Kung Faux

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Kung Faux
Starring (various)
Country of origin USA
Production
Running time 26 min
Release
Original network Fuse
External links
Website

Kung Faux is an American action comedy television series and audio visual art assemblage created by Mic Neumann[1][2] that remixes classic kung fu movies with popular music, comic book style editing with video game style special effects, and new storylines with voice-over dubbing from contemporary art stars, hip hop personalities, and pop culture icons.[1][2][3][4][5]

History

Kung Faux was first created as an art project and movie treatment in 1999 before transforming into a half-hour television series by Kung Faux creator, producer, director and revisionist Michael "Mic" Neumann . The original Kung Faux series first appeared on the websites "Popdetail.com", "Dubtitled.com" and "BentoBox.tv" as video treatments for a proposed sequential art project and feature length film version of the "Kung Faux" concept, before using its comprehensive Remix formula to transform into an episodic format for television that first aired in 2003 as part of the inaugural launch of the Fuse music television channel in the USA, a subsidiary of Rainbow Media's AMC Networks. From there, Mic Neumann continued to revision, Remix and transform Kung Faux into a distinctive audio visual artwork and brand that has evolved through various forms and channels to over 150+ countries worldwide.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Reception

Kung Faux: "revisionist Mic Neumann has an offering worthy of the Postmodernism canon, alongside Jean-Luc Godard's Weekend and Luis Bunuel's Chien Andalou.", reported Steve Johnston of The Film Cynics.[4] Rashaun Hall of Billboard Magazine considered the mix of vintage kung-fu film footage, voice-overs with rappers, comic book style special effects, and a hip-hop soundtrack to be "a high-flying, hilarious send-up of the kung-fu genre."[7] Evan Serpick, editor of Entertainment Weekly said the first two episodes of Kung Faux "are filled with hysterical and clever infusions".[8] The Orlando Sentinel's Matthew Mark said "Kung Faux is a work of Postmodernism that would make Jacques Derrida's head spin."[2] Muzik editor Conor W. McNicholas included Kung Faux in the magazine's Special Edition "Hot 50" issue, calling it "Comedy Gold"[9] and Beth Accomando of KBPS said Kung Faux is "Hilarious, Fresh and Inspired."[10]

Releases

Kung Faux music and voice-over work was performed by hip-hop artists De La Soul, Guru, Masta Ace and Queen Latifah.[1] Other voice-over artists include KAWS (artist), Steve Powers (artist), Crazy Legs (dancer), Elephant Man (musician), Afrika Bambaataa, Biz Markie, Jean Grae, Mr. Len, Roc Raida, Sadat X,[7] Ron van Clief and Harold Hunter.[8][11]

In 2003, the first Volume (publishing) of the Kung Faux collection was released commercially in 2003 by Dubtiled Entertainment and Tommy Boy Films,[7] along with a Special Edition art toy from the Kung Faux line of Action Figgaz titled "Break Boy", which was licensed by Art Asylum and created for their collectable line of Minimates.[12]

In 2004, Acclaim Entertainment optioned the Kung Faux video game rights for developer Blue Shift to produce before Acclaim Games ultimately filed for bankruptcy and reverted the option.[13]

In 2005, Starz (TV channel) debuted Kung Faux when the channel started to introduce unique programming to compete with rival pay TV services HBO and Showtime (TV channel).

In 2006, the artist duo known as Gnarls Barkley did a collaborative short film with Kung Faux which aired heavily around the world on the Channel V networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.[14][15]

In 2007, Kung Faux debuted on the Rede Globo network in Brazil,[16] and the Nelonen network in Finland.[17]

In 2008, Kung Faux debuted in Japan on the Music On! TV network, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[18]

In 2009, Kung Faux debuted on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation network,[19] as well as Italy's GXT network, who debuted a Remixed version of Kung Faux with the artist Eminem.[20]

In 2010, Kung Faux debuted on Twitter, and the Hollywood filmmaker Brett Ratner known for such films as The Family Man, Red Dragon, the Rush Hour series, and X-Men: The Last Stand, edited an English version of the Bollywood film Kites, headlining Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori, using a comprehensive Remix formula originated by the international Kung Faux television series.[21]

In 2011, Kung Faux debuted in Sub-Saharan Africa on the Sony MAX network, a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Television (South Africa), where it was described as a "Boundary-Busting Action Comedy Series".[22]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kipnis, Jill (October 19, 2002). Tommy Boy Branches Out With Film/TV Division. Billboard Magazine. Page 6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Matthews, Mark K. (March 28, 2004). The Orlando Sentinel Retrieved August 23, 2012
  3. 3.0 3.1 KungFauxSite The Official Kung Faux Website. August 19, 2010
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Film Cynics (August 19, 2008) Retrieved August 23, 2012
  5. 5.0 5.1 IMDb Summary (Kung Faux) Retrieved August 23, 2012
  6. IMDb Biography (Mic Neumann) Retrieved August 23, 2012
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Hall, Rashaun (May 3, 2003). Billboard Reviews. Billboard Magazine. Page 46. May 3, 2003.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Serpick, Evan (May 09, 2003). Style Wars; Kung Faux Vol. 1. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 21, 2010
  9. McNicolas, Conor W. (August 1, 2003). Special Issue: The Hot 50. MUZIK Magazine. Cover Page and Page 38.
  10. Accomand, Beth (February 9, 2009). Bruce Campbell and Kung Faux. KBPS. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  11. IMDb Various Cast and Credits (Kung Faux) Retrieved August 23, 2012
  12. Figures Database: Art Asylum - Two New Minimates Revealed (2003) Retrieved August 16, 2012
  13. Blue Shift Incorporated: Our Games (2004) Retrieved August 14, 2012
  14. Artistopia Bio: (Gnarls Barkley) Retrieved August 25, 2012
  15. Kung Faux on Channel V International (9:00)TV Guide Index Retrieved December 5, 2011
  16. Diario do Nordeste - GloboTV - Kung Faux on (Multishow) Index Retrieved August 25, 2012
  17. Kauppalehti Presso (November 3, 2007) Nelonen 12.30 Index. Page 32. Retrieved August 25, 2012
  18. Kung Faux on Music On! TV: (M-On! Amusement Jam) Retrieved on August 25, 2012
  19. Kung Faux on ABC Network: (Australia) Retrieved August 25, 2012
  20. Kung Faux on GXT: (Italy) Retrieved August 25, 2012
  21. Brett Ratner Wants Hrithik Roshan in Hollywood (May 17, 2010) Sawf News. Retrieved August 14, 2012
  22. Sony Max has its tongue wedged firmly in its cheek this May (March 16, 2011) Media Update. Retrieved August 14, 2012

External links