Project: S.E.R.A. - Not Your GrandPa's Zombie Story

Image © IGN Entertainment

Project: S.E.R.A. is the sleek sci fi web series produced by the premiere entertainment  company for gamers, IGN.

The story focuses on the efforts of Gillian Eames (Julia Voth) and Lt. Riggins (Derek Theler) to stop the black market sale of an experimental serum developed by the United States military.  

This serum was developed to hasten the recovery of wounded veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, this compound has an unexpected, horrific side effect which makes it extremely desirable as a biological weapon.

Project: S.E.R.A. is a compelling, exciting, and entertaining take on zombies - a subgenre threatening to become overdone.

What helps set the series apart is a number of notable factors including:

  • A smart screenplay by Bill Kirchen and Nathan Miller

  • Exceptional direction by director/creator Benjamin Howdeshell

  • Dynamic fight and action sequences

  • Superb visual and special effects

Another main attraction of Project: S.E.R.A. is the stellar performances of the main cast - especially Julia Voth. 

Ms. Voth imbues protagonist Gillian Eames with depth and complexity.  Yes, Gillian is a certified, grade A bad ass. Yet, beneath the surface is a woman of quiet vulnerability and keen intelligence.   It's not hyperbole to say Gillian Eames has a place among other top genre heroines such as Ellen Ripley or Alice, respectively of the Alien and Resident Evil films.

Project: S.E.R.A. is a six episode series, but there is a strong possibility more is yet to come.

I certainly hope so!

Below is a behind-the-scenes featurette: 

Here is the complete first episode:

 Update: Since the 2013 debut of Project: S.E.R.A., zombies have become even more widly popular. From The Walking Dead spinoffs to the Marvel Zombies Show, zombies remain all the rage. But Project: S.E.R.A. remains unique in its take.

Please visit IGN's START Channel on YouTube to view Project: S.E.R.A. in its entirety.


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Silverwood - A Horror Web Series About A Small Town With Dark Secrets

Though I'm not the biggest fan of horror, during my childhood I  watched many episodes of  classic sci-fi series such as The Twilight Zone,  Tales From The Crypt, and George A. Romero's Tales From The Darkside.

Silverwood, an 11-part science fiction and horror mini-series, is the 21st century descendent of those horror anthologies.  

Created by filmmaker Tony E. Valenzuela and produced by BlackBoxTV, each episode of Silverwood tells a unique, chilling tale about the titular California hamlet.

From one young couple's planned night of intimacy gone horribly wrong, to a woman's first encounter with her boyfriend's wildly dysfunctional family, the web series features  contributions from notable creatives such as:

  • Fan favorite genre actors, such as respected character actress Sharon Lawrence (NYPD Blue), Brea Grant (Heroes), and Jordan Hinson (Zoe Carter, Eureka)

  • Acclaimed directors, like Drew Daywalt, who in my opinion directed the scariest episodes (make sure to watch the two-part episode The Hunger for proof!)

Each Silverwood tale features what producers call exclusive DLC (downloadable content), which is the digital equivalent to special bonus material on blu-ray discs and dvds.

While the episodes contain stand alone plots, there is an over-arching mythology that can only be appreciated if you watch all 11 vignettes.  Also, there are comic books and supplementary videos available, which serve to provide more insight into the history surrounding the mysterious town.

While not all of the episode work as well as others, Silverwood often provides more genuine chills than many recent full-length horror movies.  

For horror fans, it's definitely worth visiting Silverwood, but you wouldn't want to live there (cheesy pun intended). 

Below is the official trailer for the series: 

For more information about Silverwood, visit its official home on BlackBoxTv


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Dirigible Days - An Adventure Where Steampunk Meets Lovecraft

​Image Copyright Day 304 Productions.

​Image Copyright Day 304 Productions.

Imagine an alternate universe where at the pinnacle of the Victorian age,  debris from a nearby asteroid bombards the Earth. Millions perish, civilization crumbles, and humanity enters a second Dark Age. The Earth itself is transformed by a strange ore within the meteorites that creates new floating continents.  

After almost a thousand years, man has rebuilt a sky-faring civilization complete with elegant air ships, pirates, global Empires, and arcane religions.

Welcome to Dirigible Days, an award-winning, wildly imaginative five-part steampunk web series. The brainchild of creator (and series star) James Bragado, the plot follows the  exploits of  the roguish crew of the S.S. Beatrix.

While seeking their next payday,  the crew find themselves in conflict with the sinister leader of a crazed cult who worships the infernal god Cthulhu from H.P. Lovecraft mythos. 

Dirigible Days was financed via Kickstarter for a modest amount even by independent standards. This makes the resulting product all the more impressive.  The majority of the set, costume, and prop design are highly detailed - quite a feat given the budget the production  had to work with.

Also, the opening credit narration is by Anthony Daniels, C-3PO of Star Wars fame! 

I am still a newbie to the genre, but after seeing Dirigible Days, my interest is definitely piqued. I highly recommend this series for the passion, creativity, and imagination on display throughout.

Below is the first episode:

To watch the complete series, visit its channel on YouTube: Dirigible Days.

While there are no present plans to produce more episodes, the production is planning a comic book spin off.  I think this will be a perfect way to expand the universe.  

 Support the project by visiting its official Kickstarter campaign, and lending your support: 

Dirigible Days Comic Book Kickstarter 

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The Book Club - 4 Guys, Books And A Whole Lotta Trouble

The Book Club is a hilarious, often laugh out loud web series about four guys who are just trying to conduct a book club. 

While the series itself  isn't specifically science fiction, it does send up tropes of many  closely related genres such as mystic marital arts films, and modern horror movies.

The four men: Chris Marrs - who wrote the series, Parvesh Cheena, Thomas Fowler, and Dann Pudi, are everymen, but with impeccable comedic timing to shame most network sitcoms. 

I had a blast watching the misadventures of these men - including their confrontation with ninjas, and a "read-off" with an all female, rival book club you have to see to believe.

All six episodes are available on YOMYOMF (a YouTube channel that appears to be quite the incubator for ingenious web series).

Here is the series trailer: 

Below is the first episode, which gives you a great snapshot for the overall tone of the series: 


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