Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 15th to 21st, 2023 - Update #19

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

SUNDANCE - From Deadline:  Director Doug Liman says that "Justice," his self-funded documentary about sexual assault allegations against now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, might be far from finished as new tips started pouring within a half hour of the highly-secretive project being announced on Thursday (Jan. 19th).  The film made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival 2023 on Friday (Jan. 2th).

From HuffPost:  This is another article on the documentary, "Justice," which focuses on the history of sexual abuse on the part of disgraced and disgraceful Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

RUST - From Deadline:  New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced that Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will face criminal charges for the October 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."  Each will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Disney is developing its next TRON film, "Tron: Ares," with Jared Leto as its star.  Joachim Ronning is in negotiations to direct.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  After diving deep into the Los Angeles Lakers' dynasty in the HBO miniseries, "Winning Time,"  executive producer and writer, Rodney Barnes, will take on the legendary boxer and icon of African-American manhood, Jack Johnson, as writer and executive producer in a new HBO miniseries starring Oscar-winner, Mahershala Ali.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Antoine Fuqua is set to direct "Michael," a Lionsgate drama telling the complex life story of the iconic singer Michael Jackson.  John Logan has written the script. The film will be produced by Graham King via his GK Films alongside the co-executors of Jackson’s estate, John Branca and John McClain.

NETFLIX - From Variety:  Netflix executives unveil its lineup of 2023 releases, which include director Zack Snyder's "Rebel Moon" (a sci-fi film in the vein of "Star Wars") and "Knives Out 3."

TELEVISION - From Variety:  NBC's comedy revival, "Night Court," debuted its first two episodes to strong ratings, making it NBC's best comedy premiere since its 2017 "Will & Grace" revival.

MOVIES - From THR:  Michael B. Jordan will star in "Rainbow Six," an adaptation of a novel by Tom Clancy.  The film will be directed by Chad Stahelski ("John Wick" franchise) and will also be a follow up to the 2021 film, "Without Remorse" (based on another Clancy book), which Paramount Pictures licensed to Amazon for streaming.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Oscar winner and big screen legend, Meryl Streep, is joining Season 3 of Hulu's hit mystery-comedy, "Only Murders in the Building," but the specifics of her role is being kept secret.

MARVEL STUDIOS - From Deadline: China’s unofficial ban on Marvel Studios is apparently lifting. Disney/Marvel’s "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Feb. 7th) and "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" (Feb. 17th) have both secured release dates in China, ending a three-and-a-half year period during which movies featuring Marvel characters did not gain entry to the world’s second largest box office market. 

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 1/13 to 1/15/2023 weekend box office is "Avatar: The Way of Water" with an estimated take of 31.1 million dollars.

From Here:  Leroy Douresseaux's review of "Avatar: The Way of Water."

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The cable networks, "USA Network" and "Syfy," have renewed their horror series, "Chucky" for a third season.

From Deadline:  The cable network, "Syfy," has renewed its comedy-drama-fantasy series, "Reginald the Vampire" for a second season.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director Todd Field ("Tar") talks about the time superhero Tom Cruise told him how to save Field's 2001 film, "In the Bedroom," from the depravations of convicted sexual predator and Oscar-winning studio boss, Harvey Weinstein.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Legendary American singer-songwriter and guitarist, David Crosby, has died at the age of 81, Thursday, January 19, 2023.  Crosby was a founding member of "The Byrds," one of the most influential rock bands of all time.  He later co-founded the folk rock super-group, "Crosby, Stills & Nash," with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash.  Neil Young would later join and on-off over the next five decades, they were sometimes known as "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young."  Crosby also recorded as a solo artist, and he was a 10-time Grammy Award nominee.

From Deadline:  Italian actress, Gina Lollobrigida, has died at the age of 95, Monday, January 16, 2023.  An icon of Italian cinema, Lollobrigida  was also known for such American and international productions as "Beat the Devil" (with Humphrey Bogart, 1953), "Solomon and Sheba" (1959), and "Come September" to name a few.

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AWARDS:

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 EE BAFTA Awards have been announced. The Netflix World War I drama, "All Quiet on the Western Front," leads with 14 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, February 19, 2023.

From Deadline:  The winners were announced at the 2023 / 28th annual Critics Choice Awards.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The nominees for the 2023 / 34th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced in both film and TV categories.  The winners will be announced Sat. Feb. 25th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sun., Feb. 26th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The National Society of Film Critics has named "Tar" its "Best Picture" of 2023 and its star, Cate Blanchette, as "Best Actress."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "The Woman King" have tied for the lead in nominations with 14 apiece.  The winners will be announced February 6, 2023.

From Deadline:  The Black Film Critics Circle named "The Woman King" the "Best Film" of 2022.

From Deadline:  The winners of the 2022 Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Tar" tie for "Best Picture" award.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 80th annual Golden Globes Awards were announced today (Mon., Dec. 12th).  "The Banshees of Inisherin" led the film field with eight nominations. ABC's "Abbot Elementary" lead the TV side with five nominations.  The winners will be announced January 10, 2023.

From Deadline:  The American Film Institute (AFI) has named its "AFI Awards Film" list of "Top 10 Films of 2022."  The list includes "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "The Woman King."

From THR:  The African-American Film Critics Association name "The Woman King" the "Best Film of 2022."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the "2023 Critics Choice Awards" in the television categories have been announced.  ABC's sitcom, "Abbot Elementary" leads the nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, January 15, 2023 and broadcast on The CW.

From Variety:  The 2022 / 88th Annual New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards have been announced.  Todd Field's "Tar" wins "Best Film" and "Best Actress" (Cate Blanchett).  Keke Palmer wins "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in "Nope."

From Deadline:  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the "Best Feature" award at the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards, one of two wins for the film.

From IndieWire:  The nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.   "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with eight nominations.  The winners will be announced March 4th, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards were announced a month ago.  Todd Field's "Tar" leads with five nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, November 28th.

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From CBSNews:  WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from her Russian imprisonment in a one-for-one prisoner swap for notorious international arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

From NBCNews:   Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

From NBCNews:  A Russian court has rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence on (fake) drug charges.

From Reuters:  Russia says that it is ready to talk prisoner swamp for Brittney Griner and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, but also scolds the U.S. Embassy.

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 1st to 9th, 2021 - Update #30

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

Support Leroy on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

COVID-19 - From NPR:  More than 4000 deaths from COVID-19 recorded on Thursday, Jan. 7th, a grim new record.  365,882 Americans have died from the coronavirus and 21.6 million have been infected.

MUSIC - From THR:   Four-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Tracy Chapman, has settle her copyright infringement lawsuit against 10-time Grammy nominee, Nicki Minaj, for $450,000.

ASSAULT ON THE CAPITOL:

From NYDailyNews:   Hero Capitol Police cop, Brian Sicknick, killed by blow to the head with a fire extinguisher during Trump-inspired riot

From ABC:   Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, dies from injuries suffered in riots, federal murder investigation opened.

From Forbes:   These five people died as a result of the riot at the U.S. Capitol.

From YahooNews:  President Donald is considering pardoning himself.

From YahooUSAToday:   Yahoo's live-update page on the "crisis of the confirmation."

From BusinessInsider:  Lots of coverage.

From YahooNews:   Some among America's military allies believe Trump deliberately attempted a coup and may have had help from federal law-enforcement officials.

