Baltimore Comic-Con Welcomes Special Guest Jules Feiffer
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND- The Baltimore Comic-Con returns to the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of September 25-27, 2015. Go to http://baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ to buy your VIP, General Admission, and Harvey Award tickets now!
The Baltimore Comic-Con announces the addition of industry veteran Jules Feiffer as a special guest.
Feiffer began his storied career in comics back in the 1940s working under comics giant Will Eisner at Eisner's studio. Initially working on art clean-up chores, Feiffer soon found himself with writing responsibilities, finishing Eisner's plots on The Spirit. He eventually launched his own comic, Clifford, which ran within the pages of The Spirit between 1949 and 1951.
Generally thought of as the godfather of alt-weekly newspaper comix, Feiffer launched his own strip, Sick Sick Sick, in the pages of The Village Voice in 1956. It was later renamed Feiffer's Fables, and finally just the eponomous Feiffer, which ran in the paper for over 40 years. Feiffer was nationally syndicated, and has been collected in books from McGraw-Hill and Fantagraphics.
More recently, Feiffer created his graphic novel, Kill My Mother. Released by the Liveright division of W.W. Norton, Kill My Mother garnered accolades such as winning the 2015 NCS Reuben Award for Graphic Novel, being declared a Vanity Fair Best Book in 2014 and a Kirkus Review Best Fiction Book in 2014, as well as being nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album-New.
Beyond his work in comics, Feiffer is a man of many talents. He is a novelist, a non-fiction writer (including The Great Comic Book Heroes), an autobiographer, a playwright, and a children's book author. He has adapted works to musicals and film alike. He has taught at ivy league universities and continues to hold an adjunct professorship at Stony Brook Southampton. And beyond his aforementioned accolades, he has been recipient of an Academy Award (for the animated short film, Munro), an Obie Award, an Outer Circle Critics Award, a Pulitzer Prize for political cartooning, a George Polk Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Writers Guild of America, a Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cartoonists Society, and has been inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
"This is such a privilege," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Jules Feiffer is one of the greats of our industry, not to mention his many accomplishments outside of comics. He has seen and done so much, and continues to produce great work to this day. We couldn't be more pleased to have Jules joining us in 2015!"
TICKETS
General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!
In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com- for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com- for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 15th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
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Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Monday, July 27, 2015
IDW's "Wynonna Earp" Headed to Syfy
Syfy Acquires WYNONNA EARP from SEVEN24 Films and IDW Entertainment
SEVEN24 Films and IDW Entertainment announced today that Syfy has acquired the U.S. rights to Wynonna Earp, a live action television series based on the IDW Publishing comic created by Beau Smith. Emily Andras ("Lost Girl," "Killjoys") developed the series for television and will serve as Executive Producer and Showrunner.
With an initial order of 13 one-hour episodes, Wynonna Earp is a fast-paced, contemporary thriller that follows Wyatt Earp’s great granddaughter as she battles demons and other supernatural beings. Wynonna is a witty and wild modern day gunslinger, using her unique abilities and a dysfunctional posse of allies to bring the paranormal to justice. The series is scheduled to premiere in April 2016.
“Wynonna Earp is a unique contemporary western that will bring high octane, full-throttle, supernatural action to Syfy,” said Chris Regina, SVP, Programming, Syfy. “It is wildly imaginative and we are excited to work with Seven24 Films, IDW Entertainment and Emily on this truly original concept that will showcase fun, stylized visuals and pure escapism.”
Melanie Scrofano (Damien, Gangland Undercover) will star as Wynonna Earp. Tim Rozon (Being Human, Instant Star) will play legendary con artist Doc Holliday, and Shamier Anderson (Defiance, Constantine) plays the mysterious Agent Dolls.
“Together with SEVEN24 Films, IDW Entertainment, and a virtual dream cast, I’m confident we have something special on our hands: a female-led supernatural series with grand themes of redemption, honor, and the struggle to define good vs. evil. Not to mention, a kickass biker babe fighting demon outlaws,” said Emily Andras.
Wynonna Earp will be produced in Calgary by SEVEN24 Films, and distributed by IDW Entertainment. Production is slated to begin in August. SEVEN24’s Jordy Randall and Tom Cox will serve as Executive Producers.
IDW CEO & Publisher Ted Adams, David Ozer, Peleton Entertainment’s Todd Berger, and Circle of Confusion’s Rick Jacobs packaged and facilitated financing for the series.
“Developing the series has been a passion for our entire creative team and we’re excited to share this new series with Syfy’s equally passionate audience,” said Jordy Randall of SEVEN24 Films.
“Wynonna is an incredible character that will appeal to a global audience. IDW Entertainment is thrilled that Syfy will be the U.S. home for this fabulous series and we look forward to bringing Wynonna to the global market,” said David Ozer of IDW Entertainment.
Emily Andras is represented by Jeff Alpern of The Alpern Group. Melanie Scrofano is represented by David Ritchie of Ambition Talent and Matthew Lesher of Insight Entertainment. Shamier Anderson is represented by Douglas Patterson of Patterson Talent Management and Tim Rozon is represented by Paul Hemrend at Edna Talent Management.
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SEVEN24 Films and IDW Entertainment announced today that Syfy has acquired the U.S. rights to Wynonna Earp, a live action television series based on the IDW Publishing comic created by Beau Smith. Emily Andras ("Lost Girl," "Killjoys") developed the series for television and will serve as Executive Producer and Showrunner.
With an initial order of 13 one-hour episodes, Wynonna Earp is a fast-paced, contemporary thriller that follows Wyatt Earp’s great granddaughter as she battles demons and other supernatural beings. Wynonna is a witty and wild modern day gunslinger, using her unique abilities and a dysfunctional posse of allies to bring the paranormal to justice. The series is scheduled to premiere in April 2016.
“Wynonna Earp is a unique contemporary western that will bring high octane, full-throttle, supernatural action to Syfy,” said Chris Regina, SVP, Programming, Syfy. “It is wildly imaginative and we are excited to work with Seven24 Films, IDW Entertainment and Emily on this truly original concept that will showcase fun, stylized visuals and pure escapism.”
Melanie Scrofano (Damien, Gangland Undercover) will star as Wynonna Earp. Tim Rozon (Being Human, Instant Star) will play legendary con artist Doc Holliday, and Shamier Anderson (Defiance, Constantine) plays the mysterious Agent Dolls.
“Together with SEVEN24 Films, IDW Entertainment, and a virtual dream cast, I’m confident we have something special on our hands: a female-led supernatural series with grand themes of redemption, honor, and the struggle to define good vs. evil. Not to mention, a kickass biker babe fighting demon outlaws,” said Emily Andras.
Wynonna Earp will be produced in Calgary by SEVEN24 Films, and distributed by IDW Entertainment. Production is slated to begin in August. SEVEN24’s Jordy Randall and Tom Cox will serve as Executive Producers.
IDW CEO & Publisher Ted Adams, David Ozer, Peleton Entertainment’s Todd Berger, and Circle of Confusion’s Rick Jacobs packaged and facilitated financing for the series.
“Developing the series has been a passion for our entire creative team and we’re excited to share this new series with Syfy’s equally passionate audience,” said Jordy Randall of SEVEN24 Films.
“Wynonna is an incredible character that will appeal to a global audience. IDW Entertainment is thrilled that Syfy will be the U.S. home for this fabulous series and we look forward to bringing Wynonna to the global market,” said David Ozer of IDW Entertainment.
Emily Andras is represented by Jeff Alpern of The Alpern Group. Melanie Scrofano is represented by David Ritchie of Ambition Talent and Matthew Lesher of Insight Entertainment. Shamier Anderson is represented by Douglas Patterson of Patterson Talent Management and Tim Rozon is represented by Paul Hemrend at Edna Talent Management.
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Nelvana Developing "Hotel Transylvania" as an Animated Series
Nelvana and Sony Pictures Animation check in together on Hotel Transylvania Animated TV Series
(Toronto, Canada) Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, one of the world’s leading international producers and distributors of children’s animated content, today announced that it is developing an exciting new animated TV series based on the blockbuster feature film, Hotel Transylvania from Sony Pictures Animation.
Nelvana and Sony Pictures Animation will partner to bring the hit feature film to the small screen. Focusing on the teenage years of Dracula’s daughter Mavis and her friends in brand new adventures, the animated monster comedy television series will be developed and produced by Nelvana Studio in Toronto and is slated to launch on air in early 2017.
