Captain Valedor versus the Spider Queen! is a student film. There's really no getting around that fact. It was produced at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts on University 16mm cameras. To those of you familiar with NYU's program, this is technically a "Sight and Sound" film, where students used ancient cameras and produce non-sync, black and white work.

Of course, the Guy in his Basement creed has always been to live within ones means, and thus, with great help from my "Lucky Gardener" (my other "production" company) compatriots, undertook something that would fit with our limited means. We felt we had been sent back to the stone age of filmmaking, so that's the direction we went in.

Captain Valedor spoofs the serials of old, with their over-the-top heroics, nonsensical plots, forced cliffhangers, overacting, and low production value. The last part was the easiest bit to simulate, naturally.

Despite its modest intentions, the film was far more difficult an undertaking than expected. It attempts to achieve sync sound in a non-sync environment (meaning dialogue had to be recorded separately, and since the cameras are so loud, during a different time entirely), and involves music and picture editing rarely attempted in the "Sight and Sound" arena.

Captain Valedor versus The Spider Queen! went on to be voted into the bi-annual Sight and Sound Showcase, a local film festival. Now, while I can't promise amazing picture quality, this being the first GIHB project and film transferring being a dangerous and unsavory game, I do think you'll enjoy the show. It's "as sure as science."

Writer/Director,

Kent Sanderson