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The Kickstarter Report: ‘The Thrilling Adventure Hour’

 

TAH KickstarterCreated by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, The Thrilling Adventure Hour stage production is performed each month at the Coronet Theatre and has become known throughout Los Angeles (and far beyond) as an outright success when it comes to the quality of the productions and the entertainment it delivers to its audiences. The show (and Nerdist Industries podcast) is performed in the style of an old-time radio production and features cast members and guest stars such as Nathan Fillion, Ed Helms, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Now, with the help of the crowdfunding site Kickstarter and partnered with Archaia as a publisher, The Thrilling Adventure Hour is looking to make its domination of the nerd world complete with a jump to graphic novels! Featuring the recreation of The Thrilling Adventure Hour experience in sequential art form, a premiere at SDCC 2013, and invitations for backers to the launch party, this is not a Kickstarter campaign to be ignored.

For more information, check out the official press release below and visit The Thrilling Adventure Hour Kickstarter page by clicking here.

 


A THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR ON KICKSTARTER

The lauded stage show and Nerdist podcast sets their transmedia sights on Kickstarter.

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 8, 2012) – Creators Ben Acker and Ben Blacker have teamed up with Quixotic Transmedia to produce a Kickstarter campaign for The THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR, the popular stage show and Nerdist Industries podcast. Running from October 8, 2012 to November 7, 2012, the 30-day campaign aspires to usher the hit show into multiple forms of media including a graphic novel, motion comic, web series, and concert film.

Over the years, The Thrilling Adventure Hour (TAH) has become a national phenomenon with monthly sold-out performances, a popular podcast, and a line of TAH-inspired merchandise from decoder rings to martini glasses. With more than 100 consecutive shows under its belt, the TAH brand is celebrating its eighth birthday with a natural and eagerly awaited step into other facets of entertainment. “TAH has become the largest and most rewarding part of our creative lives,” said co-creator Ben Acker. “After eight years of listening to Thrilling Adventure Hour, we’re ready to finally give everyone a chance to see and experience these worlds for themselves.”

The initial goal for the Kickstarter campaign is a hardcover graphic novel that recreates the TAH experience in print. Archaia Entertainment, the 2012 and 2011 Eisner Winner for Best Graphic Album New and 2011 Eisner Winner for Best Anthology, has committed to publishing the anthology should TAH reach its funding goal. Written by Acker & Blacker, the 136-page anthology will feature top artists from comics such as Ben Edlund, Jackson Publick, Dustin Weaver, Tom Fowler, Randy Bishop, Evan Larson, Chris Moreno, Natalie Nourigat, Joel Priddy, Doc Shaner, Jeff Stokely and more. “Kickstarter is playing a vital role in helping emerging comic book creators share their stories with the world,” said Archaia publisher Mike Kennedy. “Archaia has always championed quality genre entertainment, regardless of its origins, and The Thrilling Adventure Hour is a unique and hilarious experience sure to feel at home in the Archaia library.”

With Archaia as its publisher, the graphic novel is slated to premiere at Comic-Con International 2013, accompanied by a live stage show. Backers are also invited to the book’s launch party at
Meltdown Comics in LA, where they can meet the creative team and purchase original artwork from the book. Should the campaign exceed its initial funding goal of $55,000, all additional earnings are dedicated toward more exciting expansions of the TAH experience in other media:

Stretch Goal #1: A scripted webseries written by Acker & Blacker and directed by acclaimed music video director Chris Storer, which documents the backstage chaos and comedy behind the curtain and stars the cast of the stage show and tons of special guest stars.

Stretch Goal #2: A motion comic pilot based upon one tale from the anthology with vocal performances by the cast of the stage show. The motion comic will be co-produced by Jump Creative, the innovative 3D motion comics producer behind Reed Gunther and Marksmen.

Stretch Goal #3: A concert film of a live staged performance directed by celebrated comedy director Neil Mahoney (Freak Dance, Paul F. Tompkins: You Should Have Told Me).

In exchange for pledges, backers can choose from an impressive list of exclusive rewards. Along with pre-orders for the book and concert film, backers can enjoy VIP access during stage shows, portfolio reviews, do-it-yourself podcast kits, associate producer credits on various productions, even seats for a private 100-person recording of the show. And don’t forget the many famous faces in the TAH family photo, whose offerings range from the collectible (swag bags) and kooky (personalized crayon drawings) to the downright cool (a night of scotch and industry talk).

As an added bonus, all backers will receive new and never-before-seen content only available on Kickstarter. Comedy is sure to arise from cast and crew promoting the campaign via social media. Of particular note is the “epic showdown” between TAH segments Sparks Nevada and Beyond Belief. Since only one anthology tale is being adapted into a motion comic, the casts of each segment will smear their rivals while lobbying fans to pledge their support with specific reward tiers. “Kickstarter is just another outlet to connect with fans and provide entertainment worthy of their time and investment,” said co-creator Ben Blacker. “That’s why it was crucial to host a campaign in the spirit of the show. Fans should feel rewarded for getting involved.”

To design and produce their Kickstarter campaign and overall brand strategy, Acker and Blacker turned to Joe LeFavi, longtime TAH fan and founder of Quixotic Transmedia, a popular transmedia consultancy in the entertainment industry. “Everyone behind our Kickstarter campaign genuinely believes in The Thrilling Adventure Hour,” said LeFavi, who will also serve as editor of the graphic novel and a transmedia producer on its brand extensions. “Acker and Blacker have fostered such an amazing community of peers and fans alike, and it’s our goal to ensure that TAH can grow and mature across multiple forms of media for years to come.”

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Bryant Dillon, Fanbase Press President

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Favorite Comic BookPreacher by Garth Ennis and Steve DillonFavorite TV ShowBuffy the Vampire Slayer Favorite BookThe Beach by Alex Garland

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