Celebrate Your Geekdom
from Browncoats: Redemption:
This is the global online premiere of the fan film for charity, Browncoats: Redemption. This film will be available to view for 48 hours beginning Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 7pm EDT.
For better viewing turn HD to OFF.
Learn more at browncoatsmovie.com
We are on Twitter @browncoatsmovie
from Weta:
Pre-order The Art Of District 9: Weta Workshop
We are proud to start taking pre-orders for this beautiful book today. Written by Daniel Falconer and featuring 650 pieces of concept art and more than 200 photographs of conceptual sculptures and finished props. When you order from Weta, you not only get Weta Dollars, but also a Limited Edition MNU Alien Tagging Stencil, signed by five of the Weta artists whose work is featured in the book. We will still be shipping from our local warehouses in the US, UK and New Zealand. Pre-order The Art of District 9: Weta Workshop now!
Meet the designers at a special District 9 screening in Wellington
To celebrate the release of our new book The Art of District 9: Weta Workshop, Weta, HarperCollins and Wellington’s awesome Embassy cinema — once the venue for the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King — are putting on a very special event. Just in time for Father’s Day — Read all about it on our site!
Announcement — Weta at Armageddon Auckland
Weta will be attending the Armageddon pop-culture expo in Auckland, New Zealand on Labour Day weekend. More details will follow nearer the event.
Focus on Clothing
T-shirts, hats, scarves — don’t brave the elements without kitting yourself out at our online store. Whether you are in the Northern hemisphere going towards Winter or here in the Antipodes headed for Summer, it’s time to refresh that wardrobe of yours!
Podcast with Gino Acevedo — not long now…
Due some unfortunate circumstances, the podcast with Gino Acevedo has been delayed a week, but never fret — it’s in the can and is just awaiting a brief edit.
from Factory Entertainment:
This week, we’re excited to announce the pre-order date for the Princess Bride Inigo Montoya Sword Limited Edition Prop Replica. We also have a couple of Comic-Con exclusives available for purchase on our website and a trailer for an upcoming video game that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to check out our exclusive “gift” for those who order our James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition Prop Replica directly from our store. Oh, we almost forgot to mention that we’ve extended this offer to the Signature Edition Golden Gun as well, which is our way of thanking you for your loyalty. More surprises to come, keep your eyes peeled!
The Princess Bride — The Sword of Inigo Montoya Limited Edition Prop Replica
• Limited to 750 Pieces
• $349
• Pre-Order Deposit — $100
Pre-Order Begins: 09/09 – 9:00 AM PST
Comic-Con Exclusives
We are pleased to announce that we have a very limited number of our SDCC exclusives left over and ready to order directly on our website now! Don’t miss your opportunity to own our James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition ‘Q-Branch’ Blue Print & The Green Hornet Black Beauty Limited Edition ‘Green’ Print.
James Bond Golden Gun Limited Edition ‘Q-Branch’ Blue Print
• 11” x 14” Size
• Giclee Print on high quality 140lb archival stock
• Hand Numbered — Limited to just 500 pieces
Just $15 each at the Factory Entertainment store while supplies last. Each purchase also includes a special discount coupon, good for a $10 discount on any single item priced over $50 at factoryent.com for a limited time.
The Green Hornet Black Beauty Limited Edition ‘Green’ Print
• 11” x 14” Size
• Giclee Print on high quality 140lb archival stock
• Hand Numbered — Limited to just 500 pieces
Just $15 each at the Factory Entertainment store while supplies last. Each purchase also includes a special discount coupon, good for a $10 discount on any single item priced over $50 at factoryent.com for a limited time.
Golden Gun Limited Edition — Factory Direct Exclusive
Some great news for every customer who has already placed an order or is about to place an order for the LE or SE Golden Gun directly from our online store, factoryentstore.com. Included at no extra charge will be a set of 5 exclusive golden bullet replicas available nowhere else! That’s right, they are absolutely free and are our way of saying thank you for buying ‘Factory Direct.’ Hurry, this offer is only while supplies last. Offer expires September 30, 2010. (If you’ve already placed a pre-order for the LE Golden Gun, you don’t have to do anything. The exclusive bullet set has already been added to your order.)
Goldeneye is Back!
Have you heard the exciting news about the new Goldeneye 007 Wii video game from Activision? If not, check out this incredible trailer featuring a familiar multiplayer experience and a “very” special weapon.
Follow us on Facebook, we proudly add to the mostly inane babble but we also throw in more than the occasional gem!
from Cinematic Titanic:
Hi Everyone,
Hope you’ve had a great summer. We here at CT have had a light touring schedule as we’re all very pale and prone to sunburn, but we had great sold-out shows in Ann Arbor and San Fransisco as well as a trip to PIXAR studios (a really neat place) to perform for their employees. Now as autumn approaches, our thoughts once again turn to the open road.
St. Louis Family Arena November 13th — Pre-Sale Today
We’re thrilled to return to the Family Arena for a third straight year. Tickets go on sale Friday but you can get pre-sale tix Thursday from 10am-10pm central time HERE. Enter the Promo code: WATTS
Some Bad News…
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to CANCEL our 9/24 show in Los Angeles. Those who’ve bought tickets will be contacted shortly regarding refunds. We’re sorry for the inconvenience and will reschedule LA shows soon. We hope some of you will join us the following evening in relatively nearby Anaheim.
Other Upcoming Dates
9/25 — Anaheim, California — The Grove — Tickets HERE
10/15 — Washington, DC — GWU, Lisner Auditorium — Tickets HERE
10/16 — Kingston, Rhode Island — URI, Edwards Auditorium — Tickets HERE
10/29 — Boston, Massachusetts — Wilbur Theatre — Tickets HERE
11/27 — Newark, New Jersey — NJPAC — Victoria Theater — Tickets HERE
CT on PBS!
Those of you in the St. Louis area, KETC-TV will be showing our episode Doomsday Machine on weekends throughout September — along with pledge breaks featuring Joel and Frank. Check your local listings.
Some Big Name Praise
Richard Corliss of Time Magazine wrote a great piece on the state of the MST3K universe today on Time.com. A CT-related excerpt:
“All the CT efforts would reside comfortably on the medium-high to off-the-charts scale of old MST3K episodes. But since CT is essentially a traveling show, the DVDs you really must see are the ones recorded live from their concert work, where the five riffers are perched on either side of the screen showing the movie. The vibe is alive, as the audience performs a peculiar release-and-choke maneuver, exploding with laughter at one gag and instantly stifling itself to hear the next one.”
If you haven’t checked out our live DVDs yet, please visit our STORE and get yourself up to speed.
Dragon Con
We’re off to Dragon Con in Atlanta over this Labor Day weekend. We’ll be doing plenty of MST and CT-related panels and signings — plus Trace will be unveiling his new book Silly Rhymes for Belligerent Children (available to all soon after the weekend). Please join us if you’re attending the Con.
Thanks for reading this wordy email and all other forms of support!
Best,
The CT Crew
from Breadpig:
Dearest Breadpig Legionnaire,
First, some great news: Breadpig has just broken $115,000 in funds raised and profits donated! We are so grateful for all the support and generosity you’ve shown along the way, and hope you’re with us as we try to triple that number by this time next year.
For those of you headed to SXSW in March, we wanted to make sure you were aware that we’ve proposed Breadpig panel! This would be a great chance to share our knowledge and philosophy with other geeky organizations while also being a convenient place to meet with and answer questions from you, our faithful fans. Think of it as a party with a Q&A. Alexis is also slated to talk on these two panels about bridging creatives and technical folks and porcine startup aerodynamics. Breadpig allies Awesome Foundation and ROFLCon also have panels up. Please give all of them some love before voting closes this Friday, August 27th!
It’s also the last week before courageous (and adorable) Breadpig allies Mitu and Maherunesa Khandaker climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa (38,688 bacon strips tall!), to raise funds for their charity Arohon. They’re looking for £5000 to build a women’s education center in one of Bangladesh’s many poverty-stricken areas, and we’re matching every donation you make over the next week until they reach their goal. They’re still about £1600 short, so please donate and help our intrepid friends with their mission to empower girls!
Finally, we’re excited to announce that xkcd: volume 0 is now available on Amazon — at a 32% discount, no less. What’s more, in what may be the most unifying geek event for the US and the UK since the installation of the trans-Atlantic telegraph cable, UK fans can finally purchase xkcd: volume 0 as well through Amazon.co.uk. Breadpig is for the children.
Until next time,
Alexis and Christina
from Weta:
Featured Products — The Miniatures!
Few may recall this, but the first Dr. Grordbort’s Raygun to see the light of day was a Miniature Manmelter, exclusive to Comic-Con 2007. It sold out there and then. There are five more in the series, from the minute Mongoose to the Unnatural Selector.
Steampunk Exhibition — expressions of interest
Feeling arty? The anachronistic rogues of the Leage of Victorian Imagineers in Oamaru have issued the call for expressions of interest (as well as — naturally — expressions of utter disbelief)! The Exhibition itself takes place 23 October to 5 December this year, but if you intend to exhibit, you must express your interest by 3 September! Peruse the full set of details on the League’s Electric Web Domicile.
Smitten by the Mongoose?
The Victorious Mongoose 1902a Concealable Ray Pistol is a gorgeous wee thing and comes in its own velvet-lined leather-clad jewel box. As if anyone needs an incentive to purchase this fine and strictly limited edition collectible gun, we have nonetheless decided to offer it with a FREE Victorious Mongoose — miniature version and two FREE books. Get yours here! With the Mongoose in your corner, adventure can be added to the most intimate of situations!
Reviewers have said:
“I could go on forever about the beauty in both form and presentation of the Victorious Mongoose 1902A.” — Outlander, 2009
“While it may seem intended for the “mysterious sex” it is not in the least bit unmanly.” — Quatermass, 2009
Read all the reviews!
First round of Righteous Bisons all but vamoosed!
The Righteous Bison Indivisible Particle Smasher in all its lightweight glory was warmly welcomed when it first showed its brass piping to the public last year. Now, less than a year later, we are preparing for production run #2. If you still haven’t acquainted yourself in person with the Righteous Bison, we suggest you do so PROMPTLY!
Win!
To further entice you, the fine folk at Grordbort Industries Jollification Department have announced A CONTEST! The finest and most outlandish examples of posphorescent etchings (a.k.a. “photographs”) of the Righteous Bison and its handler in action will be awarded prizes in the form of Weta Dollars! 200 to the winner, 100 to one runner-up! Plus, of course, everlasting glory and a pat on the back! By submitting an entry, you of course agree to us using the image on our site, Facebook, Twitter and in newsletters. Email your entries (unlimited) to news@wetanz.co.nz before 15 September!
Electric Web Renovations Completed!
With no small measure of stealth, the card punchers in the engine room have just finished re-stabilising, transmogrifying and defragmenting Grordbort Industries’ Electric Web Dwelling. If you’ve never visited drgrordborts.com before, you should! There are wild tales of the unexpected, the uninhibited and the down-right unnatural! If you’ve been there before, you will recognise much. For now, we have just updated the “engine room” if you like, so that we can achieve much future greatness.
Platform Independence Day! Raygun Shootout Unleashed!
Dr. Grordbort’s Raygun Shootout, the 3D design contest where first prize is a trip to New Zealand is now open to ALL — not just users of Blender! The final leg in the competition involves the design and rotation of a raygun intended for 2-handed operation. This competition has seen some WONDERFUL entries and you should join in the fun!
A note of thanks
To all of you who attended our Dr. Grordbort’s Dinner at Cafe Polo in Miramar. We hope you had as much fun as we did! See you again next year?
from Shout! Factory:
The excitement of the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con is finally wearing down. Certainly you’ve seen the mass coverage in every entertainment nook and cranny. For our part, the Roger Corman panel was amazing. A packed room of 500+ joined our esteemed panelists in discussing the genius that is Roger Corman. Look for footage on an upcoming DVD release in the Roger Corman’s Cult Classics series. We also had loads of fun taking pictures of attendees at our Max Headroom photo booth. You can visit the gallery here. Many thanks to everyone who came by the booth. We’re already thinking about next year’s extravaganza!
Iron Man to the Extreme
Another fun outcome of Comic-Con was that the Tom Kenny (yes, the voice of SpongeBob and so many others) made an important announcement for Shout! at the Marvel panel. The second title in our Marvel Comics series will be Iron Man: Extremis, out November 30. This is the DVD debut of this title, and it’s packed with some awesome bonus features, like a conversation with writer Adi Granov, a behind-the-scenes look at Marvel Knights animation, a visual history of Iron Man and more. The DVD, like X-Men: Gifted, is packed in a replica comic-book-style package. You’ll love it.
This ‘N’ That
IFC just started airing one of our favorite TV shows, Freaks & Geeks. They’re broadcasting them in order every Friday and, once wrapped, will lead into another favorite, Undeclared. Check their site for more details.
Our latest contest is up just in time for Halloween, and it will make you scream and SHOUT! Enter to win a prize pack featuring 11 of our scariest DVDs or Blu-rays — if you dare.
Keep up with the latest Shout! news throughout your day by following us on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, visit our YouTube page for trailers, clips and music videos.
from Writers of the Future:
The L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards ceremony celebrating the 26th anniversary of the internationally-acclaimed Writers of the Future Contest and its companion Illustrators of the Future Contest will be broadcast on Saturday, August 28th, 7:30 pm (Pacific), to a worldwide audience via Internet. Streaming will be live from writersofthefuture.com where a special link will be set up.
“This annual ceremony for new writers and illustrators of science fiction and fantasy is such a moving experience that we wanted all speculative fiction fans everywhere and the friends and families of this year’s winners to witness it,” said Joni Labaqui, Contests’ director.
The actual evening ceremony will be held before hundreds of invited guests, celebrities, and many of speculative fiction’s most popular writers and illustrators at the famous Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, in the very room that the first Academy Awards were held.
“We’ve got quite a show planned. Not only are we releasing volume 26, but a 25 year retrospective coffee table book of the Writers of the Future program with over 1,000 photos in 270 pages will also be released,” Labaqui added.
Every quarter, three writers and three illustrators are selected by a panel of leading authors and artists of science fiction and fantasy. With no entry fee and judging done on an anonymous basis, the criterion is strictly merit. Beside first time publication, benefits include over $30,000 in cash prizes and royalties, a week-long workshop with top professionals of the genre as well as book signings, radio and TV interviews organized by the contest administrators to assist the winners in launching their careers.
For more information on the Contests, go to writersofthefuture.com. You can see last year’s awards ceremony at youtube.com/writersofthefuture and click on “2009 Awards Ceremony-Vol XXV.”
Please note, this is a live broadcast, so check your time zone for when it will be showing in your location.
from StarWars.com:
The thrill of Celebration V is far from over. Although the massive fan event wrapped on August 15th, StarWarsShop has posted over a dozen items that were available exclusively to shoppers at the event — and are now available exclusively to you!
As an added bonus, every order over $40 will receive a free “Artoo Juicer” iron-on — another Sunshine State-inspired exclusive — available while supplies last.
Head straight on over to StarWarsShop’s dedicated Celebration V Store now and grab these rare Celebration exclusives before they’re all gone!
Click here to begin.
You’ll also want to be sure to check back on August 27 as StarWarsShop will be posting many of the limited Celebration V exclusive art prints by the talented artists attending the show!
from Mimoco:
NEW! Coming straight from Star Wars Celebration V to YOU!
Lobot MIMOBOT debuted as the joint San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration V exclusive this past week, in a limited run of 1,000 units. Now, all remaining Lobot MIMOBOTs have journeyed back to the mothership, and he can finally be yours. Don’t leave Lando in a lurch — grab his trusty assistant before Lobot disappears for good! SHOP Now!
Check out our Flickr photos from Star Wars Celebration V! View Now!
New Stuff We Like!
Medicom Super Deformed Vinyl Boba Fett Repaint
A classic repaint of Medicom’s “super deformed” Boba Fett VCD vinyl figure!
Freeman’s Vader Project Auction Catalog
A 200-plus page, full-color, limited edition catalog that features all 100 helmets, artist bios and some history on the project.
from RiffTrax:
The stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 take on the legendary cult classic Reefer Madness for an evening of hilarious riffing! Let RiffTrax’s own Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett bring you to a higher state of consciousness with their signature brand of rapid fire comedy! This event will be broadcast live to movie theaters nationwide on Thursday, August 19 at 8:00pmET / 7:00pmCT / 6:00pmMT and 8:00pmPT (tape delay). Audiences will also be treated to the world premiere of three new shorts!
Get participating theaters and ticket information here.
from UFO X FEST:
The UFO X FEST is becoming the premier UFO Film Fest and Conference in the world. The UFO X FEST 2010 has gathered some of the world’s greatest researchers and experts in their respective fields of science. Technology, Philosophy, Spirituality, UFO’s, Aliens, Ancient Mysteries, 2012, Signs & Symbols, and so much more. This event is a Northern California Mufon Fundraiser. The UFO X FEST is September 18th & 19th from 10:00am to 11:00pm.
Confirmed Special Guests & Lecture Speakers, more speakers to be announced
George Noory — Author & Radio Host of Coast to Coast AM & History Channel’s Ancient Aliens Series Star
Ruben Uriarte — Author, International Researcher for Mufon
Rob Simone — Author, Radio Host, International Ufology Researcher
James Fox — Director, I Know What I Saw
Servando Gonzalez — Author, Researcher, Riddle of the Ancient Swastika
Dan Dillman — Ancient Civilization Researcher, 3rd Generation Treasure Hunter
John Rhodes — Cryptozoologist
Lester Velez — UFO Investigator
Olav Phillips — The Anomalies Network, Researcher
Mr. Lobo — Innovative Horror & Sci-fi TV Host
Brian William Hall — Researcher, Conspiracy Con Founder
Confirmed Films
Films are subject to change or be replaced by another movie or speaker, the final schedule is almost completed.
The Thing, Roswell UFO Cover Up, Out of the Blue, Forbidden Planet, It Has Begun, I Know What I Saw, Moon Rising, Capricorn One
Buy Tickets Now
Weekend Special, $149 both days or $89 per day. The UFO X FEST will be a once in a lifetime experience, filled with two entertaining days of knowledgeable speakers, films and special guests all sharing their latest research of facts and undeniable evidence with the world.
The UFO X FEST transforms at night into an entertainment hotspot with live music, magic and comedy inside the bay area’s Historic Bal Theatre located at 14808 East 14th Street in San Leandro, California 94578.
The UFO X FEST is sure to attract thousands of visitors and attendees every year. The UFO X FEST will become one of the world’s leading forums and authority in “Cosmic Research”, everything under the sun and well beyond. If you are interested in UFO’s, Science, Technology, 2012, Signs & Symbols, Conspiracies, Earth Changes, Crash Retrievals, Ancient Civilizations, Reptoids, Crop Circles, Space, Time, Conciseness, GOD and Existence, then join us on our quest through the Star Gate on the path to truth, light and knowledge.
Dan Dillman, executive producer of the UFO X FEST, states this year’s UFO X FEST is without a doubt lining up to be the most exciting UFO X FEST imaginable. I believe the UFO X FEST will be the most enlightening event a family, couples, friends or individuals should and could be attending this year for wisdom, truth and great entertainment. The UFO X FEST is conveniently located in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay region in San Leandro, California inside the Historic Bal Theatre.