Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Tentatively titled 28 weeks later, it probably won’t be directed by Danny Boyle [who helmed the original] or written by Alex Garland [who wrote the original… although both may return as producers.
As we were unloading the car I saw Cully Hamner and Casey Jones who were also getting ready to head over.
Mike and I took a quick trip around the con to get our bearings and ran into several fans including Steven Lee [who was wearing a StalloneZone t-shirt! Thanks Steven!], James Howell, Hal, Robert Jewell, Kwan, The ComicDude and others. I saw that Tony Harris was setting up and took him a StalloneZone shirt since I ran out before he completed my sketch at AtlantaCon. Gus Vasquez told me that he’d have my Stallone piece on Saturday.
I then made my way to Jason Pearson‘s table. Only two other people were ahead of me so I felt pretty confident that I’d get a sketch if Jason didn’t mind drawing Stallone. Jason was running late, but luckily “The Big Man” had his portable dvd player and entertained us with a history channel dvd on comics. Jason arrived and when it was my turn I asked him about doing a Stallone piece. Jason said that he wasn’t real good at likenesses, but I explained that I wanted HIS take on Sly. He said he’d give it a try and that I should bring back my reference material at the end of the day since he wanted to work on it in his hotel room. Cool!
Next was Michael Avon Oeming‘s table. I picked up his sketchbook [a bargain at five bucks]. Michael had already turned out a couple of cool sketches and I asked if I could get on his list. He said that he wasn’t real good at likenesses [where had I heard that before?] and I told him that I wanted HIS take on Sly. He looked at my portfolio of Stallone sketches and said he’d like to give “Nighthawks” a shot and that I should check back in an hour or so.
As Friday was winding down I picked up my sketch from Michael Avon Oeming who did a great job [and I think that it does look like Sly] and dropped off my reference material for Jason Pearson.
Several of us, actually about 20, had decided to walk over to Uno’s for dinner. My wife and two sons, Big Beatty, James Howell, Steven Lee, Robert Jewell, Gary McGee, Jason WalkerGary and Big Beatty… and believe it or not Gary was wilder. It was about 10:30 when we finished up with dinner so it was back to the hotel for a little visiting and then to the room for some sleep. and others made the trip. Because our group was so large it took a while for them to get us in and even then we were split into two groups. And of course my group was the rowdy one thanks to
As the con was gettting ready to open on Saturday I found myself in line for some breakfast at the concession stand with Michael Avon Oeming. He said that he met several StalloneZone fans on Friday [they saw him working on the Sly sketch]. Michael offered to buy me breakfast! I thanked him, and instead offered to buy his breakfast! As it ended up, we both bought our own eats, but what a cool guy. I’d heard good things about Michael and he lived up to his rep of being “one of the good guys.”
I spent Saturday alternating between Beatty‘s table and walking around the show to talk to fans and pros. I was able to spend a bit of time with or at least say hi to Kelsey Shannon [Beatty‘s son!], Cully Hamner, Brian Stelfreeze, Jeff Parker, Adam Hughes and Allison Sohn, Phil Noto, Tony Harris, Eric Powell, Casey Jones, Tommy Lee Edwards and so many others.
Gus Vasquez was able to get me my sketch before he had to fly out to the set of Sin City! He gave me two characters [Rocky nailing Clubber Lang] and it was definitely worth the wait
I checked in with Jason Pearson. He had sketched out my Stallone piece and had decided to do Rocky hitting the meat. It was looking great. The big beefy Rocky punching the beef! LOL!
Dinner Saturday night was at Fuel for some pizza or subs. This time it was Beatty, James Howell, Steven Lee, Hal and others. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and spent an hour or so in the lobby talking with fans and pros. Then a bunch of us headed up to James and Hal‘s room to look at their portfolios and latest acquisitions.
On Sunday Jason had my Stallone piece ready. Several people came up to me and told me it was done and looked great. When I picked it up I saw that they were right. Jason Pearson is such a talented guy.
As you can see from this picture Craig and Big Beatty hit it off pretty well!
I had been by Tommy Lee Edwards‘ table. He was doing some really cool sketches and I hoped that I’d be able to get on his list. Luckily he could fit me in. Tommy and I talked about which character he would do… he wasn’t sure and so I suggested Jack Carter if he couldn’t decide on one. I went back to Beatty’s table and told him I had the hook-up with Tommy.
Beatty was stoked. He’s a big Tommy Lee fan and so we walked over. It turns out that Tommy likes Beatty‘s work as well. We all talked for a bit and then Tommy said I should check back in a little while. When I did, I found that Tommy had started to do Deke from “Nighthawks” but then remembered that I suggested Jack Carter and so he changed it to Carter. Man, I can’t tell you how much I love this piece. The energy and colors and… just look at it! Beautiful!
