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The Matrix Media Movies

Fanimatrix - The Matrix Re-done By Fans 268

Posted by Hemos from the waiting-until-now dept.
wishes writes "It appears Matrix fans have banded together to create the fanimatrix. From the Trailer it's not just an amateur event either. Release date is 27th September. " From the trailer, the movie actually looks good!
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Fanimatrix - The Matrix Re-done By Fans More

Fanimatrix - The Matrix Re-done By Fans

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  • No quicktime trailer (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    How can someone not include a QT format? They got every other flavor.

    Also, aren't they infringing on WB's copyright?
    • Not necessarily ... they may be infringing upon any Warner Brother's trademarks involved, but if this is simply a creative expression and not a for-profit venture then they might be okay. I dunno though ... the law (you know, of the people, by the people, for the people) is little more than a sort of great gray grimness to me, and I really don't understand it. But then again, I'm not a lawyer so why should I.

    • Also, aren't they infringing on WB's copyright?

      I dunno but when I first saw the big Plutoian Shore Productions logo come up I screamed in terror because I thought it said "Pauly Shore Productions"!

      Now that would have sucked, my friends.

      GMD

  • Obligatory TORRENT link (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:04AM (#7071308)
    if you're only looking for the torrent link to the trailer: here goes [fanimatrix.net]

  • In case the site starts to struggle... (Score:5, Informative)

    by alwsn ( 593349 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:05AM (#7071310)
    Here is the torrent for the mpeg. Fanimatrix 14MB mpeg trailer [fanimatrix.net]

  • 10/10 for effort (Score:5, Funny)

    by BillsPetMonkey ( 654200 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:05AM (#7071311)
    How long before there's a Matrix Convention, with lots of nerds dressing up in black trenchcoats, acting out scenes and theorizing about the symbolism of The Oracle, then having a disco at the end of the evening. Lots of geek girls dressing up as Niobe.

    Actually, you know ...

  • very nice / similar stuff (Score:2, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I like the work they put in their project and it looks really nice. Must have been great fun to shoot the movie, too.
    I once did a statist-job for a small film, and it is fun. The same fun people write software for.

    There is a similar, albeit not so complicated and shaped project at Matrix-XP [matrix-xp.com].

  • Impressive, what's next? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by 3seas ( 184403 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:16AM (#7071340) Homepage Journal
    It won't be long before someone makes it available on CD/VCD/DVD at costs, for those like me who simply don't have a fast enough connection.

    There are other sites out there that have every thing from gatherings to RL RPG but one I'm on, that has been around since the beginning, with some of it's members even making it on Matrix Revisited, is Matrixcommunuity [matrixcommunity.org]

    I am impressed with things fans have done, including writing full scripts of their own.

    And as the matrix is, there is plenty of room, for everyones story.

  • Not to disparage this effort but... (Score:3, Funny)

    by dodgyville ( 660660 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:16AM (#7071342) Homepage Journal
    Why do all "Matrix" spin-offs have something with "trix" appended to the end? Two examples are "The Animatrix" and now "The Fanimatrix". Why don't they do it the other way round? What's wrong with "The Matran" or "The Matrimation"???

    It's also the same with unix. Why don't programs do something other than end in "x" (eg Linux, lynx, lyx, knoppix...)? They should start with "un" (or if you like linux, "lin"). For example, "open-office" could be called "un-office", and "link" could be called "linlink".

  • What's the point? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by gL4cier ( 678091 )
    Saw Trinity alike, Neo alike & Agent Smith... What's the freaking point anyway. I mean I respect their creativity/artistry n stuff but come on... use them on something else other than matrix copycat. (or try to make a story like one of those animatrix stories)
    • "What's the freaking point anyway. I mean I respect their creativity/artistry n stuff but come on... use them on something else other than matrix copycat."

      Gotta start somewhere.

      Even if it sucks, it doesn't matter. If lots of people watch it, then the chances are good that it will attract more indie filmmakers. It legitimizes P2P and it provides the MPAA with much needed competition. Imagine if the MPAA felt it needed to make movies available on-line in order to reach that new market they tried to des

  • Guerrila Film makers (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Nodatadj ( 28279 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:23AM (#7071367) Journal
    From the trailer it looks like they're competent film makers. I can't comment on the storyline, cos really, the trailer doesn't actually say much about it, its just showing "Look we can copy the stuff the Matrix did".

    I was going to complain about "Why don't these people write their own stories, based on their own created characters, etc etc, then we might have some new worthwhile cinema and new ideas coming though", but I guess there are people who do that, they just don't get on the front page of /.

    I dunno, I guess I have the same feeling about professional cover bands too.
    • Eh, it's not just the explicit remakes that lack innovation. Plenty of Hollywood movies have a "been there, done that" feeling to them. When it comes right down to it, I've watched more than one Jackie Chan movie, enjoyed them, but can't say I found them to be all that different.

