The Fantasy Network (TFN) is a creator-owned video-on-demand and crowdfunding platform founded in 2018.
With most content ad-free and free-to-watch, and featuring independent science fiction and fantasy films and television from globe-spanning independent filmmakers, TFN’s mission is to build direct relationships between fans and creators, empowering audiences to renew the shows that they love.
Not all streaming services are created equal. Push aside the major streamers, and you will find a quiet (except to those who already know) success story. The Fantasy Network (TFN), co-founded in 2018 by Ben Dobyns, Jason Faller, Ron Newcomb, and E.J. Kavenous, has weaponized and monetized the international power of fans and now boasts a free-to-view library of 50 web-series and 58 features produced in Canada, the US, Australia, India, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, England, Croatia, and Norway. TFN series, which range from 5 to 45 minutes per episode, and average eight episodes per season, along with their feature length films, are all fan-supported and creator-distributed.
Stories of how fans have rescued network shows from cancellation (The Expanse, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Wynonna Earp, 15 seasons of Supernatural and even the original Star Trek) are a mainstay in TV lore. The Fantasy Network business model puts that power completely in the hands of the fans from start to finish.
“TFN was created by filmmakers to help nurture the relationship between fans and creators, empowering both to produce the kinds of adventurous stories that rarely receive studio support. Despite the many challenges of 2020, I was thrilled to see TFN grow this last year into a respected destination for genre storytellers from around the world who want to maintain control of their voices and IPs. Together we’re redefining fantasy and science fiction television for a community that is empowered to create and renew the stories that they love,” said TFN President, Ben Dobyns.
Who are these viewers? TFN boasts a broad demographic of Gen Z and Millennial fantasy and sci-fi fans. Initially, viewership was male, but a focus on acquiring and supporting woman-driven and BIPOC-produced content, coupled with strong standards for maintaining healthy and diverse communities, has attracted powerful female, LGBTQ, and BIPOC viewers and content producers to the platform.
The conviction of the fan-powered shows has been rewarded with everything from Webby Awards to Best Series and Best Feature at multiple global web content festivals, including Vancouver Web Fest, Stareable, The Gen Con Film Festival, the Origins Film Festival, and beyond, adding up to dozens of award-winning productions from around the world.
This is the TFN model: fans peruse the TFN library, decide which shows they’d like to renew, sign up to let creators know they’re will to pledge financial support, and then spread to word via social media, fan art, and fan-driven outreach campaigns to find more people to support the show. The TFN site shows how each series is gaining fan support in real time. When a show reaches its pre-funding signup goal, based on the funders needed for the show’s budget, TFN launches a crowdfunding campaign. How successful are these campaigns? Flagship series like JourneyQuest and Mythica have raised over $1.5 million, while many shows successfully raise between $100,000 and $300,000. With direct fan support, these shows can remain creator-driven and maintain their independent voices.
Media Contact: Cynthia Amsden Roundstone Communications +1.416.910.7740 cynthia@roundstonepr.com
Wendy and Richard Pini Announce ElfQuest: The Audio Movie
Poughkeepsie, New York, Feb 22, 2021
Richard and Wendy Pini of Warp Graphics, Fred Greenhalgh of Dagaz Media, and Ben Dobyns, President of The Fantasy Network, are thrilled to announce a joint venture to adapt the classic fantasy comic, ElfQuest, as a cinematic ‘audio movie’ experience with an anticipated cast of more than 40 voice actors, original sound design, and a lush orchestral score.
Details about the audio movie will be revealed by the Pinis, Dagaz, and The Fantasy Network on a special livestream event at 11am Eastern Time on March 5th, streaming at ElfQuest’s Facebook Page and The Fantasy Network’s Twitch Channel.
TRAILER
EMBED CODE
<script type="text/javascript" src="//services.brid.tv/player/build/brid.min.js"></script> <div id="Brid_13061027" class="brid" style="width:480;height:270;" > </div> <script type="text/javascript"> $bp("Brid_13061027", {"id":"23146","width":"480","height":"270","video":"718467"}); </script>
Photo: Franziska Schissler (Jael), Danny Trejo (Kincaid) and Justin Price (Zion)
Toronto. February 11, 2021. Ben Dobyns,President of The Fantasy Network (TFN) and actors-turned-creators Justin Price and Franziska Schissler, principals of Baby Monster Entertainment, are very pleased to announce that Season One of the sci-fi/action/adventure television series, Paragon: The Shadow Wars, starring Schissler, Price, Danny Trejo (The Fixer, Machete, From Dusk Til Dawn), Amin Joseph (Snowfall, Stuber, Stock Option), and Dilan Gwyn (Beyond, Dracula Untold, Da Vinci’s Demons) will be coming to subscribers on the streaming platform, The Fantasy Network.
Season One of Paragon: The Shadow Wars, (six 45-min episodes) is co-directed and co-written by Justin Price (Wrong Place, Wrong Time; The Mummy Rebirth, Almost Amazing, The Cloth), Khu (Dark Cupid, Snare) and Franziska Schissler (Prod: Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Actor: Debbie and the Devil, Hollow Bedrooms, Soul Hunters, The Dawnseeker) and produced by Price and Schissler. Paragon: The Shadow Wars, made in association with Baby Monster Entertainment and Pikchure Zero, first dropped on Amazon Prime on December 31, 2020 and has been announced to release on Tubi and the SyFy channel in the next months.
In a world where Reapers take souls and demons bargain with humans for their place among the food chain, a new descendent named Jael has emerged to stop Death’s plan to reset the world. What ensues is a wildly exciting adventure around the globe and beyond and a relentless fight against the evil forces to preserve what’s left of our humanity.
“It’s been such an amazing journey bringing this mystical world to life. I feel very blessed to have been able to film and travel over the world and take in aspects of each country and culture and have them feed into the storytelling. I had dreamt of visiting some of these spots since I was a kid, we go to shoot in the US, Germany, Cambodia, Japan and Iceland and it was one great adventure. So grateful to have a legend like Danny on board who was an absolute pleasure to work with,” said series creator, Justin Price.
TFN has collaborated with Paragon: The Shadow Wars’ producers to go beyond passive streaming for the series’ Season One release. Subscribers will not only be able to watch the show, but can sign up on the “watch” page to help support future episodes and productions, as well as catch appearances by Paragon: The Shadow Wars creators and cast on TFN’s livestream channels. By empowering fans to connect directly with creators, The Fantasy Network helps both to continue telling the stories that they love. Wherever fans first discover Paragon: The Shadow Wars —on Amazon, Tubi, or TFN itself—The Fantasy Network’s unique, interactive platform is where viewers are encouraged to take the next step and become part of a show’s sustaining community.
Media Contact: Cynthia Amsden Roundstone Communications +1.416.910.7740 cynthia@roundstonepr.com
Three Black witches in New York City, created by Moon Ferguson, a real Black witch. Juju has captured global attention with its unique blend of modern fantasy and its representation of traditional cultural revitalization.
Photos – Ty Stone
Trailer: https://youtu.be/00j66pkdtns
- Showrunner / Director – Moon Ferguson
- Gigi – Nedge Victome | Ally – Cydni Jenkins | Yaya – Cassandra Borgella
Live action roleplaying gets the comedy treatment as friends try to navigate their relationships inside the game… and out of it as well. Originally acquired by Geek & Sundry for its second season, LARPs moved to TFN in 2020 to begin building a funding audience for its upcoming third season. A Montreal-based shop with a global fandom.
Photos – Joseph Baron
Trailer: https://youtu.be/91FNqnt6lKk
- Directed by – Julian Stamboulieh
- Written by – Jon Verrall
- Executive Producer – Felicia Day
- Shane – Elizabeth Neale | Will – Scott Humphry | Brittany – Charlotte Rogers
Government magic users are forced to collar and train everyone with talent…but on the fringes of society, the Strowlers believe that magic is for everyone. Strowlers comes from a primarily female writers’ room, with LGBTQ and BIPOC prevalent both behind and in front of the screen. Two episodes of Strowlers were developed and written by Mongolian shaman Aminaa Batmunkh and shot in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, while other episodes were produced in Ireland, New Zealand, and Denmark. The Danish episode story was created by immigrants and refugees to Denmark, starring Danish/Iranian actor Afshin Firouzi (Wonderland Recoil, Darkland).
Trailer: https://youtu.be/hnS5g9NO2RI
- Showrunner / Executive Producer – Ben Dobyns
- Episode Directors – Gabriel Gonda, Samara Lerman, Nicole Pouchet, Peter Haynes, Ben Dobyns
- Whit – Tanesha Ross | Frankie – Samara Lerman | Amanda – Trin Miller | Pepper Jones – Lisa Coronado
A group of computer gamers wake up in the bodies of their MMO characters. Gender swapped, confused and out of their element, they must work together to survive in a hostile new world. Soon crowdfunding for its third season, AFK features the first appearance of a Maori character in fantasy television. The AFK team also produced an episode of Strowlers.
Photos – Ryan Wong
Trailer: https://youtu.be/th20oftt7HI
- Showrunner / Executive Producers – Peter Haynes & Hweiling Ow
- Writing – Nichelle Phillips & Peter Haynes
- Steven – Amanda Tito | Quinn – Simbarashe Matshe | Serena – Te Puawaitanga Winterburn
EMBED CODE
<script type="text/javascript" src="//services.brid.tv/player/build/brid.min.js"></script> <div id="Brid_11694461" class="brid" style="width:480;height:270;" > </div> <script type="text/javascript"> $bp("Brid_11694461", {"id":"23146","width":"480","height":"270","video":"708467"}); </script>