Disney/Pixar's Up took the top slot at the May 29 weekend box office with an estimated $68.2 million opening, maintaining a perfect box-office track record for Pixar Animation, whose 10 films all have been commercial and critical hits, the Associated Press reported.Up had the third-best opening for a film from Disney-owned Pixar, just behind the $70 million debuts for Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. Last summer's Disney-Pixar release, WALL-E, debuted with $63.1 million.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, meanwhile, which slipped to second-place, with an estimated $25.5 million, raising its 10-day total to $105.3 million.
The weekend's other new wide release, Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell, opened in third place, with a relatively modest $16.6 million.
Star Trek continued to have legs, coming in at fifth place, with $12.8 million for the weekend, raising its domestic total to $209.5 million, becoming the first 2009 release to cross the $200 million mark and outselling Monsters vs. Aliens to become the highest-grossing movie so far this year.
Watch the teaser trailer for Toy Story 3!
The new teaser teaser trailer for Disney/Pixar's upcoming Toy Story 3 has gone live, and you can watch it after the jump.
Directed by Lee Unkrich, the third installment in the beloved franchise brings back Woody, Buzz and the gang of toy characters. The sequel opens in theaters June 18, 2010, in Disney Digital 3-D.
Craigslist Animation Ad of the Week
In this economy, any work is better than none, but as I pointed out last week, there are some offers you may want to think twice about. Here’s a good one that popped up on Craigslist:
Animator needed for tv pilot episode!
Seeking Animator to create 15 second animation to illustrate a point for a personal development TV pilot episode. Pay is low, however if show is picked up there is chance for future work, and credits off course…
I am an awesome person to work with, young/ hip /entrepreneur!
Pay: $250
Send email with links or samples of work.
Thanks! Email borchevitz@gmail.com
Exposure and joy guaranteed.
I did a little research on the email address, and it turns out the person commissioning this is a masseuse, which gives potentially new meaning to her guarantee of exposure and joy.
(Thanks, Patrick Tuorto)
(Thanks cartoonbrew)
How To Shave Your Groin
In the spirit of past commercial/industrial/educational animation we’ve highlighted in the past - Disney’s VD Attack Plan or The Story of Menstruation come to mind - we present Gillette’s new series of animated web tutorials on How To Shave.
If you like this one, you’re sure to enjoy shaving your chest hair, back, head and armpits.
(Thanks, Alex Rannie)
(Thanks cartoonbrew)
A Producer's Wisdom
Former TAG shop steward (and current entrepreneur) Kevin Geiger sends us longtime producer Randy Fullmer's list of "How to Succeed in Making Movies if you Really Work At It":
Only hire nice people who don’t freak out when things get tough.
Stay calm even when you’re not.
Learn not to say everything that’s on your mind.
Stay positive.
Don’t think you have to be the smartest voice in the room.
Learn to ask simple story questions. Who should we care about and why? What does our main character want, and why can’t they get it? ntertaining, or does it just line up logically?...
Don’t get caught up in the minutia and forget the fundamental building blocks.
Ask questions and invite participation. At the same time, protect you and your director’s ability to calmly think. Don’t send out any message to anyone that you’re closed to new ideas. This is a hard one. There are many times when you just want to be left alone.
Making a movie is a marathon. Don’t get too up or too down ....
And so on and so forth.
What struck me as I pored over Mr. Fullmer's bullet points was how much they apply to anyone working at a higher stakes job who has to make decisions and lead others.
Some of the things that people who are heading up a department, division or conglomerate can't do and remain effective are:
Blubbering down the shirt fronts of your employees, whining about how stressed out and overworked you are.
Hiring mediocrities out of fear that somebody good will threaten your position.
Being the Big Foot in meetings, sucking the creative oxygen out of the air by doing most of the talking. And making sure that nobody feels secure or comfortable enough to challenge bad ideas.
Etcetera.
I'm sure you can come up with plenty of success killers on your own, but these are a few of the jewels that popped into my head.
