Earl Newton.com » Stranger Things

A Question about Stranger Things DVD

Earl Newton — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:21:58 +0000

I posted this on Twitter at on September 14, 2009, at 6:50 PM EST:

How many of you would be interested in a numbered, limited-edition Stranger Things package that would include:

A Stranger Things DVD with Episodes 1-4, and bonus content galore
A documentary about Stranger Things, especially the move from low-budget show to TV in 14 months
An e-book containing extensive notes regarding the show and the people, along with script excerpts and other materials
A graphic novel version of an unproduced episode
A gorgeous 11×17 print of a painting inspired by the series
Also, branded swag like jump drives and more
All of this, of course, will be signed.

Would you be interested in that?

The time has come to make this happen. But it’s not going to be easy, and I’m going to need your help. Here’s the Plan:

1) A Stranger Things DVD release will take time. I want to do some things that have never been done with DVD. This Christmas may be too close to have it ready, but we are going to do our damnedest to do it.

2) I will need everyone’s help. To make a DVD release happen, I need at least 500 pre-orders. That means: when the time comes, spread the word!

3) We’re not ready to take preorders yet, but I will let you know as soon as we are.

4) Until then, this is your chance to put in your ideas for the DVD: earl@strangerthings.tv. Or, just sit back and prepare to be wowed.

Strange RSS, LLC Logo Animation

Earl Newton — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:28:24 +0000

In my spare moments this week, I’ve been working on a logo animation for Strange RSS, LLC (the company I started to create Stranger Things).

At fourteen seconds, this is a bit longer than I want. I’ll end up cutting a few seconds out of the middle for the “long version” (8-10 seconds), and fading to black at 4-5 seconds for the short version.

I could also chop it in half and have two options for an animation.

Strange RSS LLC Logo from Earl Newton on Vimeo.

Stock footage animated in After Effects.

I’ve done a lot of VFX insertions into live footage, but this is my first attempt at completely artificial photorealism. Color choice seems to be everything in photorealism. Nothing is ever true white or true black, it’s a lot of grays and irregularities and asymmetrical details until it looks right.

Disconnect, Screenwriting, and Storytelling (Interview)

Earl Newton — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:38:05 +0000

A few weeks back, J.C. Hutchins invited me to come on his program “Hey Everybody!” to talk about our collaboration on Disconnect, the nature of storytelling, and the process of making a low-budget film.

It runs about 45 minutes long, and is one of the more in-depth discussions I’ve ever recorded about these topics. If you’re a filmmaker or know one, it’s worth a listen.

Click here for the interview.

While you’re at it, consider picking up a copy of J.C. Hutchins’ Personal Effects: Dark Art. This isn’t a paid endorsement, but I think as a storyteller it’s important to keep up with where the craft is going, and what J.C. is doing with Personal Effects is close to revolutionary. It’s worth your time, if only for a master class in storytelling.

JC Hutchins and Geek Cred talk Stranger Things

Earl Newton — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:33:01 +0000

Just finished a great interview with JC Hutchins for his podcast Hey Everybody (great, a very in-depth piece that will be out next week), and while I was browsing around afterward, I found out JC had already been talking about Ep05: Disconnect on Geek Cred with Steve Riekeberg.

I’m posting this in my feed because I really think JC nails a lot of the challenges and the ideas we worked with on Disconnect, and if you enjoyed the episode, this little behind-the-scenes preview will be a fun snack before JC’s interview with me drops on Thursday. The whole interview is terrific, but if you want to fast-forward to the Disconnect talk, roll forward to about 29:50.

I think of Geek Cred as the NPR of geek podcasting, and host Steve Riekeberg is definitely living up to the name. If you like this episode, check out the interviews he did with Jonathan Coulton, Leo Laporte, and Wil Wheaton, among others. I think Terry Gross is the only one who has him beat for geek media guests.

Post Your Thoughts on I Look Forward To Remembering You

Earl Newton — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:21:57 +0000

As Episode 05: Disconnect circulates through the Internet and we wrap up Singularity 2009 (Did I say Balticon?), I’m setting my sights on the next episode for Stranger Things.

I did an impromptu Twitterpoll and the audience voted overwhelmingly for Mur Lafferty’s time-travel/mystery/romance piece “I Look Forward to Remembering You.”

I originally heard the story on episode 61 of Escape Pod, and knew even then that it was something I wanted to do.

This week I’m going to download Escape Pod #61, reacquaint myself with Mur’s story, and begin the adaptation process.

I’ll be posting updates here and on Twitter as I work through the script. Post your thoughts about the story and what it means to you. I’ll be referring back to these comments as I construct the screenplay, and eventually, the movie.

Follow me on Twitter.
Listen to Escape Pod #61: “I Look Forward To Remembering You.”
Post your thoughts on the story below.

Stranger Things: Ep05

Earl Newton — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:07:38 +0000

When their prize reality star goes missing, a monolithic network enlists the aid of the entire world to find him.

Disconnect (Stranger Things episode 5) just went live on the site yesterday. Feedback is good so far. Leave your comments below or on the site itself.

Written and Directed by Earl Newton

Story by J.C. Hutchins and Earl Newton

Produced by Earl Newton and Juan A. Baez III

Starring Jonathan MacQueen, James Donadio, and Rachel White

Chalk It Up to 2008

Earl Newton — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:34:18 +0000

2008 was a good year for me, professionally and personally. It was a hard year, financially, though I had it easier than most.

For those who missed it (and sometimes I count myself among them), here’s the recap of 2008.

JANUARY: Spent the last month of my “day job” (producing sports radio) packing up my apartment and getting ready to move.
FEBRUARY: Day job ends on the first. Rather than search for another one, I set out to make my company pay for itself, through media production. Less than two weeks later, I was in Wilmington, North Carolina, directing a promotional trailer for Scott Sigler and Random House (Watch: Infected).
MARCH: After the shoot in February, I went back to Wilmington, and with the help and talent of Joe Stauffer and Shaun O’Rourke (amongst countless others), I produced/directed “Latchkeepers“, the fourth episode of Stranger Things, from a script by Matt Wallace.
APRIL: Began post-production on Latchkeepers. Was contacted by an English teacher in Brazil, who wanted to use “Sins of the Mother” to teach Brazilian students English. Developed the principle of Newton’s Razor: “All things being dramatically equal, the shortest cut is usually the best one.”
MAY: In a rush of post-production effects and sweat, David Kanter and I drove up to Balticon and staged Stranger Things: Singularity. Before an audience of 400, we announced to the world that Stranger Things would now be syndicated in 25 million homes across the U.S. on Illusion TV.
JUNE: After going live on Illusion TV, there followed a mad rush of publicity, including press on IO9.com and Warren Ellis’ blog. Lots of squeeeing in June. Also, starting June 1st, I gave up all junk food/soda/general edible evil.
JULY: After four months of irregular work, had to put down Stranger Things for a bit and take care of finances. Family issues also came into play, and left me with little time to do anything but side-jobs and look for better work.
AUGUST: In between side-gigs, I began writing the feature version of Pure Love. At the very end of the month, we came in strong by winning the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Video Podcast.
SEPTEMBER: Finished the first draft of Pure Love, and had to take a client to court. Finances got even tighter.
OCTOBER: My Macbook Pro was destroyed by a falling statue (long story). A new long-term production gig appeared on my horizon, and helped me pay for everything. In addition, longtime friends got married after a 7-year engagement, and I created this video of their courtship.
NOVEMBER: I completed another draft of Pure Love, and helped elect Barack Obama President. I also wrote this essay about that night.
DECEMBER: I paid bills, celebrated with friends and family, and had a generally laid-back time.

By and large, I accomplished the major goals I had for 2008. I built up the company, got us sound, promoted Stranger Things, and managed to remember birthdays along the way.

That said, the bar for 2009 has been set much higher. MUCH more activity with Stranger Things, many more side-projects that should be equally fun, and a lot of personal goals I want to hit.

I’m saving that post for tomorrow. As for now: Happy New Year, and as I like to say, I hope that 2009 brings you the wonders and the learning that 2008 did for me.

Because I like to be one year ahead.

Stranger Things wins 2008 Parsec Award

Earl Newton — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:48:33 +0000

On August 31, at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA, Stranger Things won the 2008 Parsec award for Best Video Podcast.

Thanks go to the Parsec committee, honor to our fellow nominees, and above all, enormous gratitude to our fanbase. You make us what we are.

The acceptance video:

New Script Completed

Earl Newton — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:38:36 +0000

Just completed the second draft of Pure Love (aka episode 5 of Stranger Things).

Without sounding like a broken record: we’re taking the bar up another notch. Psychologically, visually, conceptually, this may be one of the most raw stories we’ve told yet.

From one of my early readers:

“This is a killer tale of addiction, desperation, and need.”

VID: The Singularity Began at Balticon

Earl Newton — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:45:55 +0000

Footage from the Singularity, Balticon 42 (May 25, 2008).