First Look: Fans Sneak A Peek At Spielberg’s Ready Player One Set

Fans of Ernest Cline’s video game dystopian novel Ready Player One have been treated to some early set photos from the upcoming movie adaptation. The film, due for release in March 2018, is shooting in the UK under the direction of Steven Spielberg. The story is set in America, 2045, and depicts a world where people are desperate to escape their miserable lives in the wake of an energy crisis that has destroyed society. They do this through virtual reality, and our hero Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan – X-Men: Apocalypse) has a chance to get out of his hellish life by trying to win a competition set by eccentric game genius James Halliday (Mark Rylance – The BFG… or indeed, everything. He’s the new Samuel L Jackson!)

Fans have taken to Twitter to share their pictures of the set dressing, transforming the 2016 streets of Birmingham (this is where I avoid making any jokes about Birmingham being a prime location for a dystopian future) into Cline’s futuristic landscape. Although, you’d be forgiven for being confused about the time period – the novel features a lot of 1980’s pop culture references (Halliday is a fan of the decade of mullets, and a working knowledge of such trivia is required to solve his puzzles). So while you may not expect to see references to Thundercats and Gremlins in 2045, there they are.  I wonder if the good people of Brum will be allowed to keep them….?

Check out the on-set action via the fans on Twitter:

Couldn't resist a quick look at where Spielberg is shooting Ready Player One in Birmingham while I'm here on a job! pic.twitter.com/SICRgYb5SV

— Christopher Bevan (@ChrisBevan89) September 6, 2016

Steven Spielberg directing cast and crew on set of Ready Player One (Video: @GreatCharlesSt) https://t.co/U4Dv1q9JD5 pic.twitter.com/ui91G9Kg2L

— Birmingham Updates (@BhamUpdates) September 5, 2016

‘Ready Player One’ Set Photos Reveal Oasis Ad and VR Headset#VR #VirtualReality@VRScout https://t.co/Pt0WjA2q4F pic.twitter.com/MOakdTQ1WP

— Rob Crasco (@RoblemVR) September 7, 2016

Had a snoop around the Ready Player One film set in the JQ, very impressive! pic.twitter.com/z6PFB6pE4E

— Adam Clements (@the_clem) September 4, 2016

Words cannot describe how excited i am for Ready Player One. Love this set dressing. pic.twitter.com/f7M4TmK7Fu

— David Gawne (@DayGawne) August 31, 2016

Had a snoop around the Ready Player One film set in the JQ, very impressive! pic.twitter.com/z6PFB6pE4E

— Adam Clements (@the_clem) September 4, 2016

Sheridan and Rylance are joined by a fantastic cast, including Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel), T J Miller (Silicon Valley), Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline) and Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz). The movie is due for release 30th March 2018.

Follow me on Twitter @pixiewose

Game of Thrones Casts Angela Lansbury For Season 7

It’s no secret that HBO‘s Game of Thrones is known to cast the most talented individuals —old and young. So it should be no surprise that HBO has casted another great to its ranks, Angela Lansbury, after casting Jim Broadbent.

Lansbury is rumoured to be guest starring in two episodes of the upcoming Season 7, which will premiere next summer. HBO has yet to officially confirm this rumour, but the actress will reportedly be on set for four days.

So who is Angela Lansbury and why is she joining the brilliant cast of Game of Thrones? Lansbury has won an Academy Award, six Golden Globes, a BAFTA, a PCA, a Star on the Walk of Fame and 16 other awards.

At the age of 91 this year, she is an English-Irish-American actress, who has worked in theatre, television and film. Her career has lasted more than seven decades. Her most notable roles include:

Nancy in Gaslight

Salome Otterbourne in Death on the Nile

Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote

---

Are you excited to see such an extraordinary actress join the Game of Thrones universe? Since she’s supposedly only in two episodes, I’m interested to see the role she will play and her eventual demise. What’re your thoughts? Share, comment and like below, or tweet me @SohoDoll. And as always, “The theatre is magical and addictive” – Angela Lansbury.

TRACE – A Dr. Who Fan Film Web Series Ep. 5 (Holiday Special)

Director: Johnny K. Wu

Producers: Johnny K. Wu, Peter Sampson, Cynthia Graham, Jeff Yanik

Associate Producer: Jason L. Wang

Script: Johnny K. Wu
Inspired by BBC’s Doctor Who’s TV Series

UK Script Consultant: Dale Who
US Script Consultant: Shawn Wickens

Composer Ep 4: Solo Deep
Composer Ep 1-3, 5: Aryavarta Kumar

CAST:

AGENT 451- Jason L. Wang
AGENT 577- Justin McDonough
THE DOCTOR – Donn R. Nottage
COMMANDER COLLINS – Keith Collins II
AGENT 0 – Donna Williams
AGENT 310 – John Cosma
AGENT 430 – Andy Sedgwick
THE MASTER – Philip Saad

SERGEANT HART (UNIT) – Taylor Nelms
SERGEANT KAZ (UNIT) – Joe Abazia
SILURIAN 1 (UNIT) – Shelby Brunn
SILURIAN 2 (UNIT) – Shawn Ray Sterba
MILITARY MAN I (UNIT) – Ben Zgorecki
MILITARY MAN II (UNIT) – John Fecek
U.N.I.T. GUARD (Sgt. Smith) – Davis Aguila
U.N.I.T. GUARD (Sgt. Karl) – Danea Rhodes
GENERAL MALEK (UNIT) – Assad Khaishgi
GOOD AGENT 1 – Terry Giancaterino
GOOD AGENT 2 – Terry Wylie
GOOD AGENT 4 – Michael Vitovich
GOOD AGENT 5 – AGENT 650 – Mary Corbett
BAD AGENT 1 – Dana Langshaw
BAD AGENT 2 – Grace Langshaw
BAD AGENT 3 – Rainn Chintala
BAD AGENT 4 – Dylan McCaughin
BAD AGENT 5 – Andrew Santin
Doctor Who – Mark Otloski

CREW:

Cinematographer: Mike Bacanu & Jeff Yanik
Script Supervisor: Cynthia Graham
Assistant Director: Joe Yost
Lighting Director: Peter Sampson
Camera Assistant: Jeffrey Wexler, Stephen Morgan, Mikey Tell
Casting Director: Jason L. Wang
Wardrobe: Mary Corbett
Boom/Sound: Terry Giancaterino
Photographers: Erin Smith, Donn Nottage
EMS/Medic/Safety: Todd Metzendorf

2nd Unit Director: Peter Samspon
2nd Unit DP: Stephen Morgan

Prop Master: William Cruz Morales
Assistant Props: Mikey Tell, Joe Yost, Jason L. Wang, Johnny K. Wu, Mike Bacanu

Production Assistant: Stephen Miller, Nancy Weaver, Mike Anderson, Mark Stavnicky, P.L. Wong

Fight Coordinator: Keith Collins II

Fight Choreography: Jason L. Wang, Justin McDonough, John Cosma, Andrew Sedgwick

Practical VFX: Joseph Shaw

Craft Services: Raymond Elkin, Josh Everard, Mark Pittenger

Catering: Koko Bakery, Li Wah Chinese Restaurant, StrEat Mobile Bistro

Editor: Jason L. Wang, Johnny K. Wu
VFX Compositor: Jason L. Wang, Johnny K. Wu
VFX Animation: William Cruz Morales

Doctor Who Opening: Dan Hildebrand

Sound FX: Vidas Pliodzinskas, Johnny K. Wu
Colorist/Grading: Johnny K. Wu

Poster Design: Donn R. Nottage

Behind the Scenes: Joe Kowalski

Thanks:

Adam Evans
Angel Marie
Ariel Saulog
Assad Khaishgi
Barbara and Ray Hing
Benjamin Zgorecki
Bernadette Gillota
Branislav Tatalovic
Brian Bockhoff
Chris Axelrod
Chris Fecek
Cynthia Brookins
Dale Who
Dan Hanson
Dana Aritonovich
Daniel Bauen
David James
Dave Stone Jr.
Dave & Mary Ann Colegrove
Davis Aguila
DOJ
Don Oon C F
Donna Kase
Dorjan Scott
Ed Hom
Eleny de Velasquez
Ella Fong
Eric Olsen
Fadi Kdayssi
Fan Wang
Flora Mark
Frank R Chloupek
Gadi Zamir
Huili Shi
Izzy Schachner
Jen and Vi Huynh
John Fecek
John Iwasz
John Maslowski
John Pusztay
Joseph Michael Gyulay
Joseph P Meissner and Ryan Gia Hoa
Josh Everard
Julie Temple
Julius Farkas
Karen Workman
Katarzyna Kochany
Keith L Collins II
Ken Carpenter
Kristina Michelle
Kyle Znamenak
Dave Fleming
Lord John Fecek, The Assembler of The Avengers
Marc Moser
Margaret Wong
Mary D Welgs
Mary Ellen Tomazic
Meiling Parker
Michael Brunstedt
Michael Mendoza
Michele Laskowski
Michelle Asher
Mike Fecek
Miriam Bennett
Ng Seow Kin
Norman Henke
Ook Kai Yuen
Peter Fields
Porche Robinson
Randy Hom
Ray and Shan Chan
Ray Hing
Ray Szuch
Raymond Elkin
Renee Dopoulos Nottage
Richard Q. Woodland
Robert L Coppedge
Robert M. Messinger
Russell Emanuel
Ryan Colegrove
Sapna Kumar
Scott T. Morrison
Sheng Liu
Sourideth Sam Xongmixay
Spark
Sylvia and Jeffrey Jones
T L Firth
Tom Luthala
Tom Shafer
Tom West
Victoria Zak
Wallace J Lanci
Wayne & Lisa Wong
William M. Johns
AbbyShot Clothiers
Came-TV
Cleveland Camera Rentals
Ron Fuller / Imageline Studios
ImageLab Media
IndieGogo
Lake Erie Gymnastics School
Karate Institute of Mentor
Tyler Village
Wok on the Wild Side

Filmed in
Cleveland, Ohio
Pepper Pike, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Creative House Studios

Equipment Used:
3 x Panasonic GH4
Canon 70D
Canon 5D Mark iii
Came-TV 7500 Gimbal
FocusShifter
and many other toys…

Edited on
Adobe Master Collections CS6

Color grading with
Red Giant Software Packages

Media Design Imaging
http://www.mdifilm.com

http://www.FaceBook.com/TraceTheDoctor

JK “Comissioner Gordon” Simmons Has Finished His Work For Justice League

I am so excited to see how JK Simmons portrays the beloved DC Comics character James Gordon. This character is someone who has always been portrayed by amazing actors at least in the last two live action appearance.

Gary Oldman in the Dark Knight Trilogy will be a hard Commissioner to beat in this writer’s humble opinion. His portrayal was just astounding. Ben McKenzie is currently playing a younger Commissioner Gordon and doing a stellar job. He is certainly growing into the Commissioner Gotham needs.

If anyone can uphold the honor of this mantle it is definitely JK Simmons. This man is a talented and wondrous actor. He brings this powerful energy to every role he performs. He is also already in fantastic shape so putting him in a super hero movie is a perfect fit.

He has finished filming for Justice League which is already shaping up to be an amazing film. I am so ready to see the DC Heroes join together like the Avengers. It really has been a long time coming.

JK Simmons being so humble has also praised Zack Snyder for his creation of the Justice League movie. If JK Simmons approves who am I to say anything but I am down to see this film as soon as I am able!

The Justice League comes together on June 14, 2019 and even though that is about three years a way I say bring it on!

Ni No Kuni 2? More like Ni No Hugey!

It has been said that the new Ni No Kuni Game will be quite the monster in terms of size. The first game offered so much to do and a wide map to explore. That game came out about 3 years ago, and if this game is bigger than that then wow. I am so excited to play this game especially since I am finally working to finish Ni No Kuni which I never actually played.

What could this mean for the sequel? Well it could mean even more monsters to tame and fight. Even more world to explore and a longer more fulfilling game though from what I’ve played the first game is magnificent.

Sadly Studio Ghibli isn’t working on this game. But be assured that the creators are keeping the Ghibli essence as this game will  be accessible by anyone, even people who haven’t watched much Anime.

In essence that is what Ghibli is. Something so magical that anyone who gives it a chance can watch and inevitably love. I mean I have never found a person who didn’t like Studio Ghibli so if this game can keep this essence it will be a big hit.

Anyway I can’t wait to play this game and I am excited to find more about it. Well, I have to go and get back to working on Ni No Kuni so I hope you are all excited by the idea of this game being far bigger like I am!

Warner Brothers Wouldn’t Let Shia LaBeouf ‘DO IT!!’ In Suicide Squad

Poor, crazy Shia LaBeouf. He’s spent a good couple of years carving out a niche for himself as a wacky, Hollywood character – proclaiming he’s not famous anymore and riding up and down in a lift for hours with Oxford University students – only to lose out on a role in Suicide Squad. Now, before you get too excited about the prospect of Shia in booty shorts and pigtails, he (disappointingly) wasn’t the original choice for Harley Quinn! LaBeouf has stated that he was up for the role of Edwards (played in the final film by Scott Eastwood) – a role that was initially bigger, prior to the casting of Will Smith as Deadshot.

