Plunderbirds: Talk Robots (found robot combat mockumentary film; 2019): Difference between revisions
(The robot combat lost media well hasn't dried up yet! A shame this mockumentary was never finished, because it would have been fun considering it is International Wreck Crew at their best. I wonder if they 'ave a srimech yet (course they 'ave!).) |
(Added, uh, his machine) |
||
Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
*[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/230519924/plunderbirds-talk-robots? The Kickstarter for ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''.] | *[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/230519924/plunderbirds-talk-robots? The Kickstarter for ''Plunderbirds: Talk Robots''.] | ||
*[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/International_Wreck_Crew ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article for International Wreck Crew.] | *[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/International_Wreck_Crew ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article for International Wreck Crew.] | ||
*[https://robotwars.fandom.com/wiki/Plunderbird ''Robot Wars Wiki'' article for Plunderbird, International Wreck Crew's machine.] | |||
==References== | ==References== |
Revision as of 03:15, 3 December 2021
Plunderbirds: Talk Robots was a unreleased robot combat mockumentary film. Produced by Kinemacolour Media, it followed the International Wreck Crew, a prominent team on the BBC robot combat gameshow Robot Wars, as they detailed their history in robot combat, and attended modern robot combat events.
Background
International Wreck Crew competed in the first five main series of Robot Wars as well as the spin-off Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1, entering a total of five machines under the Plunderbird moniker.[1] Their most successful machine was Plunderbird 2, which reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2. The team itself, whose main members were Mike Onslow and Bryan Kilburn, overshadowed their machines however. They became highly popular among Robot Wars fans and roboteers alike, for their "tough guy" characters on-screen and for generally being helpful behind-the-scenes.[2] They would also win the Sportsmanship Award for Series 2,[3] with their first machine, Plunderbird 1 earning Series 1's Best Design Award.[4]
Plunderbirds: Talk Robots and Kickstarter Campaign
In 2016, Onslow was interested in creating a mockumentary on International Wreck Crew, based upon their history of creating machines, as well as interviewing teams that were still competing in the sport. Plans therefore began with the aim of releasing a robot combat mockumentary DVD where all proceeds would be donated to good causes, including cancer and homeless charities. Throughout 2017, Onslow and Kilburn would work with Kinemacolour Media to film the mockumentary, including at various robot combat and educational events, and the team's robot workshop. A teaser trailer was released by Kinemacolour Media in July 2018.[5]
In January 2019, Onslow and Kilburn launched a Kickstarter campaign. They requested £10,000 so that their mockumentary, entitled Plunderbirds: Talk Robots, could receive the editing and marketing required, as well as allowing for the manufacturing of the DVDs themselves. Included on the Kickstarter page includes several screenshots of the unedited film, and a two-and-a-half minute video consisting of the duo explaining the Kickstarter (both in and out of character), with a small trailer of footage of the film provided.
Ultimately, the project raised only £765 from 12 backers by the funding goal's deadline of 17th February, 2019. The failure primarily stemmed upon lack of interest among the robot combat community, some being put off by the £10k target.[6]
Availability
Because Plunderbirds: Talk Robots went unreleased, little media of the unfinished mockumentary is publicly accessible. A few minutes of footage can be viewed from the teaser and Kickstarter videos, with a few screenshots still remaining accessible on the Kickstarter page.
Gallery
Videos
Images
See Also
- 1995 Robot Wars UK Open (partially found rejected robot combat TV show pilot; 1995)
- American Robot Wars 2000 (lost MTV pilot of British robot combat game show; 2000)
- BattleBots (found Comedy Central robot combat game show; 2000-2002)
- BattleBots (lost build of unreleased GameCube/PlayStation 2 game based on robot combat TV series; 2003)
- BattleBots Collegiate Championship (partially lost unaired spinoff of robot combat TV show; 2009)
- Mechanoids (partially found BBC robot combat game show; 2003)
- Robot Wars (lost near-death footage of Jeremy Clarkson from robot combat game show; 1998)
- Robot Wars (lost work on unfinished cartoon series based on robot combat game show; existence unconfirmed; 2002-2004)
- Robot Wars (partially found unaired or partially aired battles of BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)
- Robot Wars (partially found uncut battles from BBC robot combat game show; 1998-2017)
- Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1 (lost original BBC Choice version of robot combat battle; 2001)
- Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 1 (found TNN robot combat game show; 2001)
- Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 2 (partially found behind-the-scenes footage of TNN robot combat game show; 2002)
- Robot Wars Revealed (partially found BBC Choice spin-off of robot combat game show; 1998-2000)
- Robot Wars: Series 3 (lost HSE documentation concerning behind-the-scenes accidents of BBC robot combat game show; 1999)
- Robot Wars: Series 8 (lost unaired pilot of BBC robot combat game show; 2016)
- Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (lost BNN robot combat special; 2001)
- Robotica (found TLC robot combat game show; 2001-2003)
- Robots Revenge (partially found Discovery robot combat documentary series; 2001)
- Why Hypno-Disc can't work in an office (found testing video of Robot Wars competitor; 2000, 2007)
External Links
- The Kickstarter for Plunderbirds: Talk Robots.
- Robot Wars Wiki article for International Wreck Crew.
- Robot Wars Wiki article for Plunderbird, International Wreck Crew's machine.
References
- ↑ Haslemere Herald article on International Wreck Crew. Retrieved 2 Dec '21
- ↑ Things I Like discussing the team and its robots. Retrieved 2 Dec '21 Retrieved 2 Dec '21
- ↑ Robot Wars Series 2 Grand Final, where Plunderbird 2 was awarded the Sportsmanship Award. Retrieved 2 Dec '21
- ↑ Robot Wars Series 1 Heat F, where Plunderbird 1 was awarded the Best Design Award. Retrieved 2 Dec '21
- ↑ Unofficial Robot Wars Facebook post discussing the teaser trailer. Retrieved 2 Dec '21
- ↑ Unofficial Robot Wars Facebook post on the Kickstarter, with some being put off by the £10k target. Retrieved 2 Dec '21