Gets me thinking, though. Sure, I’m working on a web series, and K and Sooj are doing amazing things with StrowlerCon this fall, but the thing that’s most important about the word “strowler”? It puts a name to a big umbrella, one that encompasses many of us, as in the definition that some brilliant person wrong on Urban Dictionary,

Strowlers focus on alternative forms of performance art, such as music, juggling, poi spinning, dancing, drumming, circus arts and ropework. Strowlers are also into craft, calling themselves “makers”.

Put another way, “Strowlers” isn’t something that you watch passively. It’s something you do. It’s who we are. Performers, musicians, jugglers, makers, fanfic writers, cosplayers, gamers, and all the rest of it. We’re people who take the biggest step of all, from creating nothing to creating something.

Take a look at the page on UrbanDictionary.com and rate up the definition. And thanks to pachamamados, whoever you are.

A showcase of the best strowlers and touring musicians in these United States. Circus arts, dancing, and theatrical fun. A fandom-convention-style event with daytime workshops, panels and a Maker Showcase. Fire shows, a Chrononaut’s Masquerade, and mysterious mayhem.

Revolutionaries. Enemies of the Crown. Agitators. Deviants. Practitioners of illegal magic. Dumpster divers. Anarchists. Pagans. Federalists. Street musicians. Historians of the forbidden past. Strowlers.

They could be your neighbor. Or those kids who hang out around the local grocery. Or that street magician with a funny hat. Or maybe your strange uncle.

Strowlers. The word may make fear trickle down your spine. But don’t worry, you’re not alone! The Cascadian Ministry of Public Security is here to help you KNOW YOUR STROWLERS.

Because knowledge is power, and power is a gift from the Crown.

So don’t get afraid: get angry. Did your gas get cut off? Blame a Strowler! Lose your job? Blame a Strowler! Did that girl you like go off with another guy? He’s probably a Strowler!

So KNOW YOUR STROWLERS. And then report any and all suspicious activity to the Ministry of Public Security.

A Public Service Announcement from
The Kingdom of Cascadia Ministry of Public Security “We Provide the Leash, You Provide the Freedom.“

In the meantime, if you are searching for ZOE or DGP content, please check out Dead Gentlemen Productions!

The show chronicles the ongoing trials of a ragtag group of adventurers as they encounter missing princesses, corporate assassins, magical mysteries, and the challenges of keeping their heads above water in 21st-century Cascadia.

Cascadia is an independent monarchy located along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It is one of many kingdoms in North America, including the belligerent Empire of Texas, the Mormon Theocracy of Deseret, the shareholder-owned city-state of New York, and independence-craving Appalachia. Some historians speculate that had Great Britain not quelled their colonies’ revolution of 1776, history might have seen the rise of one unified nation in North American, but they are generally derided by those who know better.

In this version of history, MAGIC is real and studied in the great universities, SCIENCE is pervasive and advanced, and MYTHICAL CREATURES are more an annoyance than a wonder. Meanwhile, everyday people struggle to pay their rent, find good jobs, fall in and out of love, and live meaningful lives. But ADVENTURE is always just around the corner …

Called Strowlers by the authorities, who would as soon see those illegal wanderers locked up and forgotten — after all, the Powers That Be must control the bread and circuses if they expect to retain the power that the public gives them — the Strowlers defy the way that things are for the sake of a song, a story, and a dream. Call them a tribe, call them a nation, call them what you will, no matter the risks, the Strowlers are here to stay.

What is “Strowlers”?

The Web Series

Strowlers is a web series. We promise to explain more to you soon. If you sign up for the RSS feed, through Feedburner, or whatever else strikes your fancy, you’ll be the first to know when we share the big picture.

The Convention

StrowlerCon is a gathering, a festival, a party and a show. You’ll be seeing more about that soon enough.  Expect music, magic, and mischief a-plenty.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 November, 2009

DEAD GENTLEMEN PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES ZOMBIE ORPHEUS ENTERTAINMENT

Dead Gentlemen Productions (THE GAMERS, DEMON HUNTERS) is proud to announce the formation of a new company, Zombie Orpheus Entertainment (ZOE). Founded by Dead Gentlemen veterans Ben Dobyns and Matt Vancil and by Kat Ogden, formerly of Created By, ZOE will develop and distribute original web content directly to fandom, including especially the fantasy, science fiction, and horror markets.

The first ZOE project will be a fantasy comedy web series called JOURNEYQUEST, to be written and directed by Matt Vancil (THE GAMERS, THE GAMERS: DORKNESS RISING) and executive produced by Matt Vancil and Ben Dobyns. Zombie Orpheus Entertainment and Kairos Productions will present a Dead Gentlemen Production of a Matt Vancil film. JOURNEYQUEST is in preproduction and begins principle photography in March of 2010. Episodes will be released weekly beginning July of 2010. DVDs will be available for the 2010 fall/winter holiday season.

In addition to JOURNEYQUEST, ZOE is preparing an urban fantasy, STROWLERS, scheduled to shoot in September of 2010 for a web release in January of 2011. The project is written by Matt Vancil and directed by Ben Dobyns. STROWLERS is currently partially financed. Interested parties may contact producer’s representative Dawn Roscoe for more information about STROWLERS financing.

