), first zazhilil $ 1200…