The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is an American labor union that represents film and television performers worldwide. Most people probably know SAG for the various actors’ strikes or for the Screen Actors Guild Award, which SAG uses to honor outstanding performances by its members. The first SAG Awards ceremony was held in February 1995 (for films released in 1994).
Nominations for the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards were announced on Wednesday, December 14, 2016. Winners were announced during the Sunday, January 29, 2017 awards ceremony that was simultaneously telecast on TBS and TNT.
The “Ensemble” categories are SAG's equivalent of a “Best Picture” or “Best Television Series” award.
2017 / 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations:
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DENZEL WASHINGTON / Troy Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
EMMA STONE / Mia – “LA LA LAND” (Lionsgate)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
MAHERSHALA ALI / Juan – “MOONLIGHT” (A24)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
VIOLA DAVIS / Rose Maxson – “FENCES” (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
HIDDEN FIGURES (20th Century Fox)
MAHERSHALA ALI / Col. Jim Johnson
KEVIN COSTNER / Al Harrison
KIRSTEN DUNST / Vivian Mitchell
TARAJI P. HENSON / Katherine G. Johnson
ALDIS HODGE / Levi Jackson
JANELLE MONÁE / Mary Jackson
JIM PARSONS / Paul Stafford
GLEN POWELL / John Glenn
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Dorothy Vaughan
TELEVISION PROGRAMS
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
BRYAN CRANSTON / President Lyndon B. Johnson – “ALL THE WAY” (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
SARAH PAULSON / Marcia Clark – “THE PEOPLE V. O.J. SIMPSON: AMERICAN CRIME STORY” (FX Networks)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JOHN LITHGOW / Winston Churchill – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II – “THE CROWN” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher – “SHAMELESS” (Showtime)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / President Selina Meyer – “VEEP” (HBO)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:
STRANGER THINGS (Netflix)
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven
CARA BUONO / Karen Wheeler
JOE CHREST / Ted Wheeler
NATALIA DYER / Nancy Wheeler
DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper
CHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan Byers
JOE KEERY / Steve Harrington
GATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin Henderson
CALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas Sinclair
MATTHEW MODINE / Dr. Martin Brenner
ROB MORGAN / Officer Powell
JOHN PAUL REYNOLDS / Officer Callahan
WINONA RYDER / Joyce Byers
NOAH SCHNAPP / Will Byers
MARK STEGER / The Monster
FINN WOLFHARD / Mike Wheeler
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series:
ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (Netflix)
UZO ADUBA / Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren
ALAN AISENBERG / Baxter “Gerber” Bayley
DANIELLE BROOKS / Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson
BLAIR BROWN / Judy King
JACKIE CRUZ / Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales
LEA DeLARIA / Big Boo
BETH DOVER / Linda Ferguson
KIMIKO GLENN / Brook Soso
ANNIE GOLDEN / Norma Romano
LAURA GOMEZ / Blanca Flores
DIANE GUERRERO / Maritza Ramos
MICHAEL J. HARNEY / Sam Healy
BRAD WILLIAM HENKE / Desi Piscatella
VICKY JEUDY / Janae Watson
JULIE LAKE / Angie Rice
SELENIS LEYVA / Gloria Mendoza
NATASHA LYONNE / Nicky Nichols
TARYN MANNING / Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett
JAMES McMENAMIN / Charlie “Donuts” Coates
ADRIENNE C. MOORE / Cindy “Black Cindy” Hayes
KATE MULGREW / Galina “Red” Reznikov
EMMA MYLES / Leanne Taylor
MATT PETERS / Joel Luschek
LORI PETTY / Lolly Whitehill
JESSICA PIMENTEL / Maria Ruiz
DASCHA POLANCO / Dayanara “Daya” Diaz
LAURA PREPON / Alex Vause
JOLENE PURDY / Stephanie Hapakuka
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ / Aleida Diaz
NICK SANDOW / Joe Caputo
ABIGAIL SAVAGE / Gina Murphy
TAYLOR SCHILLING / Piper Chapman
CONSTANCE SHULMAN / Erica “Yoga” Jones
DALE SOULES / Frieda Berlin
YAEL STONE / Lorna Morello
LIN TUCCI / Anita DeMarco
SAMIRA WILEY / Poussey Washington
STUNT ENSEMBLES
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“HACKSAW RIDGE” (Lionsgate)
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“GAME OF THRONES” (HBO)
LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
53rd Annual SAG Life Achievement Award
LILY TOMLIN
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Monday, January 30, 2017
2017 Producers Guild Awards Name "La La Land," "Atlanta" Among Its Top Winners
The Producers Guild of America (PGA)
describes itself as “the non-profit trade group that represents,
protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing
team in film, television and new media.” Film fans know the
organization because of its annual PGA Awards.
All 2017 Producers Guild Award winners
were announced on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton
Hotel in Los Angeles. This year, the Producers Guild presented
special honors to Tom Rothman (Milestone Award), James L. Brooks
(Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television), Irwin Winkler (David
O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures), the
feature film Loving (Stanley Kramer Award), and Megan Ellison
(Visionary Award).
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for
Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures:
• La La Land
Producers: Fred Berger, Jordan
Horowitz, Marc Platt
The Award for Outstanding Producer of
Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures:
• Zootopia
Producer: Clark Spencer
The Award for Outstanding Producer of
Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures:
• O.J.: Made in America
Producers: Ezra Edelman, Caroline
Waterlow
The television nominees are:
The David L. Wolper Award for
Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:
*The Long-Form Television category
encompasses both movies of the week and mini-series.
• The People v. O.J. Simpson:
American Crime Story (Season 1)
Producers: Scott Alexander, Larry
Karaszewski, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson,
D.V. DeVincentis, Anthony Hemingway, Alexis Martin Woodall, John
Travolta, Chip Vucelich
The Award for Outstanding Sports
Program:
* The PGA does not vet the individual
of sports programs and the winning production will be recognized at
the official ceremony on January 28th.
• VICE World of Sports (Season 1)
The Award for Outstanding Digital
Series:
* The PGA does not vet the individual
producers of digital series and the winning production will be
recognized at the official ceremony on January 28th.
• Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
(Season 7, Season 8)
The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding
Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
• Stranger Things (Season 1)
Producers: Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer,
Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Iain Paterson
The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding
Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy:
• Atlanta (Season 1)
Producers: Donald Glover, Dianne
McGunigle, Paul Simms, Hiro Murai, Alex Orr
The Award for Outstanding Producer of
Non-Fiction Television:
• Making a Murderer (Season 1)
Producers: Laura Ricciardi, Moira Demos
The Award for Outstanding Producer of
Competition Television:
• The Voice (Season 9-11)
Producers: Audrey Morrissey, Jay
Bienstock, Mark Burnett, John de Mol, Chad Hines, Lee Metzger, Kyra
Thompson, Mike Yurchuk, Amanda Zucker, Carson Daly
The Award for Outstanding Producer of
Live Entertainment & Talk Television:
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
(Season 3)
Producers: Tim Carvell, John Oliver,
Liz Stanton
The Award for Outstanding Children’s
Program:
* The PGA does not vet the individual
producers of children’s programs and the winning production will be
recognized at the official ceremony on January 28th.
• Sesame Street (Season 46)
---------------------------------
Sunday, January 29, 2017
VIZ Media Announces Bleach Episodes 28-55 on Blu-ray
Catch The Second Installment Of The Hit Paranormal Action Adventure Saga On Blu-ray For The Very First Time
San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces the latest edition of the BLEACH anime series on Blu-ray with the home media release of Set 2 on January 31st, 2017.
BLEACH Set 2 includes four-discs, covering Episodes 28-55, and will carry an MSRP of $54.97 U.S. / $63.99 CAN. Episodes will be available with dialogue selections for dubbed English as well as subtitled, Japanese 2.0 audio, with episodes presented uncut and in their original 4:3 format. Special bonus content includes a “Behind the Scenes of BLEACH” segment that features interviews with the English voice cast.
In the latest episodes, having been separated and now pursued by Soul Reapers, Ichigo and his friends, race towards the Shishinro Repentance Cell where Rukia awaits execution. With the help of Squad Four’s Hanataro, who risks imprisonment himself, Ichigo is led through an underground sewer system toward her cell. Will Ichigo have the strength to defeat the Soul Reaper Renji, who bars the way? In the midst of the chaos, the sudden murder of one of their own has the Soul Society in upheaval.
In the BLEACH anime series, for as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, his life is changed forever. Now, with a newfound wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling – to protect the world of the living and the dead as a Substitute Soul Reaper. When Rukia is taken away to face the ruthless justice of the Soul Society, Ichigo and his friends must cross over and do battle in the spirit world...
The BLEACH animated films and TV series (distributed in North America by VIZ Media, rated ‘TV-14’) are based on a smash hit manga series created by Tite Kubo (also published in North America by VIZ Media, rated ‘T’ for Teens).
For more information on BLEACH manga and anime titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.com.
About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.
Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.
-------------------------
Amazon Announces "Patriot" for February 24, 2017
Amazon Original Series Patriot Debuts on February 24 on Prime Video
Original dramatic series is developed by Steven Conrad and stars Michael Dorman, Terry O’Quinn, Kurtwood Smith and Michael Chernus
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon announced its new original one hour series, Patriot, is slated to premiere on Friday, February 24, 2017 exclusively on Prime Video in the US, UK, Germany and Austria. Starring Michael Dorman (Wonderland), Emmy winner Terry O’Quinn (Lost), Kurtwood Smith (That 70’s Show) and Michael Chernus (Orange is the New Black), Patriot follows the complicated life of intelligence officer John Tavner (Dorman). His latest assignment is to prevent Iran from going nuclear, requiring him to forgo all safety nets and assume a perilous "non-official cover"—that of a mid-level employee at a Midwestern industrial piping firm. A bout with PTSD, the Federal government’s incompetence and the intricacies of keeping a day job in the “front” industrial piping company cause a barrage of ever-escalating fiascos that jeopardize Tavner’s mission.
The series, recently selected to have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival Berlinale, is executive produced by Steven Conrad (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), who also writes and directs on the series, James Parriott (Grey’s Anatomy), Glenn Ficarra (This Is Us), John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love, Focus), Charles Gogolak (Focus), and Gil Bellows (Temple Grandin). Customers can watch the pilot episode online at Amazon.com/PatriotTV before the full season’s remaining nine episodes air on February 24.
“Finally! A show crediting its viewers with intelligence and humor. Hilariously clever.”
Patriot explores the lesser known, unglamorous aspects of life as an intelligence officer. While the future of the world is at stake, it’s often the idiosyncrasies of those around John Tavner that force him to have to choose between bad alternatives. Those characters include Tom Tavner (O’Quinn), John's State Department Director of Intelligence father; John's older brother Edward Tavner (Chernus), a young Texas congressman; John’s wife Alice, played by Kathleen Munroe (Call Me Fitz); Agathe, played by Aliette Opheim (Sandor slash Ida), a brilliant young homicide detective from Luxembourg hot on John's trail; and Mr. Claret (Smith), John's stickler of a new "boss" at the piping firm where John is “employed.”
Prime members will be able to stream the series exclusively via the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. Patriot will be a global release and available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video for members to watch via the Prime Video app for popular smart TVs, Fire TV, Fire Tablets and Android and iOS phones and tablets. The show will also be available later this year on PrimeVideo.com for Prime Video members in more than 200 countries and territories.
“As smart, compelling and contradictory as the world it portrays, Steve Conrad’s Patriot is an incredible comedic drama about the world of modern intelligence,” said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios. “Told skillfully and artfully, Steve and the incredible cast have made something truly unique and we can’t wait to bring it to customers soon.”
Patriot was part of Amazon’s pilot season last year, a unique development process that gives all customers an opportunity to stream and review pilots in order to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that are then available to Prime members. Below are what customers have said about the pilot:
“Finally! A show crediting its viewers with intelligence and humor. Hilariously clever.”
“Original, quirky, interesting characters, inventive plot twists and a whole world to explore through this lens.”
“Patriot is a fresh twist on covert operations and espionage. Great and often hilarious writing … solid performances throughout.”
The entire first season of Patriot will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/PatriotTV, with other Amazon Original Series online at Amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.
About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:
In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalog with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more, visit: www.amazon.com/prime.
About Amazon
Amazon 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 tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.
------------------
Original dramatic series is developed by Steven Conrad and stars Michael Dorman, Terry O’Quinn, Kurtwood Smith and Michael Chernus
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon announced its new original one hour series, Patriot, is slated to premiere on Friday, February 24, 2017 exclusively on Prime Video in the US, UK, Germany and Austria. Starring Michael Dorman (Wonderland), Emmy winner Terry O’Quinn (Lost), Kurtwood Smith (That 70’s Show) and Michael Chernus (Orange is the New Black), Patriot follows the complicated life of intelligence officer John Tavner (Dorman). His latest assignment is to prevent Iran from going nuclear, requiring him to forgo all safety nets and assume a perilous "non-official cover"—that of a mid-level employee at a Midwestern industrial piping firm. A bout with PTSD, the Federal government’s incompetence and the intricacies of keeping a day job in the “front” industrial piping company cause a barrage of ever-escalating fiascos that jeopardize Tavner’s mission.
The series, recently selected to have its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival Berlinale, is executive produced by Steven Conrad (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), who also writes and directs on the series, James Parriott (Grey’s Anatomy), Glenn Ficarra (This Is Us), John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love, Focus), Charles Gogolak (Focus), and Gil Bellows (Temple Grandin). Customers can watch the pilot episode online at Amazon.com/PatriotTV before the full season’s remaining nine episodes air on February 24.
“Finally! A show crediting its viewers with intelligence and humor. Hilariously clever.”
Patriot explores the lesser known, unglamorous aspects of life as an intelligence officer. While the future of the world is at stake, it’s often the idiosyncrasies of those around John Tavner that force him to have to choose between bad alternatives. Those characters include Tom Tavner (O’Quinn), John's State Department Director of Intelligence father; John's older brother Edward Tavner (Chernus), a young Texas congressman; John’s wife Alice, played by Kathleen Munroe (Call Me Fitz); Agathe, played by Aliette Opheim (Sandor slash Ida), a brilliant young homicide detective from Luxembourg hot on John's trail; and Mr. Claret (Smith), John's stickler of a new "boss" at the piping firm where John is “employed.”
Prime members will be able to stream the series exclusively via the Amazon Prime Video app for TVs, connected devices including Fire TV, mobile devices and online. Members can also download the series to mobile devices for offline viewing at no additional cost to their membership. Patriot will be a global release and available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video for members to watch via the Prime Video app for popular smart TVs, Fire TV, Fire Tablets and Android and iOS phones and tablets. The show will also be available later this year on PrimeVideo.com for Prime Video members in more than 200 countries and territories.
“As smart, compelling and contradictory as the world it portrays, Steve Conrad’s Patriot is an incredible comedic drama about the world of modern intelligence,” said Joe Lewis, Head of Comedy and Drama, Amazon Studios. “Told skillfully and artfully, Steve and the incredible cast have made something truly unique and we can’t wait to bring it to customers soon.”
Patriot was part of Amazon’s pilot season last year, a unique development process that gives all customers an opportunity to stream and review pilots in order to help choose the next Amazon Original Series that are then available to Prime members. Below are what customers have said about the pilot:
“Finally! A show crediting its viewers with intelligence and humor. Hilariously clever.”
“Original, quirky, interesting characters, inventive plot twists and a whole world to explore through this lens.”
“Patriot is a fresh twist on covert operations and espionage. Great and often hilarious writing … solid performances throughout.”
The entire first season of Patriot will be available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/PatriotTV, with other Amazon Original Series online at Amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership. Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.
About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:
- Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, Love & Friendship, and kids series Tumble Leaf, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership. Prime Video is also now available to customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe at www.primevideo.com.
- Amazon Channels: Over 100 video subscriptions to networks like HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ, PBS KIDS, Acorn TV, and more, available to Amazon Prime members in the US as add-ons to their membership. To view the full list of available channels, visit www.amazon.com/channels.
- Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers.
- Instant Access: Customers can instantly watch anytime, anywhere through the Amazon Video app on compatible TVs, mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire tablets, or online. For a list of all compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.
- Premium Features: Top features like 4K Ultra HD, High Dynamic Range (HDR) and mobile downloads for offline viewing of select content.
In addition to Prime Video, the Prime membership includes unlimited fast free shipping options across all categories available on Amazon, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations with Prime Music, secure photo storage with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, unlimited access to a digital audiobook catalog with Audible Channels for Prime, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot with Twitch Prime, early access to select Lightning Deals, exclusive access and discounts to select items, and more. To sign-up for Prime or to find out more, visit: www.amazon.com/prime.
About Amazon
Amazon 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 tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about.
------------------
Eddie Redmayne to Narrate "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" as Audiobook
Eddie Redmayne to Narrate J.K. Rowling’s Essential Companion to Harry Potter Stories, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Redmayne’s Narration Now Available for Exclusive Preorder at Audible.com
NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Audible, Inc., the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content, today announced that the Hogwarts library book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by J.K. Rowling as Magizoologist Newt Scamander and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, is available for the first time as a digital audio book, and can be preordered now. Featuring six new beasts, a new foreword by Newt Scamander, and elaborate sound design, the recording will be released by Pottermore on March 14, 2017. Visit audible.com/FantasticBeasts to order the audiobook in advance.
“Ever since we first made the Harry Potter series available on Audible in 2015, they have been consistently among the highest rated, most downloaded, and most listened to audiobooks in our store.”
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has been an approved textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since its publication. Newt Scamander’s masterpiece is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the wizarding world. Some of the beasts will be familiar to readers of the Harry Potter books – the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, the Hungarian Horntail. Others will surprise even the most ardent amateur Magizoologist.
This essential companion to the Harry Potter stories has been revised by J.K. Rowling, bringing the original classic up to date with new content that reflects the exciting developments in her Wizarding World, with the release of the movie event of 2016, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which was inspired by the original edition of the book.
“Before I was cast in the film, David Yates told me about Newt and this textbook. I found it so funny and so enchanting and really wittily written. But it wasn’t until I started reading it out loud for the audiobook that I realized how tricky and poetic J.K. Rowling’s use of sounds and language can be. There are some really great tongue twister words in here! Occasionally, I had to stop recording just because I was incapable of saying the words without either laughing or getting my tongue in a muddle. I enjoyed the challenge and hope listeners can sense that in my narration,” said Redmayne, who starred as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the 2016 film inspired by the original edition of this Hogwarts library book.
“We are thrilled to offer Audible listeners, the most voracious readers there are, the opportunity to enjoy a brilliant performance of yet another essential component of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World seamlessly through the Audible service. We look forward to bringing even more listeners to this richly imagined universe through our effortless and affordable service,” said Andy Gaies, Audible Chief Content Officer. “Ever since we first made the Harry Potter series available on Audible in 2015, they have been consistently among the highest rated, most downloaded, and most listened to audiobooks in our store.”
Pottermore will make a proportion of the proceeds from this audiobook available to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowling's own international charity Lumos, charities which help some of the world's most vulnerable children and young people, to help them have a better life.
Pottermore, the digital entertainment, news and e-commerce company from J.K. Rowling, is the publisher of the Harry Potter digital audiobooks. The Pottermore Shop, the company’s digital retail arm, will continue to sell the Harry Potter digital audiobooks.
Audible, the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content, invented and commercialized the first digital audio player in 1997, and has since been at the forefront of the explosively growing audiobook download segment. Audible members downloaded an average of more than 17 books over the course of the year. Two thirds of new Audible members are first-time audiobook buyers.
ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.
Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio information and entertainment, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible was created to unleash the emotive music in language and the habituating power and utility of verbal expression. Audible content includes more than 325,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible is also the preeminent provider of spoken-word audio products for Apple’s iTunes Store.
Note to Editors:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a Hogwarts Library book, which is distinct from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay, which were released as eBooks and print books in 2016. While both were written by J.K. Rowling, the Original Screenplay is the authentic screenplay of the feature film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, published to coincide with the movie release in November 2016. The new edition of the Hogwarts Library book first appeared as the title of one of Harry Potter’s school books within the Harry Potter novels. It was published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Scholastic and Pottermore along with Quidditch Through The Ages in March 2001 in aid of Comic Relief. The new edition features a new foreword and content by J.K. Rowling.
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Redmayne’s Narration Now Available for Exclusive Preorder at Audible.com
NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Audible, Inc., the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content, today announced that the Hogwarts library book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by J.K. Rowling as Magizoologist Newt Scamander and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, is available for the first time as a digital audio book, and can be preordered now. Featuring six new beasts, a new foreword by Newt Scamander, and elaborate sound design, the recording will be released by Pottermore on March 14, 2017. Visit audible.com/FantasticBeasts to order the audiobook in advance.
“Ever since we first made the Harry Potter series available on Audible in 2015, they have been consistently among the highest rated, most downloaded, and most listened to audiobooks in our store.”
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has been an approved textbook at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry since its publication. Newt Scamander’s masterpiece is an indispensable introduction to the magical beasts of the wizarding world. Some of the beasts will be familiar to readers of the Harry Potter books – the Hippogriff, the Basilisk, the Hungarian Horntail. Others will surprise even the most ardent amateur Magizoologist.
This essential companion to the Harry Potter stories has been revised by J.K. Rowling, bringing the original classic up to date with new content that reflects the exciting developments in her Wizarding World, with the release of the movie event of 2016, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which was inspired by the original edition of the book.
“Before I was cast in the film, David Yates told me about Newt and this textbook. I found it so funny and so enchanting and really wittily written. But it wasn’t until I started reading it out loud for the audiobook that I realized how tricky and poetic J.K. Rowling’s use of sounds and language can be. There are some really great tongue twister words in here! Occasionally, I had to stop recording just because I was incapable of saying the words without either laughing or getting my tongue in a muddle. I enjoyed the challenge and hope listeners can sense that in my narration,” said Redmayne, who starred as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them the 2016 film inspired by the original edition of this Hogwarts library book.
“We are thrilled to offer Audible listeners, the most voracious readers there are, the opportunity to enjoy a brilliant performance of yet another essential component of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World seamlessly through the Audible service. We look forward to bringing even more listeners to this richly imagined universe through our effortless and affordable service,” said Andy Gaies, Audible Chief Content Officer. “Ever since we first made the Harry Potter series available on Audible in 2015, they have been consistently among the highest rated, most downloaded, and most listened to audiobooks in our store.”
Pottermore will make a proportion of the proceeds from this audiobook available to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowling's own international charity Lumos, charities which help some of the world's most vulnerable children and young people, to help them have a better life.
Pottermore, the digital entertainment, news and e-commerce company from J.K. Rowling, is the publisher of the Harry Potter digital audiobooks. The Pottermore Shop, the company’s digital retail arm, will continue to sell the Harry Potter digital audiobooks.
Audible, the world’s largest seller and producer of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word content, invented and commercialized the first digital audio player in 1997, and has since been at the forefront of the explosively growing audiobook download segment. Audible members downloaded an average of more than 17 books over the course of the year. Two thirds of new Audible members are first-time audiobook buyers.
ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.
Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the leading provider of premium digital spoken audio information and entertainment, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible was created to unleash the emotive music in language and the habituating power and utility of verbal expression. Audible content includes more than 325,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers. Audible is also the preeminent provider of spoken-word audio products for Apple’s iTunes Store.
Note to Editors:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a Hogwarts Library book, which is distinct from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay, which were released as eBooks and print books in 2016. While both were written by J.K. Rowling, the Original Screenplay is the authentic screenplay of the feature film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, published to coincide with the movie release in November 2016. The new edition of the Hogwarts Library book first appeared as the title of one of Harry Potter’s school books within the Harry Potter novels. It was published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Scholastic and Pottermore along with Quidditch Through The Ages in March 2001 in aid of Comic Relief. The new edition features a new foreword and content by J.K. Rowling.
-------------------------
WaterTower Music Announces Sountrack for "The LEGO Batman Movie"
WaterTower Music to Release “The LEGO® Batman Movie” Soundtrack February 3
Features New Music from DNCE, Patrick Stump, Alex Aiono, Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett & Jeff Lewis, Kirsten Arian, & More
Includes New Music from the Film’s Grammy-winning Composer Lorne Balfe
Vinyl Release Coming May 19
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music has announced the February 3, 2017 CD and digital release of the soundtrack to the new animated adventure “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” one week before the film opens in theatres on February 10, 2017. A vinyl configuration of the soundtrack, “The LEGO Batman Movie: Songs From The Motion Picture Soundtrack,” will be released May 19, 2017. The collection features new music from DNCE, Alex Aiono, Patrick Stump, Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett and Jeff Lewis, Kirsten Arian, Justin Tranter, and more. The album also includes 16 of the film’s score cues by Grammy-winning composer Lorne Balfe, and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) on drums.
“Every scene is amazing. After the first day working on the film, I forgot it was an animation. It was as live action as anything I have worked on!”
The film’s director Chris McKay describes Balfe as “one of the most talented and versatile people I’ve ever met.”
“Chris is an encyclopedic reference for action hero films, but to him the important thing is the heart of the story, so I didn’t think of it as a comic, but as real, live action,” offers Balfe. "Every scene is amazing. After the first day working on the film, I forgot it was an animation. It was as live action as anything I have worked on!”
In addition to the February 3 CD and digital release of the soundtrack, fans can also look forward to a vinyl release: The LEGO Batman Movie: Songs From The Motion Picture, which will be released May 19.
The “The LEGO Batman Movie” soundtrack will be available February 3, and is now available for preorder on iTunes. The track list is as follows:
1. Who’s The (Bat)Man Patrick Stump
2. Forever DNCE
3. (I Just) Died In Your Arms Cutting Crew
4. Invincible Kirsten Arian
5. One Harry Nilsson
6. Heroes (We Could Be) [Hard Rock Sofa and Skidka Remix] Alesso feat. Tove Lo
7. Man In The Mirror Alex Aiono
8. Friends Are Family Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett and Jeff Lewis
9. I Found You Fraser Murray
10. Forever Justin Tranter
11. Man In The Mirror Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
12. Everything Is Awesome Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
13. Black Lorne Balfe
14. Your Greatest Enemy Lorne Balfe
15. The Arrival of Robin Lorne Balfe
16. Joker Crashes the Party Lorne Balfe
17. No Seat Belts Required Lorne Balfe
18. To Cage the Joker Lorne Balfe
19. The Phantom Zone Lorne Balfe
20. Open for Business Lorne Balfe
21. Chaos in Gotham Lorne Balfe
22. Lava Attack Lorne Balfe
23. For Your Own Good Lorne Balfe
24. Joker Manor Lorne Balfe
25. Batman's in The Zone Lorne Balfe
26. The Babs Signal Lorne Balfe
27. Battle Royale Lorne Balfe
28. A Long Farewell Lorne Balfe
About the Movie
In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO® Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up. “The LEGO Batman Movie” stars Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Chris McKay, it is produced by Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Roy Lee, with executive producers Jill Wilfert, Matthew Ashton, Will Allegra and Brad Lewis. The screenplay is by Seth Grahame-Smith and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Jared Stern & John Whittington; story by Seth Grahame-Smith, based on LEGO Construction Toys and based on characters from DC. Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The music is composed by Lorne Balfe.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, in association with LEGO System A/S, a Lin Pictures/Lord Miller/Vertigo Entertainment production, The LEGO Batman Movie will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It is rated PG for rude humor and some action. www.legobatman.com
Lorne Balfe [TERMINATOR GENISYS, CHURCHILL, THE STORY OF GOD WITH MORGAN FREEMAN] is a Grammy Award-winning, EMMY and BAFTA nominated film composer from Inverness, Scotland. His filmography boasts an incredible breadth and depth of titles, ranging from major studio to independent films, tentpole video game franchises, beloved animated feature films, critically acclaimed television series, and documentary features.
Lorne’s recent film and TV credits include CHURCHILL (Head Gear Films); THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (Warner Bros.); MARCELLA (Buccaneer Media); THE STORY OF GOD WITH MORGAN FREEMAN (Revelations Entertainment); TERMINATOR GENISYS (Paramount Pictures); 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI (Paramount Pictures). His upcoming projects include the Ron Howard-produced series about Albert Einstein titled GENIUS (National Geographic).
BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2017 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
---------------------------
Features New Music from DNCE, Patrick Stump, Alex Aiono, Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett & Jeff Lewis, Kirsten Arian, & More
Includes New Music from the Film’s Grammy-winning Composer Lorne Balfe
Vinyl Release Coming May 19
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music has announced the February 3, 2017 CD and digital release of the soundtrack to the new animated adventure “The LEGO® Batman Movie,” one week before the film opens in theatres on February 10, 2017. A vinyl configuration of the soundtrack, “The LEGO Batman Movie: Songs From The Motion Picture Soundtrack,” will be released May 19, 2017. The collection features new music from DNCE, Alex Aiono, Patrick Stump, Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett and Jeff Lewis, Kirsten Arian, Justin Tranter, and more. The album also includes 16 of the film’s score cues by Grammy-winning composer Lorne Balfe, and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) on drums.
“Every scene is amazing. After the first day working on the film, I forgot it was an animation. It was as live action as anything I have worked on!”
The film’s director Chris McKay describes Balfe as “one of the most talented and versatile people I’ve ever met.”
“Chris is an encyclopedic reference for action hero films, but to him the important thing is the heart of the story, so I didn’t think of it as a comic, but as real, live action,” offers Balfe. "Every scene is amazing. After the first day working on the film, I forgot it was an animation. It was as live action as anything I have worked on!”
In addition to the February 3 CD and digital release of the soundtrack, fans can also look forward to a vinyl release: The LEGO Batman Movie: Songs From The Motion Picture, which will be released May 19.
The “The LEGO Batman Movie” soundtrack will be available February 3, and is now available for preorder on iTunes. The track list is as follows:
1. Who’s The (Bat)Man Patrick Stump
2. Forever DNCE
3. (I Just) Died In Your Arms Cutting Crew
4. Invincible Kirsten Arian
5. One Harry Nilsson
6. Heroes (We Could Be) [Hard Rock Sofa and Skidka Remix] Alesso feat. Tove Lo
7. Man In The Mirror Alex Aiono
8. Friends Are Family Oh, Hush! feat. Will Arnett and Jeff Lewis
9. I Found You Fraser Murray
10. Forever Justin Tranter
11. Man In The Mirror Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
12. Everything Is Awesome Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
13. Black Lorne Balfe
14. Your Greatest Enemy Lorne Balfe
15. The Arrival of Robin Lorne Balfe
16. Joker Crashes the Party Lorne Balfe
17. No Seat Belts Required Lorne Balfe
18. To Cage the Joker Lorne Balfe
19. The Phantom Zone Lorne Balfe
20. Open for Business Lorne Balfe
21. Chaos in Gotham Lorne Balfe
22. Lava Attack Lorne Balfe
23. For Your Own Good Lorne Balfe
24. Joker Manor Lorne Balfe
25. Batman's in The Zone Lorne Balfe
26. The Babs Signal Lorne Balfe
27. Battle Royale Lorne Balfe
28. A Long Farewell Lorne Balfe
About the Movie
In the irreverent spirit of fun that made “The LEGO® Movie” a worldwide phenomenon, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – stars in his own big-screen adventure. But there are big changes brewing in Gotham City, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up. “The LEGO Batman Movie” stars Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes. Directed by Chris McKay, it is produced by Dan Lin, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Roy Lee, with executive producers Jill Wilfert, Matthew Ashton, Will Allegra and Brad Lewis. The screenplay is by Seth Grahame-Smith and Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Jared Stern & John Whittington; story by Seth Grahame-Smith, based on LEGO Construction Toys and based on characters from DC. Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger; Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The music is composed by Lorne Balfe.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group, in association with LEGO System A/S, a Lin Pictures/Lord Miller/Vertigo Entertainment production, The LEGO Batman Movie will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company. It is rated PG for rude humor and some action. www.legobatman.com
Lorne Balfe [TERMINATOR GENISYS, CHURCHILL, THE STORY OF GOD WITH MORGAN FREEMAN] is a Grammy Award-winning, EMMY and BAFTA nominated film composer from Inverness, Scotland. His filmography boasts an incredible breadth and depth of titles, ranging from major studio to independent films, tentpole video game franchises, beloved animated feature films, critically acclaimed television series, and documentary features.
Lorne’s recent film and TV credits include CHURCHILL (Head Gear Films); THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (Warner Bros.); MARCELLA (Buccaneer Media); THE STORY OF GOD WITH MORGAN FREEMAN (Revelations Entertainment); TERMINATOR GENISYS (Paramount Pictures); 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI (Paramount Pictures). His upcoming projects include the Ron Howard-produced series about Albert Einstein titled GENIUS (National Geographic).
BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.
LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure and the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2017 The LEGO Group. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
---------------------------
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Crowdfunding Platform Launched to Support "Apocalypse Now" Video Game
Apocalypse Now Team Builds Unique Crowdfunding Platform
American Zoetrope and Veteran Crowdfunders Create a New Platform for the Apocalypse Now Video Game
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apocalypse Now is being adapted into a video game, led by game industry veterans with a maverick vision as original and unorthodox as the film 40 years ago. Erebus, a cross-disciplinary team of game developers and crowdfunding experts, have created a new online platform to deliver the latest updates and progress on the video game through the development process, found at apocalypsenow.com. Those interested in helping to make the game possible can back via Kickstarter through February 23, 2017 and at apocalypsenow.com from the close of Kickstarter through the game’s launch.
“In terms of subject matter, source material, and artistic inspiration, Apocalypse Now will be unlike any video game that has come before, allowing our team to dig deeper and be more artful than I've ever dared in my two decades of game development”
With the new platform, the crowdfunding and game experts at Erebus have created a long-term strategic plan for the fans to control and guide the progress of Apocalypse Now and possibly many more projects to come. The platform is designed to complement Kickstarter, as crowdfunding for Apocalypse Now will continue on the new platform after the initial Kickstarter to support the total vision for the game.
The development team builds upon a legacy of writing, production and directorial experience on a dozen role-playing game series, including blockbuster game series such as Fallout, Wasteland, Gears of War, Far Cry, Pillars of Eternity, Witcher, Neverwinter Nights and many more best-selling games. Working under the sponsorship of Francis Ford Coppola’s studio American Zoetrope, the creative team aims to usher Apocalypse Now into the internet age, reimagined as a terrifying role-playing experience.
In the game, players will be able to experience and direct the psychedelic vision of the Vietnam War as originally presented in the film. Apocalypse Now - The Game is an interactive recreation of Cpt. Benjamin Willard’s journey, tasking players with the assassination of Col. Walter E. Kurtz, an officer who has gone rogue and assembled his own army of worshippers deep within the jungle. Each player unveils their own unique version of Willard’s experience, with different aspects of the mission, story and combat-related decisions creating a multitude of new, personalized variations on the Apocalypse Now story.
“In terms of subject matter, source material, and artistic inspiration, Apocalypse Now will be unlike any video game that has come before, allowing our team to dig deeper and be more artful than I've ever dared in my two decades of game development,” said executive producer Lawrence Liberty. "With the apocalypsenow.com site, we are creating a central hub where we can source feedback and direction directly from the people backing the game and I firmly believe that we can make better development decisions with the guidance of a large number of interested and invested players.”
For the latest updates, please visit the Apocalypse Now - The Game Kickstarter page and apocalypsenow.com.
Key Links:
Website: https://www.apocalypsenow.com
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fringerider/apocalypse-now-the-game
Game Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apocalypsenowgame/
Motion Picture Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApocalypseNowMovie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apocnowgame
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apocalypsenowgame/
Game Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/apocalypsenowgame/
Motion Picture Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ApocalypseNow/
About American Zoetrope
American Zoetrope (also known as Zoetrope Studios from 1979 until 1990) is a privately run American film studio, centred in San Francisco and founded by Francis Ford Coppola. Opened on December 12, 1969, American Zoetrope was an early adopter of digital filmmaking, including some of the earliest uses of HDTV. The studio has produced not only the films of Coppola (including Apocalypse Now, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Tetro), but also George Lucas's pre-Star Wars films such as THX 1138, as well as many others by avant-garde directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa, Wim Wenders and Godfrey Reggio. Four films produced by American Zoetrope are included in the American Film Institute's Top 100 Films. American Zoetrope-produced films have received 15 Academy Awards and 68 nominations.
About Framestore Ventures
Framestore Ventures is the internal incubator and venture division of the Academy-Award winning visual effects company Framestore. Leveraging 1500 creative and technical staff in five cities, Ventures combines homegrown talent and strategic partnerships to develop original IP across many media, with a diverse content slate ranging from TV shows, video games and realtime animation to live experiences, virtual and augmented reality.
About Ringling College of Art and Design
RCAD is a private four-year accredited college located in Sarasota, Florida. They collaborated with Auten and Markland on early visual prototypes of an Unreal Engine 4-rendered Apocalypse Now.
About Erebus LLC
Erebus LLC is a new crowdfunding and development studio of game veterans on a mission to develop Apocalypse Now as a video game. To learn more, please visit: apocalypsenow.com
---------------------------
American Zoetrope and Veteran Crowdfunders Create a New Platform for the Apocalypse Now Video Game
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apocalypse Now is being adapted into a video game, led by game industry veterans with a maverick vision as original and unorthodox as the film 40 years ago. Erebus, a cross-disciplinary team of game developers and crowdfunding experts, have created a new online platform to deliver the latest updates and progress on the video game through the development process, found at apocalypsenow.com. Those interested in helping to make the game possible can back via Kickstarter through February 23, 2017 and at apocalypsenow.com from the close of Kickstarter through the game’s launch.
“In terms of subject matter, source material, and artistic inspiration, Apocalypse Now will be unlike any video game that has come before, allowing our team to dig deeper and be more artful than I've ever dared in my two decades of game development”
With the new platform, the crowdfunding and game experts at Erebus have created a long-term strategic plan for the fans to control and guide the progress of Apocalypse Now and possibly many more projects to come. The platform is designed to complement Kickstarter, as crowdfunding for Apocalypse Now will continue on the new platform after the initial Kickstarter to support the total vision for the game.
The development team builds upon a legacy of writing, production and directorial experience on a dozen role-playing game series, including blockbuster game series such as Fallout, Wasteland, Gears of War, Far Cry, Pillars of Eternity, Witcher, Neverwinter Nights and many more best-selling games. Working under the sponsorship of Francis Ford Coppola’s studio American Zoetrope, the creative team aims to usher Apocalypse Now into the internet age, reimagined as a terrifying role-playing experience.
In the game, players will be able to experience and direct the psychedelic vision of the Vietnam War as originally presented in the film. Apocalypse Now - The Game is an interactive recreation of Cpt. Benjamin Willard’s journey, tasking players with the assassination of Col. Walter E. Kurtz, an officer who has gone rogue and assembled his own army of worshippers deep within the jungle. Each player unveils their own unique version of Willard’s experience, with different aspects of the mission, story and combat-related decisions creating a multitude of new, personalized variations on the Apocalypse Now story.
“In terms of subject matter, source material, and artistic inspiration, Apocalypse Now will be unlike any video game that has come before, allowing our team to dig deeper and be more artful than I've ever dared in my two decades of game development,” said executive producer Lawrence Liberty. "With the apocalypsenow.com site, we are creating a central hub where we can source feedback and direction directly from the people backing the game and I firmly believe that we can make better development decisions with the guidance of a large number of interested and invested players.”
For the latest updates, please visit the Apocalypse Now - The Game Kickstarter page and apocalypsenow.com.
Key Links:
Website: https://www.apocalypsenow.com
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fringerider/apocalypse-now-the-game
Game Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apocalypsenowgame/
Motion Picture Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApocalypseNowMovie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apocnowgame
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apocalypsenowgame/
Game Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/apocalypsenowgame/
Motion Picture Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ApocalypseNow/
About American Zoetrope
American Zoetrope (also known as Zoetrope Studios from 1979 until 1990) is a privately run American film studio, centred in San Francisco and founded by Francis Ford Coppola. Opened on December 12, 1969, American Zoetrope was an early adopter of digital filmmaking, including some of the earliest uses of HDTV. The studio has produced not only the films of Coppola (including Apocalypse Now, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Tetro), but also George Lucas's pre-Star Wars films such as THX 1138, as well as many others by avant-garde directors such as Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa, Wim Wenders and Godfrey Reggio. Four films produced by American Zoetrope are included in the American Film Institute's Top 100 Films. American Zoetrope-produced films have received 15 Academy Awards and 68 nominations.
About Framestore Ventures
Framestore Ventures is the internal incubator and venture division of the Academy-Award winning visual effects company Framestore. Leveraging 1500 creative and technical staff in five cities, Ventures combines homegrown talent and strategic partnerships to develop original IP across many media, with a diverse content slate ranging from TV shows, video games and realtime animation to live experiences, virtual and augmented reality.
About Ringling College of Art and Design
RCAD is a private four-year accredited college located in Sarasota, Florida. They collaborated with Auten and Markland on early visual prototypes of an Unreal Engine 4-rendered Apocalypse Now.
About Erebus LLC
Erebus LLC is a new crowdfunding and development studio of game veterans on a mission to develop Apocalypse Now as a video game. To learn more, please visit: apocalypsenow.com
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