Tag Archives: Warner Bros.

HOW TO BE SINGLE Teaser Features Rebel Wilson and Dakota Johnson Playing the Field [81 Screenshots]

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I didn’t know how badly I needed this movie until the trailer fell into my lap. As a newly single twenty something myself, the How to Be Single teaser could not be more relatable – and I know I’m not the only one who believes this. Based on the novel of the same name written by Liz Tuccillo, Rebel Wilson takes center stage in her first leading role alongside Fifty Shades of Grey’s Dakota Johnson; something I’ve been looking forward to since she arrived on the scene in such female powerhouse films like Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids.

In the How to be Single teaser we are introduced to Robin (Rebel Wilson), who is mentoring Alice (Dakota Johnson) as a newly single woman. Alice, still reeling from her breakup, is finding that the struggle is real to be single. She doesn’t know how to talk to guys, when it’s appropriate to use emojis, and essentially how to play the dating game. We’re given glimpses of a few other characters, like Alison Brie and Jake Lacey, but the teaser really focuses on Robin and her dynamic with the completely clueless Alice. It does lean heavily on Rebel Wilson and a few quick vagina jokes, but I am really rooting for this one. The moment where she poked fun at Alice “reflecting” is excellent and I was really feeling their choice of songs; “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony has been stuck in my head for a week.

This teaser definitely screams chick-flick – something I am totally okay with – but I am wondering if we will get some male insight? Who are these other “lonely hearts,” and will we see their dilemmas explored or will the focus remain heavy on Rebel Wilson and Dakota Johnson? Are we going to get more Alison Brie?!

I know this is a rom-com, and you typically can’t expect too much from these, but this is a plight that I feel is so relevant. You come out of a long relationship and suddenly there’s Tinder, you can’t respond to text in a certain amount of time and he liked your Instagram picture, but hasn’t texted back?! The whole thing, when you step back, seems completely ridiculous and here is the movie to poke fun at it. I hope it mirrors back what I’ve seen and been frustrated with. I hope it allows us to all have a few laughs and a collective sigh of relief that we aren’t the only ones floundering with how much of a game dating has become. Whether this film can do that remains to be seen, but I’m feeling good about this teaser.

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Here’s the official plot synopsis for How to Be Single, courtesy of Warner Bros.:

There’s a right way to be single, a wrong way to be single, and then…there’s Alice. And Robin. Lucy. Meg. Tom. David. New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, be it a love connection, a hook-up, or something in the middle. And somewhere between the teasing texts and one-night stands, what these unmarrieds all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love. Sleeping around in the city that never sleeps was never so much fun.

Directed by Christian Ditter, How to Be Single stars Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann, Damon Wayans Jr., Nicholas Braun, Anders Holm, Lily Collins, Jake Lacy, and Jason Mantzoukas. The film hits theaters on February 12, 2016. So if you are single on Valentine’s day, book this one with your girlfriends.

Source: Warner Bros.

FANTASTIC BEASTS Plot Details, Cast, and Character Descriptions Officially Revealed

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There has been much mystery surrounding the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them plot. What was originally conceived to be a faux documentary based on the life of Newt Scamander, official plot details have now been confirmed. So grab a butter beer and rejoice because not only do we know what the Fantastic Beasts plot is, we also have all the major character descriptions.

Set in the United States during the roaring ’20s, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will now be a full-blown expansion of the Harry Potter Universe. The project was warmly received by fans, but many of us muggles were wondering how they were going to turn an educational catalog into a movie trilogy. However this catalog, like Newt’s magical case he carries, is bigger-on-the-inside than it might appear.

Author and creator J.K. Rowling, who up until this point has only had creative input in the Harry Potter franchise films, penned film’s script as her first ever screenplay. Here’s the official plot synopsis for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly:

Eccentric magizoologist Newt Scamander comes to New York with his trusty weathered case. This case is one of those way-way-way-bigger-on-the-inside magical devices, and within are expansive habitats for a collection of rare and endangered magical creatures from Newt’s travels around globe. He discovers the American wizarding community is fearfully hiding from Muggles and the threat of public exposure is an even graver concern than in the UK. Fantastic Beasts is the story of what happens when this uniquely skilled English wizard travels to wiz-phobic America and a variety of his creatures, some quite dangerous… get out of their case.

Yesterday we got our first look at Fantastic Beasts production images, and now we can put names to faces as Entertainment Weekly also presented character descriptions with their coverage:

Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander – An eccentric globe-hopping English “magizoologist” wizard who’s far more comfortable around beasts and creatures than he is around other people. Comes to New York on a quest with his case full of magical habitats containing rare and endangered species.

As soon as this project was announced, Eddie immediately came to mind. Excited to see him take on this role.

Katherine Waterston as Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein – An ambitious worker at the Magical Congress of the United States of America (aka MACUSA, the U.S. version of the Ministry of Magic) who meets Newt. Tina is relegated to an office well below her abilities after she stood up for the wrong person. She longs to fight for what’s right.

Who did she stand up for and what was the cause she is championing? Also predicting she will be Newt’s love interest.

Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein – Tina’s younger sister and roommate, a big-hearted free-spirit “legilimens” who can read minds.

Jealous, I want to read minds.

Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski – An optimistic No-Maj (aka Muggle) factory worker/aspiring baker who gets introduced to the wizarding world when he meets Newt. Fun fact: He’s the Harry Potter franchise’s first Muggle main character.

Suh-weet, now all of us muggles can feel included.

Colin Farrell as Graves – A powerful auror and the right-hand man of the American wizarding world’s president.

Collin Farrell typically goes for dark and broody. I’ll be interested to see if he will play Graves this way or if he breaks away from that.

Samantha Morton as Mary Lou – The narrow-minded leader of the fanatical Second Salemers, a group looking to expose and destroy wizards and witches.

Sounds like we have our baddy here, can she live up to the wretchedness of Dolores Umbridge?

Ezra Miller as Credence – Perhaps the cast’s most mysterious character. He’s Mary Lou’s troubled adopted son.

I love Ezra Miller, and whenever mystery and troubled are involved, you know this is right up his alley. I’m excited to see how this character pans out.

How do you think these characters will fit into the beloved Harry Potter universe? With absolutely nothing to base their characters on, do you think Newt and the rest will be as memorable as those who were fully developed over the course of seven novels?

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them  stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Faith Wood-Blagrove, Jenn Murray, Jon Voight, and Ron Perlman. The film hits theaters on November 18, 2016.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Comic-Con 2015: First SUICIDE SQUAD Trailer Released by Warner Bros. [81 Screenshots]

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Thanks to a select few who decided to leak the exclusive Comic-Con Suicide Squad trailer to the Internet, Warner Bros. has let the pirates win and uploaded the official HD version of the footage online. After much hype around its premiere, there’s no surprise to why someone would want to share the trailer with everyone. The entire Suicide Squad can be seen in action, along with Jared Leto as the Joker and Ben Affleck as Batman.

Much to the chagrin of Warner Bros. with this leak, the studio should be happy that the Suicide Squad trailer is harboring so much love as the first looks at Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn and Leto’s Joker were met with polarizing responses. Seeing the two in action, as well as the rest of the squad, I have to say that I am definitely looking forward to what director David Ayer has in store.

A statement was made by Sue Kroll, Warner Bros. Pictures’ President Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, on the decision to release the Comic-Con Suicide Squad trailer:

“Warner Bros. Pictures and our anti-piracy team have worked tirelessly over the last 48 hours to contain the Suicide Squad footage that was pirated from Hall H on Saturday. We have been unable to achieve that goal. Today we will release the same footage that has been illegally circulating on the web, in the form it was created and high quality with which it was intended to be enjoyed. We regret this decision as it was our intention to keep the footage as a unique experience for the Comic Con crowd, but we cannot continue to allow the film to be represented by the poor quality of the pirated footage stolen from our presentation.”

It is a shame that fans who waited in line over 24 hours in the brutal San Diego sun to be the first to see the footage could not be the only ones privy to this exclusive content. Thanks to social media and the virality of online culture, the age of Comic-Con footage exclusives has definitely come to an end. The folks at Warner Bros. were smart to upload the Batman v Superman trailer immediately after the panel, but apparently an oversight of how well received the Suicide Squad trailer was made and they should have seen this coming.

Studios are going to have to step up their game like Lucasfilm to give Comic-Con fans a once in a lifetime experience like the private concert after the panel to avoid major mishaps like leaked footage. Otherwise there’s not point in even attending and wasting the money to show up if leaks like this continue to happen. There’s definitely a turd in the punchbowl and we can no longer hold ourselves to the honor system any longer.

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Directed by David Ayer, Suicide Squad stars Jared Leto as The Joker, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, Margot Robbie as Harleen Quinzel aka Harley Quinn, Will Smith as Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot, Jai Courtney as George “Digger” Harkness aka Boomerang, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flagg, Karen Fukuhara as Tatsu Yamashiro aka Katana, Cara Delevingne as June Moone aka Enchantress, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Waylon Jones aka Killer Croc, Adam Beach as Christopher Weiss aka Slipknot, and Jay Hernandez as Chato Santana aka El Diablo. This movie will be released in theaters on August 5, 2016.

