August 3, 2008

Her Batteries

(2008) 5 minutes. Written and Directed by J Wilder Konschak. Starring Barb Beaser. Shot by J Wilder Konschak and Alli Hartley. Music by Kevin MacLeod For forwarding and embedding, please click right here.

***

This post might be a bit of a spoiler, but I'm going to go ahead because I think it'd be wrong if I didn't explain the deeply personal, monumentally important nature of this month's video update. It doesn't have the usual Misplaced Planet polish, but that's because it was created entirely outside of our production schedule. It got hammered together, for love alone, despite an overwhelming schedule of producing episodes of our upcoming web-series, HELL FROZE OVER. I could argue that we did it for the fun of filming from the hip, since it was produced at home, with a crew of two, and a cast of two, and a crossover between those two groups of one. It could be argued that it was done for the pleasure of working with two of my favorite people. It could be argued that it was intended to test the camera-rig I'd designed and constructed for no conceivable reason. But none of those reasons capture the passion I've always felt for this project. The truth is, this movie happened for one simple reason. I love vibrators. I think they represent a rare example of our world with its heart in the right place. The inventive design and manufacture of a vibrator. The calculated and yet instinctive selection and purchase of a vibrator. The use and diligent maintenance of a vibrator. The cherished place is takes in a loving relationship, and the comfort it offers when all else seems lost. It is an object that admits the hard realities of human existence, but also transcends them through our power to create. Yes, this short film was born of the same kind of warm, good-natured affection that must have motivated the writing of The Brave Little Toaster. And now that I've written that sentence, I really wish it were more like The Brave Little Toaster. Perhaps with a vibrator named Nine Inch Neil singing "Turn On Your Heartlight." Ah well. This version, staring a sexy woman and an increasingly fat-faced dude, is gonna have to suffice, at least until I can get the budget together on that one. So... Enjoy! And click right here, watch it, rate it, and send it to your friends.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 10:38 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 29, 2008

Paul's Brain Trust

When you say, "It could not have happened to a nicer guy," you'd rather not be referring to a brain tumor. Unfortunately, in the case of our good friend Paul, that's exactly what you'd be talking about. And it's true: something this awful could not have happened to a nicer guy.

As you may know, I lived in New York City for a year or so. (Stay with me, this is actually about Paul). While I lived there, I spent my holiday season with the dog and some Chinese food. It was really good Chinese food and a pretty good dog, but that's really all that can be said for it.

I really can't recommend the experience.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I was fortunate enough to make some wonderful friends. Actually, I'm ridiculously shy, or at least wisely reluctant to impose the misfortune of my company on anyone, so it's really more honest to say that some wonderful people made me their friend. And when those year-end holidays came around again, Paul was amongst those wonderful people who were good enough to welcome me into their home.

So, I spent last Christmas on the floor in Paul's living room, under his Christmas tree, playing with the children and feeling nothing less than welcome. It seems that kind and warm people gravitate to Paul and his family. Perhaps it's because they're kind and warm. I'm unaware of any bribery involved, so I can't imagine what else it could be. No, it must be that they're kind and warm, and not in an annoying way to boot.

I highly recommend the experience.

Yes, kindness attracts itself to itself, and in times like these, I'm glad it does. Paul's friends and family have come together to form Paul's Brain Trust.

They have a website. Go there.

You back? Okay. Let me add this: the events being held now on Paul's behalf are only the beginning. They're starting off with a screening of Blade Runner. Paul worked on the recent boxed set for it. Ridley Scott is involved and everything. Ridley isn't as cool as Paul or anything, but it's still pretty cool. If you hurry, you can probably still grab some tickets to the screening. If you don't hurry, there will be other events to follow.

That's no reason to be lazy, of course.

Cancer is awful. On top of being awful, it's suprisingly expensive. Seriously, you'd be surprised. I know you think you know how staggeringly expensive it is, but you'd still be surprised. It's more expensive than that. No, more. Higher. More expensive. Higher. Not even close. Higher. Forget it, you don't want to know how expensive it is.

