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A NEW WORKPLACE COMEDY ABOUT LIFE IN THE COMIC SHOP
PRESSKIT
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ADVENTURES OF HIJINKS, MYSTERY, AND COMIC STORE MAYHEM!!
Contact: Christina ValentaMarketing and Publicity Director
the Chit Chat [email protected]
[2]
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ADVENTURES OF HIJINKS, MYSTERY, AND COMIC STORE MAYHEM!!
From Chris Walker, former comic book professional turned filmmaker, comes Anti-Matter, a tongue-in-cheek look at the quirky, geeky, and always awesome world of the comic book store. The new Web series follows the exploits of a New York City comic shop, the staff and the regulars that drive them crazy.
An amusing mix of comic shop antics and geek trivia, Anti-Matter uses the world of comic fandom to poke fun at life's attempts to “figure it all out.”
Played out against the bright walls and colorful characters of the store, Anti-Matter explores the quest to fit in, the bonds that are formed between people, and the identities that define each individual as this modern family of friends hangs out, causes trouble, and faces adulthood in their own unique ways.
Through the adventures of the staff and regulars, Anti-Matter delivers a hilarious look at identity, adult hood, and finding family as the events of their lives unfold in the shop.
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PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ADVENTURES OF HIJINKS, MYSTERY, AND COMIC STORE MAYHEM!!
Created by former comic book professional and comic fan Chris Walker, Anti-Matter is a Web series that takes a playful look at “the onset of adulthood” set in the often geeky, yet always cool setting of the comic book shop.
Transitioning from comic professional to comedic writer/director, Chris decided to start with what he knew, comic culture. “My goal was to create a series that felt classic and new at the same time. Anti-Matter is a humorous snapshot of the world of comics, a world very dear to me.” says Chris.
Knowing the subject matter he wanted to tackle comedically, Chris worked with Douglas Mangum, a comic shop employee veteran of 6 years, and screenplay writer Matt Bird to develop a basic treatment for Anti-Matter. The treatment sat quietly in a drawer, for several years as Chris
continued his work as a comic book illustrator. After relocating from Greensboro, North Carolina to New York City Chris found himself inspired by the comedic talent around him and decided to revisit the comic shop comedy.
Originally intended to be a sitcom pilot, Chris re-framed the story to be viewed by Web audiences after attending the 2009 Onfronts and watching a previous year’s acceptance speech by Felecia Day of the the Guild. He reworked the original treatment to create stand alone episodes. Influenced by comic strips and sketch comedy, the new episodes were much like the daily funnies. New situations were created, characters were reworked and several new characters were introduced to fit with this new approach.
To cast the series, Chris reached out to New York’s Universities, such as the Tisch School of Drama, and placed ads on Craigslist. He struck talent gold when the
casting notice for Anti-Matter was circulated among members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. The response was great and so many fantastic actors showed up that Chris actually created new characters to incorporate all of their talent.
All eight episodes of Anti-Matter were developed, written, produced, and directed by Chris Walker and were filmed at Jim Hanley’s Universe, a comic book store in Midtown Manhattan. Filming took place on nights and Sundays during February and March of 2010. The first episode premiered on Wednesday, September 29, 2010. New episodes will continue to premier every Wednesday at www.antimattershow.com.
BACKGROUND
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The Staff:MIKE
Mike is a nice guy who loves old
comics.Having managed the store for
several years, he pretends to hate the
store and the regulars.The truth is,
however, they are a large part of his
life and he wouldn't trade them for
anything.
KAITLIN
Kaitlin, the senior manager of the
store, is a bit of a control freak with a
tendency to get on every one’s nerves.
Although perceived by the store’s
regulars as a kind of disapproving
parental figure, she is secretly proud
that they have made the store their
unofficial club house.
GINGER
Ginger is the “cooler than you”
knockout of the shop who moonlights
as a writer, band member, and
bartender. While she feigns apathy
towards her status as the store’s
resident hottie, she actually loves the
indie boy regulars who frequent the
shop just to flirt with her.
DENNIS
Dennis is the store’s resident artist. He
dreams of becoming the next big
Marvel artist by mixing his love for
comics and Hip Hop. He’s a little too
friendly with the regulars and is more
likely to join in on their shenanigans
than discourage them.
The Regulars:BERNARD
Bernard, a brand
manager and web
architect, is an uber
cool nerd who has been coming to the
store since he first arrived in NYC for
college. He’s the good natured ring
leader of the regulars and will do
anything for his friends and the shop’s
staff; his unofficial family.
