Champaign, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/28/2012 -- Dark Maze Studios has just debuted its new ten-part comedy web series "Ninja the Mission Force" on the show's website, http://www.ninjathemissionforce.com.

Starring Ed Glaser and Brad Jones ("The Cinema Snob"), the weekly series follows Interpol agent (and sometimes ninja) Gordon in a race against a rival ninja to collect six sacred ninja rubber ducks, which together contain unlimited power.

Following the format of outrageous 1980s cut-and-paste action movies from notorious Hong Kong filmmakers Godfrey Ho and Joseph Lai, "Ninja the Mission Force" combines original ninja footage with re-dubbed public domain movie footage into one continuous storyline.

"This was a dream project for me," explains Ed Glaser, who also produces the series. "The cut-and-paste films of Ho and Lai are just wonderfully bizarre and over-the-top, and this is an opportunity to take the ball and go even further. Thanks to writer Meagan Rachelle we have a tremendously absurd series that features John Travolta, gladiator midgets, and a camouflage ninja in space."

The series also stars Ernest Borgnine and Sonny Chiba -- in addition to the late Charles Bronson, Brandon Lee, and Orson Welles -- all courtesy of archive footage.

New episodes premiere every Thursday. The series, trailers, photo gallery, and additional information are available at http://www.ninjathemissionforce.com.

About Dark Maze Studios
Dark Maze Studios is a Telly Award-winning independent studio that strives to produce high-quality entertainment on budgets Hollywood would consider pocket change. Dark Maze has produced a number of successful films and series since 2005.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

32nd Annual Telly Awards honors the very best commercials, videos, films and Internet work

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2011 -- The winners of the 32nd Annual Telly Awards have been announced, with Ed Glaser of Dark Maze Studios taking home a statuette for the online video series "Deja View". With nearly 11,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, this year's Telly Awards has been one of the most successful and competitive in the long history of the Telly Awards.

In "Deja View", producer and host Ed Glaser spotlights unauthorized foreign remakes of popular American films. Featuring Indian versions of "Harry Potter" and "A Nightmare on Elm St.", a Turkish adaptation of "Superman", and a Brazilian "Planet of the Apes", Glaser compares these films to their Hollywood counterparts and discusses the context in which they were produced. The episode on "Savior of the Earth" — the Korean "TRON" — won a Telly in the Informational category.

"I have an intense fascination with these remakes," explains Glaser, who in 2009 produced the first English language release of the 1986 film "Rampage (Korkusuz)" — the so-called "Turkish Rambo." "It's a thrill that other people are as interested in these films as I am, and I'm honored to win a Telly Award for 'Deja View.'"

Other Telly Award winners this year include NBC Universal, Blizzard Entertainment, Turner Studios, FOX Sports Net, Nickelodeon, Walt Disney, Discovery Channel, Time Warner Cable, and Cartoon Network.

About Dark Maze Studios
Dark Maze Studios is a Champaign, IL-based independent studio that strives to produce high-quality entertainment on budgets Hollywood would consider pocket change. Dark Maze has produced a number of successful films and web series since 2002. For more about Dark Maze Studios, visit http://www.darkmaze.com.

About The Telly Awards
Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and web commercials, videos and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Champaign, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/23/2009 -- "Space Ninja," a new 10 x 3-minute animated web series produced by Dark Maze Studios, will premiere next year on the studio's website, httpL//www.darkmaze.com.

Described as equal parts Kurosawa and B-grade kung fu films (in space), the series follows a cybernetic ninja who is betrayed by his master and must protect a feudalistic society of spaceship dwellers from a sadistic demon lord.

The concept began as an online comic book by artist and series creator Alex Mitchell. Producer Ed Glaser explains, "the idea was incredible and the artwork was fantastic. I had never seen anything like it: a robotic ninja wreaking havoc in an enormous space temple! Before the first issue of the comic was even finished I was begging Alex to create an animated version."

"Space Ninja" also features original music by film composer Chuck Cirino ("Deathstalker II," "Komodo vs. Cobra").

For more information about the series and to sign up for the newsletter, visit the official website at http://www.darkmaze.com/spaceninja.

About Dark Maze Studios
Dark Maze Studios is a Champaign, Illinois-based micro-budget independent studio that strives to produce high-quality entertainment on budgets Hollywood would consider pocket change. Dark Maze has produced a number of successful films since 2002. "Space Ninja" is the second animated series produced by Dark Maze Studios.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Dark Maze Studios' new feature-length videogame parody movie Press Start is now available on DVD from http://www.PressStartMovie.com.