Randy, as you might know, departed Disney Animation after Chicken Little's release. Fun fact: CL remains the highest domestic grosser for any Disney c.g.i. feature.
(Thanks Animation Guild Blog)
Breakdown Of Bonus Episodes On "Green Lantern: First Flight" Home Video Releases
The World's Finest has a first look update at the bonus episodes slated to be featured on the upcoming home video releases of the Green Lantern: First Flight direct-to-video animated feature.Warner Home Video has provided The World's Finest with an exclusive first look at the "Bruce Timm Presents" bonus episodes slated to be included on the upcoming home video releases of Green Lantern: First Flight, the direct-to-video animated feature scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 28th, 2009. As with the previous DC Universe Animated Original Movie release Wonder Woman, the Blu-ray release will feature more "Bruce Timm Presents" bonus episodes than the DVD release. Below is a breakdown of episodes slated to appear on the multiple home video releases of Green Lantern: First Flight.
-Green Lantern: First Flight - Two-Disc Special Edition DVD
Justice League Unlimited "Once and Future Thing, Parts 1 & 2"
-Green Lantern: First Flight - Digital Copy Special Edition Blu-ray
Justice League "Hearts and Minds, Parts 1 & 2"
Justice League Unlimited "The Return"
Justice League Unlimited "Once and Future Thing, Parts 1 & 2"
-Green Lantern: First Flight (Exclusive Target Two-Disc Special Edition DVD)
Justice League "In Blackest Night, Parts 1 & 2"
Justice League Unlimited "Once and Future Thing, Parts 1 & 2"
Please check out the Green Lantern: First Flight subsite for further information on the bonus features slated to be included on the upcoming home video releases of the Green Lantern: First Flight direct-to-video animated feature.
A co-production of Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation, the direct-to-video Green Lantern: First Flight animated feature will debut Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 on DVD and Blu-ray disc.
The Adventures of Tintin Hits Theaters on Dec. 23, 2011
Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced their release plans for the long awaited 3-D motion capture feature film The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and Kathleen Kennedy. The highly anticipated film will be released by Paramount in the U.S. on December 23, 2011. The film will launch internationally in late October and early November, 2011 with Sony Pictures Releasing International handling Continental Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and India, and Paramount distributing the film in Asia, Australia, UK and all other English speaking territories.
Starring Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace) as the nefarious Red Rackham, the international cast also includes Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn is a Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures production from a screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, and is produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy.
The film, which began production in late January 2009, is the first of a planned series of 3D motion capture films based on the iconic character created by Georges Remi, better known to the world by his pen name "Herge." Executive producers are Nick Rodwell, Stephane Sperry and Ken Kamins.
The second feature in the series is scheduled to be directed by Jackson, with a potential for a third film as well.
Eighty years ago, Herge introduced the world to a unique cast of characters who have been embraced by readers of all ages. "The Adventures of Tintin" - a series of 24 books, the final unfinished adventure was published after Herge's death, became Herge's life's work. The first adventure was published in 1929. Over 200 million copies have been sold worldwide. The popular series has been translated into 70 languages and still attracts thousands of new fans each year.
Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson will bring Herge's stories to life employing state-of-the-art performance capture technology developed by Jackson's Weta Digital.
More on that Lemony Snicket sequel: Would you believe animation?
Director Brad Silberling confirmed to SCI FI Wire that he hopes to resuscitate the Lemony Snicket movie series, but in a different way from 2004's live-action film adaptation of Daniel Handler's beloved children's book series: stop-motion animation.
"Daniel Handler and I stayed in touch, and I think just charging off and doing another live-action movie is one way to go," Silberling said in an exclusive interview Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif., where he was promoting his upcoming Land of the Lost. "[But] what I got excited about was the idea of completely turning it on its ear and finding a whole other medium in which to work."
Silberling directed the original film, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which follows the adventures of a trio of orphans who are pursued by a distant relative intent on killing them and claiming their inheritance. The film starred Jim Carrey, Emily Browning and Liam Aiken (pictured above).
