The Fate Of The World Rests In The Hands Of Mysterious Aliens In The Intriguing Web Series Pilot 'Star Thieves'

What if extraterrestrials were walking among us?

Disguised as human beings, they could be your doctor, teacher, attorney, or the stranger seated next to you on the train to work.

The idea of aliens possibly posing as us as we live our lives unaware has fueled the dreams and nightmares of many conspiracy theorists.

In the science fiction web series pilot Star Thieves, covert alien visitation is a tantalizing reality.

Star Thieves centers a young Catholic priest named Isaiah (Dennis Hill). Isaiah is new to the priesthood but is experiencing a crisis of faith. While seeking counsel from his mentor Father Jacob (Steve Maurice), the pair is tasked with performing an exorcism on a young member of a desperate family.

Dennis Hill as Isaiah/Kai. Image property of Dark Matter 86. All rights reserved.

As Isaiah confronts the "possessed" young woman, a startling secret is uncovered - both he and Father Jacob are revealed to be beings named Kai and Isi,  two members of a clan of mysterious aliens.

The aliens have been living on earth for the past millennium judging humanity from the shadows. Needing the energy of stars to fuel their power and near-immortal lives, should they deem humanity unworthy, the sun - and consequently all life on earth - is doomed.

The result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, Star Thieves is remarkable in many ways. Chief among them is its inclusive representation both in front of and behind the camera.

Conceived by filmmakers of color, the pilot is also awash in color onscreen - both in its production design and casting.  As fantastical as the world of Star Thieves is, it is immensely relatable because of the rich swath of humanity presented.

No whitewashing here folks.

The pilot wastes no time in introducing its core characters, including Isaiah/Kai portrayed by Dennis Hill (who is also a co-creator). Hill was also a significant presence in another exceptional SFF web series, The Record Keeper. 

He is definitely leading man material. He brings an undeniable magnetism and complexity to the role of Isaiah/Kai.

Check out our EYE ON SCI-FI podcast conversation with STAR THIEVES co-creator and star, Dennis Hill!

Star Thieves Cast. Image property of Dark Matter 86. All rights reserved.

Hill heads a dynamic cast of charismatic, and yes attractive, actors who include:

• Danette Wilson as Amiee, Kai's conflicted sister

• JuneSoo Ham as Awan, Kai's compassionate sibling

• Aris Juson as "The Star Eater," He is weary of humanity

• Danielle Henderson as Xiomaya, A voice of reason among the clan

• Roshan Maloney as Khan, He is the Yang to Kai's Yin

• Steve Maurice as Father Jacob/Isi, Clan Patriarch & Elder Statesman

This cast capably imbues their alien characters with an ethereal quality that is mesmerizing to watch.

The overall production design is an achievement as well.

The pilot is painted with brilliant colors and textures. It also has a visual crispness that excites the eye and serves to draw you deeper into the narrative.

Speaking of narrative, Star Thieves accomplishes what successful pilots are designed to do; it introduces the world and characters in a dynamic way, and gives titillating hints as to the larger mythology, leaving you wanting more. 

Watch the Star Thieves online pilot here…

With its inclusive representation, terrific production value, wonderful cast, and intriguing story, Star Thieves promises to take viewers on an exceptional sci-fi journey.

I hope it gets the chance.  It deserves it, and so do we.

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Make sure to check out our podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

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Star Trek New Voyages - New Voyages Of The Original Five Year Mission

A Five Year Mission

"What rock have I been living under?"  was the exact question I asked myself when I discovered the extraordinary independent, fan-made web series Star Trek New Voyages (formerly Star Trek: Phase II).

Created by James Cawley in 2003 (the first episode went online in 2004!), the web series continues the five year mission of the original Star Trek series as if the show was never canceled after its third season in 1969.

