Posts Tagged ‘Vampires’
Posted by Steve in Events, Home Page Top Story, Latest News, The Magic Lantern - Steve Weintz on February 18th, 2010
Like Stanley G. Weinbaum, Henry Kuttner, Stan Winston and Dave Allen, Dan O’Bannon left our planet much too soon, leaving behind a world of saddened friends and fans. The sadness doesn’t linger, though, for Dan was a very funny man, and much beloved by those who knew him.
On February 9th, 2010, the New Beverly Cinema hosted the Grindhouse Film Fest’s tribute to Dan 
O’Bannon, with a double feature screening of “Lifeforce” and “Return of the Living Dead.” To experience Dan’s authentic adaptation of Colin Wilson’s seminal novel “The Space Vampires”, and his loopy, dead-on riff on zombie movies, in a Hollywood revival theater full of rabid fans, is to know what imaginative entertainment is all about.
In addition to such on-screen delights as an unveiled Matilda May, and demented lines such as “Send more cops!”, an informal RotLD cast reunion occurred.
Clu Galagher, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Matthews, Beverly Randolph and others shared stories and reminiscences.
Artist William Stout, whose first credit as Production Designer came on RotLD, made a last-minute appearance and explained Dan’s key place in film and comic history.
Kudos to Grindhouse Film Fest and Dan’s many friends for putting on this event! Dan’s memory will also be part of the book launch party for “The Bleeding Edge Anthology” at Mystery & Imagination Bookshop in Glendale, CA, this Saturday, Feb. 20, starting at 3:00pm.
Posted by Jesse in Latest News, Movies on January 13th, 2010
Collider spoke with producer Michael De Luca today, and some tidbits emerged on De Luca’s proposed project with director Alex Proyas, entitled Dracula: Year Zero, currently set-up at Universal.
The film, a prequel-style origin story combining the historical Vlad, the Impaler with Bram Stoker’s supernatural Dracula creation, has existed for some time now, and apparently – as per Collider’s interview – the problem at this stage is funding. Listening to De Luca’s take on the picture, it sounds pretty epic, so this is understandable.
One hopes that the proliferation of vampire films/TV/literature only helps this project come to life, rather than impede it.
Head over to Collider for the full interview (Year Zero information to be found in the second half of the interview, after coverage of his upcoming Nicholas Cage starrer Drive Angry)!
Posted by Jesse in Latest News, Movies on January 7th, 2010
Let Me In, the American produced remake of the Swedish horror film Let The Right One In, will be released on October 1st, 2010, announced production company Overture Films Wednesday.
The film is directed by Matt Reeves, director of 2008’s monster hit Cloverfield.
The film is, like the Swedish original, based on the novel by John Adjvide Lindqvist. That original film, directed by Tomas Alfredson and released in Sweden and the US in 2008, has been hailed as a genre masterpiece.
The remake stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Moretz, Elias Koteas and Richard Jenkins. Shooting is still underway in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Posted by sean in Latest News, Movies on November 10th, 2009
Director Amy Heckerling is writing and directing Vamps, a Sex and the City-style romantic comedy, set in New York City… with vampires. Parlay Films has picked up all rights to the forthcoming film, further evidence that, yes, vampires are still profitable. Unfortunately.
Heckerling directed the ’80s classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and wrote and directed the beloved Clueless. Then again, she also wrote and directed Loser and all three Look Who’s Talking movies, so she’s hardly infallible.
There is the tiniest chance that this new spin could inject some new blood into the increasingly stale romantic comedy genre. More likely, it’ll be a stark exploitation of the romcom and vamp genres, also known as the “guaranteed to get teenage girls’ money” genres. I’m frankly expecting the latter – but hey, we can always hope for the former.
We can also hope Hollywood’s love affair with the vampire dies soon, but that’s certainly not gonna happen. The undead may be pale, but they guarantee one color for studios: green.
Posted by dominie in Movies on April 16th, 2009
EW is reporting that the final casting decisions have been named for The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the second entry into the Twilight franchise. Joining the family are Cameron Bright (Walled In, The Butterfly Effect) who will play Alec, brother to Jane, a member of The Volturi Clan played by Dakota Fanning, and Academy Award nominee Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves) who will be Harry Clearwater, one of the leaders of the Quilete tribe and a friend of Bella’s father.
Below is the press release from Summit Entertainment, officially announcing the start of production for The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The studio has put the saga on fast track and we can expect to see the second entry in theaters this November 20th!
SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT STARTS PRODUCTION ON THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
Cameron Bright in New MoonLos Angeles, CA April 15, 2009 — Principal photography has begun on Summit Entertainment’s THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, it was announced today by Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Production. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles as Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. Academy Award-nominee Chris Weitz (THE GOLDEN COMPASS, ABOUT A BOY) is the director. NEW MOON is filming on locations in Vancouver, BC and Tuscany, Italy.
Also rejoining the movie are Ashley Greene as Alice, Peter Facinelli as Carlisle, Elizabeth Reaser as Esme, Kellan Lutz as Emmett, Nikki Reed as Rosalie, Jackson Rathbone as Jasper, Edi Gathegi as Laurent, Rachelle Lafevre as Victoria and Billy Burke as Charlie Swan.
New cast members include the legendary Volturi, a venerable coven of vampires who weigh and impose the laws of the vampire world, as well as two new members of the Quileute Indian Nation. The Volturi include Charlie Bewley as Demetri, Jamie Campbell Bower as Caius, Daniel Cudmore as Felix, Christopher Heyerdahl as Marcus, all Volturi enforcers. Dakota Fanning plays Jane, a high ranking and powerful Volturi member and Cameron Bright is Alec, her brother. Noot Seer plays Volturi member Heidi. Michael Sheen plays Aro, the Volturi leader. Graham Greene appears as Harry Clearwater, Quileute tribal leader and old friend of Bella’s father Charlie. Tinsel Korey is Emily, the fiancé of Sam Uley. (more…)
Posted by Jocelyn in Movies on March 27th, 2009
With the recent rash of vampires springing up in various parts of the entertainment world within the past year, it is no surprise that there is more to come. What is a surprise is that an up and coming vampire flick would battle the already well established Twilight and True Blood mentality. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Summit Entertainment (Knowing, Push) has purchased Marc Haimes’ original screenplay under the working title of Elevator Men. Haimes’ script is aimed at trying to break the image that has been created around vampires recently, of being romantic, sexy, and just dangerous enough to turn you on without any deadly consequences. Elevator Men is a more realistic approach to the fictional situation of a vampire human love affair.
“This is the dark, sinister version of what really happens when you decide you’re going to get close to really bad things. That fantasy element is something I wanted to look at and play the exact opposite: the grim reality of bedding down with a monster,” states Haimes. Sounds like a promising change from the recent norm in vampire media.
Summit is working out the details to get the ball rolling on this refreshing return to the terrifying vampire image that used to reign supreme. Erik Feig and Jean Song will oversee for Summit, while Mark Gordon Prods. executives Gordon and Josh McLaughlin will be included as producers.
Marc Haimes is a former DreamWorks exec who has developed films such as Disterbia, Collateral, Red Eye, Transformers, and Hotel for Dogs.
Posted by dominie in Movies on March 16th, 2009
The trailer for Oldboy director Chan-Wook Park’s highly anticipated upcoming vampire film, Thirst, is now available on YouTube. Courtesy of CHUD, who first discovered the news, and Bloody Disgusting who came up with possible translations for the trailer, please enjoy!
Thirst Trailer
‘You shall not murder.’
‘You shall not commit adultery.’
‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.’
‘Bloodlust disturbs his soul.’
last line : Vampires aren’t immortal. Do you still want my blood?
Thirst stars Song Kang-ho (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, The Host, The Good the Bad and the Weird) and Shin Ha-kyun (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), with Kim Ok-bi (Dasepo Naughty Girls) as leading lady in a story about a well respected priest who falls in love with his childhood friend’s wife and who, after a failed medical experiment is turned into a vampire. The priest’s faith can only hold for so long as his humanity withers away in this unique thriller and horror impassioned by an illicit love story.
Posted by dominie in Movies on February 23rd, 2009
The Twilight franchise continues in the fast track lane. Summit Entertainment has officially named the collective films under the banner The Twilight Saga.
MTV debuted the official title/logo treatment for The Twilight Saga: New Moon (below), the second film in the Twilight franchise. Directed by Chris Weitz, from a screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg (oh dear), in New Moon, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon, opens in theaters November 20, 2009.
And only months later, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens in theaters everywhere June 30, 2010. Summit Entertainment locked in the summer release date over the weekend and I’m sure they’re jammin’ on all engines now. I can’t imagine there will be much breathing room for the studio between the two entries!
In Eclipse, as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
Posted by dominie in Movies on February 5th, 2009
Reuters.com revealed today that Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, who was removed from her chair for the sequel, New Moon, will be publishing a book on the making of Twilight, “piercing the film’s fantasy bubble.” I can’t say it concerns me at all, except for the good morning chuckle. Clearly Hardwicke’s work didn’t cut it to keep her in the loop, and maybe she is on the brink of crazy? If there ever was a way to backlash at a studio and leech off of a movie franchise’s success, here’s the way to do it… and what great timing she has. Read below for Reuter’s story.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – “Twilight” took moviegoers on a magical trip into the world of vampires, but director Catherine Hardwicke will pierce the film’s fantasy bubble in a new book detailing how it was made.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, the division of Hachette Book Group, will release “Twilight: Director’s Notebook” on March 17, the company said on Wednesday.
The book is timed to take advantage of the hype surrounding the vampire romance movie as its DVD comes out on March 21.
In the book, Hardwicke reveals details about casting, location scouting, wardrobe and her favorite scenes. The book also has behind-the-scenes photos and storyboard sketches, and is designed to replicate the director’s own personal notebook she kept on set.
Hardwicke has been replaced as director of the “Twilight” sequel “New Moon,” which is due out November 20, from director Chris Weitz, who made fantasy “The Golden Compass” in 2007.
Independent studio Summit Entertainment took the film industry by surprise with its runaway success on “Twilight,” which has made $341.2 million worldwide since its November 21 release, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo.
The movie is based on a series of “Twilight” books popular with girls and young women from author Stephenie Meyer.
Little, Brown Books said that it will print 500,000 copies of “Twilight: Director’s Notebook” on first printing.
Posted by dominie in Movies on January 25th, 2009
Quick tidbit from Shock Till You Drop. The site caught up with Dakota Fanning whom we reported is circling the upcoming Chris Weitz-directed New Moon for the role of Jane, one of the most dangerous vampires of The Volturi in Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight series. The young star confirms, “I really hope that works out. I think it’s too soon to tell right now, but it’d be really fun. I’m a huge fan.” There you have it. Dakota Fanning is in talks for a role in New Moon. The role of Jane would be very befitting.
Posted by dominie in Movies on January 10th, 2009
In September we reported the Guillermo del Toro had teamed up with crime writer Chuck Hogan to pen an epic vampire series titled The Strain. The series would chronicle the origins of vampires and deluge into their history, physiology, and lore of the vampiric race. It seems we’ve jumped the gun a little. With so many projects already lined up, how could del Toro make the time? MTV News caught up with the busy writer, director, and producer to clarify on that matter. Read on for the details.
“It looks incredibly busy and baroque, but everything has its own place. These things seem to happen simultaneously, but the reality is they are announced simultaneously,” the affable and visionary director said. “The novels – it’s been written already. Chuck Hogan and I have been collaborating for over a year. I wrote the outline for that novel almost two years ago.”
Elaborating on the process: “I wanted to find a place to create a vampiric epic that takes you all the way to the modern day, to find out when the vampires started – going beyond Mesopotamian myth, going beyond all of that,” del Toro grinned. “Not the attractive, Brad Pitt-esque, decadent lovers that have sex. I wanted to make them like an alternate species and an alternate spiritual creature to man, and the idea is that the series will flesh out that re-invented vampiric myth – respectful of the lore, but taking you through the ages.”
“The first novel is sort of a procedural horror novel, which starts at an investigation of a plane that is essentially like the ship in [Stoker’s] Dracula – it just stopped and everybody on board was dead,” del Toro teased, referencing “The Dementer,” a ship Dracula boards to London which arrives with just the Captain alive – the rest of the crew victim to the winged one’s thirst for blood. “And an investigation ensues. And what happens is an epidemic. But it’s an epidemic unlike I believe the stuff that is [big] in vampiric fiction.”
I’m all vampired-out, but this strain of vampires sounds like something one should not turn their backs on. The first book in del Toro’s series, The Strain, is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The film is due out sometime next summer.
Posted by dominie in Latest News, Movies on December 16th, 2008
Platinum Dunes will be ditching their plans to remake Kathryn Bigelow’s classic 1987 vampire western, Near Dark, due to the recent success of Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight film. In the original film, a young farmer falls in love with a girl who happens to be a vampire. Her vampire clan however, is much more dangerous than that of Edward Cullens, But still, the premise of the story would be too similar to that of Twilight’s said producer Brad Fuller.
In an interview with Empire online, Platinum Dunes producer Fuller says, “I think that Twilight was the same type of thing we were going for although Near Dark was a much darker, sexier, rated R version of that. But I’m concerned that, conceptually, that Near Dark and Twilight are too similar in terms of a vampire movie. For now, that movie is on hold…with the success of that film [Twilight], we would not measure up. It’s not the right time to make that.”
In the mean while, Platinum Dunes will focus on their recently announced project, an untitled supernatural thriller involving satanic cults. The film involves a girl investigating her brother’s death, but this time we won’t see the usual graphic gore—expect something in the more psychological realm.
Like Stanley G. Weinbaum, Henry Kuttner, Stan Winston and Dave Allen, Dan O’Bannon left our planet much too soon, leaving behind a world of saddened friends and fans. The sadness doesn’t linger, though, for Dan was a very funny man, and much beloved by those who knew him.
O’Bannon, with a double feature screening of “Lifeforce” and “Return of the Living Dead.” To experience Dan’s authentic adaptation of Colin Wilson’s seminal novel “The Space Vampires”, and his loopy, dead-on riff on zombie movies, in a Hollywood revival theater full of rabid fans, is to know what imaginative entertainment is all about.
