New Stargate SG-2 Trailer Version
A new version of the Stargate SG-2 trailer has been posted (third one down).
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September 30, 2005
Star Wars Action News #5
The fifth episodeof Star Wars Action News is now available through RSS feed or for direct download. In this issue we respond to some listener feedback, discuss several new Hasbro multi figure packs starting to show up in stores, and talk about the art of autograph collecting.
In addition, we are asking for feedback from our listeners. Please e-mail us at show@reviewstars.com to let us know about the gem of your Star Wars collection. Be it the most expensive, the most rare, or something with a personal story attached we want to know. Also, please e-mail us with any feedback you have on our show; we strive to make it better for our listeners. E-mails may be read in part or in full in an upcoming podcast.
If you like our show, please vote for us at podcast alley.
Technorati: Star Wars, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
Senses Five Press
Senses Five Press produces the speculative fiction magazine, Sybil's Garage, which has had two issues so far. Currently, they are reading for issue #3.
September 29, 2005
Star Trek The Section 31 Files - Episode 2.04 - Storm Warning
Star Trek The Section 31 Files - Episode 2.04 - Storm Warning is released. Equity Corps holds the crew of the Nosferatu captive. Meanwhile one of the crew makes a startling discovery. LISTEN.
Technorati: Star Trek, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
September 28, 2005
"Deception" - Borg Wars Part 4 - Now Available
Check out Geoff Jame's new Website where you will find that Part 4, "Deception", is now available in full and pocket versions. There's also a fascinating look at the technical side of how he did it in his FAQ section. | Leave a review or discuss this in the Forum
Technorati:
Star Trek, FanFilms, Entertainment, Fandom, scifi, Science Fiction
September 27, 2005
Dark Armada launches from the Netherlands
In week 1 of the Trek United campaign we have some of the newest groups and one of the oldest. Click on the thumbnail of the Trek United postcard to see it in larger detail.
"Admiral" Robin Hiert, an energetic young filmmaker, has gathered a crew from Star Trek fan clubs and gaming clans right across the Netherlands and Belgium. Based out of Westmaas, in a short five months he and his friends have made several 3D meshes, a dramatic and complex storyline and have generally put together a very strong concept.
They are forging ahead with a new website and an improved trailer and were recently at the "Screen Heroes" convention in the Jaarbeurs located at Utrecht over the weekend of Sep 24-25. They were at the stand of The Flying Dutch with the slogan "After More Than 700 Years... She Sails Out Again" refering to the flagship of their production, the Batavia "a Nova-class scout ship commanded by Captain Alexander Richardson".
Good graphics and an ambitious plot ensure that they will definitely make a mark in the European and world fan film community. | Discuss this in the Forum
Technorati:
Star Trek, FanFilms, Entertainment, Fandom, scifi, Science Fiction
September 25, 2005
Franchise Fatigue? Fan film campaign needs your help
Love of Sci Fi is a common denominator all over the world. What is not always apparent is that making fan Films is also international. Towards the end of July, I was a member of a group of Australian Star Trek fans, Trek United Australia, who had a brainstorming session about what to do next to protest the demise of Enterprise and stop the embargo on Star Trek production of any kind. We decided that we wanted to make a statement that Trek fandom was NOT as dead as the media was painting it and specifically cited the explosion of interest in Trek fanfilms as evidence. The executive level of Trek United agreed that it was within their charter as an advocate of Trek fandom in all it's forms and planning for a postcard writing campaign was put into motion.
We took as our slogan - "Franchise Fatigue? Fans worldwide still support Star Trek!". The term "Franchise Fatigue" has been taken out of context and used as a catch phrase to insinuate that Star Trek as a genre is old and tired - "fatigued" - a spent force, no longer relevant. Our contention is that Mr. Berman is misjudging the strength and loyalty of the Trek fanbase if he thinks that we will stay away from a good Trek program in favour of previous series re-runs. The growing body of fan productions is proof that there are people out there who can still see something new and exciting in the Roddenbery dream and, perhaps most importantly of all, that there are people who want to watch it. Fan films are a free yet accurate market survey tool that show what Trek fans really want to see - if they are popular doesn't that suggest something?
The support of the Trek fan film community has been astonishing. We currently have 15 groups ranging from Las Vegas to Darmstadt, from concept groups that are months old to groups which have episodes on the 'net and have film in the can going through post production. A few groups declined to participate in the postcard campaign because of cautionary legal advice (although Trek United's legal advice has been different). That's not a problem - they have every right to be cautious, we don't think any less of them and we have no hard feelings about it.
So what exactly is the campaign? How is it going to work?
For four consecutive weeks we are going to make available high quality postcards and envelopes featuring at least four Fan Film groups weekly, pre-addressed to Paramount offices around the world. The schedule is ...
WEEK 1; 03/10/05 - 09/10/05; Australia
WEEK 2; 10/10/05 - 16/10/05; United Kingdom
WEEK 3; 17/10/05 - 23/10/05; Germany
WEEK 4; 24/10/05 - 30/10/05; Canada
For the last week, week 5, we will have available all the previous cards addressed to the head office of Paramount in the USA and on the last day of the campaign we will unveil the 2005 Trek United Fan Film Trailer! Featuring a combination of original material, clips from fan film productions and a specially commissioned CGI finale that will blow you away!
As the weeks progress I will be posting details on Planet Fandom and hopefully you will gain an insight into the size and breadth of the Star Trek Fan Film community and support our campaign by sending a card. This isn't *just* about seeing more "Enterprise". This is about the survival of professionally produced productions of Star Trek in the forseeable future.
With your help we can show Paramount that there is still a demand for professionally made productions. That there are Star Trek fans all over the world who feel strongly enough about the Roddenberry dream to make and support amateur productions.
Franchise Fatigue? Fans worldwide still support Star Trek!
For more information and to discuss this topic, visit the Forum
Technorati:
Star Trek, FanFilms, Entertainment, Fandom, scifi, Science Fiction
September 24, 2005
BattlestarGalacticaPeople
BattlestarGalacticaPeople brands itself as "Listing the cast, crew, fans, sites, blogs...of Battlestar Galactica," and features thoughtful reviews of BSG episodes as they are aired. The review for Pegasus, which aired yesterday night has already been posted. Check it out!
The Combat Information Center 2.10
The Combat Information Center is a weekly discussion and review podcast covering the SciFi Channel series Battlestar Galactica. Episode 2.10 was released today.
September 23, 2005
Borg Wars - Machinima comes to Trek
FanFilms are all about "roll your own" filming. Traditionally this has been live action against wood & cardboard sets. Computer Generated Imagery made it possible by way of the magic "Green Screen" to cut out on some of the more expensive and involved sets. The next step, of course, is to go totally virtual and make the actors CGI as well. In effect this is taking the place of animation, in much the same way as "Toy Story" & "A Fish Tale". This is done at an amateur level by using game engines to create "Machinima". How good can it be? There've been many candidates but the one that I've seen that comes closest to passing Turing Test is "A Few Good G-Men" although it failed to impress many of the self-appointed Geek Culture-Vultures on Slashdot".
Machinima is coming into its own as a platform for Star trek storytelling. The first major Fan Cinema using Machinima is gradually taking shape in the form of an epic clash of Trek's main icons, the Borg and the Federation, in "Borg Wars". Its creator, Geoffrey James, is a New Hampshire journalist, which shows in the tight script and well-crafted plotline, and was created using two computer games, Starfleet Command III and Elite Force 2. It will build into a feature-length animation scheduled for completion in Spring of 2006 with it's own website, which will go live before the end of the year: www.BorgWarMovie.org. At the moment the main source of info on it is Ritualistic Forums.
"Three out of six segments," says Geoff "comprising the first forty minutes of the film, are available for limited review. The fourth segment will be completed next month, with the final two segments to be completed at 3 monthly intervals. A teaser is also available and a more detailed trailer will be available when the website comes up."
All files are available in High resolution (Hi) and Low Resolution (Lo) which were specifically designed as "PocketPC" sized versions - much lower resolution but about 1/5 the size of the full files. The files for the Teaser(Hi & Lo) and parts 1(Hi & Lo), 2(Hi & Lo) and 3(Hi & Lo) are available from the Authors website and Star Trek Elite Force Files
Not to be confused with the Half Life 2 game mod of the same name, BorgWar is being released as "new game material" in compliance with the game licenses. The project is entirely non-profit "charityware" which means that fans who enjoy the movie are invited to donate to Geoff's chosen charity, the Big Brother/Big Sister program. | Discuss this on the forum
Technorati:
Star Trek, FanFilms, Entertainment, Fandom, scifi, Science Fiction
September 22, 2005
SciFiDig 20 Posted
SciFiDig #20 is posted: "Latest news, Firefly review and how I feel about the new glut of sci-fi shows." SciFiDig.com.
