Can you believe it's been 11 years (I missed the boat on the 10 year anniversary) since the start of Ask A Ninja?! Think of what a different place the world was back in 2005. First off, I remember first watching his videos on my friend's iPod because subscribing to iTunes videos was a thing. I also remember Naruto was hitting its American spike in popularity, which is why we were so obsessed with ninja stuff to begin with.
Ask A Ninja had relatively little to do with ninja culture. It was comedian Douglas Sarine dressed as a ninja and making waves in the new genre of "vodcasting" with the help of his friend Kent Nichols. At the height of their popularity in 2007, the two were making $100,000 a month in ad revenue!
The show was known for its quick biting humor, erratic camera angles, and that ridiculously catchy song:
They even did a collaboration with Mythbusters!
Ask A Ninja had relatively little to do with ninja culture. It was comedian Douglas Sarine dressed as a ninja and making waves in the new genre of "vodcasting" with the help of his friend Kent Nichols. At the height of their popularity in 2007, the two were making $100,000 a month in ad revenue!
The show was known for its quick biting humor, erratic camera angles, and that ridiculously catchy song:
They even did a collaboration with Mythbusters!
- 7/27/2016
- by Mick Joest
- GeekTyrant
Listen guys, I hate to be the ones to break this to you, but I don’t think Pax South is going to happen anytime soon. I know, please try to restrain your shock. However, a new challenger to the crown may have arrived. Rooster Teeth Expo (Rtx) will be making it’s presence known in the convention scene in Austin, Texas come July 7-8th.
Rooster Teeth, the guys behind Red vs Blue, have already announced that Halo 4 will be having its first public multiplayer demo as well as featuring exhibitions from indie developers Twisted Pixel and Robot Entertainment and panels featuring internet darlings such as Mega64 and Freddie Wong.
This is the first year Rtx will be open to the public, and it’s looking to be a great alternative from what we’ve come to expect from gaming conventions. Rtx is promising to be a more relaxed...
Rooster Teeth, the guys behind Red vs Blue, have already announced that Halo 4 will be having its first public multiplayer demo as well as featuring exhibitions from indie developers Twisted Pixel and Robot Entertainment and panels featuring internet darlings such as Mega64 and Freddie Wong.
This is the first year Rtx will be open to the public, and it’s looking to be a great alternative from what we’ve come to expect from gaming conventions. Rtx is promising to be a more relaxed...
- 6/20/2012
- by Neeler Chaz
- We Got This Covered
In front of a loud and rowdy crowd of fans, Rooster Teeth performed its first ever live performance of the hit web series Red vs. Blue over the weekend during Blip by Blipwest at SXSW. Blip’s Kent Nichols (of Ask a Ninja fame) introduced the MCs for the event, but had the idea of a live machinima performance well before Saturday’s show. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for about 8 years, since the end of season 1,” Nichols said in front of the crowd at the Cedar Street Courtyard. Nichols’ desire to accomplish such theatrics was well known by Rooster Teeth partner Matt Hullum (who also voices the character Sarge). Nichols has been bringing the idea up to Rooster Teeth principals for quite some time. “Kent Nichols is a longtime friend and he’s been hounding us to do this forever,” Joked Hullum after he performed. Nichols persistence...
- 3/12/2012
- by Chris Landa
- Tubefilter.com
Ask A Ninja co-creator Kent Nichols spoke this past Monday at the monthly TransmediaLA event. He shared his knowledge about cultivating a core audience of true fans as well as changing modes of distribution by drawing on his knowledge gained from both creating a hit web show and working for Partner Outreach at Blip.tv. Consistency. A key piece of advice that Kent stressed over the course of the evening was that in order to become a success and grow a large audience there is a need for a consistent and constant flow of content. “If you are not producing at least 20 episodes of your narrative show that is probably not going to be enough. You need a certain mass of content to find that audience, and that needs to be put out there,” Kent said. “And that is just narrative content … you need bonus content, reward content that will...
- 10/8/2011
- by Angelique Toschi
- Tubefilter.com
A cocktail party so crazy you have to sign a waiver just to get in? I was intrigued. Intrigued enough to hop on the freeway a few miles up to a dark corner of North Hollywood to find the undisclosed home base of the web’s latest live-streaming reality show. Walking up to the three-story loft building it became clear this wasn’t going to be my run-of-the-mill Saturday night drinks at a friend’s place. Before entering the ControlTV loft, I’m hustled into a back room filled with producers and burly Pa types ushering me through a waiver and some ground rules. “Try to keep this PG-13,” said one of the younger producers on duty that night. “Just basically don’t drop the f-bomb too much.” She mentions the 30-second delay on the live stream they’ve set up just in case we get out of hand. And...
- 11/10/2010
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
When we look back years from now, Ask A Ninja will no doubt be part of that “greatest generation” of web shows—one of the early pioneering YouTube channels that created something so bizarre, delightfully interactive and inherently original that it stuck out of the onslaught of would-be video stars becoming a (digital) household name in the process. Kent Nichols and Doug Sarine are the creative duo behind the series, which has charted the ever-changing waters of online video to carve out a not-so-shabby business for themselves that bring in revenue not only from ad revenues on their videos, but merchandising, touring and even a book and an iPhone game. On October 4—just a month before the show’s five year anniversary— the Ninja is returning with new episodes five times a week. That by the way, is no easy feat, and Nichols and Sarine are veteran enough not to...
- 9/2/2010
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
Horror remakes are definitely the hot new trend in Hollywood and I had no idea just how many remakes were being planned until I sat down and drew up a list of as many as I could find. I stopped at 7 pages and needless to say it seems that just about every movie you can imagine is getting a remake-prequel or reboot into 3D.
Here is a pretty complete list of upcoming horror remakes as of today in alphabetical order. Note: There are a few on this list that are only in the early phases of discussion and in some cases I included franchise reboots as well.
13 Tzameti: Starting the list off 13 Tzameti is more thriller then horror but still worthy of making the list. The film which started filming in New York awhile back will star Mickey Rourke and Jason Statham. The original film is a tale of Russian roulette with gruesome outcomes.
Here is a pretty complete list of upcoming horror remakes as of today in alphabetical order. Note: There are a few on this list that are only in the early phases of discussion and in some cases I included franchise reboots as well.
13 Tzameti: Starting the list off 13 Tzameti is more thriller then horror but still worthy of making the list. The film which started filming in New York awhile back will star Mickey Rourke and Jason Statham. The original film is a tale of Russian roulette with gruesome outcomes.
- 5/11/2010
- MoviesOnline.ca
The smart ones did. If you are serious about creating online entertainment there is absolutely no reason that attending SXSW Interactive (SXSWi) shouldn't be on your must-go list. The five day conference, which just wrapped up Tuesday night drew 12,000 of social media and web junkies for a non-stop, bleary-eyed bender of business cards, panels, free BBQ and new connections. It was like camp for internet people. And that's my point. If you're making any kind entertainment on the web, you are internet people. Meeting other internet people is part of your job. The apps and tools that are emerging out of the developers at SXSW matter to your web series. Entertainment on the internet spent the past 5 years learning how to go from crawling to standing up and making its first wobbly steps. Now it's 2010 and mainstream eyes are gooing over this clever toddler of a medium. The really interesting...
- 3/17/2010
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
Last night's Los Angeles premiere of Easy to Assemble season 2 was everything you would expect in a sophomore debut—bigger, brasher and beaming. For the gawkers on Hollywood Blvd. peering onto the red carpet outside the Egyptian Theater, most probably thought they were scoping out a movie premiere as stars like Keanu Reeves, Kevin Pollack, Justine Bateman and Harry Shearer casually strolled past the check-in tables with cameras flashing. The new season of the Ikea backed web series, which kicks off today, is a classic season long face-off. Picking up essentially were things left off last season, Illeana Douglas and Justine Bateman both still work at the Burbank Ikea store, playing themselves "in between acting jobs." The rivalry of the two celeb employees squares off around the coveted Co-worker of the Year title, the retail equivalent of queen bee. It's a 40 year-old's Blair vs. Serena. For the dozens of...
- 10/8/2009
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
It's kind of surprising that it took this long actually. Hosted web series are everywhere these days, reviewing everything from comicbooks, movies, video games and even street food vendors. So it's only fitting that the this month has seen the launch of two new smart phone application review web series—Revision3's new series, AppJudgment, and indie entry iPhun. AppJudgment is an in-house creation that will rotate hosts through known Rev3 personalities like co-founder David Prager, iFanBoy host Ron Richards, and TekZilla and HD Nation host Patrick Norton. The new series joins the network's growing slate of tech and internet friendly hosted web series which includes standout hit Diggnation. Cranking out about 6 million views per month, Revision3 as a network has the edge here in terms of reach. But don't rule out the iPhun.tv series which has its own heavyweight team behind it—internet 'troublemaker' Sean Bonner hosting, web series vet Rudy Jahchan (Galacticast,...
- 8/13/2009
- by Marc Hustvedt
- Tubefilter.com
I think that people are looking at Che not as a film, but as a indie miniseries. It’s four hours long, in two parts, and is all in Spanish. They overlook the fact that it had a very successful screening run, despite it’s massive runtime, and look at it only as a VOD property, or as some sort of artistic folly. And maybe it is a folly. A more awards friendly strategy would have been to put out only part one in 2008 and part two (if you produced it at all) in 2009. An arthouse Lord of the Rings. ...[But] the new art house is your house and the sooner the business realities of film reflect this, the better off we’ll all be. Web video pioneer Kent Nichols, who with partner Douglas Sarine is currently writing/directing the remake of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, <a href="http://kentnichols.
- 2/2/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
I think that people are looking at Che not as a film, but as a indie miniseries. It’s four hours long, in two parts, and is all in Spanish. They overlook the fact that it had a very successful screening run, despite it’s massive runtime, and look at it only as a VOD property, or as some sort of artistic folly. And maybe it is a folly. A more awards friendly strategy would have been to put out only part one in 2008 and part two (if you produced it at all) in 2009. An arthouse Lord of the Rings. ...[But] the new art house is your house and the sooner the business realities of film reflect this, the better off we’ll all be. Web video pioneer Kent Nichols, who with partner Douglas Sarine is currently writing/directing the remake of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, <a href="http://kentnichols.
- 2/2/2009
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
YouTube is close to a deal with The William Morris Agency (one of the oldest and most respected in Hollywood) reports Brian Stelter of The New York Times. The deal would purportedly “give William Morris clients an ownership stake in the videos they create” but, beyond that, we know very little about it. Though Google has attempted to extract meaningful ad revenue from its $1.65B acquisition with everything from partner programs to overlays to premium content from from CBS to MGM to Lionsgate, most big-name content owners have played rather wearily with the internet giant. Kent Nichols, creator of pioneering webshow Ask A Ninja, calls the deal “just an easy way for famous people to join the partner program” for a “better deal than the scummy amateurs of the world that join the rev share program.” Nichols believes that without production financing, deals like this one are meaningless. But Google...
- 1/29/2009
- by Jamison Tilsner
- Tilzy.tv
By Alison Willmore
For the many ill-wishers out there, the most disappointing thing about M. Night Shyamalan's environmental thriller "The Happening" wasn't that it was a failure, but that it wasn't a spectacular failure. Critics went in with their long knives out, only to leave shrugging that they've seen worse. Having made $59 million in theaters, it's not even the box office bomb some expected after "Lady in the Water." All in all, "The Happening" is actually pretty successful, considering it's a serious horror film about trees... that kill! In honor of that dubious designation, here's a look at the spotty history of films about murderous botanic life that have preceded it.
Killer tomatoes
Film: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
Directed by John De Bello
M.O.: Produce that, for no apparent reason, become massive and murderous.
De Bello's broad comedy mocked B-movie conventions while bearing its reported $90,000 budget like a badge of honor.
For the many ill-wishers out there, the most disappointing thing about M. Night Shyamalan's environmental thriller "The Happening" wasn't that it was a failure, but that it wasn't a spectacular failure. Critics went in with their long knives out, only to leave shrugging that they've seen worse. Having made $59 million in theaters, it's not even the box office bomb some expected after "Lady in the Water." All in all, "The Happening" is actually pretty successful, considering it's a serious horror film about trees... that kill! In honor of that dubious designation, here's a look at the spotty history of films about murderous botanic life that have preceded it.
Killer tomatoes
Film: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
Directed by John De Bello
M.O.: Produce that, for no apparent reason, become massive and murderous.
De Bello's broad comedy mocked B-movie conventions while bearing its reported $90,000 budget like a badge of honor.
- 7/2/2008
- by Alison Willmore
- ifc.com
Ask a tomato: You just don't mess with a classic. Then again, if "Ask a Ninja" creators Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine can bring a new audience to '70s cult classic "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!" maybe it's worth reconsidering that credo. "('Tomatoes') is the masterwork of a generation," Nichols said this week. "We can only hope to recapture the magic." The duo is adapting the screenplay for M. Dal Walton III and Emmett/Furla Films. In a related story, Michael Bay is remaking "Rosemary's Baby".
Speaking of classics, who's ready for a "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff? The CW is on the case, putting the concept on the development fast-track and negotiating with "Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas to write it for them. Details remain sketchy -- like which, if any, of the original cast would appear, for instance -- but the net is expected to decide whether to order a pilot by the end of the month. Until then, Ian Ziering waits patiently by the phone.
Freedom's just a word: Ang Lee and Jim Schamus took the stage at ShoWest this week to accept a Freedom of Expression award for their work on NC-17 effort "Lust, Caution". A world away, the film's female lead, Tang Wei, was finding a very different reception to the film. China media regulator SARFT, which allowed Lee's political/sexual thriller to play there after seven minutes of explicit sexual material was cut, sent a memo ordering that a TV and print campaign for Pond's starring Tang be pulled. The typically inscrutable government agency gave no reason for the ban -- which also saw online discussions of the actress deleted -- but it went hand in hand with renewed prohibitions on "lewd and pornographic content."
'Real' life beckons: With a pair of Oscars for "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles", you can't blame Brad Bird for wondering, "where do I go from here?" The answer, at least for now, is live action.
Speaking of classics, who's ready for a "Beverly Hills, 90210" spinoff? The CW is on the case, putting the concept on the development fast-track and negotiating with "Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas to write it for them. Details remain sketchy -- like which, if any, of the original cast would appear, for instance -- but the net is expected to decide whether to order a pilot by the end of the month. Until then, Ian Ziering waits patiently by the phone.
Freedom's just a word: Ang Lee and Jim Schamus took the stage at ShoWest this week to accept a Freedom of Expression award for their work on NC-17 effort "Lust, Caution". A world away, the film's female lead, Tang Wei, was finding a very different reception to the film. China media regulator SARFT, which allowed Lee's political/sexual thriller to play there after seven minutes of explicit sexual material was cut, sent a memo ordering that a TV and print campaign for Pond's starring Tang be pulled. The typically inscrutable government agency gave no reason for the ban -- which also saw online discussions of the actress deleted -- but it went hand in hand with renewed prohibitions on "lewd and pornographic content."
'Real' life beckons: With a pair of Oscars for "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles", you can't blame Brad Bird for wondering, "where do I go from here?" The answer, at least for now, is live action.
- 3/15/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Comedians Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine are penning a remake of cult 1978 movie Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes.
The pair, who created hit Internet series Ask A Ninja, are working on an adaptation of the sci-fi horror film, which centres on a genetically-modified strain of the fruit terrorising the public.
Nichols, who will make his directorial debut with the picture, says, "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes is the masterwork of a generation. We can only aspire to recapture that magic."
Despite often being named the worst movie of all time, Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes spawned a 1990 sequel and a spin-off TV series.
The pair, who created hit Internet series Ask A Ninja, are working on an adaptation of the sci-fi horror film, which centres on a genetically-modified strain of the fruit terrorising the public.
Nichols, who will make his directorial debut with the picture, says, "Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes is the masterwork of a generation. We can only aspire to recapture that magic."
Despite often being named the worst movie of all time, Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes spawned a 1990 sequel and a spin-off TV series.
- 3/13/2008
- WENN
NEW YORK -- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! will be attacking theaters again.
Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, creators of the hit Web series "Ask a Ninja", are writing the adaptation of the 1978 cult monster movie, with Nichols set to make his directorial debut.
M. Dal Walton III, the force behind the remakes of Day of the Dead and Terror Train, acquired the rights from Killer Tomato Entertainment and will produce. Emmett/Furla Films will co-produce.
" 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' is the masterwork of a generation," Nichols said. "We can only aspire to recapture that magic." No changes to the original plot have been revealed, but it still is expected to revolve around killer tomatoes.
Nichols and Sarine's satirical "Ninja" shorts have garnered more than 80 million Web views and won best series at the 2006 YouTube Video Awards. Their "Ninja" commentator has appeared on National Public Radio and VH1's Best Week Ever.
The original Tomatoes spawned the Fox Kids Network's "ATV" cartoon series and the feature sequel Return of the Killer Tomatoes, which helped launch George Clooney's career.
Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, creators of the hit Web series "Ask a Ninja", are writing the adaptation of the 1978 cult monster movie, with Nichols set to make his directorial debut.
M. Dal Walton III, the force behind the remakes of Day of the Dead and Terror Train, acquired the rights from Killer Tomato Entertainment and will produce. Emmett/Furla Films will co-produce.
" 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' is the masterwork of a generation," Nichols said. "We can only aspire to recapture that magic." No changes to the original plot have been revealed, but it still is expected to revolve around killer tomatoes.
Nichols and Sarine's satirical "Ninja" shorts have garnered more than 80 million Web views and won best series at the 2006 YouTube Video Awards. Their "Ninja" commentator has appeared on National Public Radio and VH1's Best Week Ever.
The original Tomatoes spawned the Fox Kids Network's "ATV" cartoon series and the feature sequel Return of the Killer Tomatoes, which helped launch George Clooney's career.
- 3/11/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Oh hell yes, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! will be attacking theaters again as Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, creators of the hit Web series "Ask a Ninja," are writing the adaptation of the 1978 cult monster movie, with Nichols set to make his directorial debut. Can you imagine if they take it seriously and do it like an episode of "The X-Files"? Read on for the rest of the breaking news.
- 3/11/2008
- bloody-disgusting.com
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