From what I've been able to piece together in less than 30 minutes' research, Iron Core Entertainment is an independent film production company that is offering a mixture of science fiction and "naughty" films on the Web. I haven't watched the naughty stuff (it just may be a poor choice in names) so I don't know anything about it.
But their science fiction show, Terra, caught my eye. They were apparently showing a trailer at some film festivals last year. You can see the trailer here:
If you want to see their full catalogue of shows and films, check out their Web site or the Iron Core TV channel on YouTube.
The first Webisode of Iron Core's Terra show is now available online.
I'll try to find some interviews or press releases. They don't seem to have published a company bio. Their marketing plan looks like it is focused on social media and word-of-mouth advertising. While it's true I found the show, I'm not sure that is the best way for them to get the word out.
Good luck, Iron Core Enterprises.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sundance film festival trailer for "Mary and Max"
This delightful little trailer gives us a glimpse into some of the interesting movies showcased at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
"Mary and Max" is a stop-animation (Claymation) film. There may be some inappropriate language in the trailer (which is not MPAA rated). The film has not been picked up for distribution, but maybe people will create a buzz for it.
Let us know what you think in our General Movies Forum at SF-Fandom (although you're perfectly welcome to share your thoughts right here on this blog).
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
"Mary and Max" is a stop-animation (Claymation) film. There may be some inappropriate language in the trailer (which is not MPAA rated). The film has not been picked up for distribution, but maybe people will create a buzz for it.
Let us know what you think in our General Movies Forum at SF-Fandom (although you're perfectly welcome to share your thoughts right here on this blog).
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Joshua Jackson discusses Fringe in "Brain Teaser"
Fox has been promoting its new show, Fringe, with some pretty creative marketing spots and making them available on YouTube. Joshua Jackson discusses some of the gorier moments in the upcoming episode, to be aired Tuesday, January 27, on Fox.
Watch the trailer for "No Brainer".
Fringe stars Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop, a slightly shady character recruited by F.B.I. agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) to investigate a mysterious plane crash. Dunham is in turn recruited into the Department of Homeland Security to broaden her investigation into a sequence of events called "The Pattern", which is somehow tied to the bizarre "fringe" science experiments that led to the 17-year hiatus of Peter's father, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) in a mental hospital.
Agent Dunham's eclectic mix of F.B.I. agents and the Bishop family form a highly resourceful team that takes on a secret organization and possible government conspiracy.
John Noble's character, Dr. Walter Bishop, is a bit off-balance and Noble plays him to full effect, stealing virtually every scene he is in from the other actors.
We love Fringe at SF-Fandom and have been following its progress closely in our General Science Fiction TV Forum. You're welcome to join us there.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Watch the trailer for "No Brainer".
Fringe stars Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop, a slightly shady character recruited by F.B.I. agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) to investigate a mysterious plane crash. Dunham is in turn recruited into the Department of Homeland Security to broaden her investigation into a sequence of events called "The Pattern", which is somehow tied to the bizarre "fringe" science experiments that led to the 17-year hiatus of Peter's father, Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble) in a mental hospital.
Agent Dunham's eclectic mix of F.B.I. agents and the Bishop family form a highly resourceful team that takes on a secret organization and possible government conspiracy.
John Noble's character, Dr. Walter Bishop, is a bit off-balance and Noble plays him to full effect, stealing virtually every scene he is in from the other actors.
We love Fringe at SF-Fandom and have been following its progress closely in our General Science Fiction TV Forum. You're welcome to join us there.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Support your local Tolkien theater
I have taken it upon myself to spread the word to Tolkien fans everywhere: Let's get together and support local theatrical productions of "The Hobbit".
In this weeks Hobbit News I mentioned several local theater productions for "The Hobbit" had been announced on their local news Web sites too late to really do much good. Today is the second of two days in which cast auditions for "The Hobbit" are being held in El Paso (that is a local stage production, NOT the Guillermo del Toro movies being produced in New Zealand).
Jacksonville, FL and Savannah, GA both staged performances of "The Hobbit" in their local community or children's theater this weekend. If you live in any of these areas, did you know about these opportunities in advance?
I'm calling upon fans of J.R.R. Tolkien (and C.S. Lewis and L. Frank Baum) to put their considerable resources together to help promote community theater when it stages science fiction and fantasy plays. These productions may not be as newsworthy as the world-wide release of a new fantasy movie, but there is no reason why fans cannot come together in their local communities and help celebrate Tolkien's fiction, Lewis' fiction, or Baum's fiction with local theater groups.
If you have a Web site you can use it to share information about your local theater season. In larger U.S. cities there may be several local theater groups. You can link to their Web sites, share their press releases, interview their cast and crews, and review their productions and offer pictures of the events.
Local fan groups can set up their own activities (like fan dinners, pre-show festivities such as costume contests, etc.). Local fan groups can also volunteer to help with these productions, or schedule events to complement (rather than compete with) the productions. Local fan groups can also contact their library systems and help organize children's (or adults) programming that focuses on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, L. Frank Baum, J.K. Rowling, Madeline L'Engle, et. al.
I think the online fan community has become insular. We'll pull together to support our own events (like line parties, after-awards events, etc.) but we virtually ignore mainstream community celebrations of the authors we love. Why? I think it's important that people reach out and connect with each other without drawing lines between "fans" and "mundanes".
There is growing widespread interest in fantasy authors because of the wild success of the "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter Movies", and even the Sci Fi mini-series "Tin Man" helped revive interest in "The Wizard of Oz".
The iron is hot, and now is the time to strike, before enthusiasm for the topic cools off. Give it some thought and see what you can do to help promote your favorite authors' works in your local area.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
In this weeks Hobbit News I mentioned several local theater productions for "The Hobbit" had been announced on their local news Web sites too late to really do much good. Today is the second of two days in which cast auditions for "The Hobbit" are being held in El Paso (that is a local stage production, NOT the Guillermo del Toro movies being produced in New Zealand).
Jacksonville, FL and Savannah, GA both staged performances of "The Hobbit" in their local community or children's theater this weekend. If you live in any of these areas, did you know about these opportunities in advance?
I'm calling upon fans of J.R.R. Tolkien (and C.S. Lewis and L. Frank Baum) to put their considerable resources together to help promote community theater when it stages science fiction and fantasy plays. These productions may not be as newsworthy as the world-wide release of a new fantasy movie, but there is no reason why fans cannot come together in their local communities and help celebrate Tolkien's fiction, Lewis' fiction, or Baum's fiction with local theater groups.
If you have a Web site you can use it to share information about your local theater season. In larger U.S. cities there may be several local theater groups. You can link to their Web sites, share their press releases, interview their cast and crews, and review their productions and offer pictures of the events.
Local fan groups can set up their own activities (like fan dinners, pre-show festivities such as costume contests, etc.). Local fan groups can also volunteer to help with these productions, or schedule events to complement (rather than compete with) the productions. Local fan groups can also contact their library systems and help organize children's (or adults) programming that focuses on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, L. Frank Baum, J.K. Rowling, Madeline L'Engle, et. al.
I think the online fan community has become insular. We'll pull together to support our own events (like line parties, after-awards events, etc.) but we virtually ignore mainstream community celebrations of the authors we love. Why? I think it's important that people reach out and connect with each other without drawing lines between "fans" and "mundanes".
There is growing widespread interest in fantasy authors because of the wild success of the "Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter Movies", and even the Sci Fi mini-series "Tin Man" helped revive interest in "The Wizard of Oz".
The iron is hot, and now is the time to strike, before enthusiasm for the topic cools off. Give it some thought and see what you can do to help promote your favorite authors' works in your local area.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Somewhere over the email
I should be sleeping but instead I am watching "You've Got Mail" again. I like the movie, although I'm not sure of what I find to be most appealing about it. The fact the movie's title is derived from AOL's mail system (as well as much of the plot) always disappointed me.
"That is so mundane," I thought. After all, America Online was never well regarded by the majority of non-AOL users (many of whom were ex-AOL users). Still, there was a time -- however brief -- when AOL had more users than the rest of the Internet. Or so it seemed to me.
AOL was once ubiquitous in defining the online experience, despite the fact there were many better options.
What would it take to turn the story of "You've Got Mail" into a science fiction movie? The technology is what Alfred Hitchcock called a "McGuffin". It moves the plot forward without requiring explanation. Think of a Star Trek story where a ship is stranded with a warp drive on the fritz. The engineer may struggle with the warp drive but eventually the ship blows up.
Do we really care about how warp engines work, or do we care about the characters and their real conflicts, the growth they experience? If, as Gene Roddenberry would have intended, we are only concerned about the characters then the warp drive is a McGuffin.
So think of a possible technology that works like email but which takes its place in the story. And maybe the conflict between the characters is not about a megacorporation putting a little bookstore out of business. Maybe it's about a small colony somewhere in space being threatened by an interstellar empire, a change in government, or a supermegacorporation.
The ubiquitous communications system can drive the story forward as the two characters interact with each other on different levels, only gradually realizing that the technology has both brought them together and kept them apart.
Would that not still be science fiction? Or, now that we've seen the story played out over email, is it too late to dream a little dream of things that might yet be?
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
"That is so mundane," I thought. After all, America Online was never well regarded by the majority of non-AOL users (many of whom were ex-AOL users). Still, there was a time -- however brief -- when AOL had more users than the rest of the Internet. Or so it seemed to me.
AOL was once ubiquitous in defining the online experience, despite the fact there were many better options.
What would it take to turn the story of "You've Got Mail" into a science fiction movie? The technology is what Alfred Hitchcock called a "McGuffin". It moves the plot forward without requiring explanation. Think of a Star Trek story where a ship is stranded with a warp drive on the fritz. The engineer may struggle with the warp drive but eventually the ship blows up.
Do we really care about how warp engines work, or do we care about the characters and their real conflicts, the growth they experience? If, as Gene Roddenberry would have intended, we are only concerned about the characters then the warp drive is a McGuffin.
So think of a possible technology that works like email but which takes its place in the story. And maybe the conflict between the characters is not about a megacorporation putting a little bookstore out of business. Maybe it's about a small colony somewhere in space being threatened by an interstellar empire, a change in government, or a supermegacorporation.
The ubiquitous communications system can drive the story forward as the two characters interact with each other on different levels, only gradually realizing that the technology has both brought them together and kept them apart.
Would that not still be science fiction? Or, now that we've seen the story played out over email, is it too late to dream a little dream of things that might yet be?
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Trailer for "Casablanca"
One of the most popular black-and-white movies of all time was filmed over the course of a week on a studio backlot in the 1940s, using contract actors who were churning out movies faster than most television actors now turn out episodes.
Everything about the city of Casablanca in the movie was fake. Rick's Cafe Americana was just a set and not based on anything in the real city of Casablanca (although a restaurant bearing that name opened in 2004 -- see Rick's Cafe Americana).
Some of the "facts" in the movie were complete fiction. For example, there was no such thing as "letters of transit", the documents at the heart of the movie's intricate negotiations and various shootouts. I doubt the Nazis would have honored any papers signed by Charles de Gaulle anyway.
Besides Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, this movie has some of the best character actors of the 1940s and 1950s -- including Claude Rains (who was an "A"-list actor in his own right), Paul Henreid (who had many roles in film and television, but starred as Jean Lafitte in "Last of the Buccaneers"), Sydney Greenstreet (maybe best known as Kaspar Gutman in "The Maltese Falcon"), and Peter Lorre (who also appeared in movies like "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" amid a long career).
In the 1980s Turner Networks arranged for the release of a colorized version of this movie. Despite the fact that many critics poo-pooed the colorization process, the colorized version of the movie looked fantastic. People who complained about the colorization were just being idiotic. One of my close friends, whose opinion on many things I respected, complained to me that the colorization ruined the sense of nostalgia he had for the movie.
Never mind the fact he was born 20 years after the movie was made. How can you feel nostalgic for something 20 years older than you?
I always hated black-and-white movies and television shows anyway. They just don't look natural. I wish I had the colorized version of "Casablanca". Oh well. Maybe one day it will come out on DvD or Blu-Ray (not that I am yet ready to invest in Blu-Ray).
If you have never seen "Casablanca", here is a glimpse of what you have been missing. To be honest, no trailer really does the film justice.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Everything about the city of Casablanca in the movie was fake. Rick's Cafe Americana was just a set and not based on anything in the real city of Casablanca (although a restaurant bearing that name opened in 2004 -- see Rick's Cafe Americana).
Some of the "facts" in the movie were complete fiction. For example, there was no such thing as "letters of transit", the documents at the heart of the movie's intricate negotiations and various shootouts. I doubt the Nazis would have honored any papers signed by Charles de Gaulle anyway.
Besides Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, this movie has some of the best character actors of the 1940s and 1950s -- including Claude Rains (who was an "A"-list actor in his own right), Paul Henreid (who had many roles in film and television, but starred as Jean Lafitte in "Last of the Buccaneers"), Sydney Greenstreet (maybe best known as Kaspar Gutman in "The Maltese Falcon"), and Peter Lorre (who also appeared in movies like "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" and "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" amid a long career).
In the 1980s Turner Networks arranged for the release of a colorized version of this movie. Despite the fact that many critics poo-pooed the colorization process, the colorized version of the movie looked fantastic. People who complained about the colorization were just being idiotic. One of my close friends, whose opinion on many things I respected, complained to me that the colorization ruined the sense of nostalgia he had for the movie.
Never mind the fact he was born 20 years after the movie was made. How can you feel nostalgic for something 20 years older than you?
I always hated black-and-white movies and television shows anyway. They just don't look natural. I wish I had the colorized version of "Casablanca". Oh well. Maybe one day it will come out on DvD or Blu-Ray (not that I am yet ready to invest in Blu-Ray).
If you have never seen "Casablanca", here is a glimpse of what you have been missing. To be honest, no trailer really does the film justice.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
New trailer for Nicolas Cage's "Knowing"
A few weeks ago I shared the first trailer for Nicolas Cage's "Knowing" on SF-Fandom. Here is the second trailer, which I've just found on YouTube.
You can watch them both in the thread.
The movie reveals that a secret message from the past foretells the near future, and Cage's character unlocks the secrets buried in the numbers.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
You can watch them both in the thread.
The movie reveals that a secret message from the past foretells the near future, and Cage's character unlocks the secrets buried in the numbers.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine trailer
I don't believe I have seen all of this footage before but I cannot tell if it's a new trailer or if I just wasn't paying close attention when I saw it (or something) a couple of weeks ago.
I checked the cast listings at IMDB and I don't really recognize any names other than Hugh Jackman. Still, the movie looks pretty good.
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I checked the cast listings at IMDB and I don't really recognize any names other than Hugh Jackman. Still, the movie looks pretty good.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Emma Watson taking SATs, preparing for "Deathly Hallows"
Emma Watson writes on her blog that she will be applying to several American schools for university education so she is taking her SATs. We wish her good luck, but perhaps she is a bit like her alter ego, Hermione Granger, and has no need for our well wishes.
And she also mentioned that she'll be starting test shoots for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" next week.
We also learned that Salisbury University will be offering a Continuing Education class on Harry Potter.
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And she also mentioned that she'll be starting test shoots for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" next week.
We also learned that Salisbury University will be offering a Continuing Education class on Harry Potter.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Asimov's Foundation universe coming to the silver screen
Roland Emmerich will be producing a film adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation. Now, the Foundation books started out as a trilogy (or maybe just one book that grew into a trilogy) but Asimov went on to write other books.
In fact, he fleshed out the history of the Galactic Empire that collapses during the Foundation period in several other books. I have long recommended to people that they read these books before embarking upon a read of Foundation and the other books.
The End of Eternity tells about a time management bureau that exists outside of the normal timestream. Its purpose is to protect humanity but one of its agents comes to learn the disturbing truth about how well Eternity benefits humankind. He makes a choice that ultimately leads to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
The Stars, Like Dust is set maybe a thousand years in the future, when Mankind has begun colonizing the stars. The idea of a galactic imperium is just an ambitious dream at this point.
The Currents of Space takes place just prior to the formation of the Galactic Empire. The events of the story unfold on a planet that still exists in "free" space, outside the gigantic Trantorian empire. Trantor, the most powerful planet in the galaxy, lies near the galactic core and controls about half the galaxy at this point.
Pebble In The Sky takes place on Earth about 50,000 years in the future and some 800 years after the Trantorian empire has become the Galactic Empire. This story features a brief episode of time travel but doesn't seem to be directly related to The End of Eternity.
Foundation opens when the Galactic Empire is about 12,000 years old. The second book in the trilogy is Foundation and Empire and the third book is Second Foundation. The Doubleday Book Club used to sell the entire trilogy as a single bound volume (that was how I read these books).
We have a Foundation WorldFAQ explaining the Foundation Trilogy and other books in the series at Xenite.Org. The WorldFAQ has not been updated in several years but the time may be nearing when we should do that.
BTW -- I did not like how Asimov took the series toward the end. He wanted the galaxy to develop a mass consciousness and that prospect was just so depressing to me I could never read the series again. I've been told that Greg Bear's sequels try to ameliorate the situation but I really felt betrayed by Asimov's conclusion.
Still, all that aside, I'm looking forward to seeing the Roland Emmerich movie(s). I'm a big fan of his regardless of what his critics may say.
Oh -- before I forget. Speaking of The End of Eternity, Vince Gerardis will be making an "End of Eternity" movie too. I don't see any way for the two movies to coordinate anything between them, but that would actually be kind of cool if they did.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
In fact, he fleshed out the history of the Galactic Empire that collapses during the Foundation period in several other books. I have long recommended to people that they read these books before embarking upon a read of Foundation and the other books.
- The End of Eternity
- The Stars, Like Dust
- The Currents of Space
- Pebble In The Sky
The End of Eternity tells about a time management bureau that exists outside of the normal timestream. Its purpose is to protect humanity but one of its agents comes to learn the disturbing truth about how well Eternity benefits humankind. He makes a choice that ultimately leads to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
The Stars, Like Dust is set maybe a thousand years in the future, when Mankind has begun colonizing the stars. The idea of a galactic imperium is just an ambitious dream at this point.
The Currents of Space takes place just prior to the formation of the Galactic Empire. The events of the story unfold on a planet that still exists in "free" space, outside the gigantic Trantorian empire. Trantor, the most powerful planet in the galaxy, lies near the galactic core and controls about half the galaxy at this point.
Pebble In The Sky takes place on Earth about 50,000 years in the future and some 800 years after the Trantorian empire has become the Galactic Empire. This story features a brief episode of time travel but doesn't seem to be directly related to The End of Eternity.
Foundation opens when the Galactic Empire is about 12,000 years old. The second book in the trilogy is Foundation and Empire and the third book is Second Foundation. The Doubleday Book Club used to sell the entire trilogy as a single bound volume (that was how I read these books).
We have a Foundation WorldFAQ explaining the Foundation Trilogy and other books in the series at Xenite.Org. The WorldFAQ has not been updated in several years but the time may be nearing when we should do that.
BTW -- I did not like how Asimov took the series toward the end. He wanted the galaxy to develop a mass consciousness and that prospect was just so depressing to me I could never read the series again. I've been told that Greg Bear's sequels try to ameliorate the situation but I really felt betrayed by Asimov's conclusion.
Still, all that aside, I'm looking forward to seeing the Roland Emmerich movie(s). I'm a big fan of his regardless of what his critics may say.
Oh -- before I forget. Speaking of The End of Eternity, Vince Gerardis will be making an "End of Eternity" movie too. I don't see any way for the two movies to coordinate anything between them, but that would actually be kind of cool if they did.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Fringe returns to Fox on Tuesday, Jan. 20
I've been waiting for Fringe's return to the airwaves. This show has a little something for everyone.
I'll think you'll enjoy these two sneak peek videos, but be sure to visit the links below for a couple more videos I cannot embed. You'll see Anna Torv, John Noble, and Joshua Jackson in these clips.
TV Guide also spoke with Joshua Jackson and J.J. Abrams so you can catch up on what is planned for the second half of the first season.
We've been discussing Fringe in our General Science Fiction Television Forum. Look for the threads whose subject lines begin with "Fringe".
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
I'll think you'll enjoy these two sneak peek videos, but be sure to visit the links below for a couple more videos I cannot embed. You'll see Anna Torv, John Noble, and Joshua Jackson in these clips.
TV Guide also spoke with Joshua Jackson and J.J. Abrams so you can catch up on what is planned for the second half of the first season.
We've been discussing Fringe in our General Science Fiction Television Forum. Look for the threads whose subject lines begin with "Fringe".
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
H.P. Lovecraft and Farscape Forum Archives
H.P. Lovecraft fans know to visit the H.P Lovecraft Forum to see the latest news and discussions concerning Lovecraft's writings and things they inspire.
But the H.P. Lovecraft Forum once dwelt on a different domain and it was hosted through different software. We have carefully preserved the old discussions at SF-Fandom and I thought fans would be interested to know they are still around. Here is a brief summary of the archives for the original H.P. Lovecraft Forum.
H.P. Lovecraft Forum Archive
Well, that wasn't very extensive, was it? To be honest, we moved the forums to new software soon after creating that forum, so it didn't have much discussion in the old days.
Another forum we founded was the original fan-run Farscape Forum. Originally hosted on Xenite.Org, we moved the forum to SF-Fandom. The Farscape Forum has now been folded into our Science Fiction Television Forum but the original Farscape archive still exists as a separate section. I invite you to browse it.
You really cannot tell from the archive pages how the original forums looked. That is because I have long since reformatted them. The original forums used a Perl script from Matt's Script Archive. So far as I know, he wrote the original Web forum software that was used by thousands of Web sites like Xenite.Org for years before more sophisticated applications like Ultimate Bulletin Board, VBulletin, and others came along. It's rare to still find an active forum using the old MSA script or any derivation of it.
I used to have to manually archive the posts when any message board got up to around 200 messages because otherwise the file became corrupted. Now forums run off of SQL databases (and corruptions are more rare).
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
But the H.P. Lovecraft Forum once dwelt on a different domain and it was hosted through different software. We have carefully preserved the old discussions at SF-Fandom and I thought fans would be interested to know they are still around. Here is a brief summary of the archives for the original H.P. Lovecraft Forum.
H.P. Lovecraft Forum Archive
Well, that wasn't very extensive, was it? To be honest, we moved the forums to new software soon after creating that forum, so it didn't have much discussion in the old days.
Another forum we founded was the original fan-run Farscape Forum. Originally hosted on Xenite.Org, we moved the forum to SF-Fandom. The Farscape Forum has now been folded into our Science Fiction Television Forum but the original Farscape archive still exists as a separate section. I invite you to browse it.
- Farscape Forum Archive
- Farscape Forum Archive 01
- Farscape Forum Archive 02
- Farscape Forum Archive 03
- Farscape Forum Archive 04
- Farscape Forum Archive 05
- Farscape Forum Archive 06
- Farscape Forum Archive 07
- Farscape Forum Archive 08
- Farscape Forum Archive 09
- Farscape Forum Archive 10
- Farscape Forum Archive 11
You really cannot tell from the archive pages how the original forums looked. That is because I have long since reformatted them. The original forums used a Perl script from Matt's Script Archive. So far as I know, he wrote the original Web forum software that was used by thousands of Web sites like Xenite.Org for years before more sophisticated applications like Ultimate Bulletin Board, VBulletin, and others came along. It's rare to still find an active forum using the old MSA script or any derivation of it.
I used to have to manually archive the posts when any message board got up to around 200 messages because otherwise the file became corrupted. Now forums run off of SQL databases (and corruptions are more rare).
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Andre Norton Forum Archive
Andre Norton fans know to visit the Andre Norton Forum to see the latest news and discussions concerning her estate and posthumous publications. The forum also includes discussions of her fictional universes and mentions of Norton memorabilia that go up for auction on sites like eBay.
But the Andre Norton Forum once dwelt on a different domain and it was hosted through different software. We have carefully preserved the old discussions at SF-Fandom and I thought fans would be interested to know they are still around. Here is a brief summary of the archives for the original Andre Norton Forum.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
But the Andre Norton Forum once dwelt on a different domain and it was hosted through different software. We have carefully preserved the old discussions at SF-Fandom and I thought fans would be interested to know they are still around. Here is a brief summary of the archives for the original Andre Norton Forum.
- Andre Norton Message Board Archive
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
- Archive 01 of the Andre Norton Message Board
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Custom film studio channels added to Xenite Movie Portal
Xenite.Org operates a Science Fiction Movies Portal to help people find special SciFi movie-related content on our network.
We've now added four custom channels to the site that incorporate video and news feeds from official film studio channels and Yahoo! news.
Please take a look at our:
We haven't yet found many official YouTube channels from major film studios but we're keeping an eye out for them.
You can subscribe to the channels provided on Xenite.Org but you have to log in with a Google or YouTube account. Xenite.Org is not responsible for the content in the channels.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
We've now added four custom channels to the site that incorporate video and news feeds from official film studio channels and Yahoo! news.
Please take a look at our:
We haven't yet found many official YouTube channels from major film studios but we're keeping an eye out for them.
You can subscribe to the channels provided on Xenite.Org but you have to log in with a Google or YouTube account. Xenite.Org is not responsible for the content in the channels.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sundance Film Festival 2009 includes SciFi "Moon"
Two citations. First:
Read the full article here.
Second,
Read the full article here.
Both sites include at least one picture from the movie.
Sounds interesting. A retro science fiction movie that resurrects 1980s' style special effects. What's next? Hand puppets in space with Kookla, Fran, and Ollie?
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Director Duncan Jones admits the term "indie special effects" seems like a contradiction in terms in today's bang-for-buck movie market saturated with pricy special effects.
How can an independently made movie compete?
going retro. Jones' film, "Moon," uses miniature models and old-school techniques from the 1980s and '90s to tell the story of a man named Sam, played by Eric McCormack of "Will and Grace," who lives on a lunar mining base. The man, days away from returning to Earth, begins to unravel after he suffers from a hallucination and crashes his lunar rover.
Read the full article here.
Second,
Take 2001, mix in a little Cast Away, and you have Moon the latest attempt by the brilliantly talented Sam Rockwell to make something really good. Rockwell deserves to land in an Oscar caliber film some day but he’s yet again just missed the mark here as an astronaut living out a lonely existence on an isolated lunar mining colony.
Sam has been serving out his contract in space for nearly three years now. In two weeks his tour of duty is up and he’ll go home to civilization, humanity, and family. His only companion for the past three years has been the station’s automated helper, a friendly automaton named Gerty who is absolutely nothing like Hal. No really, Moon goes out of its way to beat you over the head with that. It’s painfully obvious that Gertie was written with Hal in mind and a grim determination to be so little like him that, ironically it’s impossible to avoid the comparison.
Read the full article here.
Both sites include at least one picture from the movie.
Sounds interesting. A retro science fiction movie that resurrects 1980s' style special effects. What's next? Hand puppets in space with Kookla, Fran, and Ollie?
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
United Kingdom readers to get 200,000 copies of Lost World for free
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World is highly regarded by many science fiction readers and it has inspired several movie adaptations as well as at least one television series.
Starting in February, 200,000 copies of The Lost World will be distributed for free in several cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Oxford as part of a program to boost reading.
The selection of this title was inspired by the fact that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (best known for his creation of Sherlock Holmes) was born 150 years ago this year. He died in 1930. In fact, if you don't live in the free distribution area or cannot wait for a chance to receive your copy of the book, you can download The Lost World for free as an etext from Project Gutenberg.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Starting in February, 200,000 copies of The Lost World will be distributed for free in several cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Oxford as part of a program to boost reading.
The selection of this title was inspired by the fact that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (best known for his creation of Sherlock Holmes) was born 150 years ago this year. He died in 1930. In fact, if you don't live in the free distribution area or cannot wait for a chance to receive your copy of the book, you can download The Lost World for free as an etext from Project Gutenberg.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman talk about Dragons Unleashed
Well-known fantasy authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman talk about their new series, Dragons Unleashed, which they kick off with Bones of the Dragon.
Many RPG adventure novel fans have enjoyed Weis and Hickman's stories set in Krynn, a fantasy world Tracy Hickman developed in 1979 and which he subsequently sold to TSR, Inc. (TSR was acquired by Wizards of the Coast, which is now owned by Hasbro).
As I recall, the DragonLance stories introduced readers to a different world from the World of Greyhawk that the first TSR novels had been set in (World of Greyhawk being TSR's classic AD&D world).
Weis and Hickman went on to create other worlds, other series. Their first step away from fantasy RPG books was The Rose of the Prophet, a well-written trilogy set in what you could call a hybrid universe. There were still elements of fantasy RPG games in the concepts but the storyline was more like a traditional novel.
There have been many books since. This video presents the two authors talking about their new series, a Viking fantasy with magic longships, dragons, and more. It's an interesting video obviously intended to help market their books but worth a view, in my opinion.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Many RPG adventure novel fans have enjoyed Weis and Hickman's stories set in Krynn, a fantasy world Tracy Hickman developed in 1979 and which he subsequently sold to TSR, Inc. (TSR was acquired by Wizards of the Coast, which is now owned by Hasbro).
As I recall, the DragonLance stories introduced readers to a different world from the World of Greyhawk that the first TSR novels had been set in (World of Greyhawk being TSR's classic AD&D world).
Weis and Hickman went on to create other worlds, other series. Their first step away from fantasy RPG books was The Rose of the Prophet, a well-written trilogy set in what you could call a hybrid universe. There were still elements of fantasy RPG games in the concepts but the storyline was more like a traditional novel.
There have been many books since. This video presents the two authors talking about their new series, a Viking fantasy with magic longships, dragons, and more. It's an interesting video obviously intended to help market their books but worth a view, in my opinion.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Very funny video - Steve's Bad Day
Really not much information about where this video came from. The uploader says he gave in to his friends' suggestion that he upload it.
I'm glad he did.
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I'm glad he did.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Pixar moves forward with "John Carter" concept art, casting
SciFi Wire announced a short while ago that Andrew Stanton is hard at work on a second draft of his script for "John Carter of Mars", which the studio plans to release in 2012.
"John Carter of Mars" is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic pulp adventure story A Princess of Mars (which you can download for free).
Over the past year, Stanton has indicated that he wants to move the John Carter character away from the Frank Frazetta characterization that has become so familiar to ERB fans over the past few decades. While this decision may unsettle hard-core ERB fans, I think Pixar has shown a clear ability to bring an interesting fresh perspective to the stories it develops. I'm willing to cut them some slack.
Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote A Princess of Mars as a four-part serial in 1912 and it was subsequently published in book form in 1917. Burroughs published 9 more John Carter of Mars books and his son John Colman Burroughs published an 11th book after ERB died in 1950 (JCB wrote the first story in the book, "The Giant of Mars").
Edgar Rice Burroughs planted clues in many of his books that helped tie his various 20th century heroes together. Hence, Tarzan went to Pellucidar, Carson Napier of Venus actually tried to reach Carter's Barsoom (Mars), as did Julian of "The Moon Men".
Philip Jose Farmer later drew upon ERB's heroic universe when he created the Wold Newton Universe (so named by Win Scott Eckert, who wrote the introductory essay on that site).
Andrew Stanton's plans for John Carter may alienate long-time fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs (many of whom closely associate the Frank Frazetta art style with ERB's fiction). ERB's heroes are often placed in a class with Robert E. Howard's classic pulp heroes like Cormac Mac Art, Kull the Conqueror, and Conan the Barbarian. Howard purists hate revisionistic changes to Howard's characters and they did not support the Kevin Sorbo film adaptation of "Kull the Conqueror" (actually, they weren't big fans of Dino de Lauentis' adaptations of the Conan character).
Kevin Sorbo fans weren't happy with "Kull", either, so the movie flopped. But purists don't always decide whether a movie franchise will be successful. While Harry Potter purists have been divided over the quality of the first three movies they seem to have fallen silent in the wake of the film franchise's success.
And I don't think many people remember just how much Tolkien purist opposition there was to the Peter Jackson interpretation of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (which has been extensively criticized for departing from the book in many ways).
If you want to know what Burroughs' John Carter was like, you should definitely read the books. The first few are available as free downloads from Project Gutenberg (see the link above). I feel that the fourth book in the series, The Chessmen of Mars was the best. The story follows the adventures of Carter's daughter, Tara of Helium, and the man who wants to become her husband.
Follow the "John Carter of Mars" movie discussions in our Pulp Authors Forum at SF-Fandom.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
"John Carter of Mars" is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic pulp adventure story A Princess of Mars (which you can download for free).
Over the past year, Stanton has indicated that he wants to move the John Carter character away from the Frank Frazetta characterization that has become so familiar to ERB fans over the past few decades. While this decision may unsettle hard-core ERB fans, I think Pixar has shown a clear ability to bring an interesting fresh perspective to the stories it develops. I'm willing to cut them some slack.
Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote A Princess of Mars as a four-part serial in 1912 and it was subsequently published in book form in 1917. Burroughs published 9 more John Carter of Mars books and his son John Colman Burroughs published an 11th book after ERB died in 1950 (JCB wrote the first story in the book, "The Giant of Mars").
Edgar Rice Burroughs planted clues in many of his books that helped tie his various 20th century heroes together. Hence, Tarzan went to Pellucidar, Carson Napier of Venus actually tried to reach Carter's Barsoom (Mars), as did Julian of "The Moon Men".
Philip Jose Farmer later drew upon ERB's heroic universe when he created the Wold Newton Universe (so named by Win Scott Eckert, who wrote the introductory essay on that site).
Andrew Stanton's plans for John Carter may alienate long-time fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs (many of whom closely associate the Frank Frazetta art style with ERB's fiction). ERB's heroes are often placed in a class with Robert E. Howard's classic pulp heroes like Cormac Mac Art, Kull the Conqueror, and Conan the Barbarian. Howard purists hate revisionistic changes to Howard's characters and they did not support the Kevin Sorbo film adaptation of "Kull the Conqueror" (actually, they weren't big fans of Dino de Lauentis' adaptations of the Conan character).
Kevin Sorbo fans weren't happy with "Kull", either, so the movie flopped. But purists don't always decide whether a movie franchise will be successful. While Harry Potter purists have been divided over the quality of the first three movies they seem to have fallen silent in the wake of the film franchise's success.
And I don't think many people remember just how much Tolkien purist opposition there was to the Peter Jackson interpretation of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (which has been extensively criticized for departing from the book in many ways).
If you want to know what Burroughs' John Carter was like, you should definitely read the books. The first few are available as free downloads from Project Gutenberg (see the link above). I feel that the fourth book in the series, The Chessmen of Mars was the best. The story follows the adventures of Carter's daughter, Tara of Helium, and the man who wants to become her husband.
Follow the "John Carter of Mars" movie discussions in our Pulp Authors Forum at SF-Fandom.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Monday, January 12, 2009
MovieWeb shares sneak peek at Pixar's "Up"
Now we can see what Pixar has been working on:
Up Sneak Peek.
Looks sort of interesting but what is with the pseudo-LEGO structure of the characters? Is there an inside joke going on with this movie? Or are they just experimenting with new dimensions in computer animation?
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Up Sneak Peek.
Looks sort of interesting but what is with the pseudo-LEGO structure of the characters? Is there an inside joke going on with this movie? Or are they just experimenting with new dimensions in computer animation?
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Franklyn uses split narrative to tell complex story
Ryan Phillippe plays a masked vigilante detective named Preest, who is searching for his nemesis on the streets of Meanwhile City, a monolithic fantasy metropolis ruthlessly governed by faith and religious fervor. Bernhard Hill plays Esser, a broken man who is searching for his wayward son amongst the rough streets of London’s homeless. Sam Riley plays a heartbroken guy named Milo, who is desperately trying to find a way back to “the purity of first love.” And Eva Green plays an art student named Emilia whose suicidal artwork is “becoming increasingly more complex and deadly.”
Sound bizarre? /Film talks about the new SF movie Franklyn.
The split narrative motif has been used before. For example, Bruce Willis and Richard Gere starred in 1997's "The Jackal", each filming most of his scenes without the other actor. The two characters only meet in the movie's finale.
Nonetheless, it's a difficult formula to work with. Some television shows have struggled to make split narrative work right. The timing of scenes has to seem plausible. But by working with parallel worlds and different time periods Franklyn may overcome some of those challenges.
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Saturday, January 10, 2009
Hobbit News newsletter launches
If you're a Tolkien fan you must have noticed by now that two new books by J.R.R. Tolkien were published last year: The Children of Hurin and Tales From The Perilous Realm. Both books were, of course, just repackaging older content that had been published previously. But we also saw the publication of The History of The Hobbit, edited by John Rateliff.
And in May this year we'll finally see some previously unpublished Tolkien material with the release of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. And there is a lot more stuff going on, what with the upcoming Guillermo del Toro "Hobbit" movies and all.
So a new weekly Hobbit News newsletter has been launched through Yahoo! Groups. You can read the first issue of Hobbit News online. Keep your eye on it. And feel free to subscribe (registration is free and unmoderated, but you do have to sign up with Yahoo! to get the newsletter by email).
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And in May this year we'll finally see some previously unpublished Tolkien material with the release of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. And there is a lot more stuff going on, what with the upcoming Guillermo del Toro "Hobbit" movies and all.
So a new weekly Hobbit News newsletter has been launched through Yahoo! Groups. You can read the first issue of Hobbit News online. Keep your eye on it. And feel free to subscribe (registration is free and unmoderated, but you do have to sign up with Yahoo! to get the newsletter by email).
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Tolkien book to be published in May 2009
Seems like we just got Tales From The Perilous Realm, The History of The Hobbit, and The Children of Hurin. Okay, we did just have a pretty good Tolkien year.
But the Tolkien fun isn't over yet. It seems that during the 1920s Tolkien wrote down the story of Sigurd and Gudrun in English. Now word is that the book will be published in May 2009.
You can read more about it in this Tolkien Studies Blog post. I was able to look up some information about the manuscript and the story behind it.
Actually, many of us are familiar with the story of Sigurd, which has been published in many forms (it has also inspired at least one movie I'm aware of). It will be interesting to see Tolkien's take on the legend.
Feel free to drop by the Tolkien Forum at SF-Fandom and share your thoughts about the story.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
But the Tolkien fun isn't over yet. It seems that during the 1920s Tolkien wrote down the story of Sigurd and Gudrun in English. Now word is that the book will be published in May 2009.
You can read more about it in this Tolkien Studies Blog post. I was able to look up some information about the manuscript and the story behind it.
Actually, many of us are familiar with the story of Sigurd, which has been published in many forms (it has also inspired at least one movie I'm aware of). It will be interesting to see Tolkien's take on the legend.
Feel free to drop by the Tolkien Forum at SF-Fandom and share your thoughts about the story.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Creative Media instructor teaches history of SciFi films
Very well-made video by college instructor Doug Bocaz-Larson of New Mexico State University-Grants. I'm going to quote the description provided at YouTube.
If you're looking for classes to take at the Grants campus, this one looks like it will be fun and interesting.
The entire series is available on YouTube, btw.
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This is the 8th video for the online course CMT 170 History of Film at New Mexico State University-Grants. Doug Bocaz-Larson is the instructor of the course (he is the program manager of the Creative Media program in Grants). You can visit http://grants.nmsu.edu or http://www.nmsu.edu/course to find out how to register for the course which begins January 14, 2009.
The cost is only $150 for the 3 credit course. In part 8, we discuss the history of my favorite film genre Science Fiction. The text is "Film" by Ronald Bergen from DK.com or can be found at Amazon.com (ISBN 978-0-7566-2203-9) This video was created for non-profit, educational purposes and follows Fair Use guidelines. If any owners are concerned about the use of their materials in this video please contact us and we will remove the content that is of concern. For more information about Fair Use, see the following website link: http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org
If you're looking for classes to take at the Grants campus, this one looks like it will be fun and interesting.
The entire series is available on YouTube, btw.
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Trailer for 'Castle Wulfenstein' movie (Fake)
UPDATE: Okay, it's a fake. Looked good anyway.
If you have ever played the classic PC game, you'll recognize the concept behind this movie immediately.
Looks like there is plenty of action in it. Maybe even some game elements. :)
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Monday, January 5, 2009
They Came From Upstairs trailer
I've never heard of this movie but apparently it is due out July 31, 2009. The trailer says it will be out on February 13 so I guess there was a production delay or something.
I liked "Alvin and the Chipmunks" but then I also grew up with Alvin & the Chipmunks. This movie looks cute like it is going after the kids and maybe their parents.
I don't know if I'll go see this movie. Maybe I'll watch it when it hits cable. But here's the thing: I don't think you have to dumb down a concept in order to be appealing to kids. The trailer makes it look like they are treating the audience with less respect than they showed to Chipmunk fans.
Maybe I'm misjudging them. I'll just have to wait and see.
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I liked "Alvin and the Chipmunks" but then I also grew up with Alvin & the Chipmunks. This movie looks cute like it is going after the kids and maybe their parents.
I don't know if I'll go see this movie. Maybe I'll watch it when it hits cable. But here's the thing: I don't think you have to dumb down a concept in order to be appealing to kids. The trailer makes it look like they are treating the audience with less respect than they showed to Chipmunk fans.
Maybe I'm misjudging them. I'll just have to wait and see.
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Trailer for Tim Burton's "9"
Strange story set in an Alternate Earth where rag dolls fight for survival in an Apocalyptic environment.
Sounds exactly like the kind of movie Tim Burton would make.
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Sounds exactly like the kind of movie Tim Burton would make.
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Sunday, January 4, 2009
Trailer for Nicolas Cage movie 'The Knowing'
I don't think I've heard about this movie before. I might have come across an obscure reference and not paid attention but this is the first time I've seen this trailer.
Nicolas Cage makes some interesting movies. This one seems to deal with another future "end of the world" scenario but I cannot tell from the trailer if it's occultic or UFOistic or something else.
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Nicolas Cage makes some interesting movies. This one seems to deal with another future "end of the world" scenario but I cannot tell from the trailer if it's occultic or UFOistic or something else.
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SciFi Movie on a low budget
YouTube has opened up a world of opportunity for film students. They upload their class projects and we get to take a sneak peak at the promising film-makers of the future.
I won't make any predictions about who will become the next Ron Howard or Steven Spielberg, but some of these films are pretty inventive considering just how few resources the students have to work with.
This film, recently uploaded to YouTube, shows that students can think things through and provide a little plot twist.
Without further preamble, I give you..."The Machine", by Jeremy Cytryn.
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I won't make any predictions about who will become the next Ron Howard or Steven Spielberg, but some of these films are pretty inventive considering just how few resources the students have to work with.
This film, recently uploaded to YouTube, shows that students can think things through and provide a little plot twist.
Without further preamble, I give you..."The Machine", by Jeremy Cytryn.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Friday, January 2, 2009
SciFi Fans watching BSG Webisodes online
Grace Park fans are in high heaven these days. Even though primary filming on the Battlestar Galactica series has shut down for good, fans have been enjoying SciFi's BSG Webisodes.
Although you can watch them on SciFi.com, Infinito Perdido has been uploading clips to YouTube. I have no idea of whether those clips will stay for long.
Here is the first part of "The Face of the Enemy". You'll have to watch the rest at SciFi or YouTube.