Silbering revealed that he already has specific ideas about how a sequel would transition from the original film's style into something different. "So, again, nothing too concrete, but my thing I talked to Handler about was if you start the movie with everybody thinking you're heading into another live-action movie," Silberling said.
"But it's taken so long for this one to happen, and Olaf is still stuck in the makeup trailer and everyone else, and so Lemony Snicket basically tells you, 'Unfortunately, enough waiting: No, we're going to have to tell you the real story.' Boom, you dial through a soundstage door, and you're introduced into a stop-motion universe, and actually that's my hope is for the next film that it can be stop-motion."
Silberling also said there are some outstanding legal issues revolving around the franchise, but added that he hopes they will be summarily resolved and the films will stay with their original distributor.
"Anytime you have a studio split—and there was a studio split between Paramount and DreamWorks, everybody can see that they're no longer sort of together," he said. "But that actually is not a bad thing for us; I think Paramount in particular had expressed interest in maybe trying to find a way back to the franchise."
New Video For Kid-Friendly ‘Marvel Super Hero Squad’ Game
While DC’s Batman shows his darker side in this year’s “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” Marvel’s core universe of characters will be hitting the Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and PSP with a decidedly more lighthearted comics-based game spinning off of this fall’s Cartoon Network series “The Super Hero Squad Show.” And today, we received our first look at that “Super Hero Squad” game.Simon Phillips, president of Worldwide Consumer Products and CEO of Marvel Animation, previously revealed some details about the “Super Hero Squad” game to MTV News, telling us that along with targeting five-to-nine-year olds, the game would be a browser-based MMO and present a “combination of a social networking site with gaming applications built within it.”
“Expanding upon ‘The Super Hero Squad Show’ brand is a major initiative for Marvel in 2009, and launching the ‘Marvel Super Hero Squad’ video game is a key component in the brand expansion,” stated Phillips in today’s press release.
The game’s style reflects designs already used in Hasbro’s Super Hero Squad lineup of Marvel toys, distinguished by their short bodies and large hands and feet. The brand is meant to engage new, young Marvel fans.
“We are thrilled to add ‘Marvel Super Hero Squad’ to THQ’s extensive licensed kids portfolio,” explained Kevin Kraff, vice president, global brand management, THQ. “Super Hero Squad will feature an animation style that will appeal to a younger audience, but its depth in graphics and gameplay will also engage the more mature, avid fans of the renowned Marvel brand.”
"Family Guy" Creator Hopes for Top Comedy Emmy
Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, plans to submit his series in the Emmy awards' outstanding comedy category, as opposed to the animation category.
Last year the series' Blue Harvest special was, due to a loophole, allowed to compete in both the comedy and animation categories. This year Family Guy will only be able to compete in one of the categories.
No animated series has been nominated for the top comedy Emmy since The Flintstones in 1961.
New CEO of Wildbrain Announced
Michael Polis has been announced as CEO, Wildbrain Ent. The announcement was made by Charles Rivkin, who will step down as president and CEO, Wildbrain on June 5 2009 to persue his new role as U.S. ambassador to France.
Miyazaki Anime Classics in Rare Film Screening
East Coast Anime News
The New York-grounded GKIDS theatrical promotions and family entertainment group has unveiled an exciting limited showing of two of animation director Hayao Miyazaki's most memorable tales of exuberant youth, both of which were initially produced in the mid- to late-1980s. Adventure anime films Laputa: Castle in the Sky (1986) and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), both written and directed by Miyazaki, offer young audiences a quick glimpse into whirlwind fantasy worlds where a little bit of luck and a lot of confidence will take you as far as you wish.
The organization behind an ever-broadening exhibition of global animation, short and feature in length, GKIDS has pulled some strings and is looking to spend the middle of June comfortably tucked away with a four rare showings of these two Miyazaki films (two screenings each). GKIDS also serves as the producer of the annual New York International Children's Film Festival, which this year held the U.S. premiere of Jacques-Rémy Girerd's marvelous hand-drawn fantasy Mia et le Migou. According to event organizers, both Laputa and Kiki will be "presented in glorious 35mm" film.Laputa: Castle in the Sky, which has not screened in New York City since it's English-language U.S. premiere nearly ten years ago, should find a solid welcome once June 2009 arrives. When a mysterious young girl falls from the sky to an unsuspecting blue-collar young man, questions arise concerning not just this steadfast gal and the crystal pendant she bears, but also of the legendary floating castle civilization from which she descends. A clever mesh of the romantic and the tragic, Laputa: Castle in the Sky is the story of a culture who lost itself to time, and the many individuals both good and evil, who debate the value of its decayed morals. The film is scheduled to screen Sunday, June 7th, 2009 at 11:00am (IFC Center); and Sunday, June 14th, 2009 at 2:00pm (Symphony Space).
While the other film holds tremendous visual spectacle, Kiki's Delivery Service specializes in character. When young witches turn thirteen-years-old, they move to a new town and learn independence and self-sufficiency. As GKIDS accurately remarks, the film is "less about witchcraft than a beautifully timeless story of a young girl leaving home to find her own way in the world."As such, Kiki and her gift of flight create a bit of trouble here and there, but its up to her and her cat Jiji to make new friends in the city by the sea, keeping a mind open to what new experiences await them. Kiki is a normal girl -- she's lonely, doubts herself, shies away from confrontation, and hates rainy days -- but is always in pursuit of being her own person. Kiki's Delivery Service is an all ages recommended classic. The film is scheduled to screen Saturday June 6th, 2009 at 11:00am (IFC Center); and Sunday, June 14th at 11:00am (Symphony Space).
Laputa is recommended for ages eight and older, while Kiki's Delivery Service is open to all audiences. Both will screen with English language dialogue tracks. Tickets can be purchased online, at the official GKIDS website.
Totally Spies! The Movie Sells in Europe, Latin America
Distributors throughout Europe and Latin America have picked up the rights to Totally Spies! The Movie, a feature-length animated movie based on the popular TV series.Deals were closed at the recent Cannes Film Festival with distributors Les Films de l’Elysée in Benelux, SPI in Western Europe, World Dream in Switzerland, Rialto in Australia and Gussi in Mexico. Negotiations are in progress in the U.K., Germany, Brazil, Colombia, Greece and Spain.
Produced by Marathon Media and Studio 37 with Mikado (Italy), the film is directed by Pascal Jardin and distributed by Mars Distribution in France, where it is set for a July 22 release.
(Thanks Animation Magazine)
Space Ace Returns Call to Action on iPhone
Space Ace, the classic 1980s animated arcade game follow up the groundbreaking Dragon’s Lair, has come to the iPhone and iPod Touch.Created by legendary animator Don Bluth, the Space Ace game footage has been transferred directly from the high-definition masters. The game follows Ace, who must stop Commander Borf from taking over the Earth with the aid of the beautiful Kimberly.
The re-release of the game — from Dragon’s Lair LLC and Digital Leisure — uses the iPhone and iPod Touch’s touchscreen to allow players to control the action with a direction pad.
The game is currently available in the iTunes store for $4.99.
(Thanks Animation Magazine)
Upcoming in Japan
Awesome Engine started the Hate Fun summer preview (part two)
Previews
A new trailer for Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai can be seen here
AIKa ZERO
Gokusen live action based on the manga about a yakuza heiress turned teacher
Anime
Anime News Network reports that Gainax (Evangelion) studio co-founder Hiroyuki Yamaga announced that upcoming project include a special continuation of parody comedy Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi and an untitled work dealing with free-diving.
Abenobashi follows childhood friends about to separated as they travel from one media based reality to another.
Production on a full anime episode of Kotetsu no Vendetta (Iron Vendetta), based on the dojin (self-published) has been greenlit. A promo can be seen here.
Manga
Shadow Skill creator Megumu Okada conceieved the concept for new manga Hitotsuki! - a series drawn by Ranmaru Tenma (Gensosekai Eiyuretsuden FAIR PLAYS)
Sumomomo Momomo creator Shinobu Ohtaka is launching a new manga called Magi in Shonen Sunday.
Live Action
Mamoru Oshii has indicated that he will film a live action feature in Poland.
The Business
Asashi.com on the bursting of the anime bubble
Drawing parallels between the asset-inflated economy in the 1980s and the excessive expectations of businesses entering what was long considered a niche industry, some insiders have likened the situation to a bubble bursting.
According to the Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), an industry body formed mainly by animation production companies, the number of anime programs aired on television steadily climbed from 124 in 2000 to a peak of 306 in 2006.
However, the figure dropped to 288 last year. Meanwhile, the number of new anime programs that began broadcasts last month was expected to be in the 30s, about half the 60-odd programs unveiled in April 2006.
...
He added that the industry, already facing a glut of workers, could enter a phase of massive restructuring.
...
"Fans realized that most of the new titles were more or less the same. They were mere repetitions of seemingly popular themes, such as nymph-like girls and robots."
*
Via ANN, the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) animation industry labor group revealed that young anime staffers in their 20s earn an average annual salary of just over 1 million yen (US$10,500), and the industry is not training a big enough talent pool for its needs.
A survey of 700 animators and directors gather the following data: Staffers in their 20s earned an average annual salary of 1.1 million yen (US$11,600), and staffers in the 30s earned an average annual salary of 2.14 million yen (US$22,600). JAniCA had previously said last year that there are veteran creators in their 40s and 50s who are getting by on 3 million yen (about US$31,000) a year. JAniCA also said in 2007 that 20% to 30% of all animators earn an annual salary of 1 million yen (US$10,500).
Matt Alt records the response
*
Anime News Network reports that toy developer and producer Wiz has announced the sale of Production Reed anime studio subsidiary (Magical Princess Minky Momo, Dancougar, and Sengoku Majin GoShogun) to studio president Toshihiko Sato. Wiz holds 22,267 shares, or 50.1%, of Reed. Sato is buying these shares at 3,600 yen (about US$38.00) each for a total of 80 million yen (US$840,000)
*
TYO announced that is will merge its anime studio subsidiaries — Yumeta Company (Animation Runner Kuromi, Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time) and Hal Film Maker — on July 1. Yumeta Company will absorb Hal Film Maker (Aria the Animation, Pretear, Kaleido Star, Princess Tutu) and change its name to TYO Animations.
*
A look at the work of John Hathway - an "original and talented physics graduate student who devotes himself to the most painstaking kind of anime, where he layers literally thousands upon thousands of layers of images, using Adobe computer photoshop layering, to produce a final image that he then sells in self-produced manga. "
Questions We Get Asked
Q: So what kind of grievances does TAG do?
A: All kinds.
Over the years we’ve had grievances over screen credit, grievances over unpaid wages and overtime, grievances over illegal termination. The list is long ...
We once had a grievance involving a background artist who had a meeting with a producer that the artist thought was a good meeting, but the producer decided was terrible. The producer walked out and told a production assistant to fire the artist, which the assistant did … almost immediately.
Problem was, this instant termination – which wasn’t for theft or gross insubordination – is in violation of the contract. After we filed a grievance, the artist stayed terminated, but he got a big chunk of money for getting axed because the company had violated the contract.
We filed a grievance over whether an artist had drawn X-rated images in his designs. We maintained that he didn’t, and after a full arbitration, we lost.
We filed a grievance for two animation writers who created a television series with the promise of a bonus if their creation became a network show. It became a network show, the producer said “no bonus,” that the memo that had promised the bonus was null and void. The arbitrator ruled otherwise, and the writers got their bonus.
The biggest grievance we’ve filed was on behalf of a large, feature animation staff that was being laid off en masse. TAG claimed that the layoffs were due to “technological change” and therefore due displacement money. The arbitrator – after a year of research and hearings – ruled “No.”
Most grievances never get to arbitration, but are settled before a hearing happens.
Thanks for asking.
(Thanks Animation Guild Blog)
What is The Thing In The Distance?
Elliot Cowan’s at it again!!! Time for another competition!
1st Prize is a hand drawn The Thing In The Distance poster!!!!
2nd prize goes to 50 people who will all get to see the finished The Thing In The Distance before anyone else.
To enter, all you need to do is email me at: elliotcowanimation@yahoo.com and tell me what you think the thing in the distance
might actually be (could be what’s on the poster, but might not!). I’ll pick my favorite answer – there is no right or wrong here.I’ll even dig up a special prize to anyone who can guess where the idea for The Thing In The Distance came from. Anyone paying attention to my blog may well work it out…
Competition finishes June 30
Visit Elliot’s website at http://www.elliotelliotelliot.com/comp.html.
(Thanks asifaeast)
Shout! Brings Complete "G.I. Joe" & "Transformers" Series to Comic-Con
Tvshowsondvd.com reports that Shout! Factory will be selling the complete series box sets for both G.I. Joe and The Transformers at the San Diego Comic-Con.
The Transformers: The Complete Series will contain every episode for the show on 16 DVDs in an Autobot Matrix of Leadership box set. Bonus features will include classic commercials, rare PSAs, and a voice cast reunion featuring voice actors like Michael Bell, Frank Welker, Neil Ross, and Dick Gautier.
G.I. Joe: The Complete Series will contain every episode on 17 DVDs in a "footlocker" style collector's box, and also features brand new bonus features, and a set of temporary tattoos.
Both box sets will be on sale for the weekend of the San Diego Comic-Con (July 23-26, 2009). However, for those who can't make it, Shout! Factory is now accepting pre-orders for both Transformers and G.I. Joe box sets.
You can pre-order The Transformers: The Complete Series here. The G.I. Joe Collector set site is under construction. We'll keep you posted once the site is up and ready.
No Wonder Woman For Megan Fox, Calls Amazon Warrior ‘A Lame Superhero’
Nobody’s perfect. Just as Megan Fox was starting to win the hearts of every geek on Earth with roles in three comic book-rooted film franchises, she had to go and badmouth DC Comics royalty.“Wonder Woman is a lame superhero,” Fox said in an interview with Times Online, “She flies around in her invisible jet and her weaponry is a lasso that makes you tell the truth. I just don’t get it. Somebody has a big challenge on their hands whoever takes that role but I don’t want to do it.”
Wonder Woman fans may not be too keen on Fox’s comments, but it’s hard to deny that her comic book cred seems to balance the scales a bit. After all, even though she’s not interested in the Amazon princess and she’s also reportedly turned down a chance to succeed Angelina Jolie as “Tomb Raider’s” Laura Croft, the “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” star is already working on “Jonah Hex” and will star in the upcoming “Fathom” adaptation based on the comic by Michael Turner.
Since her debut in 1941, Wonder Woman has been one of the most re-invented superheroines in the business. Her identity has fluctuated over the decades from warrior to diplomat to secretary to depowered martial arts expert. So Fox’s comments aren’t completely without merit — especially if she never got acquainted with a strong version of the character.
Losing Fox as Wonder Woman isn’t the end of the world though. After all, a few slightly more athletic actresses still stand a chance at making the character work onscreen.
EXCLUSIVE: Sam Raimi Talks ‘Spider-Man 4’ Villain Possibilities — But Will He Go Obscure?
It’s a question on the minds of film buffs and comics fans alike, as they look forward to 2011’s return of Peter Parker to the big-screen: Who will he be fighting?Recently, Sam Raimi revealed to us that he’s a mere four weeks away from reading a first draft of the “Spider-Man 4” script. And along with writer David Lindsay-Abaire, there are a few key elements they’re looking for in a potential villain.
“I’ve talked with David about a possible villain, villains, villain-ess,” the director grinned, being careful not to reveal genders or numbers in regards to Spidey’s nemesis. “[We’ve spoken] about who knows what Spider-Man’s conflicting personas would be.”
Some longtime Spidey fans are arguing these days that Raimi should stick to the bigger-name characters and have Peter Parker square off against someone like The Lizard, Venom or Carnage, while others would prefer to see him shine a spotlight on such more-obscure villains as Morbius, the Living Vampire or Sinister Six characters like Vulture or Electro. At this point, Raimi told us he’s open to introducing even the most obscure of supervillains.
“That would be absolutely fine,” explained the filmmaker, whose insanely intense “Drag Me to Hell” lands in theaters later this month. “But I’m not looking [for things] like that.”
“I’m trying to, with the writer, find Peter Parker’s story primarily,” Raimi said of what factors will weigh on his selection of supervillains. “And find the right conflict for him to come up against. So that either he can grow as a human being and overcome this thing, or perish. It’s more about finding the villain that represents the best story for Peter.”
And although Raimi revealed to us that he does know which super-villains Lindsay-Abaire is working into his script, they are still subject to change. “Really, I have to read the screenplay and see if it’s working, what we’ve discussed,” explained the filmmaker. “Before I really, in my heart, could tell you that I knew.”
“Spider-Man 4” is due in theaters May 6, 2011.
A Glimpse Of The ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra’ Clip Which Premiered At Yesterday’s MTV Movie Awards
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen’ Villain Revealed, Courtesy Of Shia LaBeouf!
FROM MTV.COM: On Sunday, at the MTV Movie Awards, invited guests include Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and director Michael Bay. But even those high-wattage talents might not be the most exciting “Transformers” star you’ll see this weekend.
“He is the king bee,” LaBeouf told us recently as he discussed the Fallen, unveiling him to “Transformers” fans for the first time anywhere. “He’s the patriarchal figure, he’s the main dude. He’s what all of this came from.”
And here's a sneak peek that aired on last night's MTV Movie Awards -
Alien reboot, a prequel, is confirmed!
Producer Tony Scott confirmed to Collider.com that he and brother Ridley Scott are developing a prequel film to Ridley's original Alien movie, with Carl Rinsch directing.
The news confirms the rumor first reported by Bloody-Disgusting that an Alien remake was in the works for 20th Century Fox.
"Carl Rinsch is going to do the prequel to Alien," Scott told Collider while promoting The Taking of Pelham 123. "He's one of our directors at our company."
Tony Scott added: "I'm excited because Ridley created the original, and Carl Rinsch is one of the family."
Scott said that he hopes to get the movie before cameras ""hopefully [by] the end of the year" for a summer 2011 release.
Ashley Miller and Tom Hiddleston on Thor!
CineFOOLS has posted a great interview with Thor co-writer Ashley Miller talking about the Marvel Studios comic book adaptation. Here's a cool excerpt from the article:Not in the sense that you'd want to see a generic "dark" take on Thor, but in the sense that you want to feel Thor's rage when he rages. You want to see him fight like hell, and take as much he dishes out -- maybe more. You want to have a visceral reaction to the guy, and what happens to him. You don't want his adventures to be clean and antiseptic. You want to see the dirt, and grime and blood. You want to feel every bone crunching moment of every fight. And when he unleashes the storm, you want to feel like you're seeing the power of a GOD at work.
Check out the full interview here! Also, The Daily Mail talked to Tom Hiddleston about playing the villain, Loki. Check out these bits...
'Loki's like a comic book version of Edmund in King Lear, but nastier,' Tom observed.
How much nastier? 'Well, Loki's skilled in black magic and scorcery. He's a shape-shifter and has all sorts of super powers from the dark arts. He can turn clouds into dragons, things like that.'
Between now and January, when Thor begins shooting, Tom has to keep himself fit and healthy.
