THE STORY OF HANK DANGER!
Scott Merriman and Joshua Courtade on location!
The story of Hank Danger began in 2004 when Joshua Courtade and Diane Kowalski created a six-minute short film entitled Hank Danger and the Fountain of Death! -- Episode 2: A Fowl Rendezvous. The short was a stand-alone chapter of a non-existent serial. Frankly, it was pretty bad. But there were a handful of elements that Courtade thought could be reshaped into something much more interesting and funny.
In 2007, Courtade wrote a five-chapter serial film called HANK DANGER AND THE FOUNTAIN OF DEATH! He intended to shoot the film just for fun with his friends, but as the script developed (and took on two new chapters involving jungle warrior women), it became something more.
Courtade produced and directed the picture in 2008, and his original Hank Danger collaborator Diane Kowalski served as the film's production designer (a role she maintains on all Hank Danger films to date). Scott Merriman was cast as the intrepid hero, and his wife Liz Merriman received the role of Hank Danger's love interest Elsie Coli.
The first Hank Danger serial proved a supremely fun project on which to work, and Courtade immediately began work on a second serial. The story broke when he was inspired while watching an old mummy movie from the 1940s. The resulting film was HANK DANGER AND THE SPACE MUMMY'S TOMB! -- an elaborate effects-filled science fiction epic.
The second Hank Danger serial proved a much more complicated and difficult production involving numerous miniatures, an army of cheesy robots, belly dancing choreography, and a group of undead humans rising from their graves. The resulting film was nevertheless enjoyed by the growing group of Hank Danger fans. Still, the trials of the shoot gave Courtade good reason to not want to continue the series. It looked like our intrepid hero was about to come to an end.
In 2007, Courtade wrote a five-chapter serial film called HANK DANGER AND THE FOUNTAIN OF DEATH! He intended to shoot the film just for fun with his friends, but as the script developed (and took on two new chapters involving jungle warrior women), it became something more.
Courtade produced and directed the picture in 2008, and his original Hank Danger collaborator Diane Kowalski served as the film's production designer (a role she maintains on all Hank Danger films to date). Scott Merriman was cast as the intrepid hero, and his wife Liz Merriman received the role of Hank Danger's love interest Elsie Coli.
The first Hank Danger serial proved a supremely fun project on which to work, and Courtade immediately began work on a second serial. The story broke when he was inspired while watching an old mummy movie from the 1940s. The resulting film was HANK DANGER AND THE SPACE MUMMY'S TOMB! -- an elaborate effects-filled science fiction epic.
The second Hank Danger serial proved a much more complicated and difficult production involving numerous miniatures, an army of cheesy robots, belly dancing choreography, and a group of undead humans rising from their graves. The resulting film was nevertheless enjoyed by the growing group of Hank Danger fans. Still, the trials of the shoot gave Courtade good reason to not want to continue the series. It looked like our intrepid hero was about to come to an end.
But then . . .
Joshua Courtade filming a miniature volcano!
When a new idea for a film noir-style Hank Danger story began forming in Courtade's mind, he knew he had to write a third serial. HANK DANGER AND THE LEAGUE OF SCIENTISTS! was undoubtedly going to be a challenge. The film boasted a bigger principle cast and far more digital effects than previous films in the series. There were vampire clones, mer-people, and an evil version of Hank Danger on the loose. Much of the film was shot on green screen, a technique that the film's crew had little experience with at that time.
Despite the numerous challenges, the third Hank Danger serial's production was lots of fun, and the finished film remains Courtade's favorite in the series. Actress Liz Merriman moved into the role of co-producer for the film and continued in that role for the next two films as well.
After the complex effects work on the third serial, Courtade wanted to return to a more traditional shooting style for the fourth Hank Danger serial -- HANK DANGER AND THE RIDDLE MOUNTAIN CURSE! The story was originally meant to be a Hank Danger radio play, but the simplicity of the style and locations inspired Courtade to write it as a film instead.
This would be the first Hank Danger film to be shot in the winter. It was also the first Hank Danger film to involve a director of photography who was not Joshua Courtade. Noah Sampsel manned the camera and brought more visual depth to the film. It was a rigorous shooting schedule, but the film was completed on time and proved once again that Hank Danger was a hero not to be trifled with.
Despite the numerous challenges, the third Hank Danger serial's production was lots of fun, and the finished film remains Courtade's favorite in the series. Actress Liz Merriman moved into the role of co-producer for the film and continued in that role for the next two films as well.
After the complex effects work on the third serial, Courtade wanted to return to a more traditional shooting style for the fourth Hank Danger serial -- HANK DANGER AND THE RIDDLE MOUNTAIN CURSE! The story was originally meant to be a Hank Danger radio play, but the simplicity of the style and locations inspired Courtade to write it as a film instead.
This would be the first Hank Danger film to be shot in the winter. It was also the first Hank Danger film to involve a director of photography who was not Joshua Courtade. Noah Sampsel manned the camera and brought more visual depth to the film. It was a rigorous shooting schedule, but the film was completed on time and proved once again that Hank Danger was a hero not to be trifled with.
New directions ahead . . .
Crew members on location!
The demands of shooting a multi-chapter serial film started to take their toll on the dedicated regulars in the Hank Danger cast and crew. So in 2011, Courtade decided to write HANK DANGER AND THE WOMAN FROM VENUS! -- the first official short film in the series. It was only a two-day shoot, and the result is a very compact science fiction adventure comedy that almost plays like the final chapter of a longer serial story. Courtade was so pleased with the process, he quickly wrote several more shorts that have yet to be produced. He has also written a Hank Danger feature that has not yet been greenlit.
But while fans of the series wait for more films, they can enjoy Hank Danger's adventures in yet another new medium. In 2011, Courtade and actor Scott Merriman recorded the first Hank Danger audio production: HANK DANGER AND THE ISLAND OF FIRE! Told in the style of old time radio plays, the project is yet another homage to the classic modes of storytelling from years gone by. The play was released in the fall of 2012.
Up next is HANK DANGER AND THE MENACE OF TIME! -- which was originally meant to be filmed as another live action short, but will now be produced as the very first animated Hank Danger film! Many of the series' regular actors will provide voices for the characters.
As for the future of Hank Danger ... Courtade has a list of more than twenty story ideas, some of which have already been written and produced, many of which have yet to see the light of day. Stay tuned to learn our intrepid hero's destiny!
But while fans of the series wait for more films, they can enjoy Hank Danger's adventures in yet another new medium. In 2011, Courtade and actor Scott Merriman recorded the first Hank Danger audio production: HANK DANGER AND THE ISLAND OF FIRE! Told in the style of old time radio plays, the project is yet another homage to the classic modes of storytelling from years gone by. The play was released in the fall of 2012.
Up next is HANK DANGER AND THE MENACE OF TIME! -- which was originally meant to be filmed as another live action short, but will now be produced as the very first animated Hank Danger film! Many of the series' regular actors will provide voices for the characters.
As for the future of Hank Danger ... Courtade has a list of more than twenty story ideas, some of which have already been written and produced, many of which have yet to see the light of day. Stay tuned to learn our intrepid hero's destiny!
Hank Danger and all related stories and characters are the intellectual property of Joshua Courtade.