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MOVIES - From TheIlluminerdi:   Rumor says that Oscar-winner, Jordan Peele, is seeking Jesse Plemons and Daniel Kaluuya, who starred in Peele's "Get Out," to star in his untitled next film.

BIDEN! - From YahooNews:   President Joseph R. Biden's electoral college victory has been confirmed by the U.S. Congress.

TELEVISION-POLITICS - From YahooEntertainment:   MSNBC's Joy Reid says D.C. rioters would have been 'shackled, arrested or dead' had it been a Black Lives Matter protest

MOVIES - From EW:  "Entertainment Weekly" is previewing more than two dozen of 2021's most anticipated movies.

POLITICS - From YahooNews:   Live updates on the riots in support of the outgoing President of the United States and the aftermath.

From YahooNews:  Rioters enter the office of Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

MEDIA - From YahooNews:   Media outlets, such as Newsmax, the Federalist, and Epoch Times, that spread that spread of conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 also received received sizable loans from the federal government as part of the Paycheck Protection Program.

SPORTS - From YahooSports:   University of Alabama wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, is the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner.

POLITICS - From Truthout:  Brad Raffensperger may have stood up to President Donald during that infamous phone call, but the Georgia Secretary of State is no voting rights hero.  He has been caught trying to suppress the vote for the U.S. Senate runoff.

POLITICS - From Deadline:   Right wing media website, "The Daily Wire," is moving into the film and TV business.  The have picked up the streaming rights to the school-shooting film, "Run Hide Fight."  "The Daily Wire" is also developing two TV series.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Tiffany Haddish to star in the film adaptation of the National Book award winner, "Landscape with Invisible Hand," authored by M.T. Anderson.  Cory Finley ("Bad Education") will write and direct for MGM, Brad Pitt's Plan B, and Annapurna.

BOX OFFICE - From Deadline:   The winner of the 1/1 to 1/3/2021 weekend box office is "Wonder Woman 1984" with an estimated take of 5.5 million dollars.

From Deadline:  Pixar's "Soul" leads international box office.

MUSIC - From YahooNews:  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says that executors of the estate of the late music legend, "Prince," have under-valued his estate for tax purposes by 82.3 million dollars.

MOVIES - From YahooEntertainment:  The Yahoo staff lists their "40 most anticipated films."

CELEBRITY - From YahooEntertainment:   Actress Jada Pinkett Smith says that she does not lend money to family.  She says that instead she only gives money that she is willing to "give away."

MOVIES-MUSIC - From GeekFeed:   Grammy-winners, Daft Punk, recently released a "Complete Edition" of their brilliant musical score for the wonderful 2010 film, "TRON: Legacy."  This new release is the original full musical score with five new tracks.

BLM - From YahooNews:  The white woman who attacked Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter, Kenyon Harrold, and his fourteen-year-old son, Kenyon, Jr., in a New York City hotel over her stolen iPhone has been identified as 22-year-old Miya Ponsetto.  Ponsetto had actually left her iPhone in an Uber.

MOVIES - From THR:   20 films set for release in 2021 that were supposed to be released in 2020.

STREAMING-MOVIES - From CNN:  How one bold decision made 'Trolls World Tour' the most important movie of 2020

OBITS:

From YahooEntertainment:   After a premature death announcement, actress and Bond girl, Tanya Roberts, actually died at the age of 65, Monday, January 4, 2021.  Roberts was best known for playing "Midge Pinciotti," a recurring role on Fox's former sitcom, "That '70s Show."  She also played "Stacey Sutton" in the 1985 James Bond film, "A View to a Kill," which makes her a "Bond girl."  Roberts was also known for playing the lead in the notorious box office bomb, "Sheena," for playing "Julie Rogers," one of the main roles in the final season of ABC's former detective series, "Charlie's Angels."

From CNN:  Former NBA player and coach, Paul Westphal, has died at the age of 70, Saturday, January 2, 2021.  Westphal is best known for his association with the Phoenix Suns, where he both played an coach.  As a player, he helped lead the Suns to the 1976 NBA Championship series, where the lost to the Boston Celtics.  As the Suns head coach, he led them to the 1993 NBA Championship series, where they lost to the Chicago Bulls.  He won an NBA championship as a player with the Boston Celtics, who drafted him, in 1974.  Westphal was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

From YahooSports:   Former NFL running back, Floyd Little, has died at the age of 78, Friday, January 1, 2021.  Little was a three-time All-American at Syracuse University.  He spent all 9 seasons of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos.  He was inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

From RollingStone:   The British-American rapper and music producer, Daniel Dumile, best known as "MF Doom," died at the age of 49, October 31, 2020.  Known for being enigmatic and mysterious and for his impossibly intricate rhyme schemes, Dumile recorded under several names.  After his family moved to New York, Dumile began recording with the rap trio, KMD.  He went on to collaborate with a number of the most notable names in hip-hop, including Danger Mouse and Ghostface Killah.

From Deadline:  Former New Jersey high school principal, Joe Louis Clark, has died at the age of Tuesday, December 29, 2020.  Clark was principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey.  He was the inspiration for director John G. Avildsen's 1989 film, "Lean On Me," in which actor Morgan Freeman as Clark.

Humanoids Announces "Moebius May" Art Print at San Diego Comic Con 2016

Incal Print to Debut at SDCC

Humanoids, publisher of the international bestselling Incal series, and renowned poster designer Mondo announce new Moebius inspired print available at San Diego Comic Con.

Los Angeles, CA – As part of their Moebius May celebrations, Humanoids reveals work-in-progress artwork from an upcoming Moebius-inspired print based on the worldwide bestselling graphic novel The Incal, created by Alexandro Jodorowsky and Moebius. The print will be available from Mondo at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, July 21-24, 2016.

Jean Giraud aka Moebius was born on May 8, 1938 and was one of the co-founders of Humanoids (Les Humanoïdes Associés). The multiple Eisner and Harvey award winner has been cited as an influence by filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and Hayao Miyazaki, as well as by artists the world over. The concept artist behind ground-breaking films like Alien, TRON and The Abyss, as well as a concept designer on The Fifth Element, is even more acknowledged for his works in comics and graphic novels, including: Arzach, The Eyes of the Cat, and the The Incal, among many others.

Inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame and the Science Fiction Hall of Fame amongst a lengthy list of international awards, Jean Giraud passed away in 2012, but his legacy and influence on filmmakers, designers, and artists around the world is keenly felt to this day. When asked to create a print based on the work of this legendary artist, Florian Bertmer said:

"I remember there were a few things that ran through my mind when asked to do a print based on The Incal. For one, I was obviously excited, and I have to admit felt honored to be asked to do it. Keep in mind we are talking about a comic book that was not only drawn by the godlike Jean Giraud, but also written by the one and only Alexandro Jodorowsky himself. It's kinda the comic book equivalent of the Ark of Covenant.

The other things going through my mind? Pure horror and dread. After many sleepless nights and mediocre sketches, I decided to not base my art on events from the book at all, but on what follows after John [Difool] saves the universe and gets reborn. Even though he is the savior, he is still the fool from the beginning, and his karma dooms him to be reborn and relive everything. We see him sitting confused and alone with all these key figures from his past life walking past him. Nobody recognizes him and vice versa.. The only memory he has are the creator's last words: 'Remember!'"


About Humanoids
HUMANOIDS released its first graphic novels 40 years ago in Paris, France, and has published thousands of titles since, including international bestsellers and iconic series such as The Incal and Barbarella. Based in Hollywood, California, with branches in Paris, London, and Tokyo, Humanoids is currently developing multiple film adaptations of its books, including Bouncer, Metal, I Am Legion, and The Z Word (aka The Zombies That Ate The World).

Facebook: www.facebook.com/humanoidsinc | Website: www.humanoids.com

About MONDO
Mondo is an art gallery and online store devoted to a passionate love of film, art, music and toys. The
company has received global recognition for bringing art back to movie poster design and has emerged as one of the leading curators of classic and contemporary film soundtracks on vinyl. Utilizing the talents of world class artists and designers, Mondo produces limited edition, screen printed posters based on film, television and comic properties, working with the leading entertainment brands including DC Comics, HBO, Marvel, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Brothers as well as filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson, Guillermo Del Toro, Zack Snyder, Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright.

Based in Austin, TX, Mondo operates out of a permanent gallery space, hosting regular exhibitions featuring a blend of breathtaking original artwork and limited edition screen prints. Mondo aspires to be a creative home for artists and designers to work and have their visions realized, whether through posters, gallery shows, vinyl, apparel or toys. Their first convention in 2014, MondoCon, was a celebration of art, music, film and their creators. Mondo is also recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences with a full archive of film posters as part of their research library. The parent company of Mondo is Alamo Drafthouse.

www.mondotees.com

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Florida Supercon Set to Rock "The Jackie Gleason Theater"

Florida Supercon set to use The Jackie Gleason Theater for Main Events Stage

Historic Venue will be used in tandem with The Miami Beach Convention Center for South Florida’s largest Comic Con event of the year

Miami, Florida — Florida Supercon organizers have announced a partnership with The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater to expand the size of its main events stage during the annual comic con event. The theater is located adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, and has a seating capacity of up to 2,462 people. The theater will host Q&A’s and panels for Supercon’s most popular guests.

Florida Supercon is scheduled for July 1-4, 2016, and will make use of the Jackie Gleason Theater on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3, 2016. Clear paths between the Convention Center and the theater will be marked off for quick and convenient transit between Hall C and the Jackie Gleason Theater. Florida Supercon will be utilizing Hall C and D of The Miami Beach Convention Center for the entirety of the event. The addition of the Jackie Gleason Theater is in part due to ongoing renovations at The Miami Beach Convention Center, which will have Hall A and B under construction during the event. Rather than shrink the event during renovations, Florida Supercon has chosen to expand in a move that will see the main stage shifted from its previous location in Hall C to the Jackie Gleason Theater.

“It’s exciting to be able to use the historic Jackie Gleason Theater as our main stage this year. I can’t think of any other comic con that has such a cool main stage venue… and certainly the historic significance of the building can’t be ignored,” Mike Broder, President and Founder of Florida Supercon, said. “I can’t think of a better stage to host our celebrity headliners like William Shatner, as well as our costume contest, which is one of the signature events of our show.”

Some of the highlights for Florida Supercon 2016 include

•     Star Trek 50th Anniversary celebration featuring William Shatner “Captain Kirk,” Karl Urban “Dr. McCoy,” Walter Koenig “Pavel Chekov,” Michael Dorn “Worf,” Denise Crosby “Tasha Yar,” Robert Picardo “The Doctor,” René Auberjonois “Odo,” Robert Duncan McNeill “Tom Paris,”  David Warner “Chancellor Gorkon & St. John Talbot,” Chase Masterson “Leeta the Bajoran,” and Star Trek: The Motion Picture Cinematographer Bruce Logan.
•     Star of Gotham on FOX, Ben McKenzie “Jim Gordon.”
•     Star Wars cast members Jeremy Bulloch “Boba Fett,” Tim Rose “Admiral Ackbar,” Jessica Henwick “Jessika Pava,” Chris Parsons “4-Lom,” and Star Wars: A New Hope special effects coordinator Bruce Logan.
•     DC’s Legends of Tomorrow stars Arthur Darvill “Rip Hunter” and Casper Crump “Vandal Savage.”
•     Doctor Who stars Alex Kingston “River Song” and Arthur Darvill “Rory Williams.”
•     The Walking Dead Cast Members Michael Cudlitz “Abraham Ford,” and Denise Crosby “Mary.”
•     First Time Ever TRON Reunion with Bruce Boxleitner “TRON,” David Warner “Sark,” Cindy Morgan “Yori,” and TRON Cinematographer Bruce Logan.
•     Game of Thrones cast members Natalia Tena “Osha” and Jessica Henwick “Nymeria Sand.”
•     Harry Potter stars Natalia Tena “Tonks,” and Devon Murray “Seamus Finnigan.”
•     Sesame Street cast members Emilio Delgado “Luis” and Bob McGrath “Bob Johnson.”
•     Steven Universe stars Zach Callison “Steven,”  Michaela Dietz “Amethyst,” and Grace Rolek “Connie.”
•     Henry Winkler, star of Happy Days, Children’s Hospital, and The Waterboy.
•     Wrestling Superstars: Mick Foley, Diamond Dallas Page, Jerry “The King” Lawler, The Godfather, Road Warrior Animal, and Demolition.
•     Pokémon 20th Anniversary celebration with stars Veronica Taylor “Ash Ketchum”, Michael Liscio Jr. “Clemont and Inkay,” Tara Sands “Bulbasaur, Richie, Sammy, Oddish and Jasmine,” Haven Paschall “Serena,” and Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld “Bonnie, Nurse Joy, Jasmine and Audino.”
•     Anime and Animation Stars: Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Z, Ouran High School), Caitlin Glass (Fullmetal Alchemist, Ouran High School), Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Transformers: Prime, Wolverine and the X-Men), Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time), Trina Nishimura (Attack on Titan, Witchblade, Claymore), Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies), Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck), Veronica Taylor (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sailor Moon), Larry Kenney (Thundercats, Count Chocula), Charles Martinet (Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi for Nintendo), and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Ghost In The Shell, Steven Universe, Sailor Moon).
•     Dozens of Comic Book Artists and Writers for Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, The Avengers, and more!
•     Multiple costume and cosplay events each day of the show, with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes on the line!
•     Over 500,000 square feet of convention space featuring over 600 booths and tables with vendors, celebrity guests, artists, filmmakers, and exhibits. 3 stages of entertainment, video games, plus a dozen rooms for panels, tabletop gaming and screenings.

ABOUT SUPERCON:
Florida Supercon is an annual four-day Comic Con event. Now in its 11th year, Supercon will take place JULY 1- 4, 2016 at The Miami Beach Convention Center and The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Celebrities from Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Gotham, and Lord of the Rings will all be in attendance, alongside artists and writers of Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, The Avengers, and more. Supercon celebrates Comic Books, Anime, Animation, Video Games, Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Pop Culture, with over 600 events, such as celebrity meet and greets, Q&A’s, film screenings, industry panels, costume & cosplay contests, parties, educational workshops, video game tournaments, and more!

ABOUT THE FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH AT THE JACKIE GLEASON THEATER:
Opened in 1957 under the name the Miami Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue was originally used as a stage for popular variety shows such as The Jackie Gleason Show, The Dick Clark Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. The theater was renamed The Jackie Gleason Theater of Performing Arts in 1987, in remembrance of the great comedian’s contributions to the community. The 1990s saw the birth of the theater as both a great theatrical and performance center, as well as a concert hall, and was renamed The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater in 2007 after Live Nation took over management of the venue.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of April 5th to 11th, 2015 - Update #18

NEWS:

From Collider:  How to get a Disney animation job.

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From Variety:  Ryan Gosling in talks to star in Guillermo del Toro's "The Haunted Mansion."

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From THR:  Cast set for Baz Luhrmann's Netflix series, "The Get Down."

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From SlashFilm:  Brad Bird writing "The Incredibles 2."

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From TheWrap:  Academy sets Oscar dates for the next three years.

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From YahooMusic:  Frances Bean Cobain on new "Kurt Cobain" documentary.  She's not really a fan of Nirvana's music.

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From TheWrap:  There will be a "Need for Speed" sequel.  It will film mostly in China, where it was a huge hit.  Perhaps the success of Furious 7 got this project rolling...

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From Variety:  New episode of "Arrested Development."

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From THR:  "Tron 3" is a go.

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From YahooTV:  Nina Dobrev to exit "Vampire Diaries."

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From CinemaBlend:  William Shatner wants a 50th anniversary special for "Star Trek."

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From Variety:  The winner of the April 3rd to 5th, 2014 weekend box office is Furious 7 with an estimated take $143.6 million.

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From Variety: Queen Latifah is playing Bessie Smith for HBO (May 16, 2015), and a full trailer is now available.

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From YahooSports:  Wal-Mart won't sell Ronda Rousey's new book, "My Fight/Your Fight," because she is "too violent."  Apparently, customers can pre-order the book, which is due May 12th, on Wal-Mart.com.

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From YahooMovies:  Critics says it is time to end "Fast & Furious" franchise.


COMIC BOOKS: Books and Movies:

From Variety: New Fantastic Four trailer.


STAR WARS:

From ScreenRant: Details about the upcoming "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" trailer #2.


OBITS:

From YahooCelebrity:  One of my favorite actors, Geoffrey Lewis, has died at the age of 79.  The character actor, who died on Tuesday, April 7th, 2015, was the father of Oscar-nominated actress, Juliette Lewis.  He appeared in many Clint Eastwood movies, but I best remember him for the TV series, "Flo," which was a spin-off of "Alice."  Negromancer sends condolences to Lewis' family.

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From YahooTV:  The actor James Best has died at the age of 88.  Best was best known as "Roscoe P. Coltrane" on the CBS TV series, "The Dukes of Hazzard."

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From DreadCentral:  The actor, Tom Towles, has died at the age of 65.  He was known for his work in horror films, such as the 1990 color remake of "Night of the Living Dead."


MISC:

From YahooPolitics:  A great story - bipartisan basketball

2013 Primetime Emmy Awards: Creative Arts Emmy Winners List

by Amos Semien

The Creative Arts Emmys are the Emmy Awards presented in recognition of technical and similar achievements in American television programming.  These Emmys are commonly awarded to behind-the-scenes personnel such as art directors, casting directors, cinematographers, costume designers, and sound editors.  The Creative Arts category also includes awards for outstanding animated programs and guest acting in comedy and drama television series.

The Creative Arts portion of the 2013 Primetime Emmys handed out 77 awards on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

65th Annual / 2013 Primetime Emmys winners:

GUEST ACTING
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Bob Newhart, "The Big Bang Theory"
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Melissa Leo, "Louie"
Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Dan Bucatinsky, "Scandal"
Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Carrie Preston, "The Good Wife"

VARIETY SPECIAL
Variety Special: "Kennedy Center Honors"
Directing: "Kennedy Center Honors"
Writing: "Louis C.K.: Oh, My God"

REALITY
Reality Host: Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn
Reality Program: "Undercover Boss"

ANIMATED/CHILDREN
Animated Program: "South Park"
Short-Format Animated Program: "Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant de Triomphe"
Achievement in Animation: (6 honorees announced earlier) "Adventure Time," "Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant deTriomphe," "Disney Mickey Mouse Croissant deTriomphe," "Disney TRON: Uprising," "Dragons: Riders of Berk," "The Simpsons"
Children’s Program: "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee"

ART DIRECTION
Multi-Camera Series: "Master Chef"
Variety or Nonfiction Programming (Tie): Olymphic Games, "Saturday Night Live"
Mini or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Single-Camera Series: "Boardwalk Empire"

CASTING
Drama Series: "House of Cards"
Mini/Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Comedy Series: "30 Rock"

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Reality Programming: "The Deadliest Catch"
Single-Camera Series: "House of Cards"
Miniseries or Movie: "Top of the Lake"
Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series: "How I Met Your Mother"
Nonfiction Programming: "Anthony Boudain: Parts Unknown"

COMMERCIAL
Outstanding Commercial: "Inspired," Canon

COSTUMES
Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Behind the Candelabra"
Series: "The Borgias"
Variety Program or a Special: Grammy Awards, "Portlandia," "Men Who Built America" (juried award)

HAIRSTYLING
Mini or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra:
Multi-Camera Series or Special: "Saturday Night Live"
Single-Camera Series: "Boardwalk Empire"

INTERACTIVE
Interactive Program: "Night of Too Many Stars"
Creative Achievement in Interactive Media: Original Interactive Program: "Lizzie Bennet Diaries"

LIGHTING DESIGN/DIRECTION
Variety Series: "The Voice"
Variety Special: Super Bowl Halftime Show

MAKEUP
Prosthetic - Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Behind the Candelabra"
Non-Prosthetic - Miniseries or a Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Non-Prosthetic - Single-Camera Series: "Game of Thrones"
Non-Prosthetic - Multi-Camera Series or Special: "Saturday Night Live"

MUSIC
Music Direction: Tony Awards
Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score): "Downton Abbey"
Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Original Dramatic Score): "World Without End"
Original Music and Lyrics: Tony Awards
Original Main Title Theme Music: "Da Vinci's Demons"
Main Title Design: "Da Vinci's Demons"

NON-FICTION
Direction for Nonfiction Programming: "American Masters"
Writing for Nonfiction Programming: "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God"
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God"
Documentary or Nonfiction Special: "Manhunt: Inside Story of the Hunt for Bin Laden"
Documentary or Nonfiction Series (Tie): "American Masters," "Inside the Actor's Studio"
Informational Series or Special: "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown"

PICTURE EDITING
Picture Editing for Reality Programming: "Deadliest Catch"
Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming: "Mea Maxima Calpa: Silence in the House of God"
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series: "Breaking Bad" ("Gliding Over All")
Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series: "The Office" finale
Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series: "How I Met Your Mother"
Single Camera Picture Editing for a Mini or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Picture editing for Short-Form Segments and Variety Specials: "Daily Show"

SOUND EDITING
Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Nonfiction Programming (Single or Multi-Camera): "Men Who Built America"
Series: "Boardwalk Empire"

SOUND MIXING
Variety Series or Special: Grammy Awards
Nonfiction Programming: "History of the Eagles"
Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour): "Boardwalk Empire"
Miniseries or Movie: "Behind the Candelabra"
Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) and Animation: "Nurse Jackie"

SPECIAL CLASS
Special Class Programs: Tony Awards
Special Class Programs - Short Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs: "Children's Hospital"
Special Class - Short-Format Nonfiction Programs: "Remembering 9/11"

STUNT COORDINATION 
Comedy Series or a Variety Program: "Supah Ninjas"
Drama series, Movie or Mini: "Revolution"

TECHNICAL DIRECTION
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Series: "The Big Bang Theory"
Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: Tony Awards

VISUAL EFFECTS
Special Visual Effects: "Game of Thrones"
Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role: "Banshee"

VOICEOVER
Voice-Over Performance: Lily Tomlin, "An Apology to Elephants"

Thanks to Gold Derby.

"Wreck-It Ralph" Tops 2013 Annie Awards

by Leroy Douresseaux

At the 40th Annual Annie Awards, Wreck-It Ralph won "Best Animated Feature of 2012," and the Annie Awards' equivalent of a "best director" prize went to Wreck-It Ralph's director, Rich Moore.  After also winning the "best animated feature" at the Producers Guild Awards, perhaps, Wreck-It Ralph is the favorite to win best animated feature Oscar.

The 40th Annual Annie Awards took place on February 2, 2013 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California.

40th (2013) Annual Annie Awards Winners:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature
•Wreck-It Ralph – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Animated Special Production
•Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem – Illumination Entertainment

Best Animated Short Subject
•Paperman – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Best Animated Television Commercial
•NO NOMINATIONS

Best Animated Television Production For Preschool Children
•Bubble Guppies ‘A Tooth on the Looth’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Best Animated Television Production For Children
•Dragons: Riders of Berk ‘How to Pick Your Dragon’ – DreamWorks Animation

Best General Audience Animated Television Production
•Robot Chicken ‘DC Comics Special’ - Stoopid Buddy Studios

Best Animated Video Game
•Journey – Sony Computer Entertainment America

Best Student Film
•Head Over Heels – Timothy Reckart

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in an Animated Production
•Andy Hayes, Carl Hooper, David Lipton - Rise of the Guardians – DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Animated Effects in a Live Action Production
•Jerome Platteaux, John Sigurdson, Ryan Hopkins, Raul Essig, Mark Chataway ‘The Avengers’ – Industrial Light & Magic

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Dan Driscoll ‘SpongeBob SquarePants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas!’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Feature Production
•Travis Knight “ParaNorman’ – LAIKA/Focus Features

Outstanding Achievement, Character Animation in a Live Action Production
•Erik de Boer, Matt Shumway, Brian Wells, Vinayak Pawar, Michael Holzl ‘Life of Pi - Tiger’ – Rhythm & Hues Studio

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Robert Valley ‘Disney Tron: Uprising: The Renegade, Part I’ – Disney TV Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Character Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Heidi Smith ‘ParaNorman’ – LAIKA/Focus Features

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•John Eng ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk: Animal House’ – DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Directing in an Animated Feature Production
•Rich Moore ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•John Paesano ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk: How to Pick Your Dragon’ – DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Music in an Animated Feature Production
•Henry Jackman, Skrillex, Adam Young, Matthew Thiessen, Jamie Houston, Yasushi Akimoto ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Alberto Mielgo ‘Tron: Uprising: The Stranger’ – Disney TV Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Production Design in an Animated Feature Production
•Steve Pilcher ‘Brave’ – Pixar Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Doug Lovelace ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk: Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man’ – DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production
•Johanne Matte ‘Rise of the Guardians’ – DreamWorks Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Kristen Schaal as Mabel Pines ‘Gravity Falls: Tourist Trapped’ – Disney TV Animation

Outstanding Achievement, Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production
•Alan Tudyk as King Candy ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Trey Parker – ‘South Park: Jewpacabra’ – Central Productions

Outstanding Achievement, Writing in an Animated Feature Production
•Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee - Wreck-It Ralph – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Television or other Broadcast Venue Production
•Hugo Morales, Adam Arnold, Davrick Waeden, Otto Ferraye ‘Kung Fu Panda - Enter the Dragon’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Outstanding Achievement, Editorial in an Animated Feature Production
•Nicholas C. Smith, A.C.E, Robert Grahamjones, A.C.E., David Suther ‘Brave’ – Pixar Animation Studios

JURIED AWARDS:
Winsor McCay Award — Oscar Grillo, Terry Gilliam, Mark Henn

June Foray Award — Howard Green

Ub Iwerks Award — Toon Boom Animation Pipeline

Review: "TRON: Legacy" is All Good All on its Own

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 49 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

TRON: Legacy (2010)
Running time: 125 minutes (2 hours, 5 minutes)
MPAA – PG sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language
DIRECTOR: Joseph Kosinski
WRITERS: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz; from a story by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal (based upon the characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird)
PRODUCERS: Sean Bailey, Steven Lisberger, and Jeffrey Silver
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Claudio Miranda
EDITOR: James Haygood
COMPOSER: Daft Punk
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/ACTION/DRAMA

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, James Frain, Beau Garrett, and Michael Sheen

TRON: Legacy is a 2010 science fiction film. It is the sequel to Walt Disney Pictures’ 1982 sci-fi film, Tron. Tron: Legacy follows Sam Flynn, the son of Kevin Flynn, the innovative software engineer who entered the Digital World, a place that existed inside a computer (as depicted in the original Tron).

In 1989, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), who was also the CEO of ENCOM International, disappeared seven years after he defeated the Master Control Program in the Digital World. Twenty years later, Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), now a tech-savvy 27-year-old, has little interest in ENCOM, although he is the controlling shareholder. His father’s friend and ENCOM executive, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner), tells Sam that he has received a mysterious page from a number originating at Kevin Flynn’s old arcade, which has been shutdown for 20 years.

Entering the arcade, Sam finds a concealed computer laboratory hidden in the basement. Sitting at his father’s computer, Sam accidentally transports himself to the Grid, a virtual world inside his father’s computer. There, he finds a world of gladiatorial games and fierce computer programs, and the Grid is ruled by CLU, a renegade program that looks like a young Kevin Flynn and was actually created by Flynn. Escaping CLU’s attempt to kill him, Sam is reunited with his now older father and Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a warrior and Kevin Flynn’s confidant. Together, reunited father and son try to stop CLU’s plot to invade the real world.

With its dazzling visuals and state-of-the-art production design, Tron: Legacy is one of the most innovative films of the last few years. It is a digital light show that dazzles the mind via the eyes, sometimes threatening to fry both. The computer-generated, younger version of Jeff Bridges as CLU is quite impressive, except for those few moments when CLU looks too plastic and moves awkwardly.

As in the original Tron, the human characters and story occasionally get lost in Tron: Legacy, especially amidst the elegant, eye-popping special effects. It is not that the story is bad. This is a standard action movie pitting good guys against bad guys, but a movie this visually adventurous deserves a more daring story. However, with the imaginative landscapes and production design and inventive costume design, this standard action movie doesn’t look so standard.

At this point, I have to say that you, dear reader, should see this visually splendid film for yourself. Some of the effects are breathtaking, and the simply magnificent score by the electronic music duo, Daft Punk, is the perfect soundtrack for a milestone film like Tron: Legacy. Modern with the touch of retro-1980’s synthesizer music, Daft Punk’s score thunders and swells, and best of all, it sweeps you off your feet just like film. It may be a little soft on story and character, but Tron: Legacy soars to the next level visually, sonically, and musically.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
2011 Academy Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague)

Friday, June 10, 2011

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Review: Original "TRON" Still Impresses

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 48 (of 2011) by Leroy Douresseaux

Tron (1982)
Running time: 96 minutes (1 hour, 36 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Steven Lisberger
WRITERS: Steven Lisberger; from a story by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird
PRODUCER: Donald Kushner
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Bruce Logan
EDITOR: Jeff Gourson
COMPOSER: Wendy Carlos
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner, Cindy Morgan, Barnard Hughes, Dan Shor, and Peter Jurasik

First released in 1982, Tron is a science fiction film from Walt Disney Pictures. Written and director by Steven Lisberger and produced by Donald Kushner, it is considered a landmark and a milestone (especially in the computer animation industry). Tron was one of the first films from a major studio to make extensive use of computer graphics and was also one of the first to make extensive use of computer animation.

