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This is my sandbox, my place for experimentation. It is not for publication. Leave it alone, do not add or remove anything.

Salem is the county seat of Dent County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,950 at the 2010 census which allows Salem to become a Class 3 city in Missouri; however, the city has chosen to remain a Class 4 city under Missouri Revised Statutes. Salem is located a few miles north of the Ozark Scenic Riverways and close to Montauk State Park, which contains the headwaters of the Current River.

History
Dent County was first explored and settled between 1818 and 1829. In 1851 the Missouri Assembly created Dent County from Crawford and Shannon counties. It was named for early settler Lewis Dent, who served as the first representative. A log courthouse, built about 1851 or 1852, was Dent County's first and was located on the Wingfield farm northeast of Salem. W. P. Williams became the first mayor of Salem in 1860, just after the Missouri State Legislature passed laws regarding the administration of village government. Village governments were suspended during the Civil War. In 1881, Salem was incorporated as a town.

The town boasts a number of museums including the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, and a historic Downtown Walking Tour.

In 2012 Salem attracted widespread media attention when it impounded a labrador retriever accused of biting a child during a backyard play-date. Missouri state investigators became involved when allegations that the city was abusing the dog were reported to the Missouri attorney generals office. The dog, Phineas, was eventually scheduled to be euthanized and a judge ruled in favor of the city. Legal action from the dog's owners attracted attention from national news outlets, social media, and even a professional athlete when St. Louis Blues hockey player David Backes publicly spoke out. After months of legal action, Phineas was boarded with a Salem veterinarian on May 20, 2013, while the case continued through the court system. A segment about the event was aired by the American television syndicated news program Inside Edition on July 16, 2013. On Saturday, October 12, 2013, just five days before the next appeal hearing for Phineas, it was reported that the dog was removed from the Dent County Vet Clinic without prior notification of his legal representation, caretaker, or owners.

History
Dent County was first explored and settled between 1818 and 1829. In 1851 the Missouri Assembly created Dent County from Crawford and Shannon counties. It was named for early settler Lewis Dent, who served as the first representative. A log courthouse, built about 1851 or 1852, was Dent County's first and was located on the Wingfield farm northeast of Salem. W. P. Williams became the first mayor of Salem in 1860, just after the Missouri State Legislature passed laws regarding the administration of village government. Village governments were suspended during the Civil War. In 1881, Salem was incorporated as a town.

The town boasts a number of museums including the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, and a historic Downtown Walking Tour.

In 2012 Salem attracted widespread media attention when it impounded a labrador retriever accused of biting a child during a backyard play-date. Missouri state investigators became involved when allegations that the city was abusing the dog were reported to the Missouri attorney generals office. The dog, Phineas, was eventually scheduled to be euthanized and a judge ruled in favor of the city. Legal action from the dog's owners attracted attention from national news outlets, social media, and even a professional athlete when St. Louis Blues hockey player David Backes publicly spoke out. After months of legal action, Phineas was boarded with a Salem veterinarian on May 20, 2013, while the case continued through the court system. A segment about the event was aired by the American television syndicated news program Inside Edition on July 16, 2013. On Saturday, October 12, 2013, just five days before the next appeal hearing for Phineas, it was reported that the dog was removed from the Dent County Vet Clinic without prior notification of his legal representation, caretaker, or owners.

Notable people

 * James Yancy Callahan, delegate to the United States House of Representatives representing the Oklahoma Territory (1887-1899).
 * Ben Cantwell, MLB baseball player.
 * Orien Crow, NFL football player.
 * William P. Elmer, U.S. Representative from Missouri's 8th congressional district (1943-1945).
 * Lt. Ralph K. Hofer, World War II Royal Canadian and (later) American fighter pilot, killed in action near Mostar, Yugoslavia, recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).
 * Elmer Jacobs, MLB baseball player.
 * Mitchell F. Jayne and The Dillards, bluegrass musicians.
 * Paulette Jiles, novelist and poet.
 * Jason T. Smith, U.S. Representative from Missouri's 8th congressional district (2013- ).

Phineas, the Golden Lab
Notoriety settled on Salem, MO in 2013, when an international dispute over the way in which the City Fathers were caring for a dog named Phineas arose. The controversy made Phineas the town's most notable resident.

In 2012, a family golden/lab retriever by the name of Phineas was on a tie out in the family back yard when a neighbor's child either entered or exited the yard. The girl fell and in so doing, knocked down the family's little girl. Phineas went to the defense of the little girl and with an open mouth, tried to nudge the neighbor girl off the owner's little girl. Phineas did not bear down, with viscousness, on the child and did not break the little girl's skin. When the owner of the house and backyard where this took place saw the mouthing, immediately after her own little girl was knocked over by the neighbor child, Phineas' owner saw that the child's skin was not broken, but only bruised. A mandated call by the hospital was filed with the city. Phineas was confiscated on June 22, 2012 and was placed in a licensed area animal shelter. A dog would normally be held 10 days to check for rabies if not up to date on shots. Phineas was held for nearly a year thus proving that he did not have rabies. (Phineas' family had tried to have Phineas vacinated, however, the dog was under the weather on the day the shots were to be given, so the veterinarian did not give Phineas his shots. The family did not learn about it until they had to give proof of Rabies vaccination to the court when Phineas was removed from their home.) On March 12, 2013, Charlotte White, the Director of the Dent County Animal Welfare Society wrote that "Phineas, a male yellow Labrador retriever, has been at our facility since June 22, 2012. In all that time, he has given us no trouble whatsoever. He gets along with everyone he meets and is always grateful for attention. He is obedient and walks well on a leash." Ms. White also indicated that the Animal Control Officer had instructed their facility "not to give Phineas any vaccinations, etc. as is our practice, stating he was the city's dog and not the shelter's dog."

Judge Scott Bernstein was provided unsubstantiated reports about an alleged previous bite, so on March 22, 2013, Phineas was removed by Animal Control out of the licensed shelter to an undisclosed location following issuance of an order by Judge Scott Bernstein of the Dent County Circuit Court. In that order, he stated: "The Court finds that Phineas, the Labrador Retriever owned by the Plaintiffs is in fact a vicious dog as defined by Defendant's City Code under Section 5-15 in that Phineas without provocation on June 22nd, 2012 bit (minor child - name withheld.) The dog shall be humanely euthanized."

The judgment was brought to the attention of Missouri animal welfare representatives on April 15, 2013 at which point investigative work revealed that Phineas had been wrongly condemned and convicted. As such, legal assistance was retained by Phineas' owners to overturn that decree. Also at that time, a petition was started on the website Change.org requesting a review and ultimate release of Phineas' case. More than 10,000 people signed the petition with 5000 signing in one week. On April 18th, The Lexus Project was brought in to assist with advertising Phineas' plight and fighting for his life. On May 6th, a hearing was held at City Hall in which citizens protested the city's treatment of Phineas as well as allegations that he is vicious. In addition, it was reported that the little girl mouthed by Phineas and her family preferred that Phineas be released rather than destroyed. City Code indicated that an investigator appointed by the mayor shall determine if a dog is vicious. In the case of Phineas, Mayor Gary Brown appointed himself as the "investigator who would determine if Phineas is vicious or not." There was concern as to whether it was Mayor Brown or Judge Bernstein who actually had control of Phineas and made the decisions on how to treat Phineas. Mayor Brown was represented in his actions, protested by Phineas' owners and The Lexus Project, by Salem city attorney William Camm Seay. Sarah Seay, William Seay's wife, worked for Judge Scott Bernstein who denied a Motion for Relief from the Judge's original judgment on Thursday, May 8, 2013. On May 9, 2013, Phineas was found in a cage in the basement of a fire station in Salem. After firefighter Austin Denton found Phineas at the fire station basement, the fire chief denied that Phineas was there. Later the fire chief told his friend Jackie Overby that Phineas was being kept at the fire station in violation of the Missouri Animal Care Facilities Act of 1992 which indicates that an animal awaiting Euthanasia will be kept in a licensed care facility or by a licensed handler (not in the basement of a fire station). After receiving public requests to check on Phineas, Allyssa D. Dudley of the Salem News was granted a brief visit with Phineas on May 11, 2013. Handlers claimed he was well cared for, photos of Phineas suggested that he was stressed, extremely thirsty with areas on his joints having been rubbed from staying in one position for a long time.

Because so many requests from around the world, for an investigation into the care of Phineas, were received by the Missouri Attorney General and the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, an Animal Care inspector from the Department of Agriculture was sent to visit Salem officials on May 13, 2013 to look into Phineas' care and safety more closely. The television station FOX2News Now of St. Louis, MO, stopped investigator Denna Tune after she finished checking on Phineas on May 14, 2013. Ms. Tune reported that Phineas had "food water, shelter and veterinary care." She also indicated that Phineas "did not show any signs of being vicious.” The television station requested permission to videotape Phineas and were given permission to do so by the City Manager. "When a reporter and photographer arrived in Salem," though, "the manager said that Fox 2 could not take video of the dog. He said he had been overruled by the city attorney."

Phineas, the yellow Labrador Retriever
International notoriety settled on Salem, MO in 2013, when an international dispute over the way in which the City Fathers were caring for a dog named Phineas arose. The controversy made Phineas the town's most notable resident.

In 2012, a family Labrador retriever by the name of Phineas was on a tie out in the family back yard when a neighbor's child either entered or exited the yard. The girl fell and in so doing, knocked down the family's little girl. Phineas went to the defense of the little girl and with an open mouth, tried to nudge the neighbor girl off the owner's little girl. Phineas did not bear down, with viscousness, on the child and did not break the little girl's skin. When the owner of the house and backyard where this took place saw the mouthing, immediately after her own little girl was knocked over by the neighbor child, Phineas' owner saw that the child's skin was not broken, but only bruised. A mandated call by the hospital was filed with the city. Phineas was confiscated on June 22, 2012 and was placed in a licensed area animal shelter. A dog would normally be held 10 days to check for rabies if not up to date on shots. Phineas was held for nearly a year thus proving that he did not have rabies. (Phineas' family had tried to have Phineas vacinated, however, the dog was under the weather on the day the shots were to be given, so the veterinarian did not give Phineas his shots. The family did not learn about it until they had to give proof of Rabies vaccination to the court when Phineas was removed from their home.) On March 12, 2013, Charlotte White, the Director of the Dent County Animal Welfare Society wrote that "Phineas, a male yellow Labrador retriever, has been at our facility since June 22, 2012. In all that time, he has given us no trouble whatsoever. He gets along with everyone he meets and is always grateful for attention. He is obedient and walks well on a leash." Ms. White also indicated that the Animal Control Officer had instructed their facility "not to give Phineas any vaccinations, etc. as is our practice, stating he was the city's dog and not the shelter's dog."

Judge Scott Bernstein was provided unsubstantiated reports about an alleged previous bite, so on March 22, 2013 (nine months after Phineas was removed from his family's home), Phineas was removed by Animal Control out of the licensed shelter to an undisclosed location following issuance of an order by Judge Scott Bernstein of the Dent County Circuit Court. In that order, he stated: "The Court finds that Phineas, the Labrador Retriever owned by the Plaintiffs is in fact a vicious dog as defined by Defendant's City Code under Section 5-15 in that Phineas without provocation on June 22nd, 2012 bit (minor child - name withheld.) The dog shall be humanely euthanized."

The judgment was brought to the attention of Missouri animal welfare representatives on April 15, 2013 at which point investigative work revealed that Phineas had been wrongly condemned and convicted. As such, legal assistance was retained by Phineas' owners to overturn that decree. Also at that time, a petition was started on the website Change.org requesting a review and ultimate release of Phineas' case. More than 10,000 people signed the petition with 5000 signing in one week. On April 18th, The Lexus Project was brought in to assist with advertising Phineas' plight and fighting for his life. On May 6th, a hearing was held at City Hall in which citizens protested the city's treatment of Phineas as well as allegations that he is vicious. In addition, it was reported that the little girl mouthed by Phineas and her family preferred that Phineas be released rather than destroyed. City Code indicated that an investigator appointed by the mayor shall determine if a dog is vicious. In the case of Phineas, Mayor Gary Brown appointed himself as the "investigator who would determine if Phineas is vicious or not." There was concern as to whether it was Mayor Brown or Judge Bernstein who actually had control of Phineas and made the decisions on how to treat Phineas. Mayor Brown was represented in his actions, protested by Phineas' owners and The Lexus Project, by Salem city attorney William Camm Seay. Sarah Seay, William Seay's wife, worked for Judge Scott Bernstein who denied a Motion for Relief from the Judge's original judgment on Thursday, May 8, 2013. On May 9, 2013, Phineas was found in a cage in the basement of a fire station in Salem. After firefighter Austin Denton found Phineas at the fire station basement, the fire chief denied that Phineas was there. Later the fire chief told his friend Jackie Overby that Phineas was being kept at the fire station in violation of the Missouri Animal Care Facilities Act of 1992 which indicates that an animal awaiting Euthanasia will be kept in a licensed care facility or by a licensed handler (not in the basement of a fire station). After receiving public requests to check on Phineas, Allyssa D. Dudley of the Salem News was granted a brief visit with Phineas on May 11, 2013. Handlers claimed he was well cared for. One photo taken of Phineas by Dudley showed him standing with his mouth open and his tongue hanging far out to the right side. The photo frightened some social media users who thought that Phineas may have been overheated, so requests were sent to state officials to look into Phineas' care.

Because so many requests from around the world, for an investigation into the care of Phineas, were received by the Missouri Attorney General and the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, an Animal Care inspector from the Department of Agriculture was sent to visit Salem officials on May 13, 2013 to look into Phineas' care and safety more closely. The television station FOX2News Now of St. Louis, MO, stopped investigator Denna Tune after she finished checking on Phineas on May 14, 2013. Ms. Tune reported that Phineas had "food water, shelter and veterinary care." She also indicated that Phineas "did not show any signs of being vicious.” The television station requested permission to videotape Phineas and were given permission to do so by the City Manager. "When a reporter and photographer arrived in Salem," though, "the manager said that Fox 2 could not take video of the dog. He said he had been overruled by the city attorney."

Also, on May 14th, the publisher of the local newspaper, the Salem News, predicted that Phineas would be given a reprieve for time served. He also commented on the international attention Phineas has garnered. In his editorial, Donald Dodd wrote, "Phineas is a good story by newspaper terms. He is a yellow lab that has become a victim of circumstances, sitting on doggie death row. You’d never know it by his wagging tale, his unmistakable happy Labrador eyes and his appetite."

Allyssa D. Dudley, continued to follow the story for the Salem News making regular reports. On May 15, 2013, she reported that the official Agriculture Department report deemed Phineas to be safe and healthy, so he would continue to be kept in an undisclosed location. Dudley also reported that she had learned from the city administrator that an emergency closed-session meeting of the board of aldermen was called for May 16, 2013. Though the agenda was not disclosed, it was reported that there would be discussion about pending litigation. Dudley reported that the St. Louis attorney for Phineas' owners entered a new cause in the court system, citing the mayor and others as the respondents. On May 16, 2016, a new court date date of May 23 was announced to determine the fate of Phineas after the first judges ruling was appealed.

The only notable resident of Salem was a three year old yellow Labrador named Phineas who attracted worldwide attention in 2013 when the dog mouthed a neighbor child after it fell on the dog's owner's child during play. The dog was placed in a animal shelter for nine months, then moved to a hidden location after a local judge order Phineas euthanized. That resulted in an international controversy with news papers taking up Phineas' cause in St. Louis and New York.

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A three year old yellow Labrador Retriever from Salem, named Phineas, became the most notable resident of Salem when he attracted worldwide attention in 2013 when the dog was accused of biting a neighbor child. The incident occurred in July of 2012 after the neighbor child fell on the dog's owner's child during play. The dog was placed in a animal shelter for nine (9) months, then moved to a hidden location after a local judgement to euthanize Phineas was issued in March of 2013. That resulted in an international controversy with newspapers and television stations outside of the small town taking up Phineas' cause. Papers in St. Louis and New York and national television ran reports about the dog's plight. . After nine (9) months of legal wrangling, a new date for a hearing to determine the fate of Phineas was set on May 16, 2013.

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Andrew Helm is an American screenwriter who fathered the writing of webisodes for filmed episodic entertainment on the internet. In addition, he is known for his work in the story department of the syndicated television series Queen of Swords. Executive Producer and series creator David Abramowitz named the main character of "Dr. Robert Helm" (portrayed by actor and medical student Peter Wingfield) after Andrew Helm.

Education and Early Efforts
Helm earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts from California State University, Chico. Upon graduation he left his home in Northern California a to start a career as a professional screenwriter in the Los Angeles area.

Before joining formal, story departments for various media, Helm worked in film-related jobs such as in sales at both Universal Studios Theme Park and at Blockbuster Video. In the mid 1990s, he was hired to be a member of the sound department and boom operator for the 1995 film Tornado Run.

Career with Highlander-related and Fireworks Production Companies
Helm began professionally writing for filmed entertainment upon meeting Laura Brennan. Brennan was Script Coordinator for the syndicated TV series Highlander: The Raven which starred Elizabeth Gracen. Brennan hired Helm as an assistant to writers. Also working on Highlander: The Raven, at the time, were Creative Consultant David Abramowitz and co-executive producers Jay Firestone and Adam Haight. Firestone and Haight founded Fireworks Pictures and hired Abramowitz to work with the writing staff on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Abramowitz put Helm to work as an assistant on this same endeavor.

In the second season of Lost World, Jay Firestone, approached Abramowitz about developing an action/adventure series with a strong Latina lead. As Fireworks Entertainment along with Paramount Pictures (and a host of European investors) developed the new syndicated TV series idea, Abramowitz (now as Executive Producer) hired Helm to be the new script coordinator for Queen of Swords. The position required Helm to swiftly coordinate all scripts and script revisions for the series between all entities involved in production of the series. As such, Helm developed close contacts in media production, not only in the United States and Canada, but also in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.[5] During filming, screenwriter and script coordinator Helm learned to fence under the tutelage of stunt coordinator Roberta Brown, whom he met at Westside Fencing in Culver City.

Convention Work
Queen of Swords only lasted for one season, but by that time, Helm developed acquaintances with other actors and swordsmen in Los Angeles. That, and a fan-base he acquired, allowed him to join in with "Highlander: The Series" fan convention events as guest and "talent." From 2001 to its demise in 2006, Helm appeared at Fan Odyssey conventions in Culver City, California (home of MGM/Sony Studios). The gatherings were operated by actor Valentine Pelka's American contacts. (Pelka had worked on Queen of Swords with Helm.) Appearances at fan conventions provided income during downtimes and allowed Helm to network with fellow "Queen of Swords" alums Roberta Brown, Elizabeth Gracen, Valentine Pelka, and Robert "Bob" Chapin. Swordplay skills, ultimately presented by Helm and others at the conventions, were practiced at the former Westside Fencing Center (which was ironically called Helms Bakery in its pre-1969 existence) in Culver City.

Early Webisode Creations to Feature Film
At the same time as Queen of Swords came to an end, Helm and "Bob" Chapin started work on a new kind of entertainment. Though not a popular concept in 2001, Chapin developed the idea of a comedic, vampire-slayer, webisode. Initially, the work (called The Hunted) was simply meant to give sword combat students a chance to practice what they were learning in classes. In 2011-2012, Helm worked on the story for a feature film version of The Hunted along with Tex Wall and Robert Chapin.,

Movies
In 2004, Helm produced his first feature film, A Gothic Romance. The film starred former fencers from the Westside Fencing Center.

In 2011, he wrote the script for an updated remake of the Amityville Horror films with The Amityville - The Legacy 3D distributed by Dimension and Miramax. The film was renamed Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes. For unpublished reasons the film was shelved. After release, Helm was credited as the writer.

Honors
In 1999, Helm was awarded first-place runner up in the Best in the West Screenwriters Competition for his script in Saving Grace. (The contest operated by True West Magazine offered the two first place positions followed by a second and a third place. Helm won the second position in the first place category.)

His early roles in writing internet-based, fantasy-combat, webisodes and television was recognized in 2011 when he was chosen to be a featured presenter at The Combat Con 2011.

Personal
Helm is married. He and his wife chose to make Burbank their home for many years. In August 2009, during the wild fires in Southern California, Helm commented, "We're close enough for a nice little apocalyptic plume."

Acting credits

 * The Hunted (2003–present) Webisode—Evil Kevin, Andrew
 * Flesh (2006) Video—The Manager
 * A Gothic Romance (2004) Video—Perry

Story and writing credits
... aka Reina de espadas (Spain) ... aka Tessa à la pointe de l'épée (France) ... aka La regina di spade (Italy) ... aka Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World (Canada: English title) ... aka L'immortelle (France)
 * ''A Talking Cat!?! (2013) (screenplay)
 * A Halloween Puppy (2012) (screenplay)
 * Amityville - The Legacy 3D (2012) (screenplay)
 * Christmas Spirit (2011) TV Movie (screenplay)
 * Gemini Division (2008) TV series (script coordinator)
 * Death Racers (2008) (V), TV Film (screenplay), in which he acted and was murdered on camera by the Insane Clown Posse.
 * Flash Gordon (script coordinator) (12 episodes, 2007–2008) (9 episodes, 2007–2008), which included actors Marilyn Manson, Powers Boothe, and David Duchovny.
 * Area 51 (2005) (VG) (dialogue writing producer)
 * Shrek 2 (2004) (VG) (writing producer)
 * A Gothic Romance (2004) (writer and executive producer)
 * The Hunted (2 episodes) (2003–2009)
 * Rise to Honor (2003) (VG) (writing producer)... aka Jet Li: Rise to Honor (USA: promotional title)
 * Monk (2002) TV series (script coordinator)
 * Mutant X (2001) TV series (script coordinator)
 * Queen of Swords (2000) TV series (script coordinator)
 * The Lost World (1999) TV series (assistant to writer)
 * Highlander: The Raven (1998) TV series (assistant to writer)

Producing credits

 * A Gothic Romance (2004)

Published works

 * Author of "Muse", part of an anthology he coauthored that is named Hell Comes To Hollywood [Kindle Edition] Nominated by the Horror Writers Association for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Anthology.  It is "a collection of short stories about psychotic killers, ghosts, demons, vampires, and other horrifying creatures stalking the entertainment capital of the world. Featuring 20 original tales written by Movie and Television professionals." Reviewers have rated Helm's contribution to be especially gripping.

Education and Early Efforts
Helm earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Arts from California State University, Chico. Upon graduation he left his home in Northern California a to start a career as a professional screenwriter in the Los Angeles area.

Before joining formal, story departments for various media, Helm worked in film-related jobs such as in sales at both Universal Studios Theme Park and at Blockbuster Video. In the mid 1990s, he was hired to be a member of the sound department and boom operator for the 1995 film Tornado Run.

Career with Highlander-related and Fireworks Production Companies
Helm began professionally writing for filmed entertainment upon meeting Laura Brennan. Brennan was Script Coordinator for the syndicated TV series Highlander: The Raven which starred Elizabeth Gracen. Brennan hired Helm as an assistant to writers. Also working on Highlander: The Raven, at the time, were Creative Consultant David Abramowitz and co-executive producers Jay Firestone and Adam Haight. Firestone and Haight founded Fireworks Pictures and hired Abramowitz to work with the writing staff on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. Abramowitz put Helm to work as an assistant on this same endeavor.

In the second season of Lost World, Jay Firestone, approached Abramowitz about developing an action/adventure series with a strong Latina lead. As Fireworks Entertainment along with Paramount Pictures (and a host of European investors) developed the new syndicated TV series idea, Abramowitz (now as Executive Producer) hired Helm to be the new script coordinator for Queen of Swords. The position required Helm to swiftly coordinate all scripts and script revisions for the series between all entities involved in production of the series. As such, Helm developed close contacts in media production, not only in the United States and Canada, but also in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom.[5]

Convention Work
Queen of Swords only lasted for one season, but by that time, Helm had developed acquaintances with other actors and swordsmen in Los Angeles. That, and a fan-base he had acquired, allowed him to join in with "Highlander: The Series" fan convention events as guest and "talent." From 2001 to its demise in 2006, Helm appeared at Fan Odyssey conventions in Culver City, California (home of MGM/Sony Studios). The gatherings were operated by actor Valentine Pelka's American contacts. (Pelka had worked on Queen of Swords with Helm.) Appearances at fan conventions provided income during downtimes and allowed Helm to network with fellow "Queen of Swords" alums Roberta Brown, Elizabeth Gracen, Valentine Pelka, and Robert "Bob" Chapin. Swordplay skills, ultimately presented by Helm and others at the conventions, were practiced at the former Westside Fencing Center (which was ironically called Helms Bakery in its pre-1969 existence) in Culver City.

Early Webisode Creations
At the same time as Queen of Swords came to an end, Helm and "Bob" Chapin started work on a new kind of entertainment. Though not a popular concept in 2001, Chapin developed the idea of a comedic, vampire-slayer, webisode. Initially, the work (called The Hunted) was simply meant to give sword combat students a chance to practice what they were learning in classes. As the series took off in popularity, this initial purpose was eclipsed, though not necessarily forgotten. Robert "Bob" Chapin starred as the hero ("Bob") while Helm wrote episodes of The Hunted. Eventually, he took on the role of "Evil Kevin" and finally became "Bob's" goofy friend, "Andrew." Other Highlander: The Series. and Queen of Swords alumni participated in the webisodes. These included Anthony De Longis and Roberta Brown. As the Internet expanded and high speed internet became the norm in most households, webisodes increased in popularity. Prior to high speed internet, it took a long time to download videos for viewing when dial-up was used. With the advent of high-speed internet, The Hunted and other webisodes developed for viewing on the internet could be watched in real-time. Then, when the vampire "craze" arrived in 21st century, American, pop-culture with The Twilight Saga, Helm's and Chapin's work in The Hunted soared to new heights of popularity.

Other Television Series Work
Andrew Helm's work in the world of entertainment expanded after that with work on some of the most popular science fiction works in cable television. These included Mutant X, Flash Gordon, Area 51, Death Racers, and Shrek 2. In addition, Helm was afforded the chance to work on the highly acclaimed cable series Monk with actor Tony Shalhoub.

Movies
In 2004, Helm produced his first feature film, A Gothic Romance. The film starred former fencers from the Westside Fencing Center.

In 2011, he wrote the script for an updated remake of the Amityville Horror films with The Amityville - The Legacy 3D distributed by Dimension and Miramax. The film was renamed Amityville Horror: The Lost Tapes. For unpublished reasons the film was shelved. In the meantime, Helm wrote the script for Christmas Spirit, a 2011 Holiday made-for-TV film starring Vanessa Angel, Maureen McCormick, and Alexandra Paul that was shown on ABC's Family network. His movie-length work, again, appeared on television in 2012 with A Halloween Puppy.

Honors
His early roles in writing internet-based, fantasy-combat, webisodes and television was recognized in 2011 when he was chosen to be a featured presenter at The Combat Con 2011.

Personal
Helm is married. He and his wife chose to make Burbank their home for many years. In August 2009, during the wild fires in Southern California, Helm commented, "We're close enough for a nice little apocalyptic plume."

Helm studied stage swordplay with actress and swordmaster/fight director Roberta Brown.

Acting credits

 * The Hunted (2003–present) Webisode—Evil Kevin, Andrew
 * Flesh (2006) Video—The Manager
 * A Gothic Romance (2004) Video—Perry

Story and writing credits
... aka Reina de espadas (Spain) ... aka Tessa à la pointe de l'épée (France) ... aka La regina di spade (Italy) ... aka Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World (Canada: English title) ... aka L'immortelle (France)
 * A Halloween Puppy (2012) (screenplay)
 * Amityville - The Legacy 3D (2012) (screenplay)
 * Christmas Spirit (2011) TV Movie (screenplay)
 * Gemini Division (2008) TV series (script coordinator)
 * Death Racers (2008) (V), TV Film (screenplay)
 * Flash Gordon (script coordinator) (12 episodes, 2007–2008) (9 episodes, 2007–2008)
 * Area 51 (2005) (VG) (dialogue writing producer)
 * Shrek 2 (2004) (VG) (writing producer)
 * A Gothic Romance (2004) (writer)
 * The Hunted (2 episodes) (2003–2009)
 * Rise to Honor (2003) (VG) (writing producer)... aka Jet Li: Rise to Honor (USA: promotional title)
 * Monk (2002) TV series (script coordinator)
 * Mutant X (2001) TV series (script coordinator)
 * Queen of Swords (2000) TV series (script coordinator)
 * The Lost World (1999) TV series (assistant to writer)
 * Highlander: The Raven (1998) TV series (assistant to writer)

Producing credits

 * A Gothic Romance (2004)

Biography
Pelka was born in Dewsbury, Yorkshire to an actress mother and a civil engineer father. His mother is Irish, and his father is Polish. His sister is Kazia Pelka an actress who starred in the British soap opera Brookside, amongst other T.V. shows. He attended St. Michael's College, Leeds. Valentine is married. His wife works as an attorney and lives in the London area. The couple has one son.

Valentine is well known for his guest appearance on Highlander: The Series as the evil Immortal Kronos, an enemy of Duncan MacLeod and former acolyte of Methos in the episodes "Comes a Horseman", "Revelations 6:8", "Archangel", and "Not To Be".

He has starred in some TV series, including the 1986 TV series Crossbow (UK, William Tell) as Roland.

He also guest starred in the 1990 TV series Zorro in the episode "All that Glitters" which preceded his starring role as the military governor, Colonel Montoya, in the 2000 syndicated TV series Queen of Swords. The part of Montoya was written for Valentine Pelka by executive producer David Abramowitz who phoned Pelka in October 1999 offering the part subject to approval by the other show producers.

Other TV roles include Family Affairs in 1999 as Simon Thornton, and in 2000 series Life Force as Richard Webster.

Valentine has starred in films; his best-known feature film is Roman Polanski's 2001 movie 'The Pianist', and his most recent role is in the 2005 movie 8mm 2. Valentine has made guest appearances on many TV shows; some of those appearances range from Robin of Sherwood, Boon, Campion, Hustle, Egypt, Highlander: The Series, Cadfael, and A Touch of Frost.

His sister became a leading player in the soap opera Family Affairs which he had previously appeared in.

Filmography

 * Sakharov (1984) (TV)
 * Pope John Paul II (1984) (TV)
 * King David (1985)
 * Monsignor Quixote (1985)
 * Hold the Dream (1986) (TV)
 * Nanou (1986)
 * If Tomorrow Comes (1986)
 * William Tell (1986) (TV)
 * Rowing with the Wind (1988)
 * Zorro (1990) (TV episode)
 * First Knight (1995)
 * The Plant (1995) (TV)
 * What Rats Won't Do (1998)
 * Sabotage! (2000)
 * The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) (TV)
 * Queen of Swords (2000–01) (TV series) 21/22 episodes
 * The Pianist (2002)
 * Prime Suspect 6 (2003) (TV)
 * Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
 * Lie With Me (2004) (TV)
 * 8mm 2 Film. (2005)
 * Egypt (2005) BBC (TV)
 * Fake Identity Film (2008).
 * Come Fly With Me TV (2010).
 * The Power Film (2011).