There are hundreds of fan films to wade through, some the very cream of the crop others...well not so much, so to make my job slightly easier I thought I'd post a few of the most renowned fan films then allow the people that they are meant for, the CBM users to decide the outcome.
In every top list of fan films there are more superhero related ones than any other, and out of that lot even more are dedicated to one of the most
popular comic characters of all time... Batman. Which seems like the perfect place to start.
Please watch each film at least once unless you know it well and give each film a chance before you decide.
After you have voted, let me know if there’s any I might have missed out as well as which fan films you’d like to see get the vote.
Thanks go to Lee for suggesting this idea.
Batman: Dead End is made by Sandy Collora and premiered July 19, 2003 at the San Diego Comic Con.
The film, made for a reported $30,000 includes props, costumes, FX, and music used for both the Predator and Alien franchises.
Kevin Smith and Alex Ross both praised it as the definite version of The Dark Knight as portrayed in the graphic novels.
Collora has stated in interviews that the film was made as a demonstration reel to attract attention to his directing skills, and as such, succeeded in its goal. Also a similar project, titled World's Finest was filmed in 2004 with much of the same cast and crew.
Fan Films Quarterly listed Batman: Dead End as one of the most pivotal fan films in history.
http://www.collorastudios.com/projects/bde/bdemain.htm
Grayson is made by John Fiorella and was released on 2004 at TheForce.net, featuring Dick Grayson along with several other DC characters.
After the publicity generated from fans watching the film online, it was to be screened at the 2004 San Diego Comic Con, though was cancelled that year alongside any other fan film due to copyright claims.
With a budget of $18,000, the filmmakers created a five-and-a-half minute trailer complete with motorcycle chases, underwater escapes, pyrotechnics and feats of strength.
Most of the production budget went to 16mm film stock, production equipment, processing and transfers.
The trailer's music comes almost entirely from Don Davis' score for The Matrix Revolutions. The themes used are the love theme (Trinity Definitely) and the final showdown (Neodammerung), although they were edited down to fit the trailer.
http://theforce.net/fanfilms/nonsw/grayson/index.asp
Ashes to Ashes is made by Samuel Bodin and directed by Julien Mokrani, shot in 13 days and post-produced in France between 2006 and 2008.
Utilising mainly green screen and some 3-D effects, the concept was to create a 30’s style Gotham with Sin City as inspiration; the script was originally for a crime story and almost composed of a 100 pages but was reduced to 20 pages.
Wishing to maintain the horror elements of there original script plus with inspiration from graphic novel Arkham Asylum was the main source of there shadowy version of Batman.
The high standards of this film are maintained with an art house feel, French speaking actors and English subtitles typical of many similar independent releases.
It remains one of the most well received subtitled fan films and is reportedly one of the most well conceived and easily accessible foreign speaking fan films of all time.
http://www.ashestoashes-themovie.com/
Patient J is made by Aaron Schoenke and released on 10th October 2005 by Bat in the Sun Productions.
With a estimated budget of $5,000 plus scripted by three talents; David Hammond, Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke in order to deliver different takes on each flashback.
The main part of the story takes place in Arkham Asylum with Joker (Paul Molnar) being assessed by a psychologist (Kurt Carley) who manages to help Joker open up on some of the pivotal moments in his comic book history, from starting out as the red hood (possibly), meeting his sidekick Harley Quinn (Rachel Nicole), the many confrontations between himself and Batman (Kevin Porter) to most noticeably the brutal killing of Robin (Robert Tovani of Robin: Punchline).
Patient J deals with the emotions of the ever elusive Joker, who he really is and what makes him tick, helping cement this as a firm favourite.
http://www.batinthesun.com/
Robin: Punchline is made by, as well as starring Robert Tovani and was released on January 17th 2005 by Audvia Productions.
Obviously this film was a one man effort, passion for the title charter clearly all the motivation needed to get this film made, though it production more basic than most - it’s simplicity and realism are what add to it’s charm
Not much information is available on the film its self, though Tovani’s connections to Bat in the Sun Productions are clear, playing the Robin role in several of there fan films.
Although it was thought Tovani was portraying the third Robin, Tim Drake due to an uncanny likeness to the comic book character, his appearance in Patient J shows his apparent death at the hands of the Joker, a clear indication his charter is actually Jason Todd.
The highly detailed Robin costume, close hand to hand fight sequences, and some nice little effects all help make the efforts of this fan film standout.
robin-punchline.tripod.com/