Emerald City Comicon announced that Lea Thompson (Back to the Future I, II, III, Red Dawn, Some Kind of Wonderful, Jaw 3D, Howard the Duck) will be attending this year’s event in Seattle. Thompson has a place in our hearts at Lorraine McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy and recently appeared in J. Edgar.
Christopher Lloyd will not be able to attend due to a filming commitment.
Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Full Monty, 127 Hours) is writing the sequel to The Hunger Games. Beaufoy is fine tuning the script for Catching Fire. He tells 24 frames he’s charmed by the trilogy’s author, Suzanne Collins, and her knowledge for warfare.
“She’s fascinating,” said Beaufoy. “Her dad was a military expert, historian and lecturer and used to be in the forces. It’s fascinating hearing her talk about the thesis for the three novels: The first is about survival, the second is rebellion and the third is about all-out war. She’s very compelling about all of that.”
I agree with his point that gender doesn’t matter in the series which centers on a heroine (played by Jennifer Lawrence of X-Men: First Class.)
“What I really love about the books is it isn’t even up for discussion that she’s a girl,” Beaufoy said. “There’s no discussion that she shouldn’t be killing people because she’s a girl, and she shouldn’t be killed because she’s a girl. We’ve done gender politics. This is about life and death. It makes the gender politics seem finicky and not terribly interesting.”
For the entire interview click here.
The Hunger Games cast tour concludes in Seattle this weekend. I will be there.
Emerald City Comicon revealed their stellar lineup of programming for this year’s big event including more than 120 panels! I seriously need to look into cloning.
Along with top comic book creators, sci-fi movie stars and iconic voice talents, there’s a big focus on local creators, history and trends. Here are some this year’s panel with a local focus:
Seattle Superstorm: A SyFy Channel World Premiere, Friday March 30th at 4pm. An unidentified object crashes into Puget Sound followed by unusual weather and quakes. Can a military mom and scientist dad save their family and stop the Seattle Superstorm from spreading and annihilating the planet. This disaster flick stars Esai Morales (Caprica, 24) and Ona Grauer (V, Stargate Universe)
The Bad and the Bold: (LGBT Characters) Friday, March 30th 4pm Seattle’s own Charles “Zen” Christensen of Northwest Press moderates this discussion of LGBT representation in comics. What’s a postive or negative portryal of LGBT characters?
Northwest Noir: Seattle’s Legacy of Counterculture Comix Friday, March 30th 6pm A look at the influence of Seattle cartoonists and inspired a new comix movement and creation of local publisher Fantagraphics books. How the grunge movement elevated alternative comix. Seattle and Portland were home to 6 alternative comix publishing houses by the start of this millenia.
We Are Legion: Meet the 501st Legion Meet the all-volunteer group of Star Wars fans who make appearances all over the world raising money for charity and giving other fans the photo op of a lifetime. Learn the Legion’s origin, its relationship with Lucasfilm and how you can join.
We’re Laughing WITH You: Geek Stand Up Comedy featuring some of the funniest comedians in the Northwest. Friday, March 30th 5:30pm
Outdoor Trek (The Indoor Edition) Friday, March 30th 5pm Hello Earth Productions of Seattle presents “This Side of Paradise” an adaptation of an Original Star Trek series episode. Spock in love. The crew break into a rousing musical number! It’s Trek boldly performed like you’re never seen before!
Emerald City Comicon updated their guest list with a big addition. Gabriel Hardman will join the Seattle event March 30th-April 1st. Hardman is currently working with Rick Remender (also coming to ECCC) on Secret Avengers. Hardman’s previous work includes Hulk, Agents of Atlas, and Betrayal of The Planet of the Apes.
His work as an accomplished motion picture illustrator includes Spider-Man 3, X2: X-Men United, Superman Returns, Tropic Thunder and Inception.
Emerald City Comicon revealed their stellar lineup of programming for this year’s big event including more than 120 panels! I seriously need to look into cloning.
Here’s my top 5 panel picks for each day of the con:
Friday, March 30th
ECCC Spotlight: Marc Silvestri An intimate hour devoted to Top Cow founder, Image founder, movie producer and top artist Marc Silvestri. The legend’s career spans three decades and he’s drawn Wolverine, X-Men, Cyberforce, Witchblade, The Darkness and Incredible Hulk.
Robert Kirkman Q & A The is the chance get into the creative mind behind The Walking Dead comic book, television series and soon to be videogame is sure to be a packed house. Kirkman’s other successful comics include Invincible and Super Dinosaur. Kirkman is true creative force and innovator blazing his own path.
Spotlight on Edward James Olmos Award-winning actor, director and activist Edward James Olmos reflects on his incredible career including Miami Vice, Blade Runner and the reimagining of Battlestar Galactica. Olmos is a true Hollywood original. He is appearing Friday.
