SCI FI PI

CAPTAIN'S BLOG : Stargate Universe Returns to SCI FI Oz on April 9

Captain — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:00:00 AM

You know it's coming. You can feel it. The next chapter in the Stargate Universe saga is about to be told.

All new episodes of Stargate Universe will be once again fast-tracked to Australian audiences, days after their initial screening in the US.

Stargate Universe will air on SCI FI Australia on Friday 9 April, at 8.30pm.

For those fans craving more action, more adventure and more aliens - this trailer from US Syfy (Spring is Autumn) should put your mind at ease, and get your mind excited.

Featured in the trailer are some cool looking planets, space battles, Rhona Mitra (who has three episodes!) and eerie looking aliens.

Less than a month to go!

NEWS : Heavy Metal (Metal Hurlant) Still Coming. Honh honh honh!

Captain — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 9:00:00 AM

Dark Horizons is reporting that Heavy Metal, based on the iconic French comic Metal Hurlant, is still good to go, despite a rocky run.

This is good news, because the core team is still attached, and David Fincher, James Cameron and Zac Snyder are all still interested in a project that will have eight to nine segments, which of course will be animated, and, you guessed it, be in 3D.

The original 1981 movie caused quite a stir through the mainstream as it brought the violence and eroticism of the long-running comic book series to a world not quite ready for it. Still, the fanbase for Heavy Metal remains extremely strong, and skimpily clad homicidal Amazon cyber women have always been a hit at the box office.

It was back in 2008 that Paramount seemed to give up the ghost on a complex project, but Blur studios, who are currently running the Heavy Metal 'show' remain involved, and will more than likely be animating at least some of the segments that make it to the big screen.

Metal Hurlant (Howling Metal) was originally published in France in 1974. It featured the works of iconic artists Enki Bilal, Jean Giraud (also known as Moebius), Philippe Druillet, Milo Manara and Philippe Caza. The American version, started in 1977, is currently owned and published by Kevin Eastman, co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

A second Heavy Metal film was released in 2000, called Heavy Metal 2000 - not based on the comics, but from a standalone story from Eastman.

Ultimately, the good news is that Heavy Metal is something of a passion project for David Fincher, which is good news for fans who want to see this iconic style of entertainment up on the big screen, and in 3D!

CAPTAIN'S BLOG : Whats On This Week March 15 - 21

Captain — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 6:00:00 PM

March marches on apace with all the very best in Sci Fi tramping merrily along. This week, catch the latest and greatest with our new hit shows, and catch up with some old time faves. It's a great week to love Sci Fi - on SCI FI.

Farscape, Season 3!

March 16th 1.05 am

Episode One is one of the best openers you'll see in Sci Fi, to a series that had hit its straps and was going balls-to-the-wall with a bubbling plot of story, character and action. If you're a bit of a 'drop in, drop out' Farscape fan, Season 3 is not the worst place to start. Try staying up late on Monday night or recording it on your IQ.

So what to expect? Crichton remains a virtual prisoner in the Ice Planet lab. Now that the chip - and the clone - implanted in Crichton's brain have been removed, Scorpius is free to examine the secrets of the wormhole technology. Dun dun duuunh!

Sanctuary!
Thursday, March 18 at 8:30pm

The good thing about Sci Fi is that no matter how used to getting your brain messed with, Sci Fi writers can still put your little grey cells into a blender from time to time and pour out a smoothie of pure WTF? This week's episode, Veritas, will give you one heck of a mystery to solve as Helen Magnus commits a shocking (shocking!) murder, on tape, with no 'doctored video' angle at all. You've got to see it.

Warehouse 13!
Friday, March 19, 7.30pm

Episode 3 of this blockbuster hit has Pete and Myka sent to upstate New York to investigate why the town's inhabitants seem to be acting out their subconscious desires. Sure, you can control what you do - but can you control what you, deep, deep down, actually think? Cool stuff. Make sure you get on the bus with the coolest kids in town - it leaves every Friday, 7.30pm!

Men in Black!
Sunday, March 21 at midday and 10.15pm.
Encore Monday, March 22 at 9am

With our planet crawling with extra-terrestrials cleverly disguised to blend in with the clueless human population, top-secret organisation MIB is charged with monitoring and controlling alien activity while keeping it all a secret. Agent Kay must train a new recruit and save the Earth from certain destruction. Can he track down an evil six foot tall bug wearing an Edgar suit? Sure he can!

If you've not seen MIB (or the sequel, which is on next week) you're missing out on some slick Sci Fi fun. If you have seen it a billion times before, we recommend a quick self dose of the neuralyser - and you're good to go!

NEWS : The Week in Geek Issue #6

The Shadow — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 9:00:00 AM

Greetings readers!

Once again, we continue on our never ending quest: to keep you informed of what's going on in the world of nerdom. It's been a big week, so hang on to your hats and let's go! Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads...

In this week�s most super duper, fantastic, amazing, (insert more superlative�s here) news, there�s new trailers for Iron Man 2 and Tron Legacy! The first has reached near impossible amounts of awesome (War Machine! The briefcase armour! Tony�s response to meeting the notary! The tux under the armour!) while Tron looks simply amazing. Though I can�t hear Bruce Boxleitner�s voice without hearing Captain Sheridan... There�s also a new Tron image and several billboards.

What's the next thing after 'geek-squee'? Is it a nerdgasm?

Warners wants to remake The Wizard of Oz, (Is nothing sacred?) Tintin has a release date and there�s a War of the Worlds documentary that asks what if the invasion actually happened?

Star Trek fans are really after Spock�s Brain in Night of the Living Trekkies while Leonardo Da Vinci could become a Renaissance action hero. There�s the first Twilight: Eclipse trailer and a spoiler filled look at season 3 of True Blood

James Cameron has been sued over Avatar. Again... 80�s slackers will be happy - Keanu Reeves is trying to get another Bill and Ted movie made!*air guitar solo*

There�s news on a proposed Jim Henson biopic as well as the Fraggle Rock film *sings theme under his breath* while Firefly�s Sean Maher will join cast mate Jewel Staite on Warehouse 13 and the next season of Doctor Who will premiere on ABC iview almost 2 days before it airs on the ABC.

There�s a fresh trailer and picture gallery for Repo Men. Before you hit the link, let me warn you that it's pretty brutal, so if you�re at work wait till everyone leaves or use headphones.

