SciFi Surplus Podcast #047
June 15, 2008
Interview: Ernie Cline (Fanboys) - Topics: M. Night Shyamalan, Iron Man, Battlestar Galactica, Smurfs
Thank you for listening to us. This is show number 47 on the feed June 15th, 2008. On the show today, Stephanie and I have a fantastic interview with Ernie Cline, the writer of the upcoming film, “Fanboys.” We’ll talk to him about Fandom, the 10-year journey this movie took, and find out what’s in his future. In the news is M. Night Shyamalan, the Iron Man sequel, Battlestar Galactica, and a disturbing report about the Smurfs.
Before we get started, I have to pass along a program note. We recorded a Council this past week where we talked at length about Babylon 5 but because of a perfect storm of events, the audio was deleted. The fundamental problem was I didn’t immediately make a back-up of the show, trusting that the automated back-up made my the software would do the job.
One of the council participants was Kwillix, the solar system’s biggest Babylon 5 fan. I mean, he’s a big fan. He’s made a 1 to 1 model of the Babylon station and keeps it just short of the Kuiper Belt in solar orbit. It doesn’t actually work because it’s just made of plastic but you can walk around in it– anyway.
We set up a special temporal connection to Kwillix and just as we were finishing up the discussion the comm gear crashed and blanked out all of the open files. We’re going to try to recreate this discussion at a later date. In addition to Kwillix, Jeromy, John and Jess (that’s Stephanie’s Husband) were in on the show.
With that carefully explained away, let’s get our geek on!
Anti-witness News
More BSG
http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2008/05/more-battlestar.html
There is news that more Battlestar Galactica is on the way in addition to the second half of season 4. There will be a series of webisodes that will connect the first half of season 4 with the second half. There is also talk of up to 3 TV movies and the final episode could be 3 hours long. It’s unclear at this point when the final 10 episodes of Galactia will air but the common expectation is early 2009.
Kasdan Writes Robotech
http://chud.com/articles/articles/15136/1/WOULD-YOU-LIKE-SOME-LAWRENCE-KASDAN-WITH-YOUR-ROBOTECH/Page1.html
Lawrence Kasdan is penning the script for a Robotech feature film. Kasdan wrote the scripts for the Empire Strikes Back and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Robotech is being produced by Tobey McGuire’s production company and we’ll keep you informed as details become available.
Smurfs Movie
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=55650
Variety is reporting that Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation have picked up the rights to make a Smurfs movie. David Stern and David Wiess, who wrote the second and third Shrek films are in negotiations to write the screenplay. It’s expected to be a half live action, half CGI endeavor.
The Last Airbender
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=55612
M. Night Shyamalan says he is excited to be directing The Last Airbender, a live action adaptation of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Shyamalan says he’s drawn to the mythology, magic and eastern religions to tell a story that involves action and martial-arts.
Favreau Wary of Iron Man 2 Date
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=55634
Iron Man director John Favreau is saying the April 2010 release for the Iron Man 2 sequel “seems unrealistic.” He says there just isn’t enough time to make a quality film considering that there is no script or even writers yet. Favreau also says he and Robert Downey Jr. were not consulted. There is also talk that he would like to direct the Avengers movie but because the release dates are so close together that he would not be able to do both.
Ernie Cline Interview
ErnestCline.com
Fanboys Trailer
I have to thank Ernie Cline for accepting our invitation and to the amazing Stephanie for making it happen. For everyone here, I’m Casey and we’ll talk to you next time.
June 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Animation is a way of telling the story that provides the unique visual and story telling tools. I have a great deal of joy about the last air bender film as it is a fantastic story.
My concerns are that they do not transition to current major story arc to the big screens. As this will that to long to come to an end and i do not want “another” live actor to bring balance I want the Ang of the current story. That was my fan boy voice.
Additionally that, M. NIght Shymalan is not allowed anywhere near the story. Have we not suffered enough. He had one mega hit and then each and every move has a bad twist that everyone knows is coming.
I also wonder how they will be able to get the visual affect to port to live action. Which kid are they going to get to shave his head? And the bending effects will be difficult to replicate with live action. Unless they use a lot of expensive CG which has not been available previously in Nickelodeon big screen budget/transfers.
Thanks for reading.
Darren
June 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
You know, I never heard of “Fanboys” until this podcast. I’ll be sure to see the movie when it finally comes out!
June 17th, 2008 at 9:17 am
FANBOYS sounds less like CLERKS in content and a little more like a mesh of FREE ENTERPRISE & TREKKIES for the STAR WARS crowd. It sounds excellent in any event.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Hey, Darren the kiwi,
I know how you feel when something you really like is
adapted to film not quite the way you had hoped. I feel that way about the
Hellboy movies. I love the comic, especially Mignola’s art, and I don’t know
why del Toro strays so far from the original storylines and design.
On the other hand, I don’t let it bother me too much. I’m still glad
the movies are being made. It doesn’t take away from the original.
Filmmakers have to make certain changes when they take a story from one
medium to another. I think they usually go too far- when they love and honor
the original, you get something like Iron Man. When they think their
“vision” is greater, you get Superman Returns. It sucks, but it’s just
another interpretation, and there’s nothing you can do about it (except
maybe make a fan film!).
It’s true Nickelodeon/Paramount have been traditionally cheap in
their movie budgets (I know- I work for them), but I’m sure with a big name like Shyamalan behind it they can do a lot of cool things with Avatar. It’ll be an interpretation worth watching, and hopefully M. Night will leave the story alone.
That said, if they mess up Star Trek, the streets will run red with blood! >:-)