SciFi Surplus Podcast #066
August 22, 2008
Interview: Mur Lafferty (Playing for Keeps). Topics: Stargate Atlantis, The Hobbit, Nightmare Before Christmas, Robert Heinlein. Knight Rider
Thank you for listening to our audiocast. This is show number 66 on the feed August 22nd, 2008.
I’m going to call Mur Lafferty in just a minute to talk about her book, Playing for Keeps, but first I have to tell you what’s on the rest of the show. The Council of Great Relevance will talk about “title sequences,” the part of TV shows and movies that clue us in about the premise and tell us who the stars are. In the news: What comes after Stargate Atlantis’ 5th and Final season. How is the new Hobbit movie coming along. What are the details of the Nightmare Before Christmas Blu-ray. What is the next Heinlein based movie project. What happens when Harry Potter fans get upset.
SciFi Surplus is presented by Audible.com. Get a free audiobook of your choice at audible.com/scifi.
Casey talks with Mur Lafferty about Playing for Keeps.
Let’s get to the other participants, joining me on the show today is:
Girl Friday - Producer
Jeromy - Science Officer
Vince - The X.O.
Discuss: Casey needs a title. Currently listed at the website as “Janitorial Lead.”
Now that the introductions are out of the way, Let’s get our geek on!
Anti-witness News
This will be the final season of Stargate Atlantis but the Lantians will follow the lead of SG1 by making straight to DVD Movies. The first movie will air on the SciFi Channel before getting sent to stores and rental outlets in January of 2009.
It is confirmed that writing for the new Hobbit movie and its sequel has begun. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens will work with director Guillermo del Toro to get the screenplays written. Shooting for the films isn’t expected until late 2009 at the earliest.
The beauty of audiobooks is that you can take them anywhere you take your iPod or mp3 player. The gym, the garden, your commute to work. You listen to the stories the same way you listen to us. Just for signing up with Audible using our special web address, you get a free audiobook of your choice. It can be anything. Simply go to audible.com/scifi. Again, that’s audible.com/scifi and get your free audiobook today!
Details will be revealed in the Blu-ray release of Nightmare before Christmas. Director Henry Selick says there are lots of things that you just couldn’t see on the standard DVD release. The Blu-ray revival will also feature Tim Burton’s original poem, that was the inspiration for Jack Skellington, read by Christopher Lee.
Robert Heinlein’s novella, “The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag,” is getting a big screen upgrade. Dark City director, Alex Proyas is writing and directing the project for Phoenix Pictures. The story from 1942 is about a man who doesn’t know what he’s doing during the day and doesn’t know what he does for a living.
Harry Potter fans are upset about pushing The Half-Blood Prince back to July 2009 from November 2008. Apparently they are vocal enough to get the attention of Warner Brothers’ Chief Alan Horn to issue a statement. In the release, he writes that the silver lining is that there will only be an 18 month wait for the seventh Potter film, Deathly Hollows: Part 1.
Council of Great Relevance: Memorable Title Sequences
We’re going to limit this discussion to television but there some notable title in film as well. The Star Wars scroll is one of the biggies. It’s success is because of the serial feel of the George Lucas projects.
Make your own Star Wars intro (if you have a Mac) using the tool on this site: http://alienryderflex.com/crawl/
Another good example of serial film titles is the 007 movies.
Star Trek has also had its share of hits and misses in opening credits and theme songs.
Some other memorable openings credits:
Space 1999, Viewable on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DF9nDJZrdA
Cowboy Bebop, Viewable on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE
Twilight Zone (2002) Korn-written theme: Song on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqFzx6c00Go
spot: Berman’s Plot Device
spot: Grax’on’s Gorch Cream
SciFi Surplus will be making the rounds at Dragon*Con! If you plan on attending and want to meet up, drop us a note at through the Temporal Temps hotline, via email, or on the Facebook forum.
David Hasselhoff may make an appearance in the new Knight Rider series with the old Trans-am. And, frankly, we couldn’t care less.
John Scalzi’s Zoe’s Tale has hit bookstores! Go buy a copy!
Thanks go out to Girl Friday, Vince, and Jeromy. Great work! For everyone here, I’m Casey and we’ll talk to you next time!
