ETV

ETV, also known as Eclipse TV or Planet Eclipse TV, was a paintball video production project operated by British equipment manufacturer Planet Eclipse. Established in 2007, ETV produced online programmes, tournament coverage, player interviews, instructional videos and documentary films covering competitive paintball.[1][2]

The project was directed by filmmaker Dan Napoli and documented professional teams competing in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) and Millennium Series. Its productions included the Emortal DVD series, Artifact, The Roster and shorter online programmes featuring professional players.[3][4][5]

Several documentary productions were developed with Disconnected Media and featured narration by former professional player and commentator Matty Marshall.[6]

History

Establishment and early productions

According to Planet Eclipse's historical blog, ETV began in 2007 as an online paintball video project.[1]

The production team filmed tournaments, practice sessions and interviews, with particular emphasis on teams sponsored by Planet Eclipse.

Its videos were distributed online, including through the PlanetEclipseEcast YouTube channel and downloadable video podcasts.

By 2008, ETV was producing longer tournament features. One programme, originally released in May 2008, followed Avalanche and San Antonio X-Factor during the NPPL Huntington Beach Open.

In February 2010, Planet Eclipse identified Dan Napoli as ETV's director and retrospectively highlighted the 2008 programme as an early production.[3]

Expansion of online programming

ETV subsequently expanded beyond tournament highlights to include instructional videos and interviews.

In September 2009, Planet Eclipse introduced an ETV series called Tips and Tricks, featuring professional players discussing specific aspects of paintball.

The first instalment featured Thomas Taylor, known as Troll, demonstrating techniques for playing the snake position.[7]

Further instructional videos included a November 2010 programme featuring Yosh Rau of San Diego Dynasty discussing how to structure effective team practices.[8]

ETV also documented professional tournament activity outside North America, including European and Latin American competitions.

By May 2010, Planet Eclipse was promoting the project's fifth season, which included footage of Dynasty's preseason training and events in Venezuela.[2]

Documentary productions

Emortal

Emortal was a series of ETV paintball video compilations released on DVD.

The releases combined tournament footage, team features and documentary material produced by Planet Eclipse.

In February 2010, Planet Eclipse announced plans for Emortal 2, which included Rivalry, a documentary about Sacramento XSV and Vicious competing in the 2009 PSP semi-professional division.[4]

Rivalry was directed by Dan Napoli and narrated by Matty Marshall. A premiere was held in Omaha, Nebraska, on 6 February 2010.

The production was made in association with Understood Clothing and Disconnected Media.[4]

In December 2010, Planet Eclipse distributed copies of Emortal 2 with selected paintball marker purchases.[9]

A third DVD, Emortal 3, was available by September 2011.[10]

Artifact (2010–2012)

Artifact was an ETV documentary series following professional paintball teams through tournaments, training and other aspects of competitive play.

Planet Eclipse announced the series in May 2010 as part of ETV's fifth season.

The project was produced with Disconnected Media and Deep Elm Records, with narration by Matty Marshall.[5][6]

The first episode, Make 'Em Hurt, was released on 10 May 2010 and followed Chicago Aftershock during the opening event of the 2010 PSP season in Phoenix, Arizona.[5]

Subsequent first-season productions included:

Ghosts on the Boardwalk – San Diego Dynasty competing in early 2010 PSP and NPPL tournaments.
Triumph & Tragedy – The third episode in the series.
The Grind – San Antonio X-Factor practising against Vicious ahead of the PSP Chicago Open.
The Chase – Four Planet Eclipse-sponsored teams pursuing different results at the 2010 Millennium Series finale in Paris.
The Reason – Chicago Aftershock competing at the 2010 PSP World Cup.

The sixth and final episode of the first season, The Reason, was released in March 2011.[11]

The second season began in 2011, including Coming Home, which featured San Diego Dynasty, and Four Words, which followed Upton 187 cRew during the PSP World Cup.[12]

In 2012, ETV released #RedSunday, a documentary following Omaha Vicious during the 2011 and 2012 professional seasons.

The 77-minute film was presented as part of Artifact season three. It documented the team's difficulties adapting to professional competition after success in the amateur divisions.[13]

The Roster (2013)

In January 2013, Planet Eclipse introduced The Roster, a documentary series following San Antonio X-Factor as it assembled its professional playing squad.

