Babel Universe to launch on Mogul Productions and power an Animated Series
Background
Babel began as an academic thesis about a hypothetical “universal language”, a language that is powerful enough to overcome all communication barriers between individuals. If you’re familiar with the biblical story “Tower of Babel”, you probably know that the people there spoke a unified language until God confused their tones. That language led its speakers to build a tower to reach heaven. In another sense, it showcases a positive belief in the collective power of mankind when connected.
After researching throughout history, (Handuo, Co-Founder of Babel) found that the search for the “universal language” has taken many shapes over the past thousands of years. From religion to linguistics, from philosophy to computer science, the most recent attempt to realize such a language is the BCI (Brain-Computer Interfaces) technology.
Such a techno-universal language may become true in the unavoidable near future. (Not only because Elon Musk’s company Neuralink aims to make it.) Especially when it brings more productivity to the ones who “speak” it than the ones who don’t. However, just like the “Tower of Babel” story implies, we can be constructive when we’re connected, but destructive when such a connection fails. We’re not only facing a technological problem but a humanistic choice. Because technology is who uses it. Just as a language is who speaks it.
In mid-2020, Handuo wrote these ideas into a Sci-fi short story and presented it at the Cologne film festival. Three writers (Marina, Michael, and Hernando) saw his presentation and found him after. In the following half a year, they expanded the short story into an animated series bible.
The Animated Series
“After a VR game that offered them purpose and a sense of community ends in 2035, 10,000 individuals reunite through an overwhelmingly powerful mindsharing software given to them by the game makers, only to find themselves on the run from the authorities…”
Together with Marina Bendocchi Alves, Michael Grießler, and Hernando Sandoval, they wrote an Animated-Series Bible in early 2021 that contains 10 x 10-15mins episodes for the first season.
We follow three main characters’ journeys from finding “Heaven” (the software that enables the universal language) in an online game to forming a collective intelligence and confronting an AI totalitarian world.
On one hand, the story is a speculative future of our world. On the other hand, it also centers on a universal topic: Connection vs Disconnection. The universal language speakers can share their thoughts, experiences, emotions, and skills, but also their flaws. Will they be able to shine a light on the dark cyberpunk future? We invite everyone who participates in the project to decide.
BabelDAO
Babel believes that a story about a collective intelligence is best to be made by a collective intelligence. And the best people and tools for this large-scale co-creation are only to be found in Web3. Therefore, Handuo partnered up with blockchain veteran Yanko at the beginning of 2022 to establish BabelDAO: a decentralized autonomous organization to bring the animated series to life and expand the Babel universe in ways that we alone cannot imagine.
The BabelDAO members will hold NFT badges that represent their levels of involvement in the universe’s creation. Their NFTs can be earned without spending money. Members can upgrade their badges by completing educational tasks, participating in community events, and creating values (Creative, Financing, Marketing, and Management) for the project in their own ways. On the other hand, they can open a purchasable option for members to speed up their growth. This is to bring cash flow for the project.
Every part of the series production is to be co-created. Members with high-level badges (which usually means a deeper understanding of the project) can do things such as writing their own storylines, voting on creative decisions, auditioning for voice-acting, and getting paid for their work.
The BabelDAO funds their creatives with both USD and their native ERC-20 token. All members involved in the series production are also to be compensated a royalty when the series goes public (i.e. streams on one of the major streaming platforms).
There are eight guilds in the DAO. They are: Writing Guild, Visual Art Guild, Audio Art Guild, Creative Coding Guild, Moving-Image Guild, Design Guild, Finance Guild, and Public Relations Guild. A universe can only expand with the collective effort of people with different skills and passions.
For those looking to get involved, you can earn a Seed badge (for free) and join their Discord. The date for the Babel NFT Drop will be announced on Mogul Productions in the near future!
About Mogul Productions
Mogul Productions is revolutionizing film financing, allowing a global audience of fans to participate in the financing of movies and other forms of entertainment through NFT sales. Mogul’s NFT marketplace serves as a bridge between the NFT arena and the world of entertainment financing. It’s a platform for film fans, by film fans, empowering users to take an active role in the script-to-screen process. Access Pass holders get even more insider benefits and perks, including access to exclusive events held around Mogul-produced film releases.Website | Twitter | Instagram | Reddit | Telegram | Medium
PFP collection will also be used to drive ESA Therapy
The Billionaire Bunnies Club was founded by two graduates of Pace University and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in NYC. Julian Bonilla and Marcus Louis, who came together to empower others with the passion for entrepreneurship in Web3 and to also bring awareness to Emotional Support Animal Therapy.
The Billionaire Bunnies Club is currently in the process of creating an animated crime drama series that utilizes NFT art and blockchain technology. They are looking to create a unique experience for their holders and plan to provide an environment that emphasizes Web3 education curating a luxury lifestyle and culture brand which ties in together perfectly with other many global brand initiatives. Their focus is on becoming a globally recognized brand within the NFT industry.
Co- Founder, Julian Bonilla has a background in commodity sales and marketing. Julian has helped companies maximize their earnings and outreach to consumers through social media and network marketing opportunities. An accomplished entrepreneur with a long track record of success beginning when he was 21 years old eventually building well over $10M worth of revenue for clients and helping to build several successful ancillary businesses during this period. For nearly 7 years, Julian was associated with the new construction and FinTech sales business. He was responsible for bringing in over 90% of the revenue for those businesses. The Artist and Co-Founder Marcus Louis has a graphic design and fashion design background where he has worked with major brands in Tech and Fashion. Marcus, the creative lead of The Billionaire Bunnies Club has taken the art of this project to new levels and knows the foundation of it is the quality of the art.
Their roadmap is developed around producing the animated series and also offers access to other member-only events that will take place in real life and in the metaverse. The animated series will be funded by the community and also have member only perks that will allow the community opportunities to access behind the scenes content and much more! Owner of a Billionaire Bunnie will give lucky holders the opportunity to see their characters as cameo in different episodes of the series adding more interest to engage the audience and their desire to watch.
The roadmap will give members the opportunity to understand when the animated series will become produced in-house. They look forward to continuing building with a community-driven development approach leading the way. They are an ESA therapy driven team and the idea of this all stemmed from seeing a direct correlation where bunnies are used as emotional support animals. They believe in investing in the fundamental methods of therapy. An ESA can drastically improve a person’s quality of life, helping them through sometimes debilitating anxiety and depression symptoms. A lot of their efforts of awareness will be directed towards those organizations focused on mental health and mental disabilities who utilize these ESA therapy programs. As support animals are often overlooked as a method of coping, they want to bring awareness to the different types of adversity we all face in life especially since the events of COVID and the unsure economic standing it hits us all with. Bunnies happen to be a huge part of the ESA therapy community so they believe they can help a great variety of different families with their team’s mission. The Billionaire Bunnies Club will continue offering education within their community on safely selling, buying and trading NFTs.
