Get a peek behind the scenes and meet the stars of 'Judas Kiss' in the 'making of' documentary by award-winning filmmaker Matt Bucy.

LOS ANGELES – Get a look behind the scenes at the genre-busting, time-bending 2011 film festival favorite, “Judas Kiss,” the best-selling movie critics cite as taking gay cinema in a bold direction.

Award-winning documentarian Matt Bucy spent weeks on the set shooting footage for “Judas Kiss: Behind the Scenes,” which chronicles the production of the acclaimed film, the first feature by director J.T. Tepnapa and writer-producer Carlos Pedraza via their production company, Blue Seraph Productions.

All four episodes of the series are available now on the Judas Kiss channel on YouTube. The film itself, distributed by Wolfe Video, is at the top of the sales charts in its category on Amazon in the United States and in Europe. Here’s the first episode:

WATCH THE ENTIRE ‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ SERIES

The first episode of the Web series introduces the film’s stars Charlie David (star of Logo TV’s “Bump,” the TV series “Dante’s Cove,” and the feature, “Mulligans”), Richard Harmon (of AMC’s “The Killing”), Sean Paul Lockhart (aka adult star Brent Corrigan) and Belgian TV and pop star Timo Descamps, as well as director Tepnapa and writer Pedraza.

Critics have lauded the film’s high production values, strong ensemble cast, and its ambitious effort to meld drama, science fiction and magical realism; the film has won multiple awards at film festivals for its screenplay and acting. “Judas Kiss” tells the story of a washed-up filmmaker (David) who returns to his alma mater, where he gets the chance to reshape his destiny.

The four episodes:

• Introduce the principal cast and crew, especially the hot young stars getting so much recent press around the United States.

• Document the creative tension at the heart of the partnership between director Tepnapa and writer-producer Pedraza.

• Explore actor Sean Paul Lockhart’s past as controversial adult film star Brent Corrigan, and what it means for his new career as a mainstream actor.

• Offer a sneak peek at the Bollywood-style end musical number, “If I Fall,” performed by the Judas Kiss cast and crew, joined by the song’s composer, American Idol alumnus Brian Lam.

SELECTED REVIEWS AND AWARDS

• “Brilliant production. Excellent cast.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• “Incredibly original and extraordinarily well-made. Transcends all genres, and features solid performances from really charismatic actors.” (Examiner.com)
• “A deep, insightful film that explores the shadows we run from as gay men and the toxic and self-destructive decisions that can change our lives.” (Edge Network)
• “A metaphysical rumination on lost opportunities, Judas Kiss uses magical realism to convey its message. To that end, the film is pure joy.” (Men of Color blog)
• Best Debut Feature (Q Cinema, Fort Worth, Texas)
• Best Screenplay (Q Films, Long Beach, Calif.)
• First Place, Alternative Spirit (Rhode Island International Film Festival)
• Best Screenwriting (FilmOut San Diego)
• Honorable Mention, Youth Jury for Best Picture (Rhode Island Film Festival)
• Rising Star Award, Sean Lockhart (Q Fest, Philadelphia)
• Official Selection, Frameline 35 (San Francisco)
• Official Selection, NewFest (New York City)
• Official Selection at dozens of other film festivals worldwide

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION “Judas Kiss” is distributed in North America by Wolfe Video, in the United Kingdom by TLA Releasing, in German-speaking Europe by Pro-Fun Media, and in French-speaking Europe by BQHL.

Blue Seraph Productions is a Los Angeles company headed by Tepnapa and Seattle-based Pedraza. Their previous work on the Web’s longest-running series, Star Trek: New Voyages and Star Trek: Hidden Frontier has been featured in the New York Times, BBC, Variety, Rolling Stone, the Today Show, MSNBC, and other international news outlets.

Tepnapa’s short films include the multiple award-winning parody of 1950s teen health films, “Masturbation: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving,” the comedy “Drag Queen Heist” and the drama about homeless youth, “Begging for Change.”

BEHIND THE SCENES on the set of Judas Kiss with stars Richard Harmon (left) and Charlie David. Director of Photography David Berry sets a light in the background.

Watch this video featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the Judas Kiss shoot this past summer. The video introduces the film’s principal cast and shows off talents of the mostly Seattle-based crew.

The video was shot by the film’s videographer, Matt Bucy, who also edited it together in record time for its premiere at the fundraiser held at the end of August at The Lobby Bar in Seattle.