"We’re excited to be entering into a new relationship with Sony Pictures Animation to extend the world of Hotel Transylvania into a new TV series,” said Colin Bohm, Vice President, Head of Corus Kids. “The hilarious characters and clever premise of Hotel Transylvania set the stage for endless story possibilities."
Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation commented: "Audiences have embraced the world and characters of Hotel Transylvania, so we are thrilled to be partnering with Nelvana to take them on new adventures, expanding on the teenage years of Mavis and her friends at the world-famous monster five star resort!"
Rick Mischel, executive producer at Sony Pictures Animation added, "Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana is a perfect creative partner and we look forward to sharing more Hotel Transylvania monster laughs with fans of all ages."
The theatrical release of Hotel Transylvania, which premiered in Fall 2012, set a record as the highest-grossing September opening ever at the U.S. box office. The film introduced Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters — Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more — to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis.
Drac’s pack is back this Fall for an all-new monster comedy adventure in Hotel Transylvania 2, the theatrical sequel to Sony Pictures Animation’s comedy hit, scheduled to be released in North America on September 25, 2015. Everything seems to be changing for the better at Hotel Transylvania. Dracula’s rigid monster-only hotel policy has finally relaxed, opening up its doors to human guests. But behind closed coffins, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. So while Mavis is busy visiting her human in-laws with Johnny – and in for a major cultural shock of her own – "Vampa" Drac enlists his friends Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin to put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp. But little do they know that Drac’s grumpy and very old, old, old school dad Vlad is about to pay a family visit to the hotel. And when Vlad finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood – and humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania – things are going to get batty!
Distribution for the Hotel Transylvania TV series will be handled by Sony Pictures Television in the U.S., while Nelvana Enterprises will distribute the series outside of the U.S. Sony Pictures Animation reserves global licenses for toys, games and publishing. For all other categories, Sony Pictures Animation reserves U.S. rights and Corus will hold international rights. Executive producing the series are Rick Mischel from Sony Pictures Animation and Colin Bohm and Irene Weibel from Nelvana.
About Nelvana
Nelvana is a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live-action content. Nelvana produces a stable of award-winning and globally renowned brands that focus on comedies, preschool and boys action series and ancillary consumer products programs. Nelvana’s content airs on Corus Entertainment’s kids channels in Canada and in over 160 countries around the world. The Nelvana library has well over 4,000 episodes of programming and has received over 70 major international program awards including Emmys® and Geminis. Visit the Nelvana website at nelvana.com.
About Sony Pictures Animation
Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated and family entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits—the 2012 monster hit comedy Hotel Transylvania, the hybrid live action/animated blockbusters The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, and the mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies—with the family comedies Hotel Transylvania 2 scheduled in September 2015 and the fully animated reboot Get Smurfy in March 2017. The studio, in conjunction with Aardman Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films: the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas; and the Academy Award® nominated stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. In 2007, Surf's Up also received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. The division, whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie franchise including the upcoming Open Season: Scared Silly in Spring 2016, turned 10 in 2012. Sony Pictures Animation is a division of the Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group.
• Website: http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/sonyanimation
• Tumblr: http://sonyanimation.tumblr.com/
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyAnimation
-------------------
(Toronto, Canada) Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, one of the world’s leading international producers and distributors of children’s animated content, today announced that it is developing an exciting new animated TV series based on the blockbuster feature film, Hotel Transylvania from Sony Pictures Animation.
Nelvana and Sony Pictures Animation will partner to bring the hit feature film to the small screen. Focusing on the teenage years of Dracula’s daughter Mavis and her friends in brand new adventures, the animated monster comedy television series will be developed and produced by Nelvana Studio in Toronto and is slated to launch on air in early 2017.
"We’re excited to be entering into a new relationship with Sony Pictures Animation to extend the world of Hotel Transylvania into a new TV series,” said Colin Bohm, Vice President, Head of Corus Kids. “The hilarious characters and clever premise of Hotel Transylvania set the stage for endless story possibilities."
Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation commented: "Audiences have embraced the world and characters of Hotel Transylvania, so we are thrilled to be partnering with Nelvana to take them on new adventures, expanding on the teenage years of Mavis and her friends at the world-famous monster five star resort!"
Rick Mischel, executive producer at Sony Pictures Animation added, "Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana is a perfect creative partner and we look forward to sharing more Hotel Transylvania monster laughs with fans of all ages."
The theatrical release of Hotel Transylvania, which premiered in Fall 2012, set a record as the highest-grossing September opening ever at the U.S. box office. The film introduced Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters — Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more — to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis.
Drac’s pack is back this Fall for an all-new monster comedy adventure in Hotel Transylvania 2, the theatrical sequel to Sony Pictures Animation’s comedy hit, scheduled to be released in North America on September 25, 2015. Everything seems to be changing for the better at Hotel Transylvania. Dracula’s rigid monster-only hotel policy has finally relaxed, opening up its doors to human guests. But behind closed coffins, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. So while Mavis is busy visiting her human in-laws with Johnny – and in for a major cultural shock of her own – "Vampa" Drac enlists his friends Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin to put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp. But little do they know that Drac’s grumpy and very old, old, old school dad Vlad is about to pay a family visit to the hotel. And when Vlad finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood – and humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania – things are going to get batty!
Distribution for the Hotel Transylvania TV series will be handled by Sony Pictures Television in the U.S., while Nelvana Enterprises will distribute the series outside of the U.S. Sony Pictures Animation reserves global licenses for toys, games and publishing. For all other categories, Sony Pictures Animation reserves U.S. rights and Corus will hold international rights. Executive producing the series are Rick Mischel from Sony Pictures Animation and Colin Bohm and Irene Weibel from Nelvana.
About Nelvana
Nelvana is a world-leading international producer and distributor of children’s animated and live-action content. Nelvana produces a stable of award-winning and globally renowned brands that focus on comedies, preschool and boys action series and ancillary consumer products programs. Nelvana’s content airs on Corus Entertainment’s kids channels in Canada and in over 160 countries around the world. The Nelvana library has well over 4,000 episodes of programming and has received over 70 major international program awards including Emmys® and Geminis. Visit the Nelvana website at nelvana.com.
About Sony Pictures Animation
Sony Pictures Animation produces a variety of animated and family entertainment for audiences around the world. The studio is following its worldwide comedy hits—the 2012 monster hit comedy Hotel Transylvania, the hybrid live action/animated blockbusters The Smurfs and The Smurfs 2, and the mouth-watering Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies—with the family comedies Hotel Transylvania 2 scheduled in September 2015 and the fully animated reboot Get Smurfy in March 2017. The studio, in conjunction with Aardman Animations, has produced two critically acclaimed feature films: the CG-animated family comedy Arthur Christmas; and the Academy Award® nominated stop-frame animated high-seas adventure, The Pirates! Band of Misfits. In 2007, Surf's Up also received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. The division, whose first feature film Open Season led to a very successful movie franchise including the upcoming Open Season: Scared Silly in Spring 2016, turned 10 in 2012. Sony Pictures Animation is a division of the Sony Pictures Motion Pictures Group.
• Website: http://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SONYPicturesAnimation/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/sonyanimation
• Tumblr: http://sonyanimation.tumblr.com/
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SonyAnimation
-------------------
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Salt Lake City Comic Con Can Stay a "Comic Con"
United States Patent and Trademark Office Grants Dan Farr Productions the Trademark to Salt Lake Comic Con
- Salt Lake Comic Con’s securing this trademark should pave the way for all other comic cons to use the term “comic con” in their name -
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Salt Lake Comic Con (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) has granted Dan Farr Productions the trademark for the name Salt Lake Comic Con®.
The trademark (Reg. No. 4,774,453 Serial # 86-353,123) was issued on July 14, 2015 and is for: “Education and entertainment services, namely, organizing, producing, and conducting conventions in the fields of gaming, comics, television, movies, technology, science fiction, fantasy, and popular culture for entertainment purposes.”
The trademark specifies that no claim is made to the exclusive right to use “comic con” apart from the mark as shown.
“The United States Patent and Trademark Office had already ruled that 'comic con' was 'nondescript' and now they have granted us a trademark for 'Salt Lake Comic Con.' We’re confident that this decision from the USTPO will virtually eliminate this ongoing legal battle and allow us to prepare for another record-breaking show this September,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Salt Lake Comic Con Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “By granting us a trademark for ‘Salt Lake Comic Con’, the trademark office is literally declaring our right to not only use comic con in our name, but that we are distinguished in the marketplace. It further declares that San Diego’s trademarked name is NOT ‘confusingly similar’ to our trademarked name, which is the nexus of the lawsuit.”
The trademark ruling comes almost a year after San Diego Comic-Con International first sent Salt Lake Comic Con a cease and desist letter demanding that Dan Farr Productions stop using the term “comic con” in their name. The cease and desist letter set off a lawsuit and countersuit that was, until this point, heading to trial.
“We were confident naming ourselves Salt Lake Comic Con was appropriate based on the precedent of so many other groups before us and our legal advice before we began its use. We held our ground on this not only for our own benefit but for all of the other groups who may not have been able to defend themselves,” said Dan Farr, Salt Lake Comic Con Founder and Show Producer. ‘’Now hopefully we (and many others around the country) can fully focus on producing exciting comic book related fan events called comic cons. Maybe, in some small way, we have played the role of heroes in this battle.”
Salt Lake Comic Con is represented by Maschoff Brennan, a leading intellectual property and complex litigation firm, in the San Diego Comic Convention, vs. Dan Farr Productions lawsuit. Maschoff Brennan attorneys have been recognized by their clients and peers as being the California “IP Attorney of the Year,” and are named among the “Best Lawyers in America” and Utah’s “Legal Elite.”
Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 is scheduled for September 24-26, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, and now is the third largest comic con in the country. Their inaugural event was the largest first year comic con in North American history. Show organizers recently announced that Chris Evans, star of the Captain America movie series and The Avengers will be at the show on Saturday, September 26, 2015. This will be Evans’s first Comic Con that will include photo opportunities and autographs. There is a complete guest list on the Salt Lake Comic Con website.
For more details about the legal case with San Diego Comic-Con International visit the San Diego Comic-Con vs Salt Lake Comic Con resource page. For more information about Salt Lake Comic Con or to buy tickets visit the Salt Lake Comic Con website at http://saltlakecomiccon.com/.
ABOUT SALT LAKE COMIC CON:
Salt Lake Comic Con® is organized by Dan Farr Productions in partnership with ABC4/CW30 of the Nexstar Broadcasting Group. Dan Farr Productions is an event and marketing group devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium celebrities and brands in the pop culture arena. Dan Farr Productions is dedicated to producing spectacular celebrations of popular culture that lead the market in providing exceptional and rewarding experiences for our consumers, fans, celebrity guests, vendors and partners. Find out more at: www.SaltLakeComicCon.com, www.abc4.com/.
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- Salt Lake Comic Con’s securing this trademark should pave the way for all other comic cons to use the term “comic con” in their name -
SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Salt Lake Comic Con (http://saltlakecomiccon.com/) announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) has granted Dan Farr Productions the trademark for the name Salt Lake Comic Con®.
The trademark (Reg. No. 4,774,453 Serial # 86-353,123) was issued on July 14, 2015 and is for: “Education and entertainment services, namely, organizing, producing, and conducting conventions in the fields of gaming, comics, television, movies, technology, science fiction, fantasy, and popular culture for entertainment purposes.”
The trademark specifies that no claim is made to the exclusive right to use “comic con” apart from the mark as shown.
“The United States Patent and Trademark Office had already ruled that 'comic con' was 'nondescript' and now they have granted us a trademark for 'Salt Lake Comic Con.' We’re confident that this decision from the USTPO will virtually eliminate this ongoing legal battle and allow us to prepare for another record-breaking show this September,” said Bryan Brandenburg, Salt Lake Comic Con Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “By granting us a trademark for ‘Salt Lake Comic Con’, the trademark office is literally declaring our right to not only use comic con in our name, but that we are distinguished in the marketplace. It further declares that San Diego’s trademarked name is NOT ‘confusingly similar’ to our trademarked name, which is the nexus of the lawsuit.”
The trademark ruling comes almost a year after San Diego Comic-Con International first sent Salt Lake Comic Con a cease and desist letter demanding that Dan Farr Productions stop using the term “comic con” in their name. The cease and desist letter set off a lawsuit and countersuit that was, until this point, heading to trial.
“We were confident naming ourselves Salt Lake Comic Con was appropriate based on the precedent of so many other groups before us and our legal advice before we began its use. We held our ground on this not only for our own benefit but for all of the other groups who may not have been able to defend themselves,” said Dan Farr, Salt Lake Comic Con Founder and Show Producer. ‘’Now hopefully we (and many others around the country) can fully focus on producing exciting comic book related fan events called comic cons. Maybe, in some small way, we have played the role of heroes in this battle.”
Salt Lake Comic Con is represented by Maschoff Brennan, a leading intellectual property and complex litigation firm, in the San Diego Comic Convention, vs. Dan Farr Productions lawsuit. Maschoff Brennan attorneys have been recognized by their clients and peers as being the California “IP Attorney of the Year,” and are named among the “Best Lawyers in America” and Utah’s “Legal Elite.”
Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 is scheduled for September 24-26, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, and now is the third largest comic con in the country. Their inaugural event was the largest first year comic con in North American history. Show organizers recently announced that Chris Evans, star of the Captain America movie series and The Avengers will be at the show on Saturday, September 26, 2015. This will be Evans’s first Comic Con that will include photo opportunities and autographs. There is a complete guest list on the Salt Lake Comic Con website.
For more details about the legal case with San Diego Comic-Con International visit the San Diego Comic-Con vs Salt Lake Comic Con resource page. For more information about Salt Lake Comic Con or to buy tickets visit the Salt Lake Comic Con website at http://saltlakecomiccon.com/.
ABOUT SALT LAKE COMIC CON:
Salt Lake Comic Con® is organized by Dan Farr Productions in partnership with ABC4/CW30 of the Nexstar Broadcasting Group. Dan Farr Productions is an event and marketing group devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium celebrities and brands in the pop culture arena. Dan Farr Productions is dedicated to producing spectacular celebrations of popular culture that lead the market in providing exceptional and rewarding experiences for our consumers, fans, celebrity guests, vendors and partners. Find out more at: www.SaltLakeComicCon.com, www.abc4.com/.
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Friday, July 24, 2015
Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of July 19th to 25th, 2015 - Update #6
Support Leroy on Patreon.
NEWS:
From Variety: Amy Schumer expresses releases statement via Twitter about the deadly shooting at the Grand 16 in Lafayette, LA in a theater showing "Trainwreck."
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From YahooMusic: Seminal rap group, N.W.A., is reuniting with Eminem as an honorary member in place of the last Eazy-E.
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From YahooMovies: Sigourney Weaver on AvP.
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From THR: The winner of the 7/17 to 7/19/15 weekend box office is "Ant-Man" with an estimated take of $58 million.
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From YahooGames: Director Neill Blomkamp shows off concept art for his "Alien" film.
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From Variety: Miramax is for sale - at $1 billion.
COMICS: Films and Books:
From Indiewire: Ava DuVernay, she just couldn't do it.
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From USAToday: How Sam Wilson/Falcon ended up in Ant-Man.
OBITS:
From NYT: The novelist, E.L. Doctorow, died today (Tuesday, July 21, 2015) at the age of 84. I read three of his books: The Book of Daniel, Ragtime, and Billy Bathgate, and they were highly influential for me. R.I.P. Mr. Doctorow.
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From THR: The actor Alex Rocco has died at the age of 79 (Saturday, July 18, 2015 of cancer). He was best known for playing the Jewish mobster, Moe Greene, in The Godfather. In 1990, he won an Emmy as best supporting actor in a comedy for the short-lived "The Famous Teddy Z" (starring Jon Cryer).
NEWS:
From Variety: Amy Schumer expresses releases statement via Twitter about the deadly shooting at the Grand 16 in Lafayette, LA in a theater showing "Trainwreck."
---------------
From YahooMusic: Seminal rap group, N.W.A., is reuniting with Eminem as an honorary member in place of the last Eazy-E.
---------------
From YahooMovies: Sigourney Weaver on AvP.
---------------
From THR: The winner of the 7/17 to 7/19/15 weekend box office is "Ant-Man" with an estimated take of $58 million.
----------------
From YahooGames: Director Neill Blomkamp shows off concept art for his "Alien" film.
---------------
From Variety: Miramax is for sale - at $1 billion.
COMICS: Films and Books:
From Indiewire: Ava DuVernay, she just couldn't do it.
---------------
From USAToday: How Sam Wilson/Falcon ended up in Ant-Man.
OBITS:
From NYT: The novelist, E.L. Doctorow, died today (Tuesday, July 21, 2015) at the age of 84. I read three of his books: The Book of Daniel, Ragtime, and Billy Bathgate, and they were highly influential for me. R.I.P. Mr. Doctorow.
---------------
From THR: The actor Alex Rocco has died at the age of 79 (Saturday, July 18, 2015 of cancer). He was best known for playing the Jewish mobster, Moe Greene, in The Godfather. In 1990, he won an Emmy as best supporting actor in a comedy for the short-lived "The Famous Teddy Z" (starring Jon Cryer).
2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Welcomes Guests of Honor
2015 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO WELCOMES ACTOR TADANOBU ASANO, DIRECTOR KOJI MORIMOTO AND TECHNO DJ LEGEND KEN ISHII AS OFFICIAL GUESTS OF HONOR
Star Of Ichi The Killer, Thor, And Battleship Will Attend To Receive Japan Film Festival Of San Francisco Honorary Award And Joins Renowned Anime Director And Legendary Techno DJ For Special Appearances
San Francisco, CA – The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF), the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area together with the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT proudly present actor Tadanobu Asano, anime director Koji Morimoto and techno DJ Legend Ken Ishii as official Guests of Honor for San Francisco’s annual Japanese pop culture festival. Tadanobu Asano will attend the opening night event at The Castro Theatre to receive Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Honorary Award.
Tadanobu Asano is widely known for starring roles in movies such as Ichi the Killer, Zatoichi, Thor, 46 Ronin, and Battleship. Koji Morimoto is renowned as one of Japan’s top anime directors and is also a founder of acclaimed Studio 4℃ and known for works such as Animatrix and Genius Party Beyond. Ken Ishii is a legendary techno DJ and producer who has performed live internationally and enjoys a worldwide fan base in the electronic music scene.
An Opening Night Event on Friday August 7th at The Castro Theatre kicks off the Japan Film Festival of S.F. with a special 35mm presentation of director Sogo Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80000V, a rollicking comic-book style action film that stars top Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, who will be on hand to personally introduce the film and participate in an audience Q&A immediately following the screening. Throughout the weekend, the Japan Film Festival of S.F. will present additional films also starring Asano, including My Man and Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi.
The Opening Night Event will culminate with a live DJ set collaboration between Japan’s legendary techno DJ and producer, Ken Ishii, and director Koji Morimoto. Advance tickets to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT/JFFSF Opening Night Event at the Castro Theatre are available now for $25.00 each from http://jpop2015.brownpapertickets.com.
Tadanobu Asano also is set to appear at the SF premiere screening of My Man on Saturday, August 8th 6:00PM. Asano will introduce the film and will participate in an audience Q&A at NEW PEOPLE Cinema.
Koji Morimoto is set to appear at the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT at Fort Mason Main Stage on Saturday, August 8th, 12:00 PM ahead of the screening event, The World of Koji Morimoto, a collection of 3 illustrious animated short films by Koji Morimoto set to screen on Sunday, August 9th, 1:50pm at NEW PEOPLE Cinema. Morimoto will introduce the film and will participate in an audience Q&A.
Koji Morimoto will additionally appear for an autograph session at on Saturday, August 8th 1:30 PM in bookseller Kinokuniya’s booth at Fort Mason. Additional details to be announced shortly at J-POP.com.
Ken Ishii is set to headline a second evening concert performance of J-POP LIVE NIGHT on Sunday, August 9th at the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT Fort Mason.
“It is a great pleasure to present Tadanobu Asano with the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco Honorary Award,” says Manami Iiboshi, Executive Director of Japan Film Festival of San Francisco. “As one of the most inspiring and outstanding figures leading the Japanese film industry, and as an internationally acclaimed actor who actively works on projects beyond boundaries, he is extremely deserving of this Award. We are also thrilled to have director Koji Morimoto and DJ Ken Ishii performing together at our opening night event at the Castro. It is probably the first time since their legendary collaboration on “EXTRA” in the 1990’s.”
Opening in conjunction with the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT on Saturday, August 8th and running thru Sunday, August 16th, the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the NEW PEOPLE entertainment complex in Japantown at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115 (www.newpeoplecinema.com). Tickets to individual screenings are $13.00 each, unless otherwise noted. Film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets are available at: www.JFFSF.org.
JFFSF Opening Night at Castro Theatre
ELECTRIC DRAGON 80000V
Friday, August 7th, 8:00pm
Dragon Eye Morrison (played by Tadanobu Asano) is a reptile investigator who suffers from an intermittent explosive disorder caused by brain damage he sustained in a childhood accident. He manages to find a way to survive and control his urges to destroy with his love of reptiles and an electric guitar. Meanwhile, Thunderbolt Buddha (played by Masatoshi Nagase), an electric repairman turned vigilante who has acquired powerful electro-conductive powers after sustaining a childhood accident, goes after crime bosses and gangsters that take advantage of electric signals. Holding an obsessive hatred towards Morrison, Thunderbolt Buddha challenges him to a final showdown on the rooftops of Tokyo.
Tadanobu Asano & Koji Morimoto Films to Screen at the 2015 JFFSF:
MY MAN
Saturday, August 8th, 6:00pm – Special Guest Appearance by Tadanobu Asano
When loneliness leads to forbidden love, how far will you go? After losing everything in a tsunami disaster, 10-year-old Hana is taken in by a young distant relative Jungo. The pair begins living together as family while sharing the profound sense of loss. Amidst the deep snows of Hokkaido, both desire to fill their empty, love-starved hearts and they set foot into a forbidden world. When an elder benefactor in their small town Mr. Oshio learns of Jungo and Hana's illicit relationship, tragedy begins to take over. Don't miss the special personal appearance by actor Tadanobu Asano who will introduce this film!
The World of Koji Morimoto
Sunday, August 9th, 1:50pm – Special Guest appearance by Director Koji Morimoto
A collection of three short films by one of Japan’s top anime director Koji Morimoto, widely known as a founder of Studio 4℃ and his works such as Animatrix and Genius Party Beyond. The famed director will appear in person to introduce the films as well as participate in an audience Q&A.
Magnetic Rose (45min): Magnetic Rose is the first of three episodes of MEMORIES, based on the manga by Katsuhiro Otomo (the creator of Akira). The film follows the members of the deep space salvage vessel Corona. While performing a salvage mission, the crew encounters an odd distress signal emanating from the Sargasso region, ominously nicknamed “The graveyard of space.” Soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno.
Noiseman Sound Insect (15min): In the space of music, people used to live in the music fruit in the trees. One day, Dr. Frankein secretly succeeds in creating the creature 'Noiseman' by feeding the music fruit as fuel. Since then, the space was dominated by noise, not music. When a pair of kids Tobio and Reina find out this secret, they challenge Noiseman to bring the music back home again. The film’s soundtrack was written by Japanese composer, arranger, and musician Yoko Kanno.
Genius Party Beyond: Dimension Bomb (20min): Dimension Bomb is one of the five short animated omnibus "Genius Party Beyond," produced by Studio 4℃, which director Koji Morimoto founded in 1986. One day, a boy named Shin who wears a pupa-like mask encounters a girl named Koo. The days spent with Koo, who is a free spirit unlike any other, start to fill up his life with cherished and unforgettable moments. Noted musical composer and arranger, Yoko Kanno, provides the voiceover of Koo.
BLIND SWORDSMAN: ZATOICHI
Sunday, August 9th, 4:00pm
Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi is a 2003 samurai action film, directed by and starring actor Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) as Zatoichi. It also co-stars Tadanobu Asano, who plays Ronin Hattori, Zatoichi's rival. The film is a revival of the classic Zatoichi series of film and television series. It won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director award at Venice Film Festival and went on to win numerous other awards internationally.
NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com
About JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO
Launched in 2013, Japan Film Festival of San Francisco is the first and only fully dedicated Japanese film event for the SF Bay Are. This year’s edition will feature a colorful mix of narratives, anime and documentary film premieres and exclusive screenings with special guest appearance at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema in SF’s Japantown from August 8th (Sat) through August 16th (Sun), 2015. More details and ticket information is available at www.jffsf.org.
About J-POP SUMMIT
The J-POP SUMMIT is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration held in San Francisco, CA that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows and events, food and spirits, art, and celebrity appearances. In 2014, the two-day event attracted 125,000 attendees. Details on J-POP SUMMIT are available at www.J-POP.com.
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