News

Bringing Up Oscar - The Story of the Men and Women Who Founded the Academy

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 11:34

The founders of the now infamous Academy were a motley crew as individuals, but when they first converged in Hollywood, then just a small town with dirt roads, sparks flew and fueled a common dream: to bring artistic validity to their beloved new medium.

New Film of Jules Verne’s Mysterious Island" Debuts On Syfy Channel

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:31

A new film version of "Jules Verne’s Mysterious Island," will be showing on the Syfy channel on Feb. 11, 2012 at 9 p.m. EST in the United States. Filmed on location in Louisiana, this cinematic adaptation of Jules Verne’s 1874 novel "The Mysterious Island" ("L'Île mystérieuse"), adapted for the screen by Cameron Larson ("Xtinction: Predator X"), is the directorial debut of Syfy on-screen favorite Mark Sheppard ("Battlestar Galactica," "Supernatural," "Firefly," "Warehouse 13").

If at First You Don’t Succeed, Die, Die Again: the Rebirth of Suspense in Erica Ferencik's New Novel

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:21

Karma is nasty. So is Dr. Astra Nathanson, the heartless narcissist at the center of a bone-chilling new novel that dares the reader to pause as it explores why some people just can’t seem to get it right—no matter how many times they come back to try.

Urban Fantasy Novel 'The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse' by Nina Post

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:14

Chicago-based urban fantasy author Nina Post will be bringing a touch of the brilliantly surreal to Curiosity Quills Press this Spring with her new novel, The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse. In Pothole City, the supernatural lurks behind the most mundane of fronts, as jaded monster hunter Kelly Discoll discovers when she gets a job to find a fallen angel, and is faced with an apocalyptic high-rise apartment populated with dimension-hopping monsters.

Cruise To The Bahamas Whilst Polishing Your Sci-Fi Writing Skills

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:09

Arc Manor is organizing a unique workshop for serious science fiction and fantasy writers. The workshop allows them to better their writing skills and teaches them how to navigate the publishing labyrinth. The workshop also allows writers a rare opportunity to network with top people in the industry, including the head of a major publishing house and a top-tier literary agent.

Romantic Horror "I Love You To Death" by Lloyd Lee Barnett

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Mon, 01/30/2012 - 19:56

Lloyd Lee Barnett's debut independent film, "I Love You To Death" (formerly Death Do Us Part), will have a limited theatrical release early this spring. Produced, written, and directed by Lloyd Barnett (known for his visual effects on Avatar, The Lord of the Rings, Rocky Balboa, Apocalypto, Superman II, and Speed Racer), the film has already received rave reviews from horror magazines and a large group of fans on the web.

Werewolves Invade Smalltown, America in Mark Fuson’s New Novel

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Fri, 01/27/2012 - 17:23

Mark Fuson’s new werewolf horror novel Darwinism takes readers into a typical American town with a population problem: werewolves are moving in and threatening to take over.

Pearry Teo Directs “Dead Inside” Horror Film

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:46

“Dead Inside” – a new film written and produced by Jennifer Zhang that signals director Pearry Teo’s return to independent horror – will be debuting at Sunset Gower Studios on February 24, 2012 as part of a special screening presented by NewFilmmakers Los Angeles. Beyond the film’s stylistic direction which blends American slasher elements with Asian ghost horror, “Dead Inside” is notable for a cast and creative team that includes Asian Americans striving to make their way in entertainment, and for the unique condition of being financed by a group of eight young Google engineers who share a love of film.

Johnny Depp, America's Favourite Actor

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 16:35

In 2011 he was the voice of Rango, he was Captain Jack Sparrow (again) and he was also a journalist. And, again this year, Johnny Depp has the distinction of being America's Favorite Actor. Next on the list are two actors who haven't actually acted in a movie this past year. Tied for number two are Denzel Washington, who was in the second spot last year, and Clint Eastwood who was number 9 on the list last year.

Mystery Writers of America Announces the 2012 Edgar Award Nominees

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 16:10

Mystery Writers of America has announced on the 203rd anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, its Nominees for the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2011. The Edgar Awards will be presented to the winners at the 66th Gala Banquet, April 26, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City.

New Star Trek Film Starts Shooting In 3D

Submitted by Dominic Kennedy on Sat, 01/14/2012 - 10:55

Paramount Pictures has announced that principal photography has commenced in Los Angeles, CA on the sequel to STAR TREK from director J.J. Abrams. The film will be released on May 17, 2013 in 3D. The 2009 re-launch of the "Star Trek" franchise by Abrams was met with critical acclaim and a worldwide gross of over $385 million at the box office.

Hubble Finds Farthest Protocluster Of Galaxies

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Tue, 01/10/2012 - 18:58

Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have uncovered a cluster of galaxies in the initial stages of development. It is the most distant such grouping ever observed in the early universe.

In a random sky survey made in near-infrared light, Hubble found five tiny galaxies clustered together 13.1 billion light-years away. They are among the brightest galaxies at that epoch and very young, existing just 600 million years after the big bang.

Fancy Savouring Charles Dicken's World?

Submitted by Dominic Kennedy on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 20:18

If you happen to find yourself at a loose end in London this year, and you're not sick of hearing about Charles 'fecking' Dickens, then I suppose, if you want, relive the world of Mr Dickens in England courtesy of British Tours Ltd, who also offer interesting aguidements (I've just invented a new word!) to Stonehenge at Dawn, (They also have a Stonehenge at Night, for those who couldn't care less about a few big stones in a field) the Normandy D Day sights (and sounds with new 2000 speaker system) and a Winston Churchill tour, and no the rumour that Albert Finney likes to occasionally pop into Chartwell to give a convincing portrayal of the great man, is not true.

Powerful Psychics and Self-Aware Plants in a New Sci-Fi Novel

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Thu, 01/05/2012 - 00:03

Borne of the creative mind of author Joseph M. Armillas is a work of science fiction that will take readers out to their mundane realities and propel them into a fantastical and futuristic reality that extends beyond the Earth and challenges conventional concepts of sentient life, consciousness, and the capabilities of the human mind.

Who Should Be King Orden In The Runelords Movie?

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Mon, 01/02/2012 - 12:12

Bruce Willis' fans can vote for him to play the role of King Orden in the upcoming Runelords movie, as part of a new approach to movie making. But according to the producer David Farland, the head of the Runelords Movie Group, Willis is doing poorly in the poll.

Willis is being considered by producers to play the part of King Orden in the major epic fantasy franchise, The Runelords. He is up against Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe for the part.

Sisterhood of Dune, Frank Herbert's son continues the epic saga

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 19:33

Authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are releasing Sisterhood of Dune, their first new installment in the popular Dune series in two-and-a-half years. Fans are eagerly anticipating the two-pronged nationwide book-signing tour the authors will launch on January 3, the same day the book will be released. The authors will do two separate tours, with Brian Herbert taking a west coast route, while Anderson concentrates on the midwest and the south, for a total of 17 cities. See Full Tour Schedule.

YouTube Sensors The Last War Crime

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 18:42

Though still not even in official release, the writer and director of "The Last War Crime" says that YouTube is already trying to suppress the movie, which is a new full-length feature film about indicting Dick Cheney for torture. The movie's writer and director, who goes by the name of The Pen, asks, "And isn't that something billions of people want to see?" But, says The Pen, YouTube does not want their visitors to see the preview clip of the waterboarding scene from the movie, for the purported reason that it contains nudity, or is otherwise sexually provocative. And a protest is mobilizing against this accusation.

Six of Lewis Grizzard's Books Are Re-Introduced After 12 Years Off the Market

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 18:26

Lewis Grizzard, the famed writer and columnist who recalled the mythic South with his folksy humor and nostalgia, is back in bookstores after 12 years off the market, in time for the holiday shopping season. Re-introducing six of Grizzard's best-loved books in paperback and e-book form, publishers NewSouth Books and Green-E Books are seeing a high level of interest from buyers, even though Grizzard passed away 17 years ago.

The Beatles Yellow Submarine now an iPad App

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Sat, 12/10/2011 - 11:59

Following the recent first anniversary of The Beatles catalog's worldwide digital exclusivity on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com), an exclusive Beatles 'Yellow Submarine' book that lets readers tap their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to immerse themselves in the film's colorful sights and sounds is available for free download on Apple's iBookstore worldwide Friday 9th December.

NASA's Kepler Zones In On Habitable Planet

Submitted by Patrick Dooley on Tue, 12/06/2011 - 12:10

NASA's Kepler mission has confirmed its first planet in the "habitable zone," the region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface. Kepler also has discovered more than 1,000 new planet candidates, nearly doubling its previously known count. Ten of these candidates are near-Earth-size and orbit in the habitable zone of their host star. Candidates require follow-up observations to verify they are actual planets.