While Tacoma has been the site of big hit movies over the years, it really hasn't been host to local talent that made a film that made it big. Until now.



Tacoma's Dead Gentlemen Productions has released its latest film and found it rocketing to the top of the Netflix request charts and selling out faster than they can burn the DVDs.



The gathering of Pacific Lutheran University graduates turned actors and now movie moguls first made it big with their short film The Gamers a few years ago as it built a cult following among the comic book and roll playing communities of the world.



The movie went on to be screened to rave reviews in dozens of film festivals and game conventions worldwide. It took home the award for Best Fan Film of 2003.



And now they are going to be in town for a cast appearance and autographing at Tacoma's Comic Book Ink store. 



"This is going to be something truly special," said store owner, John Munn. "We have been fortunate enough to have been able to carry the original DVD of The Gamers. At our shop alone, we have sold over 175 copies. It has been our honor to have helped the Dead Gentlemen and their 'little local movie that could.'"



The latest film, The Gamers: Dorkness Rising, tells the story of Lodge, a dungeon master in a roll playing game and budding writer who wants his gaming group to finish their adventure.



They have other interests, including picking up girls and setting things on fire. He then tosses a curve into the game by introducing one of the rarest animals to the roll playing community – a girl.



This parody takes good-humored digs at the gaming community in ways that the holders of those odd shaped dice would find funny. It is a film that was obviously crafted instead of just filmed to be a throwaway sequel to its previous sleeper hit sibling.



"We started developing this film in 2003, and five years later, it hits the shelves," Dead Gentlemen Productions Executive Producer Don Early said. "I think the main reason it took so long is that the film outgrew and evolved from our original scope and vision."



The shift from a short film to a full-length feature allows the movie to dive deeper into the characters than the original ever could. A fact that enriches the script and brings viewers into the gaming world.



"Those who've seen it are saying that jokes hit harder and funnier, which is a huge success in my book," Early said. "You don't have to know anything about Dungeons and Dragons or role playing games to get the movie, have fun and laugh hard. If you are familiar with the subject matter, it will be that much funnier. We really focused on making this movie accessible for everyone so we can widen our fan base. It's a real character movie that moves well and really shows you what playing role playing games are like. The first movie was more like a series of sketches strung together. We might revisit that model later in another movie, but for Dorkness, the character narrative was the next logical step for us."



While the movie and the marketing machine behind it will be keeping the actors busy for a while, Dead Gentlemen Productions hasn't forgotten its roots as an improv group that just happened to make a successful movie, twice.



"There's definitely some stage ideas we're brewing though, just no timeline yet," Early said. "We have meetings soon for more The Gamers movies, and with the success of the Demon Hunters Role playing Game (by Margaret Weis Productions), we're developing more on that property as well. What you will see next is whatever we can get funded first. You might even see more of the Syphilitic Ninja Vampires invading your Internet space."



[The local stars of The Gamers: Dorkness Rising will be holding a signing event at 2 p.m. Sunday at Comic Book Ink, 1625 E. 72nd Street and Portland Avenue, www.deadgentlemen.com or www.comicbookink.com.]



Is this from some specific festival? It should be clarified. I searched online but couldn't find anything on it.