Si è aperta mercoledì con una serata dedicata ai preview delle serie più attese l' edizione 2008 del Comic-con International di San Diego.

Durante la "Preview Night" è stato proiettato l'episodio pilot di "Fringe", la nuova serie firmata J.J. Abrams (Lost) che approderà sui piccoli schermi statunitensi in settembre, e che pare abbia riscosso un notevole successo tra i presenti.

Il programma che compone i 4 giorni della convention si presenta pieno di anteprime, presentazioni e conferenze per tutti i gusti: si va dagli interventi di luminari del fumetto mondiale (DC comics, Marvel, Will Eisner,...) su come diventare comic artist, alle presentazioni di nuovi videogiochi, anime (la quinta serie di Yu-Gi-Oh), manga e telefilm.

Venerdì sarà la volta dello "Star Wars Day", durante il quale vi sarà l'intervento del team di design del nuovo lungometraggio d'animazione "Clone Wars", la presentazione dei nuovi libri relativi all'universo di "Guerre Stellari", una discussione riguardante le action figures ispirate al film. 

La giornata di sabato vedrà invece impegnati tutti gli attori del cast di "Heroes", accompagnati da sceneggiatori e registi, in un Q&A con i fans cui farà seguito il preview della nuova stagione del telefilm in uscita a settembre, dal titolo "Chapter 3: Villains". Le altre aree del padiglione ospiteranno, tra gli altri, i creatori di "The Simpsons" e "Futurama" con le relative presentazioni, e i creatori del comic book e del film "Watchmen". Degna di nota anche la presenza dell' artista fantasy John Howe, e soprattutto la presentazione della prossima, attesissima serie di "Lost".

Domenica è la giornata dedicata ai bambini in quel di San Diego: dalla preview di "Spongebob Squarepants" a workshops in cui i più piccoli potranno cimentarsi nelle tecniche di disegno accompagnati dai più famosi cartoonists statunitensi. Per gli adulti invece la giornata si prospetta quantomeno interessante grazie alle conferenze sul mondo di "Harry Potter", alle presentazioni sull' universo femminile nei fumetti Marvel, al Q&A con il cast di "Supernatural", all' incontro con i protagonisti dei famigerati film "Harold and Kumar", alla conferenza dei costumisti di "Star Wars" e tanto tanto altro.

Attendendo il coverage degli eventi da parte di chi, più fortunato di noi, ha potuto partecipare a questa manifestazione unica, non ci resta che sfogliare i vecchi albi degli X-Men per calarci nel clima fumettistico della convention anche a distanza.

Dopo il salto un pò di filmati della manifestazione, tra cui Battlestar Galactica.

Battlestar galactica 1

Battlestar galactica 2

Battlestar galactica 3

Battlestar galactica 4

Battlestar galactica 5

J.J. Abrams dopo i successi di Mission Impossible 3 e Cloverfield sta per ultimare insieme a Damon Lindelof la produzione della sua ultima creatura cinematografica "Star Treck XI", subito dopo sarà pronto per lanciare su FOX una nuova serie tv che si preannuncia già un successo soprattutto dopo le esperienze con Alias, Lost e Felicity, la nuova idea di JJ Abrams si chiamerà "Fringe" e sarà una serie sci-fi, la serie è annunciata come un x-files con elementi di Lost, l'episodio 1x01 di Fringe, della durata di 90 minuti, sarà trasmesso da Fox america il prossimo 26 agosto e successivamente verrà collocata nel palinsesto subito dopo House.
Nel cast sono presenti molti volti televisivi noti, fra cui troviamo Joshua Jackson di Dawson's Creek e Lance Reddick l'attore che interpreta il misterioso Matthew Abbandon in Lost mentre la nuova protagonista femminile sarà Anna Torv.
Come per Lost anche in questa nuova serie il tutto inizierà da un aereo, non sarà il volo 815 ma bensì il volo 627, siccome Abrams è Abrams anche in questa occasione non è riuscito a resistere e ha inserito anche questa sua creazione una "componente Lost", infatti se sommiamo i numeri del volo magicamente ci troviamo di fronte al 15 uno dei numeri maledetti di Lost.
La storia inizia con l'atterraggio a Boston del volo 627, si scoprirà fin da subito che qualcosa non va infatti tutti i passeggeri e l'equipaggio sono deceduti in modo raccrapricciante, da qui l'agente Olivia Dunham insieme a Peter dovrà fare luce sull'accaduto, lo sviluppo dell'investigazione li porterà a qualcosa di veramente sconvolgente.