Predators will be dark and scary, but might be PG:13, Jesse Ventura has shot a Sci Fi film with the Wachowski brothers while Christopher Nolan has talked about his plans for Superman.

Hunting humans? Why that's family-friendly fun!

Matt Smith has talked about how he�ll play the Doctor, Liev Schreiber wants in on Wolverine 2 and there�s a Battlestar Galactica online game in the works. Bit late isn�t it?

Evan Rachel Wood has left the Spider-Man musical, Roger Corman has revealed the secrets of Sharktopus (and Eric Roberts will star!) while the official synopsis and cast list for Thor has been released.

There�s talk of Sacha Baron Cohen starring in Men in Black 3, the creators of Being Human are making a super hero show and you can read the first chapter of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

Felicia Day will play a werewolf hunting descendant of Little Red Riding Hood in the Syfy original Red, to premiere next year. Firefly fans can learn Book�s origin in Serenity: The Sheppard�s Tale and the cast of Ultramarines has been announced.

The Hulk is selling band aids, Esai Morales answers your Caprica questions and who�s playing Captain America is still unknown. Fringe has a third season while Stan Lee wants an Oscar. Conan has it�s leading lady while there�s new Buck Rogers webisodes.

Are a labcoat and goggles part of your wardrobe? Do you spell science with a capital S and an exclamation point? If so, you�ll be happy to know you can read the entire library of Popular Science magazine online.

SGU 1.5 will take us back to the Stargate drawing board - aliens and action ahoy!

Lastly, there�s the first and second trailers for the second half of Stargate Universe season 1. There�s some pretty major spoilers, so be warned.

Quote of the Week:
(Ivanova chides Sheridan on his impatience over an arriving VIP on a mysterious mission.)
Susan Ivanova: Leave it to you to try and take all the fun out of life. I mean, come on, where's your sense of mystery, of adventure?
Sheridan: Are you trying to cheer me up?
Ivanova: No, sir! Wouldn't dream of it.
Sheridan: Good! I hate being cheered up. It's�depressing.
Ivanova: So, in that case�we're all going to die horrible, painful, lingering deaths.
Sheridan: Thank you. I feel so much better now.
Babylon 5 - Matters of Honour

And remember - be excellent to each other!

BLU-RAY / DVD : Surrogates on DVD/BD - Exclusive Clips!

Captain — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 1:30:00 PM

Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, James Cromwell, Ving Rhames
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Rated M
Released March 1

The futuristic people as robots thriller, Surrogates is out now on Blu-ray and DVD. We've got some cool clips and a quick peek at the extras.

If you didn't read our theatrical release review, here's a little refresher on what Surrogates is all about:

The film is set in a future where 98% of the world live life through their Surrogates, robotic avatars that are better than human bodies in every way - better looking, with better reflexes, strength and resilience. Crime rates have plummeted, but people spend all their time strapped to a chair, living life through their robotic counterparts, safe and sound from harm.

Which is all fine and dandy until someone gets killed. A new weapon that can zap people's brains by zapping their surrogate mean that the entire concept of surrogacy is under threat. Bruce Willis, as Tom Greer, has to track down the killer, and finds himself ending up in one of the few remaining zones where 'humans only' reside. These ghettos remain the last bastions of 'reality' and seem to be the best place to look. Of course, that's not quite the case.

Whilst on the hunt, Greer has to deal with the ramifications of losing a child - his wife has embraced the artificial barrier and comfort of surrogacy to protect herself from her grief, and in so doing, separating more and more from a husband seeking to return to the 'reality' of their relationship.

What is a film filled with intriguing ideas and moments is not quite the Sci Fi extravaganza that we had hoped. It's a little bit in the Minority Report category, where a great concept boils down to a fairly rough shod police drama. There are some good action sequences, a pretty good ending (although you may see it coming) but ultimately it's something to watch whilst chewing hamburgers, rather than smoking a contemplative pipe considering the future of humanity as portrayed on film. Fun, sure. Action, you bet. Cool moments - no worries. But... it's a little bit... roller-coastery. It's fun while you're on, but that's about it.

EXTRAS

Blu-ray Exclusives:
Deleted Scenes
A More Perfect You: The Science of Surrogates
Breaking the Frame:A graphic Novel Comes to Life

On BD and DVD
"I Will Not Bow" Music Video by Breaking Benjamin
Audio Commentary with director Jonathan Mostow

We've got some exclusive clips from the extras on the Blu-ray disc for your enjoyment:

The first clip is from the featurette about the transfer of the story from the original comic to the big screen.

The second is a deleted scene featuring some awesome home surgery.

The third is another deleted scene from the first part of the film, with Bruce Willis and Radha Mitchell as creepy Robot detective having a look at the massive engineering floor of the Surrogate factory. Kinda cool.

GAMES : Heavy Rain: Breezethrough Review

Captain — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 AM

Available on the PS3, now.

Few games have received the rapt attention that the launch of Heavy Rain has. From the first frames of scintillatingly detailed graphics, it's easy to understand what all the fuss is about. Playing the game isn't really about 'playing'. Heavy Rain takes us to a new place in the gaming universe. For some - it's going to be a magnetic, hypnotic experience.

For others - boring as bat shit.

Here's the deal - when you start the game, your first few tasks are designed to help you master a new way of using your PS3 controller. The exact movement, including the exact strength of movement of your 'mushroom' or thumb buttons, are an integral part of controlling your character. Subtle variances of movement are required on your part, if you want to succeed at the game.

You also use the sixaxis motion detection system - so, if you want to brush your teeth, you have to 'brush' with your controller. Sometimes following the on-screen prompts aren't always successful - what is successful is when you mimic the exact movement that you'd use in real life, on screen.

Yes, you heard right - this is a game where you brush your teeth - hell, you even set the table!

It sounds weird and boring, but the ability to take a carton of orange juice out of the fridge, shake it and drink from the carton is an entirely satisfying experience.

That said - if you're the kind of gameplayer who finds the likes of MAG lacking in challenge (MAG is a new FPS that is WAY off the reservation for nooks) then you will find Heavy Rain sorely lacking in adrenalin-pumping action. You may even find it pointless.