That being said -- why not attract a little kindness to yourself? Feed off the energy and get in on the ground floor of a positive karma empire. Help us pay to help Paul. Give what you can.

And from now on, when we say, "Could not have happened to a nicer guy," we'll be referring to the outpouring of generosity that started here.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 12:39 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

May 1, 2008

Obama and the Red Phone

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has taught us much. I've long wondered why it is that, when our brain surgeon retires, we are so quick to let his wife take up the bone saw and scalpel.

It turns out it's because we have the common sense to recognize her experience. She has lived with a brain surgeon. She has attended seminars at his side, sometimes in his stead. She might as well have been a brain surgeon herself.

It's the same reason we put the son of a president in charge of our country. It's just smart.

We have also learned -- from that same trove of experience, no doubt -- that a big part of the president's job is sitting around the White House waiting for the phone to ring.

In fact, the president is expected to be there all night! Man, that is one tough job. One can only wonder, why haven't insomnia and light-sleeping been presented as major strengths in past elections? A foolish oversight on the media's part, I'm sure.

In response to this revelation, we rounded up the wives and sons of the best members of our film crew, and we did a little investigative journalism. Our short film exposes the truth about the now-mythic 3 AM phone call.

One should also note that we thought the fruits of our labor might make an excellent campaign ad for MoveOn.org's OBAMA IN 30 SECONDS contest.

We made a short version for them.

Alas, it seems they are not familiar with the well known defenses of the Errol Morris style of dramatized re-enactment. They felt our illustration of the honest concerns of our interviewee constituted an "attack."

And they rejected it.

This is MoveOn.org's loss.

The truth is never an attack. The truth is incapable of taking pot-shots at anyone. The sniper fire you hear is not real.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 10:53 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 31, 2008

Business as Usual

Well, well, well. Look who comes crawling back. If it isn't Misplaced Planet.

Look at yourself. Dragging your sorry butt back onto the internet, making all kinds of noise, waking everybody up, and well after midnight, too. Drop the other shoe, Misplaced Planet. Drop the other shoe, so we can all go back to sleep.

Do you own a watch? Do you know how to use a phone? Can you make a steam boat from a deck of cards? We been asleep for hours! How else could we stand the boredom?

You better be sorry, Misplaced Planet! That goes without saying!

Well, at least you got the good sense to bring back some presents with you. Let me see what you got. Hold on now. Hold the phone. That ain't a whole new website, is it? Brand new, top to bottom? And a brand new short film? My my, that ain't Business as Usual, now is it!?

Gosh.

Now I just don't know what to think.

Cause, you know, you been gone a long time. You left us sitting here, alone, watching reality television, eating whip cream with a rubber spatula. You been gone so long, we thought maybe you found some younger, prettier internet. One with more porn. One who liked it in the LOLCat.

But now you walk in here, flashing that new website of yours, and you remind me of all them movies that made me love you in the first place, and now you say, all this time I been wondering if you was in a ditch somewhere, dying from some egg you ate out of a dumpster, all this time, you was writing, and filming, and editing, and learning SCUBA? All for me? And then you go and make me laugh, don't you? Well! Lord above. I don't know what to think anymore.

Just don't know what to think.

Awww, hell, Misplaced Planet. Get on over here and lemme fuck you some.

