Bill Nye “The Science Guy”, Billie Piper, Barry Bostwick, Ric Flair, Ming-Na Wen, Brent Spiner and more will be at Magic City Comic Con MLK Weekend; Tickets on sale now
Magic City Comic Con Announces Celebrity and Comic Book Guests
Today Magic City Comic Con revealed the complete list of celebrities that will appear at the next comic con to take place MLK Weekend, January 15th through the 17th, 2016 at the Miami Airport Convention Center.
Magic City Comic Con is a 3 day festival featuring meet and greets with celebrities, a showroom of comics and collectibles, open-play and organized video gaming, cosplay and costume competitions, fan-developed panel discussions about comics, cosplay, anime, animation, science fiction, and more.
Tickets are available online and at the door. Online ticket buyers save $5 off regular admission prices before January 1st, 2016.
Celebrity Guests
The top TV and movie stars to appear at Magic City Comic Con include guests from Doctor Who, Star Wars, Rick and Morty, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Star Trek, Disney Movies, Sesame Street, Arrow, Game of Thrones, Regular Show, Phineas and Ferb, DC Comics Universe, Marvel Comics Universe, Young Justice, the WWE, and more.
The headlining guests include the following superstars:
Bill Nye “The Science Guy”: Bill Nye (Exclusively Friday January 15th)
Doctor Who: Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald), Bille Piper (Rose Tyler), and Peter Davison (The Fifth Doctor)
Star Wars: Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Mark Dodson (Salacious Crumb), Brent Spiner (Gall Trayvis)
Rick and Morty: Dan Harmon (Creator and voice of Birdperson), Dino Stamatopoulos (Producer)
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Brent Spiner (Lieutenant Commander Data)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Barry Bostwick (Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (Columbia), Patricia Quinn (Magenta)
Disney: Ming-Na Wen (Mulan), Irene Bedard (Pocahontas)
Sesame Street: Carol Spinney (Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch)
Regular Show: William Salyers (Rigby), Sam Marin (Benson, Pops and Muscle Man), Courtenay Taylor (Starla)
DC Comics Universe: John Wesley Shipp (Barry Allen “The Flash”, 1990), Helen Slater (Supergirl)
WWE: Ric Flair “The Nature Boy”
Click here for the complete list of TV and Movie Star appearances for Magic City Comic Con.
Comic Book Guests
Comic books continue to be the fastest growing form of print-based media with the category up 5% as of October 2015 compared to the prior year. Reading comics is an adventure of the imagination, and comic fans can experience new stories and adventures through the comic art that is sold at conventions. Fans collect original comic art and limited edition prints of their favorite characters.
“Groot, from Guardians of the Galaxy, is my favorite character,” said Sandy Martin, co-founder of Magic City Comic Con. “He reminds me of my first hero, my grandfather. When I go to comic cons, I collect original sketches of Groot from artists.”
Magic City Comic Con features some of the best comic book artists from all over the world. The promoters are flying in top artists from Brazil, Italy, and Great Britain to meet with their American fans. This is a rare opportunity for comic fans to meet international creators, ask them questions, get an autograph, and maybe a sketch as well.
International Comic Book Artists Coming to Magic City Comic Con:
Brazilian Artists
Rafael Albuquerque: American Vampire, Batman, Blue Beetle, Animal Man, Superman/Batman, and Wolverine.
Roge Antonio: Batman, Detective Comics, and Batman And Robin Eternal.
Gustavo Duarte: Bizarro, Guardians Team-Up, Dark Horse Presents.
European Artists
Sara Pichelli: Spider-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Avengers Vs X-Men.
David Messina: Angel, True Blood, Star Trek, Infestation, and Catwoman.
Tula Lotay: Supreme: Blue Rose, Adventures of Superman, Fairest: In All The Land, Justice League, and The Wicked + The Divine.
U.S. Based Comic Book Creators coming to Magic City Comic Con:
Jon Bogdanove: Superman: The Man of Steel, “The Death of Superman”, and Steel.
Tom Grummett: Teen Titans, Superman, Robin, Fantastic Four, Superboy, X-Men, Teen Titans, and Incredible Hulk.
Jackson “Butch” Guice: Superman, Action Comics, Doctor Strange, X-Factor, and Captain America.
Rebekah Isaacs: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel & Faith, DV8: Gods and Monsters, The Twilight Zone, and Hack/Slash).
Phil Jimenez: Wonder Woman, Infinite Crisis, X-Men, Amazing Spider-Man, and Astonishing X-Men.
Aaron Kuder: Action Comics, The Amory Wars, Superman, Green Lantern: New Guardians, and Superboy.
Steve Orlando: Midnighter, Batman and Robin Eternal, Justice League, and Mystery in Space.
Mike Perkins: Captain America, Stephen King’s The Stand, Astonishing X-Men and Deathlok.
Carl Potts: The Punisher, Power Pack, The Incredible Hulk, Alpha Flight, Doctor Strange, and Venom.
Dan Slott: The Amazing Spider-Man, Superior Spider-Man, Silver Surfer, She-Hulk, Ren & Stimpy, and The Mighty Avengers.
South Florida Comic Book Artists Coming to Magic City Comic Con:
Allen Bellman: Legendary Golden Age Artist of Captain America, The Human Torch, All Winners Comics, Marvel Mystery Comics, Sub Mariner, and Young Allies.
Jose Delbo: Legendary Silver Age Artist of Wonder Woman, The Transformers, Detective Comics, The Superman Family, Thundercats, World’s Finest, The Beatles: Yellow Submarine, Billy the Kid, and Twilight Zone.
Vanesa R. Del Rey: Catwoman, The Scarlet Witch, and Constantine.
Features of Magic City Comic Con:
Exhibition Room. More than 150 specialty comic book, anime, pop culture and other geeky vendors will sell one-of-a-kind items in the Exhibition Room.
Celebrity Q&As. Each of our special guests will take the stage to talk about their craft and to answer questions from fans.
Spectacular Cosplay. People of all ages and interests showcase their cosplay during the convention and on the runway for the costume competition.
Celebrity Photo Ops. Get a professional 8’x10” glossy photo with your favorite celebrity.
Celebrity Autographs. Meet your favorite stars and get an autograph.
Video Gaming. Join tournaments or take advantage of open play on the newest gaming consoles and Alienware gaming PCs.
Super Kid Con. Special programming, crafts, and costume contests for kids 12 and under.
Dance Parties. Enjoy themed dance parties featuring Pokemon and Doctor Who.
DJs and Raves. For the lovers of EDM and House Music, stick around late for the Raves.
Rocky Horror Picture Show. Featuring Barry “Brad” Bostwick, Patricia “Magenta” Quinn, and Nell “Columbia” Campbell, join a sing-a-long of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
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Monday, December 14, 2015
FUNimation Announces the FUNimation Channel
FUNimation Reveals Plans For New Cable Channel
Leading Anime Entertainment Company Ends Olympusat Partnership; New Channel to Launch in First Quarter 2016
FLOWER MOUND /PRNewswire/ -- FUNimation announced that it is ending its content and brand partnership with Olympusat on December 31, 2015, to distribute the FUNimation Channel. After that time, Olympusat will no longer be broadcasting FUNimation titles. FUNimation confirmed that it will be relaunching the FUNimation Channel in 2016 with a renewed focus on delivering fans the very best selection of anime content in the market. Further details on the relaunch of the all new FUNimation Channel will be announced soon.
"We're committed to making it easy to discover and connect with anime, and our new cable channel will provide the best in anime entertainment that fans have come to expect," said Mike DuBoise, COO of FUNimation. "We are grateful to all subscribers who have supported the FUNimation Channel over the last 10 years. While we finalize the new channel for launch next year, I encourage viewers to subscribe to our streaming service now at FUNimation.com - so they don't miss a single episode of their favorite titles."
About FUNimation® Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading anime company in North America. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands. They manage a full spectrum of rights for most of their brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, Internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.
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Leading Anime Entertainment Company Ends Olympusat Partnership; New Channel to Launch in First Quarter 2016
FLOWER MOUND /PRNewswire/ -- FUNimation announced that it is ending its content and brand partnership with Olympusat on December 31, 2015, to distribute the FUNimation Channel. After that time, Olympusat will no longer be broadcasting FUNimation titles. FUNimation confirmed that it will be relaunching the FUNimation Channel in 2016 with a renewed focus on delivering fans the very best selection of anime content in the market. Further details on the relaunch of the all new FUNimation Channel will be announced soon.
"We're committed to making it easy to discover and connect with anime, and our new cable channel will provide the best in anime entertainment that fans have come to expect," said Mike DuBoise, COO of FUNimation. "We are grateful to all subscribers who have supported the FUNimation Channel over the last 10 years. While we finalize the new channel for launch next year, I encourage viewers to subscribe to our streaming service now at FUNimation.com - so they don't miss a single episode of their favorite titles."
About FUNimation® Entertainment
FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading anime company in North America. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands. They manage a full spectrum of rights for most of their brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, Internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.
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Sunday, December 13, 2015
"The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Zendikar" Set for Jan. 5th, 2015
VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR
The Imaginative And Deadly World From Magic: The Gathering’s Latest Battle For Zendikar Game Set Depicted In Beautiful Full Color Illustrations
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, takes fans and players of Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering® on a fantastic journey to the exotic world of Zendikar in the gorgeously illustrated release of THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR.
Set to debut on January 5th, 2016, THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR is a hefty 240-page book that features full color illustrations from some of Magic's best artists, such as Aleksi Briclot and Adam Paquette, as well as in-depth lore written by bestselling author James Wyatt. THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR will be available in print from VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint and will carry an MSRP of $39.99 U.S. / $45.99 CAN.
A first of its kind! This massive hardcover art book features incredible images depicting the award-winning art of Magic: The Gathering®. Explore the tumultuous world of Zendikar, a land fraught with perils, and join the fight for survival as the fragments of civilization confront the unnatural Eldrazi. Follow in the footsteps of heroic Planeswalkers as they combine their unique talents, forming the Gatewatch to overcome the greatest threats the Multiverse has ever known. The secrets of Zendikar—its peoples, continents, and creatures—are ready for fans to discover!
“Magic players and fans of fantasy art will love the breathtaking art and detailed lore that celebrates the rich and imaginative geography and inhabitants of Zendikar,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director. “The new release is also an ideal complement to the Battle for Zendikar game set and will give players greater insight and background about this strange and often deadly world.”
Throughout its 22-year history, Magic: The Gathering has visited many richly imaginative worlds through card sets and stories. In the game’s newest release, Battle for Zendikar (www.BattleForZendikar.com), Magic returns to the fan-favorite world of Zendikar, where united tribes of elves, vampires, and humans battle the monstrous Eldrazi across strange floating ruins and beautiful landscapes.
Developed and published by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), Magic: The Gathering is a massively popular strategy game, with more than 20 million players and fans worldwide. In this innovative card game, players build personalized decks using cards they have collected from booster packs and by trading with friends. Magic offers a robust gaming experience for its community of passionate fans through face-to-face play events and social gatherings in more than 7,000 hobby game stores around the world, complemented by its Magic Duels and Magic Online digital games. For more information, visit MagicTheGathering.com.
For additional information on THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING – ZENDIKAR or other titles published by 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 ONE PIECE, 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.
About Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering is the world's best strategy game, with more than 20 million players and fans worldwide. In this innovative card game, players build personalized decks using cards they have collected from booster packs and by trading with friends. Magic offers a robust gaming experience for its community of passionate fans through face-to-face play events and social gatherings in more than 7,000 hobby game stores around the world, complemented by its Magic Duels and Magic Online digital games. For more information, visit MagicTheGathering.com.
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The Imaginative And Deadly World From Magic: The Gathering’s Latest Battle For Zendikar Game Set Depicted In Beautiful Full Color Illustrations
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, takes fans and players of Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering® on a fantastic journey to the exotic world of Zendikar in the gorgeously illustrated release of THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR.
Set to debut on January 5th, 2016, THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR is a hefty 240-page book that features full color illustrations from some of Magic's best artists, such as Aleksi Briclot and Adam Paquette, as well as in-depth lore written by bestselling author James Wyatt. THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING—ZENDIKAR will be available in print from VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint and will carry an MSRP of $39.99 U.S. / $45.99 CAN.
A first of its kind! This massive hardcover art book features incredible images depicting the award-winning art of Magic: The Gathering®. Explore the tumultuous world of Zendikar, a land fraught with perils, and join the fight for survival as the fragments of civilization confront the unnatural Eldrazi. Follow in the footsteps of heroic Planeswalkers as they combine their unique talents, forming the Gatewatch to overcome the greatest threats the Multiverse has ever known. The secrets of Zendikar—its peoples, continents, and creatures—are ready for fans to discover!
“Magic players and fans of fantasy art will love the breathtaking art and detailed lore that celebrates the rich and imaginative geography and inhabitants of Zendikar,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director. “The new release is also an ideal complement to the Battle for Zendikar game set and will give players greater insight and background about this strange and often deadly world.”
Throughout its 22-year history, Magic: The Gathering has visited many richly imaginative worlds through card sets and stories. In the game’s newest release, Battle for Zendikar (www.BattleForZendikar.com), Magic returns to the fan-favorite world of Zendikar, where united tribes of elves, vampires, and humans battle the monstrous Eldrazi across strange floating ruins and beautiful landscapes.
Developed and published by Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS), Magic: The Gathering is a massively popular strategy game, with more than 20 million players and fans worldwide. In this innovative card game, players build personalized decks using cards they have collected from booster packs and by trading with friends. Magic offers a robust gaming experience for its community of passionate fans through face-to-face play events and social gatherings in more than 7,000 hobby game stores around the world, complemented by its Magic Duels and Magic Online digital games. For more information, visit MagicTheGathering.com.
For additional information on THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING – ZENDIKAR or other titles published by 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 ONE PIECE, 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.
About Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering is the world's best strategy game, with more than 20 million players and fans worldwide. In this innovative card game, players build personalized decks using cards they have collected from booster packs and by trading with friends. Magic offers a robust gaming experience for its community of passionate fans through face-to-face play events and social gatherings in more than 7,000 hobby game stores around the world, complemented by its Magic Duels and Magic Online digital games. For more information, visit MagicTheGathering.com.
-------------------
Michael Pena and Tip Harris Reveal Their Thoughts on "Marvel's Ant-Man"
This Q&A was provided to the press by Disney's public relations and marketing partners.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL PENA AND TIP ‘T.I.’ HARRIS FOR THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF MARVEL’S ANT-MAN
The latest evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces the newest member of the Avengers: Marvel’s Ant-Man. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit. Full of humor and heart, as well as awesome special effects, this action-packed adventure will shortly be released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD – complete with never-before-seen deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, a gag reel and audio commentary.
To celebrate the exciting in-home release, we talk to actors Michael Pena and Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris – who play Luis and Dave in Marvel’s Ant-Man – to discover their thoughts on the daring heist adventure…
Q: How much did you know about the Marvel universe before you signed up to appear in Marvel’s Ant-Man? Are you both comic book fans?
T.I.: The only comic books I’ve ever had much experience reading are The X-Men and Wolverine. I didn’t know much about Ant-Man before this, but I do now. And I love it.
Michael: I didn’t much about Ant-Man either, but I was a huge Marvel fan. I knew about Iron Man and Thor and Wolverine and Colossus; I knew about all those superheroes. Spider-Man seems to have a different tone to the pure Marvel stuff, but I really enjoyed the Guardians Of The Galaxy and Iron Man movies. I love the special effects and how it seems very real, but at the same time it still lives within the realm of Marvel, which has got to be a lot of work. I think they nail it every time, especially with this movie.
Q: How much Ant-Man research did you undertake when you signed up for the movie, or did you just take your notes from the script?
Michael: I usually just try to do whatever’s on the page because I’ve done research before – including a lot of analysis – but you end up with conflicting data. To me, the script is king.
T.I.: I did some research. I didn’t read actual Ant-Man comic books – but I found out about the Pym Particles and how they help the Marvel universe; I’ve had that much explained to me. My buddy is an avid comic book fan, so he puts me up on game. And David Dastmalchian [who plays Kurt] is a huge comic book fan, so he shared his knowledge and wisdom on the universe with us, too.
Q: What do you think of the family theme that runs through Marvel’s Ant-Man?
Michael: I think it works really well. There are times in action movies where it just doesn’t work, but Paul Rudd did a really great job with that; he really pulled it off. I was really impressed. It was emotional, even for me. I have a six-year-old kid and I thought he just knocked it out of the park.