Believe it or not Big Beatty was even recruited to serve as one of the auctioneers with Tim Townsend!
Maybe I’ll see you there!
Man, have things been hectic around the Zablo homestead the last couple of weeks. With the end of the school year, some major home remodeling and other stuff, there just haven’t been enough hours in the days… or weeks.But we’re all about to take a bit of a break, so I’ll be off the boards and internet for awhile. We’re going to get away for some time with family and friends that we haven’t seen in a while. That’s going to be great!
Talk to you again when I return!
Cowboys and Aliens.
Yeah, that does kind of work for me. At least it makes me want to take a closer look. Cowboys and Aliens is a comic written by Fred Van Lente with art by Ian Richardson [published by Platnum Studios] and it’s being turned into a movie for Columbia Pictures.
We’ll have to keep an eye on this one!
About a year ago I had the good fortune to attend a special screening of Equilibrium, written and directed by Kurt Wimmer. Mr. Wimmer was in the audience and took questions afterwards. One of the questions was about his next project.
Mr. Wimmer said it would be called “Ultrviolet,” and it would star Milla Jovovich. The story involves a woman who finds herself the protector of a boy targeted for death against the backdrop of a civil war between humans and vampires. Mila is a vampire!
This is another project worth watching.
My longtime buddy, Bill Black, [publisher, editor, artist, writer, and chief bottle washer of AC comics] sent word that Paul Monsky has been spearheading a brief FEMFORCE animation piece by Shawn Van Briesen.
I thought that you all might get a kick out of seeing it.
I did.
It’s probably second only to King‘s The Stand. Stephen King has written some of the scariest and without a doubt most popular horror fiction ever. The sad thing is, as good as his books have been, most of the movies made from them have been mediocre at best.
That’s why I was pretty excited when TNT announced that there would be a new Salem’s Lot mini-series. This would be the second time that Salem’s Lot would be turned into a tv production. The first time was in the late 70’s and starred David Soul and James Mason. And it was actually pretty good.
When the cast [Rob Lowe, Rutgar Hauer, Donald Sutherland and James Cromwell] for the re-make was announced things continues to look rosy. Then publicity stills began to be released and they looked pretty cool.
Things were all seeming to come together positively well… until I read Quint’s review today.
But you know me… I’ll still tune in and check it out for myself. Hopefully I’ll like it better than Quint, but if not I can still go back and re-read the novel.
“The Incredibles” just looks better and better with each new peak we get at it. There’s a new a new trailer on-line now and the official site has opened.
We’re in for a lot of fun on November 5th!
Terry Goldman of ElectricArtists, one of the main guys behind “The Chronicles of Riddick” vidoe game, e-mailed to say that he wanted to give SZoners access to their assets page which has key art, images(new images posted every 2 weeks), synopsis, and trailer: www.electricartists.com/darkfury/assets.html.Terry went on to say that he would interested in partnering with ZONE to do an online promotional contest if he can work out the deal with Universal.
Just how cool is that?
So check out their site and tell them that I sent ya!
The trailer for Michael Mann and Tom Cruise‘s Collateral is now on-line. Mann and Cruise have individually done some very good films. Movies like Last of the Mohicans, Heat, Top Gun and Mission Impossible II. But they’ve also had some misses Ali and Eyes Wide Shut.I’m hoping that Collateral will be a hit, but I’m not sold on it yet… even after seeing the trailer.
If you liked the new teaser trailer from yesterday, then you’re going to love today’s new all action packed ful length trailer. Yeah, baby! Yeah!
Did you catch the latest advance teaser trailer for The Chronicles of Riddick?Don’t sweat it, you can see it here!
I’ve been telling you how cool-looking The Day After Tomorrow looks. I could say more but……a picture is worth a 1,000 words.
Check out this video.
See you in the theaters on opening day!
As most of you know I’ve been talking up The Shield since the very first episode. The series started strong and unlike many shows just keeps getting stronger. The cool thing is that The Shield is a hit with viewers and critics alike.
In tonight’s episode Michael Chiklis, who won the best-actor Emmy winner in 2002 for his role as Vic Mackey, makes his directing debut. David Mamet [Glengarry Glen Ross] directed the episode which premieres on May 18th!
It seems as if the blogging and website update bug has hit a couple of people lately…
I have to give Big J an “A” for effort since he really does try — it’s just that the big guy gets so excited about “this” and then “that” comes along.
At any rate, Big John has redesigned his web site again and has a blog going. Please, please, post a message telling him you checked it out, and while you’re at it ask him to bring back his Beatty slant on the news. Always topical, always irreverant, and always a blast.
I sure miss my Big Beatty News.