About Mogul Productions
Mogul Productions is revolutionizing film financing, allowing a global audience of fans to participate in the financing of movies and other forms of entertainment through NFT sales. Mogul’s NFT marketplace serves as a bridge between the NFT arena and the world of entertainment financing. It’s a platform for film fans, by film fans, empowering users to take an active role in the script-to-screen process. Access Pass holders get even more insider benefits and perks, including access to exclusive events held around Mogul-produced film releases.Website | Twitter | Instagram | Reddit | Telegram | Medium
Mogies public sale goes live on the Mogul platform on October 21st
Brought to you by the animators of the Simpsons, the Mogies public sale will start next week! With loads of perks and bonuses in store we are over the moon with excitement for this monumental moment in Mogul history.
This process has been a whole year in the making. Last October we partnered with the animators of the Simpsons at Chavvo Studios to bring Mogies to life. One year later, we’ve released the trailer, created the NFTs, sold out the pre-sale, developed the animatic for the pilot episode, and now we’re releasing the creative to the public. What a ride!
Sale Details
There are only 1923 Mogies that exist – all of which play a key role in the animated series.
250 Mogies are SOLD OUT from the pre-sale.
Starting October 21st, only 600 Mogies will be sold via a dutch auction starting at 1 ETH. The price decreases by 0.2 ETH every 24 hrs to 0.2 ETH if they’re not sold out
Buyers above 0.2 ETH are eligible for a rebate in ERC20 $STARS up to 1.5x the premium paid. That means if you purchase at 1 ETH and the auction ends at 0.2 ETH, you will not only get all of the perks slated for DA purchasers (bonus Access Pass, Mogieland plot, golden & silver embossed Mogies & more), but you will also receive 1.6 ETH worth of STARS tokens after the sale ends!!
All Mogies buyers who purchase in $STARS get 10% off as well!
Benefits for buying on Oct 21:
A bonus collectors’ edition gold or silver embossed Mogie
Up to 1.5x rebate on your purchase in $STARS tokens
Bonus Mogieland Metaverse plot of land
Bonus Access Pass NFT
Bonus mint (if unsold, the remaining Mogies will be distributed to those who buy in the dutch auction)
Dates to bookmark in your calendar:
Aug 8-10 Pre Sale: SOLD OUT Oct 21-25: Public Sale via Dutch Auction Oct 26-Nov 2: Whitelist Sale Nov 2 onwards: Public sale, rebates, bonus mint & art reveal
Please practice best security practices during your purchasing process and make sure you are only following official links. Mogies are only purchasable directly from the Mogul platform. No Mogul email addresses other than [email protected] will email you.
Transcript of the Mogies AMA in Discord with the Mogul team. The Mogies sale will start on October 21st and will happen exclusively on the Mogul platform
Q: are Mogies available for purchase in STARS tokens? A: yes, Mogies are available for purchase in STARS tokens and ETH. If you purchase in STARS, you will receive a 10% discount
Q: I have STARS on the BSC network. Can I buy Mogies with them? A: The short answer is yes, but Mogies are on the ETH network, so the STARS you use to purchase them will have to be on the ETH network as well. If your STARS are on the Binance Chain, you will need to bridge them over. You can do so through the MultiChain bridge or by depositing and withdrawing from the Ascendex exchange. Our team can help and guide you if you require assistance
Q: I won a contest whitelist spot. How do I claim and verify my whitelist role? A: If you won a whitelist spot, you need to let our admins know and show proof. Once you do that, you will receive the Contest WL role on Discord. You will also be required to fill out the premint form at this link: https://www.premint.xyz/mogies/ Once you fill out the premint form, we will have your Discord username and be able to make sure that you are given whitelist
Q: How many STARS tokens do I need to purchase a Mogie? A: at the current price of ETH and STARS a Mogie on the first day of the sale will cost approximately 240k STARS tokens Of course, this will go down by 0.2 ETH per day
Q: What benefit does the whitelist get me? A: The whitelist gives you the opportunity to purchase at the lowest price of the dutch auction AFTER the dutch auction sale. There are unique perks for purchasing in the dutch auction that you will not qualify for, but the benefit is that you can buy at the price the auction ends at. So if the auction ends at 0.6 ETH, you will be able to purchase for that price
Q: What are the perks on buying on the first day of the dutch auction on Oct 21? A: – 1.5x rebate on your purchase in STARS – Free bonus Mogies at the end of the sale (if there are any unsold, these will be redeemable for the people who buy FIRST in the dutch auction. So if there are 50 Mogies remaining after the sale, then the first 50 buyers in the dutch auction will be able to claim these for free. They will also receive their rebate, so they will be getting a 2 for 1 discount) – Gold and silver embossed Mogies – Free bonus access pass
Q: I own an access pass. How do I make sure that I get whitelist? A: There will be a snapshot the Tuesday before the sale. So if you buy before then, you will get your wallet address automatically put onto the whitelist
Q: I am new to Mogul and see that there is a STARS reward for the rebate system. What are STARS tokens and what are they used for? A: Mogul is the future of film & $STARS power the platform $STARS are used to: Purchase movie NFTs Vote on movies to launch on Mogul Claim exclusive movie rewards Stake & more STARS tokens have been live for nearly 2 years and are listed on many decentralized and centralized exchanges
Q: Many NFT collections are scams that are made very quickly and then the team rugs the project. How long have Mogies been worked on and what can we expect? A: This year has been amazing for Mogies! Can’t believe we have been working on this for nearly a year Timeline Oct ’21: Mogul partners with the animators of the Simpsons @chavvostudios Jan ’22: Trailer released Aug ’22: Pre Sale SOLD OUT at Futurist Conference Oct 21 2022: Public Sale ⌛️
Q: Do Mogies have different traits on the NFTs like Bored Apes? A: Yes. There are 5 tiers of Mogies and each also has what is called a STAR Meter which is a score from 1-100 that each Mogie has. In addition, Mogies have 7 different facial expressions based on the 7 universal emotions These expressions will play a key role in their character development in the animated series Anger Fear Disgust Happy Sad Surprise Contempt
Q: what are the 5 tiers of Mogies? A: 5 tiers of Mogies with distinct backgrounds: Gold: Mogieland Legends Red Carpet: Industry Icons Backstage: Fan Favorites Studio: Main Characters Flat: Supporting Cast
Q: what is the Mogies supply? A: there are only 1923 Mogies. This was chosen because next year is the 100th year anniversary of the Hollywood sign being erected in LA (1923 was the year it was erected) and there is so much detail that go into the artwork of Mogies that each one took nearly a day to make!!
Q: Who is the artist? A: Erick Tran is the Mogies artist. He was the lead artist for the Simpsons and King of the Hill and is working with us to make Mogies into an animated series
Q: How will the reveal go? A: the reveal will happen after the sale. Each Mogie is randomly assigned to the owners in a fair manner. The Mogie number will not match the token ID
Q: I didn’t make the whitelist. Can I still purchase a Mogie? A: Yes! You can still purchase in the dutch auction, or you can wait until after the whitelist sale for the public sale if there are any remaining. The best way to guarantee you can get a Mogie is to purchase through the dutch auction on Oct 21
Here are the phases of the sale: – Pre Sale (SOLD OUT) – Dutch Auction (only 600 Mogies) – Whitelist Sale – Public Sale – Redeem Mogies (if any unsold for the dutch auction purchasers to redeem for free) – STARS rebate – Reveal
Q: Should I buy in STARS tokens or ETH? A: This is up to you as a buyer, but the benefit of buying in STARS is that you get a 10% discount on your purchase. STARS buyers, however, will get a 1x rebate no matter where they buy in the dutch auction, but ETH buyers can get a rebate up to 1.5x
Q: How can I get a FREE Mogie toy? A: We have partnered with Ism Toys for our holders to order real life representations of their NFTs. We have already made 2 of them. If you mint one of these two toys, we will send you them for free!
