Tue Nov 7 '23 Announcement
over 2 years ago
– Tue, Nov 07, 2023 at 04:39:14 AM
Hello!
Letting you know one final time that our crowdfund for new reverse horror film Turn Back is ending extremely soon, in under 60 hours at time of writing.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the response to the idea, thank you so much if you have pledged already. We’ve got such big plans for this project, every single bit of support will have a massive impact on what ends up on screen.
If you haven’t got involved yet because you’re the procrastinating sort, this is your last chance to head over quick to the Kickstarter and pick out a reward!
We’ve got a gorgeous brand new VHS Movie Boxset & Ashens and Cube Action Figures available as perks. I’m so pleased with these, they’re things we’ve wanted to make for years. However, due to how complicated they are to make, there’s a high chance the crowdfund will be the only time we’re able to put them on sale.
Finally, some big news. We’ve passed a big stretch goal that means we’re going to be bringing back Barshens, my and Barry’s infamous ‘variety’ show, for a limited-run third series. 3 episodes will go out for free, but there’s an add-on on the Kickstarter for 2 exclusive extra episodes, as well as a nifty set of Barshens merch. If all goes well and there’s enough interest, we might just make a few more.
Thanks again for your support, Turn Back is such a dream project of mine, I can’t wait to get started.
Your friend in tat,
Ashens
Head here for the Kickstarter page
Wed Oct 11 '23 Announcement
over 2 years ago
– Wed, Oct 11, 2023 at 04:10:26 AM
Hello!
Bloody hell we haven’t done an update here for a while have we? So why am I messaging you now, you may ask? Very good question! It’s because I’ve got huge news, and I need your help.
After 17 years on YouTube I’m launching my biggest project ever, a new horror film called Turn Back. This has literally been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember, and I’m excited and frankly, nervous as hell about it.
You very kindly supported our last film Polybius Heist, so I’d massively appreciate it if you have a few minutes to take a look at our new Kickstarter page and see if it’s something you might be interested in.
We’ve got a gorgeous brand new VHS Movie Boxset and exclusive Ashens and Nerd³ Action Figures available as perks, as well as loads more. Hopefully there’ll be something that takes your fancy and you’d be up for going on this journey with us. It would mean more than you know.
The film will be helmed by Polybius director Riyad Barmania and we'll also be bringing back some familiar Polybius Faces including Cube (Dan Hardcastle), Benny (Eli Silverman) and Yiannis (Yiannis Vassilakis). We're hoping to get some of your other Polybius favourites onboard as well.
Head over to the kickstarter page and take a look for yourself: http://bit.ly/TurnBackFilm
Forever your friend in tat,
Ashens
Sat Oct 23 '21 Announcement
over 4 years ago
– Sat, Oct 23, 2021 at 02:38:05 PM
Hello!
Another quick-o-update just to say that the very first theatrical screening of Ashens and the Polybius Heist is happening next week!
It's being shown as part of the Buffer Festival in London. It's going down at 5pm on Saturday 30th October, and it's at the Odeon Luxe in Leciester Square. Cast & crew will be in attendance and there'll be a Q&A afterwards. And yes, you can come along if you'd like!
You can book tickets through this very link:
https://purchase.growtix.com/eh/Buffer_Festival_2021
This link gives you 20% off ticket prices too! (Be aware it's central London prices though. When I first saw them my hat flew off whilst a slide whistle played.)
Big up to Buffer Fest for letting us screen the film at one of the most presitigious cinemas in the UK for film premieres. It certainly beats my original plan of playing the film on my phone in a village car park.
As we've remarked before, it's been such an odd release due to COVID. We kind of went backwards - releasing digital first, then physical, now a theatrical showing. If that somehow continued we'd be filming it next year and writing it in 2023...
I'll be back with full festival info in a while - the season is still going on but we've done very well so far.
Cheers,
Stuart.
Fri Sep 10 '21 Announcement
over 4 years ago
– Fri, Sep 10, 2021 at 04:41:09 PM
Hello!