Let us know what you think in the Battlestar Galactica Forum.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Although you can watch them on SciFi.com, Infinito Perdido has been uploading clips to YouTube. I have no idea of whether those clips will stay for long.
Here is the first part of "The Face of the Enemy". You'll have to watch the rest at SciFi or YouTube.
Let us know what you think in the Battlestar Galactica Forum.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Episode 6 of Middle-earth Talk Radio is now live
Episode 6 of Middle-earth Talk Radio was recorded on November 16, 2008. Hawke was a little confused at the opening about which episode this is, but it truly is Episode 6 and not Episode 7 (although if it were Xena Talk Radio there would be no Episode 6).
Middle-earth Radio offers free streaming music feeds but you have to register for free and log in to download the Middle-earth Talk Radio episodes.
We plan to eventually go to a live feed format.
Topics covered in Episode 6 of Middle-earth Talk Radio:
For links to specific source articles, you can visit the Tolkien Studies on the Web Blog.
For discussion at SF-Fandom, check out Middle-earth Talk Radio Episode 6 in the Tolkien Forum.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Middle-earth Radio offers free streaming music feeds but you have to register for free and log in to download the Middle-earth Talk Radio episodes.
We plan to eventually go to a live feed format.
Topics covered in Episode 6 of Middle-earth Talk Radio:
- Hawke's recent Tolkien-related acquisitions
- Book: The Plants of Middle-earth, Botany and Sub-creation
- Brief mention about Radio Rivendell and the favorable comments in their forums about Middle-earth Talk Radio
- Book: Roots and Branches by Thomas Shippey
- Book: J.R.R. Tolkien Companion & Guide
- Audio CD: The J.R.R. Tolkien Audio Collection readings by J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien.
- Four 60 minute DVD series by Kultur with artwork from the Brother's Hildebrant and music by Mostly Autumn: Secrets of Middle-earth: Inside Tolkien's Hobbit,Inside The Fellowship of the Ring, Inside The Two Towers, Inside the Return of the King.
- Updates on Guillermo's The Hobbit movies plans.
- NASA discovers the Eye of Sauron
- Book: Tales from the Perilous Realm
- British Tolkien Fan Movie: Born of Hope. Focuses on Arathorn and Gilrain.
- Defense attorney in murder case, makes reference to Tolkien during proceedings.
- An American priest wrote article "Why Tolkien said no to Narnia".
- New Zealand Herald article also covering the free, non-profit fan movie "Born of Hope", that will be available for download over the Internet.
- Online Fandom, Have We Gone Too Far or Not Far Enough?
- Follow up on the hunt for Gil-galad's car.
- Update on Other Minds Magazine Issue 5 delays, mention of Beowulf and Tolkien essay.
For links to specific source articles, you can visit the Tolkien Studies on the Web Blog.
For discussion at SF-Fandom, check out Middle-earth Talk Radio Episode 6 in the Tolkien Forum.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
RobRoy reviews Adam Sandler's 'Bedtime Stories'
Have you seen Adam Sandler's new movie, "Bedtime Stories", yet? Well here is the trailer:
And RobRoy reviews "Bedtime Stories" at SF-Fandom. RobRoy, one of our administrators, has been posting movie reviews for years. He loves to watch a good flick. See if he thinks "Bedtime Stories" is anything like a good flick (in his opinion).
The Official Bedtime Stories Web site has more goodies for fans to look at.
Lucy Lawless fans (like those in our Xena forum will be glad to see her play Aspen in "Bedtime Stories".
The IMDB has cast credits and more.
I personally don't like most of Adam Sandler's movies but I've been wanting to see this one. I really liked "50 First Dates". It seems like he can shine in the right vehicle. Sandler has to find a good mix of serious and humor in order to succeed as more than just a former Saturday Night Live cast member.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
And RobRoy reviews "Bedtime Stories" at SF-Fandom. RobRoy, one of our administrators, has been posting movie reviews for years. He loves to watch a good flick. See if he thinks "Bedtime Stories" is anything like a good flick (in his opinion).
The Official Bedtime Stories Web site has more goodies for fans to look at.
Lucy Lawless fans (like those in our Xena forum will be glad to see her play Aspen in "Bedtime Stories".
The IMDB has cast credits and more.
I personally don't like most of Adam Sandler's movies but I've been wanting to see this one. I really liked "50 First Dates". It seems like he can shine in the right vehicle. Sandler has to find a good mix of serious and humor in order to succeed as more than just a former Saturday Night Live cast member.
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
Is Finnegan in the new Star Trek movie?
Do you remember Finnegan, the memory of the upperclass cadet who tormented Captain Kirk in the classic episode "Shore Leave"? Sean Finnegan went on to become part of the expanded Star Fleet canon.
And when I watch the trailer for the upcoming ST movie, I catch a glimpse of a guy who briefly speaks with an Irish accent like Finnegan's.
Unfortunately, I cannot find an explicit reference to Finnegan in IMDB's cast listing for the movie. Maybe the contributors to the list just haven't figured out which actor plays him. Maybe he is not in the movie. I don't know.
Another character I wonder about is Kodos the Executioner. In the trailer we briefly see a young Kirk running amok -- presumably on Earth. Does the movie recap the Kodos episode or is just overlooked? Will the movie raise yet another debate about Star Trek canon?
Judge for yourself:
And then drop by our Star Trek Forum to let us know what you think. Is it Finnegan or not?
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
And when I watch the trailer for the upcoming ST movie, I catch a glimpse of a guy who briefly speaks with an Irish accent like Finnegan's.
Unfortunately, I cannot find an explicit reference to Finnegan in IMDB's cast listing for the movie. Maybe the contributors to the list just haven't figured out which actor plays him. Maybe he is not in the movie. I don't know.
Another character I wonder about is Kodos the Executioner. In the trailer we briefly see a young Kirk running amok -- presumably on Earth. Does the movie recap the Kodos episode or is just overlooked? Will the movie raise yet another debate about Star Trek canon?
Judge for yourself:
And then drop by our Star Trek Forum to let us know what you think. Is it Finnegan or not?
SF-Fandom is a moderated, fan-run community devoted to science fiction, fantasy, history, and mythology. SF-Fandom was founded in 2001 and is part of the Xenite.Org network. Free registration is required to post. Please be sure you read our Posting Guidelines.
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