2015.10.02 Ken Whitman is Full of so Much FAIL

I'm going to try and keep this post short because the facts pretty much speak for themselves.

Some KoDT:LAS backers and GenCon attendees got to see the "rough cut" videos on July 31st. In the months since then we go tn "update" telling us when the "finished" videos would be posted online:
"Download for backers.... 
Episode 1: Sept 14 
Episode 2: Sept 21 
Episode 3: Sept 27"

Episode 1, the finished episode, wasn't uploaded on time, and when there was an update, it ended up being just a re-posting of a month's-old link.

Episode 2, wasn't uploaded on time, being pushed back at least a day. The first video link submitted wasn't even a valid one.

Episode 3, wasn't uploaded on time, being at least 5 days late.

By pretty much all accounts these three episodes are exactly the same footage shown at GenCon, without updates. The "Port Raided" typo is still present, as are the bad colors and sound editing. Why Ken Whitman couldn't upload this old video on time is a mystery to all.

In the backdrop you have to also remember that Ken Whitman has been telling people he has been burning DVDs at "20 a day" over two weeks ago. Why would Ken Whitman say he is burning DVDs if the videos aren't even finished yet?

"Until you get to see the finished HIGH RES footage, like the original clip, I am afraid to say you are comparing Apples and Oranges. Everything gets better with many passes. Stay tuned folks."

Is this an admission that the videos uploaded for backers aren't the final product? If they aren't the final product when are we going to get the videos and DVDs? If it has taken months to simply get copies of the GenCon videos, how many months is it going to take to get "finished HIGH RES footage"? Which October are the Backers going to get their DVDs? 2017...2018?

Then there is this wonderful update on September 27th: "Friends at ZOE have offered to do a final color correction on the films before we burn them to DVD.   So we will have a more polished professional product.

Also, on OCT 4th, a few of the actors and Jolly have agreed to record an alternative audio track talking about creating the first 3 episodes.  This is an alternative track ONLY FOR BACKERS!!!

Now two years ago we uploaded the original teaser for Jolly & the D-Team to watch.   Here it is, restored, the way the viewed it two years ago!  You can also download it.
See you Friday!"

Until I see some confirmation from either ZOE or KenzerCo I'm going to have to call bullshit. This smacks of Chessex coming in to save the day on the Pencil Dice Fiasco. I'm sure that there may have been some discussion at some point about ZOE helping with something, but after the GenCon after-party fiasco I have to assume that this is Ken Whitman trying to simply be a hanger-on of a more successful group that actually produces quality videos.

There isn't any mention of ZOE being involved on their main page or even their forums. Same goes for the folks at KenzerCo. There has been one post on the subject from any member of the D-Team and they don't mention their involvement at all. Of course, between the two I see the alternative audio track being a possibility because that might have been part of the contract.....might being the operative word.

2015.10.01 Another Video Sees the Light of Day

I've owe a post regarding the KoDT:LAS "releases", but I got this update on the KoDT:LAS Kickstarter page:

"Here is a short we worked on a few months ago. Free for all Kickstarter Backers......
 Enjoy."

Obviously there is a link, but it wouldn't be "proper" to share a link that is meant for "backers only".....so I won't.

What I can do though, is simply point out Ken Whitman's vimeo channel here and you can probably figure out which video is the "new one" he posted a link to in this update. The d20entertainment user channel is public info, so I'm not violating anything.....you could find it yourself, or just follow this link.

Now I had actually heard about this video some time ago, as in months ago, and assumed it would never see the light of day. According to my sources this was the video that Ken Whitman was trying to pass off as the completed Castles & Crusades: Beyond the River Kickstarter video. Never mind the fact that "Knight's Bane" is about 5 minutes short and nothing like what the script was supposed to be:
"Written by Stephen Chenault, the Troll Lord of Troll Lord Games, author of over 20 RPG supplements and the Codex of Aihrde, and Produced by d20 Entertainment.".

Notice the error in the channel name?

Now a conscientious reader of this should be skeptical about my source's claim that this was intended to be the Castles & Crusades video and obviously I don't have direct proof....BUT...there are a few things here & there.

1st off, there are Facebook pictures from previous d20 Entertainment employees, and even some of the cast from the same day as the listed "Day One" Shoot Backer Update on Kickstarter. 2nd, and this is just as telling, although the video is edited heavily, the lead character's name, "Juergan" can be clearly heard at the 2' 34" mark. I highly doubt that this is a coincidence.

Something tells me that Troll Lord Games did NOT want this hack-job of a Castles & Crusades "movie" out in the public and Ken Whitman tried to do some creative editing to hide the fact that this was his failed Kickstarter fulfillment. This is my opinion, clearly, but I don't quite understand why this is being released, and now.

This video literally has Ken Whitman's name all over it, just watch the credits...which I'm sure he put together because it has one of his signature touches. At the 6' 16" mark the credits read, "The characters and incidents port raided are entirely fictional". As many times as this has been pointed out to Ken Whitman, you'd think he understands the spelling/meaning of "portrayed".

2015.10.03 Edit: Interesting info add-on from a KoDT:LAS Backer...

"For those here who don't know, Ken posted Knight's Bane here because Steve Chenault rejected it for the C&C pilot because of the wretched quality, short cuts taken, and unapproved rewrites by Ken of the approved script. So we got spammed with it in an attempt to throw Steve the finger."

Nice to see that there might be some foundation to my suspicions.....