OTHER NEWS The film wrapped production on September 4, and is well into post-production. Judas Kiss is currently being edited, and preparations are well underway for sound design, visual effects, color correction, soundtrack, the score and other aspects of its completion.

The post-production timeline is scheduled for about six months, which means the film should be ready for exhibition at film festivals around the world starting in Spring 2011.

CHECK OUT the eScape preview at www.eScapeTheSeries.com

LOS ANGELES — What if you woke up one day at summer camp to discover all the adults had disappeared? That’s how the kids’ adventure series, eScape, begins when it comes to the Web this summer, producers announced today.

Created by Mike Feurstein of New York-based MovieQuest Productions and co-produced by Blue Seraph’s partner company, Runic Films, eScape tells the story of a group of campers seemingly abandoned by their counselors. They soon discover they are trapped in a video game that grants them amazing abilities. But in the real world, this game is the object of a power struggle between powerful corporations and mysterious military interests.

The first three seasons of eScape will premiere on the Web this summer on its Web site, www.eScapeTheSeries.com. A trailer and a preview of the show are available on the site now.

“The show tells a great story in the same vein as Lost,” said Feurstein. “Young and older viewers alike connect with its characters’ struggles to make the right life choices in the face of adventure, danger and unimaginable odds.”

eScape’s third season is currently in production in and around Albany, N.Y., starring local actors and school children. The students also worked behind the scenes to help produce the series.

“Wide release of eScape this summer will introduce viewers to the space- and time-bending world of the show,” said Runic Films producer Ben Alpi.  “It’s a world we plan to continue to explore.”

eScape is the latest project from Runic Films, which comprises the creative team behind the Web series Star Trek: Phase II, winner of TV Guide’s Online Video Award for Science Fiction, and nominee for the Hugo and Nebula awards — science fiction’s highest honors.

Alpi, who had contributed visual effects to the first two seasons of eScape, introduced series creator Feurstein to his Runic partners — writer-producer Carlos Pedraza, cinematographer David Berry, and visual effects artists Joël Bellucci and Matt Jolly — after their recent departure from the Trek series.

Watch the Trailer

Feurstein and his young filmmakers have produced movies that have won gold medals in New York state competitions and top prizes in regional film contests. Feurstein himself earned Best Local Filmmaker kudos in readers’ polls from the Albany, N.Y., Times Union, and the Metroland newsweekly. He has also produced an international educational DVD series on autism, contributed to the blockbuster award-winning Guitar Hero video game and owns Cucumber Alley, a film lighting rental company.

“Ben, Carlos and the rest of the Runic guys came aboard to help make the third season of eScape the best yet,” Feurstein said, “and its release on the Web is an exceptional showcase for the cast and crew.”

Runic Films is a production and entertainment company developing original properties for Web, film and television. Now located in Los Angeles, Runic was founded by two brothers in New York, and has grown to a staff of award-winning writers, directors, artists and technicians. Dedicated to upholding the rich traditions of storytelling, Runic Films harnesses cutting-edge technology and visual effects to create amazing worlds for dramatic tales grounded in humanity.

Based in historic Schenectady, N.Y., MovieQuest Productions is a motion picture production company dedicated to offering young people educational opportunities to create quality films.

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Links

• eScape Web site http://www.eScapeTheSeries.com
• Runic Films http://www.runicfilms.com

THE NEW Blue Seraph production facility offers white and black backgrounds, as well as greenscreen capabilities for compositing.

LOS ANGELES — Blue Seraph Productions has acquired new studio space for use in industrial, commercial and promotional high-definition video projects.

The facility, located at Jetset Studios, expands the production partnership between Blue Seraph and the Butterknife Network.

“We’ve already put the studio to use for clients and plan to use it for our own projects right away,” said Blue Seraph’s J.T. Tepnapa. Among the first in-house projects is the continuing “Tim the Intern” podcasts that promote the film Judas Kiss.

Apart from its HD capabilities, the studio offers white and black backgrounds for photographic and video work, and a greenscreen for video compositing. The video below offers a quick tour of the facility.

1. Begging for Change — Written & directed by J.T. Tepnapa
2. “Blood and Fire, Part 1” (Star Trek: Phase II) — Written by Carlos Pedraza, cinematography by David Berry, visual effects by Joël Bellucci, second unit director Ben Alpi
3. Masturbation: Putting the Fun into Self-Loving — Written & directed by J.T. Tepnapa

Watch the Blue Seraph Productions Reel

THE BRIDGE of the U.S.S. Enterprise comes under attack in “Blood and Fire, Part 1,” written by Carlos Pedraza.

Pursued and damaged by repeated Klingon attacks, the crew of the Enterprise responds to the distress call from a Federation research vessel. In a matter of hours, that ship and crew will be consumed by a nearby star while the crew of the Enterprise faces a mysterious horror that threatens both ships.

BLOOD AND FIRE, PART 1Carlos Pedraza adapted this acclaimed, controversial and never-produced Star Trek: The Next Generation script by David Gerrold into this two-part episode for the award-winning Web series, Star Trek: Phase II. Guest-starring Evan Fowler and introducing Bobby Rice as the Captain’s nephew, Ensign Peter Kirk, Part 1 of “Blood and Fire” breaks new ground for the Star Trek franchise, introducing the first openly gay characters in the original series’ history.

UPDATE Part 2 of “Blood and Fire” is scheduled for release Friday, Nov. 20, according to the Star Trek: Phase II Web site. More information.

Watch a clip from “Blood and Fire”

The 52-minute “Blood and Fire, Part 1,” directed by “Trouble with Tribbles” creator David Gerrold, was released in 2008 and is available online at the Star Trek: Phase II Web site. Part 2 is scheduled for release in late 2009.

A homeless teen (Brandon Larcom) struggles with dangerous choices from the fateful flip of a coin.

In Begging for Change, two universes diverge from a single random coin toss in this dramatic short about desperation and redemption. Living out the aftermath in parallel but intertwined stories, a homeless teen rejects the aid of a handsome jogger, only to continue to live hungry and abused on the streets; in an alternate timeline, the coin flip leads the same boy into the arms of that same jogger, but with significantly different consequences. Will either path lead him home?

Back again at Q-Cinema, Begging For Change won the award for Best Dramatic Short Film. Making a departure from J.T.’s usual comedies, Begging for Change tackles deadly serious subjects.

Festival Director Barb Lee, says “J.T. refuses to let us shut our eyes when the going gets rough. Nor does he allow us our comfortable queer ending. With Begging for Change, J.T. has proved he is more then just the director of gay lifestyle comedy films. He has become an artist of film, able to reflect to us reality whether it is absurd and laughable or serious and important.”

Watch the Begging for Change trailer

This 12-minute film was released in 2006 and is available for purchase on the Begging for Shorts DVD.

DESPERATE TIMES call for desperate measurements. Bobby (J.T. Tepnapa) and Jared (Dennis Garcia) work out their relationship troubles while committing robbery.

Another festival winner, Drag Queen Heist picked up Best Gay Short Film at Q-Cinema, Fort Worth’s Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, and was a semifinalist at the NowCasting Film Festival.

Drag Queen Heist is an action-comedy about the desperate attempts by two hopeless romantics, Bobby and Jared, to make some quick cash by robbing a local bank. Jared comes up with an “infallible” plan for the pair to rob the Second Fidelity Bank … in drag.

Regrettably, Jared’s boyfriend and co-conspirator, Bobby, is anything but infallible. Each step Bobby takes is a step in the wrong direction. Watch these two as their plan unravels like a cheap weave!

Watch the Drag Queen Heist trailer

This 19-minute film, released in 2004, is available for purchase on the Begging for Shorts DVD.

JEEPERS! Billy (Adam Browne) gets sound advice on self-loving from the eminent Dr. Sigmund Winston (Travis Michael Holder).

One of the funniest shorts of 2002, Masturbation: Putting the Fun into Self-Loving became an instant classic in the world of independent short films, winning multiple festival awards including PlanetOut’s Best Comedy Short.  Featured in documentaries, sex education classrooms, and part of TLA’s Men’s Mix One, Masturbation has taken on a life of its own.

This 1950s-style mockumentary chronicles the teachings of Dr. Sigmund Winston, who with the help of his trusty young sidekick, Billy, teaches the students of America’s Innocent Age how to put more excitement into self-loving.

Boys from the local YMCA, along with hilarious retro visual aids, give the audience a simple and wacky, step-by-step approach to the joys of masturbation.

This 8-minute film is featured on the Begging for Shorts DVD, available for purchase.