Heavy Rain is pretty much a movie that you do things in, as opposed to an out-and-out game. It is the story that sucks you in, and if you're not careful, keeps you in, waaaaay past your bedtime. The brilliant sound design, world design, and some nice flourishes, make this a 'slow burn' game that starts off as a 'what the?' and quickly becomes something that many people will consider one of the finest gaming experiences ever made.

To start with, you play as three characters - a young father, a grizzled PI, and an FBI agent. You then play as another character. All, it soon turns out, have a connection with the Origami Killer, so far responsible for seven deaths.

The story takes twists and turns, and starts of with a great injection of intrigue. The atmospheric music, combined with a gritty urban landscape and the incessant rain, make for a beautifully moody experience. The feeling one gets while playing is not dissimilar to watching Silence of the Lambs.

When it comes to action, however, the game isn't a total snoozefest. There are, for example, fight sequences, where you use your controller in unpredictable ways. Instead of just the usual PS3 combos of square, circle, x and triangle, you use R1, R2, L1, L3, and your thumb sticks, in random combinations. Sometimes (like climbing a hill, or holding groceries(!)) you have to hold several buttons at once.

Combat is a little more cerebral and choreographed - no button-bashing here - it's more about timing and becoming part of the fight, rather than sitting back and hitting 'x' as many times as possible within a five second period.

On pressing 'x' in the game - what you will get is a swirling (literally) collection of thoughts. You'll find out what your character is thinking, and then use that for action or for conversation.

After a few chapters of the story, the controller system for Heavy Rain becomes second nature, and you'll get the hang of opening car doors, or putting on sunglasses.

BTW - the sunglasses in the game have a special touch - this is one of those 'flourishes' mentioned before. As the FBI agent, you have a holographic computer activated by a glove and a pair of glasses. You can walk over a crime scene and spot crucial clues. You can sit at your desk, and after creating a stunning virtual environment, go through data in virtual space, moving it around and analysing information with hand gestures. It's like Minority Report, only much, much cooler.

The dialogue, at times, can be a bit iffy, with the odd accent slip here or there, and some stilted moments. It's tough when there's that much question and answer scripting involved, but because the character movement (there are moments of pure naturalism that will have your jaw-dropping when you realise - this is NOT a real person) and environment modelling are so good, it is something that you notice. The writing, of the over arcing story, and the design of how and when characters come and go, is brilliant. It is not an easy task to put the controller down.

Whilst there is a linearity to events, there's also a random series of branching mechanisms thrown in - you may miss a clue, or say something to someone, that creates an entirely different pathway. You sense it as you play it, and there's an itch to replay sequences even before you've finished the game, just to see where you'll end up.

Heavy Rain produces flashes of the same kind of emotions engendered whilst playing the groundbreaking RPG, Blade Runner. It's that good.

If you like a good mystery story, have patience, and get a kick out of 'atmosphere', Heavy Rain may be your favourite game/interactive movie, ever.

SPECIAL FEATURES : Battlestar Galactica Has Been Sabotaged

Captain — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:00:00 AM

You may have seen this floating around the Intertubes the last few days - if you haven't, get ready for a dose of awesomeness that will perform multiple tasks during a busy Thursday.

1. Gives you that supercharged pick-me-up for a tough working day.

2. Reminds you how awesome BSG is.

3. Reminds you how awesome Spike Jonze's video of the Beastie Boys' Sabotage is.

4. Gives you the perfect video to send to that one person in your life who says 'enh, Battlestar Galactica... I don't think I want to watch it'.

The video you see before you is the brainchild of Katie King, a Virginia-based TV editor who loves her frakkin' BSG. In a recent interview with wired.com, Katie said she made the video in five days - although only working for a couple of hours a night. Impressive. Most impressive.

Said Katie, known as katamaran78 on YouTube:

"Each time I would take a clip, lay it down and set the timing, I would just start grinning like a maniac. I think I wore out the springs in my office chair jumping up and down a few times when a shot worked really well."

This is Katie's third fan video.

"If it hadn�t been for the amazing editing in the Spike Jonze original, this would have been nothing but a clip show,� said King. �I simply paid homage to him, the Beastie Boys and most importantly to me, Battlestar Galactica.�

If you're unsure just how brilliant the precision of the editing is - check out the shot-for-shot comparison:

NEWS : Frak Me! BSG MMORPG! OMG!

Captain — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PM

Making no apologies for one of the geekiest headlines ever.

If you know what it means, your pants just got a little bit moist - front or back, it's a personal choice.

The idea that the Battlestar Galactica universe could in fact be the background for a Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game is an idea so awesome that the greater percentage of Sci Fi fans have not even considered its possibility. However, it is an idea that stretches back through the mists of time - waaaay back to even 2007, even.

With Star Trek Online showing the way, and Stargate and Star Wars soon pushing the envelope, it looks like it's going to be even tougher than usual for the casual geek not only to see sunlight but to see reality.

The Battlestar Galactica game is being published by Bigpoint, in which NBC Universal is co-owner of a majority stake. Bigpoint will be demonstrating Battlestar Galactica Online at the Game Developers Conference 2010, and teaser site will soon go up. The game will launch worldwide on Syfy.com for a 30 day period in the northern Autumn (September-ish). Co-developed by The Unity, the game will be able to be played directly in an Internet browser.

�Battlestar Galactica is a supremely gameable intellectual property, with compelling character classes, a fantastic array of ships and weaponry, multiple worlds, and a dramatic storyline,� said Bill Kispert, VP & GM, Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. � We are excited to work with Bigpoint � and our partners at Universal Cable Productions and Syfy � to bring an epic, accessible, and �always on� BSG experience to fans of the franchise and online gamers alike.�

�Cooperation between Bigpoint and NBC Universal is a very important strategic step for us,� explains Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder of Bigpoint. �Battlestar Galactica has a huge and passionate fan base. We are proud to be able to publish such an internationally famous title as one of our online games. For the first time ever, we�re relying completely on Unity in order to offer our users fantastic game graphics right in their browsers.�

The Unity platform engine makes it possible to produce real-time 3D applications such as MMO games with exceptionally high quality graphics without having to download a client.

Players will be able to choose to play as cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils. A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience. Missions will define the game�s overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe.

The game is being developed by Artplant, a Norwegian development studio specialising in 3D MMO games.

"With a browser game, you just get started when you launch," said Nils-Holger Henning, chief communications officer of Bigpoint. "We can constantly add features and content for people who are playing."

