Let's go to the movies - well almost

Note from Blogger/Editor Ann Wilkes: Sorry, sf fans. I have been without Internet access at home for a week!!! I'm cobbling this post together for you at Starbucks. Now, imagine carrying on with two online classes without Internet at home. It's been a difficult week to say the least. On the other hand, my job prospects just improved tremendously. I'm even going to have benefits. Would you believe that one of them is a free monthly massage? I'm so ready for that to happen!

Can't wait to see this!



Now we nerds will have our day! And it's on YouTube!

The internet and nerddom alike are irrevocably changed with the launch of The Nerdist Channel on YouTube today. Chris Hardwick and Nerdist Industries are bringing a truckload of celebrity talent to the Nerdist Channel. They’re going to take you Face to Face with Weird Al Yankovic interviewing top celebrities. Neil Degrasse Tyson and Neil Patrick Harris will both be bringing their star power to the Nerdist Channel, one more literally than the other as Neil Degrasse Tyson is bringing his hit radio program Star Talk to the channel. Rob Zombie will be bringing his own brand of awesomeness to play in the Nerdist landscape and the Dudesons are going to take this party past the legal speed limit in Gumball 3000.

The Nerdist Channel show lineup has something for everyone. Harry Knowles has unleashed his inner puppet on the film news world in Ain’t It Cool thanks to The Henson Company. See Chris Hardwick knock famous people down a pin or two as he bowls them over in Chris Hardwick's All Star Celebrity Bowling. If your word for nerd is “otaku,” revel in Weird S#!t from Japan. And if you just like to see cute things exploding, there's a show called...uh...Cute Things Exploding. Plus new ways to experience some of your favorites like Kids in the Hall, Farscape and Simian Undercover Detective Squad.

Chris Hardwick has this to say about his brainchild, the Nerdist Channel: "Our programming mandate was simple: what would WE want to see exist in the world? Unlike many production companies or networks, we are actually IN the demographic of the content we're creating... We program stuff we love. All of our shows are very personal and we're very passionate about what they represent." You can read more of what Chris Hardwick has to say about his channel launch in his letter to Nerdist fans.

Viewers can subscribe here.

I've been getting a flurry of short film requests. I'm going to post them here without commentary. (I did mention the bad week.) You can tell me which is worth getting behind.

Hibernation is a sci-fi short film in which an astronaut has a close encounter with his female instructor rather than whatever else he expected to find in space. Not a lot to go on. Hopefully the film is better than the description.

Trailer
Campaign video


OK, these guys say their script brought them to Sundance this year.
EMIT
Yeah, it's time spelled backwards. And that's what the film is about: time running backwards.
Here's their Kickstarter page.

This is for the guys. I'll look the other way while you watch this movie in which, well, it's sexist and has boobs. Lauren Francesca has been shooting these sf clips for Barelypolitical: http://youtu.be/pgapQkMkWNU

Now if I can just track down and watch that video for school before 8PM Sunday night, things will be peachy. Have a great weekend!

Friday Film Fun

It is indeed a happy Friday for me, Ann Wilkes. I landed a job yesterday and sold a story to a pro mag today! w00t! Also of note: My post on suspending disbelief generated a discussion at the Science Fiction Readers, Writers, Collectors and Artists group on LinkedIn and is at 97 comments and counting. Feel free to go join the group and then join the fun there. Perhaps, when I have the time, I'll try to summarize that thread here.

Forgive the lazy linking, but I'm off to celebrate. ;)

This just in from The Hunger Games folks:

HAPPY HUNGER GAMES!

The 74th Annual Hunger Games have finally arrived! Go see the highly anticipated film that has been receiving rave reviews from critics across the country in theaters and IMAX everywhere starting today. The world will be watching this weekend. Will you?

Don't miss out on the movie event of the year. Get your tickets now.

THE HUNGER GAMES is based on the best-selling novel by Suzanne Collins.

*AND*

DEFEND KATNISS AGAINST THE CAPITOL! From the award-winning creators of indie game sensation CANABALT comes the official FREE game, THE HUNGER GAMES: GIRL ON FIRE.

Download the game now for iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch at www.bit.ly/PlayHungerGames!

Play as KATNISS EVERDEEN, the young heroine from District 12, whose sharp instincts are matched only by her even sharper bow-and-arrow shot! Help her find her way back home, while taking down the tracker jackers with your trusty bow and arrow — but be careful once you get to District 12... The Capitol's hovercrafts may come looking for you!

Currently #26 on the iTunes App Store and #17 in Games (the largest and most competitive category) THE HUNGER GAMES: GIRL ON FIRE also has 4.5 out of 5 stars so be sure to download it now!

Please find photos and video previews of the game attached below.

Be sure to check out THE HUNGER GAMES in theaters tonight at midnight!

In the meantime, tour The Capitol!

The Host, based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer (of Twilight fame) premieres March 29th.

Lockout has a new release date of April 13th.





Here's a new five minute clip:

SYNOPSIS:
Starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace and set in the near future, LOCKOUT follows a falsely convicted ex-government agent (Pearce), whose one chance at obtaining freedom lies in the dangerous mission of rescuing the President’s daughter (Grace) from rioting convicts at an outer space maximum security prison.

Official Site: http://www.lockoutfilm.com/
Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/lockoutmovie
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LockoutMovie



I also have more AM2 news as follows:

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 3, 2012) – The extremely popular and highly
anticipated sequel KAIJI 2 (2011/Drama, Thriller/Approx. 133 min) to be screened EXCLUSIVELY at this summer’s most anticipated Anime, Manga and Music event AM2. Two screenings will be available-one EXCLUSIVELY for Passport holders ONLY and the second for Passport holders preferred (with general attendees as seating permits).. Ever since first appearing in 1996 as a serial manga in Kodansha’s Young Magazine, KAIJI has amassed a cult-like following, recording book sales of over 18 million copies and
leading to a box office hit film adaptation in 2009 entitled: KAIJI. More info and attendee registration can be found at www.am2con.org

“With our growing guest list, screenings and activities AM2 will be the place to be this summer in Southern California for all that is anime and manga,” states Chase Wang of AM2, “Get your Passports today and join us for all the fun!”

The much-awaited second film is set to hit the screens as KAIJI 2, based on what many assert is the most popular episode from the comic book series, “The Greed Swamp”. Kaiji author Nobuyuki Fukumoto was at the center of the screenplay writing process for the sequel, adding a new high-risk game of his invention to ratchet up the psychological intensity. There’s Chinchirorin, the “dice game from Hell” that lifts Kaiji out of an underground slave labor existence to take part in Princess and Slave, a live-or-die game of choice, and finally, the “Man-eating Swamp” – a monstrous pachinko machine capable of instantly destroying lives of anyone dazzled by its big payoff. On his own, Kaiji stands little chance of beating any of these games. But that won’t stop him from staking his life on saving his friends and restoring everyone’s lives!

*AND*

EXPERIENCE DISNEYLAND'S CARS LAND AT A DISCOUNT WITH YOUR AM2 PASSPORT

Engines Start Revving at Cars Land and Passport Holders Can Be One of the First to Experience Cars Land! Get your Passports Today and Experience the Difference!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 9, 2012) The Happiest Place on Earth gets happier on June 15, 2012 with the grand opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and the Carthay Circle Theatre at Disney California Adventure park and AM2 Passport attendees will be able to be one of the first people to experience the new park attractions at a major discount by obtaining an official Passport for the highly anticipated anime, manga and music convention event June 15-17, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center! More info and attendee registration can be found at www.am2con.org.

ENTER THE WORLD OF THE CURRY KINGDOM AS AM2 ANNOUNCES US CALIFORNIA PREMIERE
OF THE LEGENDARY MANGA BASED TV DRAMA SERIES SEQEL FILM: KAIBUTSU-KUN THE
MOVIE

One of Many U.S. Convention Film Premieres Happening this June 15-17, 2012 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Hilton! Get your Passports Today and Experience the Difference!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 14, 2012) The extremely popular and highly anticipated sequel to the legendary manga based TV drama series comes to life in KAIBUTSU-KUN THE MOVIE (2011/Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy/Approx. 103 min) to be screened EXCLUSIVELY at this summer¹s most anticipated Anime, Manga and Music event AM2. Two screenings will be available-one EXCLUSIVELY for Passport holders ONLY and the second for Passport holders preferred (with general attendees as seating permits). More info and attendee registration can be found at www.am2con.org.