SWD#57- The best moments of the Expanded Universe
During this episode we will discuss what you consider to be the best moments in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU).
The Expanded Universe is the fictionnal history that surrounds the movies dating back 25000 years before to 35 years after the films.
So for those not familiar to the EU, this show will bring forward the most interesting events of the SW history that are not shown in the six movies and give you a taste of what you are missing.
What are your best moments of the EU?, send them (or phone number for us to call) to studio@swendirect.com.
The live broadcast begins this Tuesday at 7PM Eastern
September 19, 2005
The Fanboys are coming! How Laissez-faire could revolutionize SciFi
Gene Rodenberry would be proud, I think. Or at least suprised.
With the paradoxically tragic, and yet celebrated, cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise, Trekkies across the globe are finding themselves in something of a time-warp. Today, fans are in a similar position to a previous generation when the original Star Trek was taken off the air in 1969. The parallels between the final throes of the Original Star Trek and Star Trek: Enterprise, are indeed noteworthy, but it is the differences between them that may end up revolutionizing TV SciFi as we know it--Star Trek and beyond.
In a striking demonstration of the kind of disregard that Hollywood all too often shows to some of it's audiences, Enterprise co-creator and co-executive producer Brannon Braga once referred to some Trekkies as "continuity pornographers" because of online criticisms leveled against him and Rick Berman during the rough and waning years of Star Trek's latest TV series. Toward the end of Enterprise's run, Berman himself would cite "franchise fatigue" as a prime reason behind the demise of modern Star Trek, saying that the series should be allowed to lay fallow for a few years until demand for it re-asserted itself. The truth, however, was that enough fans (both casual and hardcore) had become fed up with the increasing variance between the beloved Next Generation model of Star Trek and "Neo Trek" that the fanbase fractured into something akin to a Nerd Civil War. By the time that Manny Coto took the helm, the damage to Enterprise's viewer base had already been done and the series was inevitably canned.
Now, sadly, there's no more new Star Trek to watch . . . or is there?
Even before Enterprise was cancelled, fanboys across the country--and the world--had started building up a new cottage industry of Star Trek, turning their backyards and garages into film studios, and their home computers into special effects labs. Though this kind of grass-roots ambition was not new, it wasn't until home studio equipment became affordable that the movement really began to explode. Contrary to Berman's "franchise fatigue" explanation--which implied that demand for Star Trek had exhausted itself--fan-made productions are popping up all across the internet, and gaining notoriety among those who believe that Trek still has some steam left in it.
Time and Technology have been kind to the Trekkie. In the years since Star Trek first hit the air, advances in computing technology have made it possible for average people to film, edit, and produce video presentations of a quality that rivals the early years of The Next Generation. Even the vaunted cult hit Babylon 5 can seem archaic in comparison with some of the SFX jobs that characterize SciFi fanfilms. With some 3D animation software like Maya, even novices can create epic starship battles and renderings of alien planets that used to be the exclusive prevue of companies like Industrial Light and Magic.
Combine this cheap access to production equipment with simple Trekkie fanaticism and access to a world-wide distribution network (the Internet), and suddenly fans from Shanghai to Mozambique can watch the latest adventures of Captain Garrovick onboard the Starship Exeter or Captain Shelby in Hidden Frontier with a click of a mouse. No network schedules to work around, no DVD manufacturers to haggle with. Just simple, direct access to the audience.
But the true beauty of this whole new paradigm in fan production is that the internet isn't just a conduit for everyone with a camera to get their projects in front of people's eyes. No, in fact, it is the dispersed nature of the internet--millions of websites, and billions of pages--which acts as a sort of democratic mediator that promotes the good content and weans out the bad. It's a given that not every fan production is going to be a masterpiece (even most TV shows are garbage), but those which show talent and promise are quickly passed around the world-wide-web through word of mouth. Emails and instant messages crisscross the thin spindles of information that connect computer servers across the world . . . and every user who stumbles across an "eShow" worthy of mention, will probably forward it on to their friends who will judge for themselves and do the same.
