During the mid-1970s, television producer Aaron Spelling and the writing duo of Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts hit upon the most spectacularly novel idea: Viewers loved watching women solve crimes. The eureka moment occurred in 1974 when the great and ludicrously beautiful Angie Dickinson scored a primetime hit with "Police Woman." While I'd argue Dickinson could've burned up the Nielsen ratings via weekly readings of Russian literature shot at the Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, she was a must-watch sensation as a glamorously attired detective. Though the scripts were rigorously formulaic for a '70s hour-long cop show, Dickinson's showbiz rep attracted a host of top tier guest stars; "Police Woman" didn't have much of a hook, but thanks to its star, it had plenty of sizzle.

It took some prodding (ABC execs Barry Diller and Michael Eisner abhorred Spelling's pitch), but "Charlie's Angels" became the breakout hit of the 1976 season.

WillI ABC continue to develop a live-action TV series reboot of "The Greatest American Hero" (1981) starring Hannah Simone ("New Girl") as an 'empowered' woman, who is given an alien powered supersuit, or will they opt for a ‘ woke’ interpretation of the main character ?

"...'Meera' loves tequila and karaoke, spending her life searching and failing to find meaning...

"...much to the chagrin of her family, until she becomes entrusted with a super suit to protect the planet..."

"The Greatest American Hero" aired for three seasons (1981-1983) on ABC, created by writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, starring William Katt ("Carrie") as teacher 'Ralph Hinkley', Robert Culp as FBI agent 'Bill Maxwell' and Connie Sellecca ("The Wild Stallion") as lawyer 'Pam Davidson'.'

The series chronicled the adventures of 'Ralph' after a gaggle of aliens give him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities.

Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit,...

As we wrap up the month of March, we have one final round of horror and sci-fi home media releases on tap before we start looking towards April and beyond, and I hope you have your wallets ready, because this week’s slate of titles is a budget killer, no doubt. Arrow Video is celebrating the 40th anniversary of An American Werewolf in London this year with a brand new limited edition Steelbook, and Warner Archives is showing some love to a few older titles this Tuesday as well: Isle of the Dead and The Bermuda Depths.

Vinegar Syndrome is keeping busy with a handful of new releases this week, too, including The Fear, Nightmare Weekend, Graduation Day, and Hitcher in the Dark. Severin Films is also celebrating a pair of films from Álex de la Iglesia with their Special Edition Blus for The Day of the Beast and Perdita Durango,...

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By Todd Garbarini

Tsugunobo Kotani is a film director whose name does not roll off the tongue throughout film circles. A handful of titles to his credit consist of Hatsukoi (1975), The Last Dinosaur (1977), The Ivory Ape (1980), and The Bloody Bushido Blade (1981), and there are a good number of Japanese-language titles that appear in his early filmography. An Internet search of “Tom Kotani,” the Americanized variant of Tsugunobo and the director’s name as it appears in some of his movies, yields even less information. While most people may not recognize him, there is a small but significant percentage of film viewers, yours truly included, who have been deeply affected by one of his films in particular: the made-for-television undersea effort The Bermuda Depths. Filmed in the British Overseas Territory of the Bermudas in 1977, The Bermuda Depths is mysterious for several reasons. It is...

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By Todd Garbarini

Tsugunobo Kotani is a film director whose name does not roll off the tongue throughout film circles. A handful of titles to his credit consist of Hatsukoi (1975), The Last Dinosaur (1977), The Ivory Ape (1980), and The Bloody Bushido Blade (1981), and there are a good number of Japanese-language titles that appear in his early filmography. An Internet search of “Tom Kotani,” the Americanized variant of Tsugunobo and the director’s name as it appears in some of his movies, yields even less information. While most people may not recognize him, there is a small but significant percentage of film viewers, yours truly included, who have been deeply affected by one of his films in particular: the made-for-television undersea effort The Bermuda Depths. Filmed in the British Overseas Territory of the Bermudas in 1977, The Bermuda Depths is mysterious for several reasons. It is...

The Bermuda Depths (1978) is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive

What secret lurks 20,000 feet below the waves in the paranormal realm called the Bermuda Triangle? That’s the question a scientist (Burl Ives), his student (Carl Weathers) and a young man (Leigh McCloskey) haunted by nightmarish memories of his Bermuda childhood ask themselves. The answer involves a beauty (Connie Sellecca) who has sold her soul for eternal youth and a giant sea turtle that leaves death in its wake. Eerie and hypnotic, The Bermuda Depths was produced by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass (The Year Without a Santa Claus), who meld their imaginative fantasy style with the live-action horror genre.

Special Features: Includes Both the 1.33:1 US Broadcast Television Version and the 1.85:1 International Theatrical Version; New Audio Commentary by Author/ Film Historian Amanda Reyes (Are You in the House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium: 1964-1999) and Kindertrauma co-founder Lance Vaughan.

ABC continues developing a live-action TV series reboot of "The Greatest American Hero" (1981) starring Hannah Simone ("New Girl") as an 'empowered' woman, who is given an alien powered supersuit : 

"...'Meera' loves tequila and karaoke, spending her life searching and failing to find meaning...

"...much to the chagrin of her family, until she becomes entrusted with a super suit to protect the planet..."

"The Greatest American Hero" aired for three seasons (1981-1983) on ABC, created by writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, starring William Katt ("Carrie") as teacher 'Ralph Hinkley', Robert Culp as FBI agent 'Bill Maxwell' and Connie Sellecca ("The Wild Stallion") as lawyer 'Pam Davidson'.'

The series chronicled the adventures of 'Ralph' after a gaggle of aliens give him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. 

Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, he has to learn how to use his powers through trial and error.

ABC is still interested in a reboot of "The Greatest American Hero", based on the 1981 live-action TV series, showcasing a new female superhero: 

"...'Meera' loves tequila and karaoke, spending her life searching and failing to find meaning...

"...much to the chagrin of her family, until she becomes entrusted with a super suit to protect the planet..."

The original series aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC, created by writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, starring William Katt ("Carrie") as teacher 'Ralph Hinkley', Robert Culp as FBI agent 'Bill Maxwell' and Connie Sellecca ("The Wild Stallion") as lawyer 'Pam Davidson'.'

The series chronicles Ralph's adventures after a group of aliens give him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. 

Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, he has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error.

Click the images to enlarge...

Thanks to a recently greenlit TV pilot, ABC is deciding whether or not to reboot "The Greatest American Hero" as an episodic TV series, starring actress Hannah Simone ("New Girl") as an 'empowered' woman, given an alien powere bsuit : 

"...'Meera' loves tequila and karaoke, spending her life searching and failing to find meaning...

"...much to the chagrin of her family, until she becomes entrusted with a super suit to protect the planet..."

"The Greatest American Hero" aired for three seasons (1981-1983) on ABC, created by writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, starring William Katt ("Carrie") as teacher 'Ralph Hinkley', Robert Culp as FBI agent 'Bill Maxwell' and Connie Sellecca ("The Wild Stallion") as lawyer 'Pam Davidson'.'

The series chronicled the adventures of 'Ralph' after a gaggle of aliens give him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. 

Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit,...

Thanks to a recently greenlit TV pilot, ABC is deciding whether or not to reboot "The Greatest American Hero", as an episodic series starring actress Hannah Simone ("New Girl"):

"...'Meera' loves tequila and karaoke, spending her life searching and failing to find meaning...

"...much to the chagrin of her family, until she becomes entrusted with a super suit to protect the planet..."

The original series aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC, created by writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, starring William Katt ("Carrie") as teacher 'Ralph Hinkley', Robert Culp as FBI agent 'Bill Maxwell' and Connie Sellecca ("The Wild Stallion") as lawyer 'Pam Davidson'.'

The series chronicles Ralph's adventures after a group of aliens give him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. 

Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error.

According to reports ABC has ordered a 30 minute sitcom TV pilot, rebooting "The Greatest American Hero", with a female lead:

"...'Meera' loves tequila and karaoke, spending her life searching and failing to find meaning...

"...much to the chagrin of her family, until she becomes entrusted with a super suit to protect the planet..."

The original series aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC, created by writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, starring William Katt ("Carrie") as teacher 'Ralph Hinkley', Robert Culp ("I, Spy") as FBI agent 'Bill Maxwell' and Connie Sellecca ("The Wild Stallion") as lawyer 'Pam Davidson'.'

The series chronicles Ralph's adventures after a group of aliens give him a red and black suit that grants him superhuman abilities. 

Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak...

Fans of ’80s superhero kitsch, get ready to feel like you’re walkin’ on air.

ABC has officially ordered a pilot for a reboot of The Greatest American Hero, TVLine has learned. The pilot — a half-hour, single-camera comedy — is a revamp of the fondly remembered 1981-83 superhero series starring William Katt, but flips the gender of the titular hero, centering on Meera, a 30-year-old Indian-American woman “who loves tequila and karaoke,” according to the official description.

RELATEDPilot Season ’18: Scoop on This Fall’s (Possible) New Shows, Who’s In Them

Like Katt’s Ralph Hinkley, Meera is entrusted with...

Should we start calling it The Greatest American Heroine?

ABC has given a put-pilot commitment to a reboot of ’80s cult hit The Greatest American Hero, our sister site Deadline is reporting. But there’s a twist: Instead of the original’s accidental superhero Ralph Hinkley, the new Hero will be an Indian-American woman named Meera who’s fond of drinking tequila and singing karaoke.

PhotosYour Guide to TV’s 150+ Reboots and Revivals: American Idol, The Munsters, Roseanne, Psych, The Jetsons and More

As in the original, Meera will stumble upon an alien superhero suit that endows her with superhuman powers…...

Few ideas survive the times that spawned them, but Westworld, the 1973 Michael Crichton movie about an Old West amusement park populated by lifelike robots, is good enough that Hollywood's been coming back to it for more than 40 years. The original film, which was MGM's biggest box-office success of the year, spawned a sequel and a short-lived TV series; talk of a remake had been floated around for years, with everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Quentin Tarantino being namedropped around the project at various points. (There was even a porn version,...

Believe it or not, The Greatest American Hero ran for 44 episodes over three seasons, before being cancelled by ABC, on February 3, 1983. Teacher, Ralph Hinkley (William Katt), receives a super-powered suit from aliens, who tell him that he and FBI agent Bill Maxwell (the late Robert Culp) must save the world. The two form an unlikely alliance, as Ralph learns to master the suit (the instructions to which he lost). They are helped along by Ralph's divorce lawyer/girlfriend, Pam Davidson (Connie Selleca).

In August 2014, we reported Fox was walking on air at the thought of rebooting the Stephen J. Cannell series -- to the point of investing in a put pilot. Fifteen months later, Fox has made a pilot production commitment to a series reboot, with a creative team including Rick Famuyiwa, Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Tawnia McKiernan (who,...

According to Deadline, Fox has given a pilot production commitment to "The Greatest American Hero," a single-camera comedy inspired by Steven J. Cannell’s 80's cult classic. Its written by "Dope" screenwriter/director Rick Famuyiwa, and will be produced by Phil Lord & Chris Miller– the directing duo behind the "Lego Movie."

The original sci-fi dramedy series, created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, premiered as a two-hour pilot movie on ABC in 1981. The series featured William Katt as teacher Ralph Hinkley, Robert Culp as FBI agent Bill Maxwell, and Connie Sellecca as lawyer Pam Davidson.

The series chronicles Ralph's adventures after a group of aliens gives him a red suit that grants him superhuman abilities. Unfortunately for Ralph, who hates wearing the suit, he immediately loses its instruction booklet, and thus has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error, often with comical results.

The new sereis is...

If you were a child or a parent during the early '90s, there's a good chance that ABC's Tgif lineup graced your TV set. Remember Tgif? A two-hour block of family-friendly comedies that tried to make it seem fun staying in on Friday nights?

It officially debuted 25 years ago this month – on Sept. 22, 1989, with a lineup that included Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, Full House and Just the Ten of Us. And notably, it debuted four years before that other landmark '90s TV block, Must See TV.

The early promos are a trip, as they're both introducing the concept...

If you were a child or a parent during the early '90s, there's a good chance that ABC's Tgif lineup graced your TV set. Remember Tgif? A two-hour block of family-friendly comedies that tried to make it seem fun staying in on Friday nights? It officially debuted 25 years ago this month - on Sept. 22, 1989, with a lineup that included Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, Full House and Just the Ten of Us. And notably, it debuted four years before that other landmark '90s TV block, Must See TV. The early promos are a trip, as they're both introducing the...

Great news for superhero fans and classic 80s tv show fans! Fox has just ordered a pilot order for a reboot of the kooky ABC 80s show, The Greatest American Hero. The show starred William Katt, Robert Culp and Connie Sellecca, with William playing Ralph the superhero. However, unlike most he was given a suit that provides him his superpowers from aliens. Due to this and his behavior, he causes more troubles than benefit for his town. The show has yet to announce cast or premier date.

We are not sure why Fox decided to pick this show to reboot. It clearly didn’t go over well the first time and making it more modern will likely not fix it. It also doesn’t make Ralph look good or even some like a legit superhero. It just seems more of a joke than anything. However, with Fox’s track record...

From 1981 to 1983, ABC ran a superhero television series called The Greatest American Hero. It starred William Katt as Ralph Hinkley/Hanley, Robert Culp as Bill Maxwell and Connie Sellecca as Pam Davidson. While it only lasted a few seasons, its rerun have persevered over the past decades. It is considered a cult classic. Believe it or not, Fox is gonna take another stab at this premise. The creators of The Lego Movie, Phil Lord and Chris Miller, will be the executive producers of the project. The show will be an hour-long and "will chronicle inner-city teacher Isaac’s adventures after his discovery of a superhero suit which gives him superhuman abilities." Furthermore, "Unfortunately for Isaac, he hates wearing the suit, and has to learn how to use its powers by trial and error because he quickly misplaces the suit’s instructions." Isaac will even have his own "government handler" just as the original series had.

Believe it or not… The Greatest American Hero is poised to fight another day.

According to our sister site Deadline, Fox has given a put pilot order (i.e. virtually guaranteed to air) to a remake of the unlikely superhero series, which ran for three seasons on ABC in the early 1980s.

Related Fox’s The Following Changing Showrunners — Again

The original series, which starred William Katt, Robert Culp and Connie Sellecca, revolved around a mild-mannered teacher named Ralph who inherits from aliens a suit that affords him superhuman abilities.

Thing is, Ralph loses the instructions for the suit, making...

Despite only airing for three seasons in the early 1980s, ABC comedy-drama The Greatest American Hero has left a cult following over the last three decades. Starring William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca, and JoBlo.com fave Michael Pare, the series chronicled the exploits of a teacher given a superhero suit he doesn't understand how to use. 22 Jump Street and The Lego Movie directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord will executive produce a reboot of the series at Fox along with screenwriter...

A version of this story first appeared in the April 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. When John Tesh walked away from Entertainment Tonight in 1996, he disappeared from the national TV stage. But Tesh never quit working. He has performed 30 or more concerts a year and since 2003 has hosted (with his wife, actress Connie Sellecca, and stepson, Gib Gerard) a syndicated radio show on about 800 stations billed as Intelligence for Your Life. Now, Tesh, 61, is returning to TV with a daily syndicated talk show, also called Intelligence for Your Life, and a business plan

read more...

Michael Crichton’s cult classic Westworld, which imagines a Wild West-themed vacation destination inhabited by robots, is coming to HBO.

The pay network gave a pilot production commitment to the project from J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan (Person of Interest), and producer Jerry Weintraub (Behind the Candelabra).

The logline for the adaptation of the 1973 film reads: “Set in the amazing world dreamt up by Michael Crichton, Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin.”

Nolan and Lisa Joy will write and executive produce the series; Nolan is set to direct the pilot.

This...

Feature Mark Harrison 9 Jul 2013 - 07:01

Back in the 70s, a pair of Captain America pilots appeared on Us TV. Mark looks at two cult curios, and ponders the series that never was...

In the late 1970s, Universal Television optioned the rights to make TV shows based on characters from the Marvel Comics library, and created a number of pilots based on heroes such as the Hulk, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. In retrospect, The Incredible Hulk was by far the most successful of these - it's arguably still the definitive version of the character on screen, outside of last year's Avengers Assemble.

Even though it never led to a series, 1978's two Captain America TV movies came second-closest to success, by the virtue of even getting as far as a second movie. The first, known as Sentinel Of Liberty, establishes a different origin story for Steve Rogers, while the second,...

Premiering in 1981 on ABC, The Greatest American Hero chronicles the misadventures of unlikely hero and school teacher Ralph Hinkley (William Katt) and FBI Special Agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp).

The unlikely team have an unexpected encounter with aliens in the desert and are charged with working together to save the world. They gift Ralph with a powerful red suit endowed with superhuman powers and the pair set out to fight crime. The biggest problem is the fact that Ralph loses the suit's instruction manual. His girlfriend and attorney, Pam Davidson (Connie Selleca), often helps Ralph and Bill with their missions.

This two-disc set includes all eight episodes from the first season, as well as a bonus interview with creator Stephen J. Cannell.

You can purchase The Greatest American Hero: Season One for $10.49 from Amazon. You can also...

When I heard about the sad passing of Robert Culp earlier this evening, I immediately thought of his friend William Katt, who of course co-starred with the acting legend on the 1980s action show "Greatest American Hero." I happen to have email corresponded with William on occasion, so I asked for his reaction to the news and he very graciously sent me the following statement, along with the last photo he took with Robert (with Connie Sellecca at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con).

"Robert Culp was the grit and the gravity that kept 'The Greatest American Hero' honest. He was the reason the show worked! A tough guy with a heart of gold and a line delivery like no other. He was a teacher, a mentor and a good friend and I'll miss him. Wm katt"

Stay tuned to the MTV Movies Blog for more on the passing of Robert Culp.

Nathan Fillion has been many things in the eyes of fans, from the cocky superhero Captain Hammer to the captain of Serenity, Mal Reynolds. A few fans even saw him as the Green Lantern. But who does Nathan Fillion really see himself playing on the big screen? Why, the Greatest American Hero, of course!

In a recent interview Fillion did with The Flickcast, he mentioned that he thought he’d be perfect for the role originally made famous by William Katt. The 1980’s TV show was about high school teacher Ralph Hinkley who is asked to become a superhero after being given a special alien suit with powers that he never really learns how to use or control. The show also co-starred the awesome Robert Culp as FBI agent Bill Maxwell and Connie Sellecca as Hinkley’s significant other.

The show went on for three seasons, spawned a spin-off, and...

One of Channing's favorite directors to work with is Dito Montiel. Dito directed Channing in 2006's 'A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints' and his upcoming action film 'Fighting' that will be released in theaters on April 24, 2009 and some may even say Chan's somewhat of a muse to the talented director.

At this point, Chan and Dito almost have a sort of shorthand when they communicate on set, and the two work together extremely well. That's why I was happy to read on Variety.com that Channing Tatum has been chosen to star in a new movie called 'The Brotherhood of the Rose', an adaptation of the David Morrell novel for Warner Brothers.

Montiel is re-writing an earlier draft of the script from Adam Cozad and will also direct the film. Basil Iwanyk ('Clash of the Titans') is producing the movie through his Thunder Road banner.

The story is a cat-and-mouse...

Stephen J. Cannell, creator of the cult ‘80s TV series The Greatest American Hero, has confirmed that a feature film is in the works, says SciFi.com. “We’ve written a screenplay, and we’ve hired a director, and we’re in the midst of putting this together for the future,” Cannell told an audience in Hollywood on Sept. 7 at the Screen Actors Guild foundation’s 75th anniversary. The director is reportedly Stephen Herek, known for such ‘80s favorites such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Critters--a fact Cannell did not confirm at the reunion panel. The entire cast, producers, writers and famed stuntman Dennis “Danger” Madalone joined Cannell for a lengthy Q&A session moderated by John Tesh, a Hero historian and husband of star Connie Sellecca. After Cannell’s movie announcement, Sellecca took the opportunity to lock in roles for herself and fellow original cast members William Katt and Robert Culp.

Stephen J. Cannell, creator of the cult ‘80s TV series The Greatest American Hero, has confirmed that a feature film is in the works, says SciFi.com. “We’ve written a screenplay, and we’ve hired a director, and we’re in the midst of putting this together for the future,” Cannell told an audience in Hollywood on Sept. 7 at the Screen Actors Guild foundation’s 75th anniversary. The director is reportedly Stephen Herek, known for such ‘80s favorites such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Critters--a fact Cannell did not confirm at the reunion panel. The entire cast, producers, writers and famed stuntman Dennis “Danger” Madalone joined Cannell for a lengthy Q&A session moderated by John Tesh, a Hero historian and husband of star Connie Sellecca. After Cannell’s movie announcement, Sellecca took the opportunity to lock in roles for herself and fellow original cast members William Katt and Robert Culp.

At Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild 25th anniversary celebration of The Greatest American Hero, creator Stephen J. Cannell confirmed once and for that a feature film version is coming. Disney has carried the project on its development list for several years but the current boom in super-hero movies seems to have moved it off the backburner.

"We've written a screenplay, and we've hired a director, and we're in the midst of putting this together for the future," the prolific producer said, according to Sci-Fi Wire.

After the announcement, Connie Sellecca took the mike and grilled her former boss. "I'm going to put Stephen on the spot," Sellecca asked. "Cameos for us?"

"Absolutely guaranteed," Cannell responded. "More than cameos: acting jobs."

"I took a sneak peek at the [feature] script, and it's absolutely charming and wonderful," William Katt confirmed for the crowd. "I know people are going to love it." Katt made...

The superhero drama-comedy popular in the '80s, "The Greatest American Hero", is indeed on the work to be made into a movie. Sci Fi Wire reported that during a Q&A session at the the Screen Actors Guild foundation's 75th anniversary on September 7, series creator Stephen J. Cannell has finally announced the plan.

On the occasion, he stated, "We've written a screenplay, and we've hired a director, and we're in the midst of putting this together for the future." Though he did not let out a single clue on who the chosen director is, words are "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" helmer, Stephen Herek, is set for the part.

Commenting on the written script, one of the TV series' original cast members, William Katt, told the audience about what he thinks of it. "I took a sneak peak at the [feature] script, and it's absolutely charming and wonderful," he shared.

Watch the skys and look out birds! The Greatest American Hero, the hit show from the 1980s, is about to make a comeback.

The Greatest American Hero premiered on March 18, 1981 on ABC and was an immediate success. In the series, William Katt plays Ralph Hinkley, an ordinary special education teacher who's given an alien-made supersuit with powers he never quite masters, having accidentally lost the instruction manual. Robert Culp co-stars as gung-ho FBI agent Bill Maxwell and Connie Selleca plays attorney Pam Davidson, Ralph's love interest. The show aired for three seasons and balanced the comedy of Ralph's situation with the team's crime-fighting exploits. Believe It or Not, the show's catchy theme-song, spent 18 weeks on Billboard's Top 40 list.

Riding a wave of nostalgic show revivals, The Greatest American Hero is being resurrected in a big way -- as a comic book, a series of animated web shorts, and a feature film.