In accomplishing that mandate, the production crew achieves astonishing results in recreating both the look and feel of the original series, including:

• An exact 360° reproduction of the Enterprise bridge

• Replication of audio cues, sound effects, and musical interludes used throughout the original series run

• Visual effects that mimic the originals, yet still look dynamic on modern screens

• Detailed facsimiles of costumes, and popular alien designs

• Stories featuring original crew members Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Chief Engineer Scott ("Scotty"), Lt. Uhura, Lt. Commander Sulu, and Lt. Chekov

However, STNV's most notable achievement is the recapturing of the tone and focus of the original show.

These Are The New Voyages

The late Gene Roddenberry conceived Star Trek to be morality plays disguised as futuristic adventure.

In fact, its most prominent signature is its thinly veiled social commentary.  

While J.J. Abrams' new movies are entertaining, they lack the soul-gazing narrative of the original series.

To their credit, STNV producers have continued Roddenberry's legacy of presenting compelling appraisals of the human condition. 

Yet another distinguishing characteristic of the web series is its episode length.  

Each installment is approximately  60 minutes* - complete with retro NBC network identification screens, and act breaks where commercials would have been inserted.

STNV has many distinguished supporters, including Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry as a consulting producer - as well as a parade of illustrious guest stars including: George Takei, Grace Lee Whitney, Denise Crosby, and Walter Koenig.

The project also features scripts from many accomplished writers, most who formerly wrote for the various televised incarnations of Star Trek.

For example, the third episode World Enough And Time, was written by Marc Scott Zicree (who also directed) and Michael Reaves. Both men have written episodes for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

The episode features guest star George Takei reprising his role as Sulu, with Majel Barrett Roddenberry as the voice of the Enterprise computer.

The story centers on Sulu, who is teleported into an alternate reality due to a transporter accident (it's always that damn transporter!). 

After living a lifetime in the alternate universe, he is returned to normal reality - and must make heart-wrenching decisions in order to save the Enterprise.

World Enough And Time was nominated in 2008 for a Hugo Award in the category of "Best Dramatic Presentation Short Form."

The nomination was well deserved, as this episode packs an emotional punch on par with the classic original episode The City On The Edge Of Forever.

Watch World Enough And Time in its entirety here ...

To Boldly Go

Since its inception in 2004, there have been 12 episodes of STNV released online at the rate of about one per year, with more in various stages of production.  

It was recently announced that creator James Cawley, who portrayed Jim Kirk, would be abdicating the role to actor Brian Gross beginning with the 10th episode. 

Since the web series is fan-made and non-profit,  production is financed by the producers, along with the support of viewers.

Many talented crew members make this expensive endeavor possible by volunteering their considerable time, expertise, and talents.

Episodes are free and are available on the official series website:

Star Trek New Voyages Phase II International

I give Star Trek New Voyages my earnest recommendation - especially if you're a fan of the original series. 

This superb fan-made production is a shining testament to the enduring appeal of this iconic science fiction franchise.

May it live long and prosper.

*Update On June 23, 2016, CBS released fan film guidelines which included limitations on project run times. Because of these limitations, the producers have decided to cease future production of new STNV episodes. However, all current episodes remain available for public viewing. 

Read the official statement from the STNV production team regarding the future of the project here.

Read James Cawley’s official statement on the CBS Star Trek Fan-Film Guidelines - dated April 4, 2017 - here.

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We Are Angels The Sci-Fi Web Series - A Beacon Of Hope

A Dark Pit

Let's face it, while sci-fi is a genre uniquely suited for telling compelling stories, a lot of it is pretty dark and depressing.

From zombie apocalypses to bleak, dystopian futures, watching most sci-fi won't leave you feeling much hope for us as a species.

That's a problem.

We need to see more scenarios in which we not only survive, but thrive, overcoming our collective faults.

Today, sci-fi is long overdue for an infusion of hope and optimism.

Beacons Of Hope

In the new web series We Are Angels, angels have landed on earth to find specific charges who are in the grip of excruciating suffering.

