"Voyage Trekkers," a new sci-fi effort by Phoenix filmmaker Nathan Blackwell, takes on past series like "Star Trek" and "Battlestar Galatica" to show a new side to galaxy crime fighting -- namely, the loser-y side.
Captain Kirk would be ashamed of this new group of rag-tag outer-space explorers who, in the first episode, fail to capture the evil green lizard ... and let their gun batteries die.
The series makes fun of itself and its genre; just take the tagline: "30,000 Starships in the Galactic Union ... this is a web series about the worst one."
The web series will be available online, but you can also catch the first three episodes (and a glimpse of Blackwell and crew) at Filmbar on July 18.
The web series will be available online, but you can also catch the first three episodes (and a glimpse of Blackwell and crew) at Filmbar on July 18.
The only female lead, Doctor Rena (Gabrielle Van
Buren), uses what looks like a hair brush in place of a gun. She says
carrying a gun will make her look "too bulky."
These characters are already up a creek within the first 3 minutes (which is the whole first episode) of the series.
"Voyage Trekkers is a love letter to science fiction," says Blackwell. "The stories cover a wide rang of familiar sci-fi genre conventions and encounters ... but faced by the worst crew in the galaxy."Many of the actors and crew members aboard the project volunteer their time and energy to the project. Blackwell says it's a "labor of love."
Hunky Captain Sunstrike (Adam Rini) is reason enough to work for free. Just look at the trailer above for proof -- he's already making "entries" with his "captain's log." He may come off as a total boob, but he's totally hot.
Blackwell says the comedy starts with the "Voyage Trekkers" characters, and that he hopes viewers have a "genuine affection" for them and decide to return.
Filmbar, at 815 N. 2nd Street, will be premiering the first three episodes of the series at a special screening on Monday, July 18 at 8 p.m.
Filmbar, at 815 N. 2nd Street, will be premiering the first three episodes of the series at a special screening on Monday, July 18 at 8 p.m.
