Still working on it...

Hey out there.

I know how you are all eagerly awaiting the latest Agent Emes episode "Agent Emes Vs. The Karrupter", and so are we.
I am currently entrapped in post-production (re: After Effects) hell, and will let you know as soon as I emerge.
What can I say? This stuff takes a long time, especially when you have to do it yourself.
And since you are all used to a certain level of cheesy special effects in Agent Emes stories, I wouldn't want to disappoint you this time around.
Best estimate? Out to the printers in 10 days, in the stores (and online) in 20. That should put us at about a week before Shavuos.

Until later...

Leibel

New "behind the scenes" video now online

Hey Fans,

A gut voch to all.
Just uploaded a little ">"behind the scenes" video from filming last summer that I thought you may enjoy.
Just something to keep you going while waiting for the completion of the next Agent Emes episode (#10, the Karrupter)

Enjoy.

And remember - if you join our Facebook fan page, you will save 15% when we release the new episode.

Another Agent Emes costume from Purim

Here's Minnesota's biggest Agent Emes fan, along with a note from his parents:

"It's hard to imagine a greater fan than Mendy Mishulovin from MN. Purim wasn't much of a change for him as he frequently dresses up as Agent Emes. This pic is from Purim, though.

He'd like you to know that whenever he earns the privilege of watching a video, he always chooses an Agent Emes one.

Please keep putting out great AE videos....he can't wait until the next one!

A kosher and Freilichen Pesach!"

Keep Sending them in!

Special Costumes in Agent Emes - The Karrupter

The big news is that there is one, yes ONE more day left of shooting on Agent Emes 10: "The Karrupter".

Yesterday found yours truly haunting the streets of downtown Squirrel Hill wearing the extremely cool, and excessively heavy Karrupter costume. This thing has to be seen to be believed.

The short story is that I had been planning for months to rent a 1950's-style spacesuit from a costume shop in LA. That is, until a week out of shooting the Karrupter scenes, and they told me the very affordable rental of $350 was only good if I returned the costume to them in 7 days. Let's see... LA to Pittsburgh, regular shipping time: 3-4 days. Then figure Shabbos in between. It was clear that either I had to cough up and extra $600 to overnight the thing, of go pay for the extra week. The affordable costume was suddenly no longer so affordable.

I quickly got on the phone with Adam M., my creative collaborator, and we decided to buy a cool suit on ebay, and then he (Adam) would dress it up to be even cooler.

So we found the snazziest old silver suit we could find and then I got the winning bid, because no one else was remotely interested in the monstrosity. The tip off should have been that is was officially described as an "Air Fed" suit.

When the suit arrived, the meaning of that term became quickly apparent. By the way, it came without the air supply.

But, I was already in for the duration, so Adam worked magic on the 40 lb. sweat-suit and, in the end, we had our Karrupter costume.

So last week we filmed Marty Giles, the extremely talented actor who plays Karrupter, wearing the special suit. He was great. But there were still a lot of b-roll shots, stuff like the villain walking around town in the suit, that we needed to get. And rather than bother Marty with the ordeal, I suited up, and Adam and Clint shot the b-roll.

So that is what I am editing in now.

I also have a ton more special effects to do, so this baby is far from over...

Until later.

Now why didn't I think of this?

Are these the ultimate Agent Emes costume pictures?

Agent Emes Purim Costumes!

Happy Purim to all. May it be the last one in golus!

I wanted to share some pictures of kids I found wearing Agent Emes costumes tonight. If you have any to send back, by all means, I'd love to see them.

Postponed because of snow

Important Production Update!

I was planning on finishing the last two days of shooting "The Karrupter" this coming Sunday and Monday, but because of the immense amount of snow that still hampers Shpittsburgh, I am postponing it for a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, there is plenty to keep me busy preparing the footage that has already been shot, auditioning actors for this summer, and writing scripts for new episodes too!

Make sure to check out the great savings you can get by ordering all nine episodes at once, by visiting

www.agent-emes.com

Agent Emes #10 - Teaser Scene

Hey what do you know? Two postings in one day. As promised, here's a scene recently cut for the new "Karrupter" episode.

Comments are welcome.

Agent Emes 10: The Karrupter (teaser scene) from Leibel on Vimeo.

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Pics from the set - yes we are STILL filming #10

Agent Emes #10 (now called "The Karrupter") is still filming.

Yes - you heard me correctly. 85% finished in editing, but last 15% is still yet to be filmed.

So we have been squeezing days in as schedules and weather permits.

I am down to a skeleton crew at this point, as the funds have dried up.

And - if anyone has been following the weather these days - it's been quite cold this winter.

So here are a few pics from last week's shoot inside an abandoned brake manufacturing warehouse. It was freezing and dusty and late.

Our Cinematographer, Doug Stanczak

Contrary to popular belief, Yissachar actually performs his own stunts in Agent Emes. Here he is, about to turn a doorknob.

Even in the middle of a take, if someone calls out "dinner is here", everything stops.

Enjoy. I think I'll post a teaser scene shortly.

AGENT EMES' GREATEST CHALLENGE

So what am I supposed to do about this?

Status of Agent Emes 10: "The Korruptor"

Hi there eager fans,

The plastic is still warm on #9 at it appears that some are already clamoring for another Agent Emes.

So here's the deal (u know I am always honest with you).

Agent Emes Number 10 is 3/4 filmed already. I have 4 full days of filming to get everything "in the can" as they say.

Here are the problems:

1. Some essential crew members are unavailable

2. It is REALLY COLD now in Shpittsburgh, and we have outdoor scenes to do.

3. Yissachar is getting seriously big (bar mitzvah soon approaching), and he is beginning to not look so much like he did this past summer, when most was shot. So that will be VERY INTERESTING.

4. I have no money left to pay for last days of production.

What???? You ask. No money? How can it be? Isn't Agent Emes like the most popular thing on Jewish earth?

Yes. He (It) is. But that doesn't translate into many copies sold. What can I tell you? Cash flow just isn't there.

It's complicated.

On a positive note: The footage I DO HAVE looks really good.

Hope this satisfies your craving for Agent Emes news.

The new episode: Time for feedback!

I (almost) always love to hear back from our fans.

If you've seen the latest Agent Emes "The Sofer Situation", please write and let me know what you thought.

I think a lot of people have seen it by now.

Just came back from Kinus where I had the chance to meet many fans (mainly their fathers), face to face.

Early Early returns are overwhelmingly positive

Great news!

My mother likes the new Agent Emes! This bodes well not only for the just released

Agent Emes And The Sofer Situation, but for the future of the franchise as a whole.

But seriously...

Haven't heard much from kids yet, but the few adults who have seen the new film have enjoyed it!

Early purchasers should begin receiving their copies tomorrow and the next day.

Lucky Them!

You can get a copy sent to your doorstep by visiting

www.agent-emes.com

for your consideration... the new trailer!

I apologize to those of you who my object to the use of youTube. It was just the easiest way to post it quickly.

Comments are welcome.. What do you think? Does it make you want to see the movie?

Agent Emes & The Sofer Situation - COVER READY!

As promised, here's the cover we just sent to the printers for our new episode. Coming very soon... Agent Emes and the Sofer Situation

Another Title Revision

Believe it or not, this is how it sometimes happens in the big leagues.

New title:

"Agent Emes and Sofer Situation"

Cover is being completed as I write this.

Will post as soon as available.

Number 9 - coming soon!

Hi Fans,

Sorry for taking so long between posts. What with Twitter, Facebook, and all the other "social networking" sites, I have basically stopped publishing anything. On one hand, I am overwhelmed, but on the other, I am just lazy.

The truth is that I have been VERY BUSY trying to finish up Agent Emes #9.

The official title for the new episode is now

THE SOFER STORY

I think it's pretty catchy.

The episode itself will run about 51 minutes in length.

We test screened it at Hershey Park last month, and used the feedback we received there to cut out some extraneous material that didn't move the story forward.

Hershey was amazing, as we met a lot of existing fans, and also sold a lot of DVDs to new ones. The exposure was fantastic. Can you believe that there are some who still haven't heard of Agent E? Sad, but true.

I hope to be posting a clip from the Hershey appearance, as well as a trailer for the new episode soon.

So let your friends know: Agent Emes: The Sofer Story is coming soon.

Best to all.

First Pics from the new production!

As I mentioned in my last post, filming on the next two great Agent Emes episodes took place last weekend at the Yeshiva Girl's School. Most of the stuff was for a boy's classroom scene, but I only have pics so far for a brief scene in a girl's class. Breaking new ground here, and I hope the fans will enjoy a glimpse into the "girl's side" of life as well this time around.

Pics courtesy of my wife, Tanya.

New production starts next week!

The Agent E carousel never stops spinning, as we once again move into "production" mode and begin filming episodes 9 & 10 for the upcoming year.

The most exciting thing about these new episodes is that I will finally be introducing a new villain into the mix. I know, I know, Uncle Evil was new, but he is still part of the "Lo-Tov" family. This time I'm veering more into the super-villain category that you find in the comic books. All I can tell you is his name: "The Korruptor". But more I will not say.

The ninth episode will feature a lot more of yours truly, as Rabbi Abrams, as well as some nice stuff with Terri Naiditch as Ma Lo-Tov.

Still, all beginnings, as they say, are difficult, and I am always nervous when beginning a new production, especially when not all the elements are completely in place (like endings for both episodes, for instance).

Stay tuned. I hope to post pics from the shoot as we go forward.

Agent Emes 8 is reaching stores today!

In deference to the outcry from some stores that I make episode 8 available for them to sell, the new Agent Emes is being distributed to Judaica stores throughout greater New York today.

I am a bit concerned not to antagonize fans who responded to my ads that the episode is only available from our website. However, these ads have mostly come and gone, and now the situation has changed. "Agent Emes and the Shavuos Trial" is available in stores and from the official Agent Emes website.

Wanna hear a story to about just how far some stores were willing to go so that I would ship them the new episode? I'll use a fictional name to protect the guilty.

A man, Zev, emailed from Judaica Store X telling me that a secret consortium of Judaica stores was gathering together to boycott Agent Emes and return DVDs of previous episodes to my distributor. He wants to know why I wasn't shipping. This email made me quite nervous, naturally.

Now on the very same day, I received an email from Yehuda X, saying that he is a teacher at a Flatbush yeshiva, and wants to pay wholesale for 25 copies of the new AE that he can sell to his students. That sounded good, so I began to negotiate prices and terms with him.

Then I became suspicious.

I googled Yehuda X and found his name once, and only once on the whole internet. And guess what? He was soliciting business for the same Judaica Store X that wrote me about he secret boycott of Agent Emes!!!!

You understand what is going on over here?

Neither do I. But this man was obviously willing to go to great lengths to get Agent Emes onto his store shelves.

This, in part, is why I caved to pressure from stores to get it in to them sooner than I had originally expected.

Anyone out there seen the new episode yet? This is a great place to leave feedback.