by Chris Ullrich, Apr 13 2011 // 12:00 PM
During the NAB show in Las Vegas yesterday Apple revealed the next generation of its Final Cut Pro editing software to the masses and while some may always fear change, in this case it looks like change is something to be embraced and celebrated.
According to Apple, the new FCP is “as revolutionary as the original Final Cut released back in ’99.” Sounds good, Take a look at some of the specs:
• Now 64-bit (about time)
• New UI
• Resolution independent playback system
• Handles up to 4K (good for you HD fans)
• Uses Grand Central Dispatch to utilize up to 8 cores (makes for fast workflow)
• Fully color-managed (ColorSync)
• Media ready for editing immediately (stabilization, audio and shutter correction, shot detection and preliminary color balancing automatically applied during ingest)
• Timecode-based keywording within clips
• iMovie-esque “smart collections” of clips, audio based on metadata, people in shot, etc.
Apple says Final Cut Pro X will be available in June for $299. That’s a really good price and we can’t wait to get our hands on it.
Posted in: Apple · News · Software · Tech
Tagged: Apple, Editing, Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X, Movies, Software, TV
by Matt Raub, Apr 13 2011 // 11:00 AM
Just when you thought it was safe to answer the phone again, Wes Craven and Kevin Williams (sort of) reunite to bring a whole new generation of teen victims some classic murders and rules to live by with Scream 4.
Just about everyone is back for this final scare, including Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette. Along with the legacy survivors, there are some great new additions this time, including Kristen Bell, Hayden Panettiere, Alison Brie, and Anna Paquin.
This time around you can expect more gore, more deaths, and more “teenage” girls running for their lives. We’ve got a taste of what you can expect in the film this weekend with four brand new clips.
Check out those clips after the jump, and be sure to race to theaters and support horror with Scream 4 in theaters this Friday.
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Posted in: Action · Drama · Horror · Movies · News · Prequels and Sequels · Video
Tagged: Alison Brie, Anna Apquin, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Hayden Panettiere, Kevin Williams, Kristen Bell, Neve Campbell, Scream, Scream 4, Wes Craven
by Chris Ullrich, Apr 13 2011 // 10:00 AM
Writer, Producer Mark Verheiden is one of the nicest, most talented guys in the world. That’s why when we hear news concerning his accomplishments, we are happy to help spread the word.
This week it’s the announcement that Verheiden will co-write with Akiva Goldsman the NBC TV series The Dark Tower. The project, based on the best-selling series of novels by Stephen King, is being turned into a motion picture trilogy and TV series directed by Ron Howard.
Verheiden will also executive produce the The Dark Tower series, along with Goldsman, for Universal Media Studios. The series will serve as a bridge between the first and second movie in the trilogy. Also, actor Javier Bardem is reportedly negotiating to fill the main role of gunslinger Roland Deschain in both the films and the TV series.
Verheiden, of course, is no stranger to TV having worked on such series as Smallville, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica and the upcoming Falling Skies. He’s also written over 125 comic books including The American, Aliens, Predator, The Phantom and Superman as well as upcoming feature films Quatermain and Ark.
We wish him the best of luck with this new project and look forward to seeing the series once it arrives. With this kind of talent involved, we expect great things.
Posted in: NBC · News · TV
Tagged: Akiva Goldsman, Battlestar Galactica, Javier Bardem, Mark Verheiden, NBC, Ron Howard, Stephen King, The Dark Tower, TV
by Sebastian Suchecki, Apr 13 2011 // 9:00 AM
Bradley Cooper is a hot commodity right now. Whether he’s exploring his potential in Limitless, being eyed to play The Flash in David Goyer’s upcoming film for Warner Bros., or taking on yet another blackout in The Hangover Part II, everyone seems to want a piece of him.
Now the action/comedy star is being eyed for the lead role in Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s upcoming remake of The Crow. A bit darker than his normal role, but we can still see it happening. THR has the lowdown.
In the adaptation of the gritty black-and-white indie comic by artist James O’Barr, Cooper will play a rock musician who is murdered while trying to save his fiancée from thugs. He is resurrected by supernatural forces and seeks revenge. The role was originally played by Brandon Lee, who was killed by a freak accident during production in 1993.
Relativity is flying fast with Crow, with Fresnadillo only officially boarding the project a week ago. The Spanish director of 28 Weeks Later is said to have met with Cooper in Spain recently, where the two hit it off and shared a vision for the character and the film. Relativity would not confirm the talks but sources say Cooper, currently in theaters in Relativity’s hit thriller Limitless, is keen to board the project.
The film is set to start in the Fall, and could have a completely different take on the classic tale that gave teens an excuse to wear black leather and nail polish back in the 90s. Let’s hope Fresnadillo can still get Ernie Hudson to reprise his role.
Posted in: Action · Casting · Comics · Cult Cinema · Drama · Movies · News · Reboots and Remakes
Tagged: Bradley Cooper, Brandon Lee, David S. Goyer, Ernie Hudson, James O'Barr, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, The Crow, The Flash, the hangover
by Jonathan Weilbaecher, Apr 13 2011 // 8:00 AM

World War Z, by Max Brooks, has been gestating in Hollywood pre-production limbo for years now. It is a tough nut to crack with most of it’s narrative being told in one-on-one interviews between Brooks and his fictional characters. Despite the academic structure, Brooks still managed to craft an apocalyptic world that is engrossing and terrifying in it’s realism.
According to Bleeding Cool, production on the feature film version is finally making serious forward momentum as Director of Photography has begun preparations for the shoot, and it is a good one:
Robert Richardson, who recently wrapped Martin Scorsese’s Hugo Cabret down at Shepperton. This time he will be working out of another one of our big production bases, over at Elstree. Amongst Richardson’s other credits are Kill Bill, Natural Born Killers and Eight Men Out.
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Posted in: Adaptation · Horror · Movies · News · Paramount · Sci-Fi
Tagged: Brad Pitt, Epic, Marc Forster, Movies, oral history, Paramont Pictures, Paramount, Sci-Fi, World War Z, Zombies
by Matt Raub, Apr 13 2011 // 7:00 AM
The concept of the insane upper-class citizens is one that has gone to the wayside over the past few years. There are some great films that incorporate the plot twist, such as Swimming with Sharks, but most insane antagonists in film tend to be members of the unwashed and broke.
That’s where Nick Tomnay’s The Perfect Host comes in. Based on his original 2001 short, The Host, the film takes the classic hostage tale and spins it around. Here’s the official synopsis.
Warwick Wilson is the consummate host. He carefully prepares for a dinner party, the table impeccably set and the duck perfectly timed for 8:30 p.m. John Taylor is a career criminal. He’s just robbed a bank and needs to get off the streets.
He finds himself on Warwick’s doorstep posing as a friend of a friend, new to Los Angeles, who’s been mugged and lost his luggage. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, we become deeply intertwined in the lives of these two men and discover just how deceiving appearances can be.
David Hyde Pierce takes on the role of Warwick, which is great seeing as how Pierce has been stuck with the fumbling, British comic relief for so many years. It will be nice to see him try out “nut case” for size.
Check out the trailer after the jump, and catch The Perfect Host on demand on May 27th and in theaters on July 1.
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Posted in: Drama · Horror · Movies · News · Thriller · Trailers · Video
Tagged: David Hyde Pierce, Nick Tomnay, The Host, The Perfect Host, Thriller, Warwick
by Joe Gillis, Apr 12 2011 // 1:30 PM
Recently, we told you about Showtime’s pickup of two new series. One of those series was Homeland and now the network has released the first advance look at the show, which is set to begin production this Summer.
The thriller, based on Gideon Raff’s Israeli series Prisoners of War, was written by former 24 showrunner Howard Gordon, Raff and Alex Gansa. It tells the story of Carrie Anderson (Claire Danes), a CIA officer battling her own demons who becomes convinced that the intelligence that led to the rescue of Scott Brody (Damian Lewis), a U.S. soldier who had been missing and presumed deal for nine years, was a setup and may be connected to an Al-Qaeda plot to be carried out on American soil.
Mandy Patinkin plays Saul, a veteran CIA Division Chief who is Carrie’s boss and mentor. As I said before, sounds interesting. I guess we’ll get a look at the other new Showtime series House of Lies soon enough as well.
Until then, check out the teaser for Homeland after the jump. Homeland comes to Showtime later this year.
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Posted in: News · Showtime · Trailers · TV
Tagged: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Homeland, Howard Gordon, Mandy Patinkin, Showtime, TV
by Jonathan Weilbaecher, Apr 12 2011 // 12:30 PM

Marvel Knights Animation has been responsible for taking motion comics and pushing their boundaries by blending the lines between motion comics and traditional animation. The latest in their string of ever-improving motion comics is Thor/Loki: Blood Brothers which is currently being released as episodes.
Episode 3 is on the way and things are getting tense for our hero. Marvel has released their trailer for the newest installment:
Get your first look at the third episode of the critically acclaimed Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers animated mini-series, on sale this Wednesday! Adapted from the acclaimed story by superstar creators Robert Rodi and Esad Ribic, Loki finally has a chance to tell tale of his brother’s crimes…and inflict the punishment he has craved for eons.
It’s the series that has everyone talking so don’t miss out on this Marvel classic. Download the third episode of Marvel Knights Animation’s Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, a best seller on iTunes (Animation, Animation Season Pass and Television categories), Xbox LIVE, and PlayStation®Network, this Wednesday!
Check out the all new trailer after the jump!
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Posted in: Action · Adaptation · Animation · Comics · Marvel · News · Trailers · Video
Tagged: Comics, iTunes, iTunes Store, Loki, Marvel, Marvel Knights Animation, Motion Comic, PlayStation Network, Thor, Thor/Loki: Blood Brothers, XBox Live
by Chris Ullrich, Apr 12 2011 // 11:30 AM
Say what you will about Apple CEO Steve Jobs, but one thing is for certain, he’s never boring. However, he is extremely private and keeps most of his thoughts and feelings well hidden. That is, until now.
Well, at least until 2012 when the first, official authorized biography about Mr. Jobs is set to launch from publisher Simon and Schuster, who announced the book over the weekend. The book, titled “iSteve: The Book of Jobs,” was written by Walter Isaacson, who began writing it in 2009.
According to reports, Isaacson worked closely with Jobs and also interviewed his family members, co-workers at Apple, and even those at Apple’s competitors. Previously, Isaacson has written books about Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, served as CEO at CNN, and worked for TIME. So, he’s no slouch either.
“This is the perfect match of subject and author, and it is certain to be a landmark book about one of the world’s greatest innovators,” said Simon & Schuster publisher Jonathan Karp. “Just as he did with Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson is telling a unique story of revolutionary genius.”
I agree, Although, not sure I’m in love with the title. After all, Steve Wozniak’s biography was called ‘iWoz” and this one is pretty close to that. Surprised Mr. Jobs let that one go.
No matter what, though, with the unprecedented access Isaacson has had for this book and the huge amount of interest in Mr. Jobs and Apple, I expect it to be one of the biggest biographies ever. I know I’ll be reading. How about you?
Of course, now that the book is on the way, the other thing we have to think about is who’s going to play Jobs in the movie based on this book? Whoever it is I sure hope they can get David Fincher to direct and Aaron Sorkin to write the screenplay. Now that’s a movie I would see.
Posted in: Announcements · Books · News
Tagged: Aaron Sorkin, Apple, Biographies, Books, David Fincher, iSteve: The Book of Jobs, Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson
by Matt Raub, Apr 12 2011 // 10:00 AM
Who doesn’t love a good viral marketing campaign? We sure do. That’s exactly what is going on with Jim Mickle’s upcoming vampire flick, Stake Land. That’s right: vampires and viral videos. Get ready to explode, internet.
The film stars modern horror queen Danielle Harris, and comes from a place where vampires rule the world and are a complete plague on humanity, and not just shiny, shirtless guys with big hair who date high school girls. Here’s the official synopsis.
America is a lost nation. When an epidemic of vampirism strikes, humans find themselves on the run from vicious, feral beasts. Cities are tombs and survivors cling together in rural pockets, fearful of nightfall. When his family is slaughtered, young Martin (Gossip Girl’s Connor Paolo) is taken under the wing of a grizzled, wayward hunter (In the Cut’s Nick Damici) whose new prey are the undead.
The film hits theaters on April 22nd, but you can get a taste of what you’re in store for with their viral video after the jump in which a young aspiring filmmaker attempts to shoot a home video with his father, until he notices a change in him, and not for the better.
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Posted in: Action · Drama · Horror · Indie · Marketing · Movies · News · Video · Viral Marketing
Tagged: 'Stake Land', Connor Paolo, Danielle Harris, Jim Mickle, Kelly McGillis, Michael Cerveris, Nick Damici, Sean Nelson
by Chris Ullrich, Apr 12 2011 // 9:00 AM
Often, it’s difficult for actors to make the transition from one role they are hugely famous for into other roles. That’s especially true if you’ve grown up playing one character. People often have a hard time thinking of you as anything else.
Case in point is actor Daniel Radcliffe who will, almost certainly, always be thought of by many as Harry Potter. However, that hasn’t stopped the actor from trying to branch out and leave Harry behind. One of those attempts is a new project from Momentum Films and Exclusive Media Group’s Hammer called The Woman in Black.
In the film, Radcliffe plays a young lawyer who travels to a mysterious house to settle the affairs of the spooky mansion’s owner. Of course, we’ve got a teaser from the film to show you right now.
Click through to check out the teaser. The Woman In Black is currently shooting for a February, 2012 release.
So, what do we think? Can Radcliffe move on to other, more mature roles or will he always be Harry Potter to you? Sound off in the comments!
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Posted in: Harry Potter · Movies · News · Trailers
Tagged: Daniel Radcliffe, Hammer Media, Harry Potter, Horror, Momentum Films, Teasers, The Woman In Black, Thriller
by Sebastian Suchecki, Apr 12 2011 // 8:00 AM
Matt Reeves got put on the map with Cloverfield, solidified his name in the world of horror with his American-ized version of Let The Right One In, titled Let Me In, and now he’s continuing in the trend which so many other great modern directors follow, which is remake a classic story.
This one is slightly different, however, as Matt Reeves is set to do a new version of a classic Ray Nelson short, 8 O’Clock in the Morning, which was the inspiration behind John Carpenter’s 80′s classic They Live. So not a traditional 80s remake, but still a new take on a classic tale. Deadline has the story.
The story is about a man who awakens one morning with the crystal-clear realization that we are surrounded daily by the presence of aliens that are controlling society. It was owned by the studio because it was used as the basis for the 1988 Carpenter film They Live. In that film, aliens were discovered through the use of special glasses. None of that is being used here, and the film is not considered a remake.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Horror · Movies · News · Reboots and Remakes · Sci-Fi
Tagged: 8 O'Clock in the Morning, Cloverfield, John Carpenter, Let Me In, Matt Reeves, Ray Nelson, They Live