Welcome to one of the shortest updates in crowdfunding history! Some people said they missed the 20% off early-store-opening last weekend, so we're opening it again this weekend. (It'll go live for the general public on Monday so all the discounts will disappear then.) The link: ashensmovie.com
There, told you it was quick. I'll be back later with festival news and stuff. Until then: SANDWICHES.
Cheers,
Stuart.
Fri Sep 3 '21 Announcement
over 4 years ago
– Fri, Sep 03, 2021 at 03:19:09 PM
Hello!
We're nearly at the end! After years of hard work, hassle and all-new globe-spanning diseases, The Ashens and the Polybius Heist project is drawing to a close. I've got a few more sofa / wallpaper bits and grab bags to send out, the premiere* is being planned, we've got another physical disc sale then... well, that's it really. Blimey.
*If you pledged to go to the premiere, keep an eye on your inbox for details
I'm not sure how I feel about nearly being at the end. And I've just realised that we're having the premiere nearly a year after the film was released, which just goes to show how weird things have been over the last few years… Also the film has won a lot of awards recently in film festivals, but I’ll update you on those in a few weeks.
Anyway, let's finish this thing! I know many of you wanted a heads-up when discs went on sale again, and we’re launching the store for the general public on Monday so we can have things delivered before Christmas. You get early access and 20% off nearly everything because, well, you deserve it. It’s at ashensmovie.com as before.
We’ve got discs and a slipcase and the digital Ashens stuff as before, and an extra box of bits & bobs (t-shirt, keyring, badges etc) as people were asking for such things. Oh, and we’ve got a couple of extra special things too. Like, for instance, proper ACTION FIGURES of Ashens and the Cube? Like, really?
These are painted 3D prints of the models used for the figures. The final products will have four points of articulation, at the shoulders and hips.
Yep, proper high quality figures, complete with hideous jumper! None of those low-quality “retro style” things that somehow still cost the same. These are a crazy labour of love and, frankly, a financial risk, but as you can probably guess I’ve always wanted proper action figures so we’re bloody going for it. ALERT: Apologies, but we can’t offer a discount on the figures or we’d make a loss.
They’re about 4 inches tall so the same scale as the old Star Wars and GI Joe figures, and all the modern Reaction ones etc. And as the finished figures will be articulated, you can FINALLY fulfil your dream of having me drive your Cobra Night Attack 4-WD Stinger jeep! And yes, they'll have nice packaging.
Now... Remember that ludicrously overlong edit of the film we said we'd try and put together for comedy purposes? With all the bits we filmed in it, pacing be damned? Well editor Linton has worked overtime to make it an actual thing! We're calling it the Anti-Snyder Cut, as it's basically the polar opposite of the director's vision.
It's absolutely not the definitive version of the film in any way, shape or form. It's about 30 minutes(!) longer than the proper edit of the film and will have you saying "Yeah, that was funny but I see why they cut it" every 7 minutes or so. It's only available as a digital download and you can buy it if you're particularly interested in film-making, the art of editing or are just desperate for more Yiannis. Like we all are.
FAQ
Q: Is it a pre-order shop like before?
A: Yep! Place your order now and they’ll be delivered when made. We can’t pre-purchase stock in advance without going bankrupt.
Q: Delivery by Christmas?
A: Discs: Yes. Action figures: Hopefully yes but we can’t promise as the tooling process is very time consuming and outside of our control.
Q: Delivery by Christmas?
A: Discs: Yes. Action figures: Hopefully yes but we can’t promise as the tooling process is very time consuming and outside of our control.
Q: When do the discounts end?
A: At the end of this Sunday. Which is effectively 5th September at 11:59PM UK time.
Q: I only want one of the action figures! Can I only have one?
A: Nope. They’re packaged together as it’s not financially viable for us to sell them separately. But if you don’t want Ashens or the Cube, you can pretend they’re Simon Pegg and Jeff Lynne from ELO respectively!
Q: Are you going now?
A: Yes. Bye!
If you want to have a gander at all this stuff, it's at ashensmovie.com as before. And I'll be back in a month or so with wrap-up for the whole thing. Blimey.
Cheers,
Stuart.