The film focuses on Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), a gifted young software engineer who used to work for the software company, ENCOM. Flynn has been attempting to hack into ENCOM’s mainframe to get evidence that a senior executive, Ed Dillinger (David Warner), stole Flynn’s code for several now-popular arcade games before firing him. Flynn is blocked by the Master Control Program (MCP), an artificial intelligence that controls the mainframe and also steals other programs.

Flynn’s former coworkers, ENCOM employees, Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) and Lora Baines (Cindy Morgan), tell Flynn that Dillinger has tightened security clearances. Bradley, however, has created a security program called, “Tron,” which would monitor communications between the Master Control Program and the outside world. Bradley and Baines help Flynn get inside the ENCOM’s building so that Flynn can help the Tron program. During Flynn’s hack, MCP uses a nearby laser to digitize Flynn and transport him into the mainframe.

Inside the mainframe is a Digital World where Programs appear in the likenesses of their creators (called “Users”). The programs also fight each other in gladiatorial events, including Light Cycle races. Flynn joins the Program named Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) in a race to stop the MCP. But to beat the MCP, Flynn will have to race across a digital landscape that is like nothing he has ever seen or experienced.

Considering that computers and animation played the largest part in bringing it to life, Tron is surprisingly engaging, even warm. The story is slight, but the humanity of the characters shines through the technological light show. Especially in the Digital World, the plight of the characters often comes through, allowing the viewers to get, at the very least, a small look at their personalities and quirks. Tron is not all razzle-dazzle, nor is it ultimately empty like so many of the special effects and computer-created extravaganzas that have come since Tron first appeared in theatres.

Tron may have been considered ahead of its time, but looking back on it now, this movie still amazes. The film still looks as if it could not have been created back in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Tron still looks like nothing before or after it. Director Steve Lisberger, producer Donald Kushner, and their collaborators made something special – something new that captured audiences’ attentions and even captured the imaginations of some of them. And 30 years on, Tron is still fun.

8 of 10
A

NOTES:
1983 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Costume Design” (Eloise Jensson and Rosanna Norton) and “Best Sound” (Michael Minkler, Bob Minkler, Lee Minkler, and James LaRue)

1983 BAFTA Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Special Visual Effects” (Richard Taylor and Harrison Ellenshaw)

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

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2011 MTV Movie Award Nominees Full List

The MTV Movie Awards began in 1992, and since that time, I’ve probably watched less than half of an hour combined of the various award telecasts. Anyway, the nominees for the 2011 awards were just announced.

Hosted by Jason Sudeikis, the 20th annual MTV Movie Awards will air live on Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET, from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

20th Annual MTV Movie Award nominees:

Best Movie
"Black Swan"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"
"Inception"
"The Social Network"
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Best Female Performance
Emma Stone, "Easy A"
Emma Watson, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"
Jennifer Aniston, "Just Go With It"
Kristen Stewart, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"

Best Male Performance
Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
Robert Pattinson, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Taylor Lautner, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Zac Efron, "Charlie St. Cloud"

Best Breakout Star
Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network"
Chloë Grace Moretz, "Kick-Ass"
Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"
Jay Chou, "The Green Hornet"
Olivia Wilde, "TRON: Legacy"
Xavier Samuel, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Best Comedic Performance
Adam Sandler, "Just Go With It"
Ashton Kutcher, "No Strings Attached"
Emma Stone, "Easy A"
Russell Brand, "Get Him to the Greek"
Zach Galifianakis, "Due Date"

Best Line From A Movie (New Category)

• Alexys Nycole Sanchez, "Grown Ups": "I want to get chocolate wasted."
• Amanda Bynes and Emma Stone, "Easy A": Amanda Bynes: "There is a higher power that will judge you for your indecency." Emma Stone: "Tom Cruise?"
• Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network": "If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook."
• Justin Timberlake and Andrew Garfield, "The Social Network": Justin Timberlake: "... A million dollars isn't cool. You know what's cool?" Andrew Garfield: "A billion dollars. And that shut everybody up."
• Tom Hardy, "Inception": "You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger darling."

Best Villain
Christoph Waltz, "The Green Hornet"
Leighton Meester, "The Roommate"
Mickey Rourke, "Iron Man 2"
Ned Beatty, "Toy Story 3"
Tom Felton, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"

Best Fight

Amy Adams vs. The Sisters, "The Fighter"
Chloë Grace Moretz vs. Mark Strong, "Kick-Ass"
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint vs. Death Eaters, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt vs. Hallway Attacker, "Inception"
Robert Pattinson vs. Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"

Best Kiss

Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Inception"
Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1"
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"

Best Jaw-Dropping Moment

James Franco, "127 Hours," Cuts Off His Arm
Justin Bieber, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," Performance Spectacular
Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page, "Inception," Paris Café Scene
Natalie Portman, "Black Swan," Mutilation: Pulls the Skin off Her Finger
Steve-O, "Jackass 3D," Port-A-Potty Bungee Stunt

Best Scared-As-Sh-- Performance

Ashley Bell, "The Last Exorcism"
Ellen Page, "Inception"
Jessica Szohr, "Piranha 3D"
Minka Kelly, "The Roommate"
Ryan Reynolds, "Buried"

Biggest Badass Star

Alex Pettyfer, "I Am Number Four"
Chloë Grace Moretz, "Kick-Ass"
Jaden Smith, "The Karate Kid"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Inception"
Robert Downey Jr., "Iron Man 2"

At MovieAwards.MTV.com <http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2011/>, you can vote for your favorite flicks now.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com <http://moviesblog.mtv.com/.>

Jeff Bridges Art Auctioned for Charity

Jeff Bridges Art Auction to Benefit Charity

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 13, 2011 - Academy Award® winning actor (2010’s Crazy Heart) and acclaimed artist, Jeff Bridges, will be auctioning off his painting inspired by TRON to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign, for which he is the national spoke person. In addition to the original painting, a limited number of signed prints will also be sold to raise funds for the charity.

The exclusively online auction will begin April 20 http://www.disneyfineart.com/share-our-strength/ and will run through April 29th.

As a dedicated artist across various mediums, Bridges has been praised for his eclectic work of fine art, photography and music in addition to hisacclaimed film career. In the recent release of TRON: LEGACY, Bridges reprised his role of “Kevin Flynn” from the original TRON released in 1982, inspiring this powerful piece painted on plexiglass. And with his strongdedication to the No Kid Hungry campaign, he has chosen to raise funds withit.

“As the national spokesperson for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, Jeff Bridges’ commitment to others is exemplary,” said Bill Shore, founder and executive director of the hunger non-profit.” “This donation is another example of how important the work of ending childhood hunger is to Jeff and one of the many reasons we feel honored to be working with him.”


About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how tocook healthy, affordable meals, and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. Visit NoKidHungry.org to getinvolved.

The Beau Garrett TRON: Legacy Q&A

After playing lots of supporting roles, actress Beau Garrett now has a main role on the CBS television series, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior."  She also appears in TRON: Legacy as "Gem."

AN INTERVIEW WITH BEAU GARRETT FOR TRON: LEGACY

How does it feel to be part of TRON: Legacy?

BEAU: It feels amazing to be part of the TRON universe. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I first signed up for this role because I hadn’t seen the original TRON movie. I was born in 1982, which is the year that the first movie was released, but I’d never heard about it until I signed up for TRON: Legacy. I didn’t know anything about this amazing, futuristic world. It was completely new to me.

How would you describe the movie?

BEAU: TRON: Legacy is a classic adventure where a guy called Sam Flynn gets transported to a world we don’t know anything about. The new world is very seductive and dream-like – and it’s filled with danger.

Does the audience have to know much about TRON to enjoy the sequel?

BEAU: No, and that’s why it’s such a great movie. This movie stands alone, so you don’t have to know anything about TRON to understand the story of the sequel.

What attracted you to the role of Gem?

BEAU: I was shown loads of wonderful pictures of the TRON world when I first met with the director [Joseph Kosinski] and producer [Steven Lisberger]. The pictures depicted how they wanted this amazing, futuristic lair to look – and I was blown away by the imagery. I jumped at the chance to work on the project. This has been such an exciting experience for me. I’d never done anything like this before with all the special effects, crazy wardrobe and fantastic makeup. It was really fun to step into this futuristic world and play something completely different.

What can you tell us about your character?

BEAU: When I first met the movie’s director, he described Gem as a half-robot, half-woman character. She is emotionless and curious. She is sensual in a lot of ways and she’s very aware, but she’s a little robotic in her movements. She’s a program in the futuristic world of TRON.

What went through your mind when you saw the finished film for the first time?

BEAU: I was overwhelmed. I was blown away. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was so proud to be part of something so amazing. It took them a year and a half to finish the film after we shot it because they had so much CG work to do. It took my breath away when I finally saw it.

What was your biggest challenge on the set of the movie?

BEAU: I would definitely say that my costume was a huge challenge because it was extremely constraining. It’s a beautiful costume that lights up and it was an amazing feeling to walk onto the set wearing something like that. It was such a strange and powerful feeling, but it was also incredibly constricting at times. At first, I struggled just walking around in the suit. It even gave me bunions and my feet hurt because the shoes were incredibly high. I couldn’t take the outfit off all day, so it was a physical challenge that became a mental challenge, too. It was tough to focus in the beginning, but it became awesome. It looks stunning on screen, so it was worth the pain.

Did the costume help you get into character?

BEAU: As soon as the suit was on, I became Gem. A lot of the other actors on the movie had to work on green screen, but I was lucky because most of my scenes were in the club and they’d built a practical set for those sequences. The club set amazing and there was a crazy attention to detail. We had hundreds of extras on the set and Daft Punk were playing in the DJ booth. It immediately took everyone away to this modern, high-tech world. It blew everyone away.

How long did it take you to get ready for Gem every day?

BEAU: Getting into the costume was a hugely detailed process that took about six hours every day. Some days we’d get it down to five hours, but usually it was more like six hours in hair, makeup and wardrobe.

Can you take us through your daily routine?

BEAU: The first step to creating Gem involved her wig. They would spend an hour working on my hair. Then I’d head over to the Makeup Department where they would ‘white out’ my skin so that you couldn’t see any lines on my face. After that, it was back to the Hair Department to finish the wig. That whole process would take two and a half hours and I wasn’t even in costume yet.

When did you get into costume?

BEAU: The costume would come next. Well, part of the costume anyway. I’d get into the base of Gem’s suit, but then I would head back to Makeup for more touch ups. It took so much patience to get into the costume every day, and that’s something I struggled with. It was also painful. The wig was extremely heavy and there were bobby pins sticking into my skin. It was tough.

Was it easy to get out of the suit at the end of the day?

BEAU: It was easier to take it all off, but it still took a long time. The suit had four layers, including a corset and various other parts. I hung out in it a lot because once I was in it; I was in it for the whole day. They actually redesigned it at one point because it became too much. Originally, the shoes were attached to the rest of the costume. It was a huge one-piece, but they ended up separating the shoes so that I could take them off and relieve my feet during the breaks in filming. That was a huge relief.

What was the atmosphere like on the set of the movie?

BEAU: The atmosphere was electric. Everybody on the set was extremely excited and they gave 110 per cent. There were people who were willing to say, “Yes, take off my eyebrow for the character. Do whatever you want!” It was amazing.

What was it like to work with Jeff Bridges on the movie?

BEAU: Working with Jeff Bridges was fantastic. I only had to do a few scenes with him, but he is such a doll. He’s the easiest of people to work with. It never felt intimidating to work with him; it was easy and fun.

And what was it like to work with the director, Joseph Kosinski?

BEAU: Joe has created a film that will blow people away. He is a genius. He had a great vision for this movie and he gave us loads of freedom to play around with our characters, so it was a really collaborative process. This is Joe’s first movie and he’s nailed it. He’s got a quiet, strong presence about him, but he’s created an incredibly detailed and mysterious world. I was overwhelmed when I saw the first finished shots. The music takes you away and the visuals are amazing. You’re going to love it!

TRON: LEGACY is now available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download.

Bruce Boxleitner Talks His TRON Legacy, Part Two

In the original TRON, Bruce Boxleitner played two roles, Alan Bradley and the security program named Tron. Boxleitner reprises the roles in TRON: Legacy and plays two new parts. Disney has provided this interview with the actor:

AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE BOXLEITNER FOR TRON: LEGACY

What can you tell us about TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: TRON: Legacy is a father/son story. It’s the sequel to TRON and the story follows a guy called Sam Flynn who is in search of the father he never really knew. Sam feels abandoned by his father, who went missing 15 years ago, so the story has an element of classical mythology to it. Sam learns about himself as he sets out on this journey of discovery. He soon finds himself, as well as his father.

Hoes does it feel to see people excited about the TRON universe again?

BRUCE: It feels great, although I’m amazed because when we shot the original movie, we had no idea that it was going to become a cult classic. We knew we were working on something cutting edge, but the film didn’t have a ton of success when it was first released. However, as the years passed, I kept seeing it pop up on Top 10 lists of fan favorites and cult favorites. I would say that 85 per cent of the autographs I have signed over the years have involved a piece of TRON memorabilia. Even when I worked on the TV show, Babylon 5, I was still signing TRON merchandise – especially overseas. There were always huge lines of people waiting with TRON memorabilia when I visited countries like Australia and the UK, and I was always surprised because I never believed that it would come to that.

What attracted you to the sequel?

BRUCE: The idea of working with Jeff Bridges again was a big plus point for me, but I was also intrigued to find out what had happened to these characters. It’s been 28 years since the first film was released and I wanted to know where they went during that time. When I first read the script, I was thrilled by it because I had no idea that Alan Bradley would become such a lost soul. It was such a great idea that it was a no brainer to sign up for the sequel. I was thrilled to be asked to return.

What do you think of TRON: Legacy cast members Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, who play Sam Flynn and Quorra in the movie?

BRUCE: I’m very proud to say that I started on the movie earlier than everybody else. I was hired to screen test all of the young talent fighting for the roles that were eventually won by Olivia and Garrett. I screen tested all of the Sam Flynns and all of the Quorras – and it was a lot of fun because I got to work with a lot of young, new, talented people. It feels really good that these two made the cut because they were my personal picks. I was really impressed with their work. They are both going to go far in their careers.

In what way did the filmmaking process differ between the original TRON and TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: The two movies are both cutting edge and they’re both years ahead of their time, but they were shot completely differently. On the original movie, we were running around in tights with a Frisbee taped to our backs. We were wearing hockey helmets with motocross shoulder pads and armguards, along with high boots. If you had to go to the bathroom, someone had to unzip you and you’d have to take everything off just to go for a pee. We were promised the movie was going to look good, but we had no idea what was going on when we shot it. We were blown away by the results, though. It looked amazing.

How does today’s filmmaking compare?

BRUCE: Today, filmmaking is still a long process – but everything is much more sophisticated and technologically advanced. There are no tights and no Frisbees. The costumes are incredible and the motion capture used in TRON: Legacy blows me away. The bulk of my time on the set of the movie was spent in the real world, so I didn’t experience the technical side of filming as much as Garrett Hedlund and Jeff Bridges. However, I was extremely impressed with everything I saw.

What do you think of the light suits used in TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: I think they are fantastic. They have lights incorporated into the actual suit, so they’re very different to the tights we wore back in 1982. The new suits are spectacular. There was this wonderful moment on the set of TRON: Legacy where the director would yell, “Light them up.” This happened just before he called “Action” and it was amazing because all of a sudden, all of these people on the sound stage would literally light up. It was amazing to watch.

How do you think the younger generation will react to TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: How will the younger generation react to the movie? Well, we’ve had a lot of positive feedback so far. Personally, I hope that a whole new generation falls in love with the movie and this cutting-edge world we created – and I hope it spurs them on to watch the original TRON movie, too. We have the original film being released on Blu-Ray, so it’s going to be out there for them. However, they don’t need to know anything about the original film to enjoy TRON: Legacy. It’s my character’s job in the movie to reveal the past mythology and to familiarize the audience with the story, so it’s all explained clearly at the start of the sequel. You know what? If kids today don’t like this movie, then I quit! Personally, I think this new generation is going to love it. They are going to be blown away. I can’t wait for them to see it.


TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!

Bruce Boxleitner Talks His TRON Legacy, Part 1

Actor Bruce Boxleitner has one of my favorite last names.  He has had a long career and appeared in several television series, including one of my favorite, the Raiders of the Lost Ark-inspired Bring 'Em Back Alive.  In the original TRON, Boxleitner played two roles, Alan Bradley and the security program named Tron.  Boxleitner reprises the roles in TRON: Legacy and plays two new parts.  Disney has provided this interview with the actor:

AN INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE BOXLEITNER FOR TRON: LEGACY

How would you describe the story of TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: TRON: Legacy is the sequel to TRON. The story of the sequel is set in real time, 28 years after the first movie. We revisit some of the characters from the original movie, including Kevin Flynn and Alan Bradley, and we revisit the world of Encom. We also meet Kevin Flynn’s son, Sam. Ultimately, the story takes us back down into the world of TRON where much of the action was set in the 1982 movie. However, it’s a different world now. It’s a darker, more violent and dangerous world down there.

What can you tell us about your character in the movie?

BRUCE: I return to play Alan Bradley in the sequel. Alan is the storyteller who bridges the past to the present. There’s a lot of history that needs to be told about the world of TRON and not everyone watching the movie knows that story, so Alan does that at the beginning of the sequel. He passes the torch onto Sam Flynn, who is the new hero of the movie. I guess Alan is the Alfred to Sam’s Batman.

What makes you choose that analogy?

BRUCE: Well, Batman always needs Alfred to remind him of who he is and where he came from. Alfred is also Batman’s conscience. Alan is similar because he’s the surrogate father to Sam Flynn. Alan’s best friend and creative partner – Kevin Flynn – has been missing for 15 years, so Alan has looked after Sam and has always kept an eye on him. Both of these guys, Sam and Alan, are wounded people because of the disappearance of Kevin. They’ve had no closure on Kevin’s story. They don’t know where he is; they don’t what happened to him. Is he alive? Is he dead? They have no idea. Both of their lives were altered seriously because of his disappearance.

How has Alan Bradley changed since the first movie?

BRUCE: Over the years, Alan has been a very successful man. He is currently the CEO of Encom, but he’s not respected within the company. His colleagues tolerate him in the boardroom, but he has no say because Encom has turned into something that neither Flynn nor Bradley envisioned. It’s a shocking change to where Alan was 28 years ago. He’s now a broken man; he’s a lost soul. He wanders the corridors of Encom wearing nice suits, he drives a great car and he makes a great paycheck. However, he has absolutely nothing to do with the company. That frustrates him. He’s nothing like the nerdy tech you saw in the original film.

What’s your favorite scene in TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: Shooting the seminal scene between Alan and Sam at the beginning of the movie really stands out for me. We filmed that scene in Vancouver and we spent all night outside a really cool freighter container house, which is where Sam lives. I think every young guy is going to want to have a home like that. It was amazing. I love this scene in particular because this is where the human side of the story really comes to light. It’s the human story that makes the movie stand out. TRON: Legacy is not just about special effects and computer wizardry; it’s got a heart.

Was it easy to play the father figure to Garrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn?

BRUCE: It was very easy because Garrett is a wonderful actor. I have three sons myself, so it was very natural to act out those scenes and relive being a father. In fact, I have a Sam Boxleitner. He’s a couple years older than Garrett, but that’s why it felt especially real. It felt like I was talking to my own kid and Garrett looked at me like I was his daffy uncle. That’s the way it struck me anyway.

What was your biggest challenge in working on TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: Portraying Alan Bradley again after 28 years was one of the challenges. What is this man now? What’s happened to him in this interim? I was fascinated by where these wonderful writers had taken these characters. However, I guess my biggest challenge involved the motion capture work on TRON: Legacy.

Can you take us through the motion capture process?

BRUCE: It was very technical. I had hundreds of dots placed over my face and I wore a helmet with cameras pointing at my head. The extras had no idea what was going on, but the dots were used as reference points for the amazing artists on the movie. They created a younger version of my face from 30 years ago. In fact, the same crew who worked on The Strange Case Of Benjamin Button worked on TRON: Legacy and you get to see Jeff Bridges in his 30s again, too. The work they did was amazing.

What else did you have to do for the motion capture process?

BRUCE: After filming finished in Vancouver, I had to go and have my face scanned in Los Angeles. The rig was immense. It was like walking into a UFO. I pulled every kind of facial expression you can possibly think of for the special camera set-up. The cameras captured every angle and every aspect of my face. They captured every aspect of my muscle movement. It was astonishing.

Was it very different to the special effects work on the first movie?

BRUCE: You know what? I look at how far effects have come since we shot the first TRON, but it’s not like we were in the Stone Age back then. We were state of the art at that time. We’re still state of the art with TRON: Legacy. It’s just moved forward a great deal.

What advances in technology did you notice on the set of TRON: Legacy?

BRUCE: Well, the suits are much cooler in the new TRON movie. For the first film, I wore tights with magic marker drawings on them, as well as a hockey helmet and motor cross armor. I was also throwing an actual Frisbee. I didn’t have that cool-looking rainbow disk that they throw around in TRON: Legacy. However, I’m sure that the thoughts going through the minds of the cast on both TRON movies was exactly the same, especially when shooting the scenes set on the grid. Everyone has the feeling that they are making something different and something cutting edge. Everyone feels that they are working on something state of the art. That feeling remains unchanged.


TRON: LEGACY is Available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and Movie Download April 5th!