Champaign, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/26/2007 -- Press Start, the first full-length videogame-based adventure parody movie, was officially released today by Dark Maze Studios. Unlike movies based on specific videogames, Press Start is based on no one title but lovingly spoofs a wide range of game types, especially the old 8- and 16-bit games from the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis consoles. Here, the world actually works according to the absurd videogame notions of physics and logic. The $12.99 DVD is available through the film's website at PressStartMovie.com.

Press Start tells the tale of an average, ordinary suburban youth and volunteer monster exterminator who gets caught up in the struggle to defeat an evil sorcerer devoted to world domination and endless telephone conversation with his evil buddies. Recruited by a tough-as-nails space soldier and an enthusiastically ill-tempered ninja, he must survive every videogame convention that ever begged to be lampooned and succeed where even the little Italian plumber has failed.

The film is the brainchild of producer/director Ed Glaser, who is Dark Maze Studios. He gives writer Kevin Folliard and a very small but intensely dedicated cast and crew credit for not only bringing his satiric vision to life, but for making it look as if it had a far larger budget than was actually available.

Press Start is also the first spoof in which stars of the videogame industry joined in to help poke fun at what they do. Among those whose contributions appear in the movie are:

• Daniel Pesina, who was the live-action actor portraying Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Reptile in the first two Mortal Kombat videogames, as well as having roles in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies and The Book of Swords.
• Carlos Pesina, who's known best to videogames for portraying the thunder god Raiden in the Mortal Kombat I and II games, but who is also a renowned motion capture artist and animator for Midway Games.
• Arin Hanson, the voice actor who portrayed Bruce Banner in Marvel Ultimate Alliance.
• Jake Kaufman, the composer who scored the music for, among other games, Shantae and the upcoming Contra 4.
• Rod Contreras, visual effects artist and videogame enthusiast who has provided special effects for several short independent features.

While Glaser admits that Press Start clearly is not only low budget but microbudget, he does so with pride.

"It's low budget in the best way," Glaser says, "with a very funny cast and crew bringing to life a very funny script. If you enjoy classic videogames, this movie is going to make you smile."

Press Start will have an official premiere on the big screen on October 3 at The Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Illinois — the venue that serves as home to Roger Ebert's Film Festival. The premiere is sponsored by Volition, Inc., developer of such videogames as Saints Row, Red Faction, and The Punisher.

About Dark Maze Studios
Dark Maze Studios is a Champaign, Illinois-based microbudget independent film studio that strives to produce high-quality entertainment on budgets Hollywood would consider pocket change. Dark Maze has produced a number of successful short films since 2002. Press Start is the company's first feature-length project.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Videogame developer Volition, Inc. sponsors the premiere of videogame parody movie Press Start.

Champaign, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/25/2007 -- Press Start, the first full-length feature film from Dark Maze Studios, will premiere Oct. 3rd, 7:00 pm at The Virginia Theatre in Champaign, IL, the historic vaudeville-era theater which is also home to Roger Ebert's Film Festival. The event is sponsored by Volition, Inc., the Champaign-based developer of such videogames as Saints Row, Red Faction, and The Punisher.

It's a natural partnership, as Press Start is a film about videogames. More precisely, it's a lovingly satiric celebration of the absurd plots and logic of early videogame worlds. In this realm, eating leftover food found laying about in hallways will actually cure wounds instead of causing botulism.

Directed by Ed Glaser and written by Kevin Folliard from a story idea by Glaser, Press Start tells the story of an average, ordinary suburban youth and volunteer monster exterminator who gets caught up in the struggle to defeat an evil sorcerer obsessed with world domination — and chatting on the telephone with his bad guy buddies. Along the way are ninjas, psychotic arena fighters, space heroes, quests for arcane relics, zombies, irrational obstacles, mazes of danger-filled corridors, and every other videogame convention that ever begged to be lampooned.

With a budget that can only be considered minuscule even compared to the most economically funded independent productions, Press Start turned into something its creators consider a minor miracle.

"Even with virtually no money, I knew that the techniques we'd developed in producing my student films would enable us to make a commercially viable film for videogame fans," Glaser said. "But I was surprised and thrilled by the talent drawn to this project."

One of the things that make Press Start unique among videogame-based movies is that it features top talent from the videogame industry who couldn't resist the opportunity to poke fun at what they do. Included are Daniel and Carlos Pesina, who were the live action actors for many of the characters in Mortal Kombat; Arin Hanson, the voice actor who portrayed Bruce Banner in the Marvel Ultimate Alliance game; and soundtrack composer Jake Kaufman, who scored the music for Shantae and the upcoming Contra 4.

Additionally, CGI artist Rod Contreras provided a large number of settings, characters and events that should not have been possible on such limited funds.

"Probably the most compelling aspect of the project," noted Kaufman, "was that the crew and cast dedication and their attention to detail was so insanely strong that a lot of the time you're fooled into thinking they actually had a budget."