You can get registered and updates at the teaser site, www.bgo.bigpoint.com/.

NEWS : Min Un Bleck Three - Crazy Casting

Captain — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:00:00 AM

This is either great news, odd news, or disturbing news. Or it could be an 'internet rumour' which is a polite way of saying 'bull%&$'.

Websites bloodydisgusting.com and hollywood.com are reporting that Jemaine Clement (from Flight of the Chonchords and Gentlemen Broncos) and Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Ali G) are teaming up with Josh Brolin (Milk, No Country for Old Men) to star in Men In Black 3.

The script has been finished, and apparently the characters played by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are not in it.

Etan Cohen (Tropic Thunder, Igor, Idiocracy) wrote the screenplay, so it looks like the comedy element will be heavy, particularly if these casting rumours are true.

However, to be specific, Clement and Cohen may be fighting for the same role - that of 'Yaz'. MIB agents are known by phonetic spelling of the letters that are their codenames, 'Jay' and 'Kay', so if the new kids were in fact going to be wearing the 'last suit you'll ever need' then 'Yaz' may not cut it. They'd have to be 'Why' or 'Zee' or 'Arr' or some such.

However, we may have theory that could work, and this is merely a theory. 'Why' and "Zee', screened through the Hollywood rumour mill, put together in a hastily typed email, would in fact spell 'YAZ'.

Could these two new characters be at the very bottom of the MIB hierarchy, thus increasing the comedy of intergalactic alien relations with Clouseau-like bumbling?

Or could they be a bizarre twin-headed alien-human hybrid, forever bickering in the worst buddy cop situation imaginable?

Throwing square-jawed Josh Brolin into the mix makes one wonder - he'd be a good straight man for any number of shenanigans from two rather out-there comedians.

As soon as we have hard facts, we'll let you know. In the meantime - keep watching the skies.

P.S. Oh - and in a happy coincidence - MIB and MIB 2 are screening on SCI FI from March 21!

VIDEO : That New Tron Trailer Weve All Been Waiting For... is Here!

Captain — Tue, 9 Mar 2010 6:00:00 PM

Whilst Avatar, Star Trek and co did well to represent Sci Fi at the Oscars, and giving Sci Fi fans a fulfilled sense of pride in the process, the entertainment machine rolls on - signified by the massive outpouring of net activity after last night's release of the Iron Man 2 trailer. We'll have that up in Spectrum in a jiffy - but in the meantime, you may wish to salivate about another upcoming film - the 3D Hypernerdfest that is Tron Legacy.

The first trailer was merely awesome. This one tells you a bit more of the story, which so far, looks pretty good. All the old faves (albeit updated) are all there. How cool do the Recognizers look? Very cool.

We really need to get our heads together and build a time machine so the movie gets released - tomorrow. If that doesn't work - December 16th should be the release date in Oz.

NEWS : Call for Animators: Become a Proto-Ninja

Captain — Tue, 9 Mar 2010 5:19:00 PM

With the second UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival set to launch in Sydney on 24 September 2010, emerging animators have a chance to get a leg up in the industry through the Sixty40 Proto-Ninja Award.

The Sixty40 Proto-Ninja Award will consist of $999.99 cash plus a two-month mentorship with Sixty40, a design and animation company that combines the love of creativity with the reality of commercial production.

Entrants must create a new work of between 40 and 60 seconds length, which follows the theme �Underdog�.

Deadline for entries is 6th August 2010.

�The focus of the entry should be on telling a story that strikes an emotional chord around the theme of the underdog,� said Sixty40�s Animation Director Matt Taylor. �So, we�re looking for films that are funny, sad, inspirational or evoke some other emotional response.�

Production techniques used are completely open and could include stop-frame, traditional 2D, motion graphics, 3D, photography, puppetry, film or video. The result must ensure a compelling experience for the viewer rather than just a display of technical prowess.

�We use the term �ninja� to signify an animator or designer with superior skills, vision and passion who can be relied on to not only pull their own weight in a studio but also to bring fresh unique qualities to their work. A �proto-ninja� is a ninja-in-the-making who has not yet had the chance to unleash their talents on the world. The mentorship will give the winner time, resources and guidance to help them develop their film, experience and secret powers on their path towards full Ninja-dom� continues Taylor.

Ten finalists will be screened and the winner announced at the opening night of the UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival, Friday 24 September, 2010. As well, the ten finalists will have their work streamed from the Proto-Ninja award website for a period of 12 months or until the 2011 winner is announced.

In 2010 the Festival will showcase sessions such as the Australian Panorama, SIGGRAPH Highlights and the wonderfully twisted Late Night Bizarre, along with a new batch of animation from France, the US, UK and China to mention a few. After the success of last year�s international guest speakers Clare Kitson, former commissioning editor for the UK�s Channel 4, and Oscar winning Canadian animator Chris Landreth, 2010 will continue to provide access to the movers and shakers of the global animation industry.

Full details about the competition are available at www.sixty40.com/protoninja.

NEWS : Sydney Town Hall Hosts Star Trek, Farscape and Doctor Who

Captain — Mon, 8 Mar 2010 3:00:00 PM

If you live in Sydney, you may have heard that Sydney Town Hall has been fully refurnished. It's all shiny and new, and has only just (just!) reopened.

That's why we think it's kind of cool that one of the first public events to be held in glammed up landmark will be a Sci Fi convention. Kind of cool to have a Con in the heart of town, and kind of cool to have the guests that are coming.

It's all scheduled for Sunday, March the 21st, from 10am to 4pm. Put that in your diary right now.

The legendary 8th Doctor Who, Paul McGann, will be appearing, live in person, signing autographs and answering questions (some, possibly, even about Withnail and I!).

If you're a Farscape fan (and we know there are lots of you out there), get ready to come on down! Gigi Edgely, Lani Tupu and Matt McCoy, Rigel's puppeteer, have all confirmed they will be there. If you want to hear about what Claudia Black refers to as 'wookie meltdowns' you need to see the stars of Farscape in person.

For fans of Star Trek, there will be a real treat - Star Trek Enterprise's Malcolm Reed, Dominic Keating. As the show has 'mellowed' with age, more and more people are changing their minds and discovering just how really good it was - and interest in the stars is growing exponentially.

