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The Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth blog returns! Rick and Ben are back with independent reviews and analysis of Marvel’s latest film Captain America: Civil War. Check out Ben Alpi and Rick Arthur’s unique double blind, double shot movie review!

Read it here!
http://mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com/2016/05/captain-america-civil-war-special.html

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Ben and Rick are back! Their Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth blog officially began on February 4, 2011. Three years in the making, the blog features a series of personal emails between the pair which started out asking the question: If they were to be asked to bring Captain America, a character with 70 years of history, to the big screen, how would they do it?  They explored the character, his creators and the life and times of the WWII era as well as the foundations of storytelling and character.  The blog also featured many portions of scripts and vignettes Ben and Rick were inspired to write by their communications.

“We certainly never expected to make our conversions public, but when we looked at all the great material we had collected and created, we started talking about doing more with it,” explains Ben.

Rick adds, “Every time I would send something to Ben, he would come back with amazing and unexpected insights. His script at the start of the blog, Captain America: A Beginning is worth the price of admission alone.” The blog also features illustrations and collages on almost every post created by Rick specially for the posts they appear in.  Ben also contributed graphics on a few of the posts.

The “Emails” series ran for six months totaling close to eighty entries.  “I wish we could have recorded our phone calls as well. They were pretty epic,” Ben adds. “Rick’s passion for not only the material, but also good storytelling is something not to be kept under wraps. ” We’ve considered doing podcasts which I think would be fantastic, but time has been tight for both of us.”

“The Myth Discussion blog stands on its own and is so chock full of detail that I am finding new ideas even after six or seven readings. Compelling,” says Rick.

Also featured on the blog were “double” reviews of superhero films which were released over the run including ?THOR,?X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, and of course CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST AVENGER. Rick and Ben wrote independent reviews of the films and didn’t get to read the other’s until it was posted.  The dynamic duo admits it was funny how similar their reviews ended up being fundamentally, but how different they were in many respects as well. Rick also wrote an excellent review of another Marvel hit, THE AVENGERS.

Rick and Ben both speak about the enjoyment they derived from collaborating on the blog.  On the subject Ben says, “I miss working with Rick a lot and I really hope we can team up again soon.  He’s one of the most creative fellows I know and an excellent collaborator. It was great to do the anniversary post with him again. Looking back on the last one we wrote, wow what a difference!”

Rick has moved to New Mexico and has added teaching to his many hats. Ben has gotten married and completed the short film, Cowboy Creed. For more check the blog!

To read the second anniversary post, click here:
http://mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com/2013/02/captain-america-vs-world.html

To read the blog from the very beginning, click here:
http://mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com/2011/02/by-way-of-introduction.html

The Captain America: First Avenger movie opened in theaters to a strong $65 million dollar weekend. Writer/cartoonist Rick Arthur viewed the film in Central New York and film producer/director Ben Alpi caught a screening in Los Angeles. In the tradition of movie reviews done for the Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth blog such as THOR and X-Men: First Class, the writing team produced two separate, non-collaborative reviews. Neither know what the other would write. Taken together, they form a complex analysis of the Cap film.

The reviews are posted and readers are invited to dive in at: http://www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com

The Cap reviews come closely on the heels of a highly successful five-part Red Skull series detailing the final conflict between Cap and Red Skull. This marks the end of almost four years of writing between the blog team and presents one possible outcome for a screenplay based on their writings.

Worth seeing for yourself!

One final note: Runic Films wishes to thank all the readers who tuned into the blog and made it successful. Visit any time: http://www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com

The blog between filmmaker Ben Alpi and cartoonist Rick Arthur announces that yet again records have been broken for June. The final figures won’t be in until July 1st yet personal records for Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth are already apparent.

“I am astounded by the response from readers,” said Arthur.

Records include:
1) Best Single Day Page Views – June 8th;
2) Highest Monthly Page Views – June (whopping 40% increase over May);
3) Highest Single Post – THOR movie review has more than doubled the post average and is 80+ views higher than the next most popular post.

http://www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com

“4th of July is almost here!” commented Alpi. Runic Films has helped plan a very patriotic Cap-style Independence Day for our readers. “Why wasn’t Cap released on the 1st of July?” The later date is too far away…

A powerful 5-Part Cap vs. Red Skull post series is being worked on to give readers an exclusive look at the loose draft of the final battle between our hero and one of the most evil villains of all time!! Don’t miss it!! Starts July 6th.

After the Captain America: First Avenger movie comes out, look for an exclusive double feature film review by Alpi and Arthur. “This will be done in the same double blind style as both THOR and X-Men: First Class” Noted Arthur. Alpi, writing from the west coast will have no knowledge of what Arthur is thinking on the east coast. See the review for the first time on Monday, July 25th!!

Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth can be read at:

http://www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com

From Ben:

 
Sliding back into the writer’s chair has been a truly rewarding experience. I’ve never really stopped writing, but I’ve been inspired lately to flex those muscles anew. I’m happy to say that we have a bevy of cool stuff coming although, I can’t reveal many details!

  (more…)

Los Angeles-based, Runic Films, an independent film production company, congratulates filmmaker Ben Alpi and comic artist Rick Arthur for their blog Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth which continues like a juggernaut to break their own records for greatest number of single day page views, greatest single monthly page views and greatest recorded single all-time number of views of a post.

 
“The growth is explosive and exciting,” said Alpi before adding that his creative partnership with fellow blogger Arthur allowed for experimentation and constant tinkering.

 
“Watching the numbers climb is amazing. We are doing in two days now what we would get in ten days a short time ago,” Arthur said.

 
They noted that the” Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth” blog currently draws an audience from over 18 countries to read the three fresh posts that come out every week.?

 
Runic Films schedules new posts three times each week and can be accessed either on the blog site, on the Facebook companion page or Twitter. Do not miss a post and find out what a real Cap movie character could be all about. All posts are easily accessible and many readers like to start at the beginning or with favorite topics.

 
Alpi and Arthur discuss Captain America from all angles as a character for film and readers have responded strongly to a “THOR” double feature film review, three “Avengers” posts and a new movie review? “double shot” onX-Men: First Class. Not surprisingly anything with the Red Skull also draws a lot of interest according to Alpi.

 
The main goal of this series is craft a character for a two hour feature film and the topics go from WWII, comics, movies, Nazis, patriotism, Pearl Harbor, “Simon and Kirby” and much more. Additional Non-Continuity posts are under wraps at Runic Films.

 
Read all about it at www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com.

Runic Films, a Los Angeles based independent film production house, is pleased to announce that May 2011 set an all-time record for its blog Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth featuring in-depth conversation by filmmaker Ben Alpi and comic artist Rick Arthur.

Jump right in at: http://www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com

Based on the number of page views, the growth of the Cap blog not just set single month page view total records but also was predicted to easily be three times the number from two months ago. Interest in a coming Captain America film from Marvel as well as strong word of mouth has helped create a fast growing blog.

“It is a little scary how rapidly this has expanded,” said Arthur. “We expected a drop off after our initial opening in February. This current growth has been so fantastic that Ben and I are heartened by the fact that we now reach readers in more than fifteen countries. It is humbling.”

Strong posts on a variety of topics including the recent THOR movie, Red Skull, screenwriting, patriotism, and Steve Rogers as a boy have all contributed to extremely positive reader reaction. The blog was designed to explore and discuss the idea of creating Captain America as a character for film from the perspective of Ben Alpi, filmmaker and Rick Arthur, comic artist.

Runic Films schedules new posts three times each week and can be accessed either on the blog site, on the Facebook companion page or Twitter. Do not miss a post and find out what a Cap movie character could be all about.

Discover the discussion today at: www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com
Join us on Facebook.
Follow @DiscussMyth on Twitter.

From Ben: Happy New Year! I’m happy to announce that I’ll be working with writer Edward P. Morgan III on a yet-to-be-named science fiction film. Edward is a very talented prose writer that I met at Dragon*Con three years ago (along with his lovely wife Karen!) We got on immediately talking about novel writing and the many traps and snares set for writers these days. We come from very different backgrounds, yet have similar interests. We got to talking about screen writing, something Edward was very interested in learning about, and the seed was planted.

 
Edward writes, “It’s always a pleasure to work with (or just be around) someone who shares so many of the same creative interests and ideals. Since our first meeting, Ben has been a patient teacher regarding my (sometimes naive and simplistic) questions about the world of film, an alien landscape to me. His observations on storytelling continue to send me scrambling to remember all the pieces of writing theory I’ve once read. He has a quick and masterful eye. Attending a photography exhibition with him in January was like a lesson in lighting and framing in itself. I look forward to seeing where this journey will take us and how our different backgrounds will blend into a unified creative vision.”

 
I’ve been developing a new sci fi project over the winter and after Edward and I talked about it, we agreed a collaboration would be an exciting learning experience for both of us. Edward’s vision is so different from mine, I really think this will be a ton of fun. Tally-ho friends!

 
Read Edward Morgan!
http://noddfa-imaginings.blogspot.com/
http://noddfa-imaginings-fiction.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com//noddfa_tampabay

Los Angeles-based Runic Films’ sponsored blog site Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth marks its first month of posts from creative team Ben Alpi, filmmaker and Rick Arthur, comic artist. Interest has been high for this careful reconstructing of the Steve Rogers/Captain America myth which blends factual elements from the WWII era with the wealth of Cap source material.

