Amazon’s Third Pilot Season Will Premiere August 28 in the US and UK
Pilot Episodes from Critically-Acclaimed Creators Including Shaun Cassidy, Jay Chandrasekhar, Marc Forster, Steven Soderbergh and Whit Stillman
Three half hour comedies and two hour-long thrillers will be available for customers to watch, rate and review
Shows star noted talent including Selma Blair, Adam Brody, Sarah Chalke, Dana Delany, Ron Perlman, Paul Reiser, Chloë Sevigny and Mena Suvari
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon announced it will debut its highly anticipated third pilot season August 28 on Amazon Instant Video in the US and the UK. Customers who watch the pilots will visit modern day Paris, step into the world of a vigilante who has visions from God, follow along as a psycho-physiological illness tears apart a town, explore the complexities of marriage, and take a trip to a country club in 1980’s New Jersey. Once again, customers are invited to watch and provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series. The pilots can be viewed later this month with the Amazon Instant Video app available on Fire TV, Kindle Fire tablets, Fire phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, as well as hundreds of other connected devices such as smart TVs—or customers can visit Amazon.com/AIV to watch online.
“There is something for everyone in this season and I can’t wait to hear our customers’ feedback when they premiere later this month.”
Five pilots will be available including half hour comedies The Cosmopolitans, Really and Red Oaks, and hour-long dramatic thrillers Hand of God and Hysteria. The pilots come from renowned creators including Shaun Cassidy, Jay Chandrasekhar, Marc Forster, David Gordon Green, Steven Soderbergh and Whit Stillman, and star Selma Blair, Adam Brody, Sarah Chalke, Dana Delany, Ron Perlman, Paul Reiser, Chloë Sevigny and Mena Suvari.
“We are delighted to be able to bring Amazon customers new shows from some of Hollywood’s most talented actors and creators,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “There is something for everyone in this season and I can’t wait to hear our customers’ feedback when they premiere later this month.”
As part of its unique development process, Amazon gives customers an opportunity to provide feedback on which pilots they want turned into series on Prime Instant Video. During pilot season, any Amazon customer can watch, rate and comment on the pilots. At the end of pilot season, that feedback helps determine the shows that become an Amazon Original Series. This past April, Amazon customers posted tens of thousands of comments during the second pilot season, which helped Amazon decide to green light six series—Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, Bosch, The After, and kids series Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and Wishenpoof!
Amazon’s third pilot season includes the following shows:
The Cosmopolitans
Written, directed and produced by Academy Award nominee Whit Stillman (Metropolitan, Barcelona, The Last Days of Disco), The Cosmopolitans follows a group of young American expatriates in contemporary Paris searching for love and friendship in a foreign city. The romantic comedy pilot stars Adam Brody as “Jimmy,” Chloë Sevigny as “Vicky,” Carrie MacLemore as “Aubrey,” Dree Hemingway as “Camille,” Freddy Åsblom as “Fritz,” Jordan Rountree as “Hal,” and Adriano Giannini as “Sandro.” The pilot was filmed on location in Paris.
Hand of God
Marking the television debut of renowned filmmaker Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland, World War Z) and written by Ben Watkins, Hand of God stars Golden Globe winner Ron Perlman in his first lead television role since Sons of Anarchy as “Judge Pernell Harris.” Hand of God also stars Dana Delany as the Judge’s protective wife “Crystal Harris,” Garret Dillahunt as “KD,” the born-again sociopath whose violent tendencies are exploited by Pernell, Andre Royo as the slick, smart, gregarious, and greedy mayor “Robert ‘Bobo’ Boston,” Alona Tal as Pernell’s grieving daughter-in-law “Jocelyn Harris,” Julian Morris as the questionable preacher “Paul Curtis,” Elizabeth McLaughlin as the preacher’s sultry girlfriend “Alicia,” and Emayatzy Corinealdi as Pernell’s call girl and confidante “Tessie.” The show centers on the powerful Judge Harris, a hard-living, law-bending married man with a high-end call girl on the side, who suffers a mental breakdown and goes on a vigilante quest to find the rapist who tore his family apart. With no real evidence to go on, Pernell begins to rely on “visions” and “messages” he believes are being sent by God through Pernell's ventilator-bound son. Forster, Watkins, Perlman, Brian Wilkins and Jeff King are Executive Producers, and Jillian Kugler is co-Executive Producer.
Hysteria
Hysteria takes viewers to Austin, Texas where social connection has become contagious. In the pilot, members of a girls’ competitive dance team are stricken with a strange, psycho-physiological illness that manifests itself in violent fits and spasms and then begins spreading in the community through technology. Neurologist Logan Harlen (played by Mena Suvari) returns to her hometown to investigate the cause. Fighting her own demons and the growing manipulation of a brother on death row, Logan develops an uneasy suspicion that the hysteria surrounding the girls might actually be linked to social media and her own tragic past. Hysteria is written by Shaun Cassidy, who is known for genre thrillers such as Invasion and American Gothic, and directed by Otto Bathurst, who won the BAFTA Award for his work on the critically-acclaimed U.K. mini-series Peaky Blinders. The show also stars James McDaniel (Orange Is The New Black) as “Carl Sapsi,” Josh Stewart (The Dark Knight Rises) as “Ray Ratajeck,” Adan Canto (X-Men: Days of Future Past) as “Matt Sanchez,” Laura San Giacomo (Saving Grace) as “Grace Pelayo” and T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy) as “Carter Harlen.” The show is written by Cassidy, who is also Executive Producer alongside Adam Schroeder, Sharon Hall, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Bryan Zuriff, and Bathurst. In addition to Suvari, McDaniel, Stewart, Canto, San Giacomo and Knight, Hysteria also stars Ella Rae Peck and Jenessa Grant. Pilot guest stars include Jason Douglas, Heather Kafka, Asjha Cooper, and Evie Thompson. Amazon Studios is collaborating with Universal Television and Alcon Television Group on the production of Hysteria.
Really
Written, directed and starring Jay Chandrasekhar, Really is a funny, extremely, honest behind-the-curtain look at the complexities of marriage and the charged dynamics of a tight-knit group of friends. The show is about four hard-charging suburban Chicago couples trying to grasp on-to their dwindling youth. At the center are the happily but messily married couple “Jed,” played by Chandrasekhar, and “Lori,” played by Sarah Chalke. When Jed is faced with the choice of keeping his pal’s secret or destroying his friend group, he winds up digging himself into a very deep hole. Really explores marriage, friendship and the stifling peculiarities of suburban Chicago life. The pilot also stars Selma Blair, Travis Schuldt, Hayes MacArthur, Collette Wolfe, Luka Jones, Lindsay Sloane and Rob Delaney. Really comes from Main Street Films’ Craig Chang and Harrison Kordestani, and Executive Producer Jamie Tarses (Happy Endings).
Red Oaks
Directed by Sundance award-winner David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Eastbound and Down) and produced by Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh (Behind the Candelabra, Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven), Red Oaks stars Craig Roberts (Submarine) as “David Myers,” an assistant tennis pro at the Red Oaks Country Club in suburban New Jersey in 1985, who is both reeling from his father’s heart attack and conflicted about what major to declare in the fall. While there, he meets a colorful cast of misfit co-workers and wealthy club members including an alluring art student named “Skye” (played by guest star Alexandra Socha) and her corporate raider father “Getty” played by Paul Reiser (Mad About You). A coming-of-age comedy set in the “go-go” 80s that is equal parts hijinks and heartfelt, Red Oaks is about enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end—and the future begins. Red Oaks also stars Jennifer Grey (It’s Like, You Know) as “Judy Myers,” Richard Kind (Luck) as “Sam Myers,” Oliver Cooper (Californication) as “Wheeler,” Gage Golightly as “Karen,” and Ennis Esmer as “Nash.” Red Oaks is written by Gregory Jacobs (The Knick) and Joe Gangemi (Eliza Graves). Soderbergh, Green, Jacobs, and Gangemi are Executive Producers.
About Amazon Studios
Last year Amazon Studios launched its first two prime time series, Alpha House and Betas, and recently debuted its first three children’s series, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival Award-winning Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment, as well as Creative Galaxy from Angela Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises, the creators of Blue’s Clues, and Annedroids, from Emmy nominated Sinking Ship Entertainment. Amazon Studios recently announced six additional, original series including Chris Carter’s The After; Michael Connelly’s Bosch; Jill Soloway’s Transparent; Mozart in the Jungle from Paul Weitz, John J. Strauss, Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman; Wishenpoof! from Angela Santomero; and Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street from David Anaxagoras, as well as a second season of Alpha House. Upcoming pilots include The Cosmopolitans, Hand of God, Red Oaks, Hysteria, and Really. Amazon Original Series are available exclusively to Prime members through Prime Instant Video.
Amazon Studios launched in 2010 as a new way to develop feature films and episodic series—one that’s open to great ideas from creators and audiences around the world. Anyone can upload a script and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public will also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.
Comprehensive cast and crew information, including bios and filmographies, is available on Amazon's IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.
About Amazon.com
Amazon opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by three principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, and Fire TV are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
"Vampire Knight: The Complete Collection" Anime DVD Box Set Now Available
Return To Cross Academy For The Paranormal Romance And Dark Bloodlust In Both Seasons Of Acclaimed Gothic Anime Series Offered In A New Comprehensive DVD Box Set
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has released the brooding gothic melodrama – VAMPIRE KNIGHT – in a comprehensive DVD box set that contains both seasons of the hit anime series in a single new edition.
VAMPIRE KNIGHT: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION is available now and is rated TV-14. The 4-disc set is available exclusively on DVD with an MSRP of $44.82 U.S. /$43.24 CAN.
The new box set contains VAMPIRE KNIGHT as well as VAMPIRE KNIGHT GUILTY, for a total of 26 episodes. Gorgeous O-card box art features foil embossed stamping, and a special illustrated chart is also included that shows the relationships between all of the series’ key characters. English dubbed 2.0 audio is available as well as the original Japanese dialogue track with English subtitles.
Yuki Cross can’t remember anything earlier than the day ten years ago when she was saved from a vampire attack by Pureblood vampire Kaname Kuran. Now Yuki, along with her partner, Zero, is a Guardian at Cross Academy, where two groups of students, the Day Class and the Night Class, coexist in relative harmony, despite the fact that the Night Class students are all vampires! But their peaceful existence is threatened when Yuki’s memories of a bloodstained past begin to emerge, and a dark shadow of evil looms ever closer!
“Audiences can return to the ominous Cross Academy and savor the gothic romance and bloodlust, dark characters, and beautiful artwork that have made the VAMPIRE KNIGHT series such a hit among anime fans,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Manager Animation Marketing. “For the first time, both seasons of VAMPIRE KNIGHT are available in a single complete DVD box set. For anyone that has yet to see this acclaimed series, the new release is also an ideal way to catch it in its entirety.”
VAMPIRE KNIGHT and VAMPIRE KNIGHT GUILTY are based on the best-selling manga series created by Matsuri Hino (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens; published in North America in-print and digitally by VIZ Media), who burst onto the scene in Japan with her debut title, Kono Yume ga Sametara (When This Dream Is Over) in LaLa DX magazine. With the success of subsequent series such as CAPTIVE HEARTS and MERU PURI (both also published domestically by VIZ Media), Hino has become a major force in the world of shojo manga.
Also don’t miss the VAMPIRE KNIGHT FANBOOK and THE ART OF VAMPIRE KNIGHT, both available from VIZ Media.
For more information on VAMPIRE KNIGHT, or other award-winning anime titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.
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Review: "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" is Still a Classic
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Running time: 119 minutes (1 hour, 59 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Leonard Nimoy
WRITER: Steve Meerson & Peter Krikes and Harve Bennett & Nicholas Meyer from a story by Leonard Nimoy and Harve Bennett (based upon the TV series “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry)
PRODUCER: Harve Bennett
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Don Peterman (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Peter E. Berger
COMPOSER: Leonard Rosenman
Academy Award nominee
SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE
Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Catherine Hicks, Mark Leonard, Jane Wyatt, Robin Curtis, Robert Ellenstein, Brock Peters, Scott DeVenney, Alex Henteloff, JaneWiedlin, and Majel Barrett with Madge Sinclair
The subject of this movie review is Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, a 1986 science fiction and action-adventure movie. It is the fourth movie in the Star Trek film franchise, which is based on “Star Trek,” a science fiction television series originally broadcast on NBC from September 1966 to June 1969. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home finds the former crew of the USS Enterprise traveling back in time to Earth’s past in order to retrieve the only beings that can save the Earth from a destructive alien probe.
The Voyage Home opens in the year 2286. A large cylindrical probe of unknown alien origin moves through space. The probe emits an indecipherable signal that disables the power of every starship and space station it passes. After taking up orbit over Earth, the probe not only sends out a signal that disables the global power grid, but also generates planetary storms and clouds that cover the Earth.
Meanwhile, the former crew members of the USS Enterprise prepare to leave Vulcan, where they have been living in exile following the events of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his bridge crew: Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), must return to earth to face charges related to their rescue of the now-revived Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy).
Kirk and company are approaching Earth in the Klingon Bird of Prey starship they confiscated when they receive Starfleet Command’s planetary distress call concerning the probe. Spock discovers that an animal that is extinct in their time can save the Earth from the probe. To find the animal, Kirk and company must travel back in time to Earth of the late 20th century, specifically 1986. Once there, Kirk and his companions must navigate a world that might be as alien to them as anything they’ve encountered in their travels through the galaxy during their own time.
Of the 12 Star Trek feature films released to date, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is my favorite. I have seen it many times; in fact, I thought that I had already reviewed it before now, but apparently I had not. One of the reasons that I am so enamored with The Voyage Home is that it involves time travel. Two of my favorite episodes of the original “Star Trek” involve time travel, “Tomorrow is Yesterday” (Episode #19 of Season One) and “The City on the Edge of Forever” (Episode #28 of Season One).
I am especially enamored with “Tomorrow is Yesterday” because the USS Enterprise and her crew travel back in time to 1969, in what was then the present decade at the time of this episode’s first airing. As a child, I wondered what it would be like to meet the crew of the Enterprise in “my time.” Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home touches upon that same sense of wonder, the sense that Star Trek is real and now and that I could meet the crew of the Enterprise.
The Voyage Home is also the end of a three-story arc that began with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn and continued through The Search for Spock. This movie was a voyage home in several ways. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and their friends were returning home to Earth, but they get sidetracked to Earth’s past which brought them to San Francisco. This city would one day be the home of the United Federation of Planets. In the real world, 1986 was Star Trek’s 20th anniversary.
When I saw this movie, I felt that, in a way, the characters were almost really visiting me. Crazy? Silly? Yes, but the joy that Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home gave me is emblematic of the joy “Star Trek” the television series has always given me.
9 of 10
A+
NOTES:
1987 Academy Awards, USA: 4 nominations: “Best Cinematography” (Donald Peterman), “Best Sound” (Terry Porter, David J. Hudson, Mel Metcalfe, and Gene S. Cantamessa), “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” (Mark A. Mangini), and “Best Music, Original Score” (Leonard Rosenman)
Sunday, August 03, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Review: Being Remastered Made "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" Better
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Running time: 105 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Leonard Nimoy
WRITER: Harve Bennett (based upon the TV series “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry)
PRODUCER: Harve Bennett
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Charles Correll
EDITOR: Robert F. Shugrue
COMPOSER: James Horner
SCI-FI/ACTION/ADVENTURE
Starring: William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Mark Leonard, Robin Curtis, Merritt Butrick, Christopher Lloyd, and Leonard Nimoy and Robert Hooks, Phil Morris, Phillip Richard Allen, Miguel Ferrer, and Carl Steven
The subject of this movie review is Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, a 1984 science fiction action-adventure film. It is the third movie in the Star Trek film franchise, which is based on “Star Trek,” the science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry and originally broadcast on NBC from September 1966 to June 1969. In The Search for Spock, the crew of USS Enterprise goes on a mission to recover the body of friend and crew mate, Spock, and finds more danger than they expected.
The Search for Spock follows the events depicted in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) won the battle against his ghost-from-the-past, Khan Noonien Singh, but it was a hollow victory. The USS Enterprise limps back to Earth. Doctor Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) is going insane. And Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is dead… or is he?
Spock’s father, Sarek (Mark Leonard), confronts Kirk about leaving Spock’s body in a casket on the “Genesis planet” which was created by the “Genesis device.” Sarek tells Kirk that there might be hope for Spock. Kirk and his bridge crew: Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), risk their careers by stealing the decommissioned Enterprise to return to the now-restricted Genesis planet to recover Spock’s body.
Meanwhile, Kirk’s son, David (Merritt Butrick), one of the creators of Genesis, returns to the Genesis planet with the Vulcan, Lieutenant Saavik (Robin Curtis), to investigate strange sensor readings emanating from the planet. Neither realizes that an ambitious and murderous Klingon commander named Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) is also interested in the Genesis device. Kruge is leading his Klingon ship, the Bird of Prey, to the Genesis planet, determined to obtain the secrets of Genesis.
2014 is the 30th anniversary (specifically June 1, 1984) of the original theatrical release of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. It was the first Star Trek film that I saw in a movie theatre. Before I saw it, all I knew of the film’s plot was that it involved Spock, who was dead, and that the Enterprise was destroyed in the film. From news media reports and through word-of-mouth, I heard that some Star Trek fans (“Trekkies” or “Trekkers”) were furious about the destruction of the ship.
When I finally saw the movie, I did not find myself particularly upset about the Enterprise’s destruction. It was done. What could I do about it? What did upset me was (Spoiler!) the brutal stabbing death of Kirk’s son, David, at the hands of a Klingon. For years, I thought Kruge had actually done the stabbing, but he only gave the order to kill a prisoner. For years, also, I avoided The Search for Spock because I found David’s death upsetting and troubling in a way I could not explain then and cannot explain now.
This recent viewing of The Search for Spock is the first time that I have seen the film in its entirety since watching it a second time on VHS in either 1984 or 1985. I don’t remember how much I liked the film then, but I now find myself quite fond of it.
I won’t lie and say that The Search for Spock is great; it is not. Some of scenes have blatantly bad acting. The last ten minutes of the film is somewhat marred by tedious mysticism. Still, Christopher Lloyd’s turn as Kruge is both brilliant and unique. His is one of the best and most memorable performances of a villain in a Star Trek film.
Besides Lloyd, two other things about The Search for Spock grabbed me. First, the race to recover Spock against the ticking clock of the doomed Genesis planet coupled with the Klingon threat is a captivating hook. Secondly, the theme of camaraderie, as exemplified by the crew of the Enterprise and measured against the blood-thirsty Kruge, makes me forget this film’s blemishes. I know my feelings about Star Trek III: The Search for Spock are about me being nostalgic for “Star Trek classic,” but I would choose it over many other films, including many Oscar-winners, any old time of day.
7 of 10
B+
Saturday, July 26, 2014
The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Tickets for Disney's D23 Expo 2015 on Sale August 14, 2014
Tickets for D23 Expo 2015: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Go on Sale Thursday, August 14, 2014
Early Bird Discounted Tickets Available for a Limited Time
D23 Members Enjoy Additional Savings and Member-Only Benefits
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next D23 Expo, which will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, the D23 Expo celebrates all the wonderful worlds of Disney entertainment, uniting all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios (including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm); Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products; Media Networks (including ABC, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney) and Disney Interactive. D23 Expo 2015 marks the fourth bi-annual event held in Anaheim.
More than 65,000 Disney fans from around the world gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2013 for the third D23 Expo. Once again, the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with live events, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences. D23 Expo 2015 marks the return of fan favorites including the Disney Legends Awards, honoring the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; and Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, which spotlights costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history.
As in previous Expos, D23 Expo 2015 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2013, celebrity appearances included Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Billy Crystal, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston, with performances by Idina Menzel, R5 featuring Ross Lynch, and a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Disney Legends Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken. Additionally, Disney executives and creative talent came together to deliver special presentations, announcements, and experiences to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.
Tickets for D23 Expo 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. From August 14–December 31, 2014, tickets are $61 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $52 for a one-day adult admission and $37 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $268 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visit D23Expo.com.
In addition to these special advance-purchase savings, an extremely limited number of D23 VIP Sorcerer Packages will once again be available. Based on fan feedback, even more benefits have been added this year including exclusive opportunities in the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion and Mickey’s of Glendale.
The SORCERER PACKAGE includes:
Sorcerer Package tickets are available exclusively to both Gold and Silver D23 Members at $2,000 per ticket. Members have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets. Additional details and benefits are highlighted at D23Expo.com.
D23 Gold and Silver Members are entitled to early admission to the Expo show floor and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge.
Visit D23Expo.com to relive some of the extraordinary experiences from the first three Expo events and get a peek at what’s to come in 2015.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts, and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold, Silver, and Free Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us @DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Early Bird Discounted Tickets Available for a Limited Time
D23 Members Enjoy Additional Savings and Member-Only Benefits
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next D23 Expo, which will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, the D23 Expo celebrates all the wonderful worlds of Disney entertainment, uniting all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios (including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm); Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products; Media Networks (including ABC, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney) and Disney Interactive. D23 Expo 2015 marks the fourth bi-annual event held in Anaheim.
More than 65,000 Disney fans from around the world gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2013 for the third D23 Expo. Once again, the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with live events, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences. D23 Expo 2015 marks the return of fan favorites including the Disney Legends Awards, honoring the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; and Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, which spotlights costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history.
As in previous Expos, D23 Expo 2015 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2013, celebrity appearances included Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Billy Crystal, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston, with performances by Idina Menzel, R5 featuring Ross Lynch, and a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Disney Legends Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken. Additionally, Disney executives and creative talent came together to deliver special presentations, announcements, and experiences to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.
Tickets for D23 Expo 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. From August 14–December 31, 2014, tickets are $61 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $52 for a one-day adult admission and $37 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $268 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for members and general admission, visit D23Expo.com.
In addition to these special advance-purchase savings, an extremely limited number of D23 VIP Sorcerer Packages will once again be available. Based on fan feedback, even more benefits have been added this year including exclusive opportunities in the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion and Mickey’s of Glendale.
The SORCERER PACKAGE includes:
- Three-day admission ticket and commemorative Sorcerer credential
- Reserved seating at all presentations in the main hall, Stage 23, and Stage 28
- Limited-edition D23 American Tourister boarding bag
- Pre-Expo tour of the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit
- Special tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering Pavilion
- Exclusive shopping time in the D23 Expo Dream Store, Disney Store, and Mickey’s of Glendale
- Tour of the D23 Expo show floor the day before the Expo is open to the public
- Welcome Reception on Thursday evening
- Exclusive entrance to the Expo each morning
- A voucher for an appointment with an on-site massage therapist
- Exclusive D23 Expo gift pack including gifts from D23 and the rest of The Walt Disney Company
- Saturday morning Meet and Greet Coffee with a special Disney guest
- “Fond Farewell” reception on final day of Expo
- Plus, access to the Sorcerer Member Lounge and other benefits
Sorcerer Package tickets are available exclusively to both Gold and Silver D23 Members at $2,000 per ticket. Members have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets. Additional details and benefits are highlighted at D23Expo.com.
D23 Gold and Silver Members are entitled to early admission to the Expo show floor and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge.
