Canada and the United States Fight for "We Stand On Guard" Comic Book

Image Comics, Brian K. Vaughan & Steve Skroce announce signing wars

It’s Canada vs. the United States in an international signing tour to promote the release of WE STAND ON GUARD #1, writer Brian K. Vaughan’s first new Image series since the launch of SAGA, and a return to comics for legendary Hollywood storyboard artist (and proud Canadian) Steve Skroce.

WE STAND ON GUARD is an action-packed military thriller about a futuristic conflict between Canada and the United States, so in honor of their story, the creators will be appearing together at two different signings, one in each of their home countries.

Vaughan and Skroce will be enjoying Canada Day, July 1st, 2015 in the United States, with an epic release party at the world-famous MELTDOWN COMICS in Los Angeles, CA from 7 – 9 p.m.

Then, they’re be spending their Independence Day, July 4th, 2015 in Canada, at the acclaimed GOLDEN AGE COLLECTIBLES in Vancouver, B.C. at 1:30 p.m.

Which signing will be better attended? “Nobody knows,” said Vaughan, before warning: “But whichever nation loses will be forced to keep Justin Bieber… forever.”

Both events are free to the public, and the oversized 40-page first issue of WE STAND ON GUARD is priced at only $2.99.Vaughan and Skroce will be happy to sign whatever readers bring—time and lines permitting.

And if you’d rather not pick a side, Vaughan and Skroce will also be appearing together at this year’s IMAGE EXPO onThursday, July 2, on the relatively-neutral ground of San Francisco, at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts. Tickets available right now at ImageComics.com!

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.
LA, CALIF 90046 USA
323.851.7223
meltcomics.com

Golden Age Collectables Ltd.
852 Granville Street
Vancouver, B.C.
V6Z 1K3
604-683-2819
http://www.gacvan.com

--------------------------

DreamWorks Developing Michael Crichton's "Micro" for Film

DreamWorks Studios Acquires Michael Crichton Book “Micro”

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DreamWorks Studios has acquired the film rights to the Michael Crichton novel, “Micro,” it was announced today by Michael Wright, CEO of DreamWorks Studios. Frank Marshall is on board to produce, with Sherri Crichton and Laurent Bouzereau set as executive producers for CrichtonSun LLC.

    “It was yet another opportunity for him to explore the clash between science and nature, as seen through the eyes of relatable characters. Michael also wrote in cinematic terms and would be so pleased to see ‘Micro’ come to life on the big screen at DreamWorks.”

The high-concept thriller follows a group of graduate students lured to Hawaii to work for a mysterious biotech company—only to find themselves miniaturized and cast out into the rain forest, with nothing but their scientific expertise and wits to protect them.

"Micro" was unfinished when Michael Crichton passed away in 2008, later completed by author Richard Preston and published by HarperCollins in 2011. It was a New York Times bestseller and spent over 20 weeks combined on the list in hardcover and paperback.

“We are so pleased to have this opportunity to develop ‘Micro,’” said Steven Spielberg. “For Michael, size did matter whether it was for ‘Jurassic’s’ huge dinosaurs or ‘Micro’s’ infinitely tiny humans.”

“Michael Crichton’s vast body of work has thrilled audiences around the world for decades, and it feels particularly poignant to be bringing his last published novel to DreamWorks,” said Michael Wright. “This is the perfect place to unite these two dynamic brands.”

“Michael was exhilarated, passionate and invested in ‘Micro,’ a story he spent years researching and developing,” said Sherri Crichton. “It was yet another opportunity for him to explore the clash between science and nature, as seen through the eyes of relatable characters. Michael also wrote in cinematic terms and would be so pleased to see ‘Micro’ come to life on the big screen at DreamWorks.”

In 2009, DreamWorks Studios acquired the rights to another posthumously published Crichton novel, “Pirate Latitudes.”


About Michael Crichton
The library of Michael Crichton is one of the most important sources of intellectual property in the world. One of the most popular writers of all time, Crichton’s books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. His works have been translated into 40 languages, and made into 15 feature films. Crichton’s novels include “Jurassic Park,” “The Andromeda Strain,” “The Great Train Robbery,” “Eaters of the Dead,” “Congo,” “Sphere,” “Rising Sun,” “Disclosure,” “The Lost World,” “Airframe,” “Timeline,” “Prey,” “Next,” “State of Fear,” and the posthumously published “Pirate Latitudes” and “Micro.”

Crichton was also prolific as a writer, director and producer of film and television. He was the creator and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning television drama “ER,“ wrote and directed films including “Westworld,” “The Great Train Robbery,” and “Coma” and was the screenwriter of “Jurassic Park” and “Rising Sun,” among others.

The rich environment created by Crichton lives on in Universal’s blockbuster film, “Jurassic World,” starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, the fourth installment in the “Jurassic Park” film series. Crichton’s 1973 sci-fi film, “Westworld,” also inspired the upcoming series of the same name starring Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood and Rodrigo Santoro, which is set to debut on HBO later this year.

Crichton is the only creative artist in history to have works simultaneously chart at No. 1 in U.S. television, film and books sales.

http://www.MichaelCrichton.com

https://www.facebook.com/officialcrichton

About DreamWorks Studios
DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company’s recent releases include Spielberg's “Lincoln,” starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. The film has grossed over $180 million at the U.S. box office and was nominated for twelve Academy Awards® with Daniel Day-Lewis winning for Best Actor. Other releases include “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” starring Helen Mirren, Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse,” based on Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning book and nominated for six Academy Awards® including Best Picture, and “The Help,” which resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $200 million at the box office and received four Academy Award® nominations with Octavia Spencer winning for Best Supporting Actress. Upcoming releases include the Spielberg directed projects “Bridge of Spies,” starring Tom Hanks, and “The BFG,” based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s novel.

DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.

-----------------

Warner Bros. Crosses Billion Dollar Mark in Domestic Box Office... Again

Warner Bros. Pictures Crosses the Billion Dollar Mark at the Domestic Box Office

Warner Bros. is the Only Studio in History to Earn More Than $1 Billion Domestically for 15 Consecutive Years

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Breaking an industry record, Warner Bros. Pictures will exceed $1 billion at the domestic box office today, becoming the only studio ever to reach that benchmark 15 years in a row. It is also the fastest the Studio has ever climbed to the billion dollar sum. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

    “We are all very proud of this record-breaking achievement. With a wide range of exciting films upcoming, we look forward to building on this number over the rest of the year.”

The Studio surpasses the billion dollar mark on the strength of a range of films, beginning with the carryover of two blockbuster 2014 releases: Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” (with Village Roadshow Pictures) and Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” (with New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures). Warner Bros. has more recently scored major hits with Brad Peyton’s “San Andreas” (with New Line Cinema), starring Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino; George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” (with Village Roadshow Pictures), starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron; and “Get Hard,” starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart.

In making the announcement, Fellman said, “We are all very proud of this record-breaking achievement. With a wide range of exciting films upcoming, we look forward to building on this number over the rest of the year.”

Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, added, “Hitting a billion dollars in the first six months of the year is an amazing accomplishment, which we share with our partners and all the artists in the Warner Bros. family who bring their considerable talents to our films.”

Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, noted, “This is a terrific milestone, which is the result of the dedication of many people on both sides of the camera. It also reflects the diversity of our film slate, which truly offers something for everyone.”

Next up for Warner Bros. is the much-anticipated July 1st release of “Magic Mike XXL,” starring Channing Tatum, reprising the title role under the direction of Gregory Jacobs.

-----------------------

2015 Baltimore Comic-Con Celebrates Batman Day

Celebrate Batman Day with Snyder, Tynion, Pak, and Tomasi in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - Come celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Dark Knight on Batman Day, Saturday, September 26th, 2015 at the Baltimore Comic-Con! VIP and General Admission Tickets are on sale for the 2015 event, taking place the weekend of September 25-27, 2015 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Baltimore Comic-Con is ecstatic to announce Batman creators Scott Snyder, James Tynion, Greg Pak, and Peter Tomasi.

Scott Snyder began writing DC's Batman in Detective Comics upon signing exclusively with the publisher, and has continued working with the character ever since. He has written for Batman, numerous one-shots and limited series like Batman: Futures End and Batman: Gates of Gotham, launched Talon, spinning out of the "Court of Owls" arc, and is currently writing the new Batman Eternal. He has also worked on Swamp Thing, The New 52, and Superman Unchained. In 2011, he received Harvey and Eisner Awards for Best New Series for his work on American Vampire, the 2012 Eagle Award for Best Writer, the 2012 Stan Lee Award for Best Writer and Man of the Year, and another Eisner Award in 2014 for Best Limited Series on The Wake. Outside of DC, Snyder has contributed to Wytches and Severed from Image Comics and Marvel Comics' Iron Man Noir.

James Tynion IV got his start writing back-up stories in the DC Comics' New 52 Batman title with his former teacher, Scott Snyder. He has published multiple titles under the DC banner, including numerous Batman series like Red Hood and the Outlaws and Batman and Robin, and the DC New 52 title, Talon. He is writer on BOOM! Studios's The Woods, UFOlogy, and Memetic, and on DC's Batman Eternal weekly series.

Comics writer (and Rhodes Scholar) Greg Pak has been responsible for much-lauded runs on titles like Marvel's Incredible Hulk ("Planet Hulk" and "World War Hulk"), Incredible Hercules, X-Men: Magneto Testament, and Red Skull, Dynamite Entertainment's Battlestar Galactica, Valiant's Eternal Warrior, and Aspen's Dead Man's Run. He has been named Wizard Magazine's Breakout Talent of the Year, and his stories and characters have won numerous publication accolades as well. You can read Pak's latest work on Marvel's Storm, DC Comics' Action Comics and Superman/Batman, and Dynamite Entertainment's Turok, Dinosaur Hunter.

Peter Tomasi is a writer and editor best known for his work at DC Comics. He began his career in 1993, editing such titles as Green Lantern, the Batman titles, Aquaman, Hawkman, and JSA before being promoted to Senior Editor in 2003. In 2007, Tomasi decided to move from editing to writing full-time and, in 2010, took over writing Batman and Robin with issue #20. Since the launch of the New 52, Tomasi helmed the new volumes of both Batman and Robin and Green Lantern Corps. His recent work can be found on DC's Batman: Arkham Knight and Batman and Frankenstein.
"We are so pleased to be able to host these talented creators to celebrate Batman Day," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Batman fans are so fortunate to get to interact with all of these creators in one place, and we're proud to host them."

TICKETS
General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Contact Information

Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:

press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com- for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com- for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries


About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 15th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

-------------------

Third Season of Amazon's "Transparent" Coming in 2016

Amazon Greenlights Third Season of Golden Globe Award-Winning Original Series Transparent—Available Exclusively for Prime Members in 2016

Award-winning show creator Jill Soloway signs overall deal with Amazon Studios where she will exclusively develop television projects; Soloway will continue as Showrunner on Transparent and Andrea Sperling has been elevated to Executive Producer on the series

Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), Judith Light (Dallas), Gaby Hoffmann (Girls), Amy Landecker (Louie) and Jay Duplass (Togetherness) will all return for another season

Prime members can watch season one of Transparent now using the Amazon Instant Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced it has greenlit a third season of the Golden Globe Award-winning series Transparent, which will become available exclusively to members of Amazon Prime in 2016. Returning cast includes Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) as Maura Pfefferman, Judith Light (Dallas) as Shelly Pfefferman, Gaby Hoffmann (Girls) as Ali Pfefferman, Amy Landecker (Louie) as Sarah Pfefferman and Jay Duplass (Togetherness) as Josh Pfefferman. In addition, series creator Jill Soloway has signed an overall deal with Amazon Studios where she will exclusively develop television projects for Amazon Prime. Soloway will continue in her role as Showrunner on Transparent and Andrea Sperling, who previously was Co-Executive Producer on the series, has been elevated to Executive Producer.

    “The second season is currently starting production, and I know our customers will be delighted to continue the journey with Maura and the Pfefferman family.”

“Jill is truly a creative force and I’m thrilled that we will be collaborating with her additional projects in the future and on a third season of Transparent,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Amazon Studios. “The second season is currently starting production, and I know our customers will be delighted to continue the journey with Maura and the Pfefferman family.”

"I am so thrilled that I get to share more of the Pfeffermans' story with the world,” said Soloway. “We are all so in love with watching them change and grow. I am blown away by the creative freedom Amazon gives me and I can't wait to reveal where this journey is going to take us."

Written, directed and executive produced by multi-award winner Soloway, Transparent is a half hour novelistic series that explores family, identity, sex, and love. The series stars Tambor as Maura, who has spent her life as Mort—the Pfefferman family patriarch. When she reintroduces herself to her family, everyone else’s secrets finally start to come out. This includes her ex-wife Shelly (played by Light), and their children—meandering Ali (played by Hoffmann), record producer Josh (played by Duplass), and sexually conflicted Sarah (played by Landecker). Each family member spins in a different direction as they figure out who they won’t become.

Amazon Prime members can watch Season One of Transparent using the Amazon Instant Video app for TVs, connected and mobile devices or online at http://www.amazon.com/transparent. Amazon will premiere the highly anticipated second season of Transparent this fall exclusively for Prime members on Amazon Instant Video in the US, UK and Germany. The series will begin production next week in Los Angeles. Additional details, including guest stars, will be announced in the coming months.

Customers can watch shows and movies with the Amazon Instant Video app. The Amazon Instant Video app is available on hundreds of devices including connected TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as on mobile devices like Fire phone, Fire tablets, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Customers can also watch online at Amazon.com/PIV.


About Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios has premiered a number of critically-acclaimed series that include Bosch, based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books, Mozart in the Jungle, from Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Paul Weitz, and Jill Soloway’s multi-Golden Globe Award-winning dark comedy Transparent. The studio has also launched its first live-action series for kids 6-11, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and three additional children’s series, the Annecy, Annie and multi-Emmy Award-winning Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment; Creative Galaxy from Angela C. Santomero and Out of the Blue Enterprises, the creators of Blue’s Clues; and Annedroids, from Emmy nominated Sinking Ship Entertainment.

Amazon Studios has also announced eight additional, original series will premiere in 2015 and early 2016 exclusively for Prime members including Hand of God, Mad Dogs, The Man in the High Castle, docu-series The New Yorker Presents, Red Oaks, a second season of Transparent, as well as kids series Wishenpoof!, Just Add Magic, and The Stinky & Dirty Show.

In 2015 Amazon Studios will begin to produce and acquire original movies for theatrical release, followed by early window distribution exclusively for Prime members.

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 online and Amazon Studios will read and review all submissions. Those who choose to make their projects public can also receive feedback from the Amazon Studios community.

About Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime members have instant access to stream tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes, including award-winning Amazon Original Series, available at no additional cost to their membership. In addition, new release movies like Gone Girl, Boyhood and Birdman as well as classics like the Star Wars saga along with in-season shows like The Walking Dead, Scandal and Better Call Saul are also available for rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video for all customers to stream and enjoy.

Customers can watch shows and movies with the Amazon Instant Video app. The Amazon Instant Video app is available on hundreds of devices including connected TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox and PlayStation, as well as on mobile devices like Fire phone, Fire tablets, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Customers can also watch online at Amazon.com/PIV. Amazon Prime is also the only US online-only subscription streaming service that enables offline viewing—on a plane, on vacation, and anywhere else where you may not have Wi-Fi.

Prime members can enjoy binge-worthy TV shows including Amazon Original Series airing now such as multi-Golden Globe winning series, Transparent, the hour-long drama, Bosch, based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling books, the Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman comedy, Mozart in the Jungle and the political comedy starring John Goodman, Alpha House, in addition to HBO favorites like The Sopranos, True Blood and Six Feet Under, and popular primetime series including 24, Covert Affairs, Downton Abbey, Extant, Falling Skies, Grimm, Hannibal, Justified, Orphan Black, Teen Wolf, The Americans, Under the Dome and Veronica Mars. Prime members also have access to an exclusive collection of kids shows now airing including Amazon Original Series’ Annedroids, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street and the Annecy, Annie and multi-Emmy Award-winning Tumble Leaf from Bix Pix Entertainment, as well as popular shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, Blue’s Clues and The Bubble Guppies.

In addition to tens of thousands of titles to instantly stream, the Amazon Prime membership (www.amazon.com/primevideo) includes one million songs and hundreds of playlists with Prime Music, unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, early access to select Lightning Deals, unlimited photo storage, and access to more than 800,000 books all for $99 a year.

About Amazon
Amazon.com opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995. The company is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire phone, Fire tablets, Fire TV, and Amazon Echo are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

-------------------

Idris Elba Narrates "Enchanted Kingdom," Due in August 2015

BBC Earth Films’ ‘ENCHANTED KINGDOM,’ Narrated by Idris Elba, Coming to U.S. Theaters for a Special Two-Night Event August 10 & 11

Tickets on Sale July 3

BBC Worldwide North America Partners with Fathom Events to Distribute Ground-Breaking Nature Film in 3D

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BBC Worldwide North America and Fathom Events announce a special two-day theatrical event of the most ambitious 3D nature film produced to date - ENCHANTED KINGDOM, coming to theaters August 10 and 11, 2015, with tickets going on sale Friday, July 3, 2015. Narrated by Emmy® nominated and Golden Globe award-winning actor Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, "Luther," American Gangster), ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a jaw-dropping immersive family cinema experience set to take moviegoers on a cinematic trip of a lifetime through seven distinct realms titled as: Mysterious Forest, Fiery Underworld, Alien Sands, Scorched Plains, Fantastical Seas, Frozen Spires, and the Mercurial Waters across Africa.

    “Audiences won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature, all on the big screen.”
Tickets for “Enchanted Kingdom” can be purchased beginning July 3 online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

Over the course of 573 days of filming in 13 countries, with 130 camera cases, 2.4 tons of camera equipment, 2 cars rammed by elephants, 2 sunk boats, 2 civil unrests, and 1 hippo attack, BBC Earth Films brings together cutting-edge 3D technology, Hollywood production expertise, and the best of BBC’s nature filmmaking to create the ultimate immersive cinema experience.

“It's a beautiful film that takes you around our world through the finest lens. I was compelled to lend my voice to guide you along the journey. Enjoy,” said Idris Elba, Golden Globe winning actor.

“Once again my colleagues at BBC Earth have blown my mind, capturing phenomenal footage in 3D, creating awe-inspiring adventures, and pushing filming and technology even further than they ever have before. Thanks to our partnership with Fathom Events, everyone in the U.S. will have an opportunity to share an experience of a lifetime,” states Soumya Sriraman, EVP Film, Home Entertainment and Licensing for BBC Worldwide North America.

“The outstanding team at BBC Worldwide North America has brought us some of our most successful events to date, and ENCHANTED KINGDOM will be no exception,” said John Rubey, Fathom Events CEO. “Audiences won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to experience the breathtaking sights and sounds of nature, all on the big screen.”

Produced by BBC Earth Films and Reliance Entertainment, and executive produced by Mike Newell (Great Expectations, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Donnie Brasco), ENCHANTED KINGDOM brings together a host of British film-making talent. The film is directed by Patrick Morris (Life, Wild Africa) and Neil Nightingale (Walking with Dinosaurs: The Movie, Great Barrier Reef) with screenplay by acclaimed screenwriter, novelist, and playwright Nigel Williams (Charlie, Breaking Up, Scallagrig) and music by the celebrated Scottish composer Patrick Doyle (Brave, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Gosford Park).

Synopsis:

ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a spectacular 3D journey for the entire family, taking the audience on an immersive adventure, transporting the viewer from grey urbanity to the vibrancy and vitality of nature. Experience Africa alongside the filmmakers and go on an astounding exploration through an enchanted land where nature weaves its incredible magic. Discover seven distinct realms in Africa, and see the continent at its most gorgeous and most harsh, most terrible and most beautiful – finally transforming into an abundant paradise. ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a thrilling, immersive journey depicting the wonders of the planet as never seen before-– and revealing the real world to be just as enchanting as any storybook.

ENCHANTED KINGDOM is a BBC Earth Films Production fully financed by Reliance Entertainment in association with IM Global and Evergreen Studios. It was produced by Myles Connolly, Amanda Hill, and Neil Nightingale, with Deepak Nayar, Stuart Ford, Marcus Arthur, Mike Newell, Mike Devlin, and Miles Ketley as executive producers, along with co-executive producers Martyn Freeman and Mike Gunton.


About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the recognized leader in the alternative entertainment industry, offering a variety of one-of-a-kind entertainment events in movie theaters nationwide that include live, high-definition performances of the Metropolitan Opera, the performing arts, major sporting events, music concerts, comedy series, Broadway shows, original programming featuring entertainment’s biggest stars, socially relevant documentaries with audience Q&A and much more. Fathom Events takes audiences behind-the-scenes and offers unique extras, creating the ultimate entertainment experience. It is owned by a consortium called AC JV, LLC., comprised of AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC), Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK) and Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC), the three largest movie theater circuits in the United States. In addition, Fathom Events’ live digital broadcast network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live events to 820 locations in 177 Designated Market Areas® (including all of the top 50). For more information, visit www.fathomevents.com.

About BBC Worldwide North America
BBC Worldwide North America is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operating in the U.S. and Canada. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company operates four businesses in the territory - linear and digital content sales and co-productions, consumer products, BBC.com, and BBC Worldwide Productions, the production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars. The company also owns a 50.1% share in cable channel BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with AMC Networks.

About BBC Earth Films
BBC Earth Films is the theatrical arm of BBC Earth, the global factual brand for BBC Worldwide, the BBC’s commercial arm. BBC Earth Films bring the most astounding stories from the natural world to the big screen using state of the art technology to create unforgettable cinema experiences. Combining Hollywood expertise with world-leading BBC filmmakers, BBC Earth Films seek to take audiences on a journey of discovery, uncovering earth’s wonders and revealing some of the most incredible characters to have shared our planet. Building on the BBC’s success with landmark film credits such as Deep Blue and Earth the movie, BBC Earth Films takes this ambition to the next level with One Life, an awe-inspiring story that shows how life connects us all and two 3D features in partnership with Evergreen Films and Reliance Entertainment Walking with Dinosaurs 3D takes audiences back 70 million years to the last great dinosaur era and is distributed by 20th Century Fox in the US and the majority of international territories, and Enchanted Kingdom 3D a journey through Earth’s wildest continent Africa, discovering unimaginable sights and stories.

-----------------

Review: "The Wicker Man" is Still a Creepy Masterpiece (Remembering Christopher Lee)

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 147 (of 2006) by Leroy Douresseaux (support on Patreon)

The Wicker Man (1973)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  UK
Running time:  88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes)
MPAA – R
DIRECTOR:  Robin Hardy
WRITER:  Anthony Shaffer (based upon the novel, Ritual, by David Pinner)
PRODUCER:  Peter Snell
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Peter Waxman (director of photography)
EDITOR:  Eric Boyd-Perkins
COMPOSER:  Paul Giovanni

HORROR/DRAMA/MYSTERY with elements of a musical

Starring:  Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt, Lindsay Kemp, Irene Sunter, and Geraldine Cowper

The subject of this review is The Wicker Man, a 1973 British horror and mystery film from director Robin Hardy.  The film was inspired by the 1967 British horror novel, Ritual, by author David Pinner.  The Wicker Man follows a devout Christian police sergeant who goes to a remote Scottish island to search for a missing girl and runs up against pagan islanders.

Police Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to the remote Scottish island of Summerisle where he’s been mysteriously called to investigate the disappearance of a young girl, Rowan Morrison (Geraldine Cowper).  However, he immediately finds the locals uncooperative, and the community is nothing like he expected.

The devout Christian detective finds the islanders openly reveling in wanton lust, often having sex in public.  The pastoral community is led by Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) in the practice of a religion that recognizes the “old gods” and the islanders also recreate various rituals practiced by the Druids.  Offended by what he believes is pagan blasphemy, Sgt. Howie is blind to how dangerous this secret society actually is to him.

Director Robin Hardy and writer Anthony Shaffer’s The Wicker Man is one of the most popular cult films from Great Britain.  In fact, one of the film’s stars, Christopher Lee, calls it one of the 100 best British films ever made.  Although its shock ending (and it’s a doozy) would mark the film as a horror movie, in many ways, The Wicker Man is a melodrama – one with a highly usually subject matter for a mainstream film, but a melodrama, nevertheless.  Early on, The Wicker Man almost becomes a musical because the first half of the film is filled with the villagers in song (singing tunes written by Paul Giovanni, the film’s composer, and Gary Carpenter).  These Celtic folk song-like ditties (about pagan festivals and with an emphasis on ritual, metaphor, and fertility) add to the movie’s surreal air without making the film seem wholly implausible.

Ultimately, questions about the plausibility of The Wicker Man will decide how viewers receive it.  Granted, there are holes in logic, and some incidents in the movie just don’t make sense (There is also a 100-minute director’s cut that provide more explanations into the various concepts in the film.), but sometimes the movie seems like a weirdo documentary about an actually island of pagan hippies.  While the performances and filmmaking is generally good, it’s this touch of realness that makes the film so eerily… real?  The movie makes the viewer ask:  “Could this happen” or “Is this based on a real story,” and that makes The Wicker Man haunt you long after you watched it.

The film drifts in the middle of the second act and early in the third act.  However, the final ten minutes or so may leave the viewer shivering and feeling a strong sense of dread, fear, and maybe shock and confusion – just like a good horror flick should.

7 of 10
B+

Thursday, July 13, 2006

The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.