SFcrowsnest.net: The genre media magazine

Former 24 star Leslie Hope has been cast to play the part of the tough-as-nails President Foster, who leads the Georgia Federation.

http://blastr.com/2013/01/forget-monroemeet-the-pre.php

Skydance Productions and Annapurna Pictures have set Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier to script the next installment of The Terminator franchise. Her credits include Avatar, Shutter Island and Alexander, produced White House Down.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/laeta-kalogridis-and-patrick-lussier-set-to-script-new-terminator/

The 2012 Hugo Awards Ceremony will be re-broadcast in its entirety and ad-free via Ustream on Sunday, September 9, starting at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT) at www.ustream.tv/channel/hugo-awards

The original live broadcast of the ceremony was interrupted on Sunday, September 2 when an automated infringement system detected content in the stream that it deemed copyright infringement. Although the material was cleared for Chicon 7 use, the feed could not be restored before the ceremony concluded, meaning that fans around the world were unable to enjoy the remainder of the show.

Ustream founder and CEO Brad Hunstable spoke directly to Chicon 7 Chairman Dave McCarty on Tuesday, September 4, and expressed his regret at the loss of the broadcast. Hunstable's online blog post notes "Unfortunately, we were not able to lift the ban before the broadcast ended. We had many unhappy viewers as a result, and for that I am truly sorry. As a long-time Firefly, Stargate and Game of Thrones fan among others, I am especially disheartened by this?.... ?I have suspended use of this third-party system until we are able to recalibrate the settings so that we can better balance the needs of broadcasters, viewers, and copyright holders. While we are committed to protecting copyright, we absolutely must ensure our amazing and democratizing platform allows legal broadcasters to Ustream their events and shows."

To makeup for the disruption to the original broadcast, Ustream will feature the full un-edited and bot-free ceremony on its Homepage this Sunday, September 9, starting at 7 p.m. CT. Ustream will also run the broadcast ad-free on the Worldcon Hugo Awards channel at www.ustream.tv/channel/hugo-awards, and provide additional marketing and promotional support to raise the profile of the event. The broadcast will subsequently be available from the same channel on an on-demand basis. Ustream has also offered additional support and publicity for the streaming of future Hugo Award Ceremonies for upcoming Worldcons in San Antonio, TX (2013) and London, UK (2014).

According to Dave McCarty, "this incident is just one of several that have been in the news recently, and it reflects a broader challenge faced by the industry. I welcome Brad's personal response and his commitment to review the way in which channel suspensions are triggered and controlled. And of course, we are delighted that all science fiction fans can experience a great Hugo Awards Ceremony which celebrated the best in recent science fiction literature and media and its fans. As Chair of the Hugo Award Marketing Committee, I also look forward to building this partnership with Ustream over the coming years."

For Nathan Fillion, a handkerchief came out, and not for the first time. Joss clearly was trying not to weep openly, and everyone else on the panel was nearly in tears, if not completely so.

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/07/firefly-fans-make-joss-whedon-cry-at-sdcc

Apex Publications is pleased to announce that the company has signed two of horror’s most knowledgeable and respected personalities to a book deal: Rebekah and David McKendry. The book is tentatively titled 150 of the Greatest Horror Films You’ve Never Seen and will include essays, insights, photographs, and horror-luminary interviews from the unique ‘insider’ perspective of the authors. Rebekah and David have worked for Fangoria Magazine for many years (He’s is a writer and video producer, while she is the marketing director, contributing writer, and associate editor) allowing them to leverage their day job to make a truly remarkable book on horror films.

Apex Publications continually strives to present smart and compelling nonfiction books into genre discussions.  This new title will be of interest to fans of film history, of horror, and those looking for a little something different to watch on a dark and lonely Saturday night.

150 of the Greatest Horror Films You’ve Never Seen releases this fall in trade paperback and enhance digital formats from Apex Publications. Updates and information will be available at www.apexbookcompany.com.

REBEKAH MCKENDRY is the director of marketing, a contributing writer, and associate editor for Fangoria Entertainment, located in New York, NY. She holds a Master’s degree in Media Education (VA Tech) and Film (City University of New York). Rebekah is currently pursuing a PhD in Cult Media from Virginia Commonwealth University.

DAVID MCKENDRY is a contributing writer and video producer for Fangoria Entertainment, located in New York, NY. He has also directed films, and recently a pair of music videos for Municipal Waste and Gwar.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the critically acclaimed Apex Magazine (a 2011 Hugo Award nominee for Best Semiprozine). In 2006, Apex Publications branched into book length projects, earning a Bram Stoker Award nomination for their first title, AEGRI SOMNIA, in 2007, and another for the collection MAMA’S BOY AND OTHER DARK TALES by Fran Friel, published in 2008. Recently, the press has won major awards for works by Gary A. Braunbeck and Gene O’Neill.

"My favorite part of Comic-Con?  The groupies.  Man, they have loose morals, really.  Men, women, I’m just saying that it gets weird on Sunday night."

http://collider.com/joss-whedon-cabin-in-the-woods-the-avengers-interview/157304/

That was the calamitously awful, guilt-tripping meme conveyed in James Cameron's otherwise worthy film - Avatar.  The notion that our society is not only dismally greedy and stupid, but the very worst culture ever.  The worst civilization conceivable.

http://davidbrin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/there-is-madness-on-other-side-too.html

Studio plans to begin shooting its in-development sequel to X-Men: First Class in January 2013. That means Lionsgate could move forward with an August-September 2012 start date for the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire without a conflict for Lawrence, who is set to star in both.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/x-men-sequel-hunger-games-jennifer-lawrence-january-308844