High 5 City’s Council members have been fortunate enough to be interviewed by some really awesome people...

INTERVIEW WITH BRANDON MENDELSON

A Really Awesome Interview

1. 1)How did you hear about the Nintendo Short Cuts competition?
   

The day the contest was announced, Steve (The Vaj) was at work browsing joystiq.com when he found an article

describing the contest. Before even reaching the end of the article, he feverishly IM’d each member of the group saying “Guys…I think we could win this”…he was wrong.

2) What made you decide to film a trailer for Punch-Out?

We thought about Mario…we considered Kid Icarus…then King Hippo barged into the room, pointed a zapper gun at our heads, and offered us 10 million rupees to make this trailer.

3) How do you beat the Super Macho Man at the end of the game?

Two words: Zee Uppercut!!

4) What has been the most challenging thing you’ve encountered in making your productions?

We all have attitude problems and actually hate each other…

5) Can you describe for us the fan response and your reaction to the popularity of your videos?

The response has been overwhelming! It’s a great feeling to know that you’ve been able to provide over a million smiles through YouTube (well…maybe 887,000 for those people out there who think it sucks). To everyone who has responded so positively to us, we say thank you!!

6) What is the biggest draw back to using Youtube?

My name is Amber, i just put a new vid of myself up, i get pretty much naked. I think my body is beautiful and i want to share it with other people. I was raised? in a mormon house and taught that my body was to be ashamed of…well hell with my parents, I’m in college now n’ I’m 20 years old! So check it out and holla at me if u wanna hang out some time, i don’t have a boyfriend…yet.

Kissez

Amber <3

7) What is the best part about making these films?

Andy and Nate (together): Craft Service

Vaj: Cool beards

Natasha: uhhhhh…

8 ) Can you tell us a little about upcoming projects you’re working on?

In our new trailer, which we cannot confirm or deny the rumor that it is a trailer for Contra, you’ll see some familiar faces, some new faces, some alien faces, some heart pounding action, some whipping action, and a crazed giant robot. you can check out the teaser trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y718jnjZog

9) Tell us about your goals for this year and the next few to come…

We are currently in the process of creating our own website for High 5 City, the world in which Team Awesome lives. We would love to see the website grow with a strong reader base and interest in our content. Eventually, we would love to be able to devote 100% of our time to the productions. But first and foremost, we are all hoping to move out of the dumpster at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

10) Do you have anything you’d like to share with our readers?

Thanks again for watching the videos! If you haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channel yet, we’d love to have you. If you haven’t added Punch Out’s myspace as your friend yet, we’d love to have you. If you haven’t obtained one of Zee Uppercut tee shirts, we’d love you to have one. And we try our best to respond to every email and comment we receive so with that being said, do you have anything you’d like to share with us? If so, contact us through our YouTube or Myspace page and flood our inboxes and comment boxes with your messages.

INTERVIEW WITH THE GUYS OF SECRET IDENTITY PODCAST

One of the best parts of being in Secret Identity is meeting other groups of like mind and pushing them into 'our world'! One such ensemble is the aptly named Team Awesome; a group who use video camera and retro geek as weapons! Team kinda cool sat with Team Awesome (Natasha, Nate, Andy and Steve) and found out...well, they're super wicked awesome!! 

Secret Identity: Tell us about the talent people that comprise "Team Awesome".

Team Awesome: We are a group of filmmakers of all kinds. The idea behind the name Team Awesome signifies that each one of us wears a number of different hats throughout the production process. We all write, we all direct, we all act, and we all do the behind the scenes grunt work that goes into the production of films. There is no hierarchy involved and we truly do believe the saying "there is no I in Team". While we each hold special talents unique to ourselves, we bring these talents to the table for the greater good of the group. Outside of our core members, we also have amazingly talented and energetic friends who lend their creative and technical talents to us and we are fortunate for their abilities as well as their friendships.

Secret Identity: What made you decide to throw your hats in the ring (no pun intended) for the Nintendo Short Cuts competition?