TAYLOR
Taylor may be the youngest of the
group, but he is a bona fide genius
having graduated from college at just
16. Despite his intelligence, he’s a little
awkward when it comes to social
interactions. Not the smoothest guy in
the shop, he often starts talking before
he’s had a chance to filter all his
thoughts.
JEREMY
Jeremy is your mid-twenties, comic-
obsessed, unemployed, still-lives-
with-his-mother comic book store rock
star, often pulling pranks which tend to
be more funny than mean. Ever the
schemer, he refuses to get a real job,
insisting one of his get-rich-quick
ideas will come through in the end.
BATEMAN / MRS. BATEMAN
Bateman, is crude ass who works as a
finance professional and uses the
store as an after work escape from his
tight-leashed lawyer wife. She sees
the time he spends at the store and
with the regulars as a distraction from
their life and son. Bateman tends to
take his familial frustrations out on the
store by acting out and causing
trouble.
MACKENZIE
Mackenzie, is best friends and
roommates with Kayla. She is a
physical trainer, the moral support of
the group, and cheers the regulars on
in whatever goals they may have.
Super hero obsessed, she is eager to
learn every detail about them, and is a
walking encyclopedia of comic book
facts. She may come off as a bit
gullible, but Mackenzie has her
moments of clever brilliance.
KAYLA
Kayla is a grad student and research
assistant. While she appears laid back
and shy on the outside, underneath
she is incredibly passionate and
vivacious. Given to bouts of passive
aggressive sarcasm, she is a
sweetheart at the core. Her best friend
and roommate is MacKenzie.
JANE
Jane is a professional speaker and
business coach who loves to use
analogues from comics to give a super
hero perspective to her business
clientele. She’s agreeable, helpful, and
a bit of a goofball. On the flip-side,
though, she can be a bit cocky and
smug.
CHARACTERS
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DESCRIPTION:
Anti-Matter is a weekly comedic Web series
consisting of eight three to five minute episodes.
The series centers on a New York City comic
book store, its staff, and the customers who
frequent the shop. The characters must come to
grips with their new identities as they transition
from young and hip to all grown-up.
RUN DATE:
Run date: The first episode premiered on
September 29, 2010. New episodes premiere
every Wednesday.
WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY:
Chris Walker is a NY based writer, filmmaker and
visual artist. He produced and developed Manga
Vibe, a pop culture and lifestyle show for Starz
Media and Manga Entertainment. His artwork
has been used in Addidas, Marvel Comics,
Virgin Records and Sony Pictures offerings.
Chris has worked with many iconic characters
and properties, including Wolverine, the
Transformers, Batman and Spider-Man.
CAST:
The Store’s Idiosyncratic Staff
Mike (Store Manager) - Played by Justin Tyler, a
writer and actor in New York City. Justin, along
with his comedy team SideCar, were the 2010
recipients of the NYTVF’s People Choice and
Best Comedy Awards.
Kaitlin (Store Manager) - Played by Kirstan Perry,
a versatile actress who has found success
acting in theater, film, and television. She can be
seen in movies such as Smoking Laws and
Sober, as well as various MTV promos. Her
theater credits include Holiday Cocktail Lounge,
Den of Thieves, and Lil’ Abner amongst other.
Ginger (Staff) - Played by Julie Katz, an actor,
writer and improviser is a member of the all
female comedy collective, Candy Slice and the
Brooklyn Soundpainting
Company. Her solo show,
The Number Jane, was
selected to be a part of
Breedingground’s Spring
Fever Festival.
Dennis (Staff) - Played by Pedro Lee, a writer
and performer who has been featured live on
MNN and CTV cable. He has appeared on
MTV’s FNMTV. He has also performed stand up
in The Black Comedy Experiment Project.
Jeremy - Played by Davram Stiefler, has
performed comedy all over New York City,
including co-producing and hosting a stand-up
comedy showcase entitled Unhand Me Sir! He
regularly appears at the Upright Citizens Brigade
with his sketch comedy group, Gorilla Gorilla.
Bernard - Played by native New Yorker Walter
Vincent. A theater and music major from Wagner
College, Walter has also studied improv with the
Upstanding Citizens Brigade.
MacKenzie - Played by Christina Calph.
Christina can be seen playing the role of Sofia in
the upcoming film, Arthur. She can also be seen
in IFC’s The Whitest Kids U Know, ESPN’s Port
80, Naija Boys’s African Thriller, Rescue Me and
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Kayla - Played by Shannon Coffey. She began
studying improvisation at UCB in 2006. Shannon
was also a regular on GamePlay HD’s sketch
comedy series Señor Nugget.
