In this one we travel to Shanghai and discover how the production team scouts for locations. Yes, you will see glimpses of Daniel Craig as 007 but nothing worth calling home about. I’m still itching for a full-length (or even a teaser) trailer, and I know you are too. Check out the previous video blog featuring director Sam Mendes right here.
Skyfall releases November 9.
Can’t wait any longer for the Tron sequel to get off the ground? This should hold you over. This June Disney is going to introduce the sci-fi animated series Tron: Uprising to its Disney XD programming slate. The events in the show take place in between the original 1982 movie and the recent Tron: Legacy. The protagonist Beck is voiced by Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) and Emmanuelle Chriqui (Entourage), Mandy Moore, Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman), Lance Henriksen (Aliens), and Tron‘s very own Bruce Boxleitner round out the stellar cast of voices. Tron: Legacy producer Sean Bailey is behind the series, along with Once Upon A Time and Lost‘s Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. If you’re a fan of the Tron universe, this 10-part animated series is a must-see.
Fringe season 4 has finally made it to episode 19, and it promises to be an especially out-there and revealing tale. Showrunners J.H. Wyman and Jeff Pinkner have designated No. 19 to be a freaky affair; just look back to previous season efforts “The Road Not Taken,” “The Man From the Other Side,” and of course last season’s animated “Lysergic Acid Diethylamide.” This year “Letters of Transit” will transport viewers to the year 2036, a future where The Observers play a significant role in society. The episode’s logline reveals that 19 will feature a “game changing battle” between the bald-headed scientists from the distant future and our Fringe team. Guest starring in this episode are Austrian actress Georgina Haig and everyone’s favorite Scottish man from Lost–Desmond David Hume himself–Henry Ian Cusick.
What makes “Letters of Transit” especially exciting is that it will contain the seeds for a potential fifth season. “The door to the fifth season is opened in Episode 19,” Joshua Jackson (Peter Bishop) told TVLine. “If you watch that, you’ll have an understanding of where they want to take the series.”
In related news, the Fringe cast also spilled that they’ve shot multiple endings for the current season. One will be used if FOX renews the show for a fifth season, and the other will air if the network ultimately decides to declare the current season Fringe’s last. “The writers have given themselves a device by which we can tell a fifth season story without having to leave this season’s story open,” says Jackson. Add Lance Reddick (Phillip Broyles): “The way [season four] ends could function as a series finale, but there’s one storyline left open that could end up as a cliffhanger for the beginning of the fifth season…We’ll see what airs depending on what [FOX and WBTV] decide.”
As of this writing, FOX and Warner Bros. TV are in discussions about the fate of the show. The two options that are supposedly on the table are these: the network and the studio will either cancel Fringe and the show will wrap at the end of this season, or they’ll renew it for one more shortened 13 episode final season. John Noble (Walter Bishop) is keeping positive. “I hear warm and fuzzy things — but I’ve been hearing them all the time,” he said. “We just picked up [TV Guide Magazine‘s] fan award for Best Drama and so forth, and the fans have always been very supportive… [and] I know the Fox executives actually like Fringe very much. But they run a business. I think we’ll be back, but we’ll wait and see.” Noble is right; FOX execs, including president Kevin Reilly, are vocal supports of the sci-fi series. At this year’s winter TCAs, however, Reilly made it clear that Fringe is in danger due to budgetary and ratings concerns: “We lose a lot of money on the show. At that rating on that night it’s almost impossible for us to make money. We are not in the business of losing money, so we’re trying to figure out if there is a number at which we can continue with the series.” To echo Noble, we’ll have to wait and see. Everyone, cross your fingers. Tight.
With all that said, check out the freaky clue-ridden teasers for what looks to be a stand out episode 19. One teaser is embedded above, and three more are posted after the break. Also, peek in the gallery below to see some stills plucked from “Letters of Transit;” one of them includes a white-haired Nina (from the future?), and the others feature a concerned Walter. How will Lost’s Cusick factor into all of this? Tune in tonight (4/20, appropriate for Walter, yes?) at 9PM on FOX.
At this year’s Game Developer’s Conference David Cage–lead developer at Quantic Dream, the studio behind the PS3 title Heavy Rain–screened a non-interactive video game demo that shows off the company’s advancements in performance-capture technology. Quantic Dream transformed actress Valorie Curry into an animated android by sticking 90 sensors on her face and capturing her full performance (voice and body movements) simultaneously. This makes for a consistance performance, explains Cage. It differs from James Cameron’s methods in Avatar in that it doesn’t require a camera to be attached to the actor’s head, plus it’s faster and more affordable.
The seven minute demo is embedded above; it’s called Kara and it tells a short, surprisingly emotional story about a female android who slowly becomes self-aware. Cage makes it clear that Kara is nothing more than a tech demo and that the next game from Quantic Dream will not include any elements from it. This is rather unfortunate because I’ve fallen in love with the android and want to explore what’s next. The moral of this story, though, is that Cage’s studio is leading the way for video games to tell gorgeous, cinematic, believable stories.
[Via PlayStation; Engadget]
The inventive minds at Microsoft Research and the company’s Applied Sciences Group are experimenting with advanced technologies to come up with new ways of computing and communicating for the future.
First up is “IllumiShare”, a camera-projector pair that enables remote people to share any physical or digital object on any surface. As you can see in the demonstration embedded above, with IllumiShare a simple Skype conversation can be transformed into an interactive workspace that can be manipulated by one or more persons. The applications for this are endless; this tech can allow for remote gameplay, as well as introduce new methods of remote teaching.
Jump after the break for more! Continue reading Microsoft shows off future tech including remote applications, transparent displays, augmented reality mirrors, and lag-free touch screens
Fans of time travel, here’s an coming movie to keep on your radar.
In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented – but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper” – a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) – is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good… until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination.
Joining Gordon Levitt (Inception) and Willis (Die Hard) are Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels. Looper is written and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick). In theatres September 28. A video after the break features Gordon-Levitt and Johnson explaining the freakishly intriguing premise. Continue reading Teaser trailer: Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Bruce Willis in sci-fi action thriller ‘Looper’
Great news comes your way today from our friends at FOX. Tuesday night comedies Glee, New Girl, and Raising Hope have been renewed for a fourth, second, and third season, respectively.
Fox president Kevin Reilly: “Over the past season, New Girl has become the hottest new appointment series for young adults; Raising Hope has established itself as one of the smartest and most unique offbeat comedies on television; and Glee has continued its success as a genre-defying, global cultural phenomenon. All three of these comedies add a fresh and distinctive flavor to our Tuesday nights, and I’m really happy to bring them back to our air next season.”
Bringing back Glee is a no-brainer, New Girl started off hot continues to buzz, and Raising Hope has found its groove. These shows join the previously renewed Bones and will find a spot on FOX’s schedule next season. Still no news on whether or not the network plans to bring back the funny but ratings-downer Breaking In.
Celebrate the good news with Fat Schmidt & Rihanna after the break!! Continue reading FOX renews ‘Glee’, ‘New Girl’ & ‘Raising Hope’
Drake has released not one but two music videos featuring songs off his second studio album Take Care. Embedded above is the clip for the very popular radio banger “Take Care” and it brings the Canadian rapper together with featured guest Rihanna. Director Yoann Lemoine (Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream”) goes the artsy route and clashes an intimate Drake and Rihanna coupling with slo-mo shots of a bull, a bird, and snowy mountaintops. After the break you’ll find the music video for the more upbeat “HYFR”, which stands for Hell Yeah F**king Right. Featured artist Lil Wayne and other Cash Money members join Drake as he celebrates his Jewish heritage. Continue reading Music videos: Drake — “Take Care” (Featuring Rihanna) & “HYFR” (Featuring Lil Wayne)
Those of you who aren’t so content with present tech and are longing for the kind you see in the movies, your time has arrived. Today Google leaked information regarding a super secret and highly advanced technology they’ve been working on for quite some time. It’s a pair of augmented reality glasses and the initiative is called Project Glass. Here’s how the search giant made the announcement:
We think technology should work for you—to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don’t.