ZOE will also produce ongoing behind-the-scenes web content for these projects under the leadership of producer Kat Ogden, including special live interactive streaming events, ongoing opportunities for fan participation, and a wide variety of contests and polls. ZOE also plans to release all web-originated ZOE properties under a Creative Commons Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike license, which will allow fans not only to share and promote ZOE projects among their friends, but to create their own noncommercial, noncompetitive derivative works, including fan fiction, video remixes, and games.

Finally, ZOE will offer its distribution, syndication, and promotions services to select companies who produce high-quality media in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres, beginning with Dead Gentlemen Productions. In its new role ZOE looks forward to expanding the market for Dead Gentlemen’s brands, including THE GAMERS and DEMON HUNTERS.

More information is available at deadgentlemen.com, on the Zombie Orpheus Facebook page, and via the contact information below.

ABOUT DG:

Dead Gentlemen Productions is a group of filmmakers with roots in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Their recent film The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, is currently distributed by Anthem Pictures.

In addition to ongoing comedy sketches and short films, Dead Gentlemen recently produced the high definition feature The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, and co-produced the Demon Hunters Roleplaying Game with Margaret Weis Productions, which introduced the newly canonized world of their original Demon Hunters and a short film entitled: The Brotherhood Orientation Video. To this very day the Dead Gentlemen exercise their super power of unmatched collaboration to create projects together.

www.deadgentlemen.com

ABOUT KAIROS PRODUCTIONS:

Kairos Productions is a reverently irreverent film development and production company based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently developing numerous book-to-film properties based on several works by Newbery Award-winning novelist Madeleine L’Engle. Kairos’ next project is a motion picture adaptation of L’Engle’s novel CAMILLA. Additionally, Kairos is working on HAIRSTORY, a documentary, and a feature entitled THE CURSE OF THE SCOTTISH PLAY.

www.kairos-productions.com

ZOMBIE ORPHEUS ENTERTAINMENT: ZombieOrpheus@gmail.com (206) 659-8963

DAWN ROSCOE: zoe@iamthepartystarter.com (206) 715-4182

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 November 2009

ZOMBIE ORPHEUS ENTERTAINMENT AND DEAD GENTLEMEN PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCE JOURNEYQUEST: SEASON ONE

From Matt Vancil, writer and director of cult hits THE GAMERS and DORKNESS RISING, comes a new fantasy comedy web series, JOURNEYQUEST. Developed, produced, and distributed by Zombie Orpheus Entertainment (ZOE) and co-produced by Dead Gentlemen Productions and Kairos Productions, JOURNEYQUEST: SEASON ONE will begin production in March of 2010. Free episodes will be released online weekly beginning the following July.

Following a group of dysfunctional adventurers on a quest to discover and destroy the mythical Sword of Fighting, JOURNEYQUEST: SEASON ONE is a comedic adventure through the world of Fartherall, where intellectual orcs, seductive dwarves, lying gargoyles, and holy zombies form the living (and not-so-living) backdrop to an epic story of unrequited love, burning passions, and severely reluctant heroism. And running away. Lots of running away.

In addition to JOURNEYQUEST: SEASON ONE, Vancil will also direct a bonus featurette entitled JOURNEYQUEST: UNDERQUEST, which will be available exclusively on DVD and through several online digital download markets.

JOURNEYQUEST: SEASON ONE will be released online under a Creative Commons Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike license. Fans will be encouraged to play and create their own stories and art in the JOURNEYQUEST sandbox.

ZOE is partnering with Dead Gentlemen Productions (DGP) and Kairos Productions to create and promote JOURNEYQUEST: SEASON ONE. The show will be featured content at deadgentlemen.com and throughout DGP’s online syndication network.

JOURNEYQUEST is executive produced by Ben Dobyns and Matt Vancil, produced by Jeremy Spray and Kat Ogden, co-produced by Cornelia D. Moore, and the Production Manager is Elizabeth Heile. It will be shot entirely in the Pacific Northwest.

More information is available at deadgentlemen.com, on the Zombie Orpheus Facebook page, and via the contact information below.

ABOUT ZOE:

ZOE develops and distributes original web content directly to fandom, including especially the fantasy, science fiction, and horror markets. By focusing on building long-term relationships with core fans, ZOE aims to establish a model of sustainable independent filmmaking outside of the studio system. The company is also developing a modern steampunk web series entitled STROWLERS.

ABOUT DG:

Dead Gentlemen Productions is a group of filmmakers with roots in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Their recent film, The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, is currently distributed by Anthem Pictures.

In addition to ongoing comedy sketches and short films, Dead Gentlemen recently produced the high definition feature The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, and co-produced the Demon Hunters Roleplaying Game with Margaret Weis Productions, which introduced the newly canonized world of their original Demon Hunters and a short film entitled: The Brotherhood Orientation Video. To this very day the Dead Gentlemen exercise their super power of unmatched collaboration to create projects together.

www.deadgentlemen.com

ABOUT KAIROS:

Kairos Productions is a reverently irreverent film development and production company based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently developing numerous book-to-film properties based on several works by Newbery Award-winning novelist Madeleine L’Engle. Kairos’ next project is a motion picture adaptation of L’Engle’s novel CAMILLA. Additionally, Kairos is working on HAIRSTORY, a documentary, and a feature entitled THE CURSE OF THE SCOTTISH PLAY.

www.kairos-productions.com

ZOMBIE ORPHEUS ENTERTAINMENT: ZombieOrpheus@gmail.com (206) 659-8963

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