The budget was around $10,000-$12,000 Canadian in 1997. As a student film, it would be a lot cheaper today, as it would be shot digitally - most of the expense was for 16mm film stock.
Nostalgia, to me, is a passive yearning for things treasured, bygone and likely idealized. Recreating a pulp/serial work in a way both new and true to form is
This is downright inspirational. Absolutely amazing how well you captured the elements that truly made the old serials worth watching even today. It's proof that budget doesn't equal quality.
Thanks! I'm so glad it was "inspirational"!:-) You can read all about the making of the short and the planned feature on my blog ... scarletavenger (dot) blogspot (dot) com
Definitely my fav of the three chapters. I loved the way the camera changes during the action scenes like the fist-fight, the knife throwing, and the shooting. And when the avenger drops his sword just so he can grab the fencing sword. Nice
Thanks! Everyone asks about the 15 story fall:-) There are three loud splashes heard at the end of the first chapter. Didn't have the budget to show our heroes land in a pool of water. However, I will definitely improve upon this scene for the feature-length version!
Thanks very much for the invitation - that was an absolute hoot. Believe it or not, I honestly enjoyed this a lot more than The Phantom or The Rocketeer. It was a lot of fun spotting all the cinematic conventions used in the old Replublic serials - you seemed to capture every last one, along with a few of your own that would have worked perfectly back in the forties...
So glad you liked the movie, especially since you're a Republic Pictures fan. Did you notice all the nods to 'Spy Smasher'...like Captain Dupuis (Captain Durrand), the cigar wrapper and the Nazi interrogation scene? And I'm so happy to hear you actually enjoyed it more than 'The Rocketeer'. That's a huge compliment, as that's one of my all time favorites!
Wow! What a small world! I looked up that movie and found out that it was produced by Jalal Merhi! Jalal helped me make my Kung Fu/Vampire movie, 'Maggie Kwan Vs. Dark Master'. He let me have his studio for no money and was really nice to me. I'll have to check out Stan's cameo. He told me he was in a Kung Fu movie before, but I had no idea it was one of Jalal's!
Yay!! Happy endings for all ... perhaps not The Skull however. Fantastic job! What's next for Scott Clements, The Scarlet Avenger Strikes Back? Or moving onto a new genre next time?
Stan was great! Originally, I wanted him to be wearing a German officer's uniform, but we couldn't afford it. However, I now love that he's wearing a suit, just like the Nazis in the serials! They often didn't wear uniforms, probably for the same reason - budgetary constraints! Also, in the early serials Nazis were not really identified as such, but rather 'enemy agents' with German accents. This was for political reasons, because America had not officially entered the war.
The sword fight was not a reference to the duel from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. However, I have heard they used the same music we did for our opening credits. It comes from a stock music CD of old movie music. I'm not sure if they used the same music for the sword fight, but it's quite possible, because the track is called 'Crossed Swords' (or something along those lines).
The Scarlet Avenger is a wonderful short, although because of it's length there are some small-let's call them-annoyances. The characters are a bit obnoxious but that happens when there isn't time for character development. It is also definitely a tribute to the 1940's action/adventures because there was nothing all that new. I felt like I had seen it all before. Overall I enjoyed watching it and it was not a waste of my time. In fact, I would like to see more.
I'm so glad everyone loves Martine so much. She really was a sweetheart and a fantastic actress. She turned her French Canadian accent into what I thought was a pretty spot on Parisian one! And yes, my jaw fell to the floor when she walked in to meet us. She's a real natural beauty.
I was just wondering, how often does the Hero shoot his unarmed enemies like in this last part? It's a change to the usual way of heroism, though, so I'm not complaining.
WHAT THE F**K?! HE JUST CUT THE ARROW IN TWO AND MADE IT HIT BOTH BAD GUYS!!! I mean, even Batman or the Green Hornet could'nt have done that. Dont-mess-with-the-Scarlet-Avenger!
The fencing fight looked choreographed (I mean slightly unnatural), but it was still a good fight. I comment on the series as a whole, it was absolutely great, I loved it :)
I really liked it. It had that 60's-70's spy show feel to it. A good twist at the end, and a really good way to manage your budget. It was really well coordinated and planned as well as edited. Loved it, 5/5
I always loved that it looked like old 'Batman' and 'Star Trek'. The swordfight at the end always felt to me like the battle between Kirk and Spock on Vulcan on the old TV series.
I wasn't at all sure what to expect, but you got me! I watched all three parts, and for the obvious budget you had (or didn't have), it's better than a lot of "serial thriller wannabes" I've seen from the bigger budget outfits!
Out of curiosity, what kind of budget are you working with? Well done; it was entertaining.
jpcfit 2 years ago
The budget was around $10,000-$12,000 Canadian in 1997. As a student film, it would be a lot cheaper today, as it would be shot digitally - most of the expense was for 16mm film stock.
sclements75 2 years ago
This stuff is great! Well done man, well done.
CytoplasmicGoo 2 years ago
I just found this...it was entertaining and I watched all 3 ...thanks for posting^^
JinSuka 3 years ago
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it! I think you're my first viewer from South Korea!
sclements75 3 years ago
you are so cool for making this...
jamierourketen 4 years ago 2
Your vision of "dynamic nostalgia" makes The Scarlet Avenger
stand out among other pulp-styled projects I've seen. Great work, Scott and all. Be proud. Very proud.
Wolf459 4 years ago 2
Thanks for all your great comments, man! What do you mean by 'dynamic nostalgia'? I've never heard the term.
sclements75 4 years ago
Nostalgia, to me, is a passive yearning for things treasured, bygone and likely idealized. Recreating a pulp/serial work in a way both new and true to form is
giving motion to the memory.
Wolf459 4 years ago
Guess I'm spoiled by the minimalist editing and medium-long shots in a locked-down camera....
not to mention Dave Sharpe (prince of daredevils) in William Whitney-blessed fight scenes!
Nevertheless, a TOTAL FAVE to be sent to all my serial-loving friends! THANKS A MILLION!!
pylgrym 4 years ago
This is downright inspirational. Absolutely amazing how well you captured the elements that truly made the old serials worth watching even today. It's proof that budget doesn't equal quality.
BRAVO!!!
Evillerer 4 years ago
Thanks! I'm so glad it was "inspirational"!:-) You can read all about the making of the short and the planned feature on my blog ... scarletavenger (dot) blogspot (dot) com
sclements75 4 years ago
5 stars just for the him kicking the gun up to himself. Nice.
SilverDolphinENT 4 years ago
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. You've really succeeded in capturing the old 30s serial feel. Excellent work.
mkitler 4 years ago
Great stuff, best fight scenes of the three episodes despite the limited set size. Most enjoyable
jfree96 4 years ago
Definitely my fav of the three chapters. I loved the way the camera changes during the action scenes like the fist-fight, the knife throwing, and the shooting. And when the avenger drops his sword just so he can grab the fencing sword. Nice
Hydrocillator 4 years ago
Yes, Martine is a babe. And she emotes well. A good trio, a good ending, a good effort all around.
But how did he survive that fall of 15 stooorrriiieeesss?
SailorBarsoom 5 years ago
Thanks! Everyone asks about the 15 story fall:-) There are three loud splashes heard at the end of the first chapter. Didn't have the budget to show our heroes land in a pool of water. However, I will definitely improve upon this scene for the feature-length version!
sclements75 4 years ago
You WILL let us know when that comes out, ne?
SailorBarsoom 4 years ago
Thanks very much for the invitation - that was an absolute hoot. Believe it or not, I honestly enjoyed this a lot more than The Phantom or The Rocketeer. It was a lot of fun spotting all the cinematic conventions used in the old Replublic serials - you seemed to capture every last one, along with a few of your own that would have worked perfectly back in the forties...
Ciao.
scarletshade 5 years ago
So glad you liked the movie, especially since you're a Republic Pictures fan. Did you notice all the nods to 'Spy Smasher'...like Captain Dupuis (Captain Durrand), the cigar wrapper and the Nazi interrogation scene? And I'm so happy to hear you actually enjoyed it more than 'The Rocketeer'. That's a huge compliment, as that's one of my all time favorites!
sclements75 4 years ago
For anyone who particularly enjoys Stan Channing in this please check out the movie 'Fearless Tiger' which he also cameos in, it's awesome.
bertbirch 5 years ago
Wow! What a small world! I looked up that movie and found out that it was produced by Jalal Merhi! Jalal helped me make my Kung Fu/Vampire movie, 'Maggie Kwan Vs. Dark Master'. He let me have his studio for no money and was really nice to me. I'll have to check out Stan's cameo. He told me he was in a Kung Fu movie before, but I had no idea it was one of Jalal's!
sclements75 5 years ago
Yay!! Happy endings for all ... perhaps not The Skull however. Fantastic job! What's next for Scott Clements, The Scarlet Avenger Strikes Back? Or moving onto a new genre next time?
tropicalcatdetective 5 years ago
Stan Channing is a king among men. All hail!
jonathanbutcherUK 5 years ago
Stan was great! Originally, I wanted him to be wearing a German officer's uniform, but we couldn't afford it. However, I now love that he's wearing a suit, just like the Nazis in the serials! They often didn't wear uniforms, probably for the same reason - budgetary constraints! Also, in the early serials Nazis were not really identified as such, but rather 'enemy agents' with German accents. This was for political reasons, because America had not officially entered the war.
sclements75 5 years ago
Excellent job...a fitting tribute
Faust668 5 years ago
i love stan channing!
bertbirch 5 years ago
Stan was a hilarious guy! Also, apparently he knew karate! I never saw this in action, but he sure was good at punching the Avenger in the gut!
sclements75 5 years ago
great series I'm gonna pass this one on!!
vulcanparty 5 years ago
In the final fight, was that a Monty Python reference to the fight with the Black Knight? The music sure seemed like it.