Source: Warner Bros.

Comic-Con 2015

Comic-Con 2015: The BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE Trailer is Over-Hyped [121 Screenshots]

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After many debacles over leaked trailers – first with Avengers: Age of Ultron and then the Batman v Superman IMAX teaser – Warner Bros. spared no time to get the Comic-Con trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice up on the Internets officially only an hour after its big premiere in Hall H today.

There is no plot synopsis available for the film yet, but the first full-length Batman v Superman trailer definitely provides some pretty good insights on what we can expect. But from what I read on Twitter about the trailer, since I did not attempt to wait in line for Hall H, is that I expected it to blow my mind. And when I watched it for the first time, I thought to myself, “meh.” ¯_(ツ)_/¯

As far as the genre of superhero movies is concerned, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. are taking the serious route to Grimsville. Which I’m completely OK with. That’s not what I have a problem with. I wouldn’t say I have superhero movie fatigue either because I’m still looking forward to Captain America: Civil War. What I believe the cause in my lack of engagement to the Batman v Superman trailer is that we have no familiarity with this iteration of the Batman (Ben Affleck). Nothing has been built up to make this epic showdown worthwhile, and Zack Snyder will have to establish this conflict quick and hard in the short time before the two titans of DC Comics collide.

Visually, thematically, and tonally I am digging everything they are throwing at me in this trailer, but there’s something internally telling me not to let my guard down. Let us not forget how incredibly cool the trailer for Zack Sndyer’s Sucker Punch looked and how that film turned out. The same could be said for Snyder’s Watchmen too – but I liked that film. I’m reserving any joy for this movie until March 25. However, there’s a lot to digest that could still make Batman v Superman a solid experience.

What catches my attention the most is the plot, and how the world is at conflict about Superman (Henry Cavill). Should he be held responsible for the battle against Zod in Metropolis? I doubt it’s just me, but I get a real homophobic vibe with all the picketers at Superman’s committee hearing – one says, “You can’t be Christian and an alien” while another says “God hates aliens.” Through all of this, we can see the wheels of manipulation spinning thanks to Lex Luther (Jesse Eisenberg). And finally, despite only having maybe four seconds of screen time, Gal Gadot looks fantastic as Wonder Woman; how she plays into the story isn’t hinted at. I can only imagine she was thrown into this trailer to equal out the bro-chismo.

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Directed by Zack Snyder, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne aka Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, Ezra Miller as Barry Allen aka The Flash, Jason Mmoa as Arthur Curry aka Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Victor Stone aka Cyborg, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Laurence Fishburne as Perry White, and Diane Lane as Martha Kent. The movie is set to release in theaters on March 25, 2016.

Source: Warner Bros.

Comic-Con 2015

The Coolest Comic-Con 2015 Booths, Exhibits, and Experiences

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So here we are again. San Diego Comic-Con. The place that makes geek wet dreams come true. I definitely was excited to get my nerd on this weekend, and I’m always looking forward to seeing what new booths, exhibits, and experiences SDCC has to offer. Suffice it to say, I was a tad underwhelmed by most of what I saw inside and out of the San Diego Convention Center.

This is my fourth year attending Comic-Con. Every year I’m always expecting something different, looking to see new things, but as far as booths go, Comic-Con 2015 seemed a bit lackluster. Most of the major booths and exhibits such as Lionsgate, Warner Bros., DC Comics, Fox, Weta Workshop, Gentle Giant, Image Comics, Marvel, Nintendo, and X-Box among others were pretty much the same as the last few years. And even exhibitors like PlayStation were completely absent. Ubisoft and a few others cut back on the scale of their booths. Even Marvel downsized from a big video screen on their booth to just a giant scrawl to promote Ant-Man.

Last year, DC Comics gave a preview of the cape and cowl that Ben Affleck’s Batman will be wearing in Batman v Superman. This year they went one level up by showcasing the costumes of

However, there were some Comic-Con 2015 booths that did impress me. It wasn’t the movie studios who were going all out, but it was TV series who were making their mark on the show floor, and even outside. As per usual, The Walking Dead booth dominated the floor with a fun experience with multiple photo ops with the undead to tease the upcoming season – they also spoiled some major plot points from the last season. MTV’s Scream and History’s Vikings had fun booth experiences to get splattered by blood and walk away with some swag.

The most comprehensive Comic-Con 2015 booths weren’t inside however, they were outside the convention center. MTV’s Scream Queens had a carnival giant drop ride and FX hosted huge experiences such as an America Horror Story: Hotel recreation and a giant Fargo snow globe. Even Adult Swim had its own area for fans to play around in with a little carnival setting for folks to play games and win prizes.

Nerd HQ changed venues this year and instead of taking over PETCO Park they inhabited three levels of the New Children’s Museum. It was closer to the convention center and had more room for activities.

These are a few stray observations I noticed that I thought I would share. Many folks are not able to make it to Comic-Con and I hope this photo gallery will at least give you a solid taste of what it is like to walk around the epic convention.

Comic-Con 2015

For more info on the exhibitors, visit Comic-Con.org

Complete Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels Schedule

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Although Marvel Studios will not be attending Comic-Con 2015 this year because most of the cinematic universe cast is off shooting Captain America: Civil War, there is a good handful of high quality panels for all movie lovers to enjoy this year. Some of the heavy hitters includes Jennifer Lawrence making an appearance to promote The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2; the cast of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice will be on site for Warner Bros.; and Lucasfilm returns for the MUCH anticipated Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens panel with the cast and filmmakers. Check out the full list of Comic-Con 2015 movie panels below:

Day 1: Thursday Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels

10:00am – 11:00am Comic-Con Film School 101: Preproduction and Screenwriting – Comic-Con Film School is back for another four-day, nuts and bolts class on how to make a movie for very little money using available video technology and desktop postproduction software. Whether you’re shooting your first Doctor Who fan film or that story about the leather-clad girl who hunts vampire-werewolf hybrids, this course will take you from script to final product so that you too can enter your own movie into the CCI-IFF. This first class covers the specifics of preproduction on the cheap, including screenwriting, scheduling, location scouting, crewing-up, and getting equipment for nothing. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star of the Paula Peril series), Jack Conway (producer of Machinima ETC), Vera Vanguard (producer of The Building of Good and Evil), Nick Murphy (writer/director of Pizza and Bullets), Josh Perilo (writer of Wedlock), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Grand Ballroom D, Manchester Grand Hyatt

10:15am – 11:15am Studio Production Chiefs Speak – Fans love to debate and dissect exactly what Hollywood is doing right and wrong. Now, for the first time at Comic-Con, top production executives from major Hollywood studios will reveal the frank realities of their jobs and why they make the decisions they do. 20th Century Fox senior vice president Daria Cercek (X-Men, Spy), Warner Bros. senior vice president Drew Crevello (Dungeons & Dragons, Akira), and Lionsgate executive vice president Jim Miller (The Hunger Games, Power Rangers) will discuss the development process, how they choose intellectual property to adapt, how movies get green lit, how filmmakers and actors are selected, what mistakes can lead to bad movies, how they balance originality vs. faithfulness to source material, and how much they care about the opinions of fans. Rather than merely previewing upcoming releases, you will get insights into how Hollywood really works on this panel moderated by Wall Street Journal film industry reporter Ben Fritz. Room 6DE

10:30am – 11:30am Open Road – TBA Hall H

11:00am – 12:00pm The Crowd: How Creatives Are Using New Means to Connect with Their Audience – Hugh Howey (author of the self-published Silo trilogy), Gary Whitta (author of the debut novel Abomination, crowdfunded through Inkshares, co-writer of Star Wars: Rogue One), and Lora Innes (author of The Dreamer, crowdfunded through Patreon, co-host of the Paper Wings Show) discuss crowdfunding and crowdsourcing models that allow creatives to connect directly with their audience to produce their work. Gary and Lora will participate in a Q&A session moderated by Veronica Belmont (host of The Sword & Laser, crowdfunded through Patreon, and Dear Veronica for Engadget). Room 7AB

11:00am – 12:00pm The Super Story Behind the Pixar Short Sanjay’s Super Team – Director Sanjay Patel and producer Nicole Grindle present a peek behind the curtains at Pixar Animation Studio’s latest short, Sanjay’s Super Team. The filmmakers will discuss the production process as well as the unique inspiration for this incredibly personal film that features superheroes like you’ve never seen them before. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

11:00am – 2:00pm Thursday Playback Room Block #1 – The Playback Room will be showing the following panel presentations from either or both Hall H and Ballroom 20: Open Road, The Autobiography of James T. Kirk, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 and The Last Witch Hunter. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) The Playback Room, Omni Hotel, 4th Floor Ballroom

12:00pm – 1:00pm Voice Over Celebration with Beloved Cartoon, Video Game, and Film VO Actors – From zero to sixty, a voice actor must convey a plethora of emotions, often impromptu. You will get an in-depth look into how voice actors approach the art, beauty, and challenges of performing on the spot. Susan Eisenberg, Rob Paulsen, Caitlin Glass, Anthony Bowling, Tara Platt, and Yuri Lowenthal from beloved titles including Wonder Woman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Diablo, Pinky and the Brain, League of Legends, Full Metal Alchemist, Call of Duty, Samurai 7, Attack on Titan, The Devil is a Part Timer, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil discuss this pivotal topic, led by Genese Davis (The Holder’s Dominion, MMORPG). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panel

12:00pm – 1:15pm The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 – Lionsgate presents an exclusive first look at one of the studio’s highly anticipated films coming to theaters this fall. Get a sneak peek into the powerful final chapter of the epic The Hunger Games film franchise. Attendees will be shown exclusive, never-before-seen footage from Mockingjay: Part 2 and treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session revealing details on the big-screen finale. Hall H

12:30pm – 1:30pm Roddenberry Entertainment Presents – Eugene Roddenberry (CEO Roddenberry Entertainment, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry), Trevor Roth (COO/head of development, Roddenberry Entertainment) and Tory Mell (producer, Roddenberry Entertainment) discuss the groundbreaking new app for their film White Room: 02B3. They will also be talking about the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek and premiering their new short film Instant, along with special guests Tony Janning (actor, White Room: 02B3, Instant, Legend of Neil) and Alex Albrecht (director, Instant). A surprise guest will be giving away a traditional iPad. Room 24ABC

1:00pm – 2:00pm Digital Bits Blu-ray Sneak Peek: Star Trek: Axanar – Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt, veteran Blu-ray/DVD producers Charles de Lauzirika (Twin Peaks, The Martian),Cliff Stephenson (Hannibal, The Hunger Games), and Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-rays), and executive producer Alec Peters (Star Trek: Axanar) discuss major upcoming Blu-ray titles and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray developments. They will explain the groundbreaking process of creating studio-quality independent Blu-ray releases, including the new Prelude to Axanar: Special Edition. There will be an audience Q&A and lots of great giveaways. Room 23ABC

1:00pm – 2:00pm Science Channel: Raiders, Raptors, and Rebels: Behind the Magic of ILM – Fans will get to see exclusive clips and receive unprecedented access behind the scenes at Industrial Light and Magic, as science and creativity give birth to some of today’s top films. The secrets behind Avengers: Age of Ultron, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and many more will be revealed during this once-in-a-lifetime panel. Join Science Channel as they celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Industrial Light and Magic at this year’s Comic-Con like no one else can. Surprise guests and exclusive footage along with a very special prize will be given away at this VIP experience where the science behind the movies is unveiled for the first time ever. Room 25ABC

1:30pm – 2:00pm  Trailer Park – See the latest and greatest trailers with all of your pop culture-loving friends here on the big screen at Comic-Con. Hall H

2:00pm – 3:00pm Class of 1985: The Greatest Geek Movies of: Don’t Forget About Us – Moderator Mark A. Altman ( Free Enterprise, Agent X) and panelists discuss the great geek year of 1985, as they go back to the future with such films as, well, Back to the Future, Lifeforce, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Clue, Legend, Rocky IV, Brazil, Commando, Weird Science, Silverado, Fletch, A View to a Kill, Cocoon, Witness, Return to Oz, Re-Animator, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Fright Night, Real Genius, Subway, After Hours, Ladyhawke, Enemy Mine and, yes, Robert Burnett, just for you: To Live & Die In L.A. And for good measure, they’ll discover a new type of martial arts,Gymkata, and prove to Virginia there really is a Santa Claus: The Movie. Enrolling in this brunch club are Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class), gymkataspert Steve Kriozere (NCIS, Agent X), Charles de Lauzirkia (Crave, Alien Anthology), and David E. Williams ( Femme Fatales, Lifeforce: The Space Vampires). Charge it to the Underhills! Room 5AB

2:00pm – 3:00pm Greenlight Your Passion Project! – Project creators, actors, producers, and crowdfunding professionals discuss the power of crowdfunding as it pertains to greenlighting your own project! This panel of pros has successfully raised millions of dollars for feature film, short-films, documentaries, and web-series. Join an informative and uplifting discussion on the power of crowdfunding your dreams, featuring Ericka Anderson (Seed & Spark director of crowdfunding), Mark Gantt (The Bannen Way, The Night Visitor), Etta Devine (The Selling, Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse), Mark Netter (Nightmare Code, Dark Matter Productions), Jodie Bentley (COO Reinventing Films), and moderator Leah Cevoli (film producer and crowdfunding professional). Room 7AB

3:00pm – 4:00pm 3rd Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero – From the ominous horns of Jaws, to the inspiring theme for Star Wars, music has always been an important supporting character in movies. For the superhero genre, the music reflects these emotions and more. This panel offers a behind the scenes look at the music of today’s biggest superhero film and TV projects with unreleased film clips and never before heard music. Participating composers include Junkie XL (Mad Max: Fury Road, Batman v. Superman), Christophe Beck (Ant-Man), Marco Beltrami (Fantastic Four), Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Lorne Balfe (Terminator: Genisys), and Blake Neely (Super Girl, Arrow, Flash). Produced by Costa Communications. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

3:00pm – 4:00pm The Might and Magic of Legacy Effects – Legacy Effects is one of the leading practical effects companies in the motion picture industry. Their work is featured in films including Pacific Rim, Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jurassic World and Terminator: Genisys. Meet the studio founders and get a firsthand look into the making of these blockbuster films. You may even get a sneak peek at some of the actual props from the films. Engage in an exciting presentation, Q&A, and maybe even a couple of giveaways. Room 32AB

3:30pm – 4:30pm Animated Effects in Live Action – When the word animation is used, we think of cartoons. However, the line between live action and animation is becoming blurred due to technological advances. Industry professionals who create some of the most memorable animated visual effects will have a lively discussion on how they blend animation with live action seamlessly. They include David Derks (ASIFA Hollywood), and Adam Howard (Birdman, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday). Room 26AB

4:15pm – 5:15pm Hollywood Location Scouts – Working closely with the director and production designer, location scouts are the artists who translate the script into reality by exploring the world to figure out exactly where the movies and TV shows should be made. Six location scouts will discuss the creative and logistical aspects of their jobs, relate some exciting anecdotes, and answer audience questions. ModeratorScott Trimble (Terminator: Genisys, Jurassic World) joins panelists Nick Carr (Spider-Man 3, Enchanted), Stephenson Crossley (Fear the Walking Dead, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), Stacey McGillis (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Infiltrator), Kei Rowan-Young (Django Unchained, Chef), and Steve Woroniecki (Tomorrowland, X-Men: First Class). Grand Ballroom D, Manchester Grand Hyatt

4:30pm – 6:20pm Thursday Playback Room Block #3 – The Playback Room will be showing the following panel presentations from either or both Hall H and Ballroom 20: Doctor Who: BBC America Official Panel, Sherlock, Con Man: The Fan Revolt 13 Years in the Making, and MTV’s Teen Wolf. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) The Playback Room, Omni Hotel, 4th Floor Ballroom

5:00pm – 6:00pm How to Make A Movie with a Camera Phone – Mobile Film Festivals are becoming the next big thing. Cell phone cameras now have the capability of shooting 4k – which makes cell phone filmmaking now a possibility to be taken seriously. San Diego Independent Filmmaker Paul Giret (Film For Food) will explain the process of how to use your everyday mobile device as a movie making tool. Giret recently was one of the 15 participants in the Qualcomm 4K Challenge in which contestants were given a 4K Motorola Droid to produce a short film that will also play at the San Diego Film Festival this year. He will be joined by his cast member Carol Morrow (Supergirl Unburdened) from his mobile film “Pitch and Hitch” and Mike Egbert who will elaborate on the production process. Topics will cover on what filmmaking tools, Dolly, Jib, Slider, Car Mount to use, how to properly attach the camera to these tools, what apps work best to control your exposure, what is the workflow and how to handle footage during post-production (editing) process. Join this panel along with Ty Mabrety (Bang Zoom Pow) and Crysstal Hubbard (Supergirl Unburdened) who helped make Cell Phone Films from script to screen. With special guest moderator Machelle Noel (GeekRockTV & Faith Hollywood TV). Room 5AB

5:30pm – 6:30pm Fright Night: 30 Years of Screams – Horror screenwriter Greg Beville (Blackstar Canyon) details the special effects and making of Fright Night 1985 and how the film’s practical effects compare to horror films today. Moderated by Now Streaming’s Andrew Furtado (Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut). Room 6A

6:00pm – 7:00pm NASA: Journey to Mars – America’s space agency is leading the world on a journey to the Red Planet. From the current orbiters and rovers that are making historic scientific discoveries, to the development of the largest and most powerful rocket ever conceived by human, NASA is pushing the final frontier to the planet that has been the subject of conjecture and the focus of the search for life beyond our home planet. We plan an enlightening discussion moderated by Aditya Sood (executive producer, The Martian). Also some of NASA’s best and brightest; Jim Green (director of planetary sciences, NASA Headquarters), Todd May (manager, NASA Space Launch System Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center) and Victor Glover (astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center). As well as author Andy Weir (The Martian) especially in light of NASA’s involvement in the upcoming Ridley Scott motion picture The Martian. Room 6BCF

6:00pm – 8:00pm World Premiere of Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery! – Starchild, Demon, Catman and Spaceman join everyone’s favorite teen sleuths in an explosive, new, must-see musical adventure no KISS Army member will want to miss! In Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, the Mystery Inc. gang travels to KISS World, an amusement park dedicated to the band, for a special Halloween concert headlined by the legendary rock group. Six KISS songs are featured alongside an original new song performed by the band written just for the film. Be part of the first audience to see this landmark merging of pop culture icons, then stay for a panel featuring the legendary band KISS – Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer; NCIS star Pauley Perrette and longtime “Shaggy” and “Daphne” voices Matthew Lillard (The Bridge) and Grey Griffin (Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated), director Tony Cervone (Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon) and writer Kevin Shinick (Mad, Robot Chicken). The panel will be moderated by director/actor/writer Kevin Smith, who also has a role in the film along with Jason Mewes. Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery! will be released via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Digital HD July 10 and on Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD July 21. Hall H

7:00pm – 8:00pm Nick Carter Goes West: From Boy Band to Zombie Western – Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys discusses his first foray into film production with the studio behind Sharknado and Z-Nation. Fellow Backstreet Boys Howie Dorough, A.J. McLean, and The Asylum producers join the panel conversation. Room 5AB

7:30pm – 8:30pm Robotech: The Next 30 Years – Kevin McKeever (VP of marketing at Harmony Gold) showcases all the latest merchandise, along with the latest updates on the live-action Robotech film. Room 24ABC

7:30pm – 8:30pm Tattooine Law: Legal Lessons from Star Wars – Federal Magistrate JudgePaul Grewal, Gerry O’Brien (NY political consultant and novelist), Jessica Mederson, Esq. (The Legal Geeks), and Joshua Gilliland, Esq. (The Legal Geeks) explore the legal system from a galaxy far, far away. The panel will jump to light speed to explore the many legal lessons on Tatooine, including the intricacies of property ownership of R2-D2 and C-3PO; employee and independent contractor safety issues in Jabba’s Palace; and Han’s legal justification to shoot first. Room 26AB

8:00pm – 9:00pm Son of Name That Movie – Returning for a third record-breaking year is the combination game show and visual/audio event known as Son of Name That Movie. Inkpot Award-winning host and creator John Field presents the fu- filled program shown to a packed house of film fans the last two years running. In this all-new version, 50 clips from 50 different sci-fi, horror, and fantasy films are presented. Place your ticket in the Magic Film Can. If picked from among audience members, you get to play the game by simply naming as many of the clips as possible. There will be first- through fourth-place prizes. And, if someone on the panel cannot name the clip and an audience member can, that person will get a bonus prize as well. Room 9

8:00pm – 10:30pm 18th Annual Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza – Ric Meyers (Inside Kung Fu, Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie [& Book]) has got a whole new bunch of eye-bulging, jaw-dropping, breath-taking, goose-bumping, funny-bone-cracking fight scenes from the best, worst, and weirdest films in the whole world. With his co-hosts Graham Eldwood and Chris J. Mancini (Comedy Film Nerds, Ear Buds) back in action; a report direct from Beijing by the king of YouTube kung-fu Eric Jacobus (as well as the Comic-Con premiere of his amazing new Rope-A-Dope 2); and their standard operating surprises, it’s not just awe-some, it’s awe-all. Be there or be in Tiananmen Square! Room 6A

9:00pm – 10:30pm Floyd Norman Documentary – Filmmakers Michael Fiore (producer of the upcoming feature Home Invasion) and Erik Sharkey (director of Drew: The Man Behind the Poster) will show clips from their original feature-length documentary and reunite Floyd Norman (legendary Disney and Hanna Barbera animator and story artist) with many animators and artists that he influenced and worked with over his 60-year career. Panelists will include notables featured in the documentary includingPaul Dini (animation writer/producer), Gary Trousdale (co-director of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Scott Shaw! (cartoonist, humorist, historian), Leo Sullivan (animator, producer, publisher), Ken Mitchroney (writer, director, story artist), Adrienne Nichelle Brown-Norman (illustrator, Disney Publishing), and Tom Sito (animator, professor of animation, USC). The documentary also features interviews with such notables as actress Whoopi Goldberg, cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, Disney music composer Richard Sherman, producer Don Hahn, Maleficent), Ralph Guggenheim (former Pixar VP of animation), and film critic/historian Leonard Maltin. The documentary is supported by a musical score composed by Ryan Shore (composer, Disney’s Penn Zero and WB’s Scooby-Doo!). The filmmakers will moderate a Q&A session and celebrate Mr. Norman’s 80th birthday. Room 9

Spirited Away Comic-Con 2015 Movie

9:00pm – 11:30pm Spirited Away Screening – Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away has captured the hearts of viewers all over the world. Join Her Universe and Hot Topic for Studio Ghibli trivia, prizes and a special screening of the beloved film, hosted by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein. Horton Grand Theatre

Continue reading for Friday’s Comic-Con 2015 Movie Panels Schedule–>

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Katherine Waterston Cast in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ as Female Lead

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British actress and co-star of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice, Katherine Waterston, has been tapped as the female lead in the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. She will be casting spells alongside Eddie Redmayne throughout the streets of 1920s New York in which the movie takes place.

The Hollywood Reporter states that Katherine Waterston will play the role of Porpetina, or Tina, who is said to be a witch operating in the U.S. Whether she will embrace her British roots or portray an American character is unknown. But what we do know is that there will be a wizarding school mentioned or seen in Fantastic Beasts. A little nugget of information J.K. Rowling teased on Twitter:

Understanding how the mind of J.K. Rowling works, I can only assume that if there is a wizarding school in the states there will more than likely be a Ministry of Magic U.S. branch as well. Could Tina be a part of the Ministry of Magic or is she a foreign ambassador working in the U.S. from Britain?

Waterston will have some big shoes to fill thanks to Emma Watson who set the bar very high as Hermione Granger. I’m not familiar with Waterston’s work aside from Inherent Vice, and even then she wasn’t a huge presence in the film. But she was great in what she was given. She also appears in Michael Clayton, Robot & Frank, Being Flynn, Night Moves, and a handful of episodes of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. The next chance to see Waterston on the big screen will be in Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs biopic, where she plays Jobs’ love interest, Chrisann Brennan.

The Wrap also reported in May that another female role is up for grabs. This character in question will be Tina’s younger sister, Queenie. The actresses on the shortlist for that character are Saoirse Ronan (Hanna), Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds), Lili Simmons (HBO’s Banshee), and singer-songwriter Alison Sudol (Amazon’s Transparent), but the casting announcement has yet to be made official at this time.

Set around 70 years before the events of the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them follows New Scamander (Redmayne) as he embarks on a mission to document magical creatures for his book. Scamander is the supposed trailblazer of “magizoology,” which even warranted J.K. Rowling to realize the book for fans curious about his life and the fantastic beasts he finds.

Directed by David Yates, from a screenplay written by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits theaters November 18, 2016 in 3D and IMAX.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

‘Harry Potter’ Spin-off ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ Officially Casts Eddie Redmayne

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Eddie Redmayne Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

In the grand world of wizarding news today, it was officially announced that The Theory of Everything and Jupiter Ascending star Eddie Redmayne has been cast as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Set in 1920’s New York, Redmayne will be front and center as the lead of what is set to be a new trilogy of movies. Learn more after the break. Continue reading →

Review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

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Mad Max Fury Road 2015 Movie Review

Thirty years after George Miller’s last romp in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of future Australia, ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ delivers on all cylinders. Read my review of one of the most insane action films of recent years. Continue reading →

Second ‘Magic Mike XXL’ Trailer Has a Little Treat for Moviegoers [89 Screenshots]

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The newest, full-length trailer for Magic Mike XXL asks, “Are you ready to be worshiped?” That’s because the bad boys from Tampa are looking to deliver on their promise of debauchery when they go on tour to the annual male stripper convention of course. Fifty Shades of Grey is child’s play. This summer, audiences will come to find themselves deeper within the world of male stripping than they ever thought possible. And Warner Bros. is going to start bringing the marketing fast and hard not withholding on any sexual innuendos.

Expanding on the loosely-based biopic of Channing Tatum’s life story, Magic Mike XXL looks like it will be more blockbuster and less a character study, which Steven Soderbergh had original built this franchise on. In the trailer we see Mike and his crew taking their talents on the road, strengthening their skills before they hit the big stripper convention. Think Comic-Con but with even more skin and oily dudes.

(Click on any thumbnail below to begin image gallery)

Here’s the official plot synopsis for Magic Mike XXL courtesy of Warner Bros.:

Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, “Magic Mike XXL” finds the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel. But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blow-out performance in Myrtle Beach, and with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight with them. On the road to their final show, with whistle stops in Jacksonville and Savannah to renew old acquaintances and make new friends, Mike and the guys learn some new moves and shake off the past in surprising ways.

Directed by Gregory Jacobs, Magic Mike XXL stars Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Gabriel Iglesias, Andie Macdowell, Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jane McNeill, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Glover, and Michael Strahan. This movie is set to hit theaters on July 1, 2015.

Source: Warner Bros.