A group of us from Google[x] started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment. We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input. So we took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do.
In essence, this wearable device might be intended to replace the bulky brick in your pocket, your cell phone. It does everything your phone can do but in a more natural (read: human) manner. Reminiscent of a heads-up display you’d find in a first-person shooter video game, the glasses feature a small lens that projects text, images, video, and sound in the space in front of your eyes. The software that’s implemented inside the device allows users to be alerted notifications like text messages and email and respond to these things with simple verbal cues and head gestures. Google Maps is built into the unit, naturally, so planning a route and following it becomes second nature when the precise directions are displayed right in front of you. Though exact specifications have yet to be released, it is confirmed that the smart spectacles feature a built-in camera for snapping photos, shooting video, and initiating video chat. Imagine you’re walking down the street and you see something that catches your eye; speak “take a photo of this” and the camera will snap. Want to share the image with your friends? Say “share it to my Circles” and it’ll be instantly uploaded to your Google+ account. The possibilities are endless, really. And the potential is grand.
You must be thinking something like this is great and all but does Google actually have plans to release this to the general public. Yes, they do. Now go pick up your brains that are scattered on the wall and continue reading… Project Glass is currently in beta mode (er, alpha mode really). Google is testing the prototype device in the field, sending company employees out into the wild wearing these nerdy bad boys to see how they handle real world conditions. Besides making techies around the globe foam at the mouth, Google’s intent with today’s reveal is this: “We’re sharing this information now because we want to start a conversation and learn from your valuable input. Please follow along as we share some of our ideas and stories. We’d love to hear yours, too. What would you like to see from Project Glass?” In other words, they want your input! The conversation is taking place at the Project Glass Google+ page.
Now that you’re informed, here’s what you can do. Take a look at the glasses in the gallery below, bearing in mind that these are strictly prototypes and a final product will almost certainly come appearing differently. Then jump after the break to watch a two-and-a-half minute video showing off Google’s vision of how augmented reality glasses could make us more efficient beings. Rumors are flying that the wearable device in its final form will come complete with 4G data capability for always-on Internet functionality with a price tag looming anywhere between $250 and $600 when it comes out later this year. But forget the speculation for now; feast on the video below and shiver in anticipation for more information to leak out surrounding Google’s latest concoction.
[Via Google+; NYT 1, 2] Continue reading Google’s augmented reality glasses bring the future into focus
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is making his feature film directing debut with the live action mixed with CGI comedy Ted. This clip is one of the funniest, well put together trailers I have ever seen. Yes, I am hyping this up for you because it is that good. (Note that this is a red-band trailer that includes lots of profanity and sexual references.) I do not want to harp too much on what you’re about to see because any kind of spoilery would ruin the viewing experience for you. So I will leave you with this not-so-revealing official synopsis:
In the live action/CG-animated comedy, [Seth MacFarlane] tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish…and has refused to leave his side ever since.
Ted, starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and director/writer/star Seth MacFarlane sounding a lot like Peter Griffin, opens July 13.
Jump after the break to see more trailers. Continue reading Trailer round-up: Seth MacFarlane’s ‘Ted’, Colin Farrell in ‘Total Recall’ remake & ‘Rock of Ages’
Felicia Day and her team of Guildies have released their third music video based on Day’s wildly popular web series The Guild. Jed Whedon directed and co-wrote the song with Day. How does it compare to the insanely catchy “(Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar” and the Bollywood themed rompus from the past? Click play and find out for yourself! Fun fact: I assisted in the making of this video. So watch it and share it and love it.
From the mind of Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing and screenwriter of The Social Network and Moneyball, comes The Newsroom, a behind-the-scenes look at the people who make a nightly cable-news program. Focusing on a network anchor (played by Jeff Daniels), his new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), the newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel) and their boss (Sam Waterston), the series tracks their quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles-not to mention their own personal entanglements.
The Newsroom is a drama you clearly do not want to miss out on: stellar acting mixed with smart writing and compelling stories make up the agenda of this upcoming political drama with humor. Watch the buzzy trailer above and anticipate the season premiere that lands on Sunday June 24 on HBO.