A série de ficção científica "Fringe" estréia nos EUA no dia 9 de setembro, na Fox (por aqui ainda não se sabe). Seu piloto custou US$ 10 milhões, um primeiro episódio de duas horas e pelo menos uma dezena de cenas de ação, tudo cheirando a muito dinheiro.

Tudo aparentemente moderno, do produtor/roteirista/diretor J.J. Abrams, que criou a misteriosa ilha de "Lost". Nesse seu novo seriado, a ação se passa em Boston, onde uma agente do FBI, Olivia Dunham, descobre um cientista doidão em um hospício, o único que pode ajudar seu parceiro e amante a se salvar de uma arma química que consome sua pele.

Mas, no piloto de "Fringe", Abrams,  fez um seriado igual a "Arquivo X", que trará agentes investigando casos de telepatia, conspirações do governo, invisibilidade, teletransporte etc.

Em "Fringe", chega-se ao cúmulo de o doutor maluco aplicar na agente do FBI uma mistura de LSD e quetamina (droga anestésica conhecida como "special K") para que ela "entre" na mente de seu parceiro.

A série já vazou e os produtores prometem que o piloto já foi alterado em relação a esta versão. Então confira os novos trailers da estréia mais aguardada desta nova temporada par ver (ou rever) Fringe.

Wasp Cove
Episode 3: Eenie, Meenie, Miny...Murder
By Julie Klausner and Rachel Shukert
presented at Comix
July 28 @ 8pm
http://www.comixny.com/event.aspx?eid=402&sid=1337
In the late 1980¹s, legendary producer Shmulik Adding, the most Jewish person on the planet until a team of Hungarian scientists created the entity known as "Alan Greenspan" in 1926, taught America all it knows about the mysterious world of Gentiles with his never-seen prime time soap, Wasp Cove.

Sailor Man
By Ryan Iverson and Scott Peterman
Directed by Peter Cook
presented at the NY Fringe
August 9 @ 5:30, 12 @ 7:45, 15 @ 10:00, 20 @ 3:00 and 22 @ 5:00
http://www.sailormanshow.com
Strong to the finnich 'cause he eats his spinach! Fists fly and blood spills in this darkly comic look at a well-known animated sailor. Startlingly violent, it's Saturday morning cartoons, delivered Sam Shepard-style.

Totally Awesome Victory
Tiffany Baker, Ryan Feyk,  Matt Hobby, Walter Kmiec, Alex Lynch, Justin McElfresh, Kevin O'Connor, Christine Sinacore and Betsy Winchester
http://www.totallyawesomevictory.com
Totally Awesome Victory is a sketch comedy collective based in the boroughs of New York City. All ten cast members are as salty as they are agile, and each brings his or her own unique flavor to the great Brunswick stew that is modern sketch comedy.

Sandy the Dandy and Charlie McGee
By Guerrin Gardner and Mat Sanders
Directed by Stephen Brackett
presented at the NY Fringe
August 8 @ 7:45, 12 @ 5:00, 13 @ 10:00, 17 @ 9:30 and 23 @ 3:00
http://www.toomuchery.com
A new-fangled vaudeville chronicling the adventures of Sandy—a self-proclaimed star-to-be with dreams as big as his debts, and Charlie—his hopelessly optimistic and slightly peculiar companion, as they rise to the top and soft-shoe through a world of corporate corrupt children's theatre, big-apple ambitions and menacing leather daddies.

Só pra dar um gostinho pra vocês, o episódio piloto tem início com uma turbulência no vôo 627, que viaja de Hamburgo (Alemanha) para Boston (EUA). O fato é que, por alguma anomalia, levada dentro de uma caneta por um passageiro, todos os 147 passageiros ea tripulação a bordo morrem. É a partir desse acontecimento bizarro que  conhecemos a agente do FBI Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) e o também agente John Scott (Mark Valley), o que parecem, num primeiro momento, os mocinhos do trama. De fato, ela é. O episódio de 81 minutos segue com muita perseguição policial e os mistérios de grandes corporações em meio a vida cotidiana das pessoas (olha aqui outra grande característica do mestre JJ Abrams). Não vou escrever mais para não estragar. Já corri e vou ficar de olho em tudo o que rolar sobre a série, que tem início previsto, nos Estados Unidos, daqui há dois meses, mais ou menos. Fiquem de olho aqui.

