Paramount Plays With "Max Steel"...

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Paramount Pictures and executive producer Joe "Hellboy" Roth have acquired Mattel's "Max Steel" for another action figure movie adaptation, similar to the studio's "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" features, based on Hasbro toys.

Premise of the toy property revolves around a 19-year-old extreme sports athlete, recruited by a secret agency after an accident makes him superhuman.

The character was introduced as an action figure in 1999, and spun-off as an animated TV series 2000-2002.

Mattel continues to release "Max Steel" animated direct-to-DVD features for Latin American markets, produced by Vancouver's Rainmaker Entertainment.

Sneak Peek a 1980's TV commercial for Mattel's "Max Steel" action figure and a clip from the animated TV series...

Sneak Peek "Jennifer's Body"...

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Named after the title of a song by the band "Hole", "Jennifer's Body" is the Vancouver-lensed 'dark comedy', written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody, directed by Karyn Kusama.

The horror feature stars actress Megan "Transformers" Fox as the title character, Amanda Seyfried as her best friend 'Needy' and Adam Brody as the antagonist 'Nikolai'.

The film follows 'Jennifer Check' (Fox), a 'mean-girl' cheerleader who gets possessed by a demon and begins 'feeding' off the boys in a Minnesota farming town.

It is then up to her best friend 'Needy Lesnicky' (Seyfried) to destroy Jennifer, escape from a correctional facility and go after lead singer 'Nikolai Wolf' (Adam Brody) and his demonic-worshiping rock band responsible for Jennifer's ghastly transformation.

The filming of Fox Atomic's "Jennifer's Body", co-produced by Jason "Juno" Reitman, started March 7, 2008 in Burnaby, British Columbia, shooting at Robert Burnaby Park near Cariboo Hill Secondary School, Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Langley Secondary School and University Hill Secondary School.

Boom! Studios will publish the official comic book adaptation, seen here, timed to the release of Kusama's film, September 18, 2009...

Check out the exclusive red band trailer for the new feature and the band "Hole" performing the song "Jennifer's Body"......

Ellen Page: "Whip It" Good...

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"Whip It!" is the upcoming $10 million feature, directed by actress Drew Barrymore, adapting the 2007 novel "Derby Girl" by author Shauna Cross.

The comedy stars Canadian actress Ellen "Juno" Page as 'misfit' teenager 'Bliss Cavender'.

Bliss is pressured into entering beauty pageants by her mother, but joins a roller derby league instead.

Cast includes Barrymore as teammate 'Smashly Simpson', Marcia Gay Harden as Bliss' mother, Kristen Wiig as her roller derby mentor 'Malice in Wonderland', Alia Shawkat as best friend 'Pash', Jimmy Fallon as 'The MC', Landon Pigg as love interest 'Oliver', Juliette "Strange Days" Lewis as rival player 'Iron Maven', Zoё Bell as derby star ' Bloody Holly' and Ari Graynor as 'Eva Destruction'.

The Mandate Pictures production started July 26, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan, with additional scenes shot in Texas.

"Whip It!", produced by Barrymore's Flower Films will be released October 9, 2009...

SNEAK PEEK Vancouver's "Terminal City Rollergirls" in action, courtesy shooter Michael Stevens....

Sneak Peek "Jennifer's Body"...

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Named after the title of a song by the band "Hole", "Jennifer's Body" is the Vancouver-lensed 'dark comedy', written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody, directed by Karyn Kusama, starring actress Megan "Transformers" Fox as the title character, Amanda Seyfried as her best friend 'Needy' and Adam Brody as the antagonist 'Nikolai'.

The film follows 'Jennifer Check' (Fox), a 'mean-girl' cheerleader who gets possessed by a demon and begins 'feeding' off the boys in a Minnesota farming town.

It is then up to her best friend 'Needy Lesnicky' (Seyfried) to destroy Jennifer, escape from a correctional facility and go after lead singer 'Nikolai Wolf' (Adam Brody) and his demonic-worshiping rock band responsible for Jennifer's ghastly transformation.

The filming of Fox Atomic's "Jennifer's Body", co-produced by Jason "Juno" Reitman, started March 7, 2008 in Burnaby, British Columbia, shooting at Robert Burnaby Park near Cariboo Hill Secondary School, Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Langley Secondary School and University Hill Secondary School.

"Jennifer's Body" will be released September 18, 2009...

Check out the exclusive red band trailer...

Vancouver Film Production Update...

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Features:

"HOT TUB TIME MACHINE"
Apr 27/09 - Jul 10/09

"MARMADUKE"
Jul 06/09 - Sep 08/09

"PERCY JACKSON"
Apr 06/09 - Jul 18/09

"TRON"
Apr 06/09 - Jul 10/09

Mini-Series:

"ALICE"
Jun 03/09 - Aug 06/09

TV Series:

"FRINGE"
June 24/09 - Mar 22/10

"SMALLVILLE" ~ SEASON 9
Jul 06/09 - Apr 30/10

"STARGATE UNIVERSE"
Feb 11/09 - Oct 23/09

"SUPERNATURAL ~ SEASON 5"
Jul 01/09 - Mar 29/10

"THE TROOP"
Apr 20/09 - Oct 09/09

"V"-SEASON 1
Aug 12/09 - Jan 14/10

"Watchmen": The End Is Nigh- Episode 2...

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From BigGameHunter come new screenshots from "Watchmen: The End Is Nigh"- Episode 2, to be released in July, timed to the release of the Vancouver-lensed"Watchmen" Blu-ray/DVD.

Episode 1 of the video game was released in March.

In Episode 1 of "The End Is Nigh", 'Rorschach' and 'Nite Owl II' are vigilantes during the 'Crimebusters' era, before the 'Keene Act' of 1977 outlaws masked crime-fighters.

After hearing a police bulletin, Nite Owl and Rorschach make their way to 'Sing Sing' to help quell a prison riot, only to discover the riots were a ruse to cover up the escape of 'The Underboss' crime lord.

Making their way to the 'Rumrunner' bar, the duo question a patron to find out who orchestrated the Underboss' escape. Chasing down apparent mastermind 'Jimmy the Gimmick' to an abandoned amusement park, they corner him on the tracks of a rollercoaster. Just as Jimmy blurts out that the Underboss is hiding in the sewers, a sniper shoots a cable, causing cars to careen into Jimmy knocking him off the roller coaster.

After calling for an ambulance, Nite Owl and Rorschach head for the sewers where they find missing government agent 'Mark Felt', tied up and bleeding. Felt tells them that the Underboss is at a construction site, looking to kill 'Watergate' investigative reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

Exiting the sewers, Nite Owl and Rorschach are suddenly ambushed by the police. They fight their way through and race to the construction site where they confront the Underboss and see the two dead reporters.

The Underboss claims he he was framed for the murders as Rorschach and Nite Owl chase him though the construction site, before the 'Comedian' shoots the Underboss dead, revealing that he was the real mastermind behind all the events.

Sneak Peek the new screenshots from Episode 2 as well as 8 minutes of game-play from Episode 1 of "The End Is Nigh"...

Happy Canada Day !!!

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July 1 is "Canada Day", celebrating the founding of the world's second largest country.

The land was originally occupied by aboriginals, but starting in the late 15th century, British/French expeditions explored and later settled along the Atlantic coast. France eventually ceded all of its North American colonies in 1763 following the 'Seven Years War'.

July 1, 1867, with the union of British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of provinces.

A parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, Canada is a bilingual/multicultural country, with both English and French as the official tongues at the federal level.

Technologically advanced and industrialized, Canada maintains a diversified economy reliant on natural resources, trade and a creative, highly skilled workforce...

Sci Fi Assimilating "Alien Nation"...