Bateman - Played by Aaron Kheifets, a
comedian, writer and director. His work has
appeared on Comedy Central and garnered
many awards and. Aaron also runs A-Side/B-
Side at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater.
His credits include MTV, College Humor TV, The
Wall Street Journal and the cult phenomenon
Mortified.
Mrs. Bateman - Played by Katie Johnson.A
Washinton D.C. native Katie Johnson has
appeared on The Colbert Report, All My
Children and several independent films.
Jane - Played by Jill Butterfield whose film
credits include Lost Track (Best Short Film- NYC
Film Festival) is a veteran of the stage. Jill has
also performed with improv groups and in
sketch comedy shows across NY.
FILMING:
Anti-Matter was filmed at Jim Hanley’s Universe,
a comic book store in Midtown Manhattan.
Filming took place at night and on Sundays
during February and March of 2010.
WEBSITE:
www.antimattershow.com
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES:
Twitter - http://twitter.com/antimattershow
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/
antimattershow
Tumblr - http://antimattershow.tumblr.com/
MEDIA CONTACT:
Christina Valenta- [email protected]
FACT SHEET
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CAST
Jill Butterfield (Jane) studied drama
at Middlesex University in London,
England. Born and raised in New
Jersey and a graduate of William
Paterson University, she now calls
New York City her home. A veteran of
the stage, Jill has performed with
improv groups and in sketch comedy
shows. Her film credits include Lost
Track which won the best short film
award at the NYC Film Festival.
Christina Calph (MacKenzie) is a
versatile artist who can be seen
playing the role of Sofia in the
upcoming film, Arthur. She has also
been in IFC’s The Whitest Kids U
Know, ESPN’s Port 80, Naija Boys’s
African Thriller, Rescue Me and The
Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
Shannon Coffey (Kaitlin) was born in
New York before moving to Puerto
Rico at age 5. She spent the next 13
years trying to explain what freckles
were. In 2003, she moved back to
New York, and in 2006 she began
studying improvisation at UCB.
Shannon was also a regular on
GamePlay HD’s sketch comedy series
Señor Nugget.
Katie Johnson (Mrs. Bateman) is a
Washington D.C. native. After stints
as a professional ballerina, Harvard
student and Wall Street professional,
Katie got down to business of
becoming an
actress. Since then,
she has been on The
Colbert Report and
All My Children and
can be seen in many indie films. In her
free time, Katie likes reading about
Japanese Manga from the Edo period.
Julie Katz (Ginger) is an actor, writer
and improviser who studies Drama at
Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. She
is a member of the all female comedy
collective, Candy Slice and the
Brooklyn Soundpainting Company.
She also participates in various other
improv groups. Her solo show, The
Number Jane, was selected to be a
part of Breedingground’s Spring Fever
Festival.
Aaron Kheifets (Bateman) is a
comedian, writer and director whose
work has garnered many awards and
has gained airtime on Comedy
Central. Aaron also runs A-Side/B-
Side at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade
Theater, and his credits include MTV,
College Humor TV, the Wall Street
Journal, and the cult phenomenon
Mortified. His finest moment was
becoming a finalist for Playboy’s
Mustache of the Year.
Pedro Lee (Dennis) is respected as a
writer and performer from South
Carolina. Pedro has been featured live
on MNN and CTV cable and has
appeared on MTV’s FNMTV. He has
also been featured in the independent
films Revolverand and The Greatest
Low Budget Film Ever Made. He has
also performed stand up in The Black
Comedy Experiment Project.
Kirstan Perry (Kaitlin) is a versatile
actress who has found success acting
in theater, film, and television. She
can be seen in movies such as
Smoking Laws and Sober, as well as
several MTV promos. Her theater
credits include Holiday Cocktail
Lounge, Den of Thieves, and Lil’
Abner. Kirstan is also skilled at
dancing, pilates, yoga, swimming,
scuba diving, driving, and can make a
mean turkey taco.
Davram Stiefler (Jeremy) is an actor/
comedian from Grand Junction,
Colorado. He has performed comedy
all over New York City, including co-
producing and hosting a stand-up
comedy showcase entitled Unhand
Me Sir!. Davram can be seen in the
2000 horror movie spoof Machine
Head, and the 2010 film, Restless,
about new pharmaceuticals that
eliminate boredom.