Meg & Rob are something of a phenomenon here in Philly. They came on the scene last year, somehwat sneaking into it via the Fringe. I met Meg at DIE ACTOR DIE and after seeing their Dinner w/ Mischa Barton video, asked them to come out and do a set. They have been on a tear ever since playing big gigs, small gigs, any gigs, hitting festivals and working their shit; just what a sketch group that wants to be successful should be doing. It's pretty cool to see.

They have a certain something that works really well and audiences love them! (Maybe I can convicne Dave overat at Comic Vs. Audience to put up their entry from Dirtiest Sketch. It was a real crowd pleaser!)

Here is a video from their recent appearance at BEDTIME STORIES. It's a nice example of their twisted and smarty smart outlook. Who would do a sketch featuring Robert McNamara talking about love? Meg and Rob, that's who.

Via CvsA

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1409313&w=425&h=350&fv=]

I have been instructed to gather as many contacts as i can, with a view to possibly bringing a performance or two to Tofino/Ucluelet. Wouldn't that be grand?! Maybe a collaboration with the Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre...?

Fringe shows are perfect for our area because by design they are small, cheap, portable and highly entertaining. In addition, many of them are already heading west for the Calgary Fringe (Aug. 1-10), Edmonton Fringe (Aug. 14-24), Victoria Fringe (Aug. 21-31), and Vancouver Fringe (Sept. 3-14). The timing would be good for two, three, four or more performances in the third week of September.

So far i've seen several acts that would be appropriate, and the two i've talked to are very interested in a quick swing out to the coast. i only wish i were back home to pursue this project. But then i wouldn't be here, going to the Fringe.

More later, and Fringe mini-reviews on my travel blog.

It’s all going. Everything‘s kicking off. The trucks have arrived and been unloaded and there’s still more to come. Plenty of bodies are grinding away getting the prep work for the venues done. It’s not quite full swing just yet, as the mass of workforce don’t arrive until Saturday but it’s certainly going.

In my last post, I posed the question about why the Edinburgh festival has become what it has become. The world’s largest arts festival doesn’t just pop up in a few years – Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know! Year after year, the staff, companies and punters (in that order) all trek up to bonnie Scotland to basically have one big fat arts party and kick some cultural butt.

Speaking to some of my colleagues, I managed to get a real understanding of why some of the people came. For example, one person, among many I’m sure, could have taken approximately five days of site work and earned twice the money that you would in Edinburgh. Granted, everyone knows that the money isn’t great, and certainly not the reason why people come. However, the five days, basically corporate work, that he would have taken on wouldn’t have had anywhere near the amount of interest, spontaneity, diversity and shear passion for theatre and the arts as here. It’s incredibly fulfilling and by far beats most corporate work, no matter what the money.

Respectively, there are others who don’t have the skills and experience to be able to take a large money job at the moment. There are many students helping run the festival where the opportunity will, without a doubt, further their skills and experience for higher profile work later in their careers. I certainly have come to Edinburgh for this reason as one of many. I’ve been here less than two days and already learning a vast amount.

To give you an idea, 90% of the venues across the site’s are not purpose built theatres – far from it, in fact. They have to built from scratch to a highly professional specification. Everything from the lighting, sound, seating rig, stage, floor, drapes and fire exit signs are built in each venue which takes a great amount of effort. Take a look at the photos for some evidence of how they being to shape up. But as I said before, as you learn whilst doing this it, makes it a truly invaluable experience.

That’s the rough progress report so far and also a bit of reasoning behind how and why the festival takes place. As it continues and I digress over a beer with my colleagues and others, I’ll discover more of the many reasons why Edinburgh exists as it does.

Show Name: We is Blunderstruck!

Show Time: Friday, July 18's 6:00pm

We is Blunderstruck! is about a 3 man rock band who must carry out the funeral ceremony of their #1 fan, Mel, after Father Ed turns out to be a no show.  A rock band conducting a funeral ceremony?  Pitstop Pete is the guitarist with some vocals, Doorstop Dave is the accordianist (is that a word?) with a badass triangle, and Truckstop Trevor is the drummer with the kickass beats.  Together they'll show you everything that can go wrong (or right) at a funeral.

This group is from Saskatchewan and was honoured with Best of Fest, Saskatoon 2006.  This show reminded me of the Biker dad watching the little kids' beauty pageant in Little Miss Sunshine (can be found at the end of this clip.  CLIP IS A SUPER SPOILER!!!  DO NOT WATCH THE CLIP IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.)  The show also reminds me of this Korean girl singing at a funeral.  Well, more comical than creepy.  We is Blunderstruck! was the first fringe show I caught this year and it was a good starter.  The show starts off and tosses you a surprise followed by filler jokes.  At the point where the show becomes repetitive or awkward they send you with another nice twist or joke.  The show provides a steady pace where the entertainment keeps peeking when it needs it the most.  I can see why this show won Best of Fest however it depends on its audience to help them out.  The audience is their amplifier and the bigger more powerful the audience is the bigger, badder and louder these peaks become.  Unfortunately, the show I caught wasn't enough to fill the venue but I wouldn't mind seeing a packed show of Blunderstruck!

More photos from backstage and pre-show run throughs. These were taken before the final Fringe show last Sunday.

Cast huddle just before going out. I see kili-kili!

* * *

• Skin Flick -- three 20-somethings, all still living in their parents' basements, get involved in making their first porno movie. Enthusiastic acting by young cast, fine comic timing, and beefy, witty writing by neophyte U of Winnipeg playwright Gonzalo Riede.
  .
• Inferno Sonata, written and acted by Scott Sharplin (right) -- Wow, a tour de force of acting in this highly eccentric, classical one-man show. Both annoying and riveting, it unfolds like a piece of origami on black paper. Sit up front. Best set you'll see on a Fringe production.
  .
• Old Growth -- Had to see this one because it's set in Haida Gwai -- the demise of the Golden Spruce. Overly preachy, but a strong tale pulled, nay, dragged me through it. Alex Eddington wrote and stars, along with accomplished flautist Aura Giles (and i don't even like flute). Passion! Drums! Nudity! Important Message! That's what Fringe is all about, folks.

Okay, good night. It's 12:16 a.m. and i have to get up at 7 to catch my 10-to-2 shift tomorrow morning -- plus another couple of plays, of course!

Question: How come no older guys 'n' gals in the Fringe (so far)?

This is what a real Texan looks like.

Nah, it wasn't that bad. Just a bit boring. But i got to watch all the acts on the open stage -- mostly aimed at kids, so a bit puerile.

But then came ... the Fringe. Caught two plays after my shift:

• Busty Rhymes and MC Hot Pink -- a one- (Kiwi-)woman show about ... mostly, her breasts. And the rest of her full figure. And problems with men. And Lots of energy, but the material didn't seem fresh. I did learn the interesting fact that Auckland has 35,000 more single women than men. Hmm.
• 'Beth, which i went to because the timing was right and i could get a ticket, was an attempt at retelling Shakespeare's Macbeth story in a modern, money-grubbing, doctor-the-will context. Didn't quite work, but a brave effort. (I'm pulling punches here because i really admire Fringe performers' guts -- it's naked theatre -- and i cringe whenever i see a callously negative review.)

Both shows not terrific, but it's inspiring to be surrounded by artistic energy. Theatre matters, and art matters, in this context.

Fabbity fab fab doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about this. But WHEN, praytell, does it come out in the US? "TBA" is not an acceptable answer. 

I heart Georgia!

The show has ended, and it's kinda sad to not have to come in 6x a week for warm-up, dance practice, line runs, equipment check, and put on a performance---(?!)

Looks like we did good though folks, check out NOW magazine's Fringe Wrap-up: The Baggage cast is named one of the Outstanding Ensembles!

This is the first set of pics from that last afternoon show Sunday 13 July showing warm ups and run throughs. Part. 2 is coming soon...

The Winnipeg Fringe Festival starts today!  This is its 21st year running and I expect to catch a few shows.  Here are some of the shows I might catch:

• 72 Hour Survival Guide
• Balls
• Blasphemy!
• Dr. Faustus
• Identity.com
• Killing Kevin Spacey
• Manners for Men
• RETAIL
• Shades of Brown
• StranDEAD
• Take It Back
• The Movies
• The Tricky Part
• The Wizard of One
• Trojan Women
• We is Blunderstruck!