The event will be a full-on collectibles fair, with special celebrity signings, photos sessions, trading card tournaments and a wide selection of collectibles retailers.

A a fun way to spend a Sunday in Sydney city. March 21st, 10am-4pm.

For tickets and more info CLICK HERE!

NEWS : Alice Rocks Aussie Box Office

Captain — Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:43:00 AM

Disney�s Alice in Wonderland went through the roof in the global box office on its opening weekend - but did particularly well in Australia, with a take home lunchbox of $10,337,237.

This makes Alice in Wonderland:

1. The highest grossing weekend for 2010

2. The best ever weekend for March (beating the previous record by 140%)

3. The third best Disney opening ever, behind only �Pirates of the Caribbean 2 & 3�

Alan Finney, Managing Director and Vice-President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Australia said, �We are delighted with the enthusiastic way Australian audiences have embraced Tim Burton�s unique vision of Wonderland and come out in support of our own homegrown talent, Mia Wasikowska".

In the US, Alice in Wonderland clocked up a 3 Day Estimate of $116.3 million, which makes it:

Highest-grossing non-sequel opening weekend in history.

Biggest March opening of all time.

Biggest 3-D opening of all time.

Biggest IMAX opening of all time.

VIDEO : Making Sci Fi in Australia

Captain — Mon, 8 Mar 2010 9:40:00 AM

Many of you may have seen the Aussie Sci Fi/Vampire movie, Daybreakers, written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. Whilst funded by Canadian studio Lionsgate, it was, in all aspects, a local production, stars Willem Dafoe and Ethan Hawke notwithstanding. The success of the film, both critically and commercially, once again begs the question - why isn't more Sci Fi made on Australian soil?

We have some of the best technicians, crew and facilities in the world. Our special effects, post-production and acting talent are legendary. Yet, for some reason, there seems to be a lack of will at the producer or the funding-body level. Young genre filmmakers are forced to go rogue, completely independent, outside the 'system' that we have in Australia, by either making micro-budget films like Gabriel, or going directly to Hollywood, like Saw. The idea that a Sci Fi or genre film would get the attention and funding reserved for a 'typical' Australian film seems insane. It seems preposterous.

But why?

Many people have many theories. One is that there's a cultural cringe. The birth of the Australian film industry in the early 1970's was one that was tied intrinsically to our national identity and culture. Australian films had to be Australian, and about Australia - because they could be, for the first time. Names like Weir, Miller and Noyce rocked the world with their new movies - Australian films became their own little genre, a powerhouse of iconoclastic originality.

After the initial heyday, the 80's brought in 10B, the tax scheme that allowed for anybody to invest in any movie and make their money back, no problemo. Unutterable rubbish was created. Creatively, Australia's film industry suffered, but at the same time, 10B did create more of an industry of people who actually made films, rather than just the first few graduates from AFTRS (Noyce et al among them). Films like Crocodile Dundee charmed the world, but they were few and far between in large steaming pile of dreck. Ironically, it was genre that suffered the most, with (all respect to Quentin Tarantino) films that gave Aussie Sci Fi/Horror a less than stellar name. Turkey Shoot may be a guilty pleasure now, but at the time, it was just guilty.

Daybreakers - a good Sci Fi/Horror movie. Made in Australia, starring Australians, by Australians.

From both these decades emerged the idea of the 'worthy' Australian film, typical of what we see funded today. This, coupled with a government system that saw funding for around thirty films a year drop in the nineties drop to around five or ten in the noughties, means that the opportunities for a filmmaker to have 'legitimate' money spent on their film have dropped to almost zero. Even then, the difficulties for even well-established, award-winning directors, writers and produces to get their work to the screen make their chances mathematically impossible. You have to know and be liked by everyone, and still it's the luck of the draw.

So if you DO want to get your film up, you play the game, and that means playing the only game in town - the one run by people who have a cultural agenda that has its roots in the 1970's. There's nothing wrong about that - the only problem is - people don't want to see those kind of movies any more.

Let's make it crystal clear. If America only made movies about Americans being American, their industry would die.

Oddly enough, movies like Transformers are just as 'patriotic' if you will, as something like The Hurt Locker, and this really is the thrust of the argument that may one day make a difference to the mechanics of Australian film funding. No matter what genre, what story, or where or when it is set, if the film has been created by Australians, then it will ALWAYS celebrate and promote Australian culture.

Look at Farscape, for example.

Shot at Fox studios and Homebush in Sydney, it brought millions of dollars of production value to an original and lively story. Even though it was initially the product of an American production company, by halfway through the first season, it had become completely Australian, with writers, actors and crew infusing it with a unique culture. Treated terribly on its original airing by Channel 9 locally, it has gone on to become a cult phenomenon, celebrating its ten year anniversary with a panel at last year's San Diego Comic-Con to a full house.

The Australian attitudes to working on a film set, the inventiveness and the uniqueness Australian mind mean that Sci Fi made in Australia is fascinating - no matter the budget level. If the dream that we could make genre films (like the upcoming Mad Max 4) on a regular, business as usual, level was realised, it would mean two things.

One, more Australian filmmakers would get more work, doing films that they all love.

Two, more Australians would see Australian films. Around 80% of the top grossing movies at the Australian box office history fall somewhere in the Sci Fi or 'genre' category. For an average 'bloke' or 'sheila', the groan of pain that comes from hearing an Australian accent coming from a film trailer is something that sounds remarkably similar to the groan of pain that comes from a trailer with subtitles. If they saw someone flying a kick-ass Animal Logic-created spaceship in a movie by any number of Academy award-winning or nominated writers and directors, and starring Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman - there would be a box office tsunami.

If Australia had been New Australia, set somewhere near Alpha Ceti 5 - damn!

So - the plan.

Fund Australian Sci Fi. That's it. Australian funding bodies, producers, film banks, announce to our filmmaking community that you're in the mood for 'pew pew pew'. The top men and women of Australian film (both here and abroad) will drag themselves and millions more American dollars to our shore to make films that ask the eternal question - 'what if?', but with an Australian accent.

When Australian filmmakers make Sci Fi, Australian (and worldwide) audiences will watch it. When Hollywood producers see Australians making fresh genre, they will flock with bags full of money, because in the dog-eat-dog world of American cinema, they know that Sci Fi is a sensible choice when it comes to getting a return on your investment.

If the film is good, and is well made, it becomes 'important'. You can't do it the other way round. No one ever made an Oscar-winning movie by trying to make an Oscar-winning movie. Thus, given its freedom to explore all genres, and particularly Sci Fi, Australian culture will again becomes a byword for freshness and originality.

Fingers crossed.

Here's a recent interview with Daybreakers directors, Michael and Peter Spierig, at Popcorn Taxi, where they discuss the good (and bad) working in (and out) of Australia.

CLICK HERE to see how many Australian Producers spoke with the Spierigs after Daybreakers released in the US and Australia

CAPTAIN'S BLOG : Anacondas: The Hunt For the Blood Orchid, 10:15pm!

Captain — Sun, 7 Mar 2010 5:45:00 PM

Are you in the mood to see someone's face chewed off by a giant snake?

You may not have been, but the idea is growing on you, isn't it?

This sequel to Anaconda is on tonight!

It stars Morris Chestnut, who leads a team of scientists on an expedition to Borneo in search of a flower said to contain the fountain of youth, known as 'the blood orchid'.

They hire a questionable vessel and an even more questionable skipper (Johnny Messner) and head up river. High jinks ensue!

After facing crocodiles, spiders, leeches and a deadly waterfall, the adventurers come upon a tangle of huge anacondas who've feasted on the blood orchids: the snakes are now bigger, faster and smarter than before.

But the lead scientist, obnoxious Matthew Marsden, commandeers the raft and insists the crew forge on. What could possibly go wrong?

For fans of Aussie actor Nicholas Hope (Bad Boy Bubby) - you HAVE to see this film!

Anacondas: The Hunt For the Blood Orchid, tonight at 10:15pm!

CAPTAIN'S BLOG : Whats On This Week March 8 - 15

Captain — Sun, 7 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PM

It's a great week to be watching SCI FI. We've got three Australian TV premieres running concurrently, with Sanctuary Season 2, Warehouse 13 and in.the.QUBE.

It's all very excellent and somewhat entertaining.

Make sure you tune into Sanctuary on Thursdays at 8.30pm. Warehouse 13 on Fridays at 7.30pm and in.the.QUBE on Sundays at 7pm.

If you're having difficulties catching these shows first time around, don't drop your Ewoks. We've got special Saturday Catch Up Sessions, where you can sit down, unhurried, and enjoy the quality 'what if?' programming you know and love.

From this coming Saturday, March the 13th, from 4.30pm, you can see the week's Sanctuary, Warehouse 13 and Stargate SG-1.

What if you missed in.the.QUBE, you ask? Not a problem. FULL episodes will be available, right here, online, in Spectrum!

Coool.

SATURDAY CATCH-UP SESSION SPECIAL EVENT

Every Saturday from March 13 at 4.30pm

4.30pm - Sanctuary, Season 2
5.30pm - Warehouse 13
6.30pm - Stargate SG-1

CAPTAIN'S BLOG : in.the.QUBE Premieres tonight, 7pm!

Captain — Sun, 7 Mar 2010 10:00:00 AM

Get ready to hear the news that won�t make you depressed, with �in.the.QUBE�.

Fans of Sci Fi need to know just what�s going on everywhere in the geekiverse, and exciting on an international level.

Hosts Maria Sansone and Tom Hatton from in.the.QUBE will 'bring it', every week. Fed by a global network of sources, the show covers the latest in movies, the web, the hottest video games, anim�, gadgets, new technology, and more!

Tonight at 7pm, catch the Australian TV premiere! The radness is sick.

From then on, catch it every Sunday night. For weekly encores see programming guide.

You can also Catch up full episodes of in.the.QUBE online every week in Spectrum.

Click here to find out more!

NEWS : Oscars On Monday. Not Enough Sci Fi. Again.

Captain — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 9:00:00 AM

Ever since Star Wars was snubbed for Best Picture at the 1977 Academy Awards, it seems like Sci Fi never gets a fair shake at the Oscars. Looking in depth, into the entire history of those hollow, Sci Fi-ignoring, frock-wearing, dance-numbering bore-fests, one sees that NEVER, ever, ever, has a Science Fiction film been given the nod as Best Picture. Closest we've ever come is Lord of the Rings:Return of the King, which, whilst a beloved cousin, sure as hell isn't Sci Fi (hint - anything with elves, NOT Sci Fi).

2009 was a year that delivered SO much in Sci Fi, and yet when we come down to the end game, there is little to see for it. Whilst the BAFTAS may have awarded Duncan Jones a consolation 'yay, kiddy' emerging talent prize, it is a foul besmirching of a great film and what is still the best performance of the year by Sam Rockwell that no nomination has come forth from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Moon and Sam Rockwell - robbed.

If you've not seen Moon - for shame! It's far better than the films of the 70's it was inspired by, and Sam Rockwell creates one of the greatest performances on film. Not just for Sci Fi, but for all film. What does he get from the Oscar people? NOTHING.

Films like District 9 and Star Trek that so filled us with hope and joy at the beginning of 2009 have now been reduced to nothing more than afterthoughts in the Special Effects category.

And what, of course, shall we say of Avatar? After a surprisingly successful lead up to the Awards season, it's been pummelled by a small independent film about blowing up bombs in Iraq, The Hurt Locker. Ironically, Kathryn Bigelow, the director, was once... married(!) to Jim Cameron - for three years. It's the ULTIMATE 'eff you' to the ex.

Cameron, however, may emerge victorious. Sure, it sounds preposterous. But he has a track record of bringing megabusters to AMPAS and them saying 'okey dokey' and handing over a cricket team of Oscars. With Bigelow's producer, Nicholas Chartier, nail-gunning himself and The Hurt Locker in the foot by sending out an email on February 19 that contained this: "I hope you liked Hurt Locker. If you did and want us to win, please tell ... your friends who vote for the Oscars, tell actors, directors, crew members, art directors, special effects people, if everyone tells one or two of their friends, we will win and not a $500m film."

This was in violation of the rules (!) and Chartier has now been disinvited from the Oscars. It also puts a dent in the side of the little film that could, because he also sent the email to ALL THE OTHER BEST PICTURE COMPETITORS. You do not mess with the big end of Hollywood. You do sir, at your peril.

