Fix It In Post Edits The Bannen Way

Los Angeles-based editorial boutique Fix It In Post recently edited The Bannen Way, a series of 16, 5-7 minute-long webisodes created by filmmakers Mark Gantt and Jess Warren airing on Sony Digital’s Crackle.com. Editor Zack Arnold, owner of Fix It In Post, responded to a Craig’s List ad looking for an editor that would work next to nothing on a spec show. The result is a series that has had over eight million hits online.

Arnold was able to take a chance, work on a micro budget, and share the vision of the creators, offering something that the larger editorial houses could not do. Not only did Fix It In Post create the trailer, which helped sell the show, but the company also edited a 95-minute feature film in seven weeks, breaking it into 16 webisodes. And to complete the package, they provided their partner company, Sammy Sound Inc. who mixed the show in 5.1. Once final picture was delivered by Tunnel Post, Fix it In Post created the marketing promos, completed the deliverables for TV and foreign markets, and re-edited the feature into an 86-minute broadcast TV format.

TB: “I had a blast interviewing Mark!  He’s down-to-earth, and deserves the success coming to him.  He’s an inspiration as well…most actors give up on their careers at a certain point, but Mark found a way to make it happen with “The Bannen Way”.  Forget about my dream of being a Bond Girl…I want to be a Bannen Girl!

Here’s what I found: Many websites that buy original video clips often pay so little that “The Bannen Way,’’ a flashy crime thriller debuting online, looked destined to be made poorly, if it could be made at all.

Crackle’s new web series ‘The Bannen Way’ has all the ingredients for an online action hit. Gansters, guns, and gambling? Check. Cocky main character in a sweet sports car? Bring it on.

Great production value, a cinematic style and leggy brunettes in short skirts go a long way in the online video world, and Sony/Crackle’s The Bannen Way has been taking those elements to the limit over the last six weeks.

From its early debut on Dec. 29 to its official Jan. 6 premiere to today, the web series has racked up over 8.4 million streams, surpassing Angel of Death’s already impressive 4.7 million views and making it the site’s fastest-growing web series to date.

Here’s 10 things you need to know about The Bannen Way:

1. The Bannen Way is a series of webisodes following a slick, conflicted con man (the aforementioned Bannen), torn between his dad (who is police chief – of course he is) and his uncle (who is king of the con men – of course he is). Classic angel/devil, good versus evil. With a trampy girl sprinkled in whenever possible.
2. Bannen is riddled with not one, not two, but at least three addictions (alcohol, gambling & sex). Of course he is.
3. The show’s star, Mark Gantt (who is a dead ringer for Community’s Joel McHale) wrote the story with Jesse Warren. Which makes sense given the number of sex scenes he’s written for himself.
4. Killer supporting cast with Robert Forster & Michael Ironside (both of which you’ll recognize when you see them). They do their best to make the most of the lean dialog and silly plot twists revolving around a mysterious “box”. Killing me with the innuendo.
5. Vanessa Marcil does her very best Vanessa Marcil. Read: sassy, snarky, silly….

Big Screening ‘The Bannen Way’, Crackle Goes American Cinematheque

Still nothing like the big screen when web series look this good. Seriously, at the risk of selling out my 640 pixel comrades, there is something that happens when you sit back and watch some of these web series we all get excited about in their full uncompressed HD glory. And The Bannen Way, the high octane thrill ride shot on the RED One camera, is well worthy of some cinematic screen time. That and sharing the experience with a few hundred fellow vicarious adrenaline junkies.

Gantt’s Way

Mark Gantt has always been a smooth talker. In high school, he could get out of almost any situation. Speeding. Underage drinking. Smoking weed in his ’74 Chevy Camaro in the Lincoln High School parking lot.

The 41-year-old Stockton native who worked at Salisbury’s Market in Lodi, is still that cool, confident guy with dark eyes, strong facial features and a way with words. Only now, the bad-boy persona is channeled into the role of the lead character in Sony Picture Entertainment’s Web series, “The Bannen Way.”

After a CW sized break, Webisode Clack is back, and will now resume its weekly editions. I thought I would start the new year off with something big, and The Bannen Way certainly qualifies. There are a lot of interesting angles to the show. First, and foremost, it’s just a really cool story. It also has a great cast, and is beautifully made. But before any of us saw any of those things, the story behind the show is almost as good. And really, could probably make a pretty interesting show on its own.

Rumblings about The Bannen Way go back to early 2008. And those rumblings were soon followed by a whole lot of waiting. At least, for those of us eager to see the end result. Behind the scenes, creators Jesse Warren and Mark Gantt were working away securing deals that ultimately led to a partnership with Sony and the show appearing on Crackle.com. There is a great rundown of that, and the Streamy’s kerfuffle that followed, on Taryn O’Neill’s website if you want to know more.

The Bannen Way Interview Part 1 of 3

Jesse Warren and Mark Gantt the Executive Produers of Hit Web Series The Bannen Way gave me an insider’s view as to how they took their idea, shot a trailer and two episodes, got ICM as their agent and then sold it to a major Hollywood Studio. This is part 1 of 3 segments.