Anyone up for a CGI-animated short by a first-time filmmaker?

Now, this particular first-time filmmaker is Josh Staub, the Art and Visual Design Director for Cyan Worlds, Inc., which created the Myst/Uru series of games. And his 8-minute short has racked up an incredible number of awards at various film festivals since last year. Sound better, now?

"The Mantis Parable" is available on iTunes for $1.99, but, for the low, low price of $15, you can order the Special Edition DVD with the short and a bunch of special features from the artist's Web site at http://www.thestaubs.com/themantisparabl...isshop.htm.

This is the story of a poor caterpillar caught by a bug collector and trapped in a jar. The bugs in the film are not in the least cartoony-looking and do not speak, yet he wrings an incredible amount of emotion out of them through body language and use of musical cues. The story is touching, yet never becomes cloying or preachy. And the visuals are superb -- just watch the intro on Staub's Web site.

I can't wait to see more from this guy, though it will probably take him a while since he worked on this in his spare time and it took 18 months for the first one. He could easily quit his day job and make a living at this if he can keep up this level of quality. (But, I hope he doesn't, because I love the work he's doing for Cyan. )

Brett

I heard a couple of years ago that an animated feature of Conan: Red Nails was in production with Ron Perlman as the voice of Conan.

Any idea what happened to it?

I saw this last night and was literally blown away.

The film is based on a novel by PD James and is in a near future where no children have been born for the last 18 years.

Based in a future Britain it is chilling how real everything looks, the technology blends seemlessly with the everyday we've seen for years in London. The production design deserves an Oscar. I really believe Britain could end up like this. And that scares me. Directed by a Mexican, he has captured Britain really well, perhaps like Sam Mendes caught America in American Beauty, Alfonso Cuarón saw Britain for it's reality, going beneath the gloss (in fact, ignoring the gloss altogether).

The special effects never seemed out of place and some scenes left you sitting there wondering 'how the hell did they do that?'

As dystopian goes, this is damning of our current ways and does not contain many laughs (although black humour does present itself), but the grim brutality and no holds barred nature of the plot made it more real than any other future based film I've ever seen. This film is harsh, in every way possible, and I loved every minute of it.

The acting is excellent with good turns from Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor (yes I had to look that spelling up) and newcomer Claire-Hope Ashitey. The characters were real, you were there with them every moment, which leads us to...

...the direction. Wow. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón it was simply amazing. Single shots were used extensively, but not with talky moments, with full on action scenes, no cuts. Imagine the opening of Saving Private Ryan without a single cut, all in one take. I want to watch it again just to figure out how he did that.

Nothing's perfect, a scene close to the end seemed a little 'neat' after everything else that had happened, but the end itself was genuine. And the projectionist was on holiday or something, the top of the film was cropped for about 10 minutes and the framing never seemed right after it was corrected, the direction or the cinema's fault, I couldn't say.

I haven't read the book, so don't know how it compares, but I thoroughly recommend the film, just don't expect many laughs.

Dave

Got my early shipment from Amazon yesterday and was up til 3 am reading it. I finally had to go to bed and get a few hours' sleep. Finished it today. All I can say is:

"Now that's what I'm talking about!!!"

Great read. Jack is back and nastier than ever. Finally. Head shots, etc, no problem for the real Jack, not the wussyfied version in some of the later novels.

Nice job with this one FPW.

Granted I've only seen the premiere episode, but this show seems smart, funny, well-acted, and unafraid to address some serious social issues in an unflinching manner. Looking forward to checking out the rest of season one.

Amusing occurrence at the Barnes & Noble at 53rd and Lex today in Manhattan. Not finding "Harbingers" on the New Releases shelves, I strode over to the customer service desk and inquired about it.

(Those of you who recall my past posts may not believe this, but I have a stern manner. No, it's true. I also have a deep voice and am rather tall.)

The customer service rep looked up the book on her computer, and while she was reviewing the info she asked me a little timorously, "Are you Mr. Wilson?"

I replied with a simple "no," though it occurred to me to say "Would that I 'twere!" However, I didn't want to blow my cover and reveal that my inner self is a geek.

Once she finished her search, I asked her if the reason she thought I might be FPW was that he had an upcoming reading scheduled -- it was the only explanation I could think of. She said no, that it was just because of the way I'd asked the question!

I guess a fan's serious tone can be confused with an author wanting to make sure a bookstore has his new book in stock and plans to display it.

Oh, and by the way, the store had indeed received their copies of "Harbingers" but hadn't yet put them out on the shelves. They offered to go get a copy for me, but I said I'd just return tomorrow.

-O

Has anyone seen this show? I was up at 3 in the morning last Saturday when it came on. I was turned off by the name, but wow I'm glad I stayed tuned in.

In a dark future wasteland, the cities have fallen, primordial beasts have reclaimed the globe and thieves and savages populate sparse, dirty towns. Korgoth emerges from the frozen north, and his merciless savagery may be his only key to survival. Korgoth of Barbaria is an animated fantasy-action-adventure-comedy from Aaron Springer.

I don't know if it's a one-shot or an ongoing series but it is great. If it gets rebroadcast I suggest you all check it out. Springer was a writer for Spongebob Squarepants and the animators used to do Rugrats.

Hi folks - there's a lettered edition 'W' of Hosts on ebay just now:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOSTS-by-F-PAUL-WI...dZViewItem. It's from a US seller

My problem is that I own letter 'W' myself and I bought it straight from Barry at Gaunlet earlier this year.

Anyone know what's going on?
cheers
Steve

I've been reading the RJ books, and they're great (from the Tomb through CrissCross in about 2 weeks).

I have the Keep. But the rest of the Adversary Cycle books, except for the Tomb, are out of print.

Will these be reprinted? If so, when?

Thanks,

Mark

Oh, well.....at last, the time has come. I knew someday somebody make this. But I don't think this is good. TOS was made in '60s. At that time, TOS's SFX was excellent in any way. Of course, now it's cheap SFX than present. But that's why we still love that show. If film makers newly add CG, I'll feel something lost. How about you? What do you think about it?

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/ne...25055.html