This week in Battle Castle-Feb. 10

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.

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This week in Battle Castle-Jan. 6

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.

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This week in Battle Castle-Dec. 9

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

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This week in Battle Castle-Nov. 18

Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:

On YouTube

Battle Castle: host Dan Snow details Malbork’s “VIP” prison

Battle Castle host Dan Snow shares the story of an elite medieval “guest” who was held captive in Malbork Castle’s prison and details the mystery behind his escape. This cell, which is said to have held “VIP” prisoners in the Middle Ages, is positioned in the High Castle. The 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.

Dan’s vlogs will be released every Thursday on YouTube, unveiling details related to the stories that will be profiled in the Battle Castle shows.

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

@Battlecastle  Nov 17,

Several things are needed to construct siege engines: skilled engineers, considerable labour, accessible material … and so on – K. Nossov

3 ways to #gomedieval

Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:

Take in the Crown Jewel of crusader castles … lego-styles

File 201

http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/230059 via Krazy Kastle Krak Guy

Get 5 insider tips on how to siege a Battle Castle

http://lifeopslifeobs.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/5-tips-for-sieging-your-favourite-castle/ via Maija Leivo

Stock up on turrets 

File 200

“What happens when a former Battle Castle PA is left alone in a warehouse full of boxes to stack? … Crenellations happen, that’s what!” Sean Dobbyn via Facebook

Want more Battle Castle action?

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv

This week in Battle Castle-Nov. 11

Here’s what’s going on this week in our current production, Battle Castle:

On YouTube

Battle Castle: host Dan Snow discovers Crac des Chevaliers’ underground stores

Host Dan Snow descends deep into Crac des Chevaliers to explore its elaborate storage system and detail the role that it would have played during a siege. Dubbed the crown jewel of crusader castles, this castle is located in Northern Syria. It was constructed by Christian knights in the 12th and 13th centuries, and faced attack by a Muslim force armed with trebuchets and led by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars in 1271. The secrets of its build and details of the epic siege it faced are revealed in Battle Castle: Crac des Chevaliers.

Dan’s vlogs will be released every Thursday on YouTube, unveiling details related to the stories that will be profiled in the Battle Castle shows.

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

@Battlecastle  Nov 10,

Chateau Gaillard a state-of-the-art castle, with successive lines of defence and round towers flanking the walls – M. Prestwich

3 ways to #gomedieval

Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:

Explore reasons behind grave disturbances in the Middle Ages

http://bit.ly/t09IiA via @MedievalArchive

Discover ancient “castle” structures found in the Libyan desert

http://bit.ly/uFK19p via Military Architecture

Learn how medieval families came to be

http://bit.ly/upsKnx via @Medievalists

Want more Battle Castle action?

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv

This week in Battle Castle-Nov. 4

Battle Castle host Dan Snow reveals why 4 p.m. sunsets are a thing of beauty during a November shoot at Dover Castle in Kent, England.

This castle, known as “the Key to England” was attacked by Prince Louis of France with an array of weapons technology including the mangonel, perrier and siege tower. The stone castle was built mostly by Henry the II’s engineer Maurice, and defended by Hubert de Burgh, loyal to English King John.

Dan’s blogs will be released every Thursday on YouTube, unveiling details related to the stories that will be profiled in the Battle Castle shows.

On Twitter

Medieval siege tip of the week:

@Battlecastle  Nov 3,

Beware the elite’s desire to defend their own interests, as it can be the beating heart of any structural defence – M. Keen

3 ways to #gomedieval

Awesome medieval moments on the web, chosen by The Gatekeeper:

Transform a snowstorm into a stronghold

http://www.dadsupercool.com/uncategorized/build-snow-castle  via http://www.dadsupercool.com/

Build a castle out of cardboard, hats … even toilet paper

http://www.netmums.com/things/How_to_build_a_castle.2453/via http://www.netmums.com/

Dine at a castle in Canada (sort of):

http://tinyurl.com/3bz3r9w via liz__murray

Want more Battle Castle action?

A world of castle engineering, bloody siegecraft, and epic clashes that transform mortals into legends awaits …

Join us.

www.battlecastle.tv

Welcome to Parallax 2.0

We’re jumping the gun and ringing in the new before the year-end countdown.  We’ve had an amazing 2010 here and are all still wrapping our heads around the fact that it isn’t June.

I started the year back East in February and battled the blizzards that dumped on Washington, DC.

In April, we managed to catch the last Air Canada flight of Paris before Eyjafjallajokull, the Icelandic volcano closed European airspace.

It was Brazil in August, escaping the heat in Vancouver for “winter” in Salvador.

We shot our first show ever in 3D, a fabulous addition to our Blowdown series.

In November, we began shooting our brand new series at Dover Castle with our host and co-production partner, Dan Snow.  No small triumph for a project more than three years in the making.

So, besides the 60,000 Aeroplan miles I’ve banked this year, what does it all mean?

It means that here at Parallax Film Productions we’re always on a journey.

We’re looking for a new adventure … and we’ve found it in this vast e-universe.

The launch of the new website is pushing us in new directions, opening doors to the possibility that our creativity can be interactive and we can reach out to our audiences in ways that doesn’t always include a broadcaster.

We are stepping out from behind the curtain and redefining the nature of our storytelling by sharing what excites us every day. Whether it’s a new 3D TV or a story from the back pages, it’s all the stuff we strive for:  being excited and engaged.

We hope that you’ll join us.

Connect with us and our community via Facebook or Twitter. Weigh in on YouTube or our website  – we want to hear what you think of our content. Sign up to receive our news. Share your updates. And reserve front row access to the new stuff comes down the pipe.

We’re not sure what this new world has in store for us. But one thing’s certain. It’s going to be quite the ride.

Ian Herring, President