Q: Marvel’s Ant-Man is about to be released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD. How does it feel to know that fans will finally be able to watch the movie in the comfort of their own home?
Michael: I love watching Blu-rays, so I think it’s great. I especially love all the extra features you get with the Blu-ray release. My son always wants to know how they created a movie and how they shot certain scenes, so it’s always great to see all the people it takes to make a movie like this. It’s fun to head behind the scenes.
Q: What can audiences expect from the deleted scenes and gag reels of Marvel’s Ant-Man?
T.I.: I love watching deleted scenes and I’m sure there will be a lot on the Blu-ray. We have a fun dance sequence that took place in Luis’ apartment, and I hope that’s on there. In the scene, we were coming back from a night on the town. I won’t spoil it, but we ran into some fortunate circumstances and we were really excited. It was a very positive time for us. We felt like we’d made it, so we came home and set the dance floor on fire. The entourage dances! Who’s the best dancer in the entourage? [Pauses] Well, it’s not Michael. I’ll just say that.
Q: Take us back to the very beginning… How did you both become involved with Marvel’s Ant-Man?
T.I.: I got a phone call. I was asked if I was available to come and read for a part. No one told me what the part was or what the scenes would involve, so there was no preparation for me – but I made myself available at Marvel’s request. I went and read some scenes that were not my scenes, and they liked me enough to call me back and check my availability. From there on, I was in the Marvel Universe.
Michael: I got invited into the movie pretty early on; I was attached for seven or eight months before we even started shooting. Every time they rewrote the script, I was really glad that the character stayed in there.
Q: How much did your characters change from their iterations in the first movie script?
Michael: They changed a little after the director, Peyton Reed, came on board. It was really interesting because we would get rewrites and when you read them out of context, you have no idea what’s going on. But Marvel’s really good at putting all the moving parts together. They wrote a bunch of stuff for me that wasn’t in the original script, so I was very happy. I think I only had a handful of scenes in the first script, but then it turned into a lot more. That was great for me because I really enjoy playing this character.
T.I.: For me, I had pretty much a blank canvas to do whatever I felt was right. They allowed us to make our characters what we felt they should be. The only solid piece of background we were given was that they met in prison and they were trying to keep their lives on the straight and narrow.
Q: Why do you like the most about your characters in the movie?
T.I.: I like that Dave doesn’t talk unless he has something to say. In the movie, there aren’t many words of insignificance that Dave speaks – whereas Luis does a lot of talking. Dave is straight to the point. He’s no nonsense and he doesn’t really communicate with many people outside of his circle.
Q: Was the non-speaking aspect of the role difficult for you to portray?
T.I.: No, not really. I think it provides a mysterious strength. I like it.
Q: What do you like about your character, Michael?
Michael: I like how enthusiastic Luis is about life. I like how he’s almost innocent, but at the same time he can be dangerous. I really like that dichotomy. I like that he’s trying to be good, but he’s had a shady past.
Q: Did anyone in particular inspire your portrayal of Luis?
Michael: In the movie, I’m imitating somebody I know who lives in Chicago. It’s a very real person who lives on the south side. He talks the way my character talks, which added some humor to it. I just started imitating this guy, which I thought would be funny – and I think it worked.
Q: Audiences have praised Marvel’s Ant-Man as the most comedic Marvel movie to date. How does that make you feel?
Michael: It would be badass if this was ranked the funniest Marvel movie. That would be bad to the bone! That would be really awesome. I thought Guardians Of The Galaxy was pretty funny, though. The raccoon was really funny, the big guy was really funny and the tree was funny.
T.I.: Personally, I think Ant-Man is their funniest and their most grounded movie. You know what? It’s amazing to be a part of this cast. I feel like they broke the mold with Ant-Man and set Marvel on a different path.
Q: When did you discover you had great comedic skills?
Michael: I wouldn’t say I have comedy chops. I guess you get lucky with good writing because I don’t think I’m a comedian by any stretch of the imagination.
T.I.: I just think that we all enjoyed working with one another. We had an incredible time and great chemistry. The chemistry we developed on screen is definitely the driving factor to the humor in a lot of it.
Q: How much did Paul Rudd inject into the humor of the movie?
Michael: Paul Rudd is great because he’s down for whatever, man. Paul’s got a very specific brand of humor. It’s really unpredictable – and a couple of times I wasn’t able to get through a take. It’s very loose, but it was very interesting because it’s such a big movie. I was surprised how loose we were, but I’m glad with the outcome. It’s great.
ENDS
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AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL PENA AND TIP ‘T.I.’ HARRIS FOR THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF MARVEL’S ANT-MAN
The latest evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces the newest member of the Avengers: Marvel’s Ant-Man. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit. Full of humor and heart, as well as awesome special effects, this action-packed adventure will shortly be released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD – complete with never-before-seen deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, a gag reel and audio commentary.
To celebrate the exciting in-home release, we talk to actors Michael Pena and Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris – who play Luis and Dave in Marvel’s Ant-Man – to discover their thoughts on the daring heist adventure…
Q: How much did you know about the Marvel universe before you signed up to appear in Marvel’s Ant-Man? Are you both comic book fans?
T.I.: The only comic books I’ve ever had much experience reading are The X-Men and Wolverine. I didn’t know much about Ant-Man before this, but I do now. And I love it.
Michael: I didn’t much about Ant-Man either, but I was a huge Marvel fan. I knew about Iron Man and Thor and Wolverine and Colossus; I knew about all those superheroes. Spider-Man seems to have a different tone to the pure Marvel stuff, but I really enjoyed the Guardians Of The Galaxy and Iron Man movies. I love the special effects and how it seems very real, but at the same time it still lives within the realm of Marvel, which has got to be a lot of work. I think they nail it every time, especially with this movie.
Q: How much Ant-Man research did you undertake when you signed up for the movie, or did you just take your notes from the script?
Michael: I usually just try to do whatever’s on the page because I’ve done research before – including a lot of analysis – but you end up with conflicting data. To me, the script is king.
T.I.: I did some research. I didn’t read actual Ant-Man comic books – but I found out about the Pym Particles and how they help the Marvel universe; I’ve had that much explained to me. My buddy is an avid comic book fan, so he puts me up on game. And David Dastmalchian [who plays Kurt] is a huge comic book fan, so he shared his knowledge and wisdom on the universe with us, too.
Q: What do you think of the family theme that runs through Marvel’s Ant-Man?
Michael: I think it works really well. There are times in action movies where it just doesn’t work, but Paul Rudd did a really great job with that; he really pulled it off. I was really impressed. It was emotional, even for me. I have a six-year-old kid and I thought he just knocked it out of the park.
Q: Marvel’s Ant-Man is about to be released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD. How does it feel to know that fans will finally be able to watch the movie in the comfort of their own home?
Michael: I love watching Blu-rays, so I think it’s great. I especially love all the extra features you get with the Blu-ray release. My son always wants to know how they created a movie and how they shot certain scenes, so it’s always great to see all the people it takes to make a movie like this. It’s fun to head behind the scenes.
Q: What can audiences expect from the deleted scenes and gag reels of Marvel’s Ant-Man?
T.I.: I love watching deleted scenes and I’m sure there will be a lot on the Blu-ray. We have a fun dance sequence that took place in Luis’ apartment, and I hope that’s on there. In the scene, we were coming back from a night on the town. I won’t spoil it, but we ran into some fortunate circumstances and we were really excited. It was a very positive time for us. We felt like we’d made it, so we came home and set the dance floor on fire. The entourage dances! Who’s the best dancer in the entourage? [Pauses] Well, it’s not Michael. I’ll just say that.
Q: Take us back to the very beginning… How did you both become involved with Marvel’s Ant-Man?
T.I.: I got a phone call. I was asked if I was available to come and read for a part. No one told me what the part was or what the scenes would involve, so there was no preparation for me – but I made myself available at Marvel’s request. I went and read some scenes that were not my scenes, and they liked me enough to call me back and check my availability. From there on, I was in the Marvel Universe.
Michael: I got invited into the movie pretty early on; I was attached for seven or eight months before we even started shooting. Every time they rewrote the script, I was really glad that the character stayed in there.
Q: How much did your characters change from their iterations in the first movie script?
Michael: They changed a little after the director, Peyton Reed, came on board. It was really interesting because we would get rewrites and when you read them out of context, you have no idea what’s going on. But Marvel’s really good at putting all the moving parts together. They wrote a bunch of stuff for me that wasn’t in the original script, so I was very happy. I think I only had a handful of scenes in the first script, but then it turned into a lot more. That was great for me because I really enjoy playing this character.
T.I.: For me, I had pretty much a blank canvas to do whatever I felt was right. They allowed us to make our characters what we felt they should be. The only solid piece of background we were given was that they met in prison and they were trying to keep their lives on the straight and narrow.
Q: Why do you like the most about your characters in the movie?
T.I.: I like that Dave doesn’t talk unless he has something to say. In the movie, there aren’t many words of insignificance that Dave speaks – whereas Luis does a lot of talking. Dave is straight to the point. He’s no nonsense and he doesn’t really communicate with many people outside of his circle.
Q: Was the non-speaking aspect of the role difficult for you to portray?
T.I.: No, not really. I think it provides a mysterious strength. I like it.
Q: What do you like about your character, Michael?
Michael: I like how enthusiastic Luis is about life. I like how he’s almost innocent, but at the same time he can be dangerous. I really like that dichotomy. I like that he’s trying to be good, but he’s had a shady past.
Q: Did anyone in particular inspire your portrayal of Luis?
Michael: In the movie, I’m imitating somebody I know who lives in Chicago. It’s a very real person who lives on the south side. He talks the way my character talks, which added some humor to it. I just started imitating this guy, which I thought would be funny – and I think it worked.
Q: Audiences have praised Marvel’s Ant-Man as the most comedic Marvel movie to date. How does that make you feel?
Michael: It would be badass if this was ranked the funniest Marvel movie. That would be bad to the bone! That would be really awesome. I thought Guardians Of The Galaxy was pretty funny, though. The raccoon was really funny, the big guy was really funny and the tree was funny.
T.I.: Personally, I think Ant-Man is their funniest and their most grounded movie. You know what? It’s amazing to be a part of this cast. I feel like they broke the mold with Ant-Man and set Marvel on a different path.
Q: When did you discover you had great comedic skills?
Michael: I wouldn’t say I have comedy chops. I guess you get lucky with good writing because I don’t think I’m a comedian by any stretch of the imagination.
T.I.: I just think that we all enjoyed working with one another. We had an incredible time and great chemistry. The chemistry we developed on screen is definitely the driving factor to the humor in a lot of it.
Q: How much did Paul Rudd inject into the humor of the movie?
Michael: Paul Rudd is great because he’s down for whatever, man. Paul’s got a very specific brand of humor. It’s really unpredictable – and a couple of times I wasn’t able to get through a take. It’s very loose, but it was very interesting because it’s such a big movie. I was surprised how loose we were, but I’m glad with the outcome. It’s great.
ENDS
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Saturday, December 12, 2015
74 Songs, But Only 5 "Best Song" Nominations Play at the 2016 Oscars Ceremony
74 ORIGINAL SONGS VIE FOR 2015 OSCAR
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 74 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2015 are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 88th Academy Awards.
The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
"Happy" from "Altered Minds"
"Home" from "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip"
"None Of Them Are You" from "Anomalisa"
"Stem To The Rose" from "Becoming Bulletproof"
"The Mystery Of Your Gift" from "Boychoir"
"I Run" from "Chi-Raq"
"Pray 4 My City" from "Chi-Raq"
"Sit Down For This" from "Chi-Raq"
"Strong" from "Cinderella"
"So Long" from "Concussion"
"Fighting Stronger" from "Creed"
"Grip" from "Creed"
"Waiting For My Moment" from "Creed"
"Don't Look Down" from "Danny Collins"
"Hey Baby Doll" from "Danny Collins"
"Dreamsong" from "The Diary of a Teenage Girl"
"It's My Turn Now" from "Dope"
"Ya Rahem, Maula Maula" from "Dukhtar"
"Earned It" from "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Love Me Like You Do" from "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Salted Wound" from "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Hands Of Love" from "Freeheld"
"See You Again" from "Furious Seven"
"Brother" from "Godspeed: The Story of Page Jones"
"As Real As You And Me" from "Home"
"Dancing In The Dark" from "Home"
"Feel The Light" from "Home"
"Red Balloon" from "Home"
"Two Of A Crime" from "Hot Pursuit"
"Til It Happens To You" from "The Hunting Ground"
"I'll See You In My Dreams" from "I'll See You in My Dreams"
"The Movie About Us" from "Ingrid Bergman – In Her Own Words"
"Bhoomiyilenghanumundo" from "Jalam"
"Koodu Vaykkan" from "Jalam"
"Pakalppaathi Chaari" from "Jalam"
"Yaathra Manoradhamerum" from "Jalam"
"Lost In Love" from "Jenny's Wedding"
"True Love Avenue" from "Jenny's Wedding"
"Hypnosis" from "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet"
"Juntos (Together)" from "McFarland, USA"
"The Light That Never Fails" from "Meru"
"The Crazy Ones" from "Miss You Already"
"There's A Place" from "Miss You Already"
"Johanna" from "Mortdecai"
"Little Soldier" from "Pan"
"Something's Not Right" from "Pan"
"Paranoid Girl" from "Paranoid Girls"
"Better When I'm Dancin'" from "The Peanuts Movie"
"Pink & Blue" from "Pink & Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer"
"Flashlight" from "Pitch Perfect 2"
"Birds Of A Feather" from "Poached"
"Still Breathing" from "Point Break"
"Manta Ray" from "Racing Extinction"
"Cold One" from "Ricki and the Flash"
"Torch" from "Rock the Kasbah"
"Someone Like You" from "The Rumperbutts"
"Aankhon Me Samaye Dil" from "Salt Bridge"
"Bachpana Thaa" from "Salt Bridge"
"Kanpne Lage Tum" from "Salt Bridge"
"Kyaa Bataaun Tujhe" from "Salt Bridge"
"Le Jaaye Jo Door Tumse" from "Salt Bridge"
"Na Jaane Kitni Door" from "Salt Bridge"
"Sookha Hi Rang Daalo" from "Salt Bridge"
"Feels Like Summer" from "Shaun the Sheep Movie"
"Phenomenal" from "Southpaw"
"Writing's On The Wall" from "Spectre"
"Squeeze Me" from "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water"
"Teamwork" from "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water"
"Who Can You Trust" from "Spy"
"Came To Win" from "Sweet Micky for President"
"Mean Ol' Moon" from "Ted 2"
"Love Was My Alibi" from "The Water Diviner"
"Fine On The Outside" from "When Marnie Was There"
"Simple Song #3" from "Youth"
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During the nominations process, all voting members of the Music Branch will receive a Reminder List of works submitted in the category and a DVD copy of the song clips. Members will be asked to watch the clips and then vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements in the category. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award. A maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film.
To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 74 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures released in 2015 are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 88th Academy Awards.
