Thunder Bay filmmakers launch sci-fi web series Space Hock

Space Hock is something Nicholas Palinka, a filmmaker in Thunder Bay, Ont., has been dreaming of creating for years.

The four-part, science fiction web series tells the story of an alien who makes his living by selling stolen items on "space hock," a sort of intergalactic eBay. After his space ship crash lands on Earth, he enlists the help of two humans. 

Last year, Palinka and some fellow graduates of the Confederation College film program put out a casting call, and began filming. Now, after months of editing, it's ready to be released for online viewers. The first episode launches early Tuesday morning. 

"It's pretty nerve-racking," said Palinka. "We've worked on it for a number of years now and now we're just letting it go across ... the universe."

Space Hock was filmed on a shoestring budget of less than a thousand dollars, money they raised through crowdfunding, said Palinka.

Palinka said he hopes the series will attract a wide audience, and draw attention to the creative film community in Thunder Bay. 

"We're looking to bring... a spotlight to the Thunder Bay talent that we have here, just to show that other filmmakers and such don't have to leave Thunder Bay. They can actually stay here and create their own projects." 

The next three episodes of Space Hock will be released over the next few weeks.

Watch the first episode of Space Hock here: