You know, I loved watching Ashens And The Quest For The Gamechild on You Tube. I even purchased the DVD! You'll see a link to Ashens various videos through his channel, of course -link on the blogroll.
Multiverse was the channel behind it plus other ongoing videos featuring people such as Warwick Davies (yes, he cameos in Gamechild), Robert Llewellyn (ditto), Faye Ripley and so on. My favourites were Knightmare and Decoy -the UKs only super heroes (yes, they, too, appeared briefly in Gamechild) and ones we might not be so proud of at that.
But January, 2015 -nothing. You think to yourself: "Well, it does take time to write and then produce these things!" After nine months nothing. And no email responses.
Had the Silver Skull triumphed in an evil plan? (check You Tube).
Eventually I thought that if anyone was going to know what was happening it had to be Stuart Ashens. So I sent him an email and got this response:
"Hello! The Multiverse was funded directly by Google as part of their 'original channels' initiative. Sadly they lost interest in said initiative a few months in and didn't renew any of the channels after their one year contracts. A few of the major American channels managed to secure private funding to continue, but to my knowledge all the UK ones closed."
WTF?!!
These were not big productions but low budget, but still very entertaining, videos. I loved them. And the viewing figures seemed good.
I support Independent comics, film making and music but it seems as though the UK gets the shit end of the stick every time. Of course, I could write: "I wonder whether the people involved looked around for financial backing to continue?" I have no doubts they probably did. Poor Knighthood and Decoy dead in the ether.
It could get very, very depressing. Shame on Google.
But you can still see the various episodes and the Ashens reviews. AND you can buy the Gamechild DVD which had me laughing out loud in places. PLUS it boasts one of the best evil villainess performances I've seen in a long time by Millie Reeves -and a great after-credits scene!
You really ought to have this in your collection.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ashens-Quest-Gamechild-Double-Blu-ray/dp/B00KAXSQAI
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