THE ICS FILES
#14-March 2000
THE FEBRUARY MEETING WAS A SMASH!
Our February meeting was terrific. It was well attended,
with both well known and not so familiar faces. We welcome all! We had
a very good discussion on movie soundtracks, led by VINCE DiLEONARDI, a
better-than-average film (see below), and a lively consultation on various
subjects. More on them to follow. Special thanks to GARY ROBERSON who is
providing us with a bridge between our 19" TV and our video projector.
He towed along a magnifying lens for the television. You had to sit near
the center of the room to get the picture, and every time Joe Plempel went
near the TV to fiddle with it his hand looked like it belonged to the Amazing
Colossal Man, but it was a lot of fun. Gary, thanks very much.
THE IMAGINATIVE CINEMA SOCIETY
WELCOME'S IT'S NEWEST MEMBER
Greetings to KEVIN HOFFMAN. Kevin was a former member
of the Horror and Fantasy Film Society. Pleasure to meet you Kevin. We're
looking forward to getting to know you. His vital statistics are:
611 Seneca Gardens Road
Baltimore, Md. 21220-3102
410-335-4519
khoffman@computer.org.
Welcome aboard.
GET WELL SUE!
As most of you will recall, club member SUE FEDER
has been working through a round of cancer treatments lately. She dropped
me a line after her February newsletter. Thought I'd share it with you.
Glad to get ICS13. I enter Hopkins on Monday, 2/7, for what will
probably be about a month. The first 2-4 weeks after discharge
I will
have to stay pretty close to home. Perhaps in the spring I will
be able
to get back with you guys and contribute my "units" (!). In the
meantime, I do hope you'll keep me on the e-mail list. Best,
Sue
Work on getting well Sue. We're looking forward to seeing you again in the Spring.
PROJECTOR UPDATE
Sue wrote about her "units" in the above piece.
She was talking about money for the video projector. The projector will
cost $2,000. A contribution of a "unit" is 1% of that cost, or $20. We
encourage you to think in terms of units when considering contributing
to the fund. Some people may need to stretch a single unit out over a few
months. Others may be able to contribute a unit a month. Still others may
be able to give several units at a time. A few people have made contributions
at or over the $100 level. The donations are anonymous. But we thank you
just the same. Presently we have $579 in our projector fund. Since "p-r-o-j-e-c-t-o-r"
is nine letters long, if we add an "!" at the end we've got ten. So to
reflect how the fund is doing, I'll use some basic font size to illustrate
(with apologies to folks with text-only computers that won't be able to
see this). When we've reached our goal you'll see this:
PROJECTOR!
For the moment we're here:
PROjector!
Each time we achieve another 10% of our total goal, you'll see another
letter lit up. So let's shoot for the exclamation point as soon as we can!
CONTRIBUTION IDEA
An idea was mentioned at the last meeting about
finding money for a contribution to the projector fund. If you have anything
left of a tax refund, after you've bought your new DVD player, digital
TV, home-theater system and a fun filled week in Puerto Vallarta, you may
want to slide a slice of it over to the PRojector! fund.
NEWS ON THE CEEGAR BOX
The Board has decided to place out a single contribution
box at our meetings. All of the money will go toward the PRojector! fund.
AUCTION NEWS I: APRIL AUCTION
We're having an auction at our April 29th meeting.
The proceeds will go to the PRojector! fund. If you have anything to donate
you can bring it in for our March meeting.
AUCTION NEWS II: E-BAY
If you have anything of particular value that might
not get the full appreciation that it deserves at our April auction, Charlie
Wittig (cwittig@netzero.net) is
willing to use his account to place it on E-Bay. Proceeds from the sale
would go toward the PRojector!
DUES NEWS
Dues are due! Everyone has until the end of March
to get your dues in to us. It's $20 per person, $30 per couple. As of this
writing I'm showing the following people have paid:
Jeff Barker
Mark Piasecki
Tom Burke
Jerry Pleines
John Clayton
Joe Plempel
Linda & Lee Conrad
Gary Roberson
Vince DiLeonardi
Mike Schilling
Kevin Flynn
Brian Smith & Cindy Collins
Ralph & Peggy Gervasio
Courtney Spies
Dave Henderson
Jack Tydings
Kevin Hoffman
Regina Vallerani
Bob Kuzyk
John Ward
Bill Littman
David Willard
Leith J. Lomakin
Charlie Wittig
Lorne Marshall
If you've paid and your name has been left off of
this list please contact John Clayton at jcclayton@pcbank.net
or at 410-730-4678. If you'd like to pay please mail a check to:
John Clayton |
10354 Windstream Drive |
Columbia, MD 21044 |
"I AM NOT A CROOK!" CLAIMS JOHN
CLAYTON
And we've got the audit to prove it! As part of
an annual housecleaning we are having volunteers from the club audit our
transactions at the beginning of each year. I'm pleased to report that
REGINA VALLERANI and VINCE DiLEONARDI were nice enough to check our treasure's
books for the prior year. They were clean as a whistle. Thanks John and
thanks Regina and Vince.
OUR FIRST AMENDMENT
We have consulted about and passed our first constitutional
amendment, dealing with the dissolution of the club. We hope that this
is one first amendment right that we're far from invoking, but should the
time ever arise we'll have the mechanism in place to deal with it. Following
is what the new amendment looks like:
Should the need arise to dissolve the club the following procedures
will be followed:
1. All tangible assets of the club will be liquidated.
2. All outstanding debts will be settled.
3. All remaining funds will be donated to the National Film Preservation
Society, presently at 870 Market Street, Suite 1113/ San Francisco, Ca.
94102/ 415-392-7291/ http://www.filmpreservation.org
If you'd like a copy of our constitution you can see it on our web
site. If you haven't got a computer let us know. We'll send you one.
REAR WINDOW AT THE SENATOR
There was talk at our last meeting about a bunch
of us renting the balcony of The ("historic") Senator Theater for a showing
of Alfred's Hitchcok's classic, REAR WINDOW. Club member BOB KUZYK was
nice enough to do some footwork for us to find out the following information.
REAR WINDOW opens on Friday, March 17th and will be there for two weeks.
The cost of a balcony rental is $10 each with a minimum of 15 people (and
a maximum of 40 people). As Bob says, if only two people show up they'll
still need to split the $150. The rental goes from $5:30 to 11 P.M. If
you'd like to try for a rental contact me by phone (410-788-4086) or e-mail.
Apparently weekends book quickly so if you want a weekend, respond immediately.
LOOKING FORWARD
All of you should have a received a letter that
posed the question, "where shall go from here?" We had some good consultation
on this in in our February meeting. There was talk of how to expand our
numbers and what to do with ourselves once we had. It was a productive
dialogue, one that we need to continue. In our dreams of the future we
need to anchor ourselves in the statement of purpose found at the opening
of our constitution, "This club, the Imaginative Cinema Society, exists
to promote fellowship among those interested in all films, with an emphasis
on science fiction, horror and fantasy films." We can go in any of a hundred
directions, all of them good, as long as we don't loose sight of our vision.
If we become more obsessed on any project on which we embark than we are
in fellowship and movies then we won't be in pursuit of a goal. We'll be
chasing a distraction.
A MODIFICATION TO OUR ELECTION
PROCESS
In order to provide more people the chance to vote
and get involved in the affairs of the club, we're are making slight modifications
to our election process. We'll be selecting tellers in November and accepting
nominations for the Board from November to the January meeting. This way,
if people are not able to attend the January meeting, they have more of
an opportunity to cast absentee ballots.
NEWS OF OUR NEXT MEETING
Our March meeting will be held on Saturday March
25th at 6:00 P.M. at the church hall behind the Perry Hall Presbyterian
Church located at 8848 BelAir Road. Take Baltimore Beltway exit 32 north
on Belair Road. Turn left onto Joppa Road. Immediately past the miniature
golf course turn left into the parking lot. If you miss it there are ample
turn-around opportunities. If you get stuck call 410-598-8005. That's Dave
Henderson's cell phone. He'll talk you in.
TOP TEN SIGNS THAT THE GIRL YOU'RE
DATING IS ONE OF THE CAT PEOPLE
In our February meeting we watched the 1942 Val
Lewton classic, THE CAT PEOPLE, thanks to Mr. JOHN WARD. It left me wondering
how you could really tell if the young lady that you started seeing was
one of them. As a service to the club, I offer the following list of warning
signs to look for.
10. The outgoing message on her answering machine is dead silence.
9. She's had her toilet removed and replaced by a huge box of
sand.
8. When she offers to make you dinner she asks, "canned or dry?"
7. The guy she used to date, Kevin Flynn, found her boring.
6. You can end any argument with her by dangling string in front
of her face.
5. She cries at Sylvester and Tweety cartoons.
4. Every time you go to kiss her she suddenly has to cough up
a fur ball.
3. When you walk in a room she rubs her face against your leg.
2. The only guy she ever "went-all-the-way" with was Jimmy Hoffa.
1. When ever you mentioned that you'll get something "fixed"
she faints.
THE GLASS TEAT
BUZZ LIGHTYEAR is on the way! BUZZ LIGHTYEAR OF STAR COMMAND will be
an animated series later this year. It will recount the story of the his
battles with the evil Emporer Zurg. . . . The WB and the apocalypse. The
WB has ordered a pilot for a post-apocalyptic drama based on the British
miniseries THE LAST TRAIN, entitled DAY ONE. Michael Piller (Star Trek:
TNG) is the executive producer. . . . Set phasers for "protest." There
is a movement, that has been previously mentioned in THE ICS FILES, to
feature a STAR TREK series that would feature the adventures of Captain
Sulu of the U.S.S. Excelsior. George Takei has indicated that he'd love
to do it. Trek fans have decided to take it outside. On April 22nd Trekkers
will be hitting the bricks to make an unresponsive Paramount Studios aware
of their demands. . . . Rick Berman strikes back!Producer Rick Berman has
discussed the next TREK. He places a tremendous burden on it, saying "I
think that the survival of the franchise could hinge upon it." At an apparent
swipe at proponents of a Captain Sulu series, he went on to say, "It has
to be something unique and fresh, and it can't be a rehashing of one of
the previous series." There's been a rumor that Paramount had rejected
three story ideas for TREK after disastrous audience tests. When asked
about this, Berman responded, "We live in a world where any 15-year-old
can start a rumor that will end up on the front page of a newspaper a few
days later. Anything you read about us doing audience testing--in fact,
most of what comes over the Internet in the guise of rumors--is a pile
of crap. . . . The truth is our interest lies in keeping Star Trek pure
and interesting and keeping it ever changing while still true to Gene Roddenberry's
vision." He said to look for the next series no sooner than January or
February of next year, and possibly as late as September. . . . No Mulder
& Scully--no Carter! X-FILES producer Chris Carter announced that unless
both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson were in place, he would not do
an eighth season of the show. Anderson is contractually obligated for another
year. Duchovny's contract ends this year and has said that he's tired of
the show and is suing Fox for more syndication money. Fox's anemic ratings
have forced the execs there into doing all that they can to coax their
highest rated show back for one more season. . . . Other actors playing
Mulder and Scully? Well, sort of. Gary Shandling, has said that he'll appear
on an upcoming episode of the X-FILES about a Hollywood studio that wants
to turn the adventures of characters Mulder and Scully into a movie. The
episode will be entitled, "Hollywood A.D." Shandling says that he will
portray the actor playing Mulder and Téa Leoni (X-File's star David
Duchovny's wife in real life), will be the actress playing Scully. In one
scene Mulder (Duchovny) visits the set "to see if I'm depicting him accurately,"
Shandling relates. "I make out with Téa Leoni. So I just end up
having projects where I make out with my friends' wives." . . . Better
living through puppetry. FARSCAPE is hoping to replace their current batch
of puppets with an upgrade. According to the series' chief puppeteer, Dave
Elsey. "If we've done our job properly, people won't even notice. Our aim
is to get the audience to forget they're looking at foam latex, and instead
experience the puppets as real characters." . . . The return of ANGEL and
BUFFY. The WB has ordered a full 22-episode seasons for BUFFY THE VAMPIRE
SLAYER and ANGEL for next season. Writer/producer Joss Whedon has talked
of changes on ANGEL. They'll be a larger ensemble of recurring characters.
Even so, they'll be more focus on Angel."We initially saw Angel as being
more of a guardian for other characters," Whedon said, "but we found the
audience was much more emotionally invested in Angel, so we'll be staying
closer to home and exploring his character."
SCOTTY: THE NEXT GENERATION
Double congratulations go to actor James Doohan.
On March 3rd he achieves the title of octogenarian. Commander Scott turns
80! A month after that he re-gains another title--"daddy." He and his 43-year
old wife, Wende, are expecting a new little Doohan to grace their family.
Late-life births are apparently not unknown to the clan-Doohan. His grandfather
was 72 when his mother was born. It's said that Doohan accomplished his
task with an elaborate combination of transporters, force fields and tractor
beams.
THE FATE OF THE X-FILES
A few weeks ago producer Frank Spotnitz said that
the final fate of THE X-FILES is still up in the air. He knew that negotiations
with David Duchovny and Chris Carter were in progress. It leads to the
question, if this is the final season what will happen to all of the numerous
loose ends in the show's underlying mythology. Spotnitz explained, "One
thing I have noticed is that everybody who follows the show closely has
a completely different set of burning questions that we must
answer before it's too late. I know we're going to piss off someone! We're
probably going to piss off a lot of people. But I think when the end comes,
we will have answered all of the most important questions and probably
raised some new ones." He said that there was a possibility that
there'd be another film but, if there was, it would probably be a stand-alone
event rather than an attempt to conclude old business.
ALL'S WELL THAT ORWELLS
First you get the pot boiling. Then you throw in
THE TRUMAN SHOW. Then a generous helping of MTV's REAL PEOPLE and a very
healthy serving of George Orwell's 1984. Adjust the taste with large quantities
of the sort of voyeuristic sadism usually associated with ancient Rome
and you've got a Dutch television hit called BIG BROTHER. At the moment
American rights for the show's are at the center of a bidding war between
ABC, CBS, FOX and the USA Network. The way the Dutch show works, 9 people
are selected from a field of 3,000 applicants. These 9 strangers are then
confined to a house filled with 29 cameras and more than 50 microphones.
Not even the bathroom allows for privacy. The 9 people are allowed to leave
at any time, but if they choose to do so they're eliminated from the competition.
Viewers tune into the daily doings in the house. Internet users can watch
them 24 hours a day. Each week the home audience votes for which of the
remaining residents to eliminate from the house. The last person left wins
$120,000. BIG BROTHER broke all ratings records in the Netherlands. Viewers
became almost dangerously obsessed with the show. It's an American programmer's
dream. Big things are expected of it. Particularly since the last import
was the British game show, WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?, has done so
well for ABC.
KARLOFF VS. UNIVERSAL
The daughter of Boris Karloff has sued Universal
Studios for $10 million, claiming that Universal cheated her out of royalties
from the merchandising of her father's image. Sara Karloff argues that
Universal failed to pay monies owed her from the merchandising of characters
played by her father in classic Universal horror films such as FRANKENSTEIN
and THE MUMMY. Among other things, the suit argues that Universal designed
and licensed generic Frankenstein and Mummy characters that "look
confusingly similar to, but not precisely the same as, the Karloff characters"
to avoid paying Sara Karloff royalties. Universal declined comment on the
pending litigation.
THINGS TO COME
MARCH 4TH-5TH: FESTIVAL OF DARKNESS will begin on Saturday, March 4th
with the 10th Anniversary special screening of Stuart Gordon’s "The Pit
and the Pendulum" sponsored by Full Moon Pictures. The event will be held
at the Charles Theater from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The screening will
begin with a champagne and hors d’oeuvres gala where you can meet the director
of the film Stuart Gordon and other special guests of the festival, followed
by sneak peeks up upcoming genre films. Than finally the screening of THE
PIT AND THE PENDULUM starting with an introduction by director, and ending
with a Q & A session. Then on Sunday March 5th 2000 the festival officially
begins at Bohager’s in Fells Point from 12 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The activities
will include feature and independent film screenings and trailers to up
coming films Roman Palanski's upcoming film THE NINTH GATE staring Johnny
Depp and more. There will be appearances by Stuart Gordon (Director RE-ANIMATOR
and SPACE TRUCKERS), Barbara Crampton (Star of RE-ANIMATOR and FROM BEYOND),
Linda Hassani (Director/Screen writer DARK ANGEL: THE ASCENT), Jonathan
Fuller (Star of CASTLE FREAK and THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM), Denice Duff
(Star of SUBSPECIES II-V), Tom Savini (Make-up f/x wizard DAWN OF THE DEAD,
Actor/Director), Ralis (Special Make-up F/X Artist), Brinke Stevens (Star
of NIGHTMARE SISTERS), Bill George (The Man, The Myth, The Legend!), Jennifer
Huss (Actress/Femme Fatale Magazine Staff), Kevin Summerfield (Director/Screen
writer SLEEPY HOLLOW HIGH), Kim Gough (Screen writer JENNY GREEN TEETH),
George Stover (Star of ATTACK OF THE 60 FT CENTERFOLD), Michael Todd (Star
of STOP IT, YOU'RE KILLING ME), Jamie Donahue (Star of STOP IT, YOU'RE
KILLING ME and THE DEAD HATE THE LIVING) and Members of GWAR GWAR. There
will also be live D.J music, contests, panel dissuasions, Q & A’s,
demos, ethnic foods, demonic vendors, ghastly contests with prizes given
by major sponsors, local D.J's Roy, Chad & Travis. And then at nightfall
the Masquerade Ball will begin (including, a fetish fashion show by Object,
performance by "Jal A Drum" is a Tribal Belly Dance and World Fusion/Folkdance
Troupe, side show artists, terrifying national & local bands Tapping
the Vein, Carfax Abbey, Dingleberry Dynasty and much more spooky fun. Tickets
for the Charles are $30, $10 if you skip the champagne and the chance to
hob nob with Stuart Gordon. Bohager's tickets are $25. News of this event
comes through the observant Miss REGINA VALLERANI. Thanks Regina.
APRIL 21st-23rd: BALTICON 34 at the Omni Inner Harbor Hotel. Their highly literate guest line-up includes the authors Nina Boal, Octavia Butler, Jack L. Chalker, Robert R. Chase, Brenda W. Clough, J.L. Comeau, Michael Flynn, Richard Garfinkle, Alexis Gilliland, Marvin Kaye, Eric Kotani, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Paul Levinson, Joe Mayhew, Ron Miller, Severna Park, Darrell Schweitzer, Hannah M.G. Shapero, Charles Sheffield, Bud Sparhawk, Josepha Sherman, Susan Shwartz, Nancy Springer, James Stoddard, Cecilia Tan and John C. Wright. They'll also include an array of scientists from various fields, musicians, scholars, artists and editors. They'll host dances, a magic show, a costume ball, art demonstrations, writer's workshops, young writer's workshops, a 4,500 sq. foot dealer's room, a computer room, a gaming room, video showings and much more. Call them at 410-563-2737. You can write them at Balticon 34/ P.O. Box 686/ Baltimore, Md. 21203-0686. Or e-mail them at BSFS@ Balticon.Org. Weekend attendance is $40 in advance (by 3/31) or $45 at the door.
THE AGONY. . .
The annual Golden Raspberries nominations were announced
recently. The Golden Raspberries celebrate the worst contributions from
Hollywood. This will mark the 20th year that the Razzies have been providing
us with (in their words) "Tinseltown's Tackiest Anti-Award Show."
Below is a list of certain imaginative cinema titles that got a well targeted
knee to the groin.
BICENTENNIAL MAN--Worst Actor (Robin Williams, also nominated for JAKOB
THE LIAR)
BLAIR WITCH PROJECT--Worst Picture, Worst Actress (Heather Donahue)
DOGMA--Worst Supporting Actress (Salma Hayek)
END OF DAYS--Worst Actor (Ah-nold Schwarzennegger), Worst Supporting
Actor (Gabriel Byrne), Worst Director (Peter Hyams)
ENTRAPMENT--Worst Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Worst Screen Couple
(Sean Connery & Catherine Zeta-Jones)
THE HAUNTING--Worst Picture, Worst Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones),
Worst Director (Jan deBont), Worst Screenplay (David Self)
STAR WARS: EPISODE I, THE PHANTOM MENACE--Worst Picture, Worst Screen
Couple (Jake Lloyd & Natalie Portman), Worst Supporting Actress (Sofia
Coppola), two Worst Supporting Actor nominations (for Jar-Jar Binks
and for Jake Lloyd), Worst Director (George Lucas), Worst Screenplay (George
Lucas)
STIGMATA--Worst Supporting Actor (Gabriel Byrne)
WILD WILD WEST--Worst Picture, Worst Actor (Kevin Kline), Worst Screen
Couple (Kevin Kline & Will Smith), two Worst Supporting Actress nominations
(for Salma Hayek and for Kevin Kline posing as a prostitute), Worst Supporting
Actor (Kenneth Branagh), Worst Director (Barry Sonnenfield), Worst Screenplay
(Jim Thomas, John Thomas et al.)
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH--Worst Screen Couple (Pirce Brosnan & Denise
Richards), Worst Supporting Actress (Denise Richards)
They'll also be selecting Worst Actor of the Century
(from nominees Kevin Costner, "The A**hole formerly known as Prince," William
Shatner, Pauly Shore and Sylvester Stallone); the Worst Actress of the
Century (choosing among Elizabeth Berkley, Bo Derek, Madonna, Brooke Shields
and Pia Zadora); the Worst Picture of the Decade (out of AN ALAN SMITHEE
FILM: BURN HOLLYWOOD, BURN!, HUDSON HAWK, THE POSTMAN, SHOWGIRLS and STRIPTEASE);
and the Worst New Star of the Decade (from among Elizabeth Berkley, Jar-Jar
Binks, Sofia Coppola, Dennis Rodman and Pauly Shore).
As usual, the Razzies will be handed out the night
before the Oscars, on Saturday, March 25th.
. . . AND THE ECSTASY
Imaginative cinema was well represented in this
year's Academy Awards nominations. This year they weren't banished to the
purely techinical categories; like sound, visual effects and makeup. Following
is a list of the imaginative cinema titles deemed worthy for Oscar consideration:
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME--Best Makeup
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH-- Best Supporting Actress (Catherine Keener),
Best Director, Best Original Screenplay
BICENTENNIAL MAN--Best Makeup
THE GREEN MILE--Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Michael Clark
Duncan), Best Sound, Best Adapted Screenplay
THE MATRIX--Best Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best
Visual Effects
THE MUMMY--Best Sound
THE SIXTH SENSE--Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Haley Joel Osment),
Best Director, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay
SLEEPY HOLLOW--Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume
Design
SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT--Best Original Song
STAR WARS, EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE--Best Sound, Best Sound Effects
Editing, Best Visual Effects
STUART LITTLE--Best Visual Effects
TOY STORY 2--Best Original Song
"I DEDICATE THIS OSCAR TO MR.
BRUCE WILLIS"
Those are words that you might hear on Oscar night
if Michael Clark Duncan wins for Best Supporting Actor for THE GREEN MILE.
The two of them were shooting ARMAGEDDON together. Willis recognized the
6-foot-5-inch, 315-pound actor was a natural for the lead role.He urged
him to audition for the part. "He said, 'I want you to go buy [Stephen
King's novel], read it, and when we get back to Los Angeles I will call
[director] Frank Darabont for you and tell him I have found John Coffey,'"
Duncan says. He refers to Willis as "his angel."
WANNA BUY A POSTER?
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
is providing a official 72nd Academy Award posters that have been inspired
by the 1926 classic, METROPOLIS. They feature the familiar gold statue
surrounded by three red rings and a "2" over his head, signifying OSCAR
2000. This is the first time that the Academy has made their official posters
available. They are 26.75" X 39.75" and sell for $20 (including shipping).
You can order online or call 1-800-554-1814 by April 14th.
WANTED MEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF
18-35 TO BE MOVIE STARS
If you're in the target age and you're not particularly
busy between, say, April to December contact Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg
immediately! You may be who they're looking for to be in BAND OF BROTHERS,
that will be shooting in England for a 13-hour miniseries for HBO. It's
based on Stephen Ambrose's non-fiction account of a band of paratroopers
that landed behind German lines in France and fought their way to Hitler's
Eagle's Nest.
YOU'RE GONNA MEG IT AFTER ALL
What an interesting pedigree some movies acquire!
In 1997 an adventure novel called THE MEG by Steve Alten hit store shelves.
It was "the-next-big-thing." It was about a modern day encounter with a
prehistoric shark called a megalodon. There was test footage shot that
showed the meg snapping a tyrannosaurus rex in half. It was meant as sort
of an "up yours" to JURRASSIC PARK. It was to be the following summer's
big summer hit. Renny Harlin's name was attached to it to direct. George
Clooney, Jean Reno and Patrick Stewart were rumored to be committed to
the project. Buena Vista was to funnel it through one of its stable of
production companies. Then things bogged down. The producers kept their
eyes trained on the revenue generated by GODZILLA. They assumed they were
dealing with a similar audience. When GODZILLA failed to meet their lofty
expectations they dragged their feet for a year, then quietly announced
in 1999 that the project was shelved. They didn't think they could get
their money back on a film projected to cost $200 million. Now an announcement
has just been made about an entirely different project. Gary Tunnicliffe,
the person responsible for special effects for SLEEPY HOLLOW, BLADE and
the upcoming MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2, has written and will direct a movie
called MEGALODON. It will be a low budget film, shot directly on high definition
video. Some critters just won't stay extinct.
NOW DON'T HOLD BACK, TELL ME
WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
Director Joe Berlinger and two of the producers
for the sequel to THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT attempted to hold a meeting with
the people of Burkittsville, Md. on February 14th. They wanted to discuss
the tiny town of 200 people as a site for the film. One resident said that
it was unfair that the citizens in the town have had to undergo a steady
stream of tourist harassment while the backers have made "obscene profits"
(the movie grossed $140 million). Another woman said that she'd just bought
a plot in the town cemetery, "and I don't want them up there filming my
tombstone. . . . It's a breach of common courtesy." A man who'd only identify
himself as the town historian recalled, "They'd come along and be peeking
in people's windows, asking them where the witch lived. There were even
people holding candlelight vigils in the cemetery for the dead children.
. . . they wouldn't believe it was fiction." Former town councilman Sam
Brown shouted, "We've already been raped, now they want us to be
prostitutes." After enduring repeated such interruptions and insults the
film makers finally walked out. Artisan spokesman would not discuss shooting
locations.
THE RETURN OF HAMMER
Hammer Films was born in 1935, reached its zenith
in the 50's and 60's and ceased active production in 1983. Were it another
studio that might have been the end of the story. Someone has dripped blood
(in the form of a $1.6 million gamble) on the withered corpse to reanimate
it and let it walk abroad in the world again. Hammer will partner with
other producers on a project-by-project basis. Hammer also has a library
of 179 movies, 29 shorts and documentaries, and six TV series, as well
as a catalog of scripts and books that has not yet been developed.
THE RETURN OF AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL (SORT
OF)
The son of AIP guru Samuel Z. Arkoff, Lou Arkoff,
has signed a deal with HBO to remake several classic AIP productions, to
be shown under the banner of CREATURE FEATURES. Stan Winston will do the
special effects. Sam will executive produce. Robert Rodriquez has already
signed on as one of the directors. Among the titles to be re-made will
be THE SHE-CREATURE, HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER and THE BRAIN EATERS. Look for
them to appear on HBO sometme next year.
THE MOVEMENT OF MARS
The upcoming film, RED PLANET, has been moved from
its June 16th release date to November 10th. At one time Warner's was in
a race to open the film before Disney's MISSION TO MARS's March 10th opening.
The producers are saying now that they need the time to complete the film's
extensive effects.
MORE PROBLEMS FOR LORD OF THE
RINGS
Peter Jackson, director of LORD OF THE RINGS, has
hit yet another bump in the road. He'd been promised the New Zealand army
to serve as 15,000 mounted extras. Those troops have been diverted to the
conflict in East Timor. Jackson and company are scouring the country, looking
for replacements.
SCIENTOLOGY GOES TO THE MOVIES
Scientology, the church founded by science-fiction
writer L. Ron Hubbard, has said that they are not involved at all in the
upcoming John Travolta release, BATTLEFIELD EARTH. However, all merchandising
will be funneled through Author Services, which will be routing a slice
of the hoped for $50 million to be earned in related toys, back to the
church.
WHERE HAVE ALL THE TV VETS GONE,
LONG TIME PASSING
Well there's a decent chance that they're in the
cast of the new Sci-Fi independent film OVERLOAD. The movie is being co-executive
produced by Tony Dow (LEAVE IT TO BEAVER) and Bill Mumy (LOST IN SPACE,
BABYLON 5). Dow will direct. The cast includes Angela Cartwright (LOST
IN SPACE),Don Grady (MY THREE SONS), Billy Gray (FATHER KNOWS BEST) and
George Takei (STAR TREK). I hope they find a way to work in Barbara Billingsley
talking jive.
AN EL SALVADOREAN STIGAMATA
On February 3rd of this year, El Salvador's censors
banned the movie STIGMATA. Apparently it was offensive to a country with
a strong Catholic population. On the February 4th, the banned was lifted.
They decided to let it be shown during limited hours, and only to people
18 or older. Where the heck were those censors when I went to see it? I
wish that they would have banned me and saved my time and money.
AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THE EXORCIST
DEBUTS
A restored, enhanced version of the 1973 film, THE
EXORCIST, will be playing in a few select cities around the country beginning
on March 17th. It will contain eleven extra minutes "plus one or two little
surprises." It will more closely conform to the work that author William
Peter Blatty.
NUMBER ONE NOW NUMBER TWO!
There's an update to a story reported on the last
issue. In listing all-time international box-office champs I said that
STAR WARS, EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE was in third place. That's now
changed. It has just surpassed JURASSIC PARK for the second place spot
on the list. It has earned $431.1 million domestically and $491.4 million,
for a total of $922.2 million (except for E.T. and the original STAR WARS
all of the film on the list have earned more abroad than at home). It's
not likely to beat TITANIC anytime soon for first place. James Cameron's
film earned $1.8 billion.
THE RETURN OF BRITISH DRIVE-IN'S
The British supermarket chain ASDA, owned by America's
Wal-Mart, is planning to use its parking lots at night to show classic
family movies. ASDA said that large screens will be erected in the lots
with audio transmitted to the cars' radios. "Usherettes" on roller skates
will deliver popcorn, candy and ice-cream. Tickets will sell for $1.60,
with all profits going to local charities.
STEVEN SPIELBERG TO RECEIVE YET
ANOTHER HONOR
The Director's Guild of America (DGA) has decided
to confer a Lifetime Achievement Award to Steven Spielberg. This places
the 53-year old director in the august company of the likes of Orson Welles,
Cecil B. DeMille, John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Akira Kurosawa, Frank Capra
and Billy Wilder. This award was named for D. W. Griffith prior to this
year. Griffith's name was withdrawn because of his openly bigoted images
in the 1914 drama, BIRTH OF A NATION. Spielberg will receive the award
at the DGA ceremony on March 11th.
IMAGINATIVE CINEMA FOR THE MONTH
OF MARCH
MARCH 3RD
WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? stars Gary Shandling, Annette Benning, Nora
Dunn, Linda Fiorentino, John Goodman, Ben Kingsley, Greg Kinnear and Camryn
Manheim. Directed by Mike Nichols. Shandling plays an alien dispatched
to Earth to breed. He's completely puzzled by human dating rituals. He
also discovers a certain "plumbing" incompatibility and has to use alien
gizmos to remedy them.
MARCH 10TH
MISSION TO MARS stars Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins and Don Cheadle. Directed
by Bian DePalma. The first manned mission to Mars ends in disaster. A second
mission is mounted to save the stranded survivor (Cheadle), discover what
went wrong and to continue exploration.
THE NINTH GATE stars Johnny Depp, Lena Olin and Frank Langella. Directed
by Roman Polanski. A rare books dealer discovers that he's a pawn in a
demonic conspiracy while trying to find the last two volumes of an ancient
book said to hold the secret for summoning Satan.
MARCH 17TH
FINAL DESTINATION stars Devon Sawa and Kristen Cloke. Directd by James
Wong (formerly a producer on THE X-FILES and MILLENIUM). A high school
student on a flight about to take off for Paris gets a premonition that
the flight is doomed. He convinces six friends to get off the plane. They
feel grateful to have survived when the plane does crash. Slowly, each
of the seven begins to die in mysterious ways. The shrinking circle of
survivors have to figure out what's going on before they die too.
MARCH 24TH
ROMEO MUST DIE stars Jet Li, Aaliyah Haughton and Delroy Lindo. Directed
by Andrzej Bartkowiak (feature directing debut--cinematographer on SPECIES,
FALLING DOWN and SPEED). Hong Kong action star, Jet Li, plays a member
of an Asian gang in Oakland, California. Their truce with a rival African-American
gang is falling apart. While he's plotting revenge on the murderer of his
brother, he finds himself falling in love with his intended target's sister.
MARCH 31ST
THE ROAD TO EL DORADO features the voices of Kenneth Brannagh, Kevin
Kline, Armand Assante, Rosie Perez and Edward James Olmos. An animated
feature from Dreamworks about a pair of bumbling con men that stow away
on one of Cortez's ships after finding a map for the lost City of Gold,
El Dorado. They stumble into plots for power that they know nothing about.
THE SKULLS stars Joshua Jackson, Paul Walker and Craig T. Nelson. Directed
by Rob Cohen. An ambitious student from a modest economic background attends
an Ivy League school but never feels like he's part of the inner circle.
Suddenly he's given the opportunity to be on the fast track by joining
a secret society called, "The Skulls." He has no idea what he's getting
into.
EYES WIDE SHUT CONTROVERSY CONTINUES
EYES WIDE SHUT had footage trimmed from it before
its domestic theatrical release to avoid an NC-17 rating. Warner Home Video
has announced that the uncensored version, which played in Europe, will
not be released in the American VHS or DVD. A total of 65 seconds of nudity
were digitally altered.
LUCASFILMS ISSUES STATEMENT ON
DVD POLICY
In response to worldwide griping about the lack
of STAR WARS on DVD, Lucasfilms issued a statement last month to address
fan concerns:
"Lucasfilm greatly appreciates the enthusiasm of our fans of the Star
Wars movies and their passion to see the films in the best possible format,
as demonstrated by various campaigns by fans asking for an immediate release
of Star Wars on DVD. There is no plan to release any of the Star Wars films
on DVD for the foreseeable future and definitely not this year. George
Lucas would like to do something special with the DVD release, and unfortunately
he does not have time to concentrate on the DVD project at this time. George
is currently working on the script for Episode II and preparing for principal
photography that will begin this summer in Australia. Rumors and speculation
that waiting to release DVD versions is motivated by a desire to simply
drive up demand, or to force fans to purchase multiple copies are completely
false."
DVD PRICES MAY BE IN FOR AN INCREASE
Until now, when a new VHS hits the market the accompanying
DVD is priced significantly lower. Usually the price lists for somewhere
a bit over $30. Two major studios, Warner's and MGM, have announced that
they're considering a price increase for new releases. DVD has been considered
a
sell-through collectible. VHS has been perceived as the rentable format.
If DVD continues a significant erosion into the VHS market, with increasing
numbers of outlets offering discs for rent, these two studios (with probably
many more to follow) will need to account for the lost revenue that would
have been contributed by the diminishing tape format. It's only speculation
at this point, but the prices may jump to $49.95, with possible increases
from there.
MAJOR STUDIOS OPEN ONLINE VIDEO
CLUBS
Warner Video Club and Columbia House have launched
sites to offer their catalog titles to the public. Warner's will be releasing
their Century 2000 collection with 200 titles scattered throughout the
year. They have about 4,000 movies from which to choose. Columbia House
has heightened its Internet awareness since merging with the online retailer
CDNow. Before this year's newly beefed up presence Columbia House has already
grossed $100 million over the web last year.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED.
. .
Toys and merchandise related to STAR WARS: EPISODE
I--THE PHANTOM MENACE laid an enormous egg, to use Variety's showbiz lexicon.
You might think that wholesalers would be overjoyed at the chance to disburse
their overage and simply cut their losses with the April video release
of the movie. Many are doing just that. Others are introducing whole new
lines of action figures and toys. Go figure.
BIG BLUE GOES THEATRICAL
Blockbuster Video, as mentioned in the last issue,
has started to acquire the video distribution rights to certain independent
features. It would like these new acquisitions to have spent some time
in theaters. In video retailing movies with a theatrical history are preferred
over the D-T-V's ("direct-to-video"). They've vowed to commit $1 million
or more for prints and advertising. So far two recent Sundance acquisitions,
SHADOW HOURS and LOVE AND SEX have received the star treatment.
A DVD PLAYER FOR MINI-ME?
Foreshadowing the day of "movies on the go," Japan's
Matsushita Electric Co. says it will begin marketing a 1.4 pound portable
DVD player, complete with a 7-inch LCD screen, beginning March 10 in Japan.
The lightest of any DVD portable, it is priced at $1,000. Another unit,
without a screen and weighing only about three-quarters of a pound, will
also be introduced for about $500.
PVR'S GO VOD
Personal Video Recorders (PVR's), like the ones
marketed by TiVo and ReplayTV, are looking to become the gateway of choice
for Video on Demand (VOD). Both companies acknowledge that providing pay-per-view
features, along with broadcast and cable signals, are where their future
lies. TiVo has already allied itself with America Online and Blockbuster
Inc. to accomplish their goal. PVR's are expected to soar from a current
58,000 to a projected 950,000 units by 2001 to over 8 million in 2003.
RECEIPTS GO DIGITAL
Major retailers, including video stores and electronic
hardware stores, are working toward offering digital receipts to patrons.
Within a year you'll be offered a digital receipt, and then when promotions
come up related to the product that you purchased you'll be notified of
a special via e-mail. So if you purchased a DVD player at Best Buys you'd
be sent e-mails for DVD releases and upgrades. The Digital Receipt Alliance
(made up of Large software firms and the National Cash Register Company)
has submitted a standard to the National Retail Federation's Association
for Retail Technology Standards. When it's approved you'll be seeing the
option pop up everywhere.
NETFLIX TRIES A NEW MATCHING
SYSTEM
The DVD specialist site, NetFlix, is launching a
new sophisticated matching system called "CineMatch." Instead of saying,
"if you liked A you'll like B," they're having people fill out polls on
20 films, rating them with a five star system. When they find a person
or people with tastes similar to yours, they match you up and see if they
can help you find films that would appeal to your tastes that may have
not shown up on your radar.
NETFLIX STARTS A NEW RENTAL PROGRAM
NetFlix has launched a new DVD rental program called
"All You Can Watch." Pay a flat fee of $19.95 a month and you can borrow
all the DVD's you want. All due dates, late fees and shipping charges are
eliminated. Customers are allowed up to four DVD's in their possession
at any one time.
VIDEOCY
Rental title releasing 3/7: DEAD OF NIGHT releases today, from the
microscopic production company, A-Pix. This features Leo Rock, "the most
merciless serial killer since Leatherface, Michael Myers and Jason." .
. . EVIL'S EDGE features a twisted coven of devil worshippers armed with
a sword that is the finger tip of Satan. The end of the world is at hand.
Rental titles releasing 3/14: EYES WIDE SHUT, the last movie to be
directed by Stanley Kubrick, releases today. The VHS is rental-priced.
The DVD carries a suggested retail of $24.98 (with a minimum advertised
price of $19.95). . . . PROPHECY III: THE ASCENT, features the return on
Christopher Walken as the murderous angel, Gabriel. . . . VELOCITY TRAP
features Oliver Gruner as a cop in 2150 assigned to protect the Federal
Banking Ship, USF Atlantic, with its currency cargo of $40,000,000,000,
as a massive asteroid and space pirates threaten the ship. . . . Fangoria
Video releases the horror title ANGEL OF THE NIGHT about three young people
who discover a mysterious old vampire book in a stately mansion. One of
them discovers that they're the grandchild of the vampire in question and
that his story may not yet be over. . . . THE BONE COLLECTOR, with Denzel
Washington as a quadriplegic detective and Angelina Jolie as his assistant,
releases today. . . . THE SUSPECT, from Hong Kong action director Ringo
Lam, releases today. It's about a former hit man, just out of prison, that's
refuses a job from an old friend to kill a prominent presidential candidate.
When the candidate's killed anyway the ex-con becomes the target of the
cops and the conspirators. . . .
Rental titles releasing 3/21: THE LIMEY, featuring Terrence Stamp as
a tough Brit thug looking for his daughter's killer in L.A., releases today.
The DVD sells for $29.98. . . .
Rental titles releasing 3/28: THE SIXTH SENSE, the surprise mega-hit
from last year, releases today. . . . LEPRECHAUN IN THE HOOD hits the streets
today. It stars Ice-T and Warwick Davis. . . . VOODOO DAWN, starring Rosanna
Arquette and Michael Madsen, comes out today. It's set deep in Louisiana's
Bayou as a criminal and his enemies confront the dark powers of magic.
. . .
Sell through titles releasing 3/7: MGM releases it's "Midnight Movies"
collection today. For $12.95 each you can pick up THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES
(1971), ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE(1958), COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1970),
JESS JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER(1966), DIE MONSTER, DIE! (1965),
INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS (1973) and THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT (1977).
. . . DR. WHO: THE FACE OF EVIL gets released today for all you Time Lord
wannabes out there. . . .THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR will be re-released as part
of Columbia's "Teen Promotion" campaign (although other than being a science-fiction
film this movie would hold no special draw for teens). The new price is
$14.95.
Sell through titles releasing 3/14: Artisan re-releases 9 of the edgier
films in its catalog to the sell-through market today. RESERVOIR DOGS,
PI, SUICIDE KINGS, KILLING ZOE, PERMANENT MIDNIGHT, TREES LOUNGE, NIAGARA
NIAGARA, ILLTOWN and . . . AND GOD SPOKE will all be available for a suggested
retail of $9.98. . . . THE CARTOONS OF BOB GODFREY becomes available today
for $19.95. He's not well known in this country, but is well known and
loved in England and Australia. His animation had a strong influence on
Monty Python and the Wallace & Gromit series. . . . BEAST COP is a
Hong Kong action flick about a cop torn between his career and his life
as a gangster. It's got a suggested retail of $19.98.
Sell through titles releasing 3/21: In remembrance of a real life horror,
four titles get released today in advance of Holocaust Remembrance Day
(April 19th). THE WANNSEE CONFERENCE and NIGHT AND FOG are $19.95. THE
SHOP ON MAIN STREET and VARIAN FRY: THE ARTIST'S SCHINDLER are $29.95.
. . . IN THE REALM OF PASSION is a Japanese ghost story for "mature" audiences.
The spirit of a betrayed husband returns to haunt his wife and her husband.
The VHS is $19.98. The DVD is $29.98. . . . KEEPERS OF THE FRAME is not
the usual sort of movie mentioned in "The ICS Files" but it's a documentary
about a topic that we've all discussed. It looks at the history, science
and struggles of film preservation. It sells for $19.98.
Sell through titles releasing 3/28: THE OMEGA CODE is the little film
that thought it could. It is a sci-fi action flick bought and paid for
the ultra-religious Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Despite its limited
release last Fall it cracked the national top ten box office list. It stars
Michael York and Casper VanDien. It's title refers to a biblical code used
to forecast the future. The title will receive a big push by TBN, distribution
in 50,000 churches, and will also be made available in regular stores via
GoodTimes Video. The VHS is $19.95. The DVD is $24.95. . . .
MARCH CALENDAR
FRI. 3RD-MOVIES-WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? debuts.
SAT., SUN. 4TH & 5TH: FESTIVAL OF DARKNESS
TUE. 7TH-VIDEO RENTAL-DEAD OF NIGHT and EVIL'S EDGE release today.
VIDEO SELL-THROUGH-THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES (1971),
ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE(1958), COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1970),
JESSE JAMES MEETS FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER(1966), DIE MONSTER,
DIE! (1965), INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS (1973) and THE PEOPLE THAT
TIME FORGOT (1977), DR. WHO: THE FACE OF EVIL and THE THIRTEENTH
FLOOR will be released today.
FRI 10TH- MOVIES-MISSION TO MARS debuts
MOVIES-THE NINTH GATE debuts
TUE 14TH- VIDEO RENTALS-EYES WIDE SHUT, PROPHECY III: THE ASCENT,
VELOCITY TRAP, ANGEL OF THE NIGHT, THE BONE COLLECTOR,
and THE SUSPECT release today.
VIDEO SELL-THROUGH- RESERVOIR DOGS, PI, SUICIDE KINGS, KILLING
ZOE, PERMANENT MIDNIGHT, TREES LOUNGE, NIAGARA NIAGARA,
ILLTOWN, . . . AND GOD SPOKE, THE CARTOONS OF BOB GODFREY and
BEAST COP all release today.
FRI 17TH-MOVIES-FINAL DESTINATION debuts
TUE 21ST-VIDEO RENTALS- THE LIMEY releases today.
VIDEO SELL-THROUGH- THE WANNSEE CONFERENCE, NIGHT AND FOG,
THE SHOP ON MAIN STREET, VARIAN FRY: THE ARTIST'S SCHINDLER,
IN THE REALM OF PASSION and KEEPERS OF THE FRAME release today.
FRI 24TH-MOVIES-ROMEO MUST DIE debuts
SAT. 25TH- ICS MEETING
The Golden Raspberries Awards handed out
SUN 26TH-72nd Academy Awards
TUE 28TH-VIDEO RENTALS- THE SIXTH SENSE, LEPRECHAUN IN THE HOOD and
VOODOO DAWN release today.
VIDEO SELL-THROUGH- THE OMEGA CODE releases today.
FRI 31ST-MOVIES-THE ROAD TO EL DORADO debuts
MOVIES-THE SKULLS debuts.