      Actually, if people are interested I can try to coerce a film studies prof into writing a /. article. There's quite a few alternative film experts at McGill, and heck some good alternative films have been made here (though I'll

    • " "Why don't these people write their own stories, based on their own created characters, etc etc, then we might have some new worthwhile cinema and new ideas coming though"

      Easier said than done. It's hard to get noticed on-line. But if you start leg-humping another hot-property, then you've instantly got people who are curious.

      When the setting is familiar, it's easy to get a few people to say "what the hell" and get it.

      Don't worry about the noise generated by garbage out there. Look for the gems.

  • Legal? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by caillon ( 629714 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:27AM (#7071378) Homepage

    Their disclaimer [fanimatrix.net] says "Although copyrighted materials (e.g. music and sound fx) do appear in this film, we hope that the spirit of goodwill will prevail in allowing us to feature their work on our movie in the hopes that it will promote their own talents."

    I like the idea, but it seems far fetched that the copyright holders will actually go for this...

    • Without having seen the movie, its difficulyt to say. But due to the evolving nature of the how the theme is spreading and other factors, it's less likely for there to be legal action against fans showing respect then for a bootlegger.

      • Re:Legal? (Score:2, Insightful)

        by caillon ( 629714 )
        Well, if the claims are true and they are using copyrighted music, the RIAA and record labels have shown in the past that they will go after people with out caring who they are. They have no direct connection to the Matrix (AFAICS), and it wouldn't matter to them whether they are sincere fans of the movie or bootleggers. I wonder if the fanimatrix people tried contacting the copyright holders....

    • This should be legal... (Score:3, Insightful)

      by sterno ( 16320 )
      This should be legal for two reasons:

      1) none of the copyright holders for any of the material used in this film or that this film is based on are losing ANYTHING because of it

      2) they aren't making money. In fact, they are losing money on it.

      • Re:This should be legal... (Score:4, Informative)

        by The Kow ( 184414 ) <{moc.liamg} {ta} {pmantup}> on Saturday September 27, 2003 @12:38PM (#7072820)
        Legally speaking, I believe they are. IANAL, but I did take a business law course which discussed the *real* necessities for a copyright infringement lawsuit, and, while I don't remember precise details, I do remember that having to document dollar-value losses is not a part of the requirement. Tarnishment is considered a viable 'loss' as are several other intangibles.

        Think for a moment that you're a company who's copyrighted work is being subjected to a fan-imitation work that you've AUTHORIZED. Someone else comes along and does the same thing and finishes there work before the authorized fan-mimicked work is released. The second one comes out, and your attempts to market it have now been cut short.

        In addition, you may not want people dilluting your trademarked logo, fictitious world, or concepts. Trademark is a whole new can of worms, though, and I don't remember enough of that to really get deep into it, either.

        Suffice it to say that your two reasons wouldn't cut the mustard, unfortunately.
      • "This should be legal for two reasons:"

        Playing devil's advocate here:

        "It should be illegal because it could confuse people about coypright law."

        The way it works now is that if the creator of a copyrighted work doesn't act when he or she knows it's being infringed on, then they're basically waiving their right to protect it. So if somebody copycats this movie and it pisses off Warner Brothers, then they'll have to go after the first one before they can go after the second one.

        It'd be real nice if the
        • IANAL, but I don't think that's the case. It is for trademarks I believe (Hence cases against Kleenex and Xerox and Band-Aid; there was the thought that the names for these products had become a part of the english language, not a label for a product) but in the case of copyrights, I don't believe you can lose them for not enforcing them.
    • I guess the same thing is happening with Star Wars fan films, but I don't think LucasFilm is doing anything special against them either for the same reason.

  • It's a Prelude, Not a Remake (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Deslock ( 86955 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:30AM (#7071385)
    Did you title the story "Re-done" because it sounds more sensationalistic? From their "What is the Fanimatrix" section:

    *********

    "The Fanimatrix - Run Program" is a collaboration between over a dozen professional actors, stuntpeople, special effects artists as well as an amateur filmmaking crew (all based in New Zealand) who set out to accomplish four primary goals:

    1. Do something constructive with our spare time (boredom is a killer y'know...)
    2. Create a short film that the general audience would actually WANT to see
    3. Celebrate our mutual love for one of the finest film sagas put on our screens for over a decade - "The Matrix".
    4. Provide an opportunity for everyone involved to practice and hone their filmmaking skills and respective talents.

    "The Fanimatrix" is a fan-made, zero-budget short film set within the Matrix universe, specifically shortly before the discovery of "The One" (i.e. the first "Matrix" feature film). It tells the story of two rebels - Dante and Medusa - and of their fateful mission onto the virtual reality prison world that is The Matrix.

    The film was shot on the Sony Mini-Digital Video format and edited on a PC editing suite utilizing Adobe Premiere, After FX and AlamDV Special FX. The entire production was completed over nine nights, ranging from six to over fifteen hour shoots, not including rehearsal and blocking-tape-shooting sessions. Most of the props, sets and lighting equipment was borrowed and locations were either hired or shot guerilla style. Although the film was a "zero budget" production, the final cost of the movie (combining personal expenses of cast and crew such as investment into costumes, transport costs, food etc) has reached upto approximately $1000 NZ (or $400-$600 US). The movie was shot entirely within Auckland City, New Zealand (our home).

    • Man, think of the possibilities. You've seen Neo fight 100 Agent Smiths simultaneously now watch him do battle against 50 billion sheep! Burly brawl, make way for Wooly brawl!

      I pity the fool who would have to digitially add sunglasses to each one of those little dudes...

      GMD

  • From the trailer, the movie actually looks good!
    You can say the same about Spy Game and Inspector Gadget.

    Think about that!

  • From the trailer... (Score:5, Funny)

    by RedWizzard ( 192002 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:43AM (#7071414)
    From the trailer, the movie actually looks good!
    From the trailer, Reloaded looked good!

  • Give us a second... (Score:5, Funny)

    by BMonger ( 68213 ) on Saturday September 27, 2003 @07:49AM (#7071435)
    "There is no trailer."

  • Pretty much all the info from their site... (Score:3, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 27, 2003 @08:07AM (#7071485)
    Here is the FAQ. There isn't much other info on the site...

    F A Q

    F.A.Q.

    Q. What the heck does "Fanimatrix" mean?

    A. It's the "Fan"-imatrix. As in it's a "fan" film.

    Q. Will there by any sequels?

    A. Depends. If the movie is popular enough across the Net and if nobody objects to the material, then we may yet see more "Fanimatrix" movies before long. We sure had a lot of fun putting the film together and would relish a second chance, possibly with better equipment and more money as well.

    Q. What the heck IS Medusa doing in that office building?

    A. Both her and Dante's stories provide lead-in material for a larger body of work should more "Fanimatrix" movies be made. You'll have to wait and see.

    Q. What was the most expensive part of the whole project?

    A. Possibly Dante's outfit. The actor - Steven A. Davis - got a little carried away we think ;) That and the amount of petrol we spent zooming around town.

    Q. What city is the story set in?

    A. "Run Program" is not set in the same city that Neo lives in - for one thing all the cars drive on the left side of the road. Although the film is shot in Auckland, we always intended that the setting be something of a bohemian location - possibly Europe. To answer your question succinctly, we didn't really think about it.

    Q. What was the most difficult part of the whole project?

    A. Possibly the three consecutive nights of shooting in the machine-shop location and the Goth bar - over 48 hours of constant filming and practically all of it involving martial arts, wire-fx and handling large amounts of crew and cast. Combined with incredible lack of sleep, sore muscles and the freezing cold, it was the hardest shoot we'd ever done (professionally or otherwise) and many of us went home that night with our bodies riddled with physical pain and exhaustion.

    Q. Is that copy of NMap on Medusa's machine trying to port-scan itself?

    A. Shutupshutupshutupshutup....

    Q. What are your backgrounds in filmmaking?

    A. See our cast and crew page (coming soon).

    Q. What sort of martial arts are featured in the "Fanimatrix"?

    A. The same type you see in the feature films: Wushu (a.k.a. Chinese Martial Arts or Kung Fu).

    Q. Is the story of "Run Program" canon?

    A. No, the "Fanimatrix" films are not to be considered canon at all. We are in no way affiliated or involved with the Warschowski Brothers, Warner Brothers Pictures, Silver Pictures or Village Roadshow.

  • Today is the 27th sep (Score:2, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward

    so where is the full film ?
  • My friend suggested mobbing. I think that's the term that recent events used (people shouting at each other for no reason -- planned out) in public places. It would be amusing to see this with Matrix theme. ;)
  • something of a bohemian location - possibly Europe.

    That would make since, given that Bohemia is in Europe.
  • In case you were wondering, the Full Release just came out [fanimatrix.net].
    • The US mirror is gone due to the slashdot effect (that's litereally what it says). But the torrent link [fanimatrix.net] still seems to work.

      Here are other bt links for the full release (from their download page):
      BITTORRENT [fanimatrix.net] : Normal Quality mpeg (will play on anything): 170 meg
      BITTORRENT [fanimatrix.net] : Normal Quality DivX : 73 meg
      BITTORRENT [fanimatrix.net] : High Quality DivX : 135 meg

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