News

The Visual Effects Society has named the first honorees who will be feted at a special event in October.

Avatar co-producer Brooke Breton, a former SVP Production at James Cameron’s effects house Digital Domain who also worked on three Star Trek movies from 1986-91, will receive the 2024 Ves Founders Award. The group also named Reid Paul and Ronald B. Moore as Lifetime Ves Members and posthumously will induct Tim McGovern, Thad Beier, Maya Deren and Dorothy Davenport into the Ves Hall of Fame.

Read more about them all below.

“Our honorees represent a group of exemplary and pioneering artists and innovators who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects,” Ves Board Chair Kim Davidson said. “We are proud to recognize those who helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”

The 23rd annual Ves Awards will be handed out Tuesday,...

Forty years ago this summer, a perfect storm of moviemaking elements came together with almost supernatural precision: SNL alums like Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray at the height of their popularity; director Ivan Reitman and co-writer Harold Ramis at the peak of their creativity; unexpectedly innovative and convincing VFX developed by Richard Edlund on a budget because Ilm was too busy; and a weathered and weary New York City that, still a decade out from “urban renewal,” proved a perfect backdrop for a comedy about working stiffs going into business.

All these elements and more seemed to capture lightning in a bottle at a specific time and place for one of the great American comedies. In retrospect, it seems almost impossible to duplicate. But that doesn’t mean there was a lack of trying. Despite Ghostbusters being a singularly deadpanned ‘80s comedy, the film has generated cartoon spinoffs, video games,...

A couple months ago, and thirty-nine years after they made the vampire classic Fright Night (watch it Here) together, several members of the film’s cast reunited with writer/director Tom Holland (and were joined by special guests Mark Hamill and Rosario Dawson) for a live reading of the script that will be released as episodes of the podcast Table Read – and in fact, the first part of that reading has already been released. You can find it by clicking over to the Table Read website. A member of the ComicBook.com staff was in attendance at the live reading, and had the chance to talk to Holland and Chris Sarandon, who played the vampire Jerry Dandridge in the film. During the conversation, Sarandon mentioned that he almost passed on Fright Night as soon as he saw the title!

Holland told ComicBook.com that working on Fright Night was “the best...

A half-century ago when George Lucas decided to make “Star Wars,” a core visual effects team was handed a sizable challenge: Figure out a believable way to transport audiences to a galaxy far, far away. Essential to that goal was the development of a new type of motion control camera system: built in a Van Nuys warehouse where the production filmed space-set scenes such as the climatic trench run.

Now fans in Southern California can see the historic Dykstraflex camera system, newly restored and in working order, on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures starting Saturday in recognition of May the 4th, aka Star Wars day. The system weighs 1,500 lbs. and will be demonstrated by VFX vets with a 14-foot track and studio scale replicas of the Millennium Falcon, which is five-feet long, and a 20-inch X-Wing fighter.

Looking back, Richard Edlund, a member of the core VFX...

For so many reasons, George Lucas' 1977 "Star Wars" is a revolutionary film. Like any game-changer, some of the ways in which "Star Wars" re-shaped the cinematic landscape couldn't have been predicted; its ushering in a huge wave of big budget sci-fi/fantasy films, its one-two punch with "Jaws" establishing the summer blockbuster, its use of Joseph Campbell-inspired myth making shaping the way so many screenplays would be written for the next few decades, and so on.

However, some of the innovations created by "Star Wars" were very visible while it was being made, none more so than by Lucas himself. In addition to gathering together a cadre of visual-effects pioneers and wizards who could make his vision a reality on screen (a coterie later dubbed Industrial Light & Magic), Lucas faced the problem of making sure their work could be seen in its best light, literally. As Paul Hirsch, one of...

A note on revisionism: as many of you out there no doubt already know, it's become de rigueur for studios, corporations and filmmakers themselves to continue to tinker with their works. George Lucas and his "Special Editions" (and subsequent re-revisions) of the "Star Wars" films are the most prominent example of this, and the most illustrative of the concept's drawbacks. For while the idea of a "Director's Cut" or alternate version is a phenomenon that's been employed by everyone from Richard Donner to Michael Mann, Lucas' changes to "Star Wars" were part creative-minded, part "future-proofing" in terms of updating the visual effects to better conform with the Prequel Trilogy.

The most egregious victim of this trend is the original "Star Trek" TV series. Given that "Trek" had gained a (I believe erroneous) reputation for containing chintzy, so-called "dated" visual effects, CBS Television made the choice in 2006 to remaster the 1960s...

Largely rejected upon its release back in 1987, the live-action film adaptation of Masters of the Universe (watch it Here) has gathered a cult following over the decades, and elements of the film have even been worked into the recent animated Netflix shows Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Masters of the Universe: Revolution. On April 17th, Umbrella Home Entertainment in Australia will be giving the film a collector’s edition Blu-ray release – and copies are available for pre-order Here! (Just make sure you have the ability to play Region B Blu-rays before ordering one.)

Directed by Gary Goddard from a screenplay by David Odell, Masters of the Universe has the following synopsis: When the evil Skeletor finds a mysterious power called the Cosmic Key, he becomes nearly invincible. However, courageous warrior He-Man locates inventor Gwildor, who created the Key and has another version of it. During a battle, one of...

George Lucas had a bold vision when he set out to make "Star Wars" in the mid-1970s. He did not, however, have the technology to pull it off. No one did, at least not at an affordable price.

Douglas Trumbull had recently vaulted visual effects forward with his optical innovations for Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," but his photorealistic presentation of space was based wholly in physical reality. The space stations and ships in Kubrick's masterpiece drifted gracefully in the cosmos. Trumbull replicated this galactic ballet to eerie effect in his directorial debut "Silent Running," on which he employed an upstart technophile named John Dykstra, who was eager to build on Trumbull's inventions with a more dynamic application that would jar sci-fi flicks out of their reality-bound lethargy.

When Lucas commenced work on "Star Wars" (via a go-with-god greenlight from 20th Century Fox's Alan Ladd Jr....

The Will Rogers Picture Pioneers Foundation is holding a screening of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back on Aug. 30, 7Pm at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to raise funds for its charity.

The non-profit provides support to a multitude of national health and social service programs, as well as financial assistance to members of the motion picture community in times of need. A special appearance will be made by the 501st Legion, an international costuming organization comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans that are committed to supporting communities, moviegoers and charitable causes nationwide.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre for their generosity in supporting Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation to raise much-needed funds for members of our community during a time of increasing need,” said Christina Blumer, Executive Director of Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. “We’re also thrilled to collaborate with...

“Star Wars” is one of the biggest franchises of all time and has welcomed multiple generations to a galaxy far, far away for 45 years. George Lucas’ groundbreaking vision, which began all the way back in 1977 with “A New Hope,” changed the movie industry forever and, with that, made a mark on the Academy Awards that year with a Best Picture nomination. However, the relationship between “Star Wars” and the Oscars hasn’t always been as lovable as Han Solo and Chewie. In fact, there’s often been a touch of Vader-Luke in the conflicted dynamic between the two institutions. Here’s a breakdown of the history of every “Star Wars” movie at the Academy Awards, ranked in terms of Oscars success.

“A New Hope” (1977)

Dir: George Lucas

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness

“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...

Gale Anne Hurd has been selected by the Visual Effects Society (Ves) as the next recipient of the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to visual arts and filmed entertainment. The award will be presented at the 21st Annual Ves Awards on February 15, 2023, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“Gale Anne Hurd is one of the most respected and influential film and television producers of our generation,” said Ves Chair Lisa Cooke. “By focusing on daring material, championing technological innovations and being the consummate hands-on collaborator, she has carved out a leading position in the previously male-dominated world of the blockbuster, and become a recognized creator of iconic cultural touchstones. Gale is a driving force in our global industry and an exemplary role model, and we are very honored to bestow her with the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The Ves Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by the Ves Board of Directors,...

Burbank, Calif., August 11, 2022 – Poltergeist, the 1982 classic horror film written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper, will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on September 20, it was announced today by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Directed by Spielberg and directed by Hooper, Poltergeist stars JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Zelda Rubinstein, Beatrice Straight and Heather O’Rourke.

The screenplay for Poltergeist was written by Spielberg, Michael Grais, and Mark Victor, from a story by Spielberg. The film was produced by Frank Marshall and Spielberg.

Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (Hdr) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.

Poltergeist will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for 24.99 Erp and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with Hdr and a Digital download of the film.

Scream Factory Presents Species Collector’S Edition Arrives On July 26, 2022 In 4K Uhd™ + Blu-ray™ Combo Pack From Scream Factory Charged with pulse-pounding suspense, ingenious special effects from Richard Edlund (Raiders Of The Lost Ark) and a first-rate cast including Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Alfred Molina, Forest Whitaker, Marg Helgenberger and introducing Natasha Henstridge, …

The post Scream Factory | Species Collector’s Edition 4Kuhd arrives July 26, 2022 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Watch the Short Film Swumpwater: Following its premiere at Tremendicon, the short horror film Swumpwater (from Pop Films and Hustle and Heart Films ) is now available to watch online!

Written by Cullen Bunn and Heath Amodio, Swumpwater is the tale of three down-on-their-luck friends who, after a night of drinking, decide to chance fate in pursuit of a rural legend. In the dark of night, deep in the woods, they face mysterious forces that could either grant them good fortune or kill them in a horrible fashion.

