The feature-length Bloodspell, is an epic adventure in a magical underworld - created for less than £5000 and free to download and view on the web.
Within two weeks of releasing the first episode of Bloodspell, the film was downloaded by 30,000 viewers, says its director and producer Hugh Hancock, creator of the 'machinima' method of film-making, which manipulates 3D game software to create original animated stories.
Bloodspell tells the story of a world where some people carry magic blood in their veins which when spilled releases it magical power. The movie follows the adventures of Jered, a monk of the magic-hating Church of the Angels, as he discovers he is one of the 'blooded' and has to flee for his life into a bizarre magical underworld.
Strange Company, shot Bloodspell using the visual technology of the computer game 'Neverwinter Nights' .
By using the game's existing graphics instead of the time-consuming frame by frame rendering techniques of movie powerhouses like Pixar and Dreamworks, and by calling on a largely volunteer work force, Strange Company produced its epic for a tiny fraction of any Hollywood budget.
Science fiction author Cory Doctorow says of Bloodspell: "There's some damned fine storytelling here. The Strange Company folks are at the forefront of using the machinima medium for feature-length drama."
Convinced that big budget commercial films mask uninspiring stories with flashy visuals, artistic director Hugh Hancock comments: "What we lack in slick polish we make up for in originality and passion."
Bloodspell is released under a 'creative commons' licence which allows completely free access to and circulation of the film, reflecting its grass-roots origins.
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