Drawing Inspiration: The Art of the Whedonverse Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, Angel, Faith, Dollhouse and Serenity live on in comics by Portland’s Dark Horse Comics. This behind-the-panels look with the amazing artists is a must for Joss Whedon fans with creations from past, present and future, including exclusive first looks!
Marvel: Breaking Into Comics Marvel’s Talent Scout along with some of their top writers and artists are here to help make comic book dreams come true.
Saturday, March 31st
Talkin’ Dead with Jon Bernthal and Laurie Holden. Stars of the acclaimed television series talk their experience filming The Walking Dead and the future of their characters Shane and Andrea. Two of the show’s most polarizing characters played by fan favorite actors should mean a packed house of geeks hungry for answers to all the rumors about Shane and what the show will do next.
Marvel: Pint O’ C.B. The is THE panel for Marvel fans. Anything goes as Marvel’s C.B. Cebulski along with superstars Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Dan Slott and Rick Remender take your questions and hopefully make some big surprise announcements about the future of the X-Men, Avengers, Spidey and more.
DC Comics: The New 52 It was controversial but commercial smash. Top editors and talent face the wrath and praise of fans while discussing last year’s game-changing revamp of DC Comics and what’s next from the home of Batman, Superman, Justice League and more iconic heroes.
A Candid Conversation with Katee Sackhoff The actress who rocked as Starbuck on the reimagined Battlestar Galatica reflects on her role at Lt. Kara Thrace and previews her new role opposite Vin Diesel. Sackhoff plays a bounty hunter tracking down Diesel in the next Riddick movie.
Crime Comics Eisner Award Winning writers Greg Rucka (Stumptown, Gotham Central, White Out)and Seattle’s Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Scene of the Crime, Fatale) talk with fans about their hot series and the amazing resurgence of the classic crime genre.
Sunday, April 1st
Marvel: The Next Big Thing Top talent including Greg Rucka, Rick Remender, Jeff Parker, Chris Yost and Dan Slott take on your questions about your favorite heroes,villains and maybe make some surprise announcements.
A Conversation with Summer Glau She’s played a Terminator and Joss Whedon’s innocent girl who could turn into a killing machine in a snap. This gorgeous actress reflects on her roles in Firefly, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Dollhouse, The Cape and new film, Knights of Badassdom.
Star Trek: State of the Franchise Is the new movie enough to satisfy fans? Bryan Fuller and Bryan Singer are reportedly interested in developing a new Star Trek series but what would a new television series be like? A Trek historian and experts debate the possible future of the beloved franchise.
Thunderdome! The Artist Duel Two artists. Every few minutes a new twist is delivered and each artist must incorporate it into their work. The final design is judged by a team of pros and a winner is declared. The art will be auctioned benefitting Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Star Wars Craft Time From Chewbacca sock puppets to Ewok flower vases, the woman behind the Star Wars Craft Book shows you how to use the Force to create unique gifts. I got to see this!
There are so many amazing panels including the best of webcomics, a Star Trek/Star Wars ballet and a Family Feud style geek game show. Seattle will become GEEK Utopia March 30th-April 1st.
Prometheus and Weyland Corporation promotion is taking over the world in a chilling way. The TED viral video starring Guy Pearce as Peter Weyland revealed the link between Alien and Prometheus took over the web.
Now there’s a website for the evil corporation from the films and this beautiful but frightening image.
On the page you can see this image and description under coming soon:
Weyland engineers have been working around the clock to bring you the newest, most advanced addition to the Weyland family. Stay tuned for a special announcement.”
This Geek’s Opinion: This will likely be the introduction of the artificial person that will be played by Michael Fassbender in Prometheus. Ian Holm played an android in Alien.
The picture above appears to be inside the ship of the “Space Jockey” from the first Alien film with an egg and a map showing multiple star systems. What do you think?
Ridley Scott is not just a brilliant director but expert marketer too.
Michael Fassbender has working a long time to become an overnight sensation. Now Hollywood’s hottest leading man will help aspiring film artists get their shot. The star of X-Men: First Class is teaming up with his Prometheus director Ridley Scott for the Your Film Festival, which allows filmmakers to submit 15-minute works.
Films can be entered from now until March 31st. This summer, 50 submissions will be chosen by Scott’s production company, Scott Free. Films can be any genre or format.Youtube will feature the 50 chosen films. The public will be able to vote for their favorites. The competition be narrowed down to 10. Finalists will be flown to the Venice Film Festival and have their work screened there. Scott and Fassbender will then select the winning film, which will be awarded a $500,000 production grant to collaborate with Scott Free on a new film.
Thanks to the International Business Times for the story. Here’s the star himself explaining how it works and his role:
A huge announcement from Emerald City Comicon! Edward James Olmos will be appearing on Friday, March 30th only at the Seattle event.
Science fiction fans know Olmos as Commander Adama in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica and Gaff in Blade Runner. Olmos was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Stand and Deliver and an Emmy for his role on Miami Vice and recently joined Dexter.
This is a reason to cheer! “So Say We All!”