Yet Glaser is quick to discourage anyone from thinking that they will see a film with the slickness of a Hollywood release.

"This is low budget," Glaser says, "and it looks low budget. But it's low budget in the best way. It's a true labor of love, and we believe the audience will get caught up in the sheer fun of it. We have a very funny cast and crew who brought to life a very funny script. I'm grateful to Volition for helping us premiere Press Start in such a wonderful manner, and I'm sure everyone who's ever loved an old videogame will have a wonderful time with this film."

Tickets are $3.00 and can be ordered by phone at (217) 356-9063.

For more information, visit the official website at http://www.PressStartMovie.com.

About Dark Maze Studios
Dark Maze Studios is a Champaign, Illinois-based microbudget independent film studio that strives to produce high-quality entertainment on budgets Hollywood would consider pocket change. Dark Maze has produced a number of successful short films since 2002.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Videogame voice actor Robert Belgrade, known to gamers as the voice of Alucard in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, has lent his talents to the latest episode of videogame-spoofing web cartoon series "Press Start: Bonus Levels."

Champaign, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/31/2007 -- Robert Belgrade, known to videogame fans as the voice of Alucard in Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, is the latest videogame star to voice a character in the videogame-spoofing web cartoon series "Press Start: Bonus Levels". Belgrade's episode, "F-Xerox," can now be seen at www.PressStartMovie.com. "Bonus Levels" introduces the world of Press Start, a live action videogame parody movie coming to DVD on September 25.

In appearing in "Bonus Levels", Belgrade joins the ranks of such notable videogame voice actors as John Turk (Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 3 and Mortal Kombat Mythologies), David Humphrey (Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Heroes), and Arin Hanson (Bruce Banner in Marvel Ultimate Alliance). Hanson also appears in the Press Start movie, as do Mortal Kombat I and II stars Daniel and Carlos Pesina. In the games, Daniel portrayed Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and Reptile while Carlos provided the live action for the character of Raiden.

Besides his famous Castlevania character, Belgrade has provided voices in such games as Mega Man X7, the Tekken series, Soul Calibur, and Silent Hill 4.

Press Start tells the story of a typical suburban youth and volunteer monster exterminator in a videogame world under threat of conquest by a telephone-addicted wizard who's as evil as he is insecure. And vice versa. Alongside a battle-hardened space hero and enthusiastically bad-tempered ninja, he must thwart the forces of evil while lampooning every videogame convention along the way. What chance does a mere courageous young warrior have when even the little Italian plumber has failed?

For more information, visit the official website at http://www.PressStartMovie.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Dark Maze Studios has released the first in a three-episode series of live action shorts based on their upcoming film "Press Start" called “Press Start: Dial V for Vile”, available for viewing on the movie's web site, www.PressStartMovie.com.

Champaign, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/10/2007 -- Sometimes a videogame villain needs to take a break from sorcery, evil, and world domination to make a few phone calls. At least, that's the case with Count Nefarious Vile, the antagonist in Dark Maze Studios' upcoming videogame adventure comedy movie Press Start. Count Vile's comedic phone adventures are portrayed in a new series of live action shorts called "Press Start: Dial V for Vile" on the film's website, www.PressStartMovie.com.

As a build-up to the film's anticipated September 25, 2007 DVD release, the web site has previously been featuring a monthly series of original Flash cartoons called "Press Start: Bonus Levels." However, the filmmakers are taking a hiatus from animation to provide three live-action episodes featuring the film's tyrannical but comically insecure villain, Count Vile.

"It's a running gag that Vile's constantly on the phone," explains director Ed Glaser. "He's usually talking to one of his cronies or warlord buddies. We thought it'd be funny to show what happens when he's on the phone with, say, a customer service hotline."

New "Dial V for Vile" episodes, like the previous "Bonus Levels," will appear on the web site on the last Friday of every month between now and June, 2007, and will feature members of Press Start's cast, notably Peter Davis as Count Vile.

The first episode finds Vile on the phone with a veterinarian, as it seems his dog has a slight parasite problem.

Press Start tells the story of a suburban youth in a videogame world who discovers his adventurous, if berserk, destiny when he's recruited by an ill-tempered ninja and a tough-as-nails space soldier to save the world from Count Vile.

About Dark Maze Studios
Dark Maze Studios is a Champaign, Illinois-based micro-budget independent film studio that strives to produce high-quality entertainment on budgets Hollywood would consider pocket change. Formerly known as Mobled Queen Entertainment, Dark Maze has produced a number of successful short films since 2002. Press Start is the company's first feature-length project.

For more information, visit the official website at http://www.PressStartMovie.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm