Saturday at MegaCon Report

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Saturday I spent the day hanging out with my best bud, John Beatty at MegaCon.  John was a guest of the show along with Mike Zeck and a gazillion big name comic artists, animators, actors (sci-fi, horror, anime,tv, movie), tattoo artists, cosplay folks, gaming people, crafts people, and fans of all of the above. Thousands and thousands of fans were in attendance.

Because I was there for just one day and knew I wouldn’t have time to commission any artists, my goal was to touch base with friends I seldom see, check out artist alley and hang out with Big Beatty.  All three goals were accomplished.

I was able to at least say “hi” to Mike Zeck, Michael Golden, Hoyt Silva, Manny Aguilera, Gene Gonzalez, Jason Walker, Jason Solbol, “The” James Howell, John Higashi, Steve “Born to Be Alive” Martinez (who we hadn’t seen in over 25 years), Mike Kott and I’m sure a few others I’ve forgotten to mention.

That’s Mike Zeck getting a photo with a fan and getting photo-bombed by John Beatty.

Neal Adams came over to say “Hi” to Zeck and Beatty.  I looked up and suddenly Neal Adams was there.  For those that don’t know, Neal Adams is one of the living legends of comics.  Over the years, because of all the shows I have attended, I’ve met a lot of famous artists but I’d never met Neal Adams.

Anyway, I was sitting behind the table next to Beatty and as Neal spoke to Zeck and Beatty he would look over at me.  I know Neal was thinking, “Who is this guy?  I guess I should know him.”  As Neal got ready to leave I stood up with the intent to just say that I was a fan of his art, but truth be told I became tongue-tied as Neal reached out to shake my hand.  What I hoped to be, “Nice to meet you Mr. Adams” turned into something like, “I’m not an artist – I’m just a friend of John’s – I’m a big fan of your work, Mr. Adams.”  Definitely a fanboy moment.

The guy above was making the rounds and looked so much like The Beast I had to snap a photo.  He said the only thing not real was the “blue” and his choppers.  Yikes!

I did pick up a few things at the show… Manny Aguilera was set up in artist alley and he did a cool sketch of a scene with Sly from Lords of Flatbush that he surprised me with.  Josh Hood was sketching for fans and had copies of We Can Never Go Home.  I picked up a copy.  (Check it out and maybe you will as well.)  I also bought two prints: Rocky Balboa vs Apollo Creed fight poster by Brian Hoang (for me) and a Predator print for my nephew.  I also got to check out some of the Frank Miller originals that were on display.  The rest of the time was spent hanging with Big Beatty who had Zeck on one side and J. O’Barr (from The Crow fame) on the other.

All in all, it was a fun day… and I’m glad it was just one day.

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Notebook

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I can’t imagine a book that movie fans will want more than Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Notebook.

When Coppola realized that he would direct The Godfather, he re-read Mario Puzo’s novel and made important notations right on the book’s pages. Check out the example below or better yet, click here, to see a full-size version.

The notations would be Coppola’s road map to make The Godfather and he considered them as important as the screenplay.  Coppola explains his process and importance of making his Godfather Notebook in the video below.

The Godfather Notebook will reprint Francis Ford Coppola’s notes and annotations on The Godfather novel by Mario Puzo.  I can’t wait to get my mits on a copy.  “Leave the gun, and take the cannoli… and The Godfather Notebook.”

Peter Stults’ “Jupiter Ascending” Starring Jim Brown

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Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe – movie posters re-imagined how they would look and who would star in them had they been made in a different era.

Peter Stults has created six volumes of re-imagined posters.  Today, we have my favorite from the sixth set.

I say again, “Wouldn’t you love to see a book of Stults’ Movies from an Alternative Universe?”  Kickstarter, Mr. Stults?

Since this rounds out all the volumes of Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe, here are a few movie/star suggestions:

  • The Big Heat starring Sylvester Stallone…
  • Highlander starring Bruce Lee…
  • Lethal Weapon 3 starring Marlon Brando, Woody Strode and Lou Costello

You can check out all the posters in the first volume here!

The posters in the second set are here.

Volume three is here and four is here.

Volume five is right here!

Volume six is here.

Peter Stults’ “The Dead Zone” Starring Vincent Price

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Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe – movie posters re-imagined how they would look and who would star in them had they been made in a different era.

Peter Stults has created six volumes of re-imagined posters.  Today, we have my favorite from the fifth set.  Truth be told, I was torn between this one and Brando in Gone Girl.

I say again, “Wouldn’t you love to see a book of Stults’ Movies from an Alternative Universe?”

You can check out all the posters in the first volume here!

The posters in the second set are here.

Volume three is here and four is here.

Volume five is right here!

Twilight Zone: “I am the Night, Color Me Black” [Season 5, Episode 26] / Z-View

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Twilight Zone: “I am the Night, Color Me Black” [Season 5, Episode 26]
Original Air Date: March 27, 1964

Director: Abner Biberman

Writer: Rod Serling

Starring: Michael Constantine, Paul Fix, George Lindsey and Ivan Dixon.

The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…

A man is scheduled for execution at sunrise.  As minutes pass by it becomes clear that the town’s deputy perjured himself on the case, the sheriff was too worried about reelection to dig into the case and the local reporter is just now getting a conscious.

And isn’t sunrise a little late in coming?