Visit D23Expo.com to relive some of the extraordinary experiences from the first three Expo events and get a peek at what’s to come in 2015.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts, and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold, Silver, and Free Membership levels at D23.com and at DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us @DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Negromancer News Bits and Bies for the Week of August 3rd to July 9th 2014 Update #20
NEWS:
From EntertainmentWeekly: Marvel won the May 6, 2014 showdown, when Warner Bros. moved "Batman Vs. Superman" to March 25, 2016, giving Captain America 3 the May release date. EW says everyone is a winner.
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From THR: Universal Pictures and Image Entertainment have acquired the rights to Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicle books, which includes Interview with a Vampire. The deal will reportedly encompass future books in the series.
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From YahooSingapore: Julia Roberts once felt prettier than Halle Berry.
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From ChristianScienceMonitor: A nice piece on Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek's Uhura) and "micro-mentoring."
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From YahooMovies: Guardians of the Galaxy helps to take Disney over $1 billion in domestice box office.
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From YahooMovies: A nice article about the surprise hit franchise, Step Up.
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From YahooMovies: 80s rock star, Rick Springfield, to join Meryl Streep in new Jonathan Demme film.
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From DenofGeek: "Avengers: Age of Ultron" has wrapped up production. So have two other Summer 2015 potential blockbusters.
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From TheWeek: Yeah, that is a bad title for "Terminator 5.
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From Inquisitr: Vince Vaughn may replace Woody Harrelson in "True Detective" Season 2.
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From THR: Entire cast of "The Big Bang Theory" gets raises. Everybody got PAID!
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From DeadlineHollywood: 2015 (72nd) Golden Globe nominations will be announced Thursday, December 11, 2014. Winners will be announced, Sunday, January 11, 2015.
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From TheHollywoodReporter: Before there was the American version of "The Office," with Steve Carrell, there was the original U.K. version starring the excellent Ricky Gervais. Now, Gervais is apparently making a film featuring his character from "The Office," David Brent. The title is announced as "Life on the Road."
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From EOnline: Tim Burton provides a look at Amy Adams in Big Eyes, his upcoming biopic about American artists, Margaret Keane.
COMIC BOOKS: Movies and Books:
From YahooTV: Kyle MacLachlan joins "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for this upcoming season. [Article contains spoiler.]
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From HitFix via YahooTV: A list a dates for which superhero movies are scheduled to be released.
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From Variety: Superhero movie overload in 2017?
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From Variety: Warner Bros. has announced release dates for nine superhero movies from DC Entertainment (DC Comics). They have blinked on the May 6th 2016 showdown with Marvel Comics (the planned release date for a third Captain America movie. "Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" now moves to March 25, 2016.
From Forbes: What price did Sony pay to reboot Spider-Man? Scott Mendelson tells us.
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From Forbes: More on Spider-Man spinoffs.
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From Deadline: Sony's Spider-Man franchise to include a movie headlined by a female superhero, due in 2017. Sinister Six movie due November 2016.
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From IGN: Marvel's Kevin Feige talks about the questions that "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" will answer, including who is Peter Quill/Star-Lord's father.
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From CBR's Robot6: How Captain America: The Winter Soldier should have ended.
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From ScreenRant: "Batman Vs. Superman" may indeed be an adaptation of some sort of Frank Miller's seminal Batman comic book, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. A photo from the set of the film, shows Ben Affleck with gray temples (included in this article) is adding new fuel to the rumors. Elements from Kingdom Come make also be used in the film, including Batman's use of an army of fighting "Bat" drones. I'll let the article and its links tell you more.
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From ScreenRant: Test footage for a "Deadpool" movie, produced a few years ago.
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From Variety: Why Guardians of the Galaxy might be the most important Marvel movie ever. The author of that article once dismissed Walt Disney's purchase of Marvel.
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From HitFix: Guardians of the Galaxy wins the August 1st to 3rd 2014 weekend box office. With an estimated take of $94 million, the is the largest opening weekend in the month of August, beating out previous champ, The Bourne Ultimatum ($74). Guardians grossed $160.4 million worldwide.
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From TheWrap: Guardians of the Galaxy has a big and surprising opening day on Friday, August 1st, 2014.
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From Stack: GotG director James Gunn says that there will be a sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy.
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From Inquisitr: How 'bout an Avengers/Guardians of the Galaxy team-up? It could happen.
STAR WARS:
From ScreenRant: A 7-minutes preview of the Fall-debuting, "Star Wars Rebels."
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From Yahoo: A photo of an IMAX camera at work on the set of Episode VII. Plus, a funny story about the Georgia Bulldogs' Star War-themed video.
TRAILERS:
From 20thCenturyFox: Official Trailer #2 for DreamWorks' Penguins of Madagascar. Film is due November 2014.
OBITS:
From TheWrap: A friend of mine once said that when he saw a movie, certain names told him that the movie was going to be awful. Two of them were Golan-Globus and Cannon Pictures. Menahem Golan, the man behind those names, died Friday, August 8, 2014 at the age of 85.
From DeadlineHollywood: Marilyn Burns, the star of the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, has died at the age of 65. Burns played "Sally Hardesty," the only one of five friends to survive an unfortunate meeting with a family of cannibals, that includes "Leatherface." Negromancer sends condolences to Burns' family and friends.
MISC.:
From RSN and AlterNet: Right-wing militias are thriving...
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From Yahoo: "Impossible" space engine could make space flight cheaper and speedier.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
DreamWorks Animation Sued!
[If I understand this press release correctly, the suit has to do with the writedown (or write off) DreamWorks took because of the 2013 film, Turbo, which was a box office disappointment. - Leroy/Editor]
Investor Alert: Holzer & Holzer Announces Class Action Filed on Behalf of Investors in Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc.
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Holzer & Holzer, LLC announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of investors who purchased Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. (“Dreamworks” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DWA) securities between October 29, 2013 and July 29, 2014. The complaint alleges that during the relevant time period, Dreamworks issued false and misleading statements regarding its income during the relevant period. On July 29, 2014, Dreamworks revealed that it was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a $13.5 million dollar writedown taken in connection with its movie, Turbo. The price of Dreamworks stock fell dramatically following the announcement.
If you purchased Dreamworks securities between October 29, 2013 and July 29, 2014 and suffered substantial losses on those transactions, you are encouraged to contact Marshall P. Dees, Esq. via email at mdees@holzerlaw.com, or via toll-free telephone at (888) 508-6832, regarding your legal rights. There is a deadline of September 30, 2014 for interested investors to ask the court to be appointed as lead plaintiff for the case.
Holzer & Holzer, LLC is an Atlanta, Georgia law firm that dedicates its practice to vigorous representation of shareholders and investors in litigation nationwide, including shareholder class action and derivative litigation. More information about the firm is available through its website, www.holzerlaw.com and upon request from the firm. Holzer & Holzer, LLC has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Corey D. Holzer is the attorney responsible for its content.
Investor Alert: Holzer & Holzer Announces Class Action Filed on Behalf of Investors in Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc.
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Holzer & Holzer, LLC announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of investors who purchased Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. (“Dreamworks” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DWA) securities between October 29, 2013 and July 29, 2014. The complaint alleges that during the relevant time period, Dreamworks issued false and misleading statements regarding its income during the relevant period. On July 29, 2014, Dreamworks revealed that it was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a $13.5 million dollar writedown taken in connection with its movie, Turbo. The price of Dreamworks stock fell dramatically following the announcement.
If you purchased Dreamworks securities between October 29, 2013 and July 29, 2014 and suffered substantial losses on those transactions, you are encouraged to contact Marshall P. Dees, Esq. via email at mdees@holzerlaw.com, or via toll-free telephone at (888) 508-6832, regarding your legal rights. There is a deadline of September 30, 2014 for interested investors to ask the court to be appointed as lead plaintiff for the case.
Holzer & Holzer, LLC is an Atlanta, Georgia law firm that dedicates its practice to vigorous representation of shareholders and investors in litigation nationwide, including shareholder class action and derivative litigation. More information about the firm is available through its website, www.holzerlaw.com and upon request from the firm. Holzer & Holzer, LLC has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Corey D. Holzer is the attorney responsible for its content.
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