imaginedworlds.threshold

Keanu stars in "Day Earth Stood Still" remake, sadly

2007-08-29T20:40:00.000-07:00

In 1951, when Michael Rennie embodied the alien Klaatu in Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still he brought sensitivity and nuance to the role of a herald trying to understand humanity's better nature, while delivering a warning to governments not to take their appetite for war into space, or else face Earth's destruction from otherworldly forces.

Born out of the aftermath of atomic bombs dropped on Japan to end World War II and the start of the Cold War, the film stands as an iconic and prophetic protest against violence, politics, technology for the sake of waging war, and possible global annihilation over petty ideological conflicts. It is a message film whose message is still relevant today. Day is widely recognized one of the greatest science fiction films of all time, if not THE best (box office withstanding).

This week Twentieth Century Fox announced its plans to go The Invasion route and inflict another unnecessary and inferior update on moviegoers. For their remake of Day they have elected to totally miscast Keanu Reeves in the role of Klaatu, an actor capable of delivering as much depth and subtlety as IKEA furniture and who best sums up emotion with a dazed telegraphed "Whoa!" Perhaps Fox thinks classic means "not-franchisable-if-it's-not-in-color."

Let's us hope the studio hires a director gifted enough to overcome the limitations of its leading man, or at least the sense to convert Keanu's footage to CGI and animate over him. It could be that Fox is taking its cue from "Transformers," sinking the budget into special effects and betting that a really cool CGI robot Gort will be the true star.

Sci-Fi On-Demand Channel 'Illusion' Launches in October

2007-08-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

Illusion On-Demand, the first and only dedicated science fiction and fantasy on-demand channel is launching nation-wide this October.

Illusion On-Demand say in a press release this week that the channel will offer a wide variety of programming which includes live-action premieres, award-winning films, anime and news, Illusion wants to define the new face of Sci-Fi culture.

Launching with a library of over 300 programming hours, Illusion is confident that Sci-Fi lovers will find a new top destination on their VOD lineup.

Now and Then, Here and There
Included in Illusion's initial lineup fans will find the acclaimed anime series "Now and Then, Here and There", VOD premieres of several BBC series including "Strange", a monthly selection of camp in the form of the "Troma Creature Feature" and the original roundtable discussion series "Analog: The Science of Fiction" moderated by editors of the renowned Analog: Science Fiction and Fact magazine. Also included in the initial lineup will be award-winning features, shorts, mini-series and the first shows on television dedicated comic book news and interviews.

Dekker Dreyer, president of Illusion, explains what makes Illusion On-Demand unique, "When my partners and I imagined an all sci-fi /fantasy VOD network we really had to work backwards. We decided that our programming needed to have a good mix of premieres, exciting movies, but all the while celebrating the classics. The sci-fi audience is very smart, and my partners and I have taken great care to program a diverse lineup that fans will really enjoy."

Illusion's respect for the fans and the people that made the genre great can be seen in the special events they've been a part of as they've built up to the coming Fall launch; events such as their recent tie-in with Hero Initiative and The CGC which brought fans together with industry legend Stan Lee on an Illusion-sponsored yacht during San Diego Comic Con. The event benefitted comic creators in need.

For the latest news about Illusion visit the official website, www.illusiontv.com. An upgraded site with Illusion's lineup and web exclusives will be launching in early September.

Illusion will be launching free to the consumer in millions of homes via carriers like Verizon Fios on October 1st, 2007. Call your local cable operator to find out if Illusion will be available in your area.

Cinemacomics!

2007-08-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Jay Carvajal started out writing screenplays over ten years ago and continues to do so today. He is a lifelong comic book reader and is currently adapting several of his screenplays into comic book format.

His company, Cinemacomics, publishes quality comic books with a cinematic feel to them. The stories are self contained and run for as many issues as needed to tell the tale. Jay collaborates with truly talented artists and his several titles are accomplished with style, originality and great passion for the graphic medium.

"A sequel will always be a possibility if there is fan interest and a story to be told that will be as entertaining as the first," says Jay.

During the coming years, Westerns, Sci-fi, and everything in between will be published at Cinemacomics and all will have a beginning, middle, and an end to each story.

SUPERMAN DOOMSDAY

2007-08-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Flatland

2007-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Full of dry wit and wry satire worthy of Monty Python, Flatland is the imaginative creation of independent filmmaker Ladd P. Ehlinger Jr., who directed, animated and edited the entire feature film. You can find him on MySpace, as I did.

Adapted from the 1884 novel by Edwin A. Abbott, the story follows its hero A Square, who inhabits a world that is completely flat and two-dimensional. A mysterious visitor from the third dimension arrives, bent on spreading the gossip about another dimension called height. A Square is taken out of Flatland and transported to the 3D universe. In so doing, the very fabric of space-time itself is placed at risks, potentially destroying all of creation.

Widely reviewed, Ladd has earned critical acclaim from Film Threat, Scifi.com, and Aintitcool, among others. Flatland clips have been frequently viewed on Youtube.

Ladd has a Special Collector's Limited Edition DVD, signed and personally numbered, now available at www.flatlandthefilm.com

Johnny Saturn

2007-08-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

Scott Story, one of the many friends I've made on MySpace, is the talent responsible for sending a superhero to hell.

Johnny Saturn is his long-running, full-color webcomic currently at home on Graphic Smash. This site is intended as your resource for all-thing Johnny Saturn, especially the many characters who pass through the strip.

Scott and his wife began the comic with a basic question: Which is superior? Super powers or martial arts? Martial arts or great intellect? Great intellect or the will to succeed at any cost? "Though we have gone on to explore other questions, this theme is still central to the story," he says on his website.

Scott Story is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist who lives in the Midwest. He's done album covers for bands, covers and interior illustrations for table-top role-playing games, advertising illustrations for large corporations, logos for individuals and businesses, graphics for websites, illustrations for magazines, and private commissions of all types.

You've got to love a writer with the last name "Story".

2007-08-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

TV REVIEW: ABC is 'Masters' at hiding a sci-fi gem
Miami Herald - Aug 04 10:48 AM

For the next four weeks, ABC presents its best new series in more than a year: an ambitious, artistic, refreshingly intelligent anthology series, "Masters of Science Fiction."

Race, the final frontier
Boston Globe - Jul 31 1:28 AM

Earlier this month at Readercon, a convention for fans of fantasy/science fiction at the Burlington Marriott, Marlin May was one of perhaps two blacks in the room. But that didn't intimidate May. He had just made arrangements to meet a science-fiction writer for dinner, showing how much comfort this fan had found in this world.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut in Theaters October 5

2007-07-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

The one that started it all. Sir Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, is one of the most important science-fiction movies of the 20th Century -- the film with immeasurable influence on society for its futuristic depiction of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world, a film perhaps more powerful and relevant today than when it was made. The film, in fact, has appeared on more 'Top Five' sci-fi lists than any other film.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, director Ridley Scott (Alien, Hannibal and a three-time Oscar® nominee, Best Director, for Gladiator, Thelma & Louise and Black Hawk Down) has gone back into post production to create the long-awaited definitive new version, which Warner Home Video will unveil on DVD December 18th in the U.S. Blade Runner: The Final Cut, spectacularly restored and remastered from original elements and scanned at 4K resolution, will contain never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new 5.1 Dolby® Digital audio track and more.

A showcase theatrical run is also being planned for New York and Los Angeles October 5.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut will be included in three stunning DVD editions: a Two-Disc Special Edition (at $20.97 SRP), a Four-Disc Collector's Edition ($34.99 SRP) and the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition ($78.92 SRP) in Collectible "Deckard Briefcase" packaging.

Simultaneous HD DVD and Blu-Ray versions (each $TBD) of the "Deckard Briefcase" will also be released in numbered, limited quantities. HD DVD and Blu-Ray 5-Disc Digi Packs with collectible slipcase (each $TBD) will include all of the UCE content.

Ford, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Joanna Cassidy, Sean Young and Daryl Hannah are among some 80 stars, filmmakers and others who participate in the extensive bonus features. Among the bonus material highlights is Dangerous Days - a brand new, three-and-a-half-hour documentary by award-winning DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika, with an extensive look into every aspect of the film: its literary genesis, its challenging production and its controversial legacy.

Additionally, two of the collections (4- & 5-Disc) will include an entire disc with hours of enhanced content containing featurettes and galleries devoted to over 45 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes recently discovered in deep storage and approved by Ridley Scott, visual effects as well as background on author Philip K. Dick, script development, abandoned sequences, conceptual design, overall impact of the film and how it lead to the birth of cyberpunk. Trailers, TV spots and promotional featurettes will also be included.

At last, "Sunshine" starts July 20th

2007-07-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

See it.

Finally, director of "Trainspotting" and "28 Days Later" Danny Boyle's new film "Sunshine"opens in the U.S. Friday, July 30th. It first premiered worldwide the same weekend as "300" in March. Critically well-received, audiences generally overlooked this cross between "2001: A Space Odyssey," " Alien" and "Fitzcarraldo ." It’s set 50 years in the future: the sun is near death, and so is everything on Earth; a crew of eight men and women (including actors Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Cillian Murphy and Michelle Yeoh ) attempt to deliver a device to the sun that will reinvigorate it, but they find their sanity waning as they get further and further from their own planet.

UC library boasts world's largest sci-fi collection

2007-07-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

A new breed of scholar is flocking to UC Riverside for otherworldly research, says LA Times' Sara Lin.

UC Berkeley has the world's premiere collection on Mark Twain -- and Yale an unmatched trove of rare medieval manuscripts. But for research on Capt. Kirk, Frankenstein or Harry Potter, nothing tops the 110,000-volume Eaton collection at UC Riverside, the world's largest library of science fiction, fantasy and horror books.

"It's like going to Graceland if you're an Elvis fan," said Drew Morse, a creative writing professor who made the pilgrimage to Riverside from Ohio last summer to study rare poetry by "Fahrenheit 451" author Ray Bradbury.

Sci-fi embraced by cultural shift

2007-07-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Writes Amy Biancolli in the Houston Chronicle:

"It's everywhere now. Everybody has some exposure to it — it's much more respectable than it used to be," says David Wellington, a sci-fi/horror author ("Monster Island," "Thirteen Bullets") and aficionado who recalls the bad old days of fandom. "Back in the '80s, when I was a huge science-fiction fan, it was very marginalized. And we always complained about that: 'Why can't other people understand why we like this stuff so much?'"

Wellington is one of several devotees who, given the chance to vent, expresses enthusiasm as well as skepticism at the current state of the genre. Many view the landscape ahead with caution, fearing a post-apocalyptic vista mottled by computer-giddy graphics and the blunt force of mainstream taste. Some see it fragmenting. Others see it thriving.

But fans reach consensus — sort of — on a few key issues. One is that fantasy novels, once joined at the hip with science fiction, have enjoyed huge success since venturing into their own sizable niche. A second is that the film and publishing industries should take more artistic risks. A third: "Blade Runner" rocks. Fourth: so do "Pan's Labryinth" and "Children of Men."

A fifth point, expressed with varying degrees of disappointment and annoyance, is that advances in digital technology have made for gob-stopping eye candy that doesn't always satisfy the mind or the heart. From a visual standpoint, "there's no better time in the history of films for science fiction," says Dave Dorman, an in-demand sci-fi/fantasy painter based in Florida best known for his Star Wars renderings. "On the other hand, I think the writing of science-fiction films is not up to what it was back in, say, the '40s, '50s and '60s."

Craig Elliott, an animator for Disney ("Treasure Planet") and DreamWorks (the upcoming "The Princess and the Frog"), puts it even more succinctly: "There's too much bling on the screen."

In publishing, contemporary science fiction has splintered into a zillion little subsets, running from alternate history and space opera to hardcore, urban fantasy, movie and TV tie-ins, cyberpunk and the boundary-stretching "New Weird."

Call it what you will, but great science fiction can be cosmic or minimalist, outward-looking or inward. It expands or contracts, pushing humanity into the farthest reaches of space or reducing it to cinders. [READ]

2007-07-14T14:11:00.001-07:00

Chinese sci-fi writer loses copyright infringement case against 20th Century Fox

AP via Yahoo! Singapore News - Jul 12 7:50 PM

A court ruled Friday that a Chinese science fiction writer did not have enough evidence to prove that 20th Century Fox stole his ideas when making the 2004 movie "The Day After Tomorrow," state media reported.

Sci-Fi Author William Gibson Touts Latest Novel in Cyberspace
Wired News - Jul 11 1:13 PM

Science fiction author William Gibson (who coined the term "cyberspace") promotes his latest novel Spook Country in Second Life . Stay tuned for Gibson SL activities, from film screening to an avatar competition.

The Masters of Science Fiction are Coming
Coming Soon - Jul 05 9:37 PM

Just when TV viewers may have had their fill of summer escapist fare, ABC brings to the air a series of four original films as current as today's headlines, but with all the wonder and imagination of the best sci-fi literature, with the 10 p.m. Aug. 4 debut of "Masters of Science Fiction," Starz Media's John W. Hyde and Industry Entertainment's Keith Addis jointly announced today.

Avid reader publishes first sci-fi book
Louisville Courier-Journal - Jul 13 3:07 AM

The climactic Harry Potter book comes out next week. Patrie Davis awaits it as do legions of others. Odd as that alone may seem, Davis, of Jeffersonville, takes it one leap further. She writes just as devotedly.

Sci-fi film 'not good teaching resource'
AAP via Yahoo!7 News - Jul 12 9:49 PM
Hollywood films featuring genetic mutations, bioweapons and mad scientists generally do little to educate Australians about biotechnology, a study has found.

Fans out in force at Europe's Star Wars convention
TODAYonline - Jul 13 9:56 PM

Star Wars science fiction film fans look at scale models at the Star Wars Celebration Europe event in London. Fans were out in force for the giant European Star Wars convention celebrating 30 years since the epic film saga all began, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

New 'Faithful' Posts

2007-07-14T13:23:00.003-07:00

Read Now

Destination: Havana, Cuba

2007-06-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

On several occasions during a four-day stay in Havana on a licensed trip for work I was nearly arrested.

I was the sole African-American among a group of Caucasians and Latin Americans. In the tourist areas of the city, the locals are prohibited from fraternizing with visitors (this mainly has to do with deterring panhandling and black market deals). In fact locals are not allowed inside their own hotels!

To my surprise, I look Cuban. Militia and hotel police, who were convinced I was a native, stopped me. That was, until I spoke. My lack of Spanish, distinctly American-accented speaking voice always caused the most profoundly apologetic responses and even inspired one policeman (with a very large Soviet-era machine gun) to give the most amazing Jack Benny double take.

Believe me, this was serious. I was with my comrades and working around Old Havana within an hour of arriving, when we crossed a local Cuban talking to a group of East Europeans. In seconds, a van pulled up, throw the guy in the back and whisked off. We were told that the penalty for “harassing tourists” is an automatic three days in jail.

Cuba is deeply prejudiced. Dark-skinned natives are routinely harassed by the more respectably European-looking half of the population. For the first time in my life I truly knew what it was like for my parents in the Deep South before Civil Rights. At first I laughed it off, but I was shaken to my core. Devastated.

Still, Havana was a profound and exhilarating experience. Life-transforming. Not for it flaws, but for its opportunities. No people celebrate life every single day with more joy and abandon than the Cuban people. In the face of tremendous hardship, they embrace music, dance and hospitality. They open their homes and hearts to you without a second thought, and they only ask for good conversation in return.

Bangkok tees, mugs and posters

Destination: Bangkok

2007-06-16T18:35:00.001-07:00

I had the good fortune to visit Krung Thep Maha Nakhon—Bangkok to the rest of the world—for work when Thailand hosted APEC summit. I was impressed with the friendliness of its people and wealth of history and grand culture. The city had been swept clean for visiting dignitaries, so I know I was not privy to the true Bangkok. Still, it’s a spectacular place. The U.S. dollars goes far and it’s easy to imagine uprooting myself, emptying my bank account, and living there quite comfortably on half a years salary. That could easily sustain me for a couple of years in the Thai economy.

I had dinner one night at a fantastic restaurant that was dedicated to AIDS-HIV education. There was condom-art in nearly ever inch. It was an incredibly emotive experience, and gratifying to see the creative length one country had gone to combat and education its populace about this devastating disease. The food there was amazing! It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had, anywhere in the world.

To commemorate the visit, I worked from photos I had taken at the Grand Palace and created an illustration, which is available as a T-shirt, poster, mug, or postcard design on shopiw.

Sunshine

2007-06-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

The trailer for Danny Boyle’s (28 Days) critically acclaimed sci-fi thiller Sunshine premiered in theatres stateside with the release of Day Watch. I’ve heard good things about this film (although it has not done well at the box office) and I am impressed with the casting. The film premiered internationally back in March, the same weekend as 300. Sunshine has yet to receive a U.S. opening date. It can only be soon, at least let’s hope with the trailer in cinemas.

A friend who lives in Hong Kong these days actually saw Sunshine back in March and said it “totally took me by surprise.” He described it as “Alien, Event Horizon and Solaris all rolled into one with amazing music and mind bending visuals.”

Sunshine is a 2007 science fiction suspense film directed by Danny Boyle from a screenplay by Alex Garland. The film follows a spaceship crew, played by an ensemble cast of Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Chris Evans, Troy Garity, Cillian Murphy, Hiroyuki Sanada, Benedict Wong and Michelle Yeoh, who are tasked with reigniting a dying sun. Fox Searchlight is distributing the film, which opened in the UK and Ireland on 5 April 2007.

Filmed entirely in the United Kingdom, the film was produced on a very small budget for the genre, and was well received critically for its exploration of the psychological and ethical ramifications of space travel, but performed poorly at the box office throughout Europe, and has so far failed to recoup its budget.^[2]

Still, I can’t wait to see it!

Day Watch

2007-06-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

The second film in the “Russian Star War” saga debuted in Los Angeles June 1st weekend. It is a sequel to the 2004 film Night Watch, featuring the same cast. It is based on the second and the third part of Sergey Lukyanenko's novel The Night Watch rather than its follow-up novel Day Watch.

The story revolves around a confrontation between two opposing supernatural groups (known as 'Others'): the Night Watch, an organization that seeks to improve the world - but isn't totally perfect and selfless either - and the Day Watch, which champions a Nietzschean, "every man for himself," philosophy, as well as an Aleister Crowley-esque, "do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law," attitude, and fights any Night Watch attempt to limit personal freedom.

I was cool to Night Watch when it first showed in Los Angeles. I thought it imaginative, but overplotted and looked like it was trying too hard to play on the same production level of Western blockbusters like Lord of the Rings. I was wrong. I warmed to the film upon repeated screenings. It really does create a successful inner world, the characters do have depth, and it is much more original in its reinterpretation of traditional vampire lore than Underworld. (Don’t get me started on that film’s overplotted and life-sucking bastard stepchildren of a sequel.) Day Watch I enjoyed thoroughly and all the more because of Night Watch.

Work vs. Passion

2007-06-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Six months ago I launched imaginedworlds, started publishing Faithful, and created its myspace page. I sought solely to exorcise creative demons and entertainment myself. It’s become a much more rewarding outlet than I expected.

I am creatively empowered for the first time in years and my life is more centered and purposeful. Most of all, I have pushed myself creatively in new directions, and I am having fun do it. I would just as soon write, illustrate and web experiment day and night for the rest of my time on Earth.

Unfortunately, I have a job that requires more hours and effort than the typical grind of a Nine-to-Five. I have bills, lots of debt, and a regiment of expenses. My job has contacted with many successful business people and they have a common refrain whenever asked the secret to success and happiest: “follow your passion” and “do what you enjoy.” If I followed my passion, I would be writing and illustrating on the web full-time or simply doing something that pays and nourishes my creativity. But I don’t know how to do that. I don’t know how to transition from the trap of an unfulfilling career (or at least an ill-nurturing professional life) to doing the type of creative activities that enrich me, while also earning a living.

What it mean is I don’t always have time to write and work on the Web as I would like. I don’t always have the energy to keep my web pages as fresh as I would like. There rarely are enough hours in a day to keep up with all the great blogs and websites I’ve discovered and the many fascinating personalities they have introduced me to. The job is often too exhausting, too stressful to give imaginedworlds the attention I’d prefer. And writing and illustrating is time consuming,

I am so enjoying myself. I have no expectation that anyone is reading this or Faithful or visiting my web pages. I am not trying to start a business or parlay a comic or film deal. I only wish to feed that creative bug and push myself to learn and grow. I hope that with time I will strike the right balance. One day I may be able to manage the work I do to live and the life I work to enjoy.

Jaime Somers Resurrected Better, Stronger, Faster

2007-05-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

NBC will rebuild "Bionic Woman" (the network has dropped "The" from the original title) for this coming season. But can the long-suffering network actually make her, if not faster, at least better and stronger? In his regular Monday column Channel Island for The Los Angeles Times, Scott Collins reports on NBC upcoming reimagined fall series, which promises a Battlestar Galactica-style face-lift for the 70s TV cult classic.

NBC was also posted a preview of the new "Bionic Woman" with a trailer of the pilot and interviews with the new Jaime Somers British actress Michelle Ryan and creator David Eick.

Reporter Collins said in addition to "Heroes" and a "Heroes" spin-off next season, NBC is bulking up on the sci-fi genre, with the time-travel drama "Journeyman" and the high-tech thriller "Chuck."

Let it bleed

2007-05-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Our online serial Faithful continues with the latest chapters "Pronaos" and "Edmund." Otherworldly intrigue escalates toward shocking revelations that may yet tear apart the trouble moon-planet Aideena. But are things truly as they seem? What of the mysterious Divine exile called The Archangel? What does He really know?

Chapters

1: Day All of Creation Shuddered

2: The Agreement

3: Nadsar

4: Horus

5: The Reading

6: Daria

7: Sebastian

8: Constantine

9: Seneca

10: The Parliamentary

11. Prefect

12. Pronaos

13. Edmund

Vote and put a roof on a school in Africa, you’re money not required

2007-04-08T13:39:00.000-07:00

My friend John "apuuli" does community development work in Africa through an organization he started World Community Development Programme.

One of the communities he works with is trying to raise money through a website called givemeaning. This community, Bulaga, has raised thousands of dollars to build a school using local fundraisers, marathons, and selling crafts created by the kids. Bulaga just needs $1600 to complete construction of the roof so the kids can use the school. At present, they are barred from using the school by the government inspectors.

“The way givemeaning.com works is they post a proposed project and then individuals, like you, must review it and vote on it to see if it is worth funding,” says apuuli. “WE NEED YOUR VOTES!!!”

What you're "voting" on is whether you feel the proposed project is worthwhile. When you vote, you're NOT making a financial commitment of any kind; you're simply indicating that you think it's a good idea and should go ahead.

Voting takes less than a minute, and it's easy - so please VOTE NOW, by clicking here:
http://www.givemeaning.com/proposal/littleangelsskul2 to review the project profile (and then just click on the Vote icon to cast your vote).

With enough votes, the Project's founder can work towards making the idea a reality.

Hollywood and the Graphic Novel

2007-04-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

Last month, I attended an excellent panel on Hollywood and the Graphic Novel at Wizard Los Angeles.

Half the panel were filmmakers who had produced comic book properties for film/TV and now were launching their own original graphic ventures. The other half of the panel were graphic novelists/content creators who are venturing into film, TV and other mass media outlets. The panel included Silent Devil/Kompany X/Zenoscope creators John Leekley (“Spawn: The Animated Series”), writer Michael Olmo of Chamber Six, Top Cow’s David Wohl (“Witchblade,” Executive Assistant), Christian Beranek (comics Dracula vs King Arthur, “Se7en”) and Zenoscope co-founders Joe Brusha and Ralph Tedesco.

It will shortly become common practice that Hollywood directors, writers and cinematographers, in collaboration, will first have to produce graphic novels in order to get their films made. This is why an increasing number of established Hollywood directors/producers are actively working in the comicbook industry like Bryan Singer and Joss Wheldon, as well as visa versa like writer Jeph Loeb (co-creater on Heroes, Lost and writes many of DC's top titles). This is perhaps not a revelation to those in the know, but for writers and artists looking to break into the creative arts it may not be widely advocated (certainly, not in the nation’s university programs).

The panelists encouraged first-time writers to partner with graphic artists and develop screenplays with companion comics. Studios won't invest unless they see exactly how stories are conceptualize from beginning to end. Furthermore, I learned that despite an explosion of independent labels, comic book companies are not money makers. It’s increasingly difficult to successfully launch and sustain new titles.Only when you have properties that are carried by Borders or Barners & Noble can you make any money. That goes for Marvel and DC. So, everyone is scramble to great collections that will attract the big book chains.

The discussion had many more shades to it than describe here. But, it was illuminating and offered to me further evidence that we are living in era of enormous transformation for content creators where new rules are being forged everyday. None of the traditional creative assumptions apply.

Read Wizard’s take

Asimov’s Three Laws Come Closer to Reality

2007-04-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Asimov had only three laws governing robots, following in the wake of Europe and South Korea, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has sixty pages of rules.

Korea plans to adopt the world’s first robot ethics code that bans humans from abusing robots and vice versa.

The charter, which will be adopted near the end of this year, will be applied to both humans and robots.

It will be based on the "Three Laws of Robotics” put forward by U.S. science fiction author Isaac Asimov in 1942. The laws ban robots from attacking humans, require them to obey human orders and preserve their own existence.

A 12-member panel consisting of lawyers, government officials, scientists, medical doctors, and a psychologist will draft the ethics code.

Lee Jang-han, professor of psychology at Chungang University and a panel member, said the committee will find a way to have robots abide by the ethics of human society.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has drafted guidelines designed to keep future generations of robots on their best behavior, as well.

The document, titled Draft Guidelines to Secure the Safe Performance of Next Generation Robots, calls for the Japanese government to convene a panel of industrialists, academics, ministry officials and lawyers to create stricter measures governing the development of advanced robotic machines, The Times of London reported.

The draft proposal demands that robots be equipped with the means for logging and communicating any injuries they cause to the people they are meant to be helping or protecting. It calls for a central database of all recorded incidents of humans harmed by robots, and demands that it be accessible by all robot-makers.

After a yet more convoluted process of public consultation, the ministry will draft, as early as May, a set of principles to which all robots must conform.

'Metal Men' forged at Warner Bros.

2007-04-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Mining for new projects, Warner Bros. Pictures is hoping to strike gold with the robotic superhero team "Metal Men."

Based on a DC Comics hero created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru in 1962, "Metal" revolves around a brilliant scientist, William Magnus, and his creations: six highly advanced robots who have powers associated with their respective metals -- gold, iron, lead, tin, mercury and platinum. Instead of having to be programmed, the Metal Men can think for themselves, which is both their genius and their biggest flaw.

The heroes made their first appearance in "Showcase," where they were created as filler but proved to be unexpectedly popular and received their own title. The heroes served as a dysfunctional family, and the stories balanced sentimentality, humor and action.

The project will be produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, who has a history of bringing comic books to the silver screen. She was behind the "X-Men" movies at Fox, which were based on the Marvel Comics superheroes, and 2005's "Constantine" at Warners, based on a DC Comics/Vertigo title.--
Source: Borys Kit, Reuters News

Indianapolis makes a home for nation’s superheroes

2007-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Dane Nash's collection of Superman and Batman items, including costumes worn by television and movie actors who portrayed the Man of Steel, Superboy and Supergirl, fill a 3,300-square-foot space near Union Station, at 20 W. Louisiana St. in Downtown Indianapolis.

Nash retired last year from the property insurance business to devote his full attention to fulfilling his dream of opening the American Super Heroes Museum.

Besides, he needed a place to display the thousands of items he has collected.

About 15 years ago, Nash sold his extensive collection of all the Superman comic books to that point so he could buy a Superman costume worn by George Reeves on the 1950s television series. He also has the white shirt and tie Reeves wore as Clark Kent, Superman's alter ego.

"It was a goose-bump moment," he said of the purchase. After returning home , he put it on for several minutes before putting it away.

He experienced a similar fascination with Batman after the Adam West "Batman" show aired in the 1960s when he was 12 or 13. This time it wasn't so much for the character of Batman, but he absolutely loved the Batmobile.

Batman items are displayed in the "Batcave." Nash plans to bring his replica of the Batmobile that appeared in the "Batman" movie featuring Michael Keaton in 1989. The car has a Corvette engine and a capsule over the driving compartment that pops up and slides back just as it did in the movie, Nash said.

Nash plans to bring the car, along with a replica of the 1966 Adam West Batboat, to the museum in the weeks ahead.

The American Super Heroes Museum is at 20 W. Louisiana St. in Downtown Indianapolis.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $5, or $3 for senior citizens. Children younger than 8 are free.
Source: ROB SCHNEIDER
Indianapolis Star

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