Rating:

Peter Stults’ “A Dame to Kill For” Starring Kirk Douglas & Lauren Bacall

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In Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe, Stults takes movie posters and re-imagines how they would look and who would star in them had they been made in a different era.

Since that post Peter Stults has created six volumes of re-imagined posters.  Today, I’ve posted my favorite from the fourth set.

I’ll bet that once you check out the posters in the fourth volume, you’ll be surprised I didn’t pick one of the two Stallone-related posters.  I am too, but Stults’ A Dame to Kill For is just so dead-on, it had to be the choice.

Wouldn’t you love to see a book of Stults’ Movies from an Alternative Universe?  I would, too.

You can check out all the posters in the first volume here!

The posters in the second set are here.

Volume three is here and four is here.

Twilight Zone: “Masks” [Season 5, Episode 25] / Z-View

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Twilight Zone: “Masks” [Season 5, Episode 25]
Original Air Date: March 20, 1964

Director: Ida Lupino

Writer: Rod Serling

Starring: Robert Keith, Milton Selzer, Virginia Gregg and Alan Sues.

The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…

Jason Foster, a rich old man on his death-bed, summons his family to him.  He cares nothing for them and they only care about their coming inheritance.  Foster tells them they must wear masks until midnight or he will cut them out of his will.

Sure, it’s a crazy request, but what harm could come from wearing a mask?

Rating:

Peter Stults’ “Man of Steel” Starring Charlton Heston

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For those just arriving… a little over four years ago I posted Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe.  Stults takes movie posters and re-imagines how they would look and who would star in them had they been made in a different era.

Since that post Peter Stults has created six volumes of re-imagined posters.  Today, I’ve posted my favorite from the third set.  I love the casting of this one.  Dead on.

You can check out all the posters in the first volume here!

The posters in the second set are here.

Volume three is here.

Twilight Zone: “What’s in the Box” [Season 5, Episode 23] / Z-View

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Twilight Zone: “What’s in the Box” [Season 5, Episode 24]
Original Air Date: March 13, 1964

Director: Richard L. Bare

Writer: Martin Goldsmith

Starring: Joan Blondell, William Demarest and Sterling Holloway.

The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…

A cranky old man [Demarest] comes home to argue with his bitter wife [Blondell] and complain that to the tv repairman [Holloway] that he’s taking to long to fix the set because he wants to amp up the bill.  Later when the old man is watching tv he sees himself cheating with his girlfriend… and killing his wife.

Rating:

Peter Stults’ “28 Days Later” Starring Richard Burton

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A little over four years ago I posted Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe.  Stults takes movie posters and re-imagines how they would look and who would star in them had they been made in a different era.

Since that post Peter Stults has created six volumes of re-imagined posters.  Yesterday we took a look at one of my favorites from the first set.  Today, I’ve posted my favorite from the second set.  I love this poster [which says a lot since I’m not a big Richard Burton fan].

You can check out all the posters in the first volume here!

The posters in the second set are here.

Twilight Zone: “Queen of the Nile” [Season 5, Episode 22] / Z-View

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Twilight Zone: “Queen of the Nile” [Season 5, Episode 22]
Original Air Date: March 6, 1964

Director: John Brahm

Writer: Charles Beaumont

Starring: Ann Blyth, Lee Philips and Celia Lovsky.

The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…

A reporter gets an interview with a Hollywood star who may be lying about her age by A LOT.  If she is lying, then how does she stay so young?

Rating:

13 behind-the-Scenes Facts About Shark Tank

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Jake Rossen and Mental_Floss present 13 behind-the-Scenes Facts About Shark Tank.  Here are three of my favorites…

2. CONTESTANTS CAN SPEND OVER AN HOUR IN FRONT OF THE SHARKS.
While product pitches are typically aired in 10-minute segments, business owners are often hashing out details with the Sharks for an hour or more. “The first time, I was in there 45 minutes,” says Aaron Marino, who appeared in a season four episode with his Alpha M image consultation business and will appear a second time in this season’s finale on May 20. “The second time was an hour, hour-and-a-half. When you get into the minutiae of business numbers, they cut a lot of that stuff out.”

8. EVERYONE HAS TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST.
Once entrepreneurs are done filming, they’re immediately whisked off-set and into a meeting with a show-appointed psychiatrist for an off-air evaluation. “They just want to work through how you’re feeling,” says Bandholz. “I’ve heard from other contestants that they can be devastated by their performance, or by what the appearance might mean for their business. It’s a very intense emotional roller coaster.”

9. MOST OF THE ON-AIR DEALS DON’T GO THROUGH.
While contestants who accept an offer from one or more of the Sharks seem to have it made, it’s little more than a handshake deal. Owing to the due diligence process, Hale estimates that more than two-thirds of deals that are agreed upon in the show fall through. “It’s more like a first date,” he says. “You go back and find things you don’t like. Sometimes the deal terms change.”

Peter Stults “Reservoir Dogs” Starring Charlton Heston & Henry Belafonte

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A little over four years ago I posted Peter Stults‘ Movies from an Alternate Universe.  Stults takes movie posters and re-imagines how they would look and who would star in them had they been made in a different era.

Since that post Peter Stults has created six volumes of re-imagined posters.  Above is one of my favorites from the first set. You can check out all the posters in the first volume here!