When Sandy Collora bursts onto the scene in 2003, his first successful attempt was a fan film by the name of "Batman: Dead End." The eight minute short film was made on a budget of $30,000 and eventually premiered for audiences at the San Diego Comic Con. Batman: Dead End was so accepted by fans after the initial viewing during the comic book convention that it became instantly successful with internet users. In fact, the short film was downloaded over 600,000 times during its first week online. Not too bad for a fan made film with a budget of $30,000. The director received critical acclaim from two well known individuals connected with comic books...director Kevin Smith and comic book artist Alex Ross.
"An amazing piece of work...possibly the truest, best Batman movie ever made," Smith said after viewing the film. Ross viewed the film and said, "Batman the way I've always wanted to see him." The film comes off as a typical encounter between Batman and the Joker, but it seems Predators and Aliens from two well known science fiction franchises enter the mix, kill the Joker and turn their attention towards Batman.
Collora followed up with "World's Finest," which depicted the alliance of Superman and Batman where they had to yet again save the world from destruction.
This time around, Collora is back with a completely new idea...Hunter Prey.
The film involves a group of highly trained intergalactic commandos that are transporting an alien prisoner, which happens to be the lone survivor of a recently massacred race. During transport, the ship has crashed landed and the soldiers must do everything they can to recapture the prisoner...the only catch; orders have been given that he must be brought back alive.
On the hunt in avenging his race, the soldiers are killed one-by-one, which leaves them at a grave disadvantage on their current mission. The surviving members begin to wonder what the purpose of the mission is. When the hunt comes to a climax, only two remain...the escaped prisoner and one soldier.
With the life of the soldier hanging in the balance, he begins to juggle between two decisions: follow through with the mission and eventually meet his end or fight back by disobeying orders and kill the creature. After finding out the real purpose for the entire mission, why the alien must be captured alive as well as its reason in trying to escape, his train of thought begins to alter as he comes to grips with who out of the two left standing is really the hunter.
He's currently working out distribution deals but hopefully it releases in 2010.
Whispers68: For those who didn't get a chance to view "Batman: Dead End," here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQtIspqXIQU. Here's the link for the trailer for "World's Finest," http://www.spike.com/video/supermanbatman/2645491. The film maker has a creative vision and on such a small budget, imagine if he had the opportunity to receive more endorsements.