The original songs, along with the motion picture in which each song is featured, are listed below in alphabetical order by film title and song title:
"Happy" from "Altered Minds"
"Home" from "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip"
"None Of Them Are You" from "Anomalisa"
"Stem To The Rose" from "Becoming Bulletproof"
"The Mystery Of Your Gift" from "Boychoir"
"I Run" from "Chi-Raq"
"Pray 4 My City" from "Chi-Raq"
"Sit Down For This" from "Chi-Raq"
"Strong" from "Cinderella"
"So Long" from "Concussion"
"Fighting Stronger" from "Creed"
"Grip" from "Creed"
"Waiting For My Moment" from "Creed"
"Don't Look Down" from "Danny Collins"
"Hey Baby Doll" from "Danny Collins"
"Dreamsong" from "The Diary of a Teenage Girl"
"It's My Turn Now" from "Dope"
"Ya Rahem, Maula Maula" from "Dukhtar"
"Earned It" from "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Love Me Like You Do" from "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Salted Wound" from "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"Hands Of Love" from "Freeheld"
"See You Again" from "Furious Seven"
"Brother" from "Godspeed: The Story of Page Jones"
"As Real As You And Me" from "Home"
"Dancing In The Dark" from "Home"
"Feel The Light" from "Home"
"Red Balloon" from "Home"
"Two Of A Crime" from "Hot Pursuit"
"Til It Happens To You" from "The Hunting Ground"
"I'll See You In My Dreams" from "I'll See You in My Dreams"
"The Movie About Us" from "Ingrid Bergman – In Her Own Words"
"Bhoomiyilenghanumundo" from "Jalam"
"Koodu Vaykkan" from "Jalam"
"Pakalppaathi Chaari" from "Jalam"
"Yaathra Manoradhamerum" from "Jalam"
"Lost In Love" from "Jenny's Wedding"
"True Love Avenue" from "Jenny's Wedding"
"Hypnosis" from "Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet"
"Juntos (Together)" from "McFarland, USA"
"The Light That Never Fails" from "Meru"
"The Crazy Ones" from "Miss You Already"
"There's A Place" from "Miss You Already"
"Johanna" from "Mortdecai"
"Little Soldier" from "Pan"
"Something's Not Right" from "Pan"
"Paranoid Girl" from "Paranoid Girls"
"Better When I'm Dancin'" from "The Peanuts Movie"
"Pink & Blue" from "Pink & Blue: Colors of Hereditary Cancer"
"Flashlight" from "Pitch Perfect 2"
"Birds Of A Feather" from "Poached"
"Still Breathing" from "Point Break"
"Manta Ray" from "Racing Extinction"
"Cold One" from "Ricki and the Flash"
"Torch" from "Rock the Kasbah"
"Someone Like You" from "The Rumperbutts"
"Aankhon Me Samaye Dil" from "Salt Bridge"
"Bachpana Thaa" from "Salt Bridge"
"Kanpne Lage Tum" from "Salt Bridge"
"Kyaa Bataaun Tujhe" from "Salt Bridge"
"Le Jaaye Jo Door Tumse" from "Salt Bridge"
"Na Jaane Kitni Door" from "Salt Bridge"
"Sookha Hi Rang Daalo" from "Salt Bridge"
"Feels Like Summer" from "Shaun the Sheep Movie"
"Phenomenal" from "Southpaw"
"Writing's On The Wall" from "Spectre"
"Squeeze Me" from "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water"
"Teamwork" from "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water"
"Who Can You Trust" from "Spy"
"Came To Win" from "Sweet Micky for President"
"Mean Ol' Moon" from "Ted 2"
"Love Was My Alibi" from "The Water Diviner"
"Fine On The Outside" from "When Marnie Was There"
"Simple Song #3" from "Youth"
-----------------------------
During the nominations process, all voting members of the Music Branch will receive a Reminder List of works submitted in the category and a DVD copy of the song clips. Members will be asked to watch the clips and then vote in the order of their preference for not more than five achievements in the category. The five achievements receiving the highest number of votes will become the nominations for final voting for the award. A maximum of two songs may be nominated from any one film.
To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.
The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 5:30 a.m. PT at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 88th Oscars® will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
---------------------------
"The Walking Dead #150" Has Four Variant Covers
IMAGE/SKYBOUND RELEASE THREE VARIANT COVERS TO CELEBRATE THE WALKING DEAD’S 150TH ISSUE
To commemorate the 150th issue of THE WALKING DEAD, Image/Skybound has enlisted the talents of veteran artists Jason Latour (SOUTHERN BASTARDS), Tony Moore (THE WALKING DEAD) and Ryan Ottley (INVINCIBLE) for three special variant covers in addition to the previously revealed Charlie Adlard cover and blank sketch variant. Additional credits for THE WALKING DEAD #150 include Stefano Gaudiano (inks), Cliff Rathburn (tones), and Rus Wooton (lettering). This special extra-sized anniversary issue will be available in stores on January 13th.
“It's indisputable that reaching issue 150 is a huge achievement in comics. Charlie Adlard and Team Walking Dead have been working tirelessly for over a decade to get us to this milestone and now it's time to celebrate. It's an honor to have comic book pals Jason Latour and Ryan Ottley bringing their vision to these iconic characters. Additionally, words cannot describe how excited I am to have Tony Moore, artist of the first 6 issues, returning to provide a cover for this special event,” said THE WALKING DEAD creator Robert Kirkman.
THE WALKING DEAD #150, Cover A by Adlard & Stewart (Diamond code: NOV150561*), Cover B sketch variant (Diamond code: NOV150562*), Cover C by Latour (Diamond code: OCT158896*), Cover D by Moore (Diamond code:OCT158897*), and Cover E by Ottley (Diamond code OCT158898*) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, January 13th. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, December 21st.
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.
ABOUT SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT
Founded in 2010, Skybound Entertainment is a multiplatform entertainment company specializing in television, comics, film, digital content, interactive, gaming, and merchandise. The company is led by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and his longtime producing and business partner David Alpert.
---------------------------
Starz Celebrates Six Nominations at 73rd Annual Golden Globes
STARZ Receives Six Golden Globe® Award Nominations Including Best Television Series “Outlander” and Best Television Limited Series “Flesh and Bone”
Network Receives First Ever Recognition in All Three Television Categories, Including Performance Nominations for Caitriona Balfe, Sarah Hay, Patrick Stewart and Tobias Menzies
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--STARZ was nominated for six Golden Globe® awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards nomination ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. The network garnered category nominations for “Outlander” for Best Television Series – Drama and “Flesh and Bone” for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
“We are incredibly proud of our talented actors and producing partners who have been recognized for their achievements.”
This marks the first time the network has received nominations in all three television categories across drama, comedy and limited-series, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama for Caitriona Balfe in “Outlander,” Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Sarah Hay in “Flesh and Bone,” Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for Patrick Stewart in “Blunt Talk” and Best Performance by an actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Tobias Menzies in “Outlander.”
“Our thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for honoring STARZ with nominations for our series ‘Outlander’ and ‘Flesh and Bone’ and the performances of Catiriona Balfe, Sarah Hay, Patrick Stewart and Tobias Menzies,” said Starz CEO, Chris Albrecht. “We are incredibly proud of our talented actors and producing partners who have been recognized for their achievements.”
“Outlander,” currently in production on its second season which will return to STARZ in Spring 2016, is adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). The series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history and adventure as it follows Claire Randall, a married WWII combat nurse who mistakenly falls back in time to 1743. “Outlander” is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining & Supply Company and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.
“Flesh and Bone,” a gritty eight-hour limited series created by Emmy® award-winning "Breaking Bad" writer and Executive Producer Moira Walley-Beckett, follows a young dancer with a distinctly troubled past as she joins a prestigious ballet company in New York. John Melfi (“House of Cards,” “Sex and the City”), Lawrence Bender (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Good Will Hunting”) and Kevin Brown ("Roswell”) are Executive Producers. Australian filmmaker David Michôd (“Animal Kingdom,” “Rover”) directed the first episode. The limited series premiered November 8th and the entire series is currently available on STARZ Play and STARZ On Demand for STARZ subscribers.
This marks the first Golden Globe® nomination for Caitriona Balfe (Money Monster, Now You See Me) who stars as Claire Randall in “Outlander.” It is also the first nomination for Sarah Hay, who stars as Claire Robbins in “Flesh and Bone” and is a soloist dancer currently for Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany after dancing professionally in the US for four years and training at the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.
This is the third Golden Globe® nomination for Patrick Stewart and his first nomination for a comedy series. Stewart was recognized for his performance in the STARZ comedy series, “Blunt Talk” as Walter Blunt, a British import intent on conquering the world of American cable news. The series from Media Rights Capital (MRC) and executive produced by Seth MacFarlane, Jonathan Ames, Tristram Shapeero and Stephanie Davis premiered its first season on August 22nd and is greenlit for a second season to return in 2016 on STARZ.
This is the first Golden Globe® nomination for Tobias Menzies (“The Honorable Woman,” “Game of Thrones,” Casino Royale, Atonement) who plays two characters in the STARZ Original Series “Outlander,” Frank Randall the beloved husband of Claire in the 1940s and Captain “Black Jack” Randall, the Captain of the English Army in 1793, capable of monstrous acts.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com.
Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of September 30, 2015, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 55.8 million subscribers, including 23.3 million at STARZ, and 32.5 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.
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Network Receives First Ever Recognition in All Three Television Categories, Including Performance Nominations for Caitriona Balfe, Sarah Hay, Patrick Stewart and Tobias Menzies
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--STARZ was nominated for six Golden Globe® awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards nomination ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. The network garnered category nominations for “Outlander” for Best Television Series – Drama and “Flesh and Bone” for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
“We are incredibly proud of our talented actors and producing partners who have been recognized for their achievements.”
This marks the first time the network has received nominations in all three television categories across drama, comedy and limited-series, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama for Caitriona Balfe in “Outlander,” Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Sarah Hay in “Flesh and Bone,” Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for Patrick Stewart in “Blunt Talk” and Best Performance by an actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Tobias Menzies in “Outlander.”
“Our thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for honoring STARZ with nominations for our series ‘Outlander’ and ‘Flesh and Bone’ and the performances of Catiriona Balfe, Sarah Hay, Patrick Stewart and Tobias Menzies,” said Starz CEO, Chris Albrecht. “We are incredibly proud of our talented actors and producing partners who have been recognized for their achievements.”
“Outlander,” currently in production on its second season which will return to STARZ in Spring 2016, is adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation”). The series spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history and adventure as it follows Claire Randall, a married WWII combat nurse who mistakenly falls back in time to 1743. “Outlander” is produced by Tall Ship Productions, Story Mining & Supply Company and Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television.
“Flesh and Bone,” a gritty eight-hour limited series created by Emmy® award-winning "Breaking Bad" writer and Executive Producer Moira Walley-Beckett, follows a young dancer with a distinctly troubled past as she joins a prestigious ballet company in New York. John Melfi (“House of Cards,” “Sex and the City”), Lawrence Bender (“Inglourious Basterds,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Good Will Hunting”) and Kevin Brown ("Roswell”) are Executive Producers. Australian filmmaker David Michôd (“Animal Kingdom,” “Rover”) directed the first episode. The limited series premiered November 8th and the entire series is currently available on STARZ Play and STARZ On Demand for STARZ subscribers.
This marks the first Golden Globe® nomination for Caitriona Balfe (Money Monster, Now You See Me) who stars as Claire Randall in “Outlander.” It is also the first nomination for Sarah Hay, who stars as Claire Robbins in “Flesh and Bone” and is a soloist dancer currently for Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany after dancing professionally in the US for four years and training at the School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre.
This is the third Golden Globe® nomination for Patrick Stewart and his first nomination for a comedy series. Stewart was recognized for his performance in the STARZ comedy series, “Blunt Talk” as Walter Blunt, a British import intent on conquering the world of American cable news. The series from Media Rights Capital (MRC) and executive produced by Seth MacFarlane, Jonathan Ames, Tristram Shapeero and Stephanie Davis premiered its first season on August 22nd and is greenlit for a second season to return in 2016 on STARZ.
This is the first Golden Globe® nomination for Tobias Menzies (“The Honorable Woman,” “Game of Thrones,” Casino Royale, Atonement) who plays two characters in the STARZ Original Series “Outlander,” Frank Randall the beloved husband of Claire in the 1940s and Captain “Black Jack” Randall, the Captain of the English Army in 1793, capable of monstrous acts.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks) and global content distribution (Starz Distribution), www.starz.com.
Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of September 30, 2015, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 55.8 million subscribers, including 23.3 million at STARZ, and 32.5 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks' third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution's home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties.
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