Justin Tyler (Mike) is a writer and
actor in New York City, and a member
of the late UCB Harold team, Havana
Clambake. He is also a founding
member of the sketch/improv groups
Cubicle and Tybrus. Justin is a
monthly contributor to Jest Magazine
and the artistic director of Pig Brooch
Inc, which produced his play, Happy
Mundanes, for the 2004 New York
International Fringe Festival. Justin,
along with his comedy team, SideCar,
is the 2010 recipeent of the NYTVF’s
people choise award as well as best
comedy. Jstin is also the star of the
Web adventures of Justin and Alen
whihc guw starred, Deflcia Day,
Shannon Daughter, and **
BIOGRAPHIES
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Walter Vincent (Bernard) is a native
New Yorker who showed an interest in
acting from a young age by performing
Jim Carry impersonations in his
basement. Walter learned to play the
bass and formed several
neighborhood bands, eventually
growing into a composer, songwriter,
lyricist, musician, and vocalist. He
majored in theater and music at
Wagner College and studied improv
with the Upstanding Citizens Brigade.
CREW
Writer, Producer, Director,:
Chris Walker is a NY based writer,
filmmaker and visual artist. He has
developed and produced Manga Vibe,
a pop culture and lifestyle show for
Starz Media and Manga
Entertainment. His artwork has been
used in Addidas, Marvel Comics,
Virgin Records and Sony Pictures
offerings. Walker has worked with
many iconic characters/properties,
including Wolverine, the Transformers,
Batman and Spider-Man.
Cinematographer
David Gelston was born in Montreal
and now works as a freelance
photographer and cinematographer in
New York. In 2008 he co-founded
Shenanimedia Inc., a multidisciplinary
media company specializing in the
production and distribution of low-
budget, hi-quality audio and video
content. He graduated from Cornell
University in 2007 and can trace his
interest in film back to middle school
when he used to film and edit
sketches with his friends.
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PHOTOS
We have several photos from set. If you would like to
view more please contact Christina Valenta.
[9]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Comedic Webseries Explores Geekdoms Inner Sanctum, the Comic Book Store
Former comic book colorist for Marvel and DC pulls from his days as an over-zealous customer to create a humorous look at life in the comic shop
NEW YORK, NY, September, 29, 2010 — Chris Walker, comic book professional turned director, launched Anti-Matter today, a workplace sitcom delving into the lives of a group of 20-something comic book store employees and the customers that drive them crazy.
The show offers a quirky “nerds-eye view” of the world of comic fandom. Anti-Matter also digs into the the transition young adults face, moving from “Quarter Life Crisis” to “New Grown Up,” taking a playful look at identity, coming of age, and the procrastination of adulthood. “I wanted to make a comedy series.” says Chris. “My goal was to create a series that felt classic and new at the same time. So I started with what I know, comics and figuring out what it means to be an adult on your own terms, not others’. ”
Each 3-5 minute episode of Anti-Matter gives viewers a tongue-in-cheek look into comic culture in a way that only an insider could deliver. Through their own “geeky” lenses, the characters try and come to terms with hating their jobs, no longer being “cool”, and getting over their own self-importance.
No bandwagon fan when it comes to comic books, Chris has been coloring comics professionally for over half a decade for the likes of Marvel and DC on characters such as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and the X-Men. When he got the itch to expand his creative horizons and make comedies he decided to start close to home.
“If there’s one thing I know that’s funny, it’s the conversations and experiences you have hanging out at comic books stores.” says Chris. “Anti-Matter is a humorous snapshot of that world. A place any fan or retailer will tell you is full of laughs and crazy hijinks.”
The eight episode season airs new episodes on Wednesdays, the same day new comics hit shelves. To watch the series, visit www.antimattershow.com.
About Anti-Matter and Chris Walker:Anti-Matter stars Upright Citizen Brigade (UCB) regulars Justin Tyler (NYTVF People’s Choice Winner, the Webventures of Justin & Alden, Sidecar), Aaron Kheifets (Co-Host of UCB Show A-Side/B-Side), Johnathan Fernandez (Stone Cold Fox) and Davram Steifler (Gorilla Gorilla).
For more information on Anti-Matter or to watch episodes, visit their websitewww.antimattershow.com, or their Facebook Page (facebook.com/antimattershow). Episodes may also be viewed on You Tube, Blip TV and iTunes.
Chris Walker is a NY based writer, filmmaker and visual artist. He has developed and produced Manga Vibe, a pop culture and lifestyle show for Starz Media and Manga Entertainment. His artwork has been used in Addidas, Marvel Comics, Virgin Records and Sony Pictures offerings. Walker has worked with many iconic characters/properties, including Wolverine, the Transformers, Batman and Spider-Man.
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Contact: Christina ValentaMarketing and Publicity Directorthe Chit Chat co.E-Mail: [email protected]
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