They come as beacons of hope, and the series follows their journeys as they contend with human sorrow as well as dark forces opposing their mission.

Not Touched By An Angel

Written and directed by Aaron Garcia, this series is not a rehash of Touched By An Angel.

These ethereal beings don't suddenly appear preaching platitudes coated in self-righteousness.

Instead, it is their very presence that brings strength and comfort.

Shot in high definition, the show is a feast for your eyes. Colors pop off the screen.  The cinematography has the crispness of an early Spring morning.

The musical score by John Koutselinis is lush, and appropriately dramatic.

The opening narration of the premiere episode is beautifully written, accomplishing its task of introducing this world of light and shadows.

Watch the trailer below for a glimpse inside this extraordinary series:

Watch the series as it unfolds on its home on YouTube: We Are Angels

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Top 19 Sci-Fi Web Series of 2013 Part One

Sci-Fi Web Series Are The Future

 A few decades ago, science fiction (sci-fi) was a genre treated like a bastard stepchild by almost every studio and network in Hollywood.

For example, the original Star Trek  series was always on the verge of cancellation, but Gene Roddenberry's force-of-personality kept the series on air for three ground-breaking seasons before finally being cancelled by NBC.

It wasn't until years later in syndication did the show reach iconic status, spawning hit spinoff series and blockbuster motion pictures.

The fact of the matter is, Hollywood suits still don't quite get sci-fi - or how the genre can powerfully connect to fans in a visceral way few others can match.

 The Web To The Rescue!

Thank god for the web.

Many talented filmmakers fed up with  the traditional network and studio system are using the web as a viable alternative to bring their unique visions to life. 

With recent technological advances, many of these independently financed and produced projects feature production values that rival content produced by Hollywood.

These sci-fi projects also feature original concepts and themes - unlike Tinseltown, which is obsessed with spewing out a continuous river of uninspired sequels, reboots, and remakes.

All in an effort to strangle every ounce of profit out of once compelling stories.

The web truly is the new frontier for exciting, innovative and fresh science fiction.

For that very reason, I am very pleased to present The 7th Matrix list of the top 20 sci-fi web series of 2013.

Please note, many of these projects were produced in previous years, but all were discovered and featured on the site in 2013.

These web series feature a special blend of compelling premise, exceptional production value, style, and vision that sets them apart from the rest.

So strap yourself in, and prepare to enter worlds fantastic with part one of our top 20  sci-fi web series listing! 

19. Guides The Web Series

 Imagine if the greatest, most enlightened humans to ever walk the earth weren't human at all?  

Instead, what if they were highly evolved, benevolent aliens vainly trying to get backwater Earth to catch up with the rest of the galaxy?

This is the premise behind one of the most funny, witty science fiction comedies of the year.

What struck me most about Guides is while it tickles your funny bone, it  also sucker punches you with cutting insights about the human condition.

Continued

18. Dark Pool

When Dark Pool opens, you are introduced to up-and-coming executive Jim Krall.

Jim seems to have it all: a lucrative career, gorgeous wife, and adorable young daughter. 

However, his world descends into a parent's worst nightmare when his daughter is abducted right before his eyes.

As Jim goes on a desperate search for his missing daughter,  we soon discover all in his life is not what it seems.  

In fact, he and his daughter are at the center of a power struggle between shadowy entities that can literally bend time and space to their will.

Dark Pool is a compelling mystery that slowly unfolds to reveal at its heart a grand, sci-fi adventure.

Continued

17.  Voyage Trekkers

Voyage Trekkers is an unabashed satire of a certain iconic science fiction franchise - and it's laugh-out-loud funny.

Set in the distant future, the series chronicles the adventures of the worst starship in the Galactic Union the GSV Remarkable.

Watch as the dashing, yet moronic, Captain Sunstrike and his long-suffering crew head warp-speed into new heights of incompetency as they traverse the galaxy.

