Why 'The World Of Steam' May Be The Best Steampunk Web Series To Date
The World Of Steam is the extraordinary steampunk anthology web series from the mind of creator/director Matt Yang King.
Born out of love for the genre, as well as classic science fiction anthology series such as The Twilight Zone, Mr. King decided to bring his unique vision to the screen.
After having launched a wildly successful crowdsourcing campaign last year, the first episode of the web anthology, The Clockwork Heart, was released on November 20, 2013.
The result is the debut of an impressive work of unusual emotional depth, elegance, and power.
The Clockwork Heart tells the heart-wrenching story of Hieronymous Smythe (Scott Folsom) a mechanical genius who is grieving the death of his beloved bride Mary (Gail Folsom).
Unable to accept her passing, Hieronymous decides to build an exact clockwork duplicate of Mary.
The results are not at all what the inventor expects.
The Clockwork Heart is a disarmingly moving tale about the affects love and grief have on the heart.
A notable hallmark of this episode is how the emotional beats of the story are effectively relayed without much dialogue.
The acting and dynamic visuals together serve to express the sense of love, longing and loss inherent in the story.
Words are not really necessary.
For example, the history of the couple's love affair is told via a gorgeously rendered silhouetted diorama.
What ultimately sets this project apart from other terrific steampunk web series is the stellar production team assembled by Mr. King.
The roster reads like a who's who of talented creatives including:
Bear McCreary, the lauded composer of such prestigious projects as Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead
Peyton Skelton, the director of photography responsible for the visual style of major Hollywood properties such as Grey's Anatomy and Scream 2
Lisa Lassek, the prolific editor whose previous credits include hit films such as The Cabin In The Woods and mega-blockbuster The Avengers
However I would be remiss if I failed to mention the beautiful set, prop and costume designs of Scott and Mary Folsom - who remarkably serve double-duty as the episode's leads.
All of the superb production elements combine to make it seem as if the story sprang to life directly from the pages of a Jules Verne novel.
Experience this intriguing new world for yourself by watching The Clockwork Heart, episode one of The World Of Steam:
I'm not ashamed to admit I was deeply moved by this episode, and can't wait to revisit this captivating universe.
After making such an auspicious debut, I'm confident I won't be the only passenger waiting for transport back to The World Of Steam.
To watch all future episodes of the anthology, visit the series' channel on YouTube: TheWorldOfSteam. Also, please subscribe to the channel to show the filmmakers your support.
For more detailed information about the production, check out the official series website TheWorldOfSteam.com.
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