Below, you will find a video of Ace Derringer vs. the Shadow Men, a short film written and produced by my good friend Joseph Fagan.

My participation in this film was to act the part of Cal Benton and help create parts of the costumes. In particular, I created both Ace’s and Cal’s helmets, Cal’s laser repair device, and his jetpack, which is virtually unseen.

The acting is stiff, at least on my part, because I was attempting to recreate the style presented in movie serials of the 1930s and 1940s.

I was influenced by the old Commando Cody, Tom Corbett, Captain Video, and Flash Gordon movies especially. In other words, my ‘bad acting’ is me trying to act badly. That is not to say I am in anyway good at acting, but I do feel I had to comment on it. Additionally, this was shot in front of a blue screen i.e. the ships interior, the buttons I am pushing, the corner I am firing around, its not there. Nada. Nothing. Oh, and watch for the ramp we run up. No ramp. Joseph pulled some cinematic/graphic magic out of his derriere and created that on-screen. Needless to say, I love this film.

Joseph’s effects, which he produced himself, are fantastic. Say what you will, it captures the feel of that genre. I am hoping to continue to work with Joseph on a feature length script or serial version of this piece. Maybe with enough funding we can hire actors who don’t have to defend their acting (such as myself)!