If you enjoyed the cult classic 1999 comedy film Galaxy Quest, you most definitely will find much to enjoy in Voyage Trekkers.

Continued

16. The Silent City

 The Silent City is a captivating post-apocalyptic tale filmed in real abandoned spaces in New York City.

Series creator Rubidium Wu was inspired to create the project after witnessing an eerily empty New York City after it had been evacuated during Hurricane Irene in 2011.

The Silent City follows the journey of a mysterious man known only as Nameless, portrayed with magnetic appeal by Eric Stafford.

As Nameless wanders the blasted cityscape, he stumbles upon another survivor as well as a terrifying, relentless danger.

This project deserves far more attention and acclaim than it has received mainly due to its stellar production value, gripping narrative, and outstanding cast performances.

Continued

15. Abigail Original Series

What would you do if one day you discovered your entire life is a lie?

This is exactly what happens to the titular Abigail - a young woman whose entire life is thrown into chaos when she is held hostage by a mysterious man with deadly secrets.

What makes Abigail  extraordinary is the both the performance of lead actress Meghan Moonan, as well the highly stylized look of the series.

Abigail is asci-fi, action-adventure mystery that will keep you riveted.

Continued

14. Aidan 5

Aidan 5  is an intriguing mix of film noir and hard sci-fi.

The premise is extremely compelling: a man must solve the murder of his own clones.

However, what truly makes this projectstand out is its visual style. 

Filmed entirely in black and white, almost all of the sets are highly detailed illustrations seamlessly integrated with live actors.

Together, these elements form an aesthetic truly unique in the digital space. It's as if a graphic novel has suddenly come to life.

Continued

13. Journey Quest

Journey Quest earns a place on this list of 2013's best not only because it revels in being a good, old-fashioned, quest-based fantasy adventure, but also because of the innovative way it's produced.

Produced by Zombie Orpheus Entertainment (ZOE), Journey Quest relies on its fans for support, instead of network or studio backing.

The reason for this is stated explicitly in ZOE's mission statement:  No Studio, No Network, No Cancellation.

Being solely dependent on fan support for financial as well as creative feedback, Journey Quest producers strive to deliver exactly the kind of entertainment their target audience wants - which is imperative if  the series is to continue.

Continued

12. BAMF Girls Club

What would happen if the most badass heroines from pop culture were domiciled in one house similar to a Big Brother style reality show?

That ingenious premise is behind the smart and funny web series BAMF Girls Club.

Created  by the comedy masterminds of Comediva, BAMF Girls Club imagines  Buffy Summers, Hermione Granger, Katniss Everdeen, Lisbeth Salander, Michonne - and oh yeah, Bella Swann -  as reality show participants who must try to peacefully co-exist under one roof.

Hint: It doesn't go well - with hilarious results!

Continued

11. Dr0ne

In the near future, highly advanced humanoid drones will fight our wars for us.

But what happens when one goes AWOL?

This is the story of Dr0ne, a high-octane, sci-fi action series starring respected character actor Lance Reddick -  best known for his role on Fringe as Agent Phillip Broyles.

While Dr0ne doesn't disappoint in the action department, the plot is just as compelling. The series raises timely questions about the morality of using drone technology in modern warfare.

Continued

10. Neibauer

This sci-fi detective story earns its place on our list primarily due to its premise: In the near future, technology has been developed that allows homicides to be solved by "rebooting" murder victims.  

Complete with a hard-boiled detective, and a murder mystery with twists a-plenty, Neibauer pays homage to film noir classics such as The Maltese Falcon.

Continued

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So there you have it, part one of our top 19 list. Please find out more about each of these extraordinary series - and support the projects you enjoy.

Your valuable feedback is the only way these pioneering filmmakers will be able to continue to produce more exciting work.

And that is a win-win situation for all of us.

The rest of our top 19 listing will be published next week!

Click here for Part Two of our list of sensational series.

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