Eventually, that discussion will manifest itself in hyperlinks on message boards, newsgroups, blogs, mailing lists and news websites (like PlanetFandom). In a kind of Laissez-faire fanboy economy, the projects, actors, editors, costume designers and special effects artists who have talent naturally generate notoriety. This is the same concept that the Google search-engine relies on; the more a site is mentioned and linked to, the higher Google will rank that site when someone searches for a phrase that describes it. Over time, this process of "vote with your mouse" would allow fan-based talent from all across the globe to interact and improve their trade. Eventually, the shows that are worthwhile would grow better known and those which lacked talent would ultimately fall into the dark depths of anonymity.
This process has already see the release of fanshows that rival and exceed the production quality of The Original Star Trek. If left to their own devices, fanboy productions will become more sophisticated and the talented individuals behind the shows will tend to gravitate toward each other. The prospect of ever-improving "TV show" production, specifically honed to the tastes and preferences of Star Trek's target market should make some studio executives stand up and think. Why risk an untested concept based on a quick studio pitch, when an all volunteer team has effectively done market research, selected qualified talent, and produced and distributed test episodes of it's show to an internet-savvy target market that is becoming harder and harder to reach through traditional advertising channels?
Ideally, recognition of the talent and value of good fanseries would lead to a kind of two-way communication between a fanbase and a professional production studio, with the lines between "fanboy" and "pro" being blurred somewhat. The more communication that exists between a show and its audience, the more responsive that show can be to the preferences of the viewers. Fanboys now take personal "ownership" or "stock" in the show that they watch, and instead of increasing audience atrophy, viewers become more fiercely loyal to their favorite series, and make it a point to evangelize their show through world-of-mouth. If fans feel they have a voice in the course of a show, they are much more likely to watch and talk about it. It's the basic Hail To The Fanboy concept all over again.
Refreshingly, all of this has not been lost entirely on Hollywood. Take Star Trek New Voyages, for example, which is one of the most popular Trek fanseries online today. Continuing the adventures of Kirk, Spock and McCoy of the Original Star Trek, this production has managed even to garner the attention of the professional media, as well as flag down an appearance of Walter Koenig and a script by D.C. Fontana. Producers of fanfilms like Star Wars Revelations are now getting to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with actors from Battlestar Galactica at fan conventions, so this cottage industry movement hasn't gone entirely under the radar. As fans, all that we can hope for is that, as time goes on, more producers--and not just of Star Trek--will start to follow the precedent set by George Lucas in allowing people to make fanfilms without fear of legal action. Eventually, Hollywood and the big studios will have to take notice of us, it's just good business sense to tailor your product (the show) to its consumer (the audience). The internet is a great tool for discovering those diamonds in the ruff among fandom, and as long as people care enough to keep doing stuff like this, the Federation is almost certain to be boldly going for many years to come, even if new Trek never returns to the air. | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Star Trek, Star Trek Excalibur, Star Trek New Voyages, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
Geek Fu #40
Geek Fu Action Grip posted it's 40th episode yesterday. Check them out at GeekFuActionGrip.com.
Upcoming Serenity Fan Fest
Source: SciFi Storm through Slice of Scifi
Universal Studios Hollywood is hosting the Serenity Fan Fest this Saturday, September 24th from 2pm-4pm. Creator Joss Whedon and cast members Summer Glau (River Tam), Adam Baldwin (Jayne Cobb), Morena Baccarin (Inara Serra) will be there, along with special effects and prop exhibits. It is free with regular admission. Serenity officially has its US open on the 30th.
Dinner for Five, Star Wars en Direct Style
From the SWDBlog on StarWars.com: Originally based on Jon Favreau's Dinner for Five, this particular [upcoming] Star Wars en Direct will feature 5 Star Wars and non-Star Wars fans discussing the Star Wars universe, and the effect it has had on their life.
What was their first experience of Star Wars? How as it influenced their lives? How and why would someone not like Star Wars? What do they think Star Wars has become today?
Simple questions, but you can be certain to find some amazing answers to them by listening to this show.
Technorati: Star Wars, Wars en Direct, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, scifi, Science Fiction
September 18, 2005
CIC 2.09 The Combat Information Center
Episode 2.09 of the Combat Information Center has been posted.
More on Stargate SG-2 - The Ninth Symbol
More information has come up since our first discovery of Blue Smoke Studios' Stargate SG-2: The Ninth Symbol: The final release date is TBA, however it looks as if plans are leaning toward a Winter, 2006 premier. BSS plans to release a new version of it's SG-2 trailer on or before September 25th. | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Stargate, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
Slice of Sci-Fi #024
From Slice of Sci-Fi: On This Week's Show: CopperCon Chat, and Serenity Contest!
Michael, Evo, Summer, Joe, Tee Morris, and Kade Hutchinson: all in studio, and all definitely misbehaving.
Attention Phoenix and Tucson listeners: There's a contest to win a pass for two to see a screening of Serenity! Listen to the 5 Firefly questions, and email the answers to Summer along with which city you will attend the screening in, and if your answers are correct, you and a friend can see Serenity 2 days early!
The News This Week:
- Sci-Fi Channel asks "What If?"
- A Pimple-faced Bond?
- "Children of Men" goes celluloid
- Ghost House Pictures Gets "30 Days of Nights"
- Around Hollywood in a Minute
- New Fan Film STAR TREK: Andromeda
Other Topics:
- CopperCon Summary: Podcasters, Fans and Body Painting
- Kade from alienEthOS ratchets up the kilt envy previously rampant in the studio
- fascination with body painting
- Voicemail
If you have any suggestions or comments, please let us know. (Our Voicemail Number: 206-339-TREK) See you in a week with fresh, new content!
Download Slice of Sci-Fi Show #024!
Planet Fandom Featured on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Film/TV
Planet Fandom was recently featured as a link of the week on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Film/TV blog; he's the author of "Exploring Space:1999," "Space:1999 - The Forsaken," "An Analytical Guide to Battlestar Galactica," "The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television," and "An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith."
On this site, I've often featured interviews with filmmakers outside the mainstream, so I want to draw everybody's attention to this great site that I just learned about. It's called Planet Fandom and it features all kinds of news and updates about the world of fan-created films on the Internet and beyond. I think this is a really interesting phenomenon of our times: talented fans acting in and producing Star Trek and Star Wars-related films with incredible special effects. I saw one at the FantaSci convention in Chesapeake, VA recently, and I was blown away. It was a Star Wars film filled with light-saber battles that looked the equal to anything seen in Revenge of the Sith. Lest we forget, fans can be extraordinarily resourceful, and these movies prove just that.
You can READ MORE at reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com. | Discuss this item on the forums
September 17, 2005
SF Site New Podcast Release
The Mid-September 2005 issue of the SF Site is now online.
SF Site Discussion Forum is now open. Drop by for a visit and browse the topics.
In our current issue, some of the reviews you'll find are:
The Hidden Family and Accelerando by Charles Stross
From the Files of the Time Rangers by Richard Bowes
Galileo's Children edited by Gardner Dozois
Brass Man by Neal Asher
The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens edited by Jane
Yolen and Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Quicksilver & Shadow by Charles de Lint
A Stroke of Midnight by Laurel K. Hamilton
In the Palace of Repose by Holly Phillips
Night Train to Rigel by Timothy Zahn
The Riot at Bucksnort by Robert E. Howard
The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach
Watching Anime, Reading Manga by Fred Patten
SF Site columns and features:
SF Site News compiled by Steven H Silver
Babylon 5.1: TV reviews by Rick Norwood
New Arrivals compiled by Neil Walsh
Plundering The Abyss: an interview with Alastair Reynolds
Scurrying Over The Rocks: an interview with Ben Bova
Plus a whole lot more including hundreds of links, archived reviews,
interviews, articles, reading lists, awards listings...
New Sci Fi Dig Episode
From SciFiDig: I have show notes! This episode I discuss Firefly, the Superman documentary and soccer parents. Also a new Redneck B-Movie Review and a top ten list.
Technorati: Sci Fi Dig, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Podcasts, scifi, Science Fiction
Geek Fu #39.5 - Good Good Things
Reviews, essays, and rants from a gamer, fangirl, writer and mommy, all in one. Geek Fu #39.5 - Good Good Things.
Technorati: Geek Fu, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Podcasts, scifi, Science Fiction
Star Trek: Excalibur Posts Teaser Trailer
Star Trek: Excalibur (Sep 13)
This new group, which sprang up at the start of June and is based out of Las Vegas, has just posted their first promotional trailer, available as a WMV file by clicking the link from their main page. The CGI is looking good, but I especially liked the music - I wonder if it is original? | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Star Trek, Star Trek Excalibur, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
September 15, 2005
Star Wreck: In The Pirkinning
Babylon 5 vs. Star Trek . . . or something like it. Samuli Torssonen's Star Wreck: In The Pirkinning pits two of the most well known sci fi franchises against eachother in what can easily be described as one of the ultimate fragfests in scifi fandom. Over six years in the making, Star Wreck was recently made available for purchase on DVD, and is scheduled for online release the 1st of October.
Star Wreck: In the Pirkinning begins with Captain James B. Pirk of the starship Kickstart shipwrecked on the 21st century Earth with his crew. Originally from the distant future, Pirk and his crew travelled back in time to save the Earth from hostile aliens, but lost their ship and became stranded. Things are not looking good for our heroes. Pirk's daily routine consists mainly of stuffing his face at the local fast food restaurant, and he is finding it difficult to convince the ladies he is, in fact, an intergalactic space hero from the future. As the prospects for humanity's conquest of space look increasingly bleaker, Pirk comes up with a questionable plan to save mankind's future... | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Star Trek, Babylon 5, Star Wreck, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
September 13, 2005
The New Adventures of the Galactic Star Force Power Squad
Cincinnati author and amateur audio producer Allen J. Singer has just released The New Adventures of the Galactic Star Force Power Squad. Guaranteed to make you laugh, this new sci-fi audio parody-show introduces the outer-space cut-ups known as the Power Squad in a prequel series leading to an episode created originally in a 1993 college radio-production class. Each episode in this new six-part series will follow Brett Nabors, Lee Stormwalker, and the upcoming Harry the Automaton as they fly their Star Force vessel XPLOR from one hilarious adventure to the next. Visit the Power Squad at Allensedge.com and through The Star Wars Fan Works. | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Battlestar Galactica, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Podcasts, scifi, Science Fiction
Stone Trek takes Shoreleave
The wonderfully hilarious parody series Stone Trek is taking a leave to the backburner. In a posting on his site, Brian Matthews says the following:
Some of you visiting this site have been doing so for quite a while, and are certainly wondering when there is going to be a new episode of STONE TREK. Good question. I have been without a computer for a while, and as a result I have not been able to work on anything, even my new animation projects, which were putting production of STONE TREK on the back burner anyway.
This news might not be welcome to the vast majority of you out there, especially the ones who have been onboard since the beginning and rabidly await a new entry into the STONE TREK mythos. It is indeed true that I have in some state of production a new episode of STONE TREK, but I have been itching to do some other stuff, and now that I am back computer-wise I want to continue to work on these new projects.
This isn't to say that Stone Trek has been canned, but any new episode releases are in the "indefinite" range. For anyone who might be unfamiliar with the Stone Trek series, it's basically an animated take-off of Star Trek meets The Flintstones, complete with 1960's style laugh tracks, goofy animations, and a starship that runs on a particularly temperamental volcano for a warp core. There are currently 9 Episodes, from "The Deadly Ears - Part 1" to "Marooned On Tattooine - Part 2." The animation is artfully done and the comedy is great, almost enough to make you think this show was actually made as a collaboration between Paramount Pictures and Hanna Barbara. | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Star Trek, Stone Trek, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction, Flash
More info on upcoming 'Hidden Frontier' ep: 'Vigil'
There's new information out about the Hidden Frontier episode guest starring James Cawley (Kirk, from New Voyages). They're calling this Hidden Frontier's "most ambitious episode ever," so anticipation is naturally high:
Calhoun. Shelby. Romulans. Tholians. Orions. Secret missions. Romance. Death. Hidden Frontier's 41st episode is expected to clock in at nearly network-TV length. Vigil weaves together four storylines in an episode fans will be talking about for some time to come.
Vigil guest stars Star Trek: New Voyages' James Cawley (Captain Kirk), who appears as Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, commander of the USS Excalibur from the Star Trek: New Frontier series of novels.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION: J.T. Tepnapa directs Vigil, with assistant directors P.K. Eiselt and Gabriel Giorgi. Vigil is Hidden Frontier's longest script yet to be produced, with its most extended production timeline ever. Principal photography began back in April, overlapping production with Homeport and Beachhead. Principal photography finally wrapped at the end of August.
ABOUT THE STORY: As Hidden Frontier continues its serialized format, Vigil brings together several of the series' most significant storylines. “The war with the Tholians is taking its toll,” says episode writer Carlos Pedraza. “The Federation has forged an awesome alliance, but it's by no means an easy one. Like any war, it's fought on many fronts, and there will be losses.” Carlos wrote the story with some help from scifi/horror author Steve Berman (no relation to Rick) and turned to New Frontier fan and HF Story Department head Mike Urvand to portray the Calhoun-Shelby interaction. Mike was the one who originally suggested including a Calhoun appearance in Season 6. The idea was further developed by Carlos, Executive Producer Rob Caves, and Adam Browne. You can READ MORE at Hidden Frontier.com. | Discuss this item on the forums
Technorati: Star Trek, Hidden Frontier, New Voyages, Planet Fandom, Entertainment, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
September 11, 2005
The Combat Information Center
The Combat Information Center posted a new episode yesterday, covering episode 8 of season 2 of Battlestar Galactica. This was the awaited "Xena" episode, which guest starred Lucy Lawless as a vaguely Michael-Moore-esque documentary reporter. The Combat Information Center is a weekly discussion and review podcast covering the SciFi Channel series Battlestar Galactica, hosted and produced by Alan Light. Warning: These podcasts contain spoilers for the Battlestar Galactica television series.
Technorati: Battlestar Galactica, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
September 10, 2005
Conquest of the Empire
The Star Wars Fanworks brings us an update on Conquest of the Empire: It has been a while since our last update on what's going on with COTE Audio Productions. New projects are afoot, and others are moving forward.
First, Fortitude and Redemption, the second chapter of Conquest of the Empire is nearly complete, and if all goes well with the final voice files that will come in to COTE's Joe Harrison, we should expect to be hearing about a release of COTE #2 sometime next week or the week after.
Second, the third chapter of Conquest of the Empire is already in the works. Casting should be taking place soon for any roles not already filled.
Star Wars: Conquest of the Empire is a new series that takes place four years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. The Emperor is growing more powerful by the day, but his thirst for power and control are still strong. Henceforth, Palpatine sends his apprentice Darth Vader to begin a conquest of non-Imperial-controlled systems, beginning with the peaceful H'rahk Sector, located just outside the Expansion Region. But unbeknownst to the Empire, this sector is under the protection of the rising Rebel Alliance.
Technorati: Star Wars, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
"Look at his butt" Episode 12
Look At His Butt released their 12th podcast episode yesterday, covering subjects from Bill Shatner at fan conventions to the Gillete Nitro razor. "Look at His Butt" is the zany podcast of two self-described Star Trek "geek babes," covering Science Fiction, the Internet, and William Shatner's butt (don’t ask). The podcast should be rated PG-13, though, as it is chock full of adult humor and off-color sexual jokes, but is nonetheless quite amusing . . . just keep it away form your kids.
Stargate SG-2 - The Ninth Symbol
A new day, a new fanfilm discovery. This one comes from Blue Smoke Studios and takes place in the universe of Stargate: Stargate SG-2: The Ninth Symbol. This series is currently in production, and the latest word on its status is that it's about 1/3rd completed. There was also talk about a planned October 2005 premier, but this is as yet unconfirmed.
Drop by the site and see the trailers for the series' pilot, especially the 3rd one (which is the best of the three). SG-2 looks like it will be very competently made and sports a colorful cast, so I'm eager to see what Blue Smoke Studios comes up with.
Technorati: Stargate, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction
September 09, 2005
Alien 5 Squared - A Probot Productions Fanfilm
Every once in awhile, I'll run across something in fandom that is extremely obscure, but so well done that it bears special mention. Alien5^2 would qualify for just such a distinction.
For the record, I hate Robot Chicken, I think it's the dumbest thing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim next to Tom Goes To the Mayor. So when I find out that there's a fanfilm out there from a group (Probot Productions) which is known for doing projects entirely with toys and action figures, I wasn't planning on watching the whole thing.
I'm glad to say I was pleasantly surprised, and I did end up watching the whole series through. These guys really know their stuff. The story is a take off on the Alien series, where Ripley (or rather a clone of Ripley) is found in stasis somewhere with a bunch of aliens in hibernation. Some scientist . . . being an egghead decides to clone the Alien remnants and all hell breaks loose. Check it out, it's actually very well done and manages to convey a proper sense of action and suspense throughout the whole movie. Pretty impressive for a bunch of action figures.
Technorati: Alien, Animation, Planet Fandom, Fandom, Fanfilms, scifi, Science Fiction