Q: How does the rebate work in the dutch auction? A: In short, if you buy above the floor price, you will get the difference in price sent back to you. 600 Mogies are sold via dutch auction starting at 1 ETH. The price decreases by 0.2 ETH every 24 hrs to 0.2 ETH if they’re not sold out Buyers above 0.2 ETH are eligible for a rebate in ERC20 $STARS up to 1.5x the premium paid Full details of the rebate are on the Mogul platform under the Mogies section
Q: When will I be able to see the Mogies animated series? A: We have finished the animatic for the pilot episode for Mogies Episode 1 and we are hoping to do a viewing and give that animatic to the Mogies buyers so they can watch it and be part of the creative process
Q: I heard that Mogul will be building a Hollywood Metaverse. Can I own land there? A: All mogies buyers will get a free plot of land in Mogieland when it launches. Mogieland is a Hollywood metaverse for film premieres, games, shopping, and more.
That is all for our AMA today! We hope that this was helpful for everyone. If anyone has any additional questions please post them and our team will help answer them all and educate our community prior to the sale
Hey @Lazarus Guidry Welcome to Mogul Productions discord server, thank you for taking your time to make your way over here 😄
Lazarus Guidry:
Thank you for having me
Josh:
Hey!
Josh:
I know discord can be a bit of a minefield if you’re new so it’s great that you found your way 🙂
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes, sir I am new to Discord thank you for having me again @Mogul Productions
Josh:
Of course, it’s our honour!
Josh:
So, let’s begin the AMA! I’m Josh, the Community Manager at Mogul Productions. And I will be fielding you the questions 😄
Would you like to introduce yourself to anyone who is unaware of who you are and what you’re doing?
Lazarus Guidry:
My name is Lazarus Guidry I am an actor-writer comic book writer of the comic book @ReignofteUnderdog I started out in the industry of a while ago I had done a few short films prior to getting out of the role in Straight Outta Compton and then from there I booked another TV series and other different TV shows including them unsolved stories of 2Pac and biggie smalls I’ve been in the industry as an artist the musician rapper a first score of the music soundtrack on the alpha dog movie and the song is called enemy and I m. It started to open up more doors in my entertainment journey that has been very interesting it has been a wild ride at this point and now I’m here launching an NFT with MOGUL productions and I’m excited to share with the world
Josh:
Oh, that’s an awesome story. And I am a huge fan of Straight Outta Compton. The sound of a generation for some for sure.
Josh:
The film was, dare I say, a masterpiece!
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes, the experience changed my life
Josh:
It actually leads me nicely into the first question that I had prepared,
What was your experience like with your breakout role in the film world on “Straight Outta Compton”? Must have been eye opening to be involved in such a powerful film!
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes, it was very eye-opening
Lazarus Guidry:
My experience was not just eye-opening it was life-changing I got a chance to experience working with a well-known Director F Gary Gray and to watch everyone on sat perform and do the very best and really just give stellar performances oh yeah I realized that I was in the company of really great actors and their production was just phenomenal I had never seen a set built in a matter of hrs. Everyone from the Stunt team down to the crafty were on their A game it was a very high intense set and everyone was very serious about the job it made me step my game up as an actor and not only want to be an actor and a writer but enjoyed embellish as a creator of the story and they were telling it just really changed my life
Josh:
That’s incredible. And so good that you were able to appreciate the talents of all the people around you in all aspects of filmmaking 😊
Lazarus Guidry:
I did, it reminded Well I’m an actor a writer and most of all the comic book writer I love comic books
Josh:
So, getting to the writing aspect of your career – What spurred the initial development of the graphic novel? Are you able to go into the story of why you created this and how your life experiences help shape the storyline?
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes I started to create Reign of the Underdog as a niche for a record I was about to release during as an independent artist rapper and as I started to create the character I started to realize that I not only wanted to create the music but also a full story and so that niche turned from an Ashkan to a full series of comic books and from there it evolved into the Launching the first issue at San Diego Comic-Con and New York Con.
Lazarus Guidry:
I didn’t know that character development was going to be so involved and require a lot of thought it wasn’t like writing a song I had to really go in deep and define all the characters and solidify who they were and make sure that they were very solid. down to creating their shoes to the way the eyes were shaped to color of their hair it was very detailed and who they were had to be very detailed and still allowing you to love the character and even the villain and still dislike them but still find that balance and so I was really fortunate to be able to collaborate with Arvell Jones. we got down to the nitty-gritty and sorry creating the comic book
Josh:
That’s awesome and the details you went to! I know comic book fans are probably the most invested in the characters that they love, can you tell us a bit about your experience at Comic Con when you first brought this to market before Covid and how well it was received by fans?
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes I had initially created a Ashkan the first Con experience was in 2010 when we first released the reign of the underdog Ashkan those sold out completely just got devoured by the fans, they Loved them and so that propelled me to keep pushing forward with the story and working towards the next cons and so I was really excited about it we did a huge 50th anniversary release at San Diego ComiCon and added an addition to the comic book was an augmented reality demo of the characters so I wanted to constantly take the project to the vision of the animated series which is what ultimately I wanted to share with the world and the fans about what was coming next reign of the underdog in 2019 released a few hundred copies you and that 50 edition was sold out and the crowd response to it was phenomenal I just knew we were going to the next level. As the Creator of Reign of the Underdog it got me excited. Also, Covid and other things slowed us down but we’re right back at it again and so now we are releasing the NFTs and more things to come
Josh:
Wow you’ve been doing these for over a decade already. That’s fantastic.
It is quite incredible that you have been working with the likes of DC & Marvel artists to help bring this to life, what was it like working with OGs of the industry and see this come to fruition?
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes, it’s not as easy to create a character and storylines overnight
Lazarus Guidry:
Definitely working with Arvell Jones Bob Wiacek Tom Orsekowski these guys are well known and famous as illustrator inker and letterer in the industry made it a lot easier to bring the story to life, I was very honoured because I was in the company collaborating with these great artist I mean they were creating comic books before I could even think about a comic book
Josh:
That’s great to be able to work with such talent
Josh:
So, onto the NFT’s then, which is one of the main reasons you’re here 🙂
Josh:
Do you have a favourite image of the 3 NFT tiers that are minted? I guess must be hard to beat the original cover from the comic book!
Lazarus Guidry:
Wow that’s a very difficult question to answer all of the NFTs are my favourite but if I had to pick one if you come down to life and death, I’m gonna have to go with the cover
Josh:
For sure. I would have to agree. but I guess that’s why its Tier 1!