In an interview with Variety, LaBeouf explained that director David Ayre, who had previously worked with him on the 2014 movie Fury, had approached him about the role of Edwards, however Warner Brothers allegedly vetoed the decision. “I don’t think Warner Bros. wanted me,” the quirky star of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull told the magazine. “I went in to meet, and they were like, ‘Nah, you’re crazy. You’re a good actor, but not this one.’ It was a big investment for them.” Considering the kind of antics Jared ‘mad-as-a-barrel-of-badgers’ Leto got up to on the set, what on Earth were they expecting him to do?!?!

The rest is history. Could LaBeouf’s performance have saved the movie from the spanking it got from reviewers and fans? I guess we’ll never know, but to satisfy your curiosity a little, please enjoy what is possibly Shia’s greatest moment on YouTube.

Follow me on twitter @pixiewose

Agents Of SHIELD: Season 4 Premiere Pictures And Info

We are less than two weeks away now until the Season 4 premiere of ‘Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD’ and in lieu of an actual trailer, ABC has begun releasing a steady stream of information. The latest is the official press release and pictures for the episode, which reveal some interesting tidbits of information.

In light of the Sokovia Accords, and with Hydra obliterated, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been legitimatized again and no longer needs to operate in the shadows. Since the world presumes that Coulson is dead, the organization needed a new Director to be the face of the organization. Coulson finds himself back in the role as an agent and teamed with Mack, and together they are tasked with tracking down and confirming the presence of Enhanced people, aka Inhumans. Agent May is tasked with training specialist strike teams, and Fitz and Simmons have taken a big step forward in their relationship.

In the season premiere episode, “The Ghost,” Ghost Rider is coming, and S.H.I.E.L.D will never be the same.

Guest starring are Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Elena “Yo-Yo” Rodriguez, Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes, Mallory Jansen as Aida, Lorenzo James Henrie as Gabe, Briana Venskus as Agent Piper, Max Osinski as Agent Red, Ricardo Walker as Agent Prince.

As well as confirming that Ghost Rider will be appearing in the first episode, the Guest Star list notes some interesting new and returning players. It’s great to know Natalia Cordova Buckley will return as ‘Yo-Yo’ hopefully with an expanded role, whilst some of the Agents listed have appeared before, and hopefully point to the show expanding on existing characters. We also have confirmation that Mallory Jansen as ‘Aida’ will be appearing early on, whilst Lorenzo Henrie (Fear The Walking Dead) is set to appear as Robbie’s brother ‘Gabe’, signalling the family dynamic Marvel is so excited about with this character will be there from the off.

ABC also released several promo images from the episode featuring Ming Na Wen as ‘Agent May’, Henry Simmons as ‘Alphonso Mackenzie’, Gabriel Luna as ‘Robbie Reyes’ and John Hannah returning as ‘Doctor Radcliffe’. This last one is the most interesting as he isn’t listed under the guest stars. Is it possible he’ll be bumped up to series regular this season? Given how brilliant the character is, I certainly hope so.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

‘Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD’ Season 4 premieres Tuesday, September 20th 10pm on ABC.

Black Panther Movie To Be “Grittier” Than Previous Marvel Films

It’s common knowledge that Marvel’s superhero outings are much lighter in tone compared to DC’s, however it appears the upcoming ‘Black Panther’ movie could be a bit of a break from tradition. Now plenty of Marvel’s films have a significant dose of drama, this year’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’ was packed full of it, but none have ever been too dark, so it’ll be interesting to see what approach ‘Black Panther’ will take.

In an interview with CBR, Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman explained the difference between his superhero and the others:

“For me, most of the time the darker superhero movies are the ones that I gravitate towards, that I love the most. I’m glad that the tone of Black Panther may be a little grittier. I just wanted to establish that from the beginning, that that’s what we were doing. That that’s what I intend to do. I feel like we’ll end up in a place that I’ve always wanted to be when I look at superhero movies. Those are the ones I like the most. It’s exciting to do that.”

