A little while back, I interviewed this awesome dude, Josh Tate, who is an employee of the greatest company EVAR, Bad Robot, and was prepping for his charity event, Hell-Walk, where he would walk in a 100 ft circle on a sound stage for 24 hours straight, in an effort to raise 25,000 for Children's Hope Chest.
A little while after that, I went to his pre-event fundraiser, held at Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica, where the fantastic Broken Numbers Band played, amazing prizes were being raffled off (I was hoping for the complete series of Lost, the limited edition Serenity statue or the framed Star Trek poster signed by JJ. Alas. But to no avail.), mini desserts by Jose Andres and a really great group of supportive people, including, much to my surprise, JJ Abrams himself, who it turns out might in fact be the coolest boss in the history of time. Details of the big day itself after the jump!
I'm not a huge Julia Roberts fan or anything, but this drunken fun from the Tom Hanks tribute at the Film Society of Lincoln Center makes me appreciate her just a little bit more. I don't even understand the JJ Abrams reference, but I'll take it! Plus, it's WAY more interesting than the scene from X3 that's currently on TV, reminding me why this movie sucks. Ugh.
This is another puzzle from this week's Wired that I only found online, not in the magazine. This one is right up my alley and I almost got all of them! One of the shows listed I definitely don't watch and forgot was even a show. Sigh. Good luck!
Certain TV shows have a naming convention for their titles. For example, 24 names its episodes after the hour the show occurs (e.g., "Day 2—9:00 A.M. –10:00 A.M"). Here are the titles of 12 episodes from current TV series, but each show is listed using the naming convention of another show from the list. Can you name all 12 series?
1. The Boob Job 2. The Boy at the All-White School 3. Conned Our Fellow Criminals 4. Denny Duquette 5. Everybody Hates Leonard Leaky Hofstadter, Ph.D. 6. Jimmy Olsen's Blues 7. Karma 8. Mr. Bartowski Goes to the Buy More 9. My Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 10. Serena Versus the Queen Bee 11. The Skeletal Fragment Conjecture 12. Wild at Sacred Heart
Thought this puzzle was appropriate for my blog :). I only recall the first half of the puzzle being in the magazine - the rest seems to be online only. Am I crazy? So anyway, for those of you who enjoyed this puzzle, there's a whole bunch more of it for you to solve! Fun times! So here it is! I'll post the answers tomorrow :)
Many a videogame has been followed by a lame knockoff that apes the original. Something's surely missing from each imitator described here—specifically, one letter of each game's title. (Tip: The digits in parentheses indicate the number of letters per word.) For example, the clue "This toe-tapping rhythm game is all about survival of the fittest (5 5 9)" would net DANCE DANCE EVOLUTION. The omitted letters spell out a description of these releases.
1. This action game's archaeologist-heroine robs Brokaw, Skerritt, and Bombadil. (3 6) 2. This old-school shooter lets you blast athletes' syringes into atoms. (8) 3. This Japanese RPG features Pooh's feline friend bouncing through time. (6 6) 4. This shooter with chainsaw guns requires great powers of hearing. (4 2 3) 5. In this arcade classic, you race around a maze, gobbling up Dell and Gateway machines. (2-3) 6. In this driving game, you get hit with insane government fees. (5 3) 7. In this action-adventure title, you can buy Iran—if you have the cash. (5 2 6) 8. In this puzzle game, your bagel's salmon keeps exploding. (4 3) 9. This IQ booster features continuous helpings of fiber-rich content. (4 3) 10. This space-combat title lets you rise to the rank of Admiral of Fake Hair. (3 9) 11. This art deco shooter involves wielding electricity on Jupiter's moon. (7) 12. In this music game, it's always ladies' night. (6 3) 13. In this MMORPG, you're looking for the mother of mankind. (8) 14. This lightgun title takes place in your father's domicile. (3 5 2 3 3) 15. This classic FPS lets you attack with miniature Hawaiian guitars. (3 5) 16. In this sandbox game, you're stealing cars for South African cash. (4 5 4) 17. In this platformer, you play a huge fan of actresses Ryan and Tilly. (3 3) 18. In this fighting game, your cartoony characters fight with waistbands. (5 4 4.) 19. In this RPG, your character's got a Norse god's sidearm. (6'1 3) 20. This RTS lets you helm a boat carrying a cargo of viscous black liquid. (8)
JJ & company made a surprise appearance today at Wondercon to prove to the fans once and for all that he was the right person for this job & we won't be disappointed.
In almost an eerie fashion, Abrams & cast members Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto & Zoe Saldana consistently spouted out praise for the original Trek. They were eloquent, well spoken & seemed to have a real love & respect for the Trek that came before. That or Abrams had them memorize some brilliantly scripted answers to convince us of that fact. In multiple instances, Abrams referred to the team behind this new Trek as a mix between those who "live and breathe Trek" and those who are "idiots." The result, says Abrams, will work for fans & non-fans alike. Fans with a knowledge of Trek will be rewarded & non fans will see what inspired Abrams to make it in the first place, what made him realize he would be "jealous" if anyone other than him got the directing gig.
Here's JJ, explaining where he stands once and for all,
...if we were just to make the movie for fans of Star Trek we would be limiting the audience enormously. And the truth is, because we love this, because we are beholden to you, because the fans of Star Trek are what allow us to make a version of Star Trek at all, I can assure you that we making this movie for you. It goes without saying, although it is important that we say it. I have taken some flack for saying in the press "we are making this for future fans of Star Trek" as if we don’t care about the existing fans. That could not be farther from the truth. We love and are beholden to the existing fans of Star Trek and one of the ways we made sure this movie is going to make you happy is we had this great range of points of view with the producers, one of whom is Bryan, who had never seen an episode of Star Trek at all…then we have got Bob Orci who is an absolute avowed Trekker, so we have this great balance. So the answer to your question is that there are a million references and the story adheres to canon pretty much as well as The Original Series adheres to canon, the movie really does. I mean that. You all know, even with The Original Series, there are some contradictions. But the truth is: we love it. And as someone who was not a fan to begin with, I’ve come to appreciate and understand and actually feel jealous I didn’t get hooked earlier so I can understand how amazing the show was.
But it goes much beyond Abrams. When the actors were asked about what was most rewarding for them working on this project, Quinto responded "getting to know Leonard" and Saldana similarly replied "meeting the original cast members...to know how excited they were and how much they blessed this entire project." Chris Pine (who called Trekkies/Trekkers the "best fans in all of fandom") even showed a pretty good familiarity with TOS & a great respect for Shatner when answering a question about his favorite episodes. After doing an evil Kirk impression from The Enemy Within, Pine elaborated,
"That would be up there - the evil captain Kirk, the split Captain Kirk one. [Also the episode] where he fights Finnegan, [Shore Leave]. When [Kirk] wrestles the young boy, [in Charlie X], I think, I don't know if I would do that. I think what I found about watching the old series is, Mr. Shatner's incredibly funny. I think it's the same humor he brings to Boston Legal, in a whole different way. It's that twinkle in his eye, that you think anything can happen. It is that something I couldn't recreate for the life of me."
To avoid straight up doing a Nimoy impression, and to give himself room to bring his own interpretation to the role, Quinto didn't start watching TOS until after he was on set when he would keep episodes playing in his trailer. To prepare for the role, he mostly read about "the world and about character" and talked & worked with Nimoy.
The only things these guys seemed to love more than the original Trek were each other. Watching the panel, one definitely got the impression that this set was amazing to work on. Quinto described Abrams as a "magician" and "wizard" & Pine explained that their director was never a "dictator" on set, that they all became a family and hopefully that will translate to the fans & we'll accept the new version. Additionally, Quinto said he saw the movie Friday night and was blown away,
"I couldn't speak for like 20 minutes after and I'm not like that. It is such a ride. It is so exciting...it succeeds on a lot of levels."
For Pine, the best thing about the Trek experience was getting the "opportunity to meet people he now calls his friends." Awe.
Abrams even gave some love to the "greatest group of extras" who were "spectacular" and "tireless" and partook in an impromptu rap session, Abrams beatboxing, Pine MCing. Hilarity.
Some other tidbits - Abrams asked Kevin Smith to watch the film so early in the process because Smith is "painfully honest" and has a "wonderful point of view." As for the Cloverfield sequel? Abrams' got a "pretty sweet" idea, but wouldn't move forward unless they had the proper creative impetus,
It better not be a business decision. You better be inspired to do something. That way, you did it because you cared, not because you think you can make a buck.
Oh yeah, and we got to see the world premiere of the new Star Trek trailer, which, in all honesty...was pretty effing awesome. I stand by what I thought when I saw those four scenes a couple of months ago - this movie is going to rock.
Good work appearing at Wondercon, JJ. You've redeemed yourself in my eyes and hopefully in the eyes of uneasy fans everywhere.
If you're a fan of Fringe, then you know what I mean when I say The Observer. He's that creepy dude who looks suspiciously like Michael Cerveris (cause it is!) and may or may not be suffering from alopecia. We've known him to pop up here and there, but now Fox has released clips of all his stealth appearances. The very helpful Fringe Television has complied these clips into one handy dandy video for our enjoyment.
Fringe TV goes on to mention that this video is missing his appearances from "The Arrival", the episode all about our hairless friend, and "Safe", which can be viewed here in screencap form.
For more Easter Eggs including hidden Massive Dynamic Logos & Next Episode Clues (shit this show is even cooler than I thought...) head on over to Fringe Television and have yourself a good time.
Got my test results back from the Dharma Initiative. Thought I'd share...
Mini Bus Driver. I repeat. Mini Bus Driver. Oh and if you can't catch the department they recommend me to, it's the Human Services Division.
Seriously?! BUS DRIVER? Human Services, yet not a sexy receptionist position?! But a bus driver?! No thanks, Dharma.
A fellow Lost watcher did point out to me that in real life, I wouldn't have gotten the position of Head Scientist either, as I don't have a single skill or drop of knowledge when it comes to anything remotely scientific. I mean, I could maybe discuss a few metaphysical theories with you (Schrödinger's cat! Heidegger Principle! Occam's Razor!) for a half second, but that's about it.
Fine. You win this time, Hans Van Eeghen. I'll drive your bus. And I'll drive it well. Asshole.
See full post
I was mad at Star Trek earlier this year for not having a real presence at Comic Con. Because that's how I roll. But I can't deny the truth that JJ just knocked my socks off.
There was a screening tonight on the west side of NYC of four scenes from the new Trek film with JJ Abrams on hand to talk a little about the film and present each scene.
Things got started with the President of Paramount Film Group, John Lesher. He introduced the trailer, which you can check out below.
Then he introduced JJ.
After joking around for a second with Lescher, JJ came right out and said it - "I've never been a fan of Star Trek"
Someone in the back booed (but a good natured boo) to which JJ responded that he knows, he just never quite got it and that's the truth. He had a friend in elementary school who tried to pull him in, but it didn't work. He always felt like he wasn't really Kirk, but he wasn't really Spock either - that he was just an observer who couldn't relate to these characters.
But when the studio asked him to produce a new Star Trek film, he found himself saying yes, albeit without really knowing why - he didn't even know there were numerous Trek films already made, but he said yes nonetheless.
He got together with his usual suspects including Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, a huge Trekker, and Bryan Burk, who had never seen a piece of Trek in his life. Together, they came up with a story they all loved. When JJ read the script by Orci & Kurtzman, he saw in it the reason he got into making movies in the first place and was jealous of whoever got to direct it. Naturally one thing led to another and JJ says that now, thanks to this experience, he does consider himself a Trekker. He was excited to make a Trek that felt real, legitimate, & relatable, grounded in the reality of our world, and that the amazing cast really pulls it off. Then the scenes began.
In the first clip, we meet Kirk at a futuristic bar (with Slusho mix for sale and menus containing moving pictures!) hitting on Uhura with a terribly ugly alien sitting in between them at the bar, just chilling out. Their flirting is adorable and the chemistry great. And right off the bat, the vibe seems perfect. Futuristic, but still slightly mod. An awesome bar fight ensues with a cadet who is a little too protective over Uhura, then a bloodied up Kirk meets Bruce Greenwood's Pike in a sweet scene that ended up giving me goosebumps at the end. Needless to say, by the end of their conversation Kirk has a new direction in life and already JJ is spot on with combining our real world with the Trek universe.
The next scene involves Bones sneaking Kirk onto the Enterprise. Again, great scene. Here we begin to see Kirk transform from troubled, semi-bumbling youth into what he eventually becomes. Can't wait to see this progression fully played out. Here we got to meet Chekov & Spock. Even though I don't really know what they were like on the original show, they seemed great to me. The interior of the ship looks beyond cool, Eric Bana is unrecognizable and Megan from Felicity is part of the crew! Again, I got goosebumps, but this time from a very cool and sudden reveal of sorts. This is about the point when I remembered how awesome JJ is and I should never have doubted him in the first place.
The next scene featured Old Spock, Kirk & Scotty. Before we watched, JJ stressed how great Leonard Nimoy was to work with. On to the scene - Spock travels back in time for one reason or another and here we meet Scotty, who is funny and delightful and makes me smile cause it's Simon Pegg and he does no wrong in my book. There are some very cool moments here that I won't give away, but I will say they deal with the time travel well and I don't think fans will be disappointed.
Before showing us the final scene, JJ comments on how good Eric Bana is in the film, managing to be both relatable and scary. He also lets us know that this next scene features a red shirt and if we know what that means, we "know what we're about to see." And sure enough we do! A badass action sequence follows, complete with superfluous Red Shirt meeting his maker in what seems like a pretty horrific way to go out, and Sulu busting out some expert fencing. The action is suspenseful, well edited and fun.
Overall, I think this movie is going to rock. The music is perfect, the aliens look great, the tone seems just right. It seems to me, it DOES still feel like Star Trek. This is coming from the perspective of someone who was never really a Trek fan, so make of my opinion what you will, but I will be there opening weekend. And now I leave you with a couple lines I quite enjoyed for reasons humorous and sentimental.
"The complexities of human pranks escape me" - Spock thinking Kirk being made First Officer is a joke "Careful with the ship. She's brand new." - Pike to Spock, after he makes him temporary captain of the Enterprise.
I'm really looking forward to this one! You won me over, JJ, you trickster, you.
BTW for a more in depth shot by shot recap, check out Film School Rejects or Aint it Cool and to quote Cole Abaius from FSR,
Sorry for using the words “awesome” and “badass” so much, but they were just the most fitting sentiments from the night’s events.
A group of New York & Los Angeles based Fangirls (and a couple boys) in their early twenties, who are and/or work with various professionals in the genre world, write about the things they love...and hate. Specializing in opinions, recommendations & commentary with some exclusive access thrown in, we're where to come to hear what the Fangirls really think.
