12-19-07
"TAKEN DOWN " CLIP!

       Here is the third clip that you may view from the film "Fight the Panda Syndicate" in which the character of Artie Bannister is taken down by a special agent with the FBI while at Renard's club looking for more information about the Panda Syndicate.

This is only one of many angles that will eventually come together in a sequence, making the arrest of Artie and his friends Jim & G.

12-16-07
Hangin with Renard & the King!

This past weekend, we shot scenes taking place at a club owned by the character Renard in Fight the Panda Syndicate. In this sequence, our heroes (Jim, G & Artie) hit up Renard, demanding more information about the organization that has turned their lives upside down.

And, to make matters worse, they must first get through the maniacal Otto Belmar, played by none other than King Kong Bundy himself. In an unparalleled weekend of accomplishment, our associates learned that Renard is a force to be reckoned with and that Otto Belmar is the King!

12-14-07
"CAUGHT IN THE ACT" CLIP!

       Here is the second clip that you may view from the film "Fight the Panda Syndicate" in which the character of Diego DeCastilhos has been caught in the act of assisting the heroic Jim, G, Artie and Rachel in their escape from the Beaver Creek complex.

As his character profile suggests, Diego is an undercover Brazilian agent, working to rid the world of the likes of Xiongmao and the rest of the Panda Syndicate.

Toward the end of this clip, you will see the appearance of Commmander Mitternacht as well. This clip has not yet been given any audio or visual effects treatment. You will need a newer version of Quicktime to view this clip. ENJOY!

11-27-07
Back in Action!

For those of you who feel that we have been dormant in the past two months, we thought we would share some screenshots of what we have been up to.

With time, some of the darker scenes in this film are starting to take life and the villains are becoming much more prevalent in our rough cut. In September and October, we shot scenes with Renard, Mitternacht and Victoria. In particular, we shot an argument, setting up the relationship between Victoria and Renard (a terrible twosome to be sure) and a widening gap of understanding that ultimately leads to the downfall of their relationship and creates dissention in Xiongmao's ranks. Our editors have been hard at work to bring this scene to life and have had great success thus far in their efforts. It is a complex sequence, in that it involves not only the arguement between Victoria and Renard, but action shots of the heroes and their plotline as they make their way into Renard's club to question him about the Panda Syndicate.

Further in October, we finished off a large sequence of the film revolving around Rachel Gehret's rescue from the Beaver Creek complex, leaving only one or two shots unaccounted for in a sequence of scenes that spans thirteen of the film's 50 scenes.

In November, we picked up again with our FBI Panda Syndicate task force, a group of highly trained specialists working on bringing Xiongmao and his minions to justice. The introduction of this FBI task force is an important one, because it helps to set up counter-terrorist and counter-intelligence themes that will run throughout the film, making it much more evident to the audience that the Panda Syndicate, as Agent Dixon advises, are everywhere and into everything. Again, the completion of these scenes drops a large piece to the puzzle into place and will allow us to edit another large block of the film consisting of five scenes, bigger pieces of which are coming together each and every day.

As the character of FBI Agent Aaron Bloom states in the film when discussing Xiongmao's Jian Chi Trading Company (the source of his wealth), the Panda Syndicate is a "phantom corporation the likes of which we have never seen before!" In the film, Agent Bloom has a conversation with the director of the Panda Syndicate counter-terrorist team, Agent Tom Silver, who assures Bloom that although their team is weary and overloaded, they remain uncompromised, suggesting that if they brought in much needed relief and/or reinforcements, they would be looking at a number of potential security problems.

As we gear up to finish off production of Fight the Panda Syndicate, we are all looking back with fond memories of the year in our lives that we have spent making this movie and forward to both wrapping the project and moving on. With changes in the weather, it will be impossible to finish exterior shots before next Spring, but we are still looking toward our July, 2008 completion as scheduled.

10-01-2007
FLIP THE BIRD LIVE @ DEXTER'S & HIDDEN VALLEY!

We have two very special shows coming up for our friends in "Flip the Bird." They are promoting the hell out of "Fight the Panda Syndicate" wherever they go, and I thought I would invite you to join us in supporting them! They are a FANTASTIC band. If you want to check them out, go to http://www.myspace.com/ftbband.

The show is at Dexter's on Route 23 on October 9th, for which our boys Tim, Ray, Glenn and Mike have to pack the house! So, ANYONE who can make it, please show your support and bring friends! I promise that you will not be disappointed.

Here is the info:

October, 9 2007 at Dexter's
Route 23 North, Riverdale, New Jersey
Cost : $5.00

October, 12 2007 at Hidden Valley Resort - Breakneck Bar
44 Breakneck Road, Vernon, New Jersey 07462
Cost : $0.00

08-28-2007
A Transitional Weekend

       This past weekend, the cast and crew of Fight the Panda Syndicate roughed it for two days as we shot more action and suspenseful transitional shots for our film, stopping along the way to capture a touching scene between Artie and Amanda Bannister, a significant moment between Jim Reeder and Agent Aragon and Rachel Gehret's rescue from the clutches of Xiongmao. It was a weekend of vans, cars, mountain climbing, hatchet-wielding insanity! Special thanks must go out to all of those who made this very special weekend a reality.

       The scene in which our heroes approach Beaver Creek has been one of the most highly anticipated shoots in the entire run of production, with some shots that were planned over a year ago. No one can possibly say now that we are not ready and willing to climb mountains to achieve our goals!

07-30-2007
The Final Battle - Before & After

       After the smoke cleared and the final battle had been waged on the third floor of a warehouse somewhere in New Jersey, both cast and crew alike were taxed physically and mentally. Jim fought Xiongmao, Kazimierz Yonac fought the villainous Commander Mitternacht, Tommy and the Boys knocked the shit out of whatever Ninjas Artie Bannister didn't blow away with his AK-47, the members of Flip the Bird went head-to-head with Victoria, G smashed a few heads in with his flute, Agent Aragon ran Tony Montana style through shot after shot, and much much more.

      Throughout the course of the weekend, our production team filmed portions of ten different scenes, including the majority of the final battle itself, which puts our film at 80% complete. Scheduling was tight, timing was tricky, actors and crew alike converged on the set from six different states, and we accomplished the majority of what we set out to do.

       Now that we are finishing up the bulk of our shoot and we only have 5 big shooting days left before we wrap the majority of filming for Fight the Panda Syndicate, things are really starting to come together.

        To the left, you may see pictures of first Jim and then G engaging in combat. On the bottom, you see Victoria, preparing to fight Tim Trojan of Flip the Bird!

06-24-2007
Panda Syndicate Double Whammy!
Channel 9 Interview & On Location at Snitch

        Things are really heating up here for the ever-growing clan of the Panda Syndicate. On Sunday, June 24, 2007, while cast and crew were filming a scene for Renard's club at Snitch (the best bar in New York City) with our two favorite bands in the world (Flip the Bird and P.T. Grimm), "Fight the Panda Syndicate" was featured on a show called Real Talk on My9 Channel 9 throughout the tri state area! Clips and behind-the-scenes photos were shown, along with an interview with Director Jason J. Dale about the project conducted by Jennifer Jordan of Channel 9.

While on location at Snitch, scenes were filmed in which the three main heroes of the film (Jim, G & Artie) were immersed into the dark and decadent world of the Panda Syndicate by way of a club owned and operated by the characters Renard and Victoria L'Orain-Arc.

Also to be featured in the scene was King Kong Bundy, who could not attend the shoot this past Sunday, but who will be in attendance at a future shoot at the same location. Our cast and crew highly recommend Snitch to anyone with a soul full of Rock N Roll and a taste for adventure. You may visit Snitch's website at: www.snitchbar.com.

Having completed the majority of filming at Snitch, a very significant piece to the puzzle that is "Fight the Panda Syndicate" has fallen into place. On behalf of the cast and crew, we would like to extend our special thanks to Peter James and the rest of the staff at Snitch for their enthusiastic assistance and their brilliant improvisational performances in our film. The world of the Panda Syndicate deepens with the birth of each new colorful supporting character, some of whom provide guidance to our heroes while others work to impede their progress.

06-16-07
On Location: Hackensack, NJ

        On the run from the Panda Syndicate, the state police and Renard's minions ... and after an excursion to Xiongmao's Beaver Creek fortress, the heroes of Fight the Panda Syndicate find themselves in the custody of the State Police. To the right, you will see them poised for an argument, not knowing what to do next.  

05-31-2007
Xiongmao's Throne Room

         Production design is moving full steam ahead with plans for Xiongmao's throne room in "Fight the Panda Syndicate." As envisioned by its director and Danielle Gardner jointly, this set will be constructed in Lakewood, New Jersey at an historic theatre known as The Strand. According to their website:

"The famous theater architect Thomas Lamb was commissioned in the early 1900s by the Ferber Amusement Company to design a theater in Lakewood, New Jersey. The vision for the theater was not only to provide an aesthetically appealing venue, but also one that would encourage Broadway producers to utilize it as a tryout theater before moving their shows to Broadway... Today, the Strand is known as one of the best acoustical theaters in the nation."

We will be filming all of the scenes that take place at Xiongmao's Fortress in the end of July, 2007.

05-30-2007
KING KONG BUNDY JOINS THE FIGHT!

         We are proud to announce that none other than King Kong Bundy has joined the cast of "Fight the Panda Syndicate." Bundy will be playing a character by the name of Otto Belmar in the Panda Syndicate. Otto is the best friend, confidant and bodyguard to Renard, sleazy club owner and general in the army of the Panda Syndicate, Otto has always had a bad streak in him. After a few wild weeks in Bucharest, Otto was apprehended by local authorities for a major disturbance of the peace when he overturned a bus filled with passengers, and he was imprisoned for possession of "illegal narcotics." It was in this prison that he met Renard who took a immediate liking to the extremely wild Otto Belmar. After these two maniacal men to teamed up to break out of prison, they began a life of crime that would make even the most volatile of villains blush. Otto is a man of many connections. As Renard's materials man, Otto has often been called upon to arrange the appropriation of a variety of different items, ranging from jet planes to chemical explosives. A one-man, evil A-Team, Otto is always prepared for the worst-case-scenario and he is delighted it "when a plan comes together."

04-20-2007
Documentary: Northern New Jersey
Paranormal Research Group

         Representatives from Crazy Elk Production Studios, LLC participated in a night of research with the Northern New Jersey Paranormal Research Group (NNJPRG) in Wyckoff, NJ. Crazy Elk Production Studios, LLC will be assisting with a documentary based upon the group's research techniques and findings throughout the area. The NNJPRG is "a group of investigators who specialize in researching hauntings and other paranormal phenomenon in the Tri-State area (New Jersey, New York & Pennsylvania)." You can find out more information about their group at their website, which may be accessed via the following URL: http://www.nnjpr.org/

03-18-2007
Hansil's Bar & Grill

          Today, Crazy Elk Production Studios, LLC shot an incredibly successful scene at Hansil's Bar & Grill, which is located at 7 Ramapo Valley Road in Oakland, NJ. We would recommend Hansil's to anyone who is looking to take a load off, throw back a few beers (responsibly of course) and have a great bite to eat. The owner, Steven Hansil, is an absolute gentleman and is onhand at all times to ensure the quality of service. Our production team owes Mr. Hansil many thanks for his thoughtful contributions to our film.

         The scene that was filmed at Hansil's involves the character of Artie Bannister - the anti-hero of the film. After a narrow escape from FBI custody, the heroes of our film (Jim, G & Artie) make their way to a "Secure Location," which turns out to be a bar. Puzzled by this strange misinformation, Agent Stratford Dixon, an ambiguous character whose alignment is unknown but who seems to be helping our heroes in their quest to defeat the Panda Syndicate, tries to think of another place that the characters can stay under the radar for a while (a tall order if you consider that the FBI, the State Police, and the Panda Syndicate are all out to find Jim, G & Artie).

         When it is discovered that their "Secure Location" is, in fact, a bar that is marked as "A Secure Location Since 1977," Artie decides that the he is going inside for a drink, whether his comrades agree with him or not. Upon entering the "Secure Location Bar," Artie finds that he is among a group of individuals who are as tough as they come and who lack the patience to deal with his rude, anxious and often neurotic attitude. Artie discovers that this bar does indeed live up to its name and that the gentlemen holding down the "Secure Location Bar" are truly a force to be reckoned with.

          Special thanks to Glenn McClure, Melissa Pflugh, Tommy Breen, Keith Hale, Jim Guinn, Robert (Bob) Lancaster, J. Oliver Plunkett, Dave Baron, Courtney Martin, Jonathan Sarofeen, Virginia Betz, Kurt Betz and Steve Hansil for making this scene one of the most memorable in our endeavors thus far.

03-06-2007
The Bergen Record

          Crazy Elk Production Studios, LLC made official headlines this past Sunday. "Fight the Panda Syndicate" hit the front page of the entertainment section of Bergen County's own Bergen Record. Bergen County has seventy municipalities spread out over 246 square miles and is home to a diverse population as situated directly across the Hudson River from New York City, rapidly approaching one million residents, making the distribution of The Record itself outstanding. If you are interested in reading the article entitled "Indie Filmaker's Dream," you may view it HERE. The article places heavy focus on the direction of "Fight the Panda Syndicate," and we would like to take this moment to recognize how important it is to remember that this movie would not be possible without the combined efforts of each and every one of its cast and production team.

02-11-2007
On Location: Sheraton Crossroads

          After an arduous shoot at the Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah, NJ today, our production team wrapped up four scenes for "Fight the Panda Syndicate." These four scenes highlight the characters of Governor Charles Bedford (played by Rus Pickhardt) and his political aide Charlotte McFadden (played by Andrea Prendamano). In these scenes, Governor Bedford wrestles with the fact that his reelection campaign is not going as well as he had hoped. Behind in the polls, he wonders how he might reach out to the people of New Jersey to let them know that he really cares about each and every one of them without sounding political.

          The Governor is presented with a unique opportunity when Charlotte presents him with information about a kidnapping, a murder and a gang war that has erupted outside of Philadelphia, on the Jersey side. Charlotte advises that all of these strange events have one thing in common: the fact that a gang, calling themselves “The Panda Syndicate” is responsible.

          Upon learning about the international criminal organization known as “The Panda Syndicate," which has shattered our peaceful existence here in New Jersey, Governor Bedford declares a statewide manhunt for those involved, proclaiming that the villains responsible will be "hunted down and brought to justice."

          Representatives of the Bergen Record were onhand to witness the beginning of our long shoot. We anticipate that they will be printing a feature article on our endeavors within the next week.

1-20-2007
On Location: Taboo-U

          A great deal of preparation went into the design and construction of the first scene that our production team took on this year. The scene itself, one of our director's favorites, takes the two heroes of the film, James Reeder (played by Sam Rocco) and Ganaraj "G" Raman (played by Gaurav Gangoli) to the home of a mutual acquaintance by the name of Artie Bannister (played by David Baron).

          In this scene the characters of Jim and G visit their friend Artie, a media pirate with ties to the Hong Kong black market, hoping that Artie will be able to point them in the right direction in their quest to find out more about a mysterious organization known as the Panda Syndicate.    

          A number of original products and brand names were created for this shoot, including Artie Bannister's business logo for "Taboo-U" and a brand of beer called simply "Madness!" These many different products will show up throughout the course of the film, making the world of the Panda Syndicate more intricate and colorful.