So whilst many pundits will tell you The Hurt Locker is a lock - Avatar could sweep all before it, and become the first Sci Fi film to win Best Picture, sending out a radiant glow over ALL the good Sci Fi movies that came out in 2009. It won't console Sam Rockwell, but maybe it will make Sci Fi fans feel slightly vindicated. Where common sense falls down, perhaps vicious, big money Hollywood politics can take over

For those of you who want more and more Sci Fi at Monday's Oscars, we can't help but give you a peek at Gizmodo's brilliant set of Sci Fi/Oscar Contender Mashups. Some are funny, some, quite poignant. It's a whole lot of 'what if'.

Click here to see all of them.

Here's the leader board for the night:

"Avatar" (9 nominations)
Art direction
Cinematography
Directing
Film editing
Original score
Best picture
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Visual effects

"The Hurt Locker," (9 nominations)
Jeremy Renner - Performance by an actor in a leading role
Cinematography
Directing
Film editing
Original score
Best picture
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Original screenplay

"Inglourious Basterds," (8 nominations)
Christoph Waltz - Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Cinematography
Directing
Film editing
Best picture
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Original screenplay

"Precious" (6 nominations)
Gabourey Sidibe - Performance by an actress in a leading role
Mo'Nique - Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Directing
Film editing
Best picture
Adapted screenplay

"Up in the Air," (6 nominations)
George Clooney - Performance by an actor in a leading role
Vera Farmiga - Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Anna Kendrick - Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Directing
Best picture
Adapted screenplay

"Up," (5 nominations)
Best animated feature film
Original score
Best picture
Sound editing
Original screenplay

"Star Trek," (4 nominations)
Makeup
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Visual effects

Here's the FULL LIST of Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards:

Performance by an actor in a leading role:
Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight)
George Clooney in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Colin Firth in "A Single Man" (The Weinstein Company)
Morgan Freeman in "Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:
Matt Damon in "Invictus" (Warner Bros.)
Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones" (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a leading role:
Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)
Helen Mirren in "The Last Station" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Carey Mulligan in "An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia" (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:
Pen�lope Cruz in "Nine" (The Weinstein Company)
Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight)
Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Mo'Nique in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)

Best animated feature film of the year:
"Coraline" (Focus Features) Henry Selick
"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (20th Century Fox) Wes Anderson
"The Princess and the Frog" (Walt Disney) John Musker and Ron Clements
"The Secret of Kells" (GKIDS) Tomm Moore
"Up" (Walt Disney) Pete Docter

Achievement in art direction:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg
Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (Sony Pictures Classics) Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro
Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
"Nine" (The Weinstein Company) Art Direction: John Myhre
Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
"Sherlock Holmes" (Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood
Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
"The Young Victoria" (Apparition) Art Direction: Patrice Vermette
Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Achievement in cinematography:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Mauro Fiore
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (Warner Bros.) Bruno Delbonnel
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Barry Ackroyd
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Robert Richardson
"The White Ribbon" (Sony Pictures Classics) Christian Berger

Achievement in costume design:
"Bright Star" (Apparition) Janet Patterson
"Coco before Chanel" (Sony Pictures Classics) Catherine Leterrier
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (Sony Pictures Classics) Monique Prudhomme
"Nine" (The Weinstein Company) Colleen Atwood
"The Young Victoria" (Apparition) Sandy Powell

Achievement in directing:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) James Cameron
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Kathryn Bigelow
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Quentin Tarantino
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate) Lee Daniels
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) Jason Reitman

Best documentary feature:
"Burma VJ" (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
A Magic Hour Films Production Anders �stergaard and Lise Lense-M�ller
"The Cove" (Roadside Attractions)
An Oceanic Preservation Society Production Nominees to be determined
"Food, Inc." (Magnolia Pictures)
A Robert Kenner Films Production Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"
A Kovno Communications Production Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
"Which Way Home"
A Mr. Mudd Production Rebecca Cammisa

Best documentary short subject:
"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
A Downtown Community Television Center Production Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
A Just Media Production Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
A Community Media Production Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
"Music by Prudence"
An iThemba Production Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
"Rabbit � la Berlin" (Deckert Distribution)
An MS Films Production Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Achievement in film editing:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Julian Clarke
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Sally Menke
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate) Joe Klotz

Best foreign language film of the year:
"Ajami"(Kino International)
An Inosan Production Israel
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos" (Sony Pictures Classics)
A Haddock Films Production Argentina
"The Milk of Sorrow"
A Wanda Visi�n/Oberon Cinematogr�fica/Vela Production Peru
"Un Proph�te" (Sony Pictures Classics)
A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production France
"The White Ribbon" (Sony Pictures Classics)
An X Filme Creative Pool/Wega Film/Les Films du Losange/Lucky Red Production Germany

Achievement in makeup:
"Il Divo" (MPI Media Group through Music Box) Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment) Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
"The Young Victoria" (Apparition) Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score):
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) James Horner
"Fantastic Mr. Fox" (20th Century Fox) Alexandre Desplat
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
"Sherlock Holmes" (Warner Bros.) Hans Zimmer
"Up" (Walt Disney) Michael Giacchino

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song):
"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog" (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog" (Walt Disney) Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36" (Sony Pictures Classics) Music by Reinhardt Wagner
Lyric by Frank Thomas
"Take It All" from "Nine" (The Weinstein Company) Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from "Crazy Heart" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best motion picture of the year:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox)
A Lightstorm Entertainment Production James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
"The Blind Side" (Warner Bros.)
An Alcon Entertainment Production Nominees to be determined
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
A Block/Hanson Production Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
"An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics)
A Finola Dwyer/Wildgaze Films Production Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment)
A Voltage Pictures Production Nominees to be determined
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company)
A Weinstein Company/Universal Pictures/A Band Apart/Zehnte Babelsberg Production Lawrence Bender, Producer
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate)
A Lee Daniels Entertainment/Smokewood Entertainment Production Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
"A Serious Man" (Focus Features)
A Working Title Films Production Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
"Up" (Walt Disney)
A Pixar Production Jonas Rivera, Producer
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
A Montecito Picture Company Production Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Best animated short film:
"French Roast"
A Pumpkin Factory/Bibo Films Production Fabrice O. Joubert
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty" (Brown Bag Films)
A Brown Bag Films Production Nicky Phelan and Darragh O'Connell
"The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)"
A Kandor Graphics and Green Moon Production Javier Recio Gracia
"Logorama" (Autour de Minuit)
An Autour de Minuit Production Nicolas Schmerkin
"A Matter of Loaf and Death" (Aardman Animations)
An Aardman Animations Production Nick Park

Best live action short film:
"The Door" (Network Ireland Television)
An Octagon Films Production Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
"Instead of Abracadabra" (The Swedish Film Institute)
A Direct�rn & Fabrik�rn Production Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellstr�m
"Kavi"
A Gregg Helvey Production Gregg Helvey
"Miracle Fish" (Premium Films)
A Druid Films Production Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
"The New Tenants"
A Park Pictures and M & M Production Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Achievement in sound editing:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Paul N.J. Ottosson
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Wylie Stateman
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment) Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
"Up" (Walt Disney) Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Achievement in sound mixing:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment) Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro, Distributed by Paramount) Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Achievement in visual effects:
"Avatar" (20th Century Fox) Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
"Star Trek" (Paramount and Spyglass Entertainment) Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Adapted screenplay:
"District 9" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
"An Education" (Sony Pictures Classics) Screenplay by Nick Hornby
"In the Loop" (IFC Films) Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (Lionsgate) Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
"Up in the Air" (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Original screenplay:
"The Hurt Locker" (Summit Entertainment) Written by Mark Boal
"Inglourious Basterds" (The Weinstein Company) Written by Quentin Tarantino
"The Messenger" (Oscilloscope Laboratories) Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
"A Serious Man" (Focus Features) Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
"Up" (Walt Disney) Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter
Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

NEWS : The Week in Geek Issue #5

The Shadow — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 1:01:00 AM

Welcome once again dear readers to the week that was in geekdom!

We begin this week with something very special for you: Anthony Stewart Head (Giles from Buffy) singing Rocky Horror, in costume.

It was shaping up to be a quiet week but the avalanche of news these last couple of days has shot that to pieces�

In awesome news: HBO has greenlit the first season of A Game of Thrones! Now if only there was another season or two of Rome�

We�ll see more of the Visitors when V returns and original star Jane Badler is hoping for a cameo.

We�ve the trailer for the book Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, while Tim Burton is said to be producing the movie. There�s a jawdropping matchstick Minas Tirith, a new Tron Legacy still and spoilery details while there�s tentative plans for a trilogy along with two possible TV shows and theme park rides. Ah Disney, is there nothing you can�t market into the ground?

Game of Thrones - described as 'Sopranos with swords'. Booyah!

Bill Murray made a strange appearance on Letterman and talked Ghostbusters 3, Firefly�s Jewel Staite will guest on Warehouse 13 and the story for Captain America has been revealed! No, wait. Scratch that. It�s unofficial. I�ll let you know when the official one comes out.

There�s video of upcoming Iron Man 2 toys and a new trailer will premiere after the Oscars. Nathan Fillion has talked about more Doctor Horrible while South Korea has built a robot theme park. I can�t see what could possibly go wrong with that�

We have tweeted Thor updates, Merlin will soon return to Channel 10 and there�s news of Dark Crystal and Labyrinth comics. Wanted 2 will go on without Angelina Jolie and James Cameron won�t be calling the Avatar sequel Avatar 2

There�s a new Prince of Persia trailer, the screenplay for The Avengers has been completed while UK paper the Daily Mail has inaccurately screamed about Kick-Ass (I look forward eagerly to what the Daily Terrorgraph makes of it�)

Guy Ritchie is apparently developing a new version of Excalibur, Wolverine 2 has a script and Conan may have it�s villain. In Who news, the ABC will screen the next season April this year and there�ll be 2 more seasons of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Wolverine's new script - the 'Japanese Story' is all done! Let's hug!

Smallville will have a 10^th season, it looks like Human Target and Fringe will be renewed and we�ll have new Futurama in June! Sam Raimi won�t be directing The Shadow, there�s a new Nightmare on Elm Street poster and Neil Patrick Harris (Doctor Horrible) will star in The Smurfs!

There�s a 60 second clay motion version of The Evil Dead, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee will get makeovers for Transformers 3 while there�s more news concerning the film.

Warner Brothers have the movie rights to Space Invaders, Death Race 2 (Starring Sean Bean!) will go straight to DVD and the Big Damn Replica of Serenity is available.

We�ve some Galactic Empire propaganda and a vampire wants to run for governor of Florida. How the hell was he photographed in daylight then? *shakes head* There�s some awesome fan-built Lego starships while cult 80�s cyberpunk show Max Headroom is finally coming to DVD.

The Brazilian Catholic Church is suing Roland Emmerich over his destruction of Jesus in 2012 � considering he didn�t have permission he deserves all he gets, the prat. Eliza Dushku has teased she�s working on something with Joss Whedon while there�s more teasing about a fifth Indiana Jones film.

Lastly, no matter what you say, zombies have rights!

Zombies may now have rights. But do Zombie Strippers have rights?

Quote of the Week:
Professor Farnsworth: Yes? I see�
(hangs up phone)
Good news, everyone! Those asinine morons who canceled us were themselves fired for incompetence.
(The crew cheers) And not just fired, but beaten up, too�and pretty badly.
(The crew cheers doubtfully)
In fact, most of them died from their injuries.
(The crew remains silent. Bender laughs)
And then they were ground up into a fine pink powder.

Fry: Why?

Professor Farnsworth: Oh, it's got a million and one uses.
(Pours some down his pants)
Ah, that soothes the fire.

Futurama - Bender's Big Score

Be seeing you...

VIDEO : Guardians (of GaHoole) Trailer!

Captain — Fri, 5 Mar 2010 12:00:00 PM

Australia has once again been extremely busy making ground-breaking films. You may recall that powerhouse special effects company Animal Logic were helping a young fella by the name of Zack Snyder to get his next film made. Whilst Snyder had previously been scratching around on small budget melodramas like 300 and Watchmen, it's only now, with some true blue dinky di help can he fully flourish as a filmmaker, bringing the books and the worlds of Kathryn Lasky to life. Who lives in this world?

Why it's owls, of course. Big beautiful flying, talking owls.

The work of Animal Logic on the film is exquisite, putting their groundbreaking Happy Feet work to shame. The film is now known as just Guardians, reportedly because American test audiences were both confused and titillated by 'Ga'hoole'. Someone was worried that the word was similar to 'goolies', slang for testicles.

Still, morons aside, we've got the trailer from Yahoo - please enjoy: