John E. Hudgens
Encyclopedia
John E. Hudgens is an independent
director
, producer
, and editor
noted for his short Star Wars
fan film
s and for many Babylon 5
promotional videos.
On his own, Hudgens began editing Babylon 5 videos cut to popular music beginning in 1994. Babylon 5 creator and writer J. Michael Straczynski
saw these early efforts and hired Hudgens to officially produce B5 promotional music videos for science fiction
fan convention
s and other events. Eight official videos were produced, plus more unofficial videos shown at conventions and distributed on the Internet
.
Hudgens had also dabbled in fan films, producing The Empire Strikes Quack in the late 1980s. Beginning in 2000, Hudgens made the first of a series of noted Star Wars fan films, Crazy Watto
, a two-minute parody of Star Wars and used car commercials. The film proved very popular and would go on to be an official selection at Lucasfilm
's Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards
and screen at the Cannes Film Festival
. His second film, Darth Vader's Psychic Hotline
, is a fast paced four minute parody of many science fiction shows and films, and features Kevin J. Anderson
, Claudia Christian
and Peter David
among others. This effort was the second runner-up for the Audience Choice Award at the 2002 Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards, an award he would win the next year for The Jedi Hunter
, a parody of Star Wars and The Crocodile Hunter
. He would win the Audience Choice Award once more in 2005 for Sith Apprentice
, his longest fan film to date, at twelve minutes. All of Hudgens fan films were produced, directed, shot, and edited by him, and were made in collaboration with noted writer Lowell Cunningham
, and were produced and released by his Z-Team Productions company.
Hudgens' most recent production was American Scary
, a feature length documentary about television horror hosts. The film premiered in October 2006 at the Hollywood Film Festival
, and was released on DVD in February 2009.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and editor
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
noted for his short Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
fan film
Fan film
A fan film is a film or video inspired by a film, television program, comic book or a similar source, created by fans rather than by the source's copyright holders or creators. Fan filmmakers have traditionally been amateurs, but some of the more notable films have actually been produced by...
s and for many Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
promotional videos.
On his own, Hudgens began editing Babylon 5 videos cut to popular music beginning in 1994. Babylon 5 creator and writer J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
saw these early efforts and hired Hudgens to officially produce B5 promotional music videos for science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
fan convention
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
s and other events. Eight official videos were produced, plus more unofficial videos shown at conventions and distributed on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Hudgens had also dabbled in fan films, producing The Empire Strikes Quack in the late 1980s. Beginning in 2000, Hudgens made the first of a series of noted Star Wars fan films, Crazy Watto
Crazy Watto
Crazy Watto is a two minute long fan film that made its debut on the internet in 2000. The film is a spoof of used car deal ads shown on television, featuring Watto from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace . Watto offers up for sale familiar ships such as an X-Wing with "genuine battle marks...
, a two-minute parody of Star Wars and used car commercials. The film proved very popular and would go on to be an official selection at Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
's Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards
The Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards
The Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards is an annual contest put forth by Lucasfilm and AtomFilms to showcase and acknowledge the growing genre of fan films made by, for, and about fans of the Star Wars saga. The inaugural contest in 2002 was the first time Lucasfilm had officially sanctioned the...
and screen at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
. His second film, Darth Vader's Psychic Hotline
Darth Vader's Psychic Hotline
Darth Vader's Psychic Hotline is a fan film that made its debut on the internet on April 16, 2002, created by fans of the Star Wars franchise...
, is a fast paced four minute parody of many science fiction shows and films, and features Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson is an American science fiction author with over forty bestsellers. He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the Dune prequels...
, Claudia Christian
Claudia Christian
Claudia Ann Christian is an American actress, writer, singer, musician, and director, best known for her role as Commander Susan Ivanova on the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Career:...
and Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
among others. This effort was the second runner-up for the Audience Choice Award at the 2002 Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards, an award he would win the next year for The Jedi Hunter
The Jedi Hunter
The Jedi Hunter is a fan film that made its debut on the internet on August 30, 2002, created by fans of the Star Wars franchise. It is a spoof of Star Wars and The Crocodile Hunter, with Boba Fett sliding into the Steve Irwin role, hunting Jedi along with his wife "Terri Fett".While the film...
, a parody of Star Wars and The Crocodile Hunter
The Crocodile Hunter
The Crocodile Hunter was a wildlife documentary television series that was hosted by Steve Irwin and his wife Terri. The show became a popular franchise due to its unconventional approach and Irwin's approach to wildlife...
. He would win the Audience Choice Award once more in 2005 for Sith Apprentice
Sith Apprentice
Sith Apprentice is a Star Wars fan film that made its debut on the internet on March 29, 2005, directed by John E. Hudgens and co-written by Hudgens, Denny Humbard, and Men in Black creator Lowell Cunningham. Made for around $1000, it is a spoof of Star Wars and The Apprentice, with Emperor...
, his longest fan film to date, at twelve minutes. All of Hudgens fan films were produced, directed, shot, and edited by him, and were made in collaboration with noted writer Lowell Cunningham
Lowell Cunningham
Lowell Cunningham is an American creator and writer best known for The Men in Black, which became the basis for a media franchise.-Biography:Cunningham created the comic book series The Men in Black...
, and were produced and released by his Z-Team Productions company.
Hudgens' most recent production was American Scary
American Scary
American Scary is a 2006 documentary film about the history and legacy of classic television horror hosts, written and directed by American independent filmmakers John E...
, a feature length documentary about television horror hosts. The film premiered in October 2006 at the Hollywood Film Festival
Hollywood Film Festival
The Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington....
, and was released on DVD in February 2009.