Author: ÜberSciFiGeek

‘Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome’ Not Moving Forward As TV Series On Syfy, May Become Digital Series

from Deadline:

It’s a case of bad news/good news forBattlestar Galactica fans who have been flocking to the Web to watch an unauthorized trailer for the long-in-the-works offshoot Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome over the past 36 hours. After lengthy deliberations, Syfy has decided not to go forward with the project, about the young years of William Adama, as a regular TV series. Blood & Chrome, initially envisioned as a Web series, was greenlighted as a two-hour TV pilot in October 2010. Because of intensive post-production, including special effects, the pilot was not delivered to Syfy until last November. As of January, Syfy president original programming Mark Stern was quoted as saying that he the network brass were “trying to figure out the economics right now” and that he hoped those would be figured out. Now, the network has passed on the project as a regular series but is looking to do it as a digital one, while airing the already produced pilot on the network as a movie. “Though the vision for “Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome” has evolved over the course of the past year, our enthusiasm for this ambitious project has not waned,” Stern said in a statement today. “We are actively pursuing it as was originally intended: a groundbreaking digital series that will launch to audiences beyond the scope of a television screen. The 90-minute pilot movie will air on Syfy in its entirety at a future date.”

Despite the lengthy production and decision-making, the buzz about Blood & Chrome never died among Battlestar fans. It went into overdrive over the past couple of days following a WonderCom panel over the weekend with Kevin Grazier, the scientific adviser for Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica series, where he screened what was described as a trailer for Blood & Chrome. That trailer, to Trent Reznor and Karen O’s cover of “Immigrant Song” for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, found its way to the Web on Monday night and has gone viral — garnering some 100,000 views in 24 hours. The problem was that this was not an official trailer but a demo reel not intended for public consumption and thus not put through the process of clearing music and other rights. It is still unclear how the video made its way to WonderCon, but NBCUniversal today moved swiftly to take down the multiple copies that had popped up on YouTube. Universal Cable Prods, which produces Blood & Chrome, may still shop the project to other networks. Michael Taylor wrote the teleplay from a story byBattlestar Galactica executive producer David Eick, Taylor and Bradley Thompson & David Weddle.

Jenna-Louise Coleman replaces Karen Gillan in ‘Doctor Who’

from Digital Spy:

Jenna-Louise Coleman has been announced as the new Doctor Who companion.

The Titanic actress is confirmed to be replacing Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) as the assistant toMatt Smith‘s Time Lord in the BBC sci-fi show’s seventh series. Coleman’s debut episode will air at Christmas.

Jenna-Louise Coleman

© PA Images

Doctor Who, Matt Smith<br /> BBC

© BBC Pictures

> Doctor Who: Jenna-Louise Coleman – The press conference in full

Speaking at BBC’s Broadcasting house this morning, she said that she was a “huge fan of the show”, commenting: “I’m beyond excited, I can’t wait to get cracking; working alongside Matt I know is going to be enormous fun and a huge adventure.

“Matt Smith did my audition with me. It was fun and I felt like we were in it together.”

Coleman also revealed that her personal favorite companions were Billie Piper and Karen Gillan.

Showrunner Steven Moffat said: “It always seems impossible when you start casting these parts, but when we saw Matt and Jenna together, we knew we had our girl. She’s funny and clever and exactly mad enough to step on board the TARDIS.

“It’s not often the Doctor meets someone who can talk even faster than he does, but it’s about to happen. Jenna is going to lead him his merriest dance yet. And that’s all you’re getting for now. Who she’s playing, how the Doctor meets her, and even where he finds her, are all part of one of the biggest mysteries for the Time Lord ever.”

Moffat confirmed that Doctor Who will air six episodes in 2012 and a further eight in 2013 for the show’s 50th anniversary. In total, series seven comprises of 14 big, blockbuster-movie episodes.

The writer also dropped hints about Gillan and Arthur Darvill‘s departures, claiming that it would involve a final encounter with the Weeping Angels and that not everybody would make it out alive. “And I mean it this time,” added Moffat.

Rumors that Coleman, who has also appeared in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, had been cast in the show first emerged this morning,

Gillan was confirmed to be departing Doctor Who along with co-star and on-screen husband Arthur Darvill (Rory Williams) back in December.

Doctor Who Series 7 first look

© BBC / Adrian Rogers

It is known that they will leave part way through series seven in a “heartbreaking end”, and Gillan has teased that her exit will have a “strong impact”.

She also described her final Doctor Who storyline as a “damn good” one that will see Amy go out “on a high”.

See the complete article including videos at Digital Spy here.

Cliff Simon to “Dish” on Stargate, Days and the Delights of Dog Rescue

from WORMHOLERIDERS:

We are pleased to announce our next special guest host, a very gifted actor, the talented and warm hearted Mr. Cliff Simon!

As previously reported, on Sunday March 18, 2012 6 PM Pacific and 9 PM Eastern time, Cliff Simon will chat with his fans about one of his greatest passions, the benefits of Dog Rescue and adoption, his new guest starring role in Days of Our Lives in April, and if we behave ourselves, perhaps some Stargate too!

Join us and learn about Cliff Simon’srecent decision to join Twitter on Friday March 16, 2012 and more including his wonderful efforts with Karma Rescue during our human interest radio program this Sunday evening.

 

See complete article at WormholeRiders

Indie publishers take on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY with a little help from KICKSTARTER

from FUBAR Press:

FUBAR PRESS, publisher of the Kickstarter funded New York Times Best Seller FUBAR: Empire of the rising Dead are teaming up with fellow Independent publisher 215 INK to bring free comics to shops all across the country via the brand new Indie comic distributor Liber on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. Both publishers are contributing 28 page stand alone comics to the event and are launching a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding for the printing of those comics.

DONATE TO CAMPAIGN BY VISITING http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1607639297/fubar-press-215-ink-free-comic-book-day-2012

“Kickstarter has been an immense game changer for independent comics in general and small-press indie comics in particular. A few years ago we couldn’t even hope to participate in an event like Free Comic Book Day. Kickstarter has been great because not only does it help us raise funds, but it also is an excellent tool to help spread the word on events like FCBD and introduce comic shops to a new distributor like Liber.” says Jeff McComsey, Editor in Chief of FUBAR PRESS.

Andrew DelQuadro of 215 INK had this to add, “My only regret is that we didn’t start this project earlier and pull in a few more of our fellow indie publishers and make this a gigantic event. Next year We want to go bigger.”

215 INK and FUBAR PRESS are asking for a modest $1,200 in their campaign but have said,  “The more money raised, the more books will be printed and the more shops we can ship our books to.”

Any questions can fielded through Jeff McComsey: humansmartbomb@gmail.com.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/liberdistro
Friend us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liberdistro


 

THE LINE UP:

FUBAR PRESS’s contribution:

FUBAR: THE DEVIL’S DANCE FLOOR.

Cover by: Steve Becker   Story and art by: Jeff McComsey

The Devil’s Dance floor is a 28-page stand alone World War II story about the remnants of the British 6th Army in North Africa’s last stand against zombie Erwin Rommel’s Undead Afrika Korp. Down to the very last bullets, bombs and bayonets these battle hardened Brits are out to prove that he who dares, Wins.

From 215 ink:

We have 2 shorts in one awesome book. 215’s book will be a flip style book.

SIDE 1

VIC BOONE: SEA OF TROUBLE.

Cover by: Jim McMunn Story by: Shawn Aldridge Art by:Jason Copland

This 12 page short follows Future Portland’s notorious ex motorcycle daredevil turned private eye as he takes a vacation from the non stop robot ass beatings, femme fatale double crosses and cigarette smoking to relax at the shore… where he is immediately attacked and double crossed.

SIDE 2

APES WITH UZIS: THE PACKAGE

Cover by: Jeff McComsey Written by Mark Bertolini Art by Peebo Mondia

Created by Rolf Ledejgard

This 12 page short introduces Milford “Ecus” Lang as the premier black market delivery-monkey in the Primate Nation. After getting handpicked to deliver a mysterious package, Ecus then lands the job offer of a lifetime…is he monkey enough to take it?

Pocket God Comics Issue No. 14 Haunts the App Store with “Para-Abnormal Activity”

Ape Entertainment and Bolt Creative announced today that Pocket God Comics issue No. 14 is now available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

In “Para-Abnormal Activity,” the last issue before a new story arc begins, the two-tribes crash into a mysterious island while trying to get home from their previous adventure.

Straight from the spooky aisles of ghostliness and with the girls unable to regenerate, this may not be the best time to hang out on a haunted island. Yep… ghosts, a mystery, and a dubious murder make this an ooky-spooky, extra-kooky issue of Pocket God.

Based on Pocket God, one of the best-selling iPhone apps of all-time, the full-color digital comic book series is one of the most successful digital comics to-date. The comics are available on the App Store via iVerse Media, a digital distribution partner of Ape Entertainment.

And remember, the Pocket God Comics App is updated frequently with all kinds of free extras including The Pygmy Peril newsletter, an exclusive re-mastered version of the first Pocket God animated short, free Little Green Men comic short stories, and more cool stuff!

Pricing and Availability:

The Pocket God Comics App is available for $.99 USD from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or atwww.itunes.com/appstore.

For more information, please visit http://www.ApeComics.com or www.boltcreative.com.

About Bolt Creative

Bolt Creative is a San Francisco-based developer creating original iPhone applications and games, including 2009’s blockbuster iPhone game Pocket God. Bolt Creative’s goal is to create games that are not only fun to play, but fun to develop and make them laugh. For more information please visitwww.boltcreative.com.

About Ape Entertainment

Founded in 2003, Ape Entertainment is the brainchild of lifelong comic book devotees David Hedgecock, and Brent E. Erwin.  Ape Entertainment is the comic book home to innovative new titles as LITTLE GREEN MEN, SCOUTS, and HEROIC.  Ape is also the North American publisher for licensed properties SHREK, THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, KUNG FU PANDA, RICHIE RICH, CASPER, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, and CUT THE ROPE.

Visit Ape Entertainment online at http://www.ApeComics.com.

About iVerse Media, LLC

iVerse Media(http://www.iversemedia.com)is a digital content distributor focused on the world of comics and popular culture. Founded in 2008, the company was one of the first to launch digital comics on Apple’s iOS platform. As of Oct 2011 over 5 Million products in the iOS App Store have been downloaded that are powered by iVerse, making the “iVerse Engine” one of the most popular and widely used platforms for reading digital comics in the world. The company is principally located in Waco, TX. For more information on iVerse Media, please visit: http://comicspl.us

VIZ Media Treats Attendees To Special “Test Drives” Of New WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA Digital Manga Magazine

From VIZ:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, returns to WonderCon 2012 as the show comes to Anaheim, CA, March 16th-18th at the Anaheim Convention Center. WonderCon is one of the country’s best comics and pop culture conventions. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 206. Complete details on WonderCon are available at: www.comic-con.org/wc.

Throughout the convention, VIZ Media will treat WonderCon attendees to special “test drives” of the company’s new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA digital manga magazine. Drop by the VIZ Media booth, sample the new digital content, and complete a special survey to be entered to win a new Apple iPad 2! The winner will be notified following the show.

Each new digital edition of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA treats manga fans in North America to the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular manga series only two weeks after they debut in Japan’s massively popular WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine. Featured series include BAKUMAN, BLEACH, NARUTO, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, ONE PIECE, and TORIKO. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA is available through an annual membership that provides 52 weeks of access to 48 weekly issues for just $25.99; members also receive an annual collector’s yearbook, collectable YU-GI-OH! game cards four times a year, and access to exclusive content.As a show special, attendees that become new members will receive a special bonus premium (while supplies last).

Celebrate all things SHONEN JUMP at a special SHONEN JUMP Fan Meet-Up on Friday March 16thfrom 2:30pm – 3:30pm in Room 208 and learn about the benefits of being a WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA member! Grill the WEEKLY SJ ALPHA editors in a live Q&A session! Win prizes at the trivia contest and join in the live fan art jam! Meet editor Urian Brown, the lead hype-man of #TEAMJUMP, specializing in video games, anime, and assorted fun wacky antics. Also meet Misaki Kido, female leader of #TEAMJUMP, and challenge her manga knowledge or ask for advice about your own manga!

Finally, sit in with WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA editor Urian Brown as he joins NAMCO BANDAI Games to celebrate NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations in a special panel discussion on Sunday March, 18th from 4:00pm-5:00pm in Room 207. With over 10 million units of the popular game, based on the smash hit anime/manga series, sold worldwide, all fans of NARUTO are encouraged to attend this celebration of the series. In addition to being treated to an appearance by Production Head Director Hiroshi Matsuyama of CyberConnect 2, fans can enjoy a panel covering the exciting world of NARUTO video games, with a guest host, Urian Brown, master of all things video game-related at WEEKLY SJ ALPHA. Don’t miss all of the action happening live on-stage with this exciting and breakthrough game franchise.

For more information on WEEKLY SJ ALPHA and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit SJAlpha.com or VIZManga.com.

 

Wizard of WonderCon: Ralph Bakshi Makes Magic, Again

from The Nerdist:

See 35th anniversary edition of Wizards in Anaheim; win it from us now.

It’s fitting that Ralph Bakshi is known for his take on Mighty Mouse, because in a world where animation is still perceived as being mostly for kids, here he comes to save the day. Wizards, his darker, racier take on Tolkien fantasy, sees release as a 35th anniversary Blu-ray today, and we’re giving two of them away. But we also got an earful from the ever-entertaining auteur in a no-holds-barred interview.

NN: Back in 2008 there was some talk of doing a Wizards sequel. Is that still in the works?

RB: I wanna do a sequel because it was written for a sequel; it was written as a trilogy. I had just finished reading Lord of the Rings when I wrote Wizards…I think it’s another franchise like Rings or Star Wars. But I won’t do it for a million dollars – I need a budget that’s bigger than a million. I’ll take a million and a half.

NN: Was it a struggle for the PG rating at the time, or have we just backslid in what we tolerate?

RB: No, because basically they were just happy to see me stop cursing! I’m dead serious – they were so happy, they thought I’d reformed, that I’d changed my wicked ways from Hey Good Lookin‘ and Traffic and Street Fight…they were so pleased I was doing fairy tales that they let it slide. I don’t know how the hell I got away with that.

Conjure your way to our full-length interview with Bakshi, then enter to win the Wizards Blu-ray. For extra chances at the magic, journey to our Facebook and Twitter.