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A NEW WORKPLACE COMEDY ABOUT LIFE IN THE COMIC SHOP

PRESSKIT

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ADVENTURES OF HIJINKS, MYSTERY, AND COMIC STORE MAYHEM!!

Contact: Christina ValentaMarketing and Publicity Director

the Chit Chat co.cvalenta@thechitchatco.com

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PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ADVENTURES OF HIJINKS, MYSTERY, AND COMIC STORE MAYHEM!!

From Chris Walker, former comic book professional turned filmmaker, comes Anti-Matter, a tongue-in-cheek look at the quirky, geeky, and always awesome world of the comic book store. The new Web series follows the exploits of a New York City comic shop, the staff and the regulars that drive them crazy.

An amusing mix of comic shop antics and geek trivia, Anti-Matter uses the world of comic fandom to poke fun at life's attempts to “figure it all out.”

Played out against the bright walls and colorful characters of the store, Anti-Matter explores the quest to fit in, the bonds that are formed between people, and the identities that define each individual as this modern family of friends hangs out, causes trouble, and faces adulthood in their own unique ways.

Through the adventures of the staff and regulars, Anti-Matter delivers a hilarious look at identity, adult hood, and finding family as the events of their lives unfold in the shop.

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PREPARE YOURSELF FOR ADVENTURES OF HIJINKS, MYSTERY, AND COMIC STORE MAYHEM!!

Created by former comic book professional and comic fan Chris Walker, Anti-Matter is a Web series that takes a playful look at “the onset of adulthood” set in the often geeky, yet always cool setting of the comic book shop.  

Transitioning from comic professional to comedic writer/director, Chris decided to start with what he knew, comic culture.   “My goal was to create a series that felt classic and new at the same time. Anti-Matter is a humorous snapshot of the world of comics, a world very dear to me.” says Chris.

Knowing the subject matter he wanted to tackle comedically, Chris worked with Douglas Mangum, a comic shop employee veteran of 6 years, and screenplay writer Matt Bird to develop a basic treatment for Anti-Matter. The treatment sat quietly in a drawer, for several years as Chris

continued his work as a comic book illustrator. After relocating from Greensboro, North Carolina to New York City Chris found himself inspired by the comedic talent around him and decided to revisit the comic shop comedy.  

Originally intended to be a sitcom pilot, Chris re-framed the story to be viewed by Web audiences after attending the 2009 Onfronts and watching a previous year’s acceptance speech by Felecia Day of the the Guild.  He reworked the original treatment to create stand alone episodes.  Influenced by comic strips and sketch comedy, the new episodes were much like the daily funnies.  New situations were created, characters were reworked and several new characters were introduced to fit with this new approach.

To cast the series, Chris reached out to New York’s Universities, such as the  Tisch School of Drama, and placed ads on Craigslist. He struck talent gold when the

casting notice for Anti-Matter was circulated among members of the Upright Citizens Brigade.  The response was great and so many fantastic actors showed up that Chris actually created new characters to incorporate all of their talent.

All eight episodes of Anti-Matter were developed, written, produced, and directed by Chris Walker and were filmed at Jim Hanley’s Universe, a comic book store in Midtown Manhattan.  Filming took place on nights and Sundays during February and March of 2010.  The first episode premiered on Wednesday, September 29, 2010.  New episodes will continue to premier every Wednesday at www.antimattershow.com.

BACKGROUND

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The Staff:MIKE

Mike is a nice guy who loves old

comics.Having managed the store for

several years, he pretends to hate the

store and the regulars.The truth is,

however, they are a large part of his

life and he wouldn't trade them for

anything.

KAITLIN

Kaitlin, the senior manager of the

store, is a bit of a control freak with a

tendency to get on every one’s nerves.

Although perceived by the store’s

regulars as a kind of disapproving

parental figure, she is secretly proud

that they have made the store their

unofficial club house.

GINGER

Ginger is the “cooler than you”

knockout of the shop who moonlights

as a writer, band member, and

bartender. While she feigns apathy

towards her status as the store’s

resident hottie, she actually loves the

indie boy regulars who frequent the

shop just to flirt with her.

DENNIS

Dennis is the store’s resident artist. He

dreams of becoming the next big

Marvel artist by mixing his love for

comics and Hip Hop. He’s a little too

friendly with the regulars and is more

likely to join in on their shenanigans

than discourage them.

The Regulars:BERNARD

Bernard, a brand

manager and web

architect, is an uber

cool nerd who has been coming to the

store since he first arrived in NYC for

college. He’s the good natured ring

leader of the regulars and will do

anything for his friends and the shop’s

staff; his unofficial family.

TAYLOR

Taylor may be the youngest of the

group, but he is a bona fide genius

having graduated from college at just

16. Despite his intelligence, he’s a little

awkward when it comes to social

interactions. Not the smoothest guy in

the shop, he often starts talking before

he’s had a chance to filter all his

thoughts.

JEREMY

Jeremy is your mid-twenties, comic-

obsessed, unemployed, still-lives-

with-his-mother comic book store rock

star, often pulling pranks which tend to

be more funny than mean.  Ever the

schemer, he refuses to get a real job,

insisting one of his get-rich-quick

ideas will come through in the end.

BATEMAN / MRS. BATEMAN

Bateman, is crude ass who works as a

finance professional and uses the

store as an after work escape from his

tight-leashed lawyer wife. She sees

the time he spends at the store and

with the regulars as a distraction from

their life and son. Bateman tends to

take his familial frustrations out on the

store by acting out and causing

trouble.

MACKENZIE

Mackenzie, is best friends and

roommates with Kayla. She is a

physical trainer, the moral support of

the group, and cheers the regulars on

in whatever goals they may have.

Super hero obsessed, she is eager to

learn every detail about them, and is a

walking encyclopedia of comic book

facts. She may come off as a bit

gullible, but Mackenzie has her

moments of clever brilliance.

KAYLA

Kayla is a grad student and research

assistant.  While she appears laid back

and shy on the outside, underneath

she is incredibly passionate and

vivacious. Given to bouts of passive

aggressive sarcasm, she is a

sweetheart at the core. Her best friend

and roommate is MacKenzie.

JANE

Jane is a professional speaker and

business coach who loves to use

analogues from comics to give a super

hero perspective to her business

clientele. She’s agreeable, helpful, and

a bit of a goofball.  On the flip-side,

though, she can be a bit cocky and

smug.

CHARACTERS

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DESCRIPTION:

Anti-Matter is a weekly comedic Web series

consisting of eight three to five minute episodes.

The series centers on a New York City comic

book store, its staff, and the customers who

frequent the shop. The characters must come to

grips with their new identities as they transition

from young and hip to all grown-up.

RUN DATE:

Run date: The first episode premiered on

September 29, 2010. New episodes premiere

every Wednesday.

WRITTEN, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY:

Chris Walker is a NY based writer, filmmaker and

visual artist. He produced and developed Manga

Vibe, a pop culture and lifestyle show for Starz

Media and Manga Entertainment. His artwork

has been used in Addidas, Marvel Comics,

Virgin Records and Sony Pictures offerings.

Chris has worked with many iconic characters

and properties, including Wolverine, the

Transformers, Batman and Spider-Man.

CAST:

The Store’s Idiosyncratic Staff

Mike (Store Manager) - Played by Justin Tyler, a

writer and actor in New York City. Justin, along

with his comedy team SideCar, were the 2010

recipients of the NYTVF’s People Choice and

Best Comedy Awards.

Kaitlin (Store Manager) - Played by Kirstan Perry,

a versatile actress who has found success

acting in theater, film, and television. She can be

seen in movies such as Smoking Laws and

Sober, as well as various MTV promos. Her

theater credits include Holiday Cocktail Lounge,

Den of Thieves, and Lil’ Abner amongst other.

Ginger (Staff) - Played by Julie Katz, an actor,

writer and improviser is a member of the all

female comedy collective, Candy Slice and the

Brooklyn Soundpainting

Company. Her solo show,

The Number Jane, was

selected to be a part of

Breedingground’s Spring

Fever Festival.

Dennis (Staff) - Played by Pedro Lee, a writer

and performer who has been featured live on

MNN and CTV cable. He has appeared on

MTV’s FNMTV. He has also performed stand up

in The Black Comedy Experiment Project.

Jeremy  - Played by Davram Stiefler, has

performed comedy all over New York City,

including co-producing and hosting a stand-up

comedy showcase entitled Unhand Me Sir! He

regularly appears at the Upright Citizens Brigade

with his sketch comedy group, Gorilla Gorilla.

Bernard - Played by native New Yorker Walter

Vincent. A theater and music major from Wagner

College, Walter has also studied improv with the

Upstanding Citizens Brigade.

MacKenzie - Played by Christina Calph.

Christina can be seen playing the role of Sofia in

the upcoming film, Arthur. She can also be seen

in IFC’s The Whitest Kids U Know, ESPN’s Port

80, Naija Boys’s African Thriller, Rescue Me and

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Kayla - Played by Shannon Coffey.  She began

studying improvisation at UCB in 2006. Shannon

was also a regular on GamePlay HD’s sketch

comedy series Señor Nugget.

Bateman - Played by Aaron Kheifets, a

comedian, writer and director.  His work has

appeared on Comedy Central and garnered

many awards and.  Aaron also runs A-Side/B-

Side at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater.

His credits include MTV, College Humor TV, The

Wall Street Journal and the cult phenomenon

Mortified.

Mrs. Bateman - Played by Katie Johnson.A

Washinton D.C. native Katie Johnson has

appeared on The Colbert Report, All My

Children and several independent films.  

Jane - Played by Jill Butterfield whose film

credits include Lost Track (Best Short Film- NYC

Film Festival) is a veteran of the stage. Jill has

also performed with improv groups and in

sketch comedy shows across NY.

FILMING:

Anti-Matter was filmed at Jim Hanley’s Universe,

a comic book store in Midtown Manhattan.  

Filming took place at night and on Sundays

during February and March of 2010.

WEBSITE:

www.antimattershow.com

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES:

Twitter - http://twitter.com/antimattershow

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/

antimattershow

Tumblr - http://antimattershow.tumblr.com/

MEDIA CONTACT:

Christina Valenta- cvalenta@thechitchatco.com

FACT SHEET

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CAST

Jill Butterfield (Jane) studied drama

at Middlesex University in London,

England.  Born and raised in New

Jersey and a graduate of William

Paterson University, she now calls

New York City her home.  A veteran of

the stage, Jill has performed with

improv groups and in sketch comedy

shows. Her film credits include Lost

Track which won the best short film

award at the NYC Film Festival.

Christina Calph (MacKenzie) is a

versatile artist who can be seen

playing the role of Sofia in the

upcoming film, Arthur. She has also

been in IFC’s The Whitest Kids U

Know, ESPN’s Port 80, Naija Boys’s

African Thriller, Rescue Me and The

Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Shannon Coffey (Kaitlin) was born in

New York before moving to Puerto

Rico at age 5.  She spent the next 13

years trying to explain what freckles

were. In 2003, she moved back to

New York, and in 2006 she began

studying improvisation at UCB.

Shannon was also a regular on

GamePlay HD’s sketch comedy series

Señor Nugget.

Katie Johnson (Mrs. Bateman) is a

Washington D.C. native.  After stints

as a professional ballerina, Harvard

student and Wall Street professional,

Katie got down to business of

becoming an

actress. Since then,

she has been on The

Colbert Report and

All My Children and

can be seen in many indie films.  In her

free time, Katie likes reading about

Japanese Manga from the Edo period.

Julie Katz (Ginger) is an actor, writer

and improviser who studies Drama at

Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.  She

is a member of the all female comedy

collective, Candy Slice and the

Brooklyn Soundpainting Company.  

She also participates in various other

improv groups.  Her solo show, The

Number Jane, was selected to be a

part of Breedingground’s Spring Fever

Festival.

Aaron Kheifets (Bateman) is a

comedian, writer and director whose

work has garnered many awards and

has gained airtime on Comedy

Central.  Aaron also runs A-Side/B-

Side at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade

Theater, and his credits include MTV,

College Humor TV, the Wall Street

Journal, and the cult phenomenon

Mortified.  His finest moment was

becoming a finalist for Playboy’s

Mustache of the Year.

Pedro Lee (Dennis) is respected as a

writer and performer from South

Carolina.  Pedro has been featured live

on MNN and CTV cable and has

appeared on MTV’s FNMTV.   He has

also been featured in the independent

films Revolverand and The Greatest

Low Budget Film Ever Made. He has

also performed stand up in The Black

Comedy Experiment Project.

Kirstan Perry (Kaitlin) is a versatile

actress who has found success acting

in theater, film, and television.  She

can be seen in movies such as

Smoking Laws and Sober, as well as

several MTV promos.  Her theater

credits include Holiday Cocktail

Lounge, Den of Thieves, and Lil’

Abner.  Kirstan is also skilled at

dancing, pilates, yoga, swimming,

scuba diving, driving, and can make a

mean turkey taco.

Davram Stiefler (Jeremy) is an actor/

comedian from Grand Junction,

Colorado.  He has performed comedy

all over New York City, including co-

producing and hosting a stand-up

comedy showcase entitled Unhand

Me Sir!. Davram can be seen in the

2000 horror movie spoof Machine

Head, and the 2010 film, Restless,

about new pharmaceuticals that

eliminate boredom.

Justin Tyler (Mike) is a writer and

actor in New York City, and a member

of the late UCB Harold team, Havana

Clambake.  He is also a founding

member of the sketch/improv groups

Cubicle and Tybrus. Justin is a

monthly contributor to Jest Magazine

and the artistic director of Pig Brooch

Inc, which produced his play, Happy

Mundanes, for the 2004 New York

International Fringe Festival. Justin,

along with his comedy team, SideCar,

is the 2010 recipeent of the NYTVF’s

people choise award as well as best

comedy. Jstin is also the star of the

Web adventures of Justin and Alen

whihc guw starred, Deflcia Day,

Shannon Daughter, and **

BIOGRAPHIES

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Walter Vincent (Bernard) is a native

New Yorker who showed an interest in

acting from a young age by performing

Jim Carry impersonations in his

basement. Walter learned to play the

bass and formed several

neighborhood bands, eventually

growing into a composer, songwriter,

lyricist, musician, and vocalist.  He

majored in theater and music at

Wagner College and studied improv

with the Upstanding Citizens Brigade.

CREW

Writer, Producer, Director,:

Chris Walker is a NY based writer,

filmmaker and visual artist. He has

developed and produced Manga Vibe,

a pop culture and lifestyle show for

Starz Media and Manga

Entertainment. His artwork has been

used in Addidas, Marvel Comics,

Virgin Records and Sony Pictures

offerings. Walker has worked with

many iconic characters/properties,

including Wolverine, the Transformers,

Batman and Spider-Man.

Cinematographer

David Gelston was born in Montreal

and now works as a freelance

photographer and cinematographer in

New York. In 2008 he co-founded

Shenanimedia Inc., a multidisciplinary

media company specializing in the

production and distribution of low-

budget, hi-quality audio and video

content. He graduated from Cornell

University in 2007 and can trace his

interest in film back to middle school

when he used to film and edit

sketches with his friends.

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PHOTOS

We have several photos from set. If you would like to

view more please contact Christina Valenta.

cvalenta@thechitchatco.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Comedic Webseries Explores Geekdoms Inner Sanctum, the Comic Book Store

Former comic book colorist for Marvel and DC pulls from his days as an over-zealous customer to create a humorous look at life in the comic shop

NEW YORK, NY, September, 29, 2010 — Chris Walker, comic book professional turned director, launched Anti-Matter today, a workplace sitcom delving into the lives of a group of 20-something comic book store employees and the customers that drive them crazy.

The show offers a quirky “nerds-eye view” of the world of comic fandom. Anti-Matter also digs into the the transition young adults face, moving from “Quarter Life Crisis” to “New Grown Up,” taking a playful look at identity, coming of age, and the procrastination of adulthood. “I wanted to make a comedy series.” says Chris. “My goal was to create a series that felt classic and new at the same time. So I started with what I know, comics and figuring out what it means to be an adult on your own terms, not others’. ”

Each 3-5 minute episode of Anti-Matter gives viewers a tongue-in-cheek look into comic culture in a way that only an insider could deliver. Through their own “geeky” lenses, the characters try and come to terms with hating their jobs, no longer being “cool”, and getting over their own self-importance.

No bandwagon fan when it comes to comic books, Chris has been coloring comics professionally for over half a decade for the likes of Marvel and DC on characters such as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and the X-Men.  When he got the itch to expand his creative horizons and make comedies he decided to start close to home.

“If there’s one thing I know that’s funny, it’s the conversations and experiences you have hanging out at comic books stores.” says Chris. “Anti-Matter is a humorous snapshot of that world.  A place any fan or retailer will tell you is full of laughs and crazy hijinks.”

The eight episode season airs new episodes on Wednesdays, the same day new comics hit shelves. To watch the series, visit www.antimattershow.com.

About Anti-Matter and Chris Walker:Anti-Matter stars Upright Citizen Brigade (UCB) regulars Justin Tyler (NYTVF People’s Choice Winner, the Webventures of Justin & Alden, Sidecar), Aaron Kheifets (Co-Host of UCB Show A-Side/B-Side), Johnathan Fernandez (Stone Cold Fox) and Davram Steifler (Gorilla Gorilla).

For more information on Anti-Matter or to watch episodes, visit their websitewww.antimattershow.com, or their Facebook  Page (facebook.com/antimattershow). Episodes may also be viewed on You Tube, Blip TV and iTunes.

Chris Walker is a NY based writer, filmmaker and visual artist. He has developed and produced Manga Vibe, a pop culture and lifestyle show for Starz Media and Manga Entertainment. His artwork has been used in Addidas, Marvel Comics, Virgin Records and Sony Pictures offerings. Walker has worked with many iconic characters/properties, including Wolverine, the Transformers, Batman and Spider-Man.

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Contact: Christina ValentaMarketing and Publicity Directorthe Chit Chat co.E-Mail: cvalenta@thechitchatco.com