Given the different direction ‘Black Panther’ is going compared to Marvel’s other films, Director Ryan Coogler spoke to EW about how he would be keeping it in line with the wider Marvel Universe:

“It’s a specific challenge. What Marvel’s doing, and what you see a lot of studios doing now that Marvel has done it so successfully, is making content that exists in a particular universe, where the characters tie in and crossover.

I think that’s a great creative challenge to me–to make this movie as personal as possible. It’s going to be my most personal movie to date, which is crazy to say, but it’s completely the case. I’m obsessed with this character and this story right now, and I think it’s going to be very unique and still fit into the overall narrative that they’re establishing.”

Each Marvel film tends to tackle a different genre, tone or style, and it will certainly be exciting to see how Black Panther differentiates itself from the rest. The character was already given a warm welcome in ‘Civil War’ and definitely stood out from the rest, so his solo film is set to be interesting indeed.

Black Panther will release in cinemas July 6, 2018.

‘Doctor Who’ Series 10: Start Date Revealed?

It’s been a dark year for ‘Doctor Who’ fans. Outside the annual Christmas special there has been promise of no new series of the show until 2017. Thanks to a slip of the tongue from Peter Capaldi however, we might just have a more solid date for the show’s start.

In talking to fans on set whilst filming Series 10, Capaldi said that it would probably be airing in April.

“We’ll be on at Christmas, and then it starts again in April, I think,”

This aligns with the BBC’s comments that the show would likely air in the Spring, and would see a shift back to the airing patterns adopted by much of the revived series. Up until series six the show aired from late March/early April to June or July, before recently moving towards later timeslots. Series 9 began airing in September, and due to the BBC’s major winter show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ often lasting hours, kept getting pushed back later into the night.

This saw a decline in ratings for the show, with many parents in particular unhappy that their children would not be able to watch during the later times. It is telling then that last year’s Christmas Special aired at 5:15pm, the exact same time as when the show began in 1963, and much earlier than any episode in the show’s history for years.

Hopefully a move back to Spring will see ratings rise again. I for one enjoyed watching ‘Doctor Who’ in its Autumn/Winter timeslot as it feels more effective at that dark time of the year, and had it been aired prior to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ could have likely done well. Still, last series saw the tone darken significantly, which was a storytelling treat, but it’s all about finding that balance between the content and when it’s appropriate to air said content. This is after all a show initially aimed at kids.

If Peter Capaldi is to be believed though, that means we only have 7 months until the show returns. With spinoff ‘Class’ set to debut in the meantime, and a Christmas Special on the way, that wait doesn’t seem so bad at all.

The Power Of The Daleks Animation Is Official! – Daleks Set To Conquer And Destroy The BBC Store This November

The BBC have confirmed rumours that they are to release an animated version of the missing Doctor Who serial The Power of the Daleks. The Power of the Daleks is Patrick Troughton’s first serial as the second incarnation of The Doctor and stars Michael Craze and Anneke Wills as the Doctor’s companions Ben Jackson and Polly Wright. All six missing episodes of the story have been produced by the team behind the recent animation for the lost Dad’s Army episode A Stripe For Fraser.

The animated Power of the Daleks has been produced and directed by Charles Norton (A Stripe For Fraser), with character designs by comic book artists Martin Geraghty (Doctor Who: The Flood) and Adrian Salmon (Judge Dredd).

Charles Norton spoke of the animation “The Power of the Daleks animation is the most ambitious Doctor Who archive restoration ever attempted and we’re all very honoured to be a part of such a an exciting project. Intelligent, suspenseful and magnificently staged, Power of the Daleks is one of the great lost classics of 1960s television and a superb example of the black and white era at its finest,”

The executive producer of BBC Worldwide Paul Hembury said “Charles and his team are remarkably talented and passionate about Doctor Who and we are thrilled that fans will soon be able to enjoy this rather sinister but wonderful, classic story,”

The first episode of The Power of the Daleks will be made available on the BBC Store from Saturday 5th November at 5:50pm, exactly fifty years since its broadcast on BBC1. The remaining episodes will be made available the following five days. Power of the Daleks will be exclusive to the BBC Store until Monday 14th November. The animation will be released on DVD on Monday 21st November. There will also be a BFI (British Film Institute) screening of the serial on the 5th November at the BFI Southbank Cinema in London. Further information will be made available on the BFI website.

You can currently register your interest on The Power of the Daleks animation on the BBC Store website.

A trailer for The Power of the Daleks can be found below: