As many of you know, my next big project, is the Russ Meyer films spoof called "STRONGER, HARDER GIVE ME MORE!" Before it gets rolling however, I decided to do another short film project based on a well known character. BATMAN BEYOND debuted on television as a cartoon series some years back with this basic premise: It's the future, former Batman, Bruce Wayne is now 80 years old and in comes a young protegee' named Terry McGinnis to take over the role of Batman. It was an instant success, with a newly designed Batman look that seemed instantly as iconic as the original Batman himself.
So, the year before I filmed the webisode series "Fu Manchu's Weapon Of Evil," a good friend and fellow comic book afficiando, Larry Smith e-mailed me pics of himself in a costume that he, himself made, that perfectly mimicked the Batman Beyond cartoon character. WOW! I was astounded. I knew Larry for some years and never knew he could do this so well. That was the first half of the genesis to the upcoming short film called "BATMAN BEYOND: BEYOND THE SENSES," which I will be writing, shooting, directing, editing, and even providing the voice of the old Bruce Wayne, which I'm told that my vocal impersonation of Batman voice artist Kevin Conroy is spot on! Whooda thought?
The idea to use Larry's costume as the impetus for a short live-action film based on Batman Beyond was instantaneous because of the second part of the genesis of this idea. My good friend, the incomparable actor Michael McQuary (Mister Fu Manchu himself) had introduced me to a friend of his who just happened to be the spitting image of Terry McGinnis in real life. That person was Dru Grossberg. More on him later.
The Batman Beyond film project had to be back burnered because of the tremendous 9 month undertaking (from pre to post production) of creating the Fu Manchu web series. Oddly enough, I began to jump into the idea of the Russ Meyer spoof and it almost looked like the Batman project was never going to get done. However, my Fu Manchu screenwriter, James Sexton has been taking his time and working so diligently on writing the script for SHGMM to make sure it is hilarious and as perfect as can be, that I had a space in time to go back to the Batman Beyond idea. I decided that Spellbinder was the best villain from the cartoon series to use on a limited budget (If I had millions, it would have been Inque). Who better to give life to Spellbinder? None other than Michael McQuary of course.
It was up to me to write the short script which opens with Batman already in the clutches of Spellbinder. I will say no more about the story. You'll have to be surprised. So, the story was completed, Dru and Michael were on board and then Larry Smith thankfully agreed to do the costumes for both Batman and Spellbinder. Larry is a genius. I just love when I discover new hidden talents that my friends possess. Larry came in on the second pre-production meeting and brought the Terry McGinnis Batman costume with him. It looked even better in person than the pics I saw. Dru promplty went into another room to put the costume on. When he came out, Larry, Michael and I gasped! Dru was utterly perfect for this. It was Terry McGinnis as Batman come to life. It's one thing to know in your head that an idea is good, but it's another thing to see it in front of your eyes and have it be even better. Dru looked perfect, Larry's costume was amazing, and I have been pleased beyond words. Larry and Dru, and MMQ as well, I owe you a huge THANKS for what I believe will be an entertaining fan film short. Stay tuned about the where and when you'll be able to see it- Marc Briatack.
BATMAN and related characters are properties of DC Comics Inc.