Team Awesome: We love video games and we love movies. This was the perfect hybrid. We had just decided to officially form as a group and then we found out about the Nintendo Short Cuts Competition. We saw it as a perfect opportunity for our first official production together.

Secret Identity: What made you choose Punch - Out out of the million NES games to base your film on?

Team Awesome: We brainstormed with a number of ideas but decided Punch - Out was the way to go. Punch - Out happened to be a game we all have fond memories of and the storyline opened up various doors for us creatively. There were enough characters to be able to involve many of our talented friends who helped bring life to the script.  We also wanted to stand out from the crowd of Mario and Zelda entries that we anticipated being up against.

Secret Identity: What resources did Nintendo allow you to use for the competition?

Team Awesome: We were able to use any first party games, characters, and music. Nintendo didn't provide any materials to make the video with, but did authorize the use of their licensing. This made things even more exciting when writing the script and we worked a number of Nintendo products, characters, and graphics into the film to flesh out the Nintendo world that the Punch - Out characters lived in within our minds.

Secret Identity: How long was the process from start to finish? What was the most challenging part of the process?

Team Awesome: We began working on the trailer the day the contest was announced (May 15, 2007) and finished production the day before it ended (June 5, 2007). It was a grueling 3 weeks in which we wrote, shot, and edited the trailer. It required pulling countless all - nighters, a lot of patience, and endurance. The challenging part was definitely the lack of time allowed. Throughout the editing process, we taught ourselves how to use green screen technology. Not only was there a short amount of time to pull the project off, we also had to compete with our full time jobs and scheduling conflicts.

Secret Identity: Many people (including us) through your film was the best of the bunch, and were really surprised when you didn't win. What is your response to the fan support you have received?

Team Awesome: Thank you for that compliment! The fan support has been unbelievably awesome. We initially created this trailer with the sole purpose of trying to win the contest and ended up garnering a lot of attention around the web. We were fortunate enough to have our video featured on YouTube, College Humor, and Joystiq just to mention a few. The internet is an amazing market to work within because so many people in so many places can view your work. In the internet world, if one person likes your work they will forward it to someone else and they will forward it to someone else and like wildfire your project can grow. Because of the massive audience the web has provided us with, we have gained fans who are excited for our future projects and we do our best to respond to everyone who takes the time to write to us. We've even had youtubers make parody videos of our trailer, which is very flattering and exciting to us! It's a great feeling to know we have been able to create a product that makes people smile and gets people pumped and we hope they all know how much we appreciate the support they provide us with.

Secret Identity: Word on the street is that you are working on a new project that features another very popular NES franchise? Can you tell us a little about it?

Team Awesome: We cannot confirm nor deny that we are currently working on a project entitled Contra. However, viewers can get ready for a video filled some familiar faces, some new faces, some alien faces, some heart pounding action, some whipping action, and a crazed giant robot. You can check out the teaser trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y718jnjZog

Secret Identity: Where can people go to find out all of the latest info on Team Awesome?

Team Awesome: We are currently in the process of creating our own website for High 5 City, the world in which Team Awesome lives. We would love to see the website grow with a strong reader base and interest in our content. This website will feature past and future projects as well as music and the latest news on Team Awesome. Currently, we are operating through our YouTube channel and the myspace page for Punch - Out and any news or updated info on the group is spread through bulletins on those pages. We really do try to respond to every email, so people with questions can contact us through those 2 pages until the website is done or email us at: info@high5city.com. We just want to say thanks again to everyone who has helped spread the word about our group, complimented our work, and devoted energy to the team. We have gained so many friends through the web and are excited to see the community grow. If you haven't subscribed to our YouTube channel yet, we'd love to have you. If you haven't added Punch - Out's myspace as your friend yet, we'd love to have you. And if you haven't obtained one of "Zee Uppercut!!" tee shirts, we'd love for you to have one! We have a lot of ideas for the future, so stay tuned for our upcoming projects!

Our thanks to Team Awesome for letting us into their world. Their website was just postd last night so be one of the first there and check out all the craziness! We guarantee, you'll not be disappointed!

INTERVIEW WITH THE GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team Awesome! Gets up close and personal, just like your creepy uncle!

— by Elvi Patterson! @ 11:22 pm

We here at The Grand National Championships enjoy being cool.  That being said, we had to talk to a group of people that are even cooler than us.  Team Awesome!

Team Awesome! has been wowing everyone with their great movie trailers based on classic Nintendo games.  Breaking onto the Youtube scene with a parody of Punch Out!  Team Awesome! is BACK!  Their latest trailer is Contra!  I was fortunate enough to snag an interview with them.  The best part about this interview is that Team Awesome! has a great sense of humor and actually made the interview enjoyable!

Who is Team Awesome?

A tireless cast and crew, working under grueling conditions, with the maniacal Man-Bear-Pig at the helm.

How did you meet?

Andy, Nate, and Vaj grew up together from middle school, onward.  Natasha got drunk and made out with all of us a few years ago, so we thought she would be a good addition to the mix.  Plus, she’s the only pretty face to thrown in the mix.   The rest of our crack team involve friends and co-workers willing to work for free on silly videos.

What are your major influences?

Movies, Music and Video Games.  Specifically “Tango and Cash”, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass and Leisure Suit Larry.

Most people know you from your punch out trailer, and yet many don’t realize you didn’t make the finals of the Nintendo Wii contest. How did that feel?

How do we feel about not making the finals?  Or how do we feel about people not realizing that we didn’t make the finals?  Either way, it feels poopy.  But I think we achieved a far greater and unexpected accomplishment by gaining so many fans that are eager for more. 

Your latest trailer,”Contra” looks as if it’s based on the classic Nintendo game.  Could you tell us a little about the trailer; also, will you be utilizing the konami code (Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right A B A B Select Start)  in the trailer?

Actually, we are planning on using the Da Vinci Code to prove that Lance and Bill are actually twin brothers descended from Jesus Christ.

Personally, I love Nintendo and Nintendo 64.  Some of my favorite games were James Bond: Goldeneye and Tecmo Bowl.  what were some of your favorites, and will you be making trailers for them?

We love Tecmo Bowl, especially those awesome animations, but it’s all about Mario Kart.  We originally wanted to do Mario Kart for the Shortcuts contest instead of Punch Out, but Punch Out was easier and didn’t involve driving to riverside. 

What is the best video game to play drunk?

Guitar Hero.  It just makes the rock star simulation that much better…until somebody sets the plastic guitars on fire.

Which accesory allowed you to play with more power?  The Power Pad or… The Power Glove!

The one that we have prominently featured in our films.  At least the Power Pad worked.  We don’t know how many kids’ Christmas was spoiled by that overly-intricate and ultimately worthless glove and it’s 2 hour, feature-length commercial, “The Wizard”. Personally, we think R.O.B. the Robot was the best accessory.

In the heat of battle, who will reign supreme?  The cast of License To Drive, or the cast of The Wizard?  Can two corey’s defeat the Savage that is Fred?

Are we talking now, or 1988?  Maybe Fred Savage, The Coreys, Ralph Macchio and Billy Dee Williams could do a battle royal.     

Final question, does Team Awesome perform live?

Natasha and Nate can occasionally be seen on stage doing sketch comedy with other Awesome members.  Vaj strips down to a banana hammock nightly and Andy performs…and it is live…but our lawyers have requested we keep the details to ourselves.

I would like to thank Team Awesome for taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in this interview!   It was alot of fun, and I learned that everyone needs to know the greatness that is Tango and Cash!

INTERVIEW WITH GAMING TODAY

Gaming Today Q&A: Team Awesome

We all know Team Awesome, or at the very least, of their work. And if you don’t, shame on you. Team Awesome is the group behind the excellent Contra and Punch-Out!! trailers which you’ve undoubtedly seen around the ‘net. I recently had a chance to speak with Team Awesome about everything from what inspired them to Big League Chew.

Seriously.

First off, there’s a question on the mind of every Team Awesome fan out there: How many years of grueling acting school did the entirety of Team Awesome attend before becoming so awesome?

We’d like to take the time to thank our teachers, Uta Hagen, Stella Adler and Constantin Stanislavski…ok, so those aren’t our teachers, but they’re the most famous ones we know. All of us have done some acting in the past, but Natasha is the only bona fide actor. Oddly enough, she gets the least amount of screen time. That’s just how we roll.

Schooling was an important aspect for the videos, however. Steve (The Vaj) studied music composition and sound technology, and Andy and Nathan went to school to study filmmaking.

What inspired the ideas for these videos?

Long hours in a dark room, escaping the trappings of an eight year old life, illuminated by the glare of the TV screen.

While video games now are amazingly detailed and graphically superior, there’s something heartwarming and special about those early 8-bit games.

How long did the videos take to produce?

On “Punch-Out!!” we were limited to a month from start to finish, which meant a lot of all-nighters to get what we wanted to get accomplished. We learned how to greenscreen and composite via a crash course that month. For Contra, it took a lot longer, since all of us had trips/lives planned. It did mean that we could shoot actual Tahitian islands to use, though. Generally, the videos shoot over the course of a weekend or two and then take two or three weeks to edit with another week for removing the green screen and compositing shots.

Did Team Awesome form as a result of the Nintendo Short Cuts Showcase Contest? If not, were these ideas brewing before the contest came about?

Yes and no. Team Awesome had formed as a result of us wanting to creatively attack the internet, but until the Short Cut Contest, we didn’t have a focus. Nate had been dying to do a trailer for “Punch-Out!!” since high school, but we never had the time or means or equipment to do it right. When those two elements combined, Team Awesome truly took it current form.

Why Contra and Punch-Out?

When looking at which video games to make trailers for, we looked at a variety of components. The popularity of the game was the first thing to evaluate. How familiar are people with the game? In the 8-bit world though, popular games never relied on novel gameplay or how great the graphics were; these games were based on great characters and great stories. And great characters and great stories are the key in any type of storytelling whether feature films or internet videos. People love “Punch-Out!!” for the same reason that they love Rocky: underdog stories are fun to watch. Contra didn’t have the most well-known characters, but the world of ‘80s action movies was something people were familiar with and we could have fun with that.

Have you been approached to do anything commercially, or do you see this remaining a hobby?

We would love to continue to make these video game trailers. Whether we can quit our jobs to do it commercially is a different story. People all know the potential of the internet, but with no revenue model, it is difficult to figure out how. We created high5city.com to showcase and try to sell something that nobody else has – our particular brand of humor and creative skills. While we have been trying to shop the concept to Nintendo and other game companies, we haven’t had any bites yet. One of the difficult aspects is that we’re using previously developed ideas, characters and stories. With high5city.com we will be doing video game trailers, but we’ll also be creating videos that are completely original ideas.

Is that Big League Chew that the General is chewing during the Contra trailer?

Absolutely. Original flavor. Just like you used to chew in Little League. Big League Chew is one of those things that brings you right back to that childhood time and place, which is basically the goal of the video game trailers too. The overwhelming response to both videos is something along the lines of “Oh my God, I remember playing this when I was ____ years old!” People love reflecting on those precious childhood memories. If we can rejuvenate that feeling of being a kid, then we’re doing what we set out to.

What’s next for Team Awesome?

We’re trying to do so much it’s ridiculous. We’ll be creating more content by making videos that don’t take quite so long to shoot and edit, more along the viral videos you see from other comedy troupes. We can’t give up fake video game trailers though. People are very informative about what they think our next video should be. If you look at the classic games that have great characters and stories, the list gets smaller.

I hate to make this a hard-hitting interview, but I have to ask – how awesome is Team Awesome?

A bunch of people who spend tremendous amounts of time and money working on a trailer for the internet to us is pretty awesome. What we think is really awesome, however, is the tremendous support we’ve gotten from the video game community. Without that audience and their “awesomeness,” who knows if we would’ve continued on.

Thanks so much for your time.