And it was a nice touch to include yourself and the co-director as part of the cast as the german soliders.
Overall, I think the series was great, mostly because of the consistency with camera and effects.
Too bad the Skull is gone, but keep up the good work!
sinncross 5 years ago
The sword fight was not a reference to the duel from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. However, I have heard they used the same music we did for our opening credits. It comes from a stock music CD of old movie music. I'm not sure if they used the same music for the sword fight, but it's quite possible, because the track is called 'Crossed Swords' (or something along those lines).
sclements75 5 years ago
haha, alright then.
Maybe you could make small minute references in your next series, and see how that works.
sinncross 5 years ago
You Have to finish this one... keep going it is excelent. This series is by far one of the best things on Youtube
adairmike 5 years ago
The Scarlet Avenger is a wonderful short, although because of it's length there are some small-let's call them-annoyances. The characters are a bit obnoxious but that happens when there isn't time for character development. It is also definitely a tribute to the 1940's action/adventures because there was nothing all that new. I felt like I had seen it all before. Overall I enjoyed watching it and it was not a waste of my time. In fact, I would like to see more.
rocketwoman29 5 years ago
ROCK ON! Loved everyone of them - though whos the french chic, she's beautiful
arownious 5 years ago
I'm so glad everyone loves Martine so much. She really was a sweetheart and a fantastic actress. She turned her French Canadian accent into what I thought was a pretty spot on Parisian one! And yes, my jaw fell to the floor when she walked in to meet us. She's a real natural beauty.
sclements75 5 years ago
That was so awesome! I want to see more of the Scarlet Avenger!
zookiemommy 5 years ago
you guys did a good job with this series.
Edman200 5 years ago
A great series, I liked it :)
I was just wondering, how often does the Hero shoot his unarmed enemies like in this last part? It's a change to the usual way of heroism, though, so I'm not complaining.
saakelisoikoon69 5 years ago
WHAT THE F**K?! HE JUST CUT THE ARROW IN TWO AND MADE IT HIT BOTH BAD GUYS!!! I mean, even Batman or the Green Hornet could'nt have done that. Dont-mess-with-the-Scarlet-Avenger!
sic6664 5 years ago
I really enjoyed the Scarlet Avenger!
I hope we get to see more of him soon!
maxneptune 5 years ago
Now all I need to see is a hero from the 50's that has a cool robot-rocket boot suit...guy. Jubilations for the Scarlet Avenger!
Anarchemitis 5 years ago
The fencing fight looked choreographed (I mean slightly unnatural), but it was still a good fight. I comment on the series as a whole, it was absolutely great, I loved it :)
Shindai 5 years ago
That was kind of the point, I believe.
Energize2 4 years ago 2
The fighting scenes were a little hard to believe, but I loved the ending to the series!
zapgranny 5 years ago
*applause!* You nailed the serial look, feel and sound with every step. Huge kudos.
MisterSable 5 years ago
cool
aesniper 5 years ago
I love it how he sneeks up on the nazzi thats how they did it then.I love the background music.
ghosttrain2066 5 years ago
Does Captain America know Bucky's working with The Scarlet Avenger now? LOL
Thanks for posting this, Scott! :)
Gernot 5 years ago
I really liked it. It had that 60's-70's spy show feel to it. A good twist at the end, and a really good way to manage your budget. It was really well coordinated and planned as well as edited. Loved it, 5/5
jkilts 5 years ago
I always loved that it looked like old 'Batman' and 'Star Trek'. The swordfight at the end always felt to me like the battle between Kirk and Spock on Vulcan on the old TV series.
sclements75 5 years ago
Hurrah!
lordknob 5 years ago
Ha, loved it. I've always been a sucker for '40s pulp adventures.
The beauty of this kind of thing is that cheesy effects and acting are par for the course, and only contribute to the serial vibe.
UncannyAntman 5 years ago
That was part of the plan!:-) Thanks, man!
sclements75 5 years ago
I wasn't at all sure what to expect, but you got me! I watched all three parts, and for the obvious budget you had (or didn't have), it's better than a lot of "serial thriller wannabes" I've seen from the bigger budget outfits!
Survivor2002 5 years ago
While it is certainly not academy award material (as if that means much anymore anyway), it was very entertaining. Great job, guys!
maznoe 5 years ago
I agree. Its pretty good.
LBF522 5 years ago
not bad!
XSC3 5 years ago