It’s an exciting time here at Parallax Film Productions – in less than a week, our current production Battle Castle will make its world broadcast premiere on History Television in Canada.
Leading up to the six-part series, there’s been so much going on online that it’s become an experience in and of itself. Here are this week’s highlights, direct from the Battle Castle universe:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canadian production company harnesses social media, international team to create unprecedented interactive documentary experience
Multiplatform transmedia content and targeted online marketing pulls thousands of fans into Battle Castle universe before tv documentary series broadcasts.
The Malbork Castle page, part of Battle Castle’s interactive documentary experience.
Vancouver, B.C. – Medieval Media Inc., a Vancouver-area production company, has created an unparalleled immersive online world for its upcoming action documentary series Battle Castle.
Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:
On YouTube
BattleCastle.TV: host Dan Snow details Malbork’s impressive provisions
Battle Castle host Dan Snow explains the impressive grain stores at Malbork Castle in Poland. In medieval times, the Teutonic Knights would have lived off grain and other provisions during a siege. This staple was also one of their major exports. This stronghold, believed to be the largest brick castle in the world, was built by Christians during the Baltic Crusades. Historically known as Marienburg, this fortification was besieged by Polish and Lithuanian forces after the Battle of Tannenberg in 1410, and defended by Heinrich von Plauen.
It’s been a few weeks since Underworld: Awakening was released, winning top spot at the box office with $25.4 million in sales. Now, the critics are weighing in – both on the story itself, and on the quality of its 3D cinematography.
Parallax Film Productions chatted with stereographer/DOP Kasimir Lehto a few months back about his work on high-profile stereoscopic projects including Underworld: Awakening, The Darkest Hour, and Apartment 1303 3D.
Here’s the exclusive interview from our archives:
As part of our ongoing commitment to unparalleled 3D production, Parallax Film Productions is thrilled to share stereoscopic 3D stills and video footage of several castles throughout Europe and the Middle East. This exclusive online content was captured during the filming of our current production, Battle Castle, an action documentary about medieval castles.
In our second installment of Battle Castle 3D, we go inside England’s Dover Castle to experience the true depth of its magnificent keep.
To inspire excitement and share our love of stereography we are releasing 3D stills and footage shot during field production of our current series Battle Castle. This exclusive online content represents our continued commitment to the wild, unpredictable and always thrilling ride of these S3D days.
So grab your red/cyan glasses and check out our first installment of video: a special HD 3D trailer for Battle Castle: Dover. This footage, which was captured and edited by our Director of Photography/Stereographer Sean F. White, features the castle known as the Key to England.
If you have a passive 3D display, the footage generally is best viewed on the side-by-side setting. Once your display is configured, simply click on the 3D icon at the bottom of the video and set YouTube to Side-by-Side, half-width. If you don’t have a 3D display, you can view the clips in anaglyph mode. Simply use any pair of red/cyan glasses and set YouTube to Optimized (Dubois).
-Ian Herring, President
Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:
On YouTube
BattleCastle.TV: host Dan Snow explains how Constantinople inspired Edward’s castle builders
Battle Castle host Dan Snow details how the mighty city of Constantinople influenced the shape of Caernarfon Castle’s towers. The fortification combines military engineering and palatial splendour fit for a king. Master James of St. George and his castle builders also raised Conwy, Harlech and Beaumaris — combined, these fortifications are known as the Iron Ring. Conwy was commissioned by King Edward I in Snowdonia, Wales, and was tested with Madog ap Llywelyn led a medieval rebellion against the English and their Iron Ring of fortifications in the late 13th century. The secrets of this mighty castle’s build and details of the siege it faced are revealed in Battle Castle: Conwy.
Dan’s vlogs are released every Thursday on YouTube, unveiling details related to the stories that will be profiled in the Battle Castle shows.
Peter Zuccarini, Underwater Camera Operator/DOP on 3D projects including Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and the upcoming Underworld Awakening details his experiences filming Dolphin Tale 3D… stereoscopic gear, impressions on set, and the magical world of aquatic 3D.
A 3D Tale
Most of the story takes place in the aquarium where Winter the dolphin lives full time. The main character, Sawyer, ends up getting, sort of pulled into the water by Winter and they develop this special relationship. They needed some angles both daytime and nighttime in 3D of those two sort of playing around. My involvement in the beginning of the film was operating a 3D camera in the water. After principal photography they were doing a final sequence that involved integrating some animated dolphins into 3D plates that were shot in the ocean. I was the director of photography for the Caymen Islands unit that did those 3D plates – flying a 3D camera through tunnels and caverns and things like that to develop like a natural world that dolphins would swim through.
Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:
On YouTube
BattleCastle.TV: host Dan Snow shares how a small group of soldiers approached Chateau Gaillard
Battle Castle host Dan Snow details how a handful of French troops infiltrated one of Chateau Gaillard’s walls during the siege of 1203-1204. Philip Augustus of France and his army attacked the castle to try and push the English out of Normandy. Though King John reigned at the time it was besieged, the stronghold was built by his brother Richard I before he died. Battle Castle: Gaillard reveals how the Lionheart’s castle builders constructed the fortifications, which included securing the castle, an island fort, and the town of Petit Andely, and details the medieval weapons that the French used to attack it.
Dan’s vlogs are released every Thursday on YouTube, unveiling details related to the stories that will be profiled in the Battle Castle shows.
On Twitter
Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:
On YouTube
Medieval soup challenge: Malbork Castle’s chef reveals how the Teutonic Knight’s inspired it all
Bogdan Galazka, chef at the Gothic Café, a restaurant located inside Malbork Castle, explains how a rare find in the Teutonic Order’s medieval records inspired a cookbook and changed the way he thinks about food. Bogdan Galazka dreamed up special dishes for Writer Nicole Tomlinson every day while she and the rest of the crew were at the castle filming for the Battle Castle series. He also gave her a very special cookbook called “The Cuisine of the Teutonic Grand Masters in Malbork Castle”, which contained a recipe for cherry soup that inspired her to go on a mission to cook medieval soups and share the recipes.
View more clips from Bogdan Galazka’s interview here.