 
Visit at: www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com

 
Post titles include Going Home, Watch Out Red Skull, No Ordinary Man, Letters From Soldiers and many more. When asked to describe the project, Alpi said, “It is a unique search for character leading into new territory.”?

 
Arthur also commented,”We set out to build a living, breathing character for film. What we ended up with was very unexpected.”

 
Runic Films provided an excerpt from "Emails #8" as follows:?

Nature abhors a vacuum. Opposites attract. Fate will always bring them together. Captain America and Red Skull are trapped together in a web of hatred spun before either of them were born. Both play their part. Neither would dare stand aside for the other.?

 
As part of the hero’s journey, Cap must find the courage to destroy the Red Skull before the war can end. I would like to think that in the crazy last days of the war Cap pursues the Red Skull mercilessly. For his part, the Red Skull is privy to a lot of resources, troops, weapons and secret weapons. It is only on the last day, the last hour of the war that Cap catches up to and corners him. With no place to run, this will be the fight to the finish!

 
To give meaning to the battle, Cap must have faced the Red Skull before and been badly beaten and humiliated. Cap must be severely weakened or handicapped in some way while the Red Skull must be at the height of his powers and have home court advantage. At some point, Cap must be on the verge of giving up and the Red Skull must seem to have the advantage with victory almost in his grasp.

 
Why must Cap seem so weak? It is important that he be the underdog so that when he turns the tables it is all the more dramatic an example of his virtues defeating those of his opponents. If they are more equally matched or Cap has the upper hand going in, audiences will easily mistake the drubbing Red Skull gets as a personal vendetta compared to an act of bravery and heroism that the whole rest of the film tries to set up. Cap is not about vengeance.

 
Think about the final conflicts in a lot of the movies, particularly action movies and how many of them are predicated on attaining revenge. When you see the “hero” spouting pithy one-liners then killing a lot of bad guys the juxtaposition of elements tells you that they are not heroes at all but revenge seekers. Ultimately, there can be no pay off on a spiritual level. Revenge is not a virtue. Nothing is gained. In order for the audience to feel anything, the conflict must result in shock rather than growth. Entire films have been ruined this way with a strong build up and under satisfying finish.

 
If the villain is not dead at the end of the movie and the hero ends up in a block of ice, is it a victory?

 
Decide for yourself by visiting:
www.mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com
Join us on Facebook.
Follow @DiscussMyth on Twitter.

LOS ANGELES, Friday, February 4th, 2011 marked the official debut of the blog entitled ‘Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth’ which is sponsored by Los Angeles-based Runic Films. First day visitors were impressed by the scope of the project and the detail involved. Favorite sections included an original script for a teaser and posts named “THERE IS NO TEA!,” “I must enlist, sir” and “Depression Era Imagination” among others.

The blog features discussion, opinion and sample scenes from filmmaker Ben Alpi and writer/artist Rick Arthur who spent over three years trading in-depth emails about how they would portray Captain America, the classic WWII Simon/Kirby character, in a modern feature film. Arthur stated that the exchanges are “…actual, raw emails so readers can expect an open, candid and often funny conversation between two friends… It’s unique.” Their results can now be viewed at: http://mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com.

“There was something about the ‘post 9/11’ times we’re living in that made us really want to see Cap on the big screen. Rick and I had been chatting about it which inspired me to write an original teaser for a film adaptation. That lit the fire,” Alpi said. ‘Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth’ explores the hero’s origins, motivations and relationships by digging deeply into the foundation of his myth even though the pair never expected their lengthy private conversation to be made public. “When I looked at the wealth of excellent content, I suggested to Rick we release it to the world,” Alpi explains.

“It’s really a lot of fun and we really look forward to opening it up to other fans and storytellers,” Arthur added. When asked about a possible target audience, Arthur commented that the blog would appeal to filmmakers, screenwriters, writers, comic book readers, history buffs and anyone interested in myth and the art of storytelling. ‘Captain America! Redefining Modern Myth’ will keep a brisk schedule with many month’s worth of entries already compiled. Runic Films confirmed that initial plans indicated a summer completion although “special” editions are already in the discussion.

Arthur added, “Response has been overwhelmingly favorable. I can’t wait to hear what people think as we continue the blog.”

Read and discuss the blog now at http://mythdiscussionseries.blogspot.com. Sponsored by Runic Films, a production and entertainment company developing original properties for film, television and the Web. Located in Los Angeles, Calif.

Join us on Facebook.
Follow @DiscussMyth on Twitter.