'Ken wants Loki to have a lean and hungry look, like Cassius in Julius Caesar. Physically, he can't be posing as Thor.'
Thor is scheduled for a May 20, 2011 release.
Cameron on AVATAR - 3D will be 1.85 to 1 and 2D will be full Scope - read why!
Hey folks, Harry here... with a report on the Q&A that James Cameron gave at the 70mm presentation of THE ABYSS and ALIENS in L.A. There's some fun stuff here - so give it a look!
Hey Harry,
This probably isn’t a scoop, but I thought it would qualify as “cool news” and wanted to send something in – here in L.A., film geeks had a veritable Sophie’s Choice tonight between the “Back to the Future” marathon at the New Beverly and a double feature of “Aliens” and “The Abyss” in 70MM with a James Cameron Q & A sandwiched in between at the grand old Aero Theatre (where Donnie Darko was shot). I chose the latter and don’t regret the decision (especially since they will also be doing a BTTF marathon tomorrow). Needless to say, a discussion about “Aliens” quickly became all about "Avatar" and though there was not a whole lot that wasn’t known before, it was pretty spellbinding to hear Cameron talk about this stuff. Here are some of the interesting tidbits:
- Cameron never thought he’d shoot a new movie in 1.85 ratio, but he loves the way 3D looks in that ratio, so audiences seeing the film in 3D will get a 1.78 presentation versus audiences who see the film in scope (widescreen) in 2D.- He seemed unusually humble and said that “Avatar” may not make film history, but there are a few shots in the film that he knows for certain will be quite memorable, saying that he has his crew just got something back from the lab that made them say, “what the f***?” (further fueling the “f***ing our eyeballs” fire).
- He also said that the CG special effects aren’t necessarily revolutionary, but he believes that the way he’s shooting the film, with a camera that can give him and the actors instant feedback with a rendered image that loosely replicates what will be on screen in the final product, could very well change moviemaking. (He said the rendering looks like an “80’s video game” right now, but technology should advance to the point where it could look like the final product while they're filming on set.)
- When somebody asked about getting good performances out of the actors when they’re acting opposite a tennis ball, he said he didn’t see how it was any different than somebody auditioning for him in an office in Santa Monica, and that on his next film, whatever that may be, he should be able to create a rig where an actor could be interacting with a monitor that could provide a virtual acting partner (with a voice) – he said it was just too expensive for this one for too few scenes.
-When asked about the future of exhibition, he said it could be an “indefinite” period of time before 3D films won’t require glasses, but believed that stereoscopic 3D could be moving to TV screens and portable devices within the next five years and added that “since we spend our lives in front of screens at work and when we come home, don’t you think if there was an improvement for screens, people would want it?”
- He did take a non-Avatar question when someone asked about “having other people take over franchises that you created.” He got a huge laugh when he cut to the chase and said, “oh Terminator?” He then said that he basically traded the rights for Terminator for a directing career and then when Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to do T3, his heart just wasn’t in it, though he had a few ideas. He said the producers “ran off with the rights, which caused some bad blood” and so when Arnold asked him after they were going in a different direction, Cameron told him, “just do me one thing – ask for more money than anyone ever has.” Arnold said, “reeeeealllly?” He said, “yes. Because what idiots would make a Terminator movie without you?” Which seemed like a direct jab at Terminator Salvation even though he was talking about T3. The audience roared accordingly.-Somebody also asked about his reputation as a hardass on set and compared him with Michael Mann, to which Cameron jokingly replied, “What? Michael Mann’s a whacko.” (A crew member from two of his films stood up and defended him.)
- He also described his time since Titanic, mostly deep sea diving, seeing things “more amazing than anything in Hollywood since it was real.”
It ended with the moderator saying “I feel like we witnessed something historic,” which it surely did. And if you ever get to see either "Aliens" or "The Abyss" in 70MM, don't pass it up - it's f***ing amazing. If you’re able to use this, call me Marsellus Wallace.
(Thanks Aint It Cool)
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