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June 25th, 2008 by Davodd

2008 Saturn Awards: Lost, Enchanted lead winners

Veteran TV show Lost and cartoon-come-to-life musical comedy film, Enchanted, cleaned up at the 34th Annual Saturn Awards Tuesday night. Lost took home four trophies for Best Network TV series and three of the four TV acting categories. Enchanted won for Best Fantasy Film, Best Actress (Amy Adams) and Best Music.

Best Science Fiction Film went to Cloverfield and Best Horror Film went to the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton musical, Sweeney Todd. The Best Director nod went to Zach Snyder for his film, 300, which revolutionized green-screen technology and the use of computer-generated imagery to bring the comic book tothe big screen.

Will Smith picked up a best acting award for his almost-one-man-show tour de force turn in, I Am Legend.

The complete list of winners follows:

2008 Saturn Award Winners

Presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, June 24, 2008 in Universal City, California.

  • Best Science Fiction Film: Cloverfield
  • Best Fantasy Film: Enchanted
  • Best Horror Film: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet St.
  • Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film: 300
  • Best Actor: Will Smith (I Am Legend)
  • Best Actress: Amy Adams (Enchanted)
  • Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)
  • Best Supporting Actress: Marcia Gay Harden (The Mist)
  • Best Performance by a Younger Actor: Freddie Highmore (August Rush)
  • Best Direction: Zack Snyder (300)
  • Best Writing: Brad Bird (Ratatouille)
  • Best Music: Alan Menken (Enchanted)
  • Best Costume: Colleen Atwood (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet St.)
  • Best Make-Up: Ve Neill, Martin Samuel (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End)
  • Best Special Effects: Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Russell Earl, John Frazier (Transformers)
  • Best Animated Film: Ratatouille
  • Best International Film: Eastern Promises
  • Best Network Television Series: Lost
  • Best Syndicated / Cable Television Series: Dexter
  • Best Presentation on Television: Family Guy: Blue Harvest
  • Best Actor on Television: Matthew Fox (Lost)
  • Best Actress on Television: Jennifer Love Hewitt (Ghost Whisperer)
  • Best Supporting Actor on Television: Michael Emerson (Lost)
  • Best Supporting Actress on Television: (TIE): Summer Glau (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) / Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)
  • Best DVD Release: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (remix)
  • Best DVD Special Edition Release: Blade Runner (5 Disc Ultimate Edition)
  • Best DVD Classic Film Release: The Monster Squad
  • Best DVD Collection: Mario Bava (Box Sets 1 & 2)
  • Best Television Series Release on DVD: Heroes (Season 1)
  • Best Retro Television Series Release on DVD: Twin Peaks (Definitive Gold Box Ed.)
  • The Life Career Award: Robert Halmi, Sr.
  • The Life Career Award: Robert Halmi, Jr.
  • The George Pal Memorial Award: Guillermo del Toro
  • The Filmmakers Showcase Award: Matt Reeves
  • The Special Achievement Award: Tim & Donna Lucas
  • The Service Award: Fred Barton

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June 25th, 2008 by Davodd

New Amsterdam star lands lead role in ‘Virtuality’

Nikolaj Coster-WaldauFans of sexy red-head Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are rejoicing. The star of the cancelled-too-soon FOX fantasy series, New Amsterdam, will be back on home theatre screens in 2009 starring in a new science fiction show called “Virtuality.”

Coster-Waldau will play “Commander Pike” (a not-so-subtle nod to Star Trek fandom), the highest-ranking officer on an interstellar spaceship named Phaeton.

The premise of the new show follows the crew of the first manned spaceflight on a 10-year journey from Earth to a nearby star system. Being that the trip will take years in cramped quarters, the crew are mostly kept sane by tapping into an on-board computer to allow their minds roam free in computer simulated adventures. And, of course, SOMETHING GOES HORRIBLY WRONG!! (Viola, a science fiction TV series)

The concept was created by TV power producer team Lloyd Braun and Gail Berman (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel).

The concept was developed into a two-hour TV pilot by the writing team of Battlestar Glactica veterans, Michael Taylor and Ronald B. Moore. [Moore also either created or wrote scripts for Carnivale, Roswell and Star Trek: TNG, DS9 and Voyager.]

The director is Peter Berg, who is best known for creating the critically-acclaimed Friday Night Lights on NBC and is currently in pre-production for re-making Dune as a feature film to be released in 2010.

Officially being promoted as a 2-hour science fiction television movie set to air in early 2009, media newspapers are calling Virtuality a “backdoor pilot.” This means is enough people watch it, it could be ordered to full series.

Other actors cast to be in the show include:

  • James D’Arcy (Exorcist: The Beginning), the “psych officer” who creates the virtual reality programs the crew engages in.
  • Joy Bryant (Spider-Man 2) as “Alice Thibadeau”
  • Sienna Guillory (Eragon) as “Rika Goddard”
  • Nelson Lee (Blade: The Series) as “Keni Yamaguchi”
  • Richie Coster (The Dark Knight) as “Jimmy Johnson”
  • Omar Metwally (Rendition) as “Dr. Eyal Meyer”
  • Jimmi Simpson (Carnivale, Rose Red) as unknown character
  • Kerry Bishé (Sex and the City) as unknown character

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June 23rd, 2008 by Davodd

Torchwood Renewed for 3rd season – sort of…

News from the BBC: Captain Jack Harkness will be back with more adventures in 2009 as Torchwood got the green light for more new episodes.

But in a disappointing turn for Torchwood fandom, the “season” will consist of only five new episodes, which begin filming in August.

This announcement comes after series creator Russel T. Davies said that after in 2009, he would be leaving BBC Wales, where he produces Torchwood as well as the newly invigorated Doctor Who series and spin-off Sarah Jane Adventures.

Doctor Who also is affected by Davies’ departure. It will have only 4 episodes in 2009 – which are being aired as specials on the BBC. There is no news whether Sci FI Channel, which airs Doctor Who in the U.S. will pick up those four specials next year.

In the United States, the five new Torchwood episodes are expected to air on BBC America beginning in January or February 2009.

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June 22nd, 2008 by Davodd

Remembering George Carlin – 1937-2008

Although he is best known as a stand-up comedian and his infamous list of words one can never say on TV, George Carlin, who died at age 71 Sunday, also left a mark among science fiction and fantasy fans.

From 1979′s Americathon film of alternate history to roles in Kevin Smith’s Dogma or Disney/Pixar’s Cars, Carlin used humor – often in fantasy and speculative fiction settings to deliver a biting commentary on modern society.

After a long history of heart ailments, Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. June 22 in a Los Angeles hospital of heart failure. He was 71.

The following is a list of some of his more “far out” character performances in science fiction, fantasy and horror-related film and TV.

  • Happily N’Ever After as The Wizard (2006)
  • Cars as Fillmore (2006)
  • Tarzan II as Zugor (2005)
  • Scary Movie 3 as Architect (2003)
  • Dogma as Cardinal Ignatius Glick (1999)
  • The Simpsons as Munchie (1998)
  • Shining Time Station as The Conductor (1991-1993)
  • Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey as Rufus (1991)
  • Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure as Rufus (1989)
  • Justin Case as Justin Case (1988)
  • Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends as The Narrator (1984)
  • Americathon (1979)

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June 22nd, 2008 by Davodd

Top Ten Genre Movies: Weekend of June 22, 2008

Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of June 20-22, 2008.

RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]

  1. (1) Get Smart – $39.2 million | $39.2 million [$80 million]
  2. (2) Kung Fu Panda – $21.7 million | $155.6 million [$130 million]
  3. (3) The Incredible Hulk – $21.6 million | $30.5 million [$150 million]
  4. (5) The Happening – $10.0 million |$50.3 million [$60 million]
  5. (6) Indiana Jones/Crystal Skull – $8.4 million |$290.8 million [$185 million]
  6. (9) Iron Man – $4.0 million | $304.8 million [$140 million]
  7. (11) Narnia: Prince Caspian – $1.7 million | $135.5 million [$200 million]
  8. (19) The Fall – $0.13 million | $1.6 million [budget unknown]
  9. (29) Superhero Movie – $0.02 million | $25.8 million [budget unknown]
  10. (34) Baghead – $0.005 million | $0.02 million [budget unknown]

Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, spy fi, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.

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June 20th, 2008 by Davodd

SFTV Ratings: June 13 – 19, 2008

Following are the ratings for speculative fiction shows that aired on the broadcast networks in the past week (all shows were in repeat):

SHOW | [NETWORK] | Rating (No. of Households)

  • 1. Smallville [CW] 1.5 (1.69 million households) 
  • 2. Supernatural [CW] 1.3 (1.47 million households)
  • 3. Reaper [CW] 1.1 (1.24 million households)
  • 4. Ghost Whisperer [CBS] 1.0 (1.13 million households)

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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June 16th, 2008 by Davodd

SFWA warns beginning writers about scam contest

The SFWA is issuing the following press release about a scam targeted toward aspiring speculative fiction writers:

Writer Beware, a publishing industry watchdog group sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, shines a light into the dark corners of the shadow-world of literary scams, schemes, and pitfalls.

Fake Contest Alert

This week, a call for submissions in a SFWA-sponsored contest was posted on Craigslist and FLiXER, promising large cash prizes and publication.

Writers take warning: this contest is a fake.

Here’s the fake pitch:

A check for $10 must accompany each entry, made out to “Science Fiction Writers of America.” The mailing address is a “submissions center” in San Diego.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. is currently accepting science fiction story submissions of no more than 3000 words.

All genres of science fiction accepted. Winners will get published in a Random House book titled “Asimovs of the Future.” The cash prizes for winners are as follows:

1st Place: $10,000
2nd Place: $5,000
3rd Place: $2,000
10 Honorary Mentions: $1000

All winners and honorary mentions will get published. A percentage of the royalties for the book will also be included as part of the prize. The exact percentage has yet to be determined.

WHAT WRITER BEWARE SAYS:

I can only imagine the number of hopeful writers who will be enticed by the SFWA name, not to mention the promise of enormous prizes plus a commercial publishing credit. Once again, however: this contest is a fake.


I’ve confirmed this with SFWA’s president, Michael Capobianco, but to anyone who’s familiar with SFWA, the bogusness is obvious. SFWA does not conduct writing contests (and if it did, why would it advertise them on Craigslist, rather than on its own website?). It has no San Diego address.

Its publisher is Penguin, not Random House.

Presumably, the contest is an entry fee scam — though for a scam, $10 seems a little unambitious. One also wonders how whoever is behind the scam plans to cash checks made out to SFWA.

SFWA is investigating. In the meantime, if you’ve entered this contest, please contact Writer Beware immediately at: beware@sfwa.org

 

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June 16th, 2008 by Davodd

Top 10 Genre Movies: Weekend of June 15, 2008

Following are the Top 10 speculative fiction movies in release in North America for the weekend of June 13-15, 2008.

RANK #. (Overall Rank) Title – Weekend Gross | Total Gross [Budget]

  1. (1) The Incredible Hulk – $54.5 million | $54.5 million [$150 million]
  2. (2) Kung Fu Panda – $34.3 million | $118.0 million [$130 million]
  3. (3) The Happening – $30.5 million | $30.5 million [$60 million]
  4. (5) Indiana Jones/Crystal Skull – $35.5 million |$275.3 million [$185 million]
  5. (7) Iron Man – $5.1 million | $297 million [$140 million]
  6. (9) Narnia: Prince Caspian – $3.0 million | $131.7 million [$200 million]
  7. (14) Horton Hears a Who! – $0.2 million | $153.4 million [$85 million]
  8. (15) Nim’s Island – $0.2 million | $46.7 million [$37 million]
  9. (25) The Forbidden Kingdom – $0.07 million | $52 million [budget unknown]
  10. (29) Superhero Movie – $0.03 million | $25.8 million [budget unknown]

Source: Box Office Mojo – list only includes science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy/horror titles.

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June 15th, 2008 by Davodd

SFTV Ratings: June 6 – 11, 2008

Following are the ratings for speculative fiction shows that aired on the broadcast networks last week (all shows were in repeat):

SHOW | [NETWORK] | Rating (No. of Households)

  • 1. Ghost Whisperer 9 p.m. [CBS] 3.9 (4.40 million households)
  • 2. Ghost Whisperer 8 p.m. [CBS] 3.7 (4.17 million households)
  • 3. Smallville [CW] 1.3 (1.47 million households) 
  • 4. (tie) Supernatural [CW] 1.2 (1.35 million households)
  • 4. (tie) Reaper [CW] 1.2 (1.35 million households)

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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June 7th, 2008 by Davodd

SFTV Ratings: May 30 – June 5, 2008

Following are the ratings for speculative fiction shows that aired on the broadcast networks last week (all shows were in repeat):

SHOW | [NETWORK] | Rating (No. of Viewers)

  • 1. Ghost Whisperer [CBS] 1.4 (1.58 million viewers)
  • 2. Reaper [CW] 1.1 (1.24 million viewers)
  • 3. (tie) Smallville [CW] 0.6 (0.68 million viewers) 
  • 3. (tie) Supernatural [CW] 0.6 (0.68 million viewers)

Source: Nielsen Media Research

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