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on November 14, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #11Some More Welcome Press!
And from Charles and my wonderful friend, Nicole Boose, over at GEEK MOM!Post Comment -
on November 14, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #10Some Welcome Press
Check out this article written by Greg Taylor at the DAILY GRAIL regarding all things BlackBxx. Thanks, Greg!Post Comment -
on November 7, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #9New Blog Posting: On Icebergs and Jellybeans
Post CommentI’ve been following online posts—especially that on the amazing Yahoo CarnivaleHBO BBS, and I’ve noticed some misconceptions and concerns regarding what a BlackBxx narrative is. Mainly, that as an “interactive” format, it might not be satisfying if a viewer chooses the "wrong" path. This concern harkens back to the creaky old days of “dial up” and the biggest stumbling-block of so-called interactive fiction of the 70s and 80s
In those first attempts, such as the original "ZORK" series, the creators based their models on a "decision tree" in which each branch split into two with every yes/no option, then into four, then eight, until the whole magilla would have to be inelegantly muscled back to the main "trunk" when it became too unwieldy.
While interesting, those early attempts were ultimately unsatisfying, as their form required so much manipulation that they were impossible to deliver without the author's hand being made glaringly visible (and, thus, "gimmicky"). Though text-based RPGs enjoyed some success, they ultimately served as a brief stop in the evolution of what ultimately became MUDs and MUSHs and, finally, online gaming environments such as World of Warcraft.
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on November 6, 2011
Daniel Knauf
commented on a project updateThanks for watching my back, Bri. The real truth is, I love freaking Ghost Adventures.
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on November 5, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #8New Blog Post: Why Another Freaking Paranormal Deal?
It occurred to me from some of the comments that I’ve been reading around the net on BlackBxx (alarmingly few of them!) that some folks, particularly CARNIVÁLE fans, seem a little disappointed that I would choose to build my story around a paranormal investigation. Hardly original, I’ll admit, but it was more out of necessity than choice.
You see, when I conceived BlackBxx, I knew that financing it would be extraordinarily difficult. Since the form is unprecedented, it was impossible to develop a business plan projecting whether it could be done, and how large and what kind of an audience the concept would draw.
Not only that, but because there’s nothing like it, the concept of BlackBxx is difficult to convey. I imagine that when Edison invented the motion picture projector, he had similar challenges explaining it to potential investors. “Gentlemen, I am going to print a series of photographs on a strip of acetate, each slightly different than the last. I will then train a powerful beam of electric light through it, to project the photographs on a screen in very fast sequential order, which will present the illusion that the subject in the photographs is moving! Isn’t that just splendid? I have decided to call it the Vitascope!”
Read the rest and see the clip at http://blackbxx.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-another-freaking-paranormal-deal.html
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on November 5, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #7Watch Closely
Post CommentHere's a little something-something.
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on November 3, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #6Design Check #2
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on November 3, 2011
Daniel Knauf
commented on a project updateTo get any project of this scope to the finish-line requires momentum. We have been actively working on BlackBxx for almost 2 years. Though I'd have preferred to have funding in place before we started, I felt it wouldn't be fair to approach potential backers with such a long ETA to actually see a completed project. I realized that the expenses incurred for BlackBxx would come in two stages: Pre-production and the shoot; post-production and internet related distribution costs. Though the cost of first of these is significant, it pales in comparison to the latter. Conversely, pre-production and the actual shoot was MUCH more time-intensive and iffy than post and internet will be. I needed to devise a story, write a script, budget, build a crew, cast and rehearse actors, secure a location, test and purchase equipment, etc. Each technical obstacle we faced had the potential to kill the project. Since I couldn't be confident that BlackBxx was even feasible, I felt it would be irresponsible (even fraudulent) to initiate crowd-funding at that stage. I decided to delay the Kickstarter campaign until we'd surmounted those issues and I felt certain that we would be able to deliver on our backer's pledges. This forced me to finance the first stage out of my personal savings. We initiated the Kickstarter campaign once we'd set a hard date for production. If successful, the money raised on KS would reimburse me the costs I'd already incurred for Stage 1, and finance the costs of Stage 2. If we fail, I'm out the cash and we'll be forced to pull the plug on Stage 2, as it represents 60% of our projected budget. So backers are critical to seeing this thing into being. And though your imput would have been welcome during the pre-production and shooting phase, in these tough times, I simply couldn't in good conscience ask you to pledge your money and love to something that was, for all intents-and-purposes, a pie in the sky. So I assumed the risk myself to the tune of $30,000. Though it's not more than I can afford to lose, it certainly pushes the outside of that envelope to the breaking point. But I'm confident we'll all pull through and meet or exceed the project's fundraising goal.
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on November 3, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #5And Away We Go...
Just recovering from the shoot. My God, what a journey...
Spent three days setting up the house. We mounted sixteen high-end/IR videocams in locked positions covering a 3 bedroom suburban home at an undisclosed location. Permits? Hah! Permits are for straight-arrows. This was a guerrilla operation from top to bottom.
We wired the cams to our custom-made DVR (aka "The Monster"). This baby's cutting edge; we actually had to push our start date due to the Japanese tsunami! Seem this monster requires a very rare, very specialized graphics board in order to process all that content streaming through the pipe without dropping a single precious frame. Probably should have checked the unit for radiation...Read the rest of this (and screen-caps, too!) at the "Into the BlackBxx" blog at http://blackbxx.blogspot.com/2011/11/and-away-we-go.html
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Mikhail on November 3, 2011
I am a little confused - I thought the shoot would only go through if the full funding would be met.
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Daniel Knauf on November 3, 2011
To get any project of this scope to the finish-line requires momentum. We have been actively working on BlackBxx for almost 2 years.
Though I'd have preferred to have funding in place before we started, I felt it wouldn't be fair to approach potential backers with such a long ETA to actually see a completed project. I realized that the expenses incurred for BlackBxx would come in two stages: Pre-production and the shoot; post-production and internet related distribution costs.
Though the cost of first of these is significant, it pales in comparison to the latter. Conversely, pre-production and the actual shoot was MUCH more time-intensive and iffy than post and internet will be. I needed to devise a story, write a script, budget, build a crew, cast and rehearse actors, secure a location, test and purchase equipment, etc.
Each technical obstacle we faced had the potential to kill the project. Since I couldn't be confident that BlackBxx was even feasible, I felt it would be irresponsible (even fraudulent) to initiate crowd-funding at that stage. I decided to delay the Kickstarter campaign until we'd surmounted those issues and I felt certain that we would be able to deliver on our backer's pledges.
This forced me to finance the first stage out of my personal savings. We initiated the Kickstarter campaign once we'd set a hard date for production. If successful, the money raised on KS would reimburse me the costs I'd already incurred for Stage 1, and finance the costs of Stage 2.
If we fail, I'm out the cash and we'll be forced to pull the plug on Stage 2, as it represents 60% of our projected budget.
So backers are critical to seeing this thing into being.
And though your imput would have been welcome during the pre-production and shooting phase, in these tough times, I simply couldn't in good conscience ask you to pledge your money and love to something that was, for all intents-and-purposes, a pie in the sky.
So I assumed the risk myself to the tune of $30,000. Though it's not more than I can afford to lose, it certainly pushes the outside of that envelope to the breaking point. But I'm confident we'll all pull through and meet or exceed the project's fundraising goal.
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Mikhail on November 5, 2011
I see. Thank you for clearing that up. I just assumed that the shooting would only happen once the funding will have gone through. I hope everything works out - there are only 14 days left though, which is making me worry.
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on November 2, 2011
Daniel Knauf
Posted project update #4BlackBxx User Interface
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Debra Borys on November 3, 2011
I like #1 best mainly due to the taps looking like old fashioned file folders, although I have to say I'd prefer not to have the floor plan greyed out like that--the while of #2 is easier to read and looks better.
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Carolyn Fox on November 3, 2011
#1, for effects, character, although my friend says #2 is easy to see..however it looks great to me...
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Daniel Knauf
Pasadena, CA
Daniel Knauf created and served as Executive Producer of his Emmy Award-winning series, “CARNIVÁLE” (HBO). Mr. Knauf has since written episodes of SUPERNATURAL and FEAR ITSELF. He has served as a Consulting Producer on STAND OFF, MY OWN WORST ENEMY ... view more
I actually think that HAUNTED works best. Before people go criticizing, just consider that a paranormal film would stand to be the most accessible. Films like Paranormal Activity (and its subsequent abortions- not to make this comparison, but it's the first that comes to mind), while perhaps not on the same level, have already familiarized audiences with one of the core concepts. This sort of move would garner a greater interest in a demographic which might otherwise be lost. If anything, regardless of intent, it's a really intelligent marketing move.
Thanks for watching my back, Bri. The real truth is, I love freaking Ghost Adventures.
10 years ago radio executives would've laughed at the thought that guys in their basements doing podcasts would bring larger audiences than their best shows. Record producers scoffed at digital music and TV moguls didn't even know about digital streaming. 10 years from now this idea is going to seem so common most people won't even credit you for coming up with it. The Haunted project seems like a perfect opening project and we're glad to be supporting you with it. :)