Ben Dobyns, Executive Producer of "Dark Dungeons"

Last year, more than 49,000 gaming enthusiasts descended upon Indianapolis for Gen Con, “The Best Four Days in Gaming.” As co-founder of Seattle-based production companies Zombie Orpheus Entertainment (ZOE) and Dead Gentlemen Productions, Ben Dobyns has served as executive producer for "The Gamers Trilogy" and the "JourneyQuest" web series, both of which are cult hits in the gaming community. The third film in the "Gamers" series, "Hands of Fate," set a Kickstarter record for funding in the film category with over $400,000 raised.

Ben Dobyns took time to talk to The Film Yap via email about Zombie Orpheus Entertainment’s new film premiering at Gen Con this Thursday, “Dark Dungeons,” as well as his experiences as an independent film producer and his observations on the pros and cons of crowdfunding.

The Film Yap: Gen Con 2014 marks the world premiere of "Dark Dungeons," the film based on an anti-"Dungeons & Dragons" evangelical tract published by Jack T. Chick in 1984. How did you become involved in this project?

Dobyns: A ZOE fan sent us an email and insisted that we explore getting involved with the project. I had several long conversations with JR [producer JR Ralls]. It was clear that he had a compelling vision for the movie, and we turned out to be a great partnership.

Is "Dark Dungeons" a literal adaptation, or is it satire? Or is it something else entirely?

Dobyns: "Dark Dungeons" is a literal adaptation, although we certainly had to expand the material to fit a film-sized time slot. We put a great deal of effort into remaining true to the world of Jack T. Chick and researched his other tracts and supplementary website commentaries thoroughly. For example, we made sure that any biblical citations or references in the film were drawn from the only version of the Bible that he regards as authentic.

We similarly took a great deal of inspiration from his website's commentaries on role-playing games. I am confident that we have remained true to the spirit of the Jack Chick method and message. The film is not a satire; it is extremely important to us that we represent the source material accurately.

In terms of ZOE's involvement (as a company that has been involved with several "pro-gaming" films), the deciding factor for our involvement was realizing that we had a duty to teach the controversy. This is America, and if we've learned anything from FOX News, it's that every controversial perspective demands that an opposing view receive equal airtime. Given the seriousness with which this controversy has raged for over 20 years, as a media company it was time for us to do our patriotic duty and present a strong counter-example to the pro-gaming messages of the "Gamers" films.

I am confident that gamers and non-gamers alike will find the film meaningful, entertaining and relevant.

As a gamer yourself, what was your reaction the first time you read the "Dark Dungeons" tract?

Dobyns: I first read the tract as a teenager who had recently discovered "D&D" while living in a small logging town. I didn't know anyone else my age who played, but suddenly here was a comic book that, at first glance, appeared to validate my interest in the hobby! Of course, the direction the story went was a bit of a surprise. However, back then, in order to play with the boys next door, I was required to accept "Watchtower" and other pamphlets from their parents, so the message of "Dark Dungeons" didn't as much shock me as remind me of the stack of tracts in my room: the price I had to pay before biking around the neighborhood with my friends.

What is the most important thing you would like non-gamers to take away after watching "Dark Dungeons?"

Dobyns: I hope that anyone who watches the film will gain a stronger understanding about the true dangers of role-playing games.

Could you please tell us a little about the origins of your company, Zombie Orpheus Entertainment?

Dobyns: We were founded in 2010 under a radical new distribution model: Put everything online for free and let the audience support the shows if they wanted to see more. It's been a huge success for us. The fan-supported model has since spread to numerous other shows!

At Gen Con you'll be part of a few Film Festival panel discussions, including "Crowdfunding for Film" and "Producing an Independent Series." As an independent media production company, ZOE is based on the "fan-supported, creator-distributed" model. In your experience, what is the greatest challenge this model presents? What is its greatest strength?

Dobyns: The biggest challenge is that core fans have already paid for a show when it comes out, which means that retail sales can be weak. We don't make it onto many "hot sellers" lists, but we break Kickstarter records. Since our primary business is building a sustaining fan base, rather than pushing sales, this is OK with us. The greatest strength of our model is that we have passionate fans worldwide who feel empowered to support, evangelize, remix and share the shows they love. They are the people who make the company successful!

First through Dead Gentlemen Productions and now with ZOE, you have a professional relationship with Gen Con that goes back at least a decade. As a filmmaker, what has it been like working with the largest gaming convention in North America?

Dobyns: Gen Con has been incredibly supportive. The first" Gamers" film helped normalize the hobby for thousands of players, and screenings and sales at the con helped put it in front of people we never would have reached otherwise. And of course, we set much of ""Hands of Fate" at Gen Con itself, which was an extraordinary partnership.

L. Gabriel Gonda, who directed "Dark Dungeons," will be part of the "Directing Film" panel at the Gen Con Film Festival. Gonda is another Seattle-area filmmaker like you. Is this your first time working with him? How did he become attached to "Dark Dungeons?"

Dobyns: Gabriel approached me asking to shadow on set for a future project. I liked his reel, his collaborative attitude and his understanding of the material, so I conferred with JR and we offered him the directing job. He did an extraordinary job! Also, as a non-gamer, he was able to approach the material with less bias than I might have exhibited. Letting "Dark Dungeons" speak for itself, authentically and honestly, has been a core goal from the beginning, and Gabriel was able to approach the source material with respect, creativity and responsibility. I am thrilled with his work!

What is your favorite memory from working on "Dark Dungeons?"

Dobyns: Ask me next year, please.

What other projects are you currently working on for ZOE, or what's up next for you?

Dobyns: We have a secret project in post-production that I'm immensely proud of. "JourneyQuest" season three is in active development as we work on solving the budget/financing for that epic story. And we're getting ready to tease the big property that we've been developing for five years! Everything we've done to this point has been paving the way for "Strowlers," which synthesizes the stories, themes, and distribution models we've explored into something that we can't wait to share. Here's a hint: It's a massive shared, creative world that allows commercial derivatives, interweaving storylines, multiple creative teams and ongoing episodic content.

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