This is shaping up to be the CANNONBALL RUN of superhero movies.  According to Mike Fleming at Deadline Hollywood, Joss Whedon, creator of the TV shows BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, FIREFLY and DOLLHOUSE, and director of SERENITY, is in final negotiations to direct THE AVENGERS; Marvel Studios’ ambitious cinematic crossover project scheduled for a 2012 release.  This news has got the fanboy ‘verse whipped up in all manners of hi-larious frenzy. Read more

Angry with NBC and their piss poor Olympics coverage? Come on in and vent.

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Behold the glory of SHARKTOPUS.

Roger Corman has produced nearly 400 films in his 50+ year career including such B-movie classics as ROCK N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL with the Ramones, DEATH RACE 2000 and GRAND THEFT AUTO.

He’s credited with providing the first big career breaks for Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Nicholson, Joe Dante, Sylvester Stallone, Ron Howard, Paul Bartel, Robert DeNiro, Curtis Hanson, John Sayles, Dennis Hopper, James Cameron, Johnathan Demme…  Am I forgetting anyone?  Oh yeah, Martin Scorsese.  That’s right, ol’ Marty once called this guy, SIR.

He has directed over 50 films of his own including LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, VON RICHTHOFEN AND BROWN, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS and the woefully underrated FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND.

And now, Roger Corman is getting set to bring us SHARKTOPUS, courtesy of Syfy. Read more

Jeff Zucker has HEROES hoisted from the ceiling, bound with chains, dangling over a buzzsaw carefully balanced over a pool of hungry piranhas…

“Hahaha!  Fools!  This will be the end of you!  But before I feed you to my pets, let me tell you my nefarious plan, in full detail…  First, I will clone Jay Leno…”

Last night, NBC aired the season finale of HEROES.  There is a lot of talk that this might be the end of the show.  If this is the case, then I would have to say that it went out with somewhat of a whimper.

Sorry, but it’s true.

The once mighty show has seen a sharp drop in viewership since it’s auspicious beginnings.  Their once loyal fans appear to have grown ambivalent over the show’s direction.  It seems many just want the show to go away before it taints their enjoyment of the season one DVD set any further.

Will NBC oblige them and take this show out to the shed?  Or will they make us sit and watch them whine for another year about how they are different and don’t fit in?

Is there a third option?  How about they let this show go out with the dignity of a real ending?

If you haven’t yet seen the episode and would like to, you can watch it here after the jump and get some of my thoughts on the future of the show, if there is one. Read more

How I love hyperbole.

There is a lot of buzz about last Monday’s episode of CHUCK called “Chuck Vs. The Nacho Sampler.”   Now while I’m not sure if it’s the greatest episode ever, I will say that it was some of the best writing I’ve seen for this show; the last 10 minutes being especially good.  In fact, this episode had some good writing lessons to be learned if you are someone who writes spec scripts.

Spec writers are often told that their script samples must be new, fresh, dynamic and offer different takes on an already existing premise.  Then they tell you you’re not allowed to change anything…  Okay.

It’s a paradox yes, but there were some things in this episode of CHUCK that could provide great examples of just how to pull it off.

If you write television spec scripts, especially if you might spec CHUCK, you can do worse than to check it out.   See what the writers of CHUCK just did with their own show.

Watch the whole episode and read my take after the jump.

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For the best democracy that money can buy…

With the recent Supreme Court decision that defines corporations as having all the rights and privileges of personhood, Murray Hill Inc. has chosen to run for congress as a corporation.  Of course this is satire on the absurd state of our politics.  I think it’s a brilliant idea.  Indeed, why worry about the cost of bribing cajoling contributing to a politico’s reelection campaign when you can simply eliminate the middle man, save money and TCB on the House floor, yourselves?

Corporations are people too, right?

Sadly though, I don’t think Murray Hill’s candidacy is legal.  First of all, you have to be 25 years of age and Murray Hill was founded in 2005.  Second, you have to be a U.S. Citizen and although corporations are persons, I do not think they are citizens (someone correct me if I’m wrong).  But give it some time, I’m sure the SCOTUS will fix that too.  Regardless of the legality of their candidacy, the people at Murray Hill are making a very important, brilliant and powerful political point.

I wish them the best.

Here’s their campaign ad.

The campaign manager is William Klein, a writer and political strategist.  You can follow the campaign on facebook, twitter, youtube and on Klein’s blog at The Huffington Post.

Esther B. Robinson has a good article on filmmakermagazine.com with survival tips for the filmmaker during this recession.  Survival in the film/entertainment business is about just that.  Survival.  And time like these bring about a lot of upheaval and turnover as people reevaluate their career goals and progress.  Many people who are just getting by, pick these times to get out and get a “real” job.  Especially those who are getting older and contemplating long term life goals such as starting a family.

It can be a sad time for these folks as they flush their dreams down the toilet, but it can also be a good time for those struggling on the fringes to get in as new places open up.  The key is surviving right now.

More, including my own take, after the break. Read more

James Cameron is on the short list to direct.  Ironic.

The ultimate vaporware film of the past 2o years, “James Cameron’s Spiderman” has been one of the most legendary Greatest Films Never Made.  If you don’t already know the story, google it.  It’s great film lore.  The only thing crazier than this film actually happening would be if Avatar or A.I. ever got made– sheesh.

Mike Fleming has the story over at Deadline Hollywood. Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) is the front runner to direct. Also on the list are David Fincher and Wes Anderson.

Sadly, I am not on the list.

Reviews of Fox’s new action show Human Target are beginning to roll in.  I’ve had my eye on this show for a few months now, and I have to say it is one I’m looking forward to seeing.  Based on the comic book, HUMAN TARGET is about a bodyguard who essentially takes the place of people marked for a hit.  It stars Mark Valley (Boston Legal, Fringe), and co-stars Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies and reason enough to watch ANY show) and Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen).  Also, the music is being done by Battlestar Galactica’s Bear McCreary, who in my opinion is one of the top film/TV composers working today.

2 Hour premiere airs on Fox Jan 17.  Set to air Wednesdays at 9PM thereafter.

“Read More” for reviews and a promo clip. Read more