You know, just to welcome you back.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 9:41 PM | | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

November 14, 2006

Sedna's Consession Speech

Thank you all for your support, your votes, and your continuing efforts to drum up votes and support for Misplaced Planet's little $300.00, New Jersey movie, Signal Decay, recently up for consideration on the Sci-Fi Channel / Sundance Channel Exposure Competition, missioned with discovering new filmmaking talent.
Unfortunately, despite all your gracious help, we did NOT move forward to the next round. Instead, the prize went to another film. The winning nominee was produced in 2001, by an undiscovered professional television director, and prominently features a well-established entertainment personality, absolutely unknown for his starring rolls in small, unnoticed series like M*A*S*H, as well as The Dead Zone, which aired on an unrelated, fly-by-night network called The Sci-Fi Channel.
The judges of this competition should be very proud of their selection of nominees. One must admire their strict adherence to the noble goal of seeking out new talent. We can only hope that the Grammy Music Award judges will achieve a similar clarity of purpose, and will award The Best New Artist Award to either Buddy Holly or Chuck Barry.
I must say, it is comforting to know that one of the votes made against us was likely from Alan Alda.
We were beaten by the best
On a happier note, I am very proud to announce that I have won the Misplaced Planet Sulking Award by spending my lunch hour (or so) in a sports bar, drinking several beers and not eating. Without the support of my friends, my family, my coworkers, and particularly, my waitress, I could not have earned this glorious afternoon of despondent sleepiness, throbbing headaches, blurred vision, and slurred speech. It should also be noted that Barb Beaser was awarded the second-place Silver Sulking Award for having boldly swallowed a lithium battery.
Now, having put this debacle behind us, it's time to SELL SOME DVDS, GET SOME DONATIONS, and make ourselves a movie called The Small Talker, so that someday soon, we'll be as unknown and undiscovered as this round's winners!

Thank you again! And I mean it!

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 11:11 PM | | Comments (37) | TrackBacks (0)

November 7, 2006

Vote for Signal Decay! Today and Daily!

Misplaced Planet's film, Signal Decay, is a finalist in the online Exposure short-film competition held by the Sci-Fi Channel and the Sundance Channel. It will be in competition THIS WEEK ONLY, and your vote can change the future of Misplaced Planet. Go here and vote for Signal Decay. It's a big deal! http://www.scifi.com/exposure And go here EVERYDAY and vote for Signal Decay: http://www.sundancechannel.com/exposure THIS WILL ALL END ON FRIDAY!! PLEASE VOTE!! IT COULD MEAN A LOT FOR OUR FUTURE AS HUMAN BEINGS!! Also, you can help by reposting this message and sending it to friends and family! If you do, you will be kissed by the object of your desire at some point in the future. If you do not, your favorite television show will eventually go off the air. And then you'll be SKINNED ALIVE AND HUNG IN A CLOSET BY A MAN WITH A HOOK. Love, Wilder, Shaun, Benni, Alli, Stirling, Karl, Gabe, Amy, and all of Misplaced Planet from now until forever.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 11:23 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 16, 2006

LAUNCH

Today, Misplaced Planet exhaustedly launches its first DVD collection, Transmission from Sedna. It's taken a lot of sleepless nights, but the result is nothing short of spectacular. Click on the blue "shopping cart" icon above (Online Store), or click right here, to explore the vast contents. Your choice -- one disc to experience the essentials -- or a two-disc set to complete the collection.

The set is professionally packaged and pressed from a glass master -- not burned. On it, you will discover full-resolution, digitally mastered versions of Momentary Engineering, Antebellum, Home Team, Brains!!!, Signal Decay, Just Us League, Home Front, Home Movie, and more.

Many include commentary, deleted scenes, alternate scenes, and trailers, all presented with beautiful animated menus. Plus, you'll find detailed Behind the Scenes documentaries for Signal Decay, Just Us League, Antebellum, and our production of the Transmission from Sedna commercials, The Men You've Killed and Helicopter Theory. To top it all off, you'll find the world premiere of Anniversary Dinner, a devilishly twisted short written and directed by J Wilder Konschak -- Misplaced Planet's first official production, shot in 2004, recovered and re-edited for this collection.

But best of all, every thin-dime that's earned by the sale of this DVD collection goes directly into the coffers for Misplaced Planet's next major production: The Small Talker, written and directed by J Wilder Konschak, starring Jess Temple and Matt McNutt. You know you were going to contribute anyway -- why not get an amazing pair of DVDs out of the bargain?