The production documented preseason tryouts, the assessment of amateur players and the process of selecting a team for national tournament competition.

The series was directed by Dan Napoli and narrated by Matty Marshall.

It was produced by the filmmaking team behind Artifact and distributed as an ETV production.[14]

Other programmes

On the Couch

In January 2011, Planet Eclipse introduced On the Couch, an interview series hosted by Matty Marshall.

The format featured extended conversations with professional paintball players about their careers and experiences.

The first documented episode featured Ryan Greenspan of San Diego Dynasty.[15]

The Dail-E Download

The Dail-E Download was a short-form ETV programme introduced for the 2010 PSP World Cup.

Hosted by Matty Marshall, the series was designed to provide daily reports featuring match highlights, player interviews and tournament commentary.

Planet Eclipse announced that episodes would run approximately two to three minutes and be published following each day of competition.[16]

Euro Style

ETV also produced Euro Style, a series featuring Planet Eclipse-sponsored teams competing in the European Millennium Series.

In May 2012, the company released Euro Style IV, covering teams including Paris Carnage, Copenhagen Ducks, Birmingham Disruption, Marseille Icon and Rammstein Instinct.[17]

Production and distribution

ETV combined tournament filming with interviews, music and documentary storytelling.

Its productions were primarily distributed through the internet, including YouTube and downloadable podcasts.

Planet Eclipse initially made numerous programmes available free of charge.

In December 2010, the company announced plans for a digital download store allowing viewers to purchase and retain higher-quality copies of ETV productions while continuing to offer free streaming.[18]

The service was subsequently used to distribute longer documentaries, including episodes of Artifact.

ETV also released compilation DVDs and other physical media.

Personnel

Documented personnel associated with ETV include:

Dan Napoli – Director and filmmaker responsible for ETV productions including Rivalry and The Roster.
Matty Marshall – Narrator, presenter and interviewer for Artifact, On the Couch and The Dail-E Download.
Antony "Ledz" Leadbetter – Planet Eclipse co-founder involved in overseeing and promoting the company's video productions.

Disconnected Media contributed to multiple ETV documentary projects, while Deep Elm Records supplied music for productions including Artifact.[4][6]

Legacy

ETV documented professional paintball during a period when teams competed across several international tournament circuits.

Its footage preserved interviews, player perspectives, training sessions and tournament activity that were not always represented in conventional match reports.

The documentary series Artifact and The Roster extended the project's focus beyond tournament results to include team organisation, player recruitment and the experiences of professional competitors.

ETV also formed part of Planet Eclipse's broader media and marketing activities, connecting its sponsored teams with an international paintball audience.

References

Planet Eclipse HQ Blog – March 2010. Post dated 25 March 2010 identifying 2007 as the inception of ETV.
Planet Eclipse – ETV Season 5: Artifact. 6 May 2010.
Planet Eclipse – ETV Classics. 24 February 2010. Identifies Dan Napoli as ETV director and discusses a May 2008 production.
Planet Eclipse – Rivalry. 16 February 2010. Documentary premiere and production information.
Planet Eclipse – Artifact Episode 1: Make 'Em Hurt. 11 May 2010.
Planet Eclipse – ETV Artifact No. 4: The Grind. 17 August 2010. Production credits.
Planet Eclipse – Tips and Tricks. 8 September 2009. Announcement of the instructional series featuring Thomas Taylor.
Planet Eclipse – ETV Tricks & Tips No. 3. 17 November 2010. Instructional video featuring Yosh Rau.
Planet Eclipse – Free Emortal 2 DVD with Eclipse Markers. 15 December 2010.
Planet Eclipse – Win Emortal 3 DVD. 8 September 2011.
Planet Eclipse – ETV Artifact No. 6: The Reason. 18 March 2011.
Planet Eclipse – Artifact: Four Words. 17 December 2011.
Planet Eclipse – ETV's #RedSunday. 25 September 2012.
Social Paintball – The Roster Featuring San Antonio X-Factor, Episode 1. 21 January 2013.
Planet Eclipse – ETV On the Couch No. 1: Ryan Greenspan. 21 January 2011.
Planet Eclipse – The Dail-E Download at World Cup. 14 October 2010.
Planet Eclipse – ETV Euro Style IV. 17 May 2012.
Planet Eclipse – Artifact No. 5: The Chase. 23 December 2010. Digital download store announcement.

External links