Josh:
Diving into NFT utility and perks for the fans and what they can look forward to. What aspect of the NFT utility are you most excited about? The shoe collection you are developing to accompany the NFTs sounds quite interesting!
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes you’re quite correct in that I would say I am most excited about the shoe even though you gave it away which is OK I am excited about it. The design that I come up I think the fans and crowd will be really happy with the development of the characters wardrobe
Josh:
haha sorry. did I spoil it a bit there lol
Josh:
Well, before I open up to the community for their questions if they have any, Any last comments you would like to tell the fans?
Lazarus Guidry:
No not at all.
Lazarus Guidry:
You didn’t spoil it, it was inevitable oh yeah I’m really happy to be able to contribute this art and tell the story to the world. I am really appreciative and honoured I have this opportunity while I’m here and I hope that the fans and the community of collectors will embrace and also feel the same way about the project
Josh:
Excellent. Well I have opened up the channel to the rest of the community now. I know we have overrun on time a little. But if there are any questions from the community please ask away and @Lazarus Guidry will be happy to answer I’m sure
Cr8zyCryptoCat#7219
Oh I can speak! Hehe
I was just wondering about the Lazarus Graphic novel. Is it a just a novel or is it a film series. I guess I am a little confused
SILFASTER#1199
What’s up Lazarus?
Amazing work!
Since you are involved in different creative forms of expression, do you have any plans to combine them?
NFTs are great for mixed media and I’d love to see what you can do with it
Lazarus Guidry:
It’s a graphic novel with an animated series in development
Lazarus Guidry:
What’s up man. To answer your question yes. I am working to combine the different creative forms that with excite the fans
buzzzzzzz#5607
Will the series only get made if all of the NFTs sell?
Josh:
If you still need clarification @Cr8zyCryptoCat please check the website here for full information about the project and the animated series.
Well. I ultimately would love the NFT to sell out that would definitely push the completion forward
SILFASTER#1199
@LAzraps on Twitter is you?
Your site gives a 503 error by the way, think it’s some server issues.
Where can I find your music? (sorry if a bit off topic)
buzzzzzzz#5607
What other types of promotions are you doing to gain awareness for your NFTs on Mogul to get them to sell out?
vanesslo#1669
The graphics look 🔥🔥🔥 really excited to follow the progression of this project
SILFASTER#1199
And when can we expect a Mogie anthem supported by your awesome graphics? 😄
Lazarus Guidry:
Thank you.so much.
vanesslo#1669
Regarding the character shoes, will there be any irl wearable aspect to it? 🤔
Lazarus Guidry:
Mogul and I are working side by side to give you guys the greatest experience in the art form
Lazarus Guidry:
Absolutely the shoes Is wearable.
Lazarus Guidry:
As fat promotions we’ll be at the San Diego Comic Con and other Cons through 2023.
Lazarus Guidry:
You can also follow on my Instagram page. @Reignoftheunderdog
buzzzzzzz#5607
Nice. Are there any social media campaigns that prospective community members can be part of?
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes as we working to build those campaigns at this moment we can follow or add to the reignoftheunderdog Facebook page Twitter to stay connected with the progress of REIGNOFTHEUNDERDOG
buzzzzzzz#5607
What is the current progress / status of the project?
if someone were to ask in the community coming into this Discord channel and you’re not here to answer, what is the 1 sentence pitch as to why they should purchase a Lazarus NFT?
buzzzzzzz#5607
What can holders expect to get after they purchase? What type of access and experiences will they be exposed to?
Lazarus Guidry:
The Reignoftheunderdog script and multiple spin-offs are completed. The first issue is ready for release the second issue is 80 in. Completion. The animated series has an introduction to an AR version at the moment. The shoes have already been designed.
buzzzzzzz#5607
Is this something that we can see or read?
Lazarus Guidry:
@LAzarusGuidry
Lazarus Guidry:
Yes. It’s a comic book series.
Josh:
Excellent. Well, we have unfortunately ran out of time for today. But I am sure @Lazarus Guidry will be hanging around in the discord if you want to ask him anything.
Once again, thank you for your time, Lazarus, its been great to have you on to pick your brains 🙂
If you have any links to your socials, please feel free to drop them here.
Mogul Productions is working with NFT-powered land conservation group Chain Fangs on a first-of-its-kind effort to leverage blockchain technology in order to make the City of Angels a more hospitable place for the thousands of plant and animal species that call it home. Chain Fangs is a philanthropic organization, which is using NFTs as a medium to buy back land with endangered animals under threat in Hollywood.
The Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles is one of the most famous and recognizable landscapes in the U.S. It is the location of countless sprawling celebrity mansions and the iconic Hollywood sign. But it’s not just a playground for the rich and famous, it’s also one of the most diverse wildlife areas in the country. Parts of the land in the area to be sold for commercial development have ecological consequences.
Chain Fangs has created and will be selling NFTs to fund its purchasing of undeveloped land in the Hollywood Hills from private owners. Each individual NFT is a piece of a striking wildlife image provided by partners at the Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife (CLAW). Once the land is purchased, Chain Fangs will place it under protection with an easement to the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy. These and other key partnerships with environmental protection groups in Los Angeles will help preserve the parcels of land and protect the wildlife within it.
The project serves as an opportunity to showcase how NFTs can be harnessed by a group of like-minded individuals to generate positive change in the world. The nature of the technology allows individuals to play a real part in aiding a cause they’re passionate about and facilitate grassroots efforts on an unprecedented scale. NFT holders will have a voice in determining any improvements that will be made to the preserved land parcels, including the placement of things like hummingbird feeders or strategically positioned benches with dedication plaques.
According to UCLA research, L.A. is home to over 4,000 distinct species of animals and plants, including 52 endangered species, all of which live between and among the vast urban center’s millions of human inhabitants. Chain Fangs is selling NFTs to help preserve these precious natural resources and show how the crypto community can take critical conservation efforts into their own hands.
The U.S. has some of the most robust and dedicated conservation organizations on the planet, but red tape, regulations, and bureaucratic processes often get in the way of their efforts. By using blockchain technology and tapping into the enthusiastic crypto community, Chain Fangs believes it can fast track conservation efforts like never before.
We’ve already seen that great things can happen when crypto enthusiasts come together for a common cause, whether it’s getting films funded, or helping protect the rainforest, crypto users can make it happen.
Holders will also be eligible for additional perks, like access to private events hosted with environmental and NFT experts, access to a private Discord chat with videos and updates from the “Fang Gang” itself, and sneak peeks of exclusive upcoming land drops before they’re announced to the rest of the community.
While Chain Fangs is starting its massive group effort in Hollywood, its long-term vision is to bring the same crowdsourced fundraising model to more states and different natural resources. Much like how Mogul Productions works to up-end the established film financing model with NFT technology, Chain Fangs believes the same technology can be used to rapidly advance wildlife conservation efforts.