Swumpwater will premiere on 6/17/2022 at Tremendicon (https://www.tremendicon.com/) in Springfield, Missouri. Immediately following the premiere, the short film will be released on Pop Films’ YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF4Y2-uWQ3zISm8ogheKK2g).

Cullen Bunn and Heath Amodio have collaborated on comic book projects such as The Heathens (AfterShock Comics). Together, they founded Hustle and Heart Films...

The 1995 movie Species is getting a 4K Ultra HD upgrade courtesy of Scream Factory, with the company announcing today that Species comes to 4K Uhd on July 26, 2022! “Charged with pulse-pounding suspense, ingenious special effects from Richard Edlund (Raiders of the Lost Ark) and a first-rate cast including Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Alfred […]

The post Scream Factory Brings ‘Species’ to 4K Ultra HD for the First Time! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Robert Blalack, a towering figure in the world of visual effects, died on Wednesday. His wife Caroline Charron-Blalack confirmed the news to Deadline. He was 73.

Blalack said he specialized in “solving the Visual Effects requirements of ‘can’t be done’ Motion Picture productions.” He proved the truth of that statement on his second film project, a 1977 space opera by the name of Star Wars.

At the age of 29, he designed and supervised the Star Wars VistaVision Composite Optical production pipeline, which allowed all the groundbreaking 365 VistaVision VFX shots in Star Wars. Much of what he created for the film was built on a (relative) shoestring. With a VFX budget of just $1.6 million for the film, Blalack made use of obsolete VistaVision optical composite equipment from Hollywood’s Golden Years that could be had for a song.

“My task was to scavenge the Hollywood junkyards for any VistaVision Composite Optical mechanics,...

The Visual Effects Society has named Oscar-winning director-producer-screenwriter Peter Jackson as the forthcoming recipient of the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to filmed entertainment. The award will be presented at the 19th Annual Ves Awards, streaming worldwide on April 6 or 7 (depending on time zone) and hosted by comedian Patton Oswalt.

The Ves Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by the Ves Board of Directors, recognizes an outstanding body of work that has significantly contributed to the art and/or science of the visual effects industry. Ves will honor Jackson for “his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound gift for blending iconic imagery and unforgettable narrative on an epic scale.” Indeed, Jackson made history with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously.

Ves also cited “Jackson’s ability to harness craft to bring his unique visions to life and...

Oscar-winning VFX pioneer Richard Edlund, Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings and veteran television engineer John D. Ross will receive the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers’ highest recognition, Honorary Membership.

Edlund — who received Academy Awards for VFX work on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark, as well as various technical achievements — has been cited for advancing VFX cinematography. Hastings is being recognized for the development and leadership of Netflix and Ross for a “lifetime” of advancing television engineering.

During its annual awards ceremony, which will be streamed ...

Oscar-winning VFX pioneer Richard Edlund, Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings and veteran television engineer John D. Ross will receive the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers’ highest recognition, Honorary Membership.

Edlund — who received Academy Awards for VFX work on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and Raiders of the Lost Ark, as well as various technical achievements — has been cited for advancing VFX cinematography. Hastings is being recognized for the development and leadership of Netflix and Ross for a “lifetime” of advancing television engineering.

During its annual awards ceremony, which will be streamed ...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected its 2020-2021 Board of Governors, with 10 incumbents returning to positions on the board and six new governors elected for the first time. The elected governors include Ava DuVernay, who is joining the board for the first time after defeating incumbent Kimberly Peirce to represent the Directors Branch, and Whoopi Goldberg, who won her bid for re-election in the Actors Branch against a lineup of candidates that included former governor Ed Begley Jr. as well as Richard Dreyfuss, James and Stacy Keach and Rita Wilson.

As a result of this election, the number of female Academy governors increases from 25 to 26, and people of color increase from 11 to 12, including three governors-at-large appointed by the Academy president.

The 17 branches of AMPAS are each represented by three governors, who serve three-year terms that are staggered so that one seat per branch is up for election each year.

Using a new preferential ballot to streamline the election process, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added director Ava DuVernay (“A Wrinkle In Time”) and 2020 Oscars producer Lynette Howell Taylor (“A Star is Born”) to its newly elected 2020–2021 Board of Governors, increasing the number of female Academy governors from a record 25 to 26, and people of color from 11 to 12, including the three Governors-at-Large. Three newly elected or reelected governors are Black, with a total of six on the Board. The governors will take office at the first regularly scheduled board meeting of the new term.

New governors joining the Board for the first time:

Debra Zane, Casting Directors Branch

Ava DuVernay, Directors Branch

Stephen Rivkin, Film Editors Branch

Linda Flowers, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch

Lynette Howell Taylor, Producers Branch

Rob Bredow, Visual Effects Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board:

Whoopi Goldberg, Actors Branch

Mandy Walker, Cinematographers Branch

Isis Mussenden,...

Using a new preferential ballot to streamline the election process, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added director Ava DuVernay (“A Wrinkle In Time”) and 2020 Oscars producer Lynette Howell Taylor (“A Star is Born”) to its newly elected 2020–2021 Board of Governors, increasing the number of female Academy governors from a record 25 to 26, and people of color from 11 to 12, including the three Governors-at-Large. Three newly elected or reelected governors are Black, with a total of six on the Board. The governors will take office at the first regularly scheduled board meeting of the new term.

New governors joining the Board for the first time:

Debra Zane, Casting Directors Branch

Ava DuVernay, Directors Branch

Stephen Rivkin, Film Editors Branch

Linda Flowers, Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Branch

Lynette Howell Taylor, Producers Branch

Rob Bredow, Visual Effects Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board:

Whoopi Goldberg, Actors Branch

Mandy Walker, Cinematographers Branch

Isis Mussenden,...

The list of candidates for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 2020-2021 Board of Governors has been unveiled to members.

Voting begins on June 1 and ends on June 5.

Candidates run for three-year terms with a maximum of three terms. Each branch has three seats on the board. Only one of those seats is open each year because terms are staggered.

The candidates were posted on the Academy members’ portal on Friday afternoon. Below is the complete list (divided by branch) of those running for spots on the board.

Actors

Michael Lee Aday

Ed Begley, Jr.

Robert Carradine

Nicolas Coster

Colman Domingo

Richard Dreyfuss

Spencer Garrett

Bruce Glover

Whoopi Goldberg (incumbent)

James Keach

Stacy Keach

Peter Wong

Jodi Long

Tim Matheson

Joe Pantoliano

Lou Diamond Phillips

Andrea Riseborough

Andrew Stevens

Rita Wilson

Casting Directors

Kerry Barden

Richard Hicks

Margery Simkin

Debra Zane

Cinematographers

Andrzej Bartkowiak

Richard P. Crudo

Svetlana Cvetko...

The would-be candidates for 17 open slots on the 54-member Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be off and running, come 9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Monday.

On Friday, the Academy notified members that so-called “opt-in” voting for the board seats will be active through what used to be called the “work week,” until coronavirus muddled such distinctions.

The voting period closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Until then, contenders from among 9,000 or so active or lifetime members can propose themselves for a spot representing their individual professional branches, in what might be the most consequential election in modern Academy history. Oscar ratings and income are down. Debt is up. The pandemic has already forced a temporary restructuring of the Academy Awards process, and may compel deeper revisions before the next show on Feb. 28.

The moment certainly calls for leadership.

Under...

It’s a relatively quiet week for home entertainment releases, but Tuesday is playing host to one of my favorite films of the year, Ready or Not, which makes December 3rd feel like an early Christmas to this writer. Scream Factory is showing some love to John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China with multiple editions (including the standard Collector’s Edition as well as the absolutely gorgeous limited edition Steelbook), and Konga, one of my favorite cult films (thank you Terror in the Aisles!) is headed to Blu on Tuesday, courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for December 3rd include Boar, Christmas Presence, Game of Thrones: The Complete Eighth Season, Game of Thrones: The Complete Series, and 1 Must Fall.

Big Trouble in Little China: Collector’s Edition/Limited Edition Steelbook

Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver whose life goes into a...

While John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China is infinitely quotable thanks to Kurt Russell's performance as the imperfect protagonist Jack Burton, every great reluctant hero needs a great villain, and James Hong's portrayal of the evil Lo Pan gave us a character who is just as memorable as his truck-driving counterpart. With Big Trouble in Little China coming to Blu-ray like never before in a new Collector's Edition on December 3rd from Scream Factory, we've been provided with an exclusive bonus feature clip featuring Hong to share with Daily Dead readers!

Taken from "The Soul of Lo Pan" bonus feature on the Big Trouble in Little China Collector's Edition Blu-ray, our exclusive clip below features Hong reflecting on some of his most memorable moments playing Lo Pan, including how Carpenter and his crew used practical effects and ingenuity to pull off Lo Pan's glowing transformation and floating ability.

You better make sure your check is in the mail, pal, because ahead of its release on December 3rd, Scream Factory has unveiled the full list of special features for their Collector's Edition Blu-ray of John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China:

Press Release: Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver whose life goes into a supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancée is kidnapped in John Carpenter’s Big Trouble In Little China. Jack, who suddenly finds himself in a murky, danger-filled world beneath San Francisco's Chinatown, where Lo Pan, a 2,000-year-old magician, mercilessly rules an empire of spirits. Facing down a host of unearthly terrors, Jack battles through Lo Pan's dark domain in a full-throttle, action-riddled ride to rescue the girl. On December 3, 2019, Scream Factory™ is thrilled to present Big Trouble in Little China Collector’s Edition Two-Disc Blu-ray set. Directed by Carpenter, this...

Director Martin Scorsese, whose gangster saga “The Irishman” boasts state of the art de-aging VFX from Industrial Light & Magic, is the latest recipient of the Visual Effects Society’s (Ves) Lifetime Achievement Award. (Netflix’s $175-million movie premieres at the New York Film Festival on September 27.) The award will be presented at the 18th Annual Ves Awards on January 29, 2020 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential filmmakers in modern history and has made an indelible mark on filmed entertainment,” said Mike Chambers, Ves Board Chair. “His work is a master class in storytelling, which has brought us some of the most memorable films of all time. His intuitive vision and fiercely innovative direction has given rise to a new era of storytelling and has made a profound impact on future generations of filmmakers. Martin has given us a rich body of groundbreaking work to aspire to,...

Pictured (left to right): Kiri Hart, Richard Edlund, John Dykstra, Marcia Lucas, Dennis Muren and John Knoll.

On Thursday evening The Academy’s Science and Technology Council presented “Galactic Innovations: Star Wars and Rogue One” at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

Oscar-winning, Oscar-nominated and Scientific and Technical Award-honored panelists included Ben Burtt ,John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Harrison Ellenshaw, Bill George, John Knoll, Marcia Lucas, Dennis Muren, Bruce Nicholson and Rachel Rose. The evening was hosted by “Rogue One” co-producer Kiri Hart.

These VFX pioneers shared the journey of creating the impossible with their breakthrough visual effects. They also shared rare images that compared the technology and visual results from both films.

Pictured (left to right): Rachel Rose, Bill George, John Knoll, Bruce Nicholson, Harrison Ellenshaw, Richard Edlund, Stormtroopers, John Bailey, Marcia Lucas, John Dykstra, Dennis Muren, Ben Burtt and Kiri Hart.

Check out some of the...

The “Star Wars” franchise has always been about balancing the past with the future, bolstered by the cutting edge tech at Industrial Light & Magic under the leadership of George Lucas and beyond. To celebrate 40 years of “Star Wars” VFX wizardry, and in anticipation of J.J. Abrams’ climactic Episode 9, “The Rise of Skywalker” (December 20), and the launch of Jon Favreau’s “The Mandalorian” series on Disney+ (November 12), franchise luminaries gathered Thursday night at the Academy to discuss the analog to digital transformation.

The presenters assembled for “Galactic Innovations: ‘Stars Wars’ and ‘Rogue One'” included VFX supervisors John Dykstra, visual effects director/cameraperson Richard Edlund, Ilm chief creative officer John Knoll, former Ilm creative director Dennis Muren, sound designer/mixer Ben Burtt, matte artist Harrison Ellenshaw, editor Marcia Lucas, compositor Bruce Nicholson, and R&d supervisor Rachel Rose.

“Galactic Innovations” kicked off with the “Star Wars” breakthroughs at Ilm’s initial warehouse facility in Van Nuys.

For the tenth consecutive year, thousands of movie lovers from around the globe descended upon Hollywood for the TCM Classic Film Festival. The 2019 festival took place Thursday, April 11 – Sunday, April 14, 2019. Over four packed days and nights, attendees were treated to an extensive lineup of great movies, appearances by legendary stars and filmmakers, fascinating presentations and panel discussions, special events and more.

Our favorite festival, Wamg attended the screening of Steel Magnolias on Friday and it was fantastic! In attendance to speak before the film was screenwriter Robert Harking, who based the original play on his sister (the character “Shelby” portrayed by Julia Roberts in the film). He talked about his many inspirations for the characters – mostly women he knew growing up in the South. Fun fact: He also mentioned that Julia Roberts wasn’t the first choice for Shelby. Meg Ryan was originally cast but then dropped out because she...

Will the highest grossing film of the year “Black Panther” score a Best Picture nomination? It’s a fair question as no Marvel film has ever even been in the conversation. And the question has produced so much turmoil the academy temporarily thought of adding a Best Popular Film category. We should look towards another popular origin story that was not your typical Oscar fare — 1977’s “Star Wars: IV A New Hope” — as our guide towards “Black Panther’s” potential Oscar nomination haul.

George Lucas’s original “Star Wars” spawned a franchise that includes seven prequels and sequels and two spinoffs to date. Luke Skywalker’s origin story maybe outside the Oscars comfort zone but that didn’t stop the film from picking up 10 nominations including Best Picture; Best Director (Lucas); Best Original Screenplay (Lucas); and Best Supporting Actor (Alec Guinness).

It won six below-the line races: Best Film Editing...

The complaints are nothing new: Hollywood doesn’t make mid-budget dramas anymore. The assembly line of superhero blockbusters results in bigger, louder and less coherent movies. Easily distracted audiences demand an over-the-top set-piece every 15 minutes.

For many, responsibility for this seemingly escalating problem rests on the simulated shoulders of today’s computer-crazy visual-effects industry, which, they claim, has sucked the soul out of commercial cinema by churning out visuals like so much sausage, taking us on an endless journey of dinosaur attacks, superhero mashups and cities laid to waste that all blends together in viewers’ minds. Box office hits today, they say, are now more about spectacle than story, thrills instead of character.

“On any given day,” says Oscar-winning visual-effects veteran Richard Edlund, “there are more than 1,000 shots in the pipeline for the next Marvel movie. … I’m worried about the future of the industry, frankly, because the [mid-budget] $30 million-$50 million...

Star Trek patriarch Gene Roddenberry, Dynamation VFX pioneer Ray Harryhausen and film poster/title sequence legend Saul Bass are among the Visual Effect Society’s 2018 Hall of Fame class, the guild said today. It also named its other career honorees, including Gene Kozicki (Founders Award) and Jonathan Erland (Lifetime Membership).

“Our Ves honorees represent a group of exceptional artists, innovators and professionals who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects,” Ves Board Chair Mike Chambers said. “We are proud to recognize those who helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”

Here is the full list of this year’s Ves honorees, with bios provided by the guild. This year’s Ves Fellows will be announced later.

Founders Award Recipient

Gene Kozicki for his sustained contributions to the art, science or business of visual effects and meritorious service to the Society.

Looking for that perfect present for your Dad this Fathers Day? Look no further we have got you covered! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Die Hard, 20th Century Fox are treating us to an all new 4K Ultra HD copy of “the greatest action movie of all time” [a bonafide fact, fact fans!] and as if that wasn’t enough they are also releasing a Limited Edition Blu Ray Steelbook of the full movie collection on May 14th. I mean, yeah, okay, you will probably only watch 3 possibly 4 (depending on your mood) of the 5 films but come on that’s one hell of a Fathers Day box set to sink your teeth into.

I personally don’t think I need to give you the rundown on the Die Hard movies but just in case you have been living under a rock the last 30 years here it is, along with a little breakdown of what...

The classic Bruce Willis action film, Die Hard, is getting revamped for the 4K Ultra HD format in order to help celebrate 30 years of kicking ass. Come inside for all the details!

If you're looking for another reason to buy Die Hard, or simply want to keep upgrading your home entertainment collection to the new hotness (4K Ultra HD), you'll be able to pick up the 30th Anniversary version of the film next month. Die Hard comes to 4K on May 15th:

The action classic, Die Hard, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with an all-new 4K Ultra HD™ re-master and Blu-ray™ available May 15 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Bruce Willis is John McClane in the film that launched the billion-dollar action franchise, Die Hard. McClane, a New York City cop, flies to L.A. on Christmas Eve to visit his wife at a party in her company’s lavish high-rise.

Ryan Lambie Dec 7, 2017

He headed up the groundbreaking VFX on James Cameron’s T2: Judgment Day. We talk to Ilm effects legend, Dennis Muren...

At Industrial Light & Magic, Dennis Muren has worked on some of the most eye-popping movies of the past 40 years. Beginning with Star Wars in 1977, Muren has gone on to win a stunning nine Oscars for his visual effects work - often shared with such industry colleagues as Richard Edlund, Carlo Rambaldi and Phil Tippett.

See related Jessica Jones’ Kilgrave: Marvel’s creepiest villain yet Iron Fist season 2: Alice Eve joins the cast Luke Cage season 2 wraps Jessica Jones is the most popular Marvel show on Netflix

For the purpose of this interview, though, we’re focusing on a landmark in CGI: 1991's Terminator 2: Judgment Day. As we already saw in our main feature this week, James Cameron’s sci-fi action sequel took all...

1987 was an exceedingly awesome year for kid-centric horror movies. In the span of just a few months, we were treated to both Tibor Takács’ The Gate and Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad, and honestly, there may have not been a better year to be a young genre fan during that decade than in good ol’ 1987. And while there were an incredible amount of quality horror movies for this writer to dig into from that 12-month span of releases, one movie that I always had a deep appreciation for was The Gate, a story that I related to on numerous levels, even if I never happened to summon a horde of demons from digging a hole in my backyard.

An ambitious and good-hearted modern fairy tale that bluntly examined the universal horrors of growing up—both literally and figuratively—The Gate is an admirable genre debut from Takács, who had previously worked in Canadian television,...

July 11th is chock-full of some stellar cult classic releases on Blu-ray and DVD, so hopefully you guys have been saving your pennies. Scream Factory is keeping busy with a trio of titles, including The Man From Planet X, a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray for Species, and Sex Doll. Arrow Video has put together a stunning special edition set for Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Pulse that you’ll definitely want to add to your home media collections, and both The Fifth Element and Peter Jackson’s King Kong are getting a 4K release, too.

Other notable titles for July 11th include Star Crystal, Vampire Cop, The Blessed Ones, Devil’s Domain, The Magicians: Season Two and a Don’t Look in the Basement/Don’t Look in the Basement 2 double feature.

The Man From Planet X (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)

From the farthest reaches of space it came … is it friend or foe?...

Her looks can be lethal for those unlucky enough to fall for them, and Scream Factory celebrates the alien hybrid from Species like never before with a new Collector's Edition Blu-ray of Roger Donaldson's 1995 sci-fi horror film. With the high-def release hitting shelves on July 11th, we've been provided with three copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Collector's Edition Blu-ray copy of Species.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Species Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at...

2017-18 intake includes Participant Media CEO David Linde.

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences announced its 2017–18 board of governors on Thursday.

The new intake includes Whoopi Goldberg, Participant Media CEO David Linde, and Boys Don’t Cry and I Love Dick director Kimberly Peirce.

Cinematographer Mandy Walker and costume designer Isis Mussenden were also elected for the first time, as were production designer Wynn P. Thomas, and Christina Kounelias from the Academy’s public relations branch.

The intake includes Thomas R. Sito from the short films and feature animation branch, Teri E. Dorman from sound, and writer Larry Karaszewski.

Incumbent governors re-elected to the board include producer Albert Berger, casting director Lora Kennedy, documentary branch member Kate Amend, editor Michael Tronick, Kathryn L. Blondell from the makeup artists and hairstylists branch, and Charles Bernstein from the music branch.

Richard Edlund from the visual effects branch returns to the board after a hiatus.

Three governors...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has picked its newly elected 2017–18 Board of Governors. Like the new 774 members invited to join the Academy this week, they are an eclectic and diverse group — and now, 38% of the board is female. Among them: Former Academy public relations executive Christina Kounelias, now at Participant Media, joins her boss David Linde on the board.

Read More: The Film Academy Invited a Bunch of TV Stars to Vote for the Oscars, But They Won’t Admit It

Those elected to the Board for the first time are:

Whoopi Goldberg, Actors Branch

Mandy Walker, Cinematographers Branch

Isis Mussenden, Costume Designers Branch

Wynn P. Thomas, Designers Branch

Kimberly Peirce, Directors Branch

David Linde, Executives Branch

Christina Kounelias, Public Relations Branch

Thomas R. Sito, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch

Teri E. Dorman, Sound Branch

Larry Karaszewski, Writers Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board include:

Lora Kennedy,...

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has picked its newly elected 2017–18 Board of Governors. Like the new 774 members invited to join the Academy this week, they are an eclectic and diverse group — and now, 38% of the board is female. Among them: Former Academy public relations executive Christina Kounelias, now at Participant Media, joins her boss David Linde on the board.

Read More: The Film Academy Invited a Bunch of TV Stars to Vote for the Oscars, But They Won’t Admit It

Those elected to the Board for the first time are:

Whoopi Goldberg, Actors Branch

Mandy Walker, Cinematographers Branch

Isis Mussenden, Costume Designers Branch

Wynn P. Thomas, Designers Branch

Kimberly Peirce, Directors Branch

David Linde, Executives Branch

Christina Kounelias, Public Relations Branch

Thomas R. Sito, Short Films and Feature Animation Branch

Teri E. Dorman, Sound Branch

Larry Karaszewski, Writers Branch

Incumbent governors reelected to the Board include:

Lora Kennedy,...

Actress/host Whoopi Goldberg, writer Larry Karaszewski and director Kimberly Peirce have been elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy announced on Thursday. They are among the 10 members elected to the board for the first time. An additional six incumbents retained their seats, while Visual Effects Branch governor Richard Edlund was returned to the board after a hiatus. Goldberg beat Geena Davis, Edward James Olmos and Rita Wilson for a seat vacated by Annette Bening from the Academy’s Actors Branch. Peirce beat John Badham, Kasi Lemmons and Donald M.

Earlier today, the Academy sent an email to all members with the final list of Board of Governors candidates. Conspicuously absent is Netflix CEO and Ted Sarandos, who hosted a recent Academy museum fundraiser and was hoping to get a chance to run for the board.

Also absent is Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the current president of AMPAS, who’s stepping down this August and not seeking a third three-year term on the 54-member board. You have to be on the board in order to run for President. Others no longer in the running are Sony Pictures Classics and CBS Films executives Michael Barker and Terry Press, producer Paula Wagner, director Brett Ratner and actors Queen Latifah and Lou Diamond Phillips. Actress Laura Dern is one current board member who is backed by Academy CEO Dawn Hudson and gaining support.

The final election begins Monday, June 19 and closes on Friday, June...

Earlier today, the Academy sent an email to all members with the final list of Board of Governors candidates. Conspicuously absent is Netflix CEO and Ted Sarandos, who hosted a recent Academy museum fundraiser and was hoping to get a chance to run for the board.

Also absent is Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the current president of AMPAS, who’s stepping down this August and not seeking a third three-year term on the 54-member board. You have to be on the board in order to run for President. Others no longer in the running are Sony Pictures Classics and CBS Films executives Michael Barker and Terry Press, producer Paula Wagner, director Brett Ratner and actors Queen Latifah and Lou Diamond Phillips. Actress Laura Dern is one current board member who is backed by Academy CEO Dawn Hudson and gaining support.

The final election begins Monday, June 19 and closes on Friday, June...

Her looks can be lethal for those unlucky enough to fall for them in Species, and Scream Factory will spotlight the alien hybrid like never before with a new Collector's Edition Blu-ray release of Roger Donaldson's 1995 sci-fi horror film. In addition to a new 4K scan of the film's inter-positive, the Collector's Edition Blu-ray comes packed with plenty of special features that have just been revealed by Scream Factory.

Press Release: Beauty can be deceiving. Loyal fans of the popular sci-fi terror classicSPECIES know well that evil lurks beneath the beauty go unnoticed, especially in the form of a seductive alien-human hybrid. Directed by Roger Donaldson (The Bank Job, The Recruit) and produced by Frank Mancuso, Jr. (Stigmata, Friday the 13th Part II), Species stars Ben Kingsley (Shutter Island), Michael Madsen (The Hateful Eight), Alfred Molina (Feud), Forest Whitaker (Arrival), Marg Helgenberger (CSI) and introducing Natasha Henstridge (The Whole Nine Yards...

Director and documentarian Mark Hartley scores both a film history and comedy success with this ‘wild, untold’ account of the 1980s film studio that was both revered and despised by everyone who had contact with it. The ‘cast list’ of interviewees is encyclopedic, everybody has a strong opinion, and some of them don’t need four-letter words to describe their experience!

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

On a double bill with

Machete Maidens Unleashed!

Blu-ray

Umbrella Entertainment (Au, all-region

2014 / Color / 1:77 widescreen / 106 min. / Street Date April 4, 2017 / Available from Umbrella Entertainment / 34.99

Starring: Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus, Al Ruban, Alain Jakubowicz, Albert Pyun, Alex Winter, Allen DeBevoise, Avi Lerner, Barbet Schroeder, Bo Derek, Boaz Davidson, Cassandra Peterson, Catherine Mary Stewart, Charles Matthau, Christopher C. Dewey, Christopher Pearce, Cynthia Hargrave, Dan Wolman, Daniel Loewenthal, David Del Valle, David Paulsen, David Sheehan, David Womark, Diane Franklin, Dolph Lundgren, Edward R. Pressman,...

There was never really a need to sequelize 1982’s Poltergeist. It told a complete story. It vanquished the evil spirit haunting the house by film’s end. Heck, it even vanquished the house itself. But because the original movie was a hit and it was the ’80s, the Tobe Hooper/Steven Spielberg collaboration got not just one sequel but two, despite the fact that it does not lend itself to being a franchise. New villains and new mythology—and eventually even new family members—were introduced to keep the story going, albeit with mixed results. And while the sequels have their fans, they’re hardly among the most beloved horror films of the decade. Thanks to Scream Factory’s new Collector's Editions of both, horror fans now have the chance to reevaluate them in the best possible format.

Though released four years after the 1982 original, Poltergeist II: The Other Side...

If your home away from home in your formative years was the dentist’s office, then you know that braces can be hell. That teeth-centric fear was tapped into by the special effects team in Poltergeist II: The Other Side, and with the sequel coming out on a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray on January 31st from Scream Factory, we’ve been provided with an exclusive bonus features clip just for Daily Dead readers that goes behind-the-scenes of the movie’s intense braces scene.

Check out our exclusive bonus features clip of actor Oliver Robins reminiscing about the braces scene below, and be sure to visit Scream Factory to learn more about their Collector’s Edition Blu-rays of both Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III:

https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-horror/poltergeist-ii-the-other-side-collector-s-edition https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-horror/poltergeist-iii-collector-s-edition

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (Collector’s Edition Blu-ray...