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Sci Fi is developing a TV reboot of "Alien Nation," adapting the 1988 feature that previously spawned a one-season spinoff TV series on Fox

The new show will be written by Tim "The X-Files" Minear. Fox 21, a production arm of 20th Century Fox TV will produce.

Premise of the original feature followed an unlikely partnership between a street cop and his 'alien' detective partner, set against the larger tale of alien 'newcomers' who move to Earth.

"It's absolute perfect timing for this type of show," said Fox 21's Chris Carlisle.

"At the heart of 'Alien Nation,' it's a cop movie. It's grounded. And it has a tremendous amount of dramatic possibilities and humour."

"It's very much in keeping with what we've been looking to do," said Sci Fi original programming exec VP Mark Stern.

"...find themes that are more than just hard sci-fi, something that feels contemporary and relevant and invites a broad audience in."

Because the show will most likely be shot in Vancouver, similar to Sci Fi's "Battlestar Galactica", the new "Alien Nation" will be set in the Pacific Northwest, 20 years after the first ship of aliens, crash lands onto Earth. By 2020, the alien poulation on Earth will have multiplied to 3.5 million.

The original feature, directed by Graham Baker starred actor Mandy Patinkin as alien cop 'Sam Francisco' and James Caan as his reluctant human partner...

Vancouver-Lensed "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" Starts August 17...

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According to reports, "Eclipse", the third film in the "Twilight" saga, will be filming at Vancouver Film Studios between August 17 and October 31.

The adaptation of author Stephenie Meyer's novel will be directed by David Slade, from a screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg.

"Eclipse" continues the story of 18-year-old 'Bella Swan' and her vampire lover, 'Edward Cullen'. The book was released August 7, 2007 with an initial print run of 1 million copies, selling more than 150,000 copies in the first 24 hours.

In the book, Seattle is plagued by a string of unsolved murders, that Edward suspects is caused by a young vampire, unable to control its thirst for human blood.

Bella explains to Edward her desire to see her werewolf friend 'Jacob Black' and begins to visit him, while 'Alice Cullen' has a vision that 'Victoria', a vampire who is hunting Bella for revenge, has returned to 'Forks'.

A few days later, Edward proposes to Bella and she accepts.

Bella and the Cullens soon realize the crimes in Seattle are being committed by newborn vampires, controlled by Victoria. The Cullens join forces with the werewolf pack to combat the threat. As everyone else prepares for battle, Edward, Bella, and Jacob camp in the mountains, hidden during the battle, later joined by 'Seth Clearwater', a member of the pack.

In the morning, Jacob becomes upset when he overhears Edward and Bella discussing their engagement and threatens to join the fight and get himself killed. To stop him, Bella kisses Jacob and realizes she also loves him.

During the battle, Victoria tracks Edward's scent to where Bella is hidden in the woods, and Edward is forced to fight. After Victoria and her army are successfully destroyed, Bella explains to Jacob that while she loves him, her love for Edward is greater.

After receiving a wedding invitation from Edward, Jacob runs away in his wolf form, angry at Bella's decision to become a vampire...

Rainmaker Produces "Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction" Trailer...

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Vancouver-based Rainmaker Entertainment created/produced the game trailer for Ubisoft’s "Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction", the fifth video game in the "Splinter Cell" series, an action 'stealth' game based on author Tom Clancy's novels, following lead character 'Sam Fisher'.

"We approached this project as storytellers," said Catherine Winder, Rainmaker's President.

"When the 'Splinter Cell: Conviction' development team at Ubisoft Montreal came to us and wanted a 'wow' factor for this trailer, we totally immersed ourselves in the game and developed the overall concept and script. We then edited together various footage with character tests, and when we pitched the concept and reel, Ubisoft liked what they saw..."

"Ubisoft wanted to give 'Sam Fisher' more character and emotional depth", said Shea Wageman, Rainmaker's Director, Producer on the project.

"They wanted us to create a fully realized cinematic character in order to put him on par with the complexity of 'Jason Bourne' or 'James Bond'..."
Rainmaker was responsible for the trailer's concept/design, art direction and storyboarding. Primary characters were provided by Ubisoft, with motion capture facilitated at Rainmaker's motion capture stage. The Rainmaker team also rebuilt the geometry, created the shading, textures, rigging and facial movements for primary characters, as well as create all sets, secondary, background characters, animation, lighting, visual effects and compositing.

Concept and creative required three months and production five months.

Ubisoft's "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction" will be released on various platforms, fall 2009...

Corus Entertainment: From DUSK To Dawn...

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Toronto-based Corus Entertainment has announced that specialty network "SCREAM" will be rebranded as "DUSK", September 9, 2009.

The launch will see the service expand its programming scope to include a more extensive lineup of movie titles/series that appeal to a broader demographic.

"DUSK's visually dramatic new on-air look and schedule builds on the huge popularity of suspense and thriller-based programming, and the growing fascination with supernatural, paranormal-themed films and television series," said Jim Johnson, Vice President, Marketing, DUSK.

"This combination of genres will provide a new viewer experience that will satisfy audience's appetite for suspense-fueled programs that combine fear and desire with darkness and excitement."

Catering to adults 18 - 49, DUSK will offer viewers access to a ramped up lineup of suspense, thriller and supernatural-based Hollywood feature films/television series seven days a week, 24-hours-a-day.

Fall titles include Vancouver-lensed TV series "Supernatural" (Season 4) and films including "The Black Dahlia", "Along Came a Spider", "Corpse Bride", "The Skeleton Key" and "The Gift".

DUSK is a partnership between Corus Entertainment Inc. and Canwest Global Communications Corp.

Corus Entertainment's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CosmoTV, VIVA, Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana and Kids Can Press...

"Marmaduke" Unleashed In BC...

"Marmaduke" is a new 20th Century Fox family comedy feature, adapting the popular newspaper comic strip, prepping for a July 6 start in BC.

To be directed by Tom "Shanghai Noon" Day, screenplay is by Vince Di Meglio, based on the "Marmaduke" strip, created by Brad Anderson in 1954.

Premise revolves around the 'Winslow' family and their Great Dane dog, 'Marmaduke'...

The new feature will be released in 2012...

Cinema Screenings For "Watchmen: The Director's Cut"...

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Warner Bros. will present a one-week exclusive theatrical release for director Zack Snyder's 'director's cut' of the Vancouver-lensed feature "Watchmen", July 17 at four venues in Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York.

Snyder made the announcement during an event at the studio to promote the DVD/Blu-ray releases of "Watchmen: The Director's Cut" and "300: The Complete Experience", July 21.

Snyder's cut contains an additional 25 minutes of footage...

Little, Brown Cover "New Moon" Book Edition...

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Publishers Little, Brown have revealed the cover for their movie tie-in book edition of the upcoming Vancouver-lensed "Twilight" sequel, "New Moon", featuring an exclusive image from the film.

Pictured is actress Kristen Stewart and the 'werewolf' character played by actor Taylor Lautner, with the romantic vampire, played by actor Robert Pattinson, scowling in the background.

"New Moon", the 2006 fantasy-romance by author Stephenie Meyer, is the second book in the "Twilight" saga, described by Meyer as "...about losing true love".

The title refers to the darkest phase of the lunar cycle, indicating that "New Moon" is about the darkest time of the life of female protagonist 'Bella'.

Summit Entertainment's "New Moon" is set for release November 20, 2009...

"Smallville" Kneels Before 'Zod'...

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According to reports, Brit actor Callum "Secret Diary Of A Call Girl" Blue has been cast as 'Phantom Zone' villain 'Zod' for season nine of CW's Vancouver-lensed "Superman" TV series "Smallville".

The DC Comics' 'General Zod' character first appeared in "Adventure Comics" #283 (April 1961), created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp.

Also in the new season, actor Brian Austin "90210" Green will play the villain 'Metallo'.

The DC Comics' character is a 'cyborg' with a 'Krytonite' power source which he uses as a weapon against 'Superman', debuting as 'John Corben' in "Action Comics" #252 (May 1959)...

BC Motion Picture/New Media Sectors Collaborate...

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British Columbia’s motion picture/new media sectors are collaborating to ensure the province’s screen-based media industry has a skilled workforce needed to support further growth and development.

Approximately 25,000 workers are employed in BC’s motion picture industry and over 1,000 companies operate in the digital media industry, aka the 'new media' industry. These sectors reportedly contribute more than $3 billion per year to BC’s economy.

Rapid changes in the conception, production and distribution of screen-based media content creation in BC, in particular in the areas of 3-D imaging, animation, visual effects and digital media, has motivated the industry to seek solutions that will enable the province to maintain its reputation for having a skilled workforce.

Film/television production., its adoption of digital media technology and the emergence of new media content, including digital entertainment/gaming focusing on the interactive capacity of digital media, are rapidly converging driven by tech changes that are breaking down the 'silos' of platforms/work processes.

The BC Screen-Based Media Industry Human Resources Committee consists of senior industry leaders representing companies, unions, guilds and associations, recently formed to develop a long-term 'Human Resources Plan'.

This work will be informed by studies conducted by the BC Institute of Film Professionals, New Media BC as well as consultations conducted by BC Film...

"Love Happens" For Jennifer Aniston...

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Take a look at the new poster for "Love Happens", aka "Traveling", the Vancouver-lensed romantic drama directed by Brandon Camp, starring actors Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart.

Rated PG-13 for "some language including sexual references", "Love Happens" follows a widower (Eckhart) whose book about coping with loss turns him into a best-selling self-help guru. On a business trip to Seattle, he falls for a woman (Aniston) who attends one of his seminars, only to learn that he hasn't yet come to terms with his wife's passing.

Universal will release "Love Happens", September 18...

BC Council Of Film Unions Ratifies New Deal...

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The largest group of film/TV employees in British Columbia have ratified a new 3-year deal with US producers.

The agreement includes a 2% hike and significant contributions to health andf welfare programs.

The master agreement, between the Canadian affiliates of the Motion Picture and Television Producers and the BC Council of Film Unions, started June 7, 2009 and will run to 2012.

The goal of the new deal is to provide a stable labour relations framework for US producers that shoot in BC and establishes jurisdiction of emerging new media.

The BC Council of Film Unions represents over 10,000 employees....

Sneak Peek "Battlestar Galactica": The Plan- November 2009...

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The Vancouver-lensed MOW "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan", filmed September 2008, consists of newly filmed material/compilation of clips from the TV show/mini-series, revealing the universe-dominating plan of the robot 'Cylons'.

Just after The 'Destruction of the Twelve Colonies', two 'Cylon' agents discuss the problem of the remaining humans, both on the planets and those who have escaped into space. From there, the events of the series are shown from a Cylon perspective.

"When Battlestar fans see The Plan, they’re all going to have to go back and watch the entire series again", said series star/"The Plan" director Edward James Olmos.

Scenes include 'Aaron Doral' preparing for the suicide bombing seen in the "Litmus" episode, Anders awakening in a Cylon resurrection chamber and 'Cavil' berating 'Boomer' for failing to kill 'William Adama' in "Kobol's Last Gleaming".

Also in addition to 'Shelly Godfrey', there is the appearance of another dark-haired 'Six' called 'Tough Six'

"Battlestar Galactica": The Plan will air November 2009...

Canadian Television Fund: 2008-09 Funding Highlights...

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The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) has just released highlights from its 2008-2009 fiscal year, ending March 31, 2009.

"Over the past year, the CTF funded a greater number of productions through the disbursement of 12% more funding compared to the average of the four prior years, " said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO of the Canadian Television Fund.

"Our streams of funding were expanded to support the industry's move towards new media."

The $2 million 'Digital Media Pilot Program' had all funds allocated within the first six weeks, supporting 20 English and 10 French productions.

The $5 million 'Production Incentive Pilot Program' supported English production in Quebec and Atlantic Canada where volumes had dropped significantly below their historic averages. The incentive was entirely allocated, benefiting 11 projects from Quebec and 16 projects from Atlantic Canada.

The CTF also enhanced communication with its stakeholders by launching "interacTVity", a monthly electronic newsletter and "The Quarter" was developed to provide funding contributors with quarterly updates on CTF funding results.

Other highlights of funding results from 2008-2009 include:

- Revenues for 2008-2009 were $316 million, with an 11% increase in the
contribution from broadcasting distribution undertakings and a stable
contribution from the Department of Canadian Heritage;

- Administrative expenses were limited to 4.3% of revenues, including
costs incurred by both the CTF and the Television Business Unit at
Telefilm Canada, which administers the CTF's programs;

- 475 production and 325 development projects were funded, with total
budgets of over $943 million and $18 million, respectively; this
resulted in the creation of 2,210 hours of new Canadian programming;

Fostering the growth of television production in Canada through financial investment and industry research, the Canadian Television Fund (CTF) supports the development of Canadian talent, programs and audiences.

The Canada Media Fund, an amalgamation of the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund, launches April 1, 2010 to support the development of content designed for television/new media platforms....

"Valentino": The Emperor Has No Clothes- July 10...

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"Valentino: The Last Emperor" is a sneak peek doc into the world of high fashion, featuring unprecedented access to the high temples of 'Haute Couture'.

Designer Valentino and his longtime business partner Giancarlo Giammetti are followed for two years, as the men confront the final act of a 50-year career at the top of the world's most glamorous and competitive game.

"...The struggle of art against commerce is at the center of the film. But in the end, the story proves to be not one about money or expensive clothes, but about love..."

Produced/directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Phase 4 Films will release "Valentino: The Last Emperor" in Toronto , Montreal and Vancouver, July 10...

BC Producers Replacing Carradine In "Portland"...

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The sudden death of actor David Carradine has the Vancouver-based producers of the film "Portland" scrambling to fill a major role.

The indie film, by writer/director Matthew Mishory, has pushed back its production schedule in Vancouver, Portland and Laguna Beach, Calif.

Carradine was to play the role of a priest in the film.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time," said executive producers Adrian Salpeter and Elizabeth Levine of Vancouver-based Random Bench Productions.

Carradine died in Bangkok, during production of the feature film "Stretch".

Carradine appeared in more than 100 feature films and best known for his role as 'Kwai Chang Caine', a Shaolin priest who roamed the American frontier in the TV series "Kung Fu", 1972-75.

He played Caine's grandson in the 1990's Toronto-lensed syndicated series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues"recently and enjoyed renewed success as an actor in director Quentin Tarantino's 2 part "Kill Bill" features...

CRTC Says No To Internet Regulation...

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The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC), Canada's broadcast regulator has ruled that it will not regulate new media broadcasts, upholding a decision from 1999, with no re-examination of the new media issue for five years.

"While broadcasting in new media is growing in importance, we do not believe that regulatory intervention is necessary at this time," said commission chairman Konrad von Finckenstein.

"We found that the Internet and mobile services are acting in a complementary fashion to the traditional broadcasting system. Any intervention on our part would only get in the way of innovation."

"The reason the Internet has been so powerful and changed so much of our lives is because it hasn't been regulated and hasn't been taxed, and it's been allowed to grow and develop in ways that users wanted it to
grow," said Ken Englehart, VP Rogers Communications.

"Government regulation and taxation would slow us down."

"The rights of Canadians to talk and communicate across the Internet are vastly too important to be subjected to a scheme of government licensing," said Commisioner Timothy Fenton.

"If more Canadians were aware how close their communications have come to being regulated by this commission, not by our will, but because we administer an obsolete statute (the Broadcasting Act), they would be
rightly concerned..."

Sneak Peek "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"...

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Emmerich Supports Asimov's "Foundation"...

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Director Roland "2012" Emmerich continues to develop a film adaptation of author Issac Asimov's "Foundation" for Columbia Pictures, with Emmerich and his Centropolis partner Michael Wimer producing.

Originally published as a series of eight short stories in "Astounding Magazine" debuting in 1942, "Foundation" is about humans scattered on planets throughout the galaxy, living under the rule of the 'Galactic Empire', while a 'psycho-historian' envisions the empire's collapse and prepares to save the knowledge of mankind.

Emmerich and Wimer are in post-production on the Vancouver-lensed "2012", aka "Farewell Atlantis" at Sony...

Vancouver "Siggraph": "Watchmen Revealed"- June 17...

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Vancouver's Siggraph.ca will present "Watchmen Revealed", with Bob Cole, Landon Bootsma and Tim Mulvihill of MPC Vancouver, Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the Vancouver International Film Centre, 1181 Seymour Street (@ Davie).

At 6:30 pm there will be a 'Licensed Industry Mixer', followed by Main Presentations @ 7: 30 pm, including door prizes, free drinks and a bar.

Director Zack Snyder's Vancouver-lensed "Watchmen" feature, adapting the 1986 DC comics mini-series by writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons, follows a group of masked vigilantes struggling to understand their roles in a world that no longer needs them.

The comic's narrative is a criss-crossing stream of interwoven stories across multiple timelines, dense with symbolic imagery.

Snyder and his team enlisted the help of a number of visual effects houses to assist with the picture, with the majority of work split between Sony Imageworks and The Moving Picture Company (MPC).

MPC's work was completed in its new Vancouver facility, including set extension and wire-removal, close up digital doubles, crowds and CGI sequences, including a nuclear explosion, completing close to 300 shots for the movie, spanning 24 sequences.

The evening's presentation will explore the challenges involved in creating the scenes, focusing on the complex sequences, looking at the genesis of the project from story-boards and reference photography through to final rendered images.

The Moving Picture Company (MPC) is one of the world's leading post-production facilities, networked to facilities in London and Santa Monica...

BC Film Plays To Full House @ Vancity Theatre...

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Members of the British Columbia film/television industry packed Vancouver's downtown Vancity Theatre May 26, for a BC Film Commission information session, introduced by BC Film president/CEO Richard Brownsey.

BC Film's Robert Wong moderated a panel of provincial/federal reps including Steven Pleva of the BC Ministry of Finance, Robert Soucy and Placide Turenne of the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO), and Pierre Mercier of the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA).

The BC Ministry of Finance's presentation included an overview of recent changes to the tax credit program, including a revised definition of BC-based individual, tax credit increases to offset the high Canadian dollar and the expansion of the Film Incentive BC requirement of 'BC-controlled' production corporations to 'Canadian-controlled'.

Further details of the meeting can be accessed at the BC Film website, @
http://www.bcfilm.bc.ca/

Chandler's "Playback" To Be Set In 1950's Vancouver...

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According to reports, Vancouver-based artist Stan Douglas is developing a film project, based on an original screenplay by author Raymond Chandler.

Premise of "Playback", set in 1950's Vancouver, follows an American woman who crosses the border into Canada to escape imprisonment for a crime she didn't commit, only to find herself as the prime suspect in another crime in Vancouver.

The film will be set alongside the Granville Street strip and other local landmarks that gave vibrancy to the city, against a background of what was then regarded as the 'endemic' corruption of the local police force.

Author Chandler, had an immense stylistic influence on the 'private eye' story, now characteristic of the crime genre, by creating protagonist 'Philip Marlowe'.

Enlisting in the Canadian Army in 1917, Chandler fought on the front lines of France and upon his discharge, lived in Vancouver where he crafted his screenplay, eventually turning it into a novel, before returning to live in the US...