Author: ÜberSciFiGeek

Steph Song cast as Roulette in Season 9 of Smallville

Steph Song

Steph Song has just been cast as the villain in Smallville‘s Season 9 episode “Roulette.” In various forms of DC‘s Justice League comics, Roulette is a high stakes gambler who ran an underground casino that catered to villains and organized cage matches where superheroes were pitted against each other in fights to the death. While Roulette had no superpower of her own, she was extremely intelligent and used gadgets and combat skills in much the same way that Batman does.

Considering that Smallville consistently focuses on character development in a “secret origins” kind of way, it will be interesting to see how they introduce the character of Roulette. Roulette will be in Episode 6 of this season of Smallville. Season 9 premieres on the CW on Friday, September 25.

Related Links:
Smallville Website
Steph Song Website
Steph Song’s Island Films Website

Split Reason Contest and Sale

from Split Reason:

Sword slicing action! Win a set of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow Action Battlers!

Back to school sale! 20% off! Enter promo code SCHOOLNOOBS at checkout.

The last few months have been a battle of epic proportions as we defended our indoor gaming fortress from the wrath of our arch nemesis. (Earth’s nearest star; commonly referred to as “The Sun”.) There is no doubt it will return next year so we have exactly 10 months to acquire more fans, air conditioners, and cooling stations for the Xbox 360, which is clearly vulnerable to the sun’s primary weapon: Permeating Heat.

Although withered and dehydrated we still managed to step outside (then back inside) to see District 9. Never again will we season, skewer, barbecue, and feast on the likes of shellfish kind. Prawns have rights too! District 9 was very well done and we hope the same is true for the coincidental Section 8, a 360/PC game release we expect to pick-up on Tuesday.

Now that days are starting to chill and contract it’s time to get back to what we do best: staying up all night in front of an LCD screen, playing video games in comfortable room temperature, and making new shirts…

Sanctuary: The Complete First Season in Stores September 15

Even things that go bump in the night need protection...
Even things that go bump in the night need protection...

This September, E1 Entertainment proudly brings to DVD one of television’s most talked about and groundbreaking new series. Blazing an innovative trail, the hit Syfy original series Sanctuary features awe-inspiring virtual sets and visual effects as it follows Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) on her quest to study and protect the extraordinary and legendary creatures that secretly live among us. On September 15, prepare to believe in the unbelievable as Sanctuary: The Complete First Season debuts on DVD in a deluxe, 4-disc set featuring all 13 exhilarating Season One episodes plus over two hours of bonus features for only $44.98 SRP.

“With cutting-edge technology, Sanctuary creates a world teeming with mermaids, dinosaurs and monster mayhem.”

–TV Guide

Presented in 16×9 anamorphic widescreen with 5.1 Surround Sound and optional English and Spanish subtitles, Sanctuary: The Complete First Season also includes an arsenal of exclusive extras including: audio commentaries on all 13 episodes with cast and crew including Amanda Tapping, creator Damian Kindler, director Martin Wood and more; three making-of featurettes (“Welcome to the Sanctuary,” “Sanctuary Residents” and “Sanctuary Visual Effects”); the original Sanctuary webisodes (which provided the inspiration for the television series); a bloopers reel; behind-the-scenes photo gallery and an exclusive sneak peek at Season Two, which premieres on Syfy Friday, October 9 at 10/9 Central.

Sanctuary follows the adventures of the beautiful, enigmatic and always surprising Dr. Helen Magnus, her new recruit, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman and her fearless daughter Ashley. Together they track down, study and protect the strange and often terrifying creatures that secretly populate our world. Although dismissed as monstrous figments of our imaginations and the stuff of our nightmares, Magnus recognizes that the world is full of nature’s mistakes and triumphs. And she has the spectacular proof that they are indeed real. For some “abnormals”, Magnus is their protector. For a dangerous few, she is their captor.

Sanctuary stars Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus (Stargate SG-1), Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman (Dawson’s Creek), Emilie Ullerup as Ashley (jPod), Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt (Stargate Atlantis) and Ryan Robbins as Henry Foss (Battlestar Galactica).

Braving new worlds in each episode is just the start for Sanctuary. The series is also proudly credited for pioneering new techniques and technology in television production. Recently nominated for a 2009 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects, Sanctuary is one of the only series to shoot extensively on green screen. The series was also the first in North America to shoot with the new RED camera — a digital system that captures images at four times the resolution of a high definition camera, resulting in a look that is unmatched on television.

The Sanctuary creative team includes executive producer, writer and creator Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis); executive producer and lead actor Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis); and executive producer and director Martin Wood (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis). In addition, Sam Egan (Jeremiah, The Outer Limits) serves as executive producer and writer along with John Smith (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis) and Keith Beedie as executive producers. Sanctuary is distributed by Tricon Films and Television. For more information, visit sanctuaryforall.com.

“Weird Al” Yankovic — Ringtone

from “Weird Al” Yankovic:

The video for “Ringtone”, the 5th and final track from the “Internet Leaks” collection, can be seen right here! Video directed by Josh Faure-Brac and Dustin McLean from Current TV’s SuperNews.

“Ringtone,” along with the rest of Internet Leaks, will be available starting Tuesday, August 25th on:

iTunes!
Amazon!
Rhapsody!
Napster!
Zune!
Wal-Mart!

…and everywhere else that mp3s are sold!

And the video will be available on iTunes too!

And you’ll even be able to get the RINGTONE of “Ringtone”!

Can’t see the video because you live outside the U.S., or some other crazy reason? Try here.

Weta Rayguns VIP Newsletter

from Weta:

Ladies! Gentlemen! Etc.

It’s come to our knowledge that some of you actually appreciate the belittling and condescension in these missives. So we thought we’d indulge you!

Victory!

The latest scribbles to emerge from the house of Grordbort will be an adventure annual. We’ve managed to wring a few pages out of the still warm, yet mysteriously rigid fingers of a messenger boy who ran across the range during testing of the Righteous Bison.

Using anachronous adhesive, we have pasted a few sheets here!

Light!

There’s no end to the irony (or ironmongery) at Grordbort Industries. Smashing particles has long been a favoured pastime of the good Doctor, so it’s not surprising that the first lightweight gun to emerge from the sweatshop is a particle smasher that bears the name of a very heavy animal.

The Righteous Bison is for everyone. Seriously.

So small it’s hardly there at all!

What the Victorious Mongoose — Miniature Version lacks in bulk and mass, it makes up for in sheer concealability. Its outrageous ickleness has been revered by prominent members of the intergalactic shooterati:

“It takes 13 minutes of discharge of this little beauty to make a rather large cat jump. Literally hours of fun!” Lady Fionnula O’Dourliss

“I got one stuck in a molar on Mars. Damned thing cost me a crown!” Brig. Sir Humphrey L’Ardarcy

“I pre-ordered mine from the planetary underbelly via the intergalactic electric Web. You should too!” Anonymous

New Electric Web Talkatorium (Dr. Grordbort’s Infallible Forum)

An associate of ours in the colonies, the venerable Mr. Charles Song, of Shadow & Flame fame, has kindly agreed to host your blatant misuse of Her Majesty’s tongue in a new Talkatorium. It’s rather excellent and you simply must join in the banter! They’re a jovial and good-hearted bunch. For now. Right Here!

This is how you find us online!
http://fans.wetaNZ.com/Magnus/ | Twitter: @wetaworkshop | Facebook: Weta Workshop

New from Tor: Damien Broderick’s “The Ruined Queen of Harvest World”

The Ruined Queen of Harvest World

from Tor.com:

Damien Broderick, often dubbed the Dean of Australian science fiction, brings Tor.com a new original short story. “The Ruined Queen of Harvest World” is an adventure in the vein of the late, great Cordwainer Smith. Read the author’s introduction to the story for more on Cordwainer Smith and his legacy.

Broderick is a Senior Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne. His novel The Dreaming Dragons is listed in David Pringle’s SF: The 100 Best Novels. He has written or edited some 40 books, seven with Rory Barnes (most recently I’m Dying Here, their screwball-noir crime novel from PointBlank Press).

Winner of several Ditmar and Aurealis Year’s Best awards, he received the 2005 Distinguished Scholarship Award from the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts. Broderick is currently science fiction editor for Cosmos magazine. “The Ruined Queen of Harvest World” is strikingly illustrated by Kekai Kotaki. Kekai Kotaki is a Hawaiian artist and illustrator. He is working hard as Lead Concept Artist for ArenaNet on Guild Wars 2 and on a burgeoning illustration career.

Also on Tor.com, Part Two of “King of an Endless Sky” is now up! This week features reminiscences, and a march to the gerbils. This is an ongoing serial that will be running on Tor.com each Thursday, so stay tuned for future installments!

Last chance to buy tickets for Plan 9 Live!

from RiffTrax:

It’s your last chance to buy tickets to RiffTrax Live: Plan 9 From Outer Space!

We’ve already sold out theaters in Boston, Pittsburgh and New York City (twice!) — so if you haven’t yet gotten your tickets, consider getting to the theater early, or buying them online!

Click here for movie theaters and showtimes!

See you at the show!

ElfQuest News: Gathering of the Gargoyles 2009

from ElfQuest:

This just in: Wendy Pini will be a guest at the Gathering of the Gargoyles 2009 convention in Los Angeles, California.

The convention runs Friday through Monday, August 21-24. Wendy will appear on Sunday, August 23, and has several program items on the schedule that day.

From the web site, this description:

In 1994, Disney’s Gargoyles broke the mold of the traditional Disney animated series with a dramatic plot, ethnically diverse cast, and clean, gothic style. It ran for an unprecedented number of episodes and received a devoted fan following.

In August 2009, we gather again for our Thirteenth Annual convention. Mark your calendars now and get ready to return once again to the City of Angels, Los Angeles, California, the home of Disney and the center of the entertainment industry.

If you enjoyed the Gargoyles animated series, you won’t want to miss this gathering, as according to the web site, it is the final one.

D23 Expo Brings You the Ultimate Disney Fan Experience

from D23Expo.com:

The Walt Disney Studios is jumping on the D23 Expo bandwagon with four days (September 10-13) of exciting programming that includes major overviews of upcoming films by Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook and Disney-Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, plus a full schedule of events spotlighting new releases and newly restored digital versions of classic favorites.

Cook will present exclusive sneak peeks at such highly anticipated Disney features as Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Old Dogs (with Robin Williams and John Travolta), Prince of Persia and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (both from producer Jerry Bruckheimer), Tron: Legacy, plus updates on many more exciting projects. Lasseter will discuss and show materials from such upcoming Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios’ motion pictures as The Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, Toy Story 3, etc. Both presentations will be held at The Anaheim Convention Center in a 4000-seat arena.

All other film screenings and programs will take place in The Walt Disney Studios Theater (at the Anaheim Convention Center), a custom-built state-of-the-art venue with 3D capability, located within the Convention Center. All Disney Digital 3D presentations will be shown in RealD 3D, the world’s most widely used 3D cinema technology. Among the U.S. premieres at the D23 Expo will be new Disney Digital 3D versions of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the digital conversion of the original Tron, and a newly restored digital version of the Walt Disney classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Expo guests will get an exclusive look at all things Muppets, as well as meet the filmmakers and see exclusive presentations for such highly anticipated new Disney features as The Princess and the Frog, Toy Story 3 (from Disney-Pixar), Tron: Legacy, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment), and the new ABC-TV holiday animated special, Prep and Landing.

The Expo will also debut selected scenes from the upcoming Disney Digital 3D version of the Studio’s 1991 modern classic, Beauty and the Beast. Other highlights of the four-day event include a program devoted to the music from The Lion King, a panel discussion and screening of Sleeping Beauty, and the first U.S. screening of Trail of the Panda (Disney’s second co-production with China). There will also be presentations on two recent documentaries — the boys: the sherman brothers’ story and Walt & El Grupo.

A special screening series, “Fifty and Fabulous”, will unspool at 10:00 pm in the Studio Theater on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights spotlighting films that are celebrating their 50th anniversary — Darby O’Gill and the Little People, The Shaggy Dog, and Sleeping Beauty.

D23 EXPO — WALT DISNEY STUDIOS THEATER PROGRAM OF EVENTS

THURSDAY 9/10

1:00 PM — Beauty and the Beast panel discussion; and screening of selected scenes in Disney Digital 3D
4:00 PM — The Lion King music program
7:00 PM — the boys: the sherman brothers story panel discussion/ screening
10:00 PM — Darby O’Gill and the Little People screening

FRIDAY 9/11

11:00 AM — Dick Cook / Walt Disney Studios presentation (in the Arena)
1:00 PM — Screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3D plus Tim Burton shorts, Frankenweenie and Vincent
4:00 PM — Tron/Tron: Legacy presentation; Digital debut screening of original Tron
7:30 PM — Walt & El Grupo” presentation; Followed by screening of Saludos Amigos
10:00 PM — The Shaggy Dog screening

SATURDAY 9/12

10:00 AM — Disneynature presentation
12:00 PM — Snow White panel discussion; Followed by screening of Restored Print
3:00 PM — Princess and the Frog presentation
5:30 PM — Prep and Landing presentation
7:30 PM — Trail of the Panda screening
10:00 PM — Sleeping Beauty screening

SUNDAY 9/13

11:00 AM — John Lasseter / Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios presentation (in the Arena)
1:00 PM — Muppets presentation
4:00 PM — Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure screening
6:30 PM — Toy Story 3 presentation
7:00 PM — Toy Story and Toy Story 2 debuts in Disney Digital 3D

Tickets to the D23 EXPO are available at D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 EXPO and can be purchased for single days or for the full four days of festivities. Admission is $37 for a one-day adult ticket and $27 for children 3-12. Four-day passes are $111 for adults and $81 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on up to four admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 EXPO for themselves and their guests.

Special vacation packages including Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations, D23 EXPO tickets and theme park admission are available at the D23 EXPO website. Packages are available from both the Walt Disney Travel Company and the Anaheim/ Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, which is offering a limited number of area hotel rooms at special rates to those attending the D23 EXPO.

Many more details about D23 EXPO entertainment, events and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all the news by visiting D23Expo.com, as well as by following “Disney D23” at Twitter and on Facebook.

District 9 chat with lead designer Greg Broadmore

from Weta:

Listen to Weta Cast Episode XII

Special Guests:

Episode XII:

District 9 lead designer Greg Broadmore talks about the phenomenally successful movie. Tim Launder re-caps about Comic-Con and Weta’s new product ranges. And Daniel and Magnus geek out over a variety of things. As usual!

Listen to Episode XII here!

To be notified in your favourite RSS reader about future podcast episodes, please subscribe.

This is how you find us online!
http://fans.wetaNZ.com/Magnus/ | Twitter: @wetaworkshop | Facebook: Weta Workshop

“Weird Al” Yankovic: Internet Leaks!

from “Weird Al” Yankovic:

One week from today (Tuesday, August 25), my 5-track digital EP Internet Leaks will be officially released. It’ll be on iTunes, Amazon… you know, all the usual places.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve already heard 4/5 of the songs on it: My T.I. parody “Whatever You Like,” my Doors pastiche “Craigslist,” my Jungle Cruise homage “Skipper Dan” and my Charles Nelson Reilly tribute “CNR.”

The fifth and final track from Internet Leaks is called “Ringtone.” It will be released the same day as the EP — Tuesday the 25th. The video for it was done by the guys behind Current TV’s hilarious show SuperNews — and it will world-premiere this Friday night as part of a half-hour special show that I’m co-hosting with SuperNews creator Josh Faure-Brac. For more info on the show and where you can see it, go here.

If you’ve been holding out on buying these tracks individually up until now, you can pick all five up in one fell swoop on Tuesday. Who knows, maybe Internet Leaks will even chart like a “real” album!

The songs on Internet Leaks will all show up again on my next full album release, whenever that is (I’m assuming next year sometime, but there’s no way to be sure). Some people may say, “Why should I buy the Internet Leaks tracks now when they’re going to be on your next album anyway?” Well, if all you’re interested in is the physical CD, and you don’t mind waiting a year or so… you probably SHOULDN’T buy the tracks now. Nobody’s forcing you to buy the songs twice — I just wanted to make the tracks available so everybody could enjoy them as early as possible.

By the way, if you DO purchase Internet Leaks now, you’ll be able to take advantage of iTunes’ “Complete My Album” function when the full album becomes available. You’ll be able to painlessly add the missing tracks, and the full purchase price of Internet Leaks will be deducted from the cost of the album.

While I’m thinking of it, HUGE thanks go out to Liam Lynch, Divya Srinivasan and the folks at JibJab, who made the videos for “Craigslist,” “Skipper Dan” and “CNR,” respectively. If you haven’t seen those videos yet, check them out on my YouTube page. Or if YouTube won’t let you watch them for some crazy reason, try here.

In other news… Al’s Brain finished up a successful run at the Orange County Fair — a quarter of a million people so far have seen my 3-D movie, and the reviews have been fantastic. If you live in the Western Washington area, be sure to look for it at the Puyallup Fair next month!

And last week, I passed the “one million followers” threshold on Twitter. (Did Ashton Kutcher beat me to it? I haven’t really been paying attention.) Anyway, I’ve really been enjoying Twitter… in an obsessive/compulsive kind of way. If you’re not following me there already, check it out — I’m at twitter.com/alyankovic.

Other than that, I’ve been enjoying the summer with my family, and I’ve had a great time reading everybody’s tweets, posts and comments. Thanks so much for all the kind words about the new songs and videos!

Al