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 11:24 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 8, 2006

The Small Talker: Rehearsal One

Even though I was hardcore exhausted after some terrible sleep the night before, the first "official" rehearsal for The Small Talker went very well.
We started off by running through the elevator scene, and then taking a few stabs at the two bathroom mirror "discussions." We spent a good long while going in circles with nonsense words, which I suspect was far more amusing and exciting for Alli and I to watch than for the actors to perform. Ridiculous. And it's going to be a hoot to film.
After that, we briefly discussed characters, and a little casting for the parts of LeAnne, Samantha, and Barb. I think, in general, we discovered a lot of interesting stuff, and the characters are coming alive, softening up, and finding their voices.
Having had enough of that scripted bullshit, we took the camcorder and an extension cord out to the courtyard and filmed some footage for a brief The Small Talker teaser trailer. I've got it all captured to my computer, and hopefully I'll have a chance to smooth out a presentable edit by the end of tomorrow. I'm less certain about what music to use than I was, but I think the footage looks surprisingly promising, considering the limited equipment and crew. Sunlight works magic.
Then, we went around and took some publicity photos, to the apparent bewilderment of the cast. It felt a lot like a good day of shooting Darwin's Kids opening credits. A lot of fun.
And, I'll have you know, I just finished looking at the pictures, and there are some really great ones. I'm going to try and post a few on the forum tomorrow. Though Jess and Matt might prefer it if we didn't, I think we'll have to do that again, because it's great stuff, and I get a kick out of it.
We will meet again either when we have Barb, LeAnne, and Samantha cast, or the first weekend in November -- whichever comes first.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 11:45 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 4, 2006

New Features, New DVD

The new Current Discussions feature puts the latest posts from the Misplaced Planet Forum just a drop-down click away.
It aggregates, organizes, and display clips from each post made on the forum in the last 24 hours. With just a click on the post title, you'll be taken to that post in the forum, where you can read it in context and post your own response.
Be sure to watch the site closely in the coming weeks. Misplaced Planet's first major DVD release is now being professionally pressed. By mid-October, the two-disc Transmission from Sedna DVD set will be available online. All proceeds will go directly toward funding our next major short-film, The Small Talker, which goes into production in January 2007.

Transmission from Sedna will feature all of our recent productions, including Momentary Engineering, Antebellum, Home Team, Brains!!, Signal Decay, Just Us League, Anniversary Dinner, Home Front, and more.
On top of that, you will find extensive commentaries, behind the scenes documentaries, and deleted or alternate scenes. The main disc will be professionally pressed and packaged, as high-quality and long-lasting as any DVD you might buy in a store.
We're very excited to offer this, and hope you'll join us in our fund-raising drive for The Small Talker. Also, if you have any suggestions for improvements or updates to the website, click on the speech-bubble button with a star, just below this message, and post your thoughts.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 10:08 PM | | Comments (0)

September 15, 2006

Autumn from Space

September has been a very productive month at Misplaced Planet, and the autumn of 2006 promises more of the same.

As you may have noticed, we have a new Productions page, offering more information about each of the movies, and easier navigation. You will also find links to our iTunes podcast, the RSS newsfeed, and the productions-only blog (in many ways, the three are one-in-the-same).

The biggest news, of course, is the official completion of Momentary Engineering. With additional music provided by Stirling McLaughlin, and a final sound-mix by Michael Benni Pierce, the film has completed its long journey. We are very proud of it, and cast and crew should contact Wilder by clicking here to receive a link to a compressed online version. Meanwhile, don't forget to check out the new website by clicking here.

This film, along with Antebellum, Just Us League, Signal Decay, Brains!!!, and Home Team, will be featured on disc one the upcoming Misplaced Planet Productions DVD set, titled Transmission from Sedna.

Disc two will feature J Wilder Konschak's newly re-edited and scored Anniversary Dinner, along with Shaun Boyle's documentary, Home Front, and a heap of bonus materials, commentaries, and behind the scenes documentaries, including two newly produced Misplaced Planet Commercials, both of which will be making their online premiere before the end of the month. More information will be available in coming days.

And, speaking of behind the scenes documentaries, head over to the Just Us League site, where the monthly update continues. September's Behind the Scenes Documentary Segment features The Bombinatrix, Keely Flynn, and some talk about make-up and stand-ins. The full Behind the Scenes documentary will be featured along with the film on the upcoming DVD. Click here to check it out.

And through it all, Gabe Mckee's Self-Amusement Park continues to make us wonder what's wrong with that guy. Enjoy the mystery by clicking here.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 5:33 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

August 15, 2006

J.U.L. and More to Come

Misplaced Planet's newest short-film, Just-Us League, also known as J.U.L., has its own website. It is the pulse-pounding fable of a father who tries to heal the hearts o his children by pretending they're a family of super-heroes. It is also a movie where a half-naked woman beats the hell out of a dumb jerk.
View the movie, meet the heroes, and check in regularly, because there will be monthy updates to the Behind the Scenes featurettes, and the newest segment, Part 2, was posted today. You can access it in the Productions Section, or you can click right here.
In the very near future, particularly in a cosmological sense, there will be many exciting updates, including news for the recently completed Antebellum, the nearly completed Momentary Engineering, and even some projects you thought were forgotten, such as Anniversary Dinner. We'll also be starting pre-production on our next major short-film, Small Talker, written and directed by J Wilder Konschak.
Furthermore, you'll have a chance to own many of the features you've sampled here on Misplaced Planet, when we release our first DVD since the last DVD. But that's still on the hush, hush, so don't let anyone know I told you.
Until then, enjoy Self-Amusement Park, where Gabe Mckee demonstrates the horrible majesty of his warrior spirit.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 9:20 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 31, 2006

Self-Amusement Park is back!

That's right, after a year-long hiatus while I finished up my book and settled into my new, underemployed existence in Brooklyn, it's finally time for L'il John, Francesca, Unicron, and Katie to bring you the laffs you've been missing. My plan is to try to put up two (two!) new strips every week, so come back often to experience the adventure that is my brain. In the coming weeks, you'll find an improved site design, character bios, extended storylines, guest stars galore, and an army of vikings. So stop on by! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Accost strangers on the street! Self-Amusement Park: It's not just for brain-damaged orangutangs anymore. Hugs, bugs, and heartstring tugs,

Posted by Gabe Mckee at 10:36 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 17, 2006

Been a Long Time...

...Since we've updated the old message board here, but that's because Misplaced Planet has been in the midst of some pretty serious updates and upgrades. We have moved to a new hosting service, which should provide faster connections and far more space for hefty video and audio content. In case you're wondering, that new host is BlueHost, and so far, they've been pretty good to us. I'll let you know if they cross me. Right now, you should turn your attention to the Newest Sidebar, where you'll notice the button for Signal Decay. That's our newest short film, created for the DVXUser Science Fiction Competition, Sci-Fest. The website is ready for your examination, so check it out by clicking right here. You'll find the film itself, along with a gallery of pictures, and a wonderful Behind the Scenes Documentary. You can also click over to the Momentary Engineering site, where we're posting a sneak peek of the film's web trailer, which will be officially launched along with the full website in the coming weeks. Enjoy!

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 1:39 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

January 31, 2006

Brains!! Wins Ridiculous Award!

This weekend Brains!! was featured in the Garage Comedy Film Festival, in Hollywood's famous New Beverly Cinema. That was on midnight, Saturday, January 28th, 2006, for those keeping tabs. Brains!! was featured along with an hour of other carefully selected shorts. Brains!! was well-received. Unlike George W. Bush in Iraq, Brains!! did not bomb. Much like George W. Bush making a policy speach, Brains!! got a lot of laughs. Brains!! also received a special prize. It's in an envelope with a gold-embossed sticker that reads, "Excellence Award," with a little torch in the middle of the sticker. That's supposed to remind you of the Olympics. When you peel back the sticker and open the envelope, you find a parchment certificate, which reads, "Certificate of Recognition. BRAINS is awarded this certificate in recognition of ZOMBIE HUMOR this 28th of January, 2006." There you go. Brains!! won its category, hands down. Rock on Metuchen, Rock on Brooklyn, Rock on Van Nuys,

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 12:08 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

January 1, 2006

Misplaced Planet's New Year

As those with sharp eyes have already surely observed, New Year's Day 2006 is being celebrated with a fresh new face for Misplaced Planet. I'm very excited to finally share the new site, rebuilt from the ground up, expanded, streamlined, and ready to roll. The goal has been making the nature of content instantly apparent, and immediately accessible. There's more transparency of information, like the last update times, now displayed in the footer, and the newest banners and archives, now right out in the open. There are new navigational elements, like the magical tour through all the major sections (click go!), or the ability to backtrack through where you've already been, in the order you left them (click return!). Soon, you'll can expect to see expanded member information and member pages, all just a click away from their contributions. You'll see in-depth linking from exterior sources for more content (as is now possible for www.onemanknifefight.com). And you'll see many of the exterior sites (such as "Brains!!") brought back into the Misplaced Planet fold, where they belong. This site revamp has been at the center of my secret workshop for several months, and though this is only the beginning, I hope you'll find it as thrilling as I do! I can't wait to hear what people think. Please feel free to post your thoughts and responses to the blog or to the forum!

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 12:00 AM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (1)

December 20, 2005

A Very Embarrassing Christmas

To properly ring in the holidays, Misplaced Planet brings you perhaps the most embarrassing film ever made: A Very Pilloman Christmas. Watch as the Planet's senior members make absolute asses of themselves for your amusement by clicking right here. Did I mention it's ridiculous? Because it is. Really ridiculous. Like my dog's haircut. If you don't know who Pilloman is, now's a good time to get with it and click right here. If you don't care for Christmas, what better way to warm up a chilly December than an encore presentation of the quintessential experimental/art film about the world's most quintessential experimental/art filmmaker? Hans Leber was, in fact, so artsy, so experimental, so quintessential, that he was almost entirely fictional at the time of his death. You can check out Shaun Boyle's Home Movie by clicking right here. You should also take time to see a wonderful little comedy short, which we like to call Brains!! And the title contains not one, but two exclamation points. Nothing less will do. Check out the Brains!! website by clicking right here.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 12:15 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

December 11, 2005

A Blast From the Past - Home Movie

What better way to warm up a chilly December than an encore presentation of the quintessential experimental/art film about the world's most quintessential experimental/art filmmaker? Hans Leber was, in fact, so artsy, so experimental, so quintessential, that he was almost entirely fictional at the time of his death. You can check out Shaun Boyle's Home Movie by clicking right here. Was the demise of Hans Leber merely a filmatic stunt that he perpetrated upon himself? Is this film a fictional found-footage collage, or a twisted confession to murder by Shaun Boyle? What does it all mean, considering that Boyle himself assumed the "role" of Hans Leber, after the filmmaker decided that playing himself in real life was painfully passé? Does this circular dance of absurdity excuse the inclusion of black and white footage of a man smoking? Only Hans Leber could answer these questions. So it seems the world will never know. You should also take time to see a wonderful little comedy short, which we like to call Brains!! And I insist that the title contains not one, but two exclamation points. Nothing less will do. Check out the website by clicking right here. Meanwhile, don't forget to visit the Antebellum website, where you can catch the awesome trailer. And keep your eyes peeled for many upcoming changes and additions, many where you least expect them! Unless, of course, you expect music, movies, and more... Then, it's probably precisely where you most expect them.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 8:17 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 29, 2005

Stabby Thanksgiving

Last night we saw not one, but TWO new comics from One Man Knife Fight. Their are those among you who would point out that there was only one comic last week. So really, all we did was catch up with ourselves. I say "Bite me good sir! Bite me toot sweet!" I prefer to think of it all as ushering in a new era of personal responsibility. We still have a lot in the pipeline for OMKF this year. So keep your eyes glued to the computer. No, not literally. Ok, if you insist. -Stirling McKnifefight

Posted by Stirling McLaughlin at 6:36 AM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

November 11, 2005

Our Newest Short Film - Brains!!

Misplaced Planet has been keeping itself busy with short films and the contests for which they're made. The most recent is a wonderful little ditty of a comedy short that we like to call Brains!! And I insist that the title contains not one, but two exclamation points. Nothing less will do. It's not only a bundle of fun, it's possibly the most horrifying short ever created. Shaun Boyle, Benni Piece, J Wilder Konschak, Steve Gifford, Ryland Blackinton, and Gabe Mckee have packed eight hours of post-traumatic-stress-inducing horror into less than three minutes of zombified madness. Check out the website by clicking right here. There, you can view the film in its entirety; can check out some bone-chilling production stills; can subscribe to the iTunes Video Podcast, where future productions, both musical and visual, will be featured; can subscribe to the Misplaced Planet Productions RSS feed; and can even get an inside look at the propoganda and politics behind the glamourous short-film industry -- straight from Van Nuys, Los Angeles County, California State, United States of America Country -- where Neil Diamond recorded a few tracks for his newest album! That's glamour with a capital "our!" Meanwhile, don't forget to visit the Antebellum website, where you can catch the awesome trailer. And keep your eyes peeled for many upcoming changes and additions, many where you least expect them! Unless, of course, you expect music, movies, and more... Then, it's probably precisely where you most expect them.

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 11:36 PM | | Comments (57) | TrackBacks (0)

October 30, 2005

Antebellum TRAILER online!

To everyone who has waited so patiently, your time has finally come! Misplaced Planet's first step into the horror genre, Antebellum, has posted its first official trailer online just in time for Halloween. Head to the Antebellum site now and check it out under the Videos section. Then, feel free to post your comments on the blog for all to see! I realize that this has been a long time coming, but I want to thank each and every person who has stuck by Misplaced Planet and me as we struggle to gain some exposure in an already saturated horror marketed. Trust me, you won't be dissapointed. And this is only the beginning. Happy Halloween! ~Michael Benni Pierce, Director, Antebellum

Posted by Benni Pierce at 10:43 PM |

October 13, 2005

Watch Me Eat a Hot Dog

Takeru Kobayashi is the kind of waifish, Japanese, indie rock hipster that you would expect to find cruising one of Soho's many vintage sneaker shops. But in the world of competitive eating, nobody can touch Kobayashi. This past July, he ate more than 50 Nathan's hot dogs, buns and all, in under 12 minutes. That's almost 100 hot dogs! Almost! What is even more amazing is that the premise of the most recent One Man Knife Fight, in which a dead movie director challenges a homicidal ex-wrestler to a Brain Eating Contest, isn't that far fetched. Ok, it is far fetched, but not THAT far fetched. Our good friend Kobayashi ate 17.7 pounds of cow brains in 15 minutes! Why? I have no idea. But he did it. And he isn't even a cartoon character. He should be, but he isn't. Amazing.

Posted by Stirling McLaughlin at 8:34 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 4, 2005