About Mogul Productions
Mogul Productions is revolutionizing film financing, allowing a global audience of fans to participate in the financing of movies and other forms of entertainment through NFT sales. Mogul’s NFT marketplace serves as a bridge between the NFT arena and the world of entertainment financing. It’s a platform for film fans, by film fans, empowering users to take an active role in the script-to-screen process. Access Pass holders get even more insider benefits and perks, including access to exclusive events held around Mogul-produced film releases. Website | Twitter | Instagram | Reddit | Telegram | Medium
Mogul Productions, the decentralized film financing (DeFiFi), NFT marketplace and production company, is leveraging its community of film fans and blockchain marketplace to help fund the adaptation of a six-part adult graphic novel into an animated series.
The series, dubbed Reign of the Underdog Featuring Lazarus, is an original graphic novel by Lazarus Guidry featuring words and art by some of the industry’s brightest stars. The series’ arc tells the story of Lazarus, a man who must battle his way through a dark world of crime and corruption in search of answers about his family and his very existence. It’s a brooding tale with danger and deception lurking around every turn, with blood to be spilled along the way.
Lazarus Guidry (né Rawlin Guidry) is the creator and writer of the Reign of the Underdog series, and the inspiration for its titular character. A rapper, producer, and actor, he is known for roles in Straight outta Compton, Unsolved, Hulu’s Runaways and many other roles. He is the brainchild behind Reign of the Underdog featuring Lazarus. Guidry drew on experiences from his own troubled youth in Louisiana in the creation of the graphic novel’s world.
Comic industry veteran Arvell M. Jones is the penciller for the Reign of the Underdog series. His impressive artist resume dates back to Marvel Comics in the 1970s, drawing for titles including Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Luke Cage, the Avengers, Daredevil, and more.
Bob Wiacek, the inker for the project, is another comic veteran with decades of experience, beginning in the 1970s as a member of the “Crusty Bunkers” inking collective. He got his start inking backgrounds over Curt Swan’s pencils on Superman for DC Comics before starting a multi-decade career with Marvel, where he worked on titles including Star Wars, The Uncanny X-Men, Power Pack, Sensational She-Hulk, and many others.
Tom Orzechowski, responsible for letters and copyediting of the project, is an award-winning comic book letterer, primarily known for his work on Uncanny X-Men. Over his career, he has lettered around 6,000 pages of longtime X-Men writer Chris Claremont’s scripts over a 25-year period.
Once released, each new 24-page full-color issue of Reign of the Underdog Featuring Lazarus will be distributed to NFT holders, including a music compilation with the first issue. The 500 piece NFT collection will be used to help finance the upcoming animated series and give fans the opportunity to be part of the journey from script to screen. NFT holders will receive a long list of perks & utility in addition to receiving all 5 issues of the comics!
The six-part mini-series will appeal to a broad spectrum of adult comic fans, featuring a richly detailed imagining of a dystopic 2033 cloaked in futuristic sci-fi imagery.
About Mogul Productions
Mogul Productions is revolutionizing film financing, allowing a global audience of fans to participate in the financing of movies and other forms of entertainment through NFT sales. Mogul’s NFT marketplace serves as a bridge between the NFT arena and the world of entertainment financing. It’s a platform for film fans, by film fans, empowering users to take an active role in the script-to-screen process. Access Pass holders get even more insider benefits and perks, including access to exclusive events held around Mogul-produced film releases.
Multi-award-winning filmmaker and actor Anthony Hayes is launching an NFT Series in partnership with Mogul Productions. The proceeds from these NFT sales will finance the new sci-fi film trilogy, “Retrogression.”
Retrogression is a feature film that is part of a three part Sci-Fi trilogy directed by highly acclaimed Australian Filmmaker Anthony Hayes. Hayes is the Producer/Director of GOLD starring Zac Efron, which is out around the World now. As an actor he has starred in WAR MACHINE with Brad Pitt, THE ROVER with Robert Pattinson, LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS with Michael Fassbender and ANIMAL KINGDOM with Joel Edgerton.
Retrogression is another big step forward for Mogul as they look to drive positive change in the entertainment industry by leveraging their platform to empower incredible filmmakers to maintain more financial and creative autonomy. This in conjunction with getting passionate film fans involved in the script to screen process enables a community driven approach to getting the next blockbuster made. The NFT collection will be used as a vehicle to help drive financing and launch the film into production.
The Dark Army is a limited edition mint of an exclusive NFT collection of film-based character NFTs drawn from the sci-fi world of Retrogression – a blockbuster, Hollywood film franchise in development set 300 years in the future. The Dark Army are the enforcers of the law on the desperate island of Omega – one of the few habitable land masses left after the devastation of rising seas caused by climate change. The Dark Army police the Slave Factories, where the poor are forced to work, making “green” products for the rich, who live in massive, luxurious floating cities.
The Dark Army NFT collection is one-of-a-kind, incorporating a limited number of random, super-rare NFTs that entitle the holder/s to perks such as an Executive Producer credit on the first Retrogression feature film. Other rare NFTs will entitle the holder to an exclusive on-set visit during filming, while others will entitle the holder to an appearance as a featured player in the film. Each NFT will as a minimum include: Beta testing passes to play the Retrogression game, a digital image of a costume from the film, location Scout Shots NFT, Exclusive access to Behind the Scenes Shots and Interviews on FilmCrib.io, Storyboard Art NFT, Access to Exclusive Clips on FilmCrib.io. The collection ecompasses more than 15 types of holder utility across both physical and virtual.
The collection will be launched on the Ethereum Blockchain as ERC-721 tokens and purchasable in either Ethereum or ERC-20 STARS tokens. The minting process will be a “Lazy Mint” which is where each NFT minted is completely randomized using Chainlink’s provably fair minting system which is integrated into the Mogul platform, giving each buyer an equal opportunity to land a super-rare NFT.
The NFTs will be individually numbered, divided into military ranks and come in gold, chrome and hologram – all in full 3D designs which are displayed in GLB files that enable the holder to get a full 360 degree view of their NFT.
The super-rare NFT of the Dark Army’s leader – General McKinsky – will have a limited mint of only 10 in each color. The total collection size will be 1,530 units. Each NFT will have further utility built in, enabling future integration as character Avatars into various Metaverses where the Retrogression P2E Gaming experience will be hosted.
Mogies were made in partnership and designed by Erick Tran and his team at CHAVVO Studios. The award-winning, transmedia production team has worked with major Hollywood studios including Disney, Universal, Marvel Entertainment, Sony Animation, Cartoon Network, Fox, Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, and EA.
The team has been involved in the production of major box office hits including The Simpsons Movie and series, Kung Fu Panda, The Avengers and many more.
CHAVVO is committed to the Mogieland NFT community and new animated series.
“Mogieland is a homage to Hollywood, to our favorite characters, actors, and movies that have made us. Mogul is set out to make this the very first NFT animated series and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with them. Mogul has given us creative freedom to develop something original and special in this space. It’s great to see Mogul supporting creators and the animation community like very few others have. We are committed to this project and the NFT community. As a NFT producer we want to be a major player in the NFT space. Working with Mogul, I can see that really coming to fruition.” says Erick Tran.
What are Mogies?
The Hollywood sign is turning 100, and the Mogies are celebrating! 😎
Mogies are a NFT collection of 1923 NFTs inspired by the last 100 years of Hollywood characters and personalities in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Hollywood sign being erected. This parody collection is to pay homage to the top entertainers and creators that helped Hollywood become what it is today, and create a standard for the next 100 years of filmmaking that will occur within Film3 – a movement spearheaded by Mogul and our community to empower creators to create movies and content in more fan exclusive ways using blockchain technology in the Metaverse. Mogul is where movies meet blockchain through DeFi, NFTs – and now, the Metaverse through Mogies and Mogieland.
Enter Mogies – the characters of the Metaverse. Enter Mogieland. The Metaverse for Movies.
Mogies are aliens that feed on entertainment. They love it! They have come to Earth because it’s the biggest source of entertainment in the universe. Humans are humans until they enter Mogieland, and then, when they enter, they become a Mogie.
Mogies are the citizens of Mogieland. They look and act like all our favorite film and TV characters and Hollywood icons from the past 100 years. In actuality, they are aliens from an advanced race that use “lasers” to transform the landscape in the blink of an eye. They feed off entertainment as energy, and travel across the Universe absorbing this vital resource, sucking intelligent worlds dry and moving along to the next. Earth stands to be the biggest source of entertainment and salvation because when our little Mogies get bored, they die. Ultimately, they’re passionate cosplayers and the biggest fans in the galaxy. Mogieland is their Comic-Con, and they have every intention to ensure it lasts forever.
What is Mogieland?
250 MILES EAST OF HOLLYWOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOJAVE DESERT.
Population: 1923.
Amidst scrub brush and desert dunes, a UFO landed and then obscured 10 sq. miles in a region now known as THE BLUR —- a shrouded forcefield that has taken the shape of an old tube television laid on its back. What goes on behind its opaque borders has remained a mystery…until now.
Mogieland is where Mogies live, and is a Metaverse inspired by the traditional landmarks of Hollywood. Hollywood is a larger-than-life characterization of the entertainment industry and has become a top place in the world for tourism – but not everyone across the world can experience the glamor and excitement of Tinseltown…
Enter Mogieland. It’s the Metaverse for film, where cultural attractions, movie premieres, red carpet events, concerts, and even celebrity sightings are brought to the world of Film3. A place where the Greek Theatre, TCL Chinese Theatre, and even Studio City are represented by their transitory counterpart in Mogieland – powered by STARS tokens. Mogies can spend the morning playing-to-earn in Studio City, the afternoon catching celebrities at Runyon Canyon, and the evening at the Hollywood sign overlooking the energy of Mogieland’s latest film premiere.
Own your own STAR on the Walk of Fame!
In Mogieland, users will be able to buy their own land, build, take their Mogies to film premieres, movie theaters, red carpet events, concerts, fashion shows, and even play games to earn in Studio City. It’s a virtual place where Mogul partners with movies, celebrities, entertainers, fashion icons and other star studded individuals globally to do Metaverse movie premieres at traditionally iconic Hollywood locations, and sell tickets in STARS where holders will be able to virtually meet and socialize with all these industry Moguls. Mogieland breaks geographical barriers to access exclusive events and brings them global in a universe where brands, fans, movies, and celebrities can meet, collaborate, and create where movies meet blockchain.
What will I be able to do in Mogieland?
Mogieland visitors will be able to visit the walkaround environment. Hollywood is one of the most highly trafficked tourist destinations in the world… and soon… Mogieland will be too. All powered by STARS tokens.
Within Mogieland, visitors will be able to:
Attend movie premieres
Mingle with creators and get behind-the-scenes looks
Attend first screening viewings of films partnered with Mogul
Watch movies with tickets paid for in STARS tokens
Enjoy hangout areas with other cinema lovers in VR environments to discuss all things entertainment and Mogul
Attend meet and greets with the STARS
Attend concerts
Attend fashion shows
Buy NFT’s from virtual stores
Build your own place in Mogieland and show off all your NFT’s
Own iconic pieces of Hollywood transformed in Mogieland
Show off your virtual style by wearing your own NFT fashions
Play to earn in Studio City
Much more utility and many more features are being added in Mogieland over time as Mogul expands its rapidly growing list of partners.
All Mogie holders will receive a piece of land in Mogieland. If a purchaser owns a Mogie and an Access Pass they will receive two plots of land in Mogieland. If a purchaser owns a Mogie, Access Pass, and a certain threshold of STARS tokens to be announced at a later date, they will receive 3 plots of land in Mogieland. These plots of land are randomly distributed according to the type of Mogie and Access Pass.
Rarer Mogies and Access Passes will have a higher weighting to receive more coveted locations of land.
How do I purchase a Mogie?
Mogies are ERC721 NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain and can only be purchased through the Mogul NFT marketplace in the primary market. In the secondary market, Mogies will be available on the Mogul Marketplace, OpenSea, Rarible, and LooksRare. The Mogie that a purchaser will receive is verifiably random
There are 1923 total NFTs which will be issued in the following phases. Mogies are sold in ETH, but can be purchased inERC20 STARS tokens at a 10% discount to reward our holders.
Four phases of the sale:
Phase 1: Dutch Auction
A dutch auction for the general public starting at 1 ETH that includes 800 Mogies. This is available for everyone globally and will have 24 hour tiers
1 ETH tier lasts 24 hours
0.8 ETH tier lasts 24 hours
0.6 ETH tier lasts 24 hours
0.4 ETH tier lasts 24 hours
0.2 ETH tier lasts 24 hours
The pricing for the next phase will equal the price paid for the last NFT sold during the dutch auction
If all 800 NFTs sell at the 1 ETH level, then the price of the next phase will be 1 ETH
If the 800 NFTs do not sell during the dutch auction, the remainder will be allocated to the public sale
Phase 2: Whitelist Sale for Access Pass holders only
Phase 3: Public Sale – 72 hours
Phase 3.5: Bonus Mint
Any unsold NFTs will be allocated to the first purchasers from the dutch auction
This phase will only occur in the unlikely event that the Mogies allocated for public sale do not sell out within a 72 hour period
Phase 4: Rebate + Reveal
If the total number of NFTs allocated for public and whitelist sale do not sell out, then the first purchasers of Mogies through the Dutch auction will have the opportunity to mint the remaining Mogies for free (aside from the gas fee required) after 72 hours of the public sale has passed. For example, if there are 15 Mogies left unsold, then the first 15 purchasers through the dutch auction will have their wallet address whitelisted to mint 1 Mogie each for free after the public sale.
How does the Whitelist work?
Owners of Mogul Access Passes will be the only people eligible for the whitelist. Access Passes can be purchased here: https://opensea.io/collection/mogul-nft
There are 5 tiers of Access Passes that are granted the utility to mint a Mogie in the whitelist phase. The benefit of the whitelist phase is that you are guaranteed to be able to mint a Mogie at the lowest price offered through the dutch auction during a specific window.
There are 1,073 NFTs allocated for whitelist spots, and addresses are whitelisted according to the tier of Access Pass they own on a first-come-first-serve basis. Access Pass holders can mint any number of Mogies they wish at the lowest price of the dutch auction.
In the event that the 1,073 Mogies do not sell out, then the sale will enter the next stage – the public sale. In the event they do sell out, then there will be no public sale and the sale will enter the phase of Rebate & Reveal
What utility comes with Mogies ownership?
Extra perks and bonuses come to the primary purchaser of a Mogie based on how early they have purchased.
Tier Purchased: 1 ETH
1.5x STARS rebate when purchased in ETH
1x STARS rebate when purchased in STARS
First 5 unique sales (unique addresses) receive a complimentary Backstage Access Pass
Next 5 unique sales (unique addresses) receive a complimentary VIP Access Pass
Next 200 unique sales receive a complimentary All Access Pass
All purchasers at this tier receive a gold embossed derivative of their Mogie that is part of the exclusive Mogie Derivative Collection
Tier Purchased: 0.8 ETH
1.3x STARS rebate when purchased in ETH
1x STARS rebate when purchased in STARS
All purchasers at this tier receive a silver embossed derivative of their Mogie
Tier Purchased: 0.6 ETH
1x STARS rebate when purchased in ETH or STARS
All Purchasers:
Private Discord channel only for Mogies holders
Tickets to all future Mogies IRL events, including the first-ever event at Futurist Conference with exclusive IRL experiences for Mogies holders (bonus VIP experiences for those who hold an Access Pass and a Mogie)
Whitelist to all future Mogie derivative drops
Holders will receive an NFT of the first episode of the Mogies animated series for an exclusive copy of the episode
Select holders may receive Thank You credits at the end of the Mogies animated series episodes
Holders will be able to purchase a 3D figurine of their Mogie (only owners) in STARS tokens
Access to exclusive Mogie virtual meetups and events hosted in Mogieland
50% of all 7.5% secondary market royalties will go directly towards growing the Mogies and Mogieland ecosystem for further STARS holder utility
10% of all future rewards accruing from the Mogies animated series, wearables, collectibles, or line of figurines will be distributed to holders as rewards quarterly
Invites to virtual events with the creators of Mogies to see behind-the-scenes with world-class animators of the Simpsons and King of the Hill
Exclusive access to future premieres in Mogieland and other metaverses (red carpets, launch concerts, exclusive pilots and screenings of the Mogies animated series)
Exclusive first-access to meet and greets
Backstage access to behind-the-scenes content from the creation of the Mogies animated series
Discounts on wearables and experiences in Mogieland
Free allocation of 1 randomized plot of land in Mogieland
First access to purchase land at a 20% discount in Mogieland
Remember: All purchases on the Mogul platform can be done in STARS tokens and the purchaser will receive a 10% discount on their purchase for purchasing in STARS
How does the STARS rebate work?
A rebate is a bonus given to a purchaser to reward them for purchasing early.
Example:
Let’s say a user purchases a Mogie for 1 ETH and the dutch auction closes at 0.6 ETH
1 ETH minus 0.6 ETH is 0.4 ETH. This is the amount of ETH that will be eligible for a rebate
Let’s assume the price of STARS is 5 cents and the price of ETH is $3000
0.4 ETH therefore is $1200, which is the amount eligible for the STARS rebate
Since the user purchased at 1 ETH, the $1200 delta between their purchase price and the lowest price in the dutch auction is multiplied by 1.5x. Therefore, the user gets an $1800 rebate in STARS tokens
Since STARS tokens are valued at 5 cents, the user will receive 36,000 STARS as a rebate
The rebate coupled with other bonuses make it more advantageous for a user to purchase a Mogie early.
What is the Mogies derivative collection?
Mogies derivatives are part of a separate NFT collection and contract separate, but linked, to the official Mogies collection to maintain the provenance and collectibility of the original Mogies. Derivatives of Mogies, such as the gold embossed and silver embossed Mogies, will live in this collection to reward Mogies holders.
The gold embossed Mogies, which are gifted to the first purchasers of Mogies in the dutch auction, will forever be stamped in the Mogieland Hall of Fame.
This collection is meant for rare spinoffs, fashion items, and event-driven NFTs related to Mogies and Mogieland for collectors, fans, and users.
The Artists
Mogies were created by Erick Tran and his team at Chavvo Studios in partnership with Mogul Productions.
Erick Tran and his team at Chavvo are the animators of the Simpsons and King of the Hill. He and his team have won Telly, Emmy, and Peabody awards for their work. They were responsible for the design of the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios, have consulted with Electronic Arts on the Simpsons video games, and played an integral role in the development of the virtual reality roller coaster rides at Universal Studios Japan; including Doraemon, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and more. Their experience in licensing, merchandising, animation, and video games for multi-billion dollar franchises will help propel Mogieland and Mogies to the next level as Mogul’s co-partners.
How were Mogies made?
Mogies are all 1/1 NFTs that are sculpted individually using computer generated imagery (CGI). There was no programming used to copy characteristics from one Mogie to another – each was hand sculpted.
The first step in creating a Mogie was to have the design team create character references and hand-drawn 2D sketches of the character. Then, each character goes through a rigging process to create the 3D skeletal model of the character. This allows the character to easily be transformed into animated versions of themselves. The last step is to bring the characters to life with the Mogies animators.
If Mogies were 2D characters, and did not go through this process, they could not exist in a 3D space like the Metaverse. Mogies, due to this rigorous design process, can easily walk through the space and live in Mogieland.
How are Mogies rarities determined?
Mogies have 7 different facial expressions that are based on the 7 universal emotions that humans wear on their face. These facial expressions will play a role in how their characters will interact in future Mogies series’ and creative concepts.
Mogies have 5 tiers of rarity, which are denoted from the background in the NFT.
Anger
Fear
Disgust
Happy
Sad
Surprise
Contempt
These expressions were assigned custom to each Mogie based on their perceived personality.
Mogies also have a STAR Ranking in their metadata, which is a score out of 100 denoting the popularity of the Mogie in Mogieland.
There are a select number of Mogies that have angel wings. If the actor that played the Mogie character passed away outside of Mogieland at the time of the mint, their Mogie character has been represented with angel wings.
There are several different colors of flat backgrounds in Tier 5 Mogies. These were chosen on an aesthetic basis by the animators of the Mogies and colors were grouped together with families of Mogie characters.
For more information please visit the Mogies NFT Utility page.
The journey of the animators that brought The Simpsons series, The Simpsons Movie and VR attractions at Universal Studios Japan, to its first ever NFT animated series and metaverse is filled with adventure and curiosity.
CHAVVO Animation Studios is a tight-knit international family of creative storytellers, animators, and artists based in five countries. They embrace new challenges and use their collective experience to create meaningful and compelling content.
That collective experience harnessed a passion for TV and film production as well as merchandising spanning two decades. These years of experience, which also includes video game and theme park design, has prepared the team for the NFT and metaverse revolution.
Erick Tran who founded CHAVVO, with the animation team, put their collective experiences together with Mogul Productions to create the Mogies animated series, featuring 1,923 unique Hollywood inspired NFT characters that interact inside the Mogieland metaverse.
Erick played a key role in building the digital pipeline for The Simpsons. In the process he also created and developed the training program for artists migrating from traditional paper animation to newer technology.
That process helped start his collaboration with Toon Boom, the software company known for creating award-winning software for animation and story boarding to bring TV series and feature films from ideation to screen. This collaboration was pivotal because it allowed him to participate in various venues in the US and Canada where he was able to expand the CHAVVO brand. It was the opportunity for CHAVVO to scale as a “100% digital pipeline studio”.
Erick shared his thoughts and journey from the success of Simpsons to the Mogies, the first real NFT animated series.
“I’m an 80’s kid and grew up with new emerging technology and the start of the video gaming revolution. I was instantly hooked and knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I started programming in high school and learned Photoshop quite early. As I started my career on The Simpsons I didn’t realize that having technological knowledge would give me an edge. I remember giving Final Cut Pro classes to staff members as well as developing a training program for The Simpsons Movie to help artists transition from traditional to digital workflow. When I founded CHAVVO we were already ahead of the game with the pandemic because our team had been working remotely since 2015. So when artists were figuring out how to be at home and work remotely, we had already mastered our pipeline and workflow. We were essentially pandemic ready. 2020 ended up being a very good year (workwise) despite unfortunate events happening around the world.”
Towards final delivery of the Simpsons Movie, Erick worked with Universal Creative and Fox to co-design the Simpsons Ride attraction which developed his relationship with Universal. Additionally, he worked on video gaming projects for The Simpsons available on major consoles such as PlayStation, XBox, and Nintendo Wii.
Artists from CHAVVO have worked on projects such as the Batman series, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Kung Fu Panda, Frozen and other feature films. “We are bringing our decades worth of experience from working on hit shows and award winning films to the Mogies NFT animation project. We’re so thankful that the Mogul team recognizes the need for high quality content in this space. Together we are stepping into new territory and it’s very exciting for what’s in the works.” said Tran.
One of Erick’s personal career high points was winning a Peabody Award. Peabody Awards honor excellence in storytelling that reflect the social issues and the emerging voices of our day.
Erick Tran: “Never in my life did I ever think I’d win a Peabody Award.”
“To me it’s kind of like winning a Nobel Prize. It’s the combination of what the Simpsons has signified in the entertainment industry and the decades of hard work we put into the show that makes this recognition a big deal for us all. It’s a great thing to have received awards through the work I’ve done thru FOX but it’s more special to me when we win thru CHAVVO. To say we are an award winning studio is a dream come true”
Erick Tran: “The Simpsons really helped me understand how to build the multi-billion dollar franchise.
“From development to the big screen, from licensing to merchandising, theme park and video games, Fox has given me the opportunity to understand so many aspects of the animation business. With that knowledge I was ready to build CHAVVO into the studio it has become now. We have been able to recruit top talented artists in the industry, many who are close friends of mine.”
“We have a special working relationship with Universal Studios Japan. It’s a treat to be able to work on big anime titles which fans can experience while being on a physical roller coaster, with VR headsets! When you put on the VR headset, you’re basically in this whole new world with awesome anime characters. We believe that VR, metaverse and NFTs are the future and so important to understand, and be a part of history.”
The Mogies NFT Animated Series
“We are committed to the NFT community. As an NFT producer we want to be a major player in the NFT space. Working with Mogul, I can see that really coming to fruition.”
“It’s the first ever NFT Animated series that’s a real legit series. It’s a homage to Hollywood, to our favorite characters, actors, and movies that have made us. Mogul has given us creative freedom to develop something original and special in this space. It’s great to see Mogul supporting creators and the animation community like very few others have.”
Erick Tran: “Mogieland is a play on reality which is what the metaverse is. It’s a place where we can interact, connect and roleplay. We wanted to create a show that eventually could intertwine, or have the ability to intertwine every single character at one moment in time.”
“Probably the one exciting thing that everyone is expecting out of The Mogies is cross mixing characters from other universes and becoming a melting pot of unlimited possibilities.”
“That’s one of the scenes from our trailer where we had Mogie characters from a classic novel and movie series fighting an evil wizard from another series.
Another is when we crossed one superhero with the alien in the trailer. The idea is that we are mixing different characters into different universes. That will be pretty interesting. I think that’s where the fun starts.”
“The thing that is really cool about the Mogies concept are the NFT characters themselves. If you happen to own a special character, let’ssay the white wizard. If and when he appears in an episode and plays a pivotal role, it has the ability to gain rank and increase in value over time.
The derivatives market is an opportunity we cannot ignore and have to hit out of the park.”
“We are currently developing ideas that have never been done before in the entertainment world with direct-to-consumer applications. We can’t get into details at the moment but we know these concepts haven’t been done before and Mogul’s platform is fully capable to execute.”
Animating The Mogie NFTs
Erick explained parts of how CHAVVO designed the Mogie NFTs using CG (Computer Graphics).
“The design team researched, created and designed the NFT characters based off of Mogul’s original concept ideas. Our 2D design team would digitally hand sketch each drawing. That goes through an approval process through one of our supervisors.
Afterwards, our supervisor would send designs for me to review. I only see things that are filtered through her. Afterwards, I make my own final notes before it goes on to the CG design team. The CG design team would go ahead and build based off that design and would start basically CG sculpting the characters.
Once it goes to the design process we start rigging characters for the animation. With a rigged character it allows animators to move them around and add the proper acting for each scene.
The decision between 2D or CG was more for visual aesthetics for the brand. If we were to have designed the Mogies in 2D, it would be difficult to exist in a 3D metaverse space.
That is why going CG was more visually appealing and practical. It looks more polished. Our goal is that owners can actually walk in a 3D Mogieland metaverse space that’s functional and interactive. I’m excited to see the characters move through the streets of Mogieland.”
“This is a fun and great opportunity for everyone who hasn’t had the chance to visit Hollywood to explore it through Mogieland. Things like going to a nightclub, visiting a recording studio, gift shops and buying digital memorabilia. How about winning a Mogie award for your short film that users can watch at the Mogie theater!
I think there’s huge potential for that in the marketplace.”
“There’s so much potential for creating more Mogies. I think it’s great to think about other celebrities from other countries with a fanbase. That becomes a whole other drop to represent other celebrities around the world, like having Latin Grammys after having the Grammys. And we haven’t tapped into the sports world. Yes, the potential is endless.”
“The future of Mogieland is about bringing the most entertaining experience to our community and creating monetary value. Mogieland becomes this fantasy place where our community can plug in and play.”
And then lastly, I’m excited about digital real estate within Mogieland.
“I think anybody and everybody here who appreciates real estate can understand the value of digital real estate. We have plans to have the ability to put your own star on the Mogie Walk of Fame. Also, buying digital storefronts, restaurants, museums are just a few things that will be available for purchase.”
Mogies pays homage to the top entertainers and creators that helped make Hollywood what it is today, and create a standard for the next 100 years of filmmaking that will occur within Film3.
Film3 is a movement spearheaded by Mogul Productions and our community to empower film and content creators to create movies and content in better fan exclusive ways using blockchain technology.
Mogul is where movies meet blockchain through DeFi and NFTs, and now, the Metaverse through Mogies and their new home, Mogieland.
