Animation Veteran, Stephan Franck, Announces Dark Planet Comics

Stephan Franck has been working in the animation industry for over two decades.  Franck was the supervising animator on the acclaimed animated film, The Iron Giant, and he was a storyboard artist on such feature films as Despicable Me and 9.  He has also worked on such films as Space Jam and How to Train Your Dragon.  I recently received the following press release from Franck:

COMIXOLOGY PICKS UP “SILVER”, ANIMATION VETERAN’S COMIC BOOK DEBUT

Los Angeles, 5/6/13—DARK PLANET COMICS is proud to announce the digital release of its very first title: SILVER #1, now available for download on ComiXology. Silver, a 12-issue miniseries, marks the comic book debut from animation veteran Stephan Franck (The Iron Giant, Despicable Me).

Set in a direct 1930’s extension of Bram Stoker’s universe, and steeped up to its eyeballs in the pulp tradition, SILVER introduces James Finnigan, a witty but (figuratively) soulless con man, who sets out to separate the living-dead from their silver. As Finnigan assembles the crew of talented but broken misfits needed to pull off the heist of the last ten centuries, personality conflicts, emotional entanglements and character comedy abound.

With SILVER, Franck brings the combination of light tone and character depth that has made him first-call in the animation industry. “Silver is about fathers;” Franck says; “It’s about sons. Sons who had bad fathers, and who carry the fear of not knowing how to be good into manhood. Ultimately, it’s about greed and emptiness versus the elusiveness of feeling alive.”

Comic book luminaries have been enjoying Franck’s debut comic:

“With SILVER, Stephan Franck shows how much excitement can be packed into a fast-moving, thrill-filled story...dynamic, unfussy, black and white art, all in the service of speed and momentum...a really, really fun ride.” — Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween; Batman Dark Victory; Superman For All Seasons)

“A beautifully drawn and masterfully told noir/heist story with a teasing side of the supernatural that constantly kept me surprised with it’s reveals. I was particularly taken aback by the creative camera angles and use of shadows. I was kinda blown away, really.” — Takeshi Miyazawa (Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane; X-Men Unlimited; Runaways)


ABOUT STEPHAN FRANCK:
Stephan Franck is a writer/director/animator who has worked for Disney, Dreamworks, Warner Bros, Universal, Columbia Pictures, and Sony Pictures Animation. He was a supervising animator on The Iron Giant, and contributed story to films such as Despicable Me. He is the co-creator of the cult TV show, Corniel & Bernie (ADA Watch My Chops) (TF1, BBC, ABC Australia), that runs in over 60 countries and just got picked up for a second season. He’s had the giant out-of-body experience of being personally hired by George Lucas to direct a movie so cool and crazy it had to be abandoned, and just directed THE SMURFS: THE LEGEND OF SMURFY HOLLOW for Sony Pictures Animation, which is selected in official competition for the 2013 ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL in the Best TV Special category.

ABOUT DARK PLANET COMICS
Created in 2013, Dark Planet Comics is the home of Stephan Franck’s original comic book properties. “Having a comic book imprint has been a dream of mine,” Franck says, “it’s about authorship. It’s about the commitment to put my stories out into the world in the way they were intended to be. ComiXology’s amazing platform makes this kind of independence possible.”

Silver #1 on ComiXology: http://www.comixology.com/Silver/comics-series/10508

In addition to digital downloads, Silver #1’s print edition is available on the Dark Planet Comics website: www.darkplanetcomics.com

Review: "Silver Linings Playbook" is Golden

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 32 (of 2013) by Leroy Douresseaux

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Running time: 122 minutes (2 hours, 2 minutes)
MPAA – R for language and some sexual content/nudity
DIRECTOR: David O. Russell
WRITERS: David O. Russell (based on the novel The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick)
PRODUCERS: Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, and Jonathan Gordon
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Masanobu Takayanagi (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers
COMPOSER: Danny Elfman
Academy Award winner

COMEDY/DRAMA/ROMANCE

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, Julia Stiles, Paul Herman, Dash Mihok, Cheryl Williams, Patrick McDade, and Brea Bee

Silver Linings Playbook is a 2012 romantic comedy-drama from writer-director, David O. Russell. The film is based on The Silver Linings Playbook, the 2008 debut novel of American author Matthew Quick. Silver Linings Playbook the film focuses on a man who returns home from a mental institution, hoping to reconcile with his wife, but befriends a young woman with serious mental issues of her own.

Silver Linings Playbook has two distinctions. It received Oscar nominations in the “Big Five” categories: best picture, director, actor, actress, and screenplay (either original or adapted). It also received Oscar nominations in all four acting categories, the first film to do so since 1981. Besides the Oscars, Silver Linings Playbook was critically acclaimed and also won or was nominated by numerous film award organizations. Plus, it was a surprise box office success. I call it one of the very best films of 2012, and I have to admit this. Silver Linings Playbook made me feel as if my heart were soaring into the clouds, and it even made me shed tears. What a damn good movie.

Silver Linings Playbook opens in 2008 at the Karel Psychiatric Facility in Baltimore, Maryland. Former high school teacher, Pat Solitano, Jr. (Bradley Cooper), is about to be released after an eight-month stay. Homeless and jobless, he has to move in with his parents, Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver), while he continues his treatment for bipolar disorder. Pat Sr., however, has his own issues, mostly built around his fanatical love for the professional football team, the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL and his insistence that Pat Jr. is some kind of good luck charm for the Eagles.

Pat is determined to reunite and reconcile with his wife, Nikki (Brea Bee), but she has a restraining order against him. Pat does reunite with a few friends, which is how he meets Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence), a young policeman’s widow, who is also on medication for depression. Tiffany aggressively pursues Pat and coerces him in order to get her way, but she might be the woman to change his life – his silver lining.

Silver Linings Playbook is one of the films in which a strong guiding hand is evident, in this case, writer-director David O. Russell. He treads carefully. On one hand, this film is about mental illness; on the other, it is a love story. Russell has to keep this movie from becoming a well-meaning, disease-of-the-week, television movie, bogged down by talk of medicine and symptoms. He also had to avoid the clichés that turn romance movies into cloying, maudlin melodramas, which is often the fate of movies about mismatched or star-crossed lovers.

Russell does this by writing a script in which the characters stay stubbornly true to who they are while building relationships with each other. As a director, Russell painstakingly guides the intricate connections necessary to make this character drama into a film that feels honest and authentic, rather than dishonest and contrived. This movie is not so much about connections as it is about accepting the “crazy” in each other, as the way to strengthen bonds. Russell does an outstanding job in getting the necessary performances from his cast that make Silver Linings Playbook not only succeed, but also it a great movie.

And what fantastic performances they are. Robert De Niro gives his best performance in years, probably the most heartfelt and layered since Awakenings (1990). Jacki Weaver is poignant and funny in a subtle performance full of color and delicate shades. Chris Tucker’s performance as Danny McDaniels (Pat’s friend whom he met while both were institutionalized) is sweet; that is the best way I can think to describe it. Russell makes the best use of Tucker’s innate foolishness in short bursts.

Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence give career best performances in Silver Linings Playbook. Lawrence is so talented, and she’s just of burst of freshness and sunshine in the movies in which she appears. In fact, her first appearance in this movie is literally a burst out of nowhere, and instantly, Silver Linings Playbook is the better for it. Lawrence is mesmerizing, and it is easy to see why she captivated enough Oscar voters to win a best actress Academy Award for the role of Tiffany Maxwell.

Bradley Cooper, however, is Silver Linings Playbook’s rock. As Pat Solitano, Jr., Cooper brilliant portrays that at the heart of Solitano’s mania is a closed-up part of him. He takes the audience on a journey in which Pat finally opens up to new possibilities. Cooper is mesmerizing. I couldn’t help but follow the movie because I was enthralled by his performance. Where is Bradley’s Oscar?

Silver Linings Playbook is a special film, full of humor and love. Its foray into our individual mental issues is a journey that our minds and hearts need to experience. It is a great movie, and I want to see it again.

10 of 10

NOTES:
2013 Academy Awards: 1 win: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” (Jennifer Lawrence); 7 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen, and Jonathan Gordon), “Best Achievement in Directing” (David O. Russell), “Best Achievement in Editing” (Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role” (Bradley Cooper), “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role” (Robert De Niro), “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” (Jacki Weaver), and “Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published” (David O. Russell)

2013 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Adapted Screenplay” (David O. Russell); 2 nominations: “Best Leading Actor” (Bradley Cooper) and “Best Leading Actress” (Jennifer Lawrence)

2013 Golden Globes, USA: 1 win: “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Jennifer Lawrence); 3 nominations: Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy,” “Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Bradley Cooper), and “Best Screenplay - Motion Picture” (David O. Russell)

Friday, May 10, 2013

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" Now Shooting

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Begins Principal Photography

Andy Serkis Reprises His Celebrated Role of Heroic Ape Caesar

Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell, Keri Russell, Kodi Smit-Mcphee Also Star

Matt Reeves Directs Newest Chapter of Beloved Franchise Now Filming on Location in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twentieth Century Fox announced that principal photography is underway on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.

Andy Serkis, celebrated for his performance in the last film, reprises his role as Caesar. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes also stars Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Public Enemies, The Great Gatsby), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises, The Harry Potter film series), Keri Russell (The Americans, Mission Impossible III), Toby Kebbell (The Prince of Persia, Wrath of the Titans, Rock N Rolla), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, ParaNorman), Enrique Murciano (Traffic, Black Hawk Down), Kirk Acevedo (The Thin Red Line) and Judy Greer (The Descendants, Three Kings, 13 Going on 30).

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In). The producers are Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Oblivion), Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planet of the Apes). Tom Hammel (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) is executive producing.

Oscar®-winning visual effects house WETA Digital – employing a new generation of the cutting edge performance capture technologies developed for Rise of the Apes and Avatar – will again render photo-realistic, emotionally-engaging apes. The film’s key behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Michael Seresin, production designer James Chinland, and VFX Supervisors Joe Letteri and Dan Lemmon, VFX producers Ryan Stafford, editor Bill Hoy and Stan Salfas, and costume designer Melissa Brunning.

Twentieth Century Fox will release Dawn of the Planet of the Apes worldwide on Memorial Day weekend, May 23, 2014. Rise of the Planet of the Apes opened theatrically during the summer of 2011, grossed nearly half a billion dollars worldwide.


About 20TH Century Fox Film
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, 20th Century Fox Film produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of 20TH Century Fox Film: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Willie

I can't remember your age, but have a great one, anyway.

"Star Trek Into Darkness" Moves to May 16, 2013 Opening

IMAX® THEATRES ACROSS THE COUNTRY SELL OUT FOR “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS”

OPENING MOVES UP A DAY TO THURSDAY, MAY 16TH

IMAX® theatres are reporting sell-outs of its special “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” sneak peek shows on Wednesday, May 15th, with showings in Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Austin, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego and Minneapolis now at capacity. Interest continues to be strong at other IMAX locations across the country, which are offering fans the opportunity to be the first to see the film at 8:00 p.m. that evening. In response, Paramount Pictures has moved the film’s Friday, May 17th release up a day to May 16th.

Tickets are available on the film’s first-of-its-kind movie App, a technology that allows users to delve deeper into the Star Trek universe, and can also be accessed via IMAX.com or through Fandango.com, Movietickets.com, as well as other ticketing platforms and at theatre box offices. While supplies last, all 8:00 p.m. IMAX fan sneak attendees will receive a limited-edition IMAX FANFIX™ “Star Trek” Gallery 1988 movie print by Mark Englert.

The IMAX release of “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” will feature approximately 30 minutes of footage filmed with the extremely high-resolution IMAX® cameras. These specific sequences, which will expand to fill more of the screen exclusively in IMAX, will deliver unprecedented crispness and clarity and a truly immersive experience for moviegoers.

Paramount’s “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS,” based upon “Star Trek” created by Gene Roddenberry, is written by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof and directed by J.J. Abrams. Abrams is producing with Bryan Burk through Bad Robot Productions, along with Lindelof, Kurtzman and Orci. Jeffrey Chernov and Skydance Productions’ David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are the executive producers.

“STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” opens in theaters everywhere May 16th, 2013.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leadingcontent company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS”
In the wake of a shocking act of terror from within their own organization, the crew of The Enterprise is called back home to Earth. In defiance of regulations and with a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads his crew on a manhunt to capture an unstoppable force of destruction and bring those responsible to justice. As the heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you’ve never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX’s network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of Sept. 30, 2012, there were 689 IMAX theatres (556 commercial multiplex, 20 commercial destination and 113 institutional) in 52 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. Moreinformation about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

Beyonce Sings "Rise Up" in EPIC Animated Film

Beyoncé Creates Original Song “RISE UP” for the Upcoming Motion Picture EPIC

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beyoncé, one of the most widely recognized and highly respected women in pop culture, has created an original song, “RISE UP” for the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Blue Sky Studios motion picture, EPIC, for which she also voices one of the lead characters. The song, performed by Beyoncé, is written by Beyoncé and Sia and produced by Hit-Boy and Chase N. Cashe. The track will be released by Columbia Records.

EPIC is a 3D CG adventure comedy that reveals a fantastical world unlike any other. From the creators of ICE AGE and RIO, EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world…and ours.

Beyoncé voices the leader of this magical world – Queen Tara. Beautiful, agile and strong, Tara isn’t just the Leafmen’s Queen; she’s the life force of the forest, which she presides over with respect, compassion and humor.

Other members of voice cast are Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Christophe Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis and rock legend Steven Tyler.

EPIC charges into theaters nationwide on May 24, 2013 and internationally beginning May 16, 2013.

EPIC Trailer: http://youtu.be/NPnSC4stKC4

YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/epicthemovie

Instagram: http://instagram.com/epicthemovie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/epicthemovie

Official site: http://www.epicthemovie.com


About 20TH Century Fox Film
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, 20th Century Fox Film produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of 20TH Century Fox Film: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox International Productions, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

Happy Birthday, Mama

There is a suprise coming.  Hope you have a great day and, of course, many, many, many more.