Mind At The End Of Its Tether

If you haven't seen the latest OMKF comic, please do so now. If you have, and you are a little confused about some of the facts presented, here is a brief timeline... 1898: Draper-turned-author H.G. Wells publishes 'War of the Worlds', cementing his place in the pantheon of mustached english people who write books. 1911: At a meeting of the socialist Fabian Society in London, H.G. Wells spends a little to much time tossing back melon schnapps at the bar. He then famously challenges George Bernard Shaw to a fist fight. Shaw, having both a mustache and a sizable beard, easily overpowers Wells. After the two are separated, Wells punches Shaw in the butt and then quickly retreats to France. 1921: Orson Welles and Elmer Scorcho meet at a school for the rich and talented in Rural, Wisconsin, a small town in rural Wisconsin. H.G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds' is featured on the school's reading list. 1922: That summer young Orson and Elmer (who Orson nicknames 'El') spend many hours ice fishing on Lake Wisconsin. El presents Orson with his plan for global domination, using 'The War of the Worlds" as a blueprint. Orson appears to laugh off the idea but El's original sketches, thought destroyed, are later found in Orson's archives. 1938: Welles founds the Mercury Theatre. Their first production is 'Back to Methuselah' by George Bernard Shaw. That Halloween, Orson's 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast rockets him to international fame. When news of the broadcast reaches El at his home in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, he punches George Bernard Shaw in the butt and then quickly retreats to France. Hopefully this timeline will clear up any questions you may have had. Thank you for reading One Man Knife Fight. For more on needless exposition, please see OMKF #155, coming this Friday to Misplaced Planet. (heart) Stirling McKnifefight.

Posted by Stirling McLaughlin at 5:45 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 30, 2005

"Keys and All" (OMKF 153)

Tonight's comic addresses two major issues, obesity and classical music. Both have ravaged our country for far to long. I hope that my small contribution will help to finally eradicate both of these horrid illnesses. I have been reading Jon Allison's "How To Draw The Scary Go Round Way". As I continue to refine OMKF, I find Scary Go Round to be surprisingly inspirational. This "How To..." series is a reminder that, even though being lazy is totally awesome, being awesome is, by it's very definition, more awesomer. This is my new quest: Awesomerness. (heart) Stirling McKnifefight

Posted by Stirling McLaughlin at 7:38 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

September 27, 2005

Changes Made, Changes Coming.

There has been a flurry of emails, instant messages and Orson Welles jokes flying around the Misplaced Planet Global Offices this month. Here are a few of the highlights: One Man Knife Fight, previously rendered exclusively in Adobe Illustrator, is now one hundred percent Macromedia Flash (also owned by Adobe). This will hopefully allow for a better user experience as well as open us up to the possibility of adding animation, or even interactive elements, to the comic. More on that as we figure out how to do things with stuff. It's very technological. Speaking of newness, One Man Knife Fight, will also be getting a serious facelift in the coming weeks. Although nothing is final, we are pretty excited about our new look and can't wait until it goes live! Expect a gaggle of new content and new characters as well as a ton of new awesome. Talk to you all soon! Stirling Mcknifefight.

Posted by Stirling McLaughlin at 6:41 AM |

September 25, 2005

Blog Improvements Galore

Though it would take a keen eye to spot it, Misplaced Planet's blog has undergone a complete overhaul and update. It was formerly run exclusively on the excellent old Greymatter publishing system. Meanwhile, smaller blog segments such as WilderWorks, the Writing Section, and even the Newest Button, were fed by Movable Type, a newer and still-updated publishing tool, due to its ability to generate several blogs from the same database and interface, thereby simplifying management. With the release of Movable Type 3.2, Misplaced Planet has updated all web publishing systems, and has imported and converted all entries from Greymatter. As a result of the complete reprogramming necessary to make this possible, we are now permitted to have a scroll-bar on our main blog entries. Most excitingly, we now have a RSS feed! If your browser hasn't already detected it, you can subscribe to the RSS feed by clicking here. This will send your RSS reader (usually an e-mail program, or browser feeder) notification whenever the Misplaced Planet blog is updated. This will also allow the site to be read by Google's blogsearch, and more efficiently searched by all web browsers. In this way, it is the first step toward the planned HTML shadow site, which will make us indexing friendly. Check in coming weeks for similar upgrades to the One Man Knife Fight site, which has already updated its native image format to Flash, granting it INFINITE RESOLUTION!

Posted by J Wilder Konschak at 5:10 PM |