Now This is an Interesting Convergence...

Courtesy of Content Agenda and The NY Times:

LOS ANGELES — Microsoft, seeking to expand offerings on its Xbox 360 console, has reached an agreement with a company headed by Peter Safran, the veteran Hollywood producer and talent manager, to produce original shows for distribution on the system.

Through his Safran Company, Mr. Safran represents clients like the actor and producer Sean Combs (“Monster’s Ball”), the actor and writer Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) and the filmmakers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (“Epic Movie”). Mr. Safran founded the company in 2006 after leaving Brillstein-Grey Management.

Speaking by telephone last week, Scott Nocas, global marketing manager for programming of the Xbox Live entertainment service, said he expected similar deals to follow. “We definitely look at this as the first of many,” said Mr. Nocas.

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Making and distributing movies using technology derived from gaming... cool. Itunes had better watch out.

This Might Be Fun...

But I am looking at all this stuff on the web and wondering why all these films (including some I'm dealing with) feel they have to parody pulp and serials and so forth...

Hmmmm... I have to say I think that's a mistake. Comedy is hard (and not pretty).

Just saving this image....

Your Friday Time-Waster is...

Right here in alphabetical order.

Get a cup of coffee first.

(Oh, and Jessica Simpson isn't in the gallery. I just thought she looked pulpy in this pose - courtesy Maxim)

YouTube Gives Us Insight

From Scott Kirsner's Cinematech:

YouTube is announcing a new feature called "Insight," which gives video creators a way to see where there video is being watched (there's a cool map of the world with countries that light up) and when (is your video a Monday-morning-at-the-office-hit?)

Knowing when and where your audience is (or isn't) watching your media is a huuuuuuuuge leap forward toward cultivating the "1000 True Fans." It takes both guesswork and footwork out of the equation. Unlike TV ratings - this isn't an estimate.

Now if only this sort of software were available on other video sites...

This is Vision...

Newsarama has a great article on TwoMorrows Publishing's JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR reaching its 50th issue (after 14 years).

Persistence and vision pulpsters. Persistence and vision.

Spreading the Pulp...

Getting used to the Facebook stuff and finding out about all the applications. I'm using Facebook to stay in touch will sorts of folks in the pulp, comics, movie and TV worlds and filtering all that into the web.

I am now cross-posting blog posts to my Facebook profile and will be trying a few more things here and there. I will also be updating my Linked In profile for business connections...

All of this with the idea that you get more (mad) pulp (bastard) where and when you want it.

Meanwhile, I am finishing what I consider to be my first draft for The Knightmare Radio Adventure. Then I get to rewrite and structure what I am calling my "top secret pulp project X." More on that as I marshal my forces and go forth with the battle plan.

You May Have Heard...

And I think there was actually a collective groan at some point, but I am now on Facebook.

Dig that pic.

Why Pulp?

Have you ever asked or been asked that question?

If so, here's the answer.

Written by prolific TV scribe Charles Beaumont who gave us some of the best of THE TWILIGHT ZONE and HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, this article originally appeared in a 1962 issue of Playboy.

The article appears courtesy of Adventure House.

Making Sex...Machine

Making SEX MACHINE from Asphalt Planet on Vimeo.

The Mad Pulp Philosophy...

of movies, especially writing movies is as follows:

- Write what you wish it to be.
- Use what you know.
- Serve the story.

Brian Clemens - the extremely prolific writer-producer of THE AVENGERS, THE NEW AVENGERS, THE PROFESSIONALS and THRILLER - once said he wrote the story as he wanted to see it, then went back after and fact-checked. Yes, he tweaked it a bit here and there if it served the story, but generally he didn't need to do so.

This is an extremely different take on the old writers adage, "Write what you know." It's different in that it addresses the whole energy of ideas. Sometimes I read an article or a blurb on the web and I say, "Bill, you bastard - there's a story there!" Then I furiously bookmark the site and start writing down notes, finding a structure, thinking of a character...

And I very rarely go back to the web page to "fact check." If I did that, it would rob me of the energy of the creative process... and that doesn't serve the story. We are in the business of telling the biggest, best lies we can. That's why we use facts and don't just report them.

Who cares the Nazis never invaded the US?
Who cares that they gave up a lot of their zeppelin work by 1939?
Who cares they never had a Der Mord Legion?

Dum vivimus servimus - While we live, we serve (the story)... and not just the facts.

Not-So-Special FX

Yesterday (Comic Book Day for the uninitiated) I picked up a copy of Wayne Osborne and John Byrne's FX from IDW Publishing. The story is a simple one we've seen before: Young Tom Talbot, for reasons as yet unknown, receives a blast of energy which gives him the power to become what he imagines. He becomes a human "special effect" (FX in Hollywood parlance) and uses his power to help capture a semi-intelligent Silverback ape (he speaks).

Again, not a sophisticated story by any means but one that isn't without its charms. Tom's naivete' and the urgings of his best friend Jack echo the relationships we've seen many times in comics (NOVA, SPIDERMAN, etc...) and that seems to be the point of this FX exercise - nostalgia. The cover art mimics 70's Marvel including the price box in the upper left corner.

The interior art is serviceable Byrne with minimal backgrounds and adequate staging. All of which is designed to recall those comics of the 60's and 70's which he built his reputation upon. The color scheme is simple mimicking the old 4-color process as well.

I really want to like this book - I REALLY WANT to - but I don't. Most of my reasons for not liking the book relate to the way the content is presented, and not necessarily the story itself. There's the rub -- I have to fault the publisher for this one.

If you are going to mimic a comic from another era, then it behooves you to adopt all of the conventions of that comic, and look to twist them somehow to benefit today's readers. In FX, there are no caption boxes, and in omitting them I believe a whole other level of story has been lost. FX could have been given a much richer and deeper context if they had chosen not to omit this comics motif. To me it actually jars the whole mis en scene out of kilter leaving you with the impression that something is "wrong," but you just can't quite put your finger on it. Excluding captions is a missed opportunity that I hope Osborne and Byrne correct asap.

Byrne's art is serviceable here, but in looking at its presentation, I get the feeling that it would look much better in B&W with ziptone for texture. The backgrounds are lacking in depth and detail which reflects on both the color and the original line work.

One major problem I have with this comic is its price - $3.99. I would have liked it a lot better at the $1.99 price with a 4-color cover and B&W interiors. This is too much to pay for a comic that isn't printed with full, photoshop enhanced color.

Image did it better with their nostalgic look at old comics.
(look at the preview for FANTASTIC COMICS#1)

Read FX at your own risk. Not an auspicious beginning...

No More Thinking...

I have a plan. Oh yes, I have a plan.

You will be part of it.

Hehehehehehehehehehehe...

[Cue ominous music]

I've Been Thinking ...

Very hard about what I am calling "Open Source Pulp" (1st Google reference!) and the whole "NewPulp" movement, especially as it relates to new media and production...

Apparently I am not alone in these thoughts. (referral courtesy of Warren Ellis's Whitechapel)

This is open for discussion.

We Don't Play Politics in These Parts...

As I personally think there are far better, more articulate, better informed people in the blogosphere who can deal with politics than I can. For example:

Daily Kos nails it.

My own (fiscally conservative, socially liberal) politics sometime come into conflict with others, but I think (hope, pray) we can all agree that the white elephant in the room of racism is everybody's problem, and it takes a person of vision to recognize and articulate that so clearly.

To: Senator Obama. Well done, sir.

That's the kind of person I want serving my country from the White House.

Niche Players Will Have Their Say in DVD Future

In an article this morning from Content Agenda:

Consumers will spend $1.1 billion by 2012 buying DVDs manufactured on demand (MOD) in stores and online in the U.S. and Europe, according to a new report to be released tomorrow from research firm Screen Digest.

Almost two-thirds of the spending on MOD, $665 million, will be new revenue, while the remainder will replace traditional DVD spending, according to the report, “On-demand Media: Re-inventing the Retail Business Model.” MOD is also referred to as on-demand media.

What this means for those of us in the independent realm is that there will be a place for our movies and tv shows and other media in the marketplace of the future.

One of the problems the indies have always had is the fact they were squeezed off the shelf by the big studios and their big box sets. Now, with manufacturing on demand, the playing field is leveled and our audience - the pulpsters, the gorehounds, the Krimi-lovers, the creature feature afficionados - will be able to find our wares right alongside the bloated big budget blockbusters...

Because it's all a matter of ones and zeroes.

Read the article and start thinking about the implications: You make a movie, you upload a movie, your promote a movie (with free podcasts, magazines, message boards), you arrange to have a theatrical screening or gathering for your movie, you sell your movie online and as a DVD.

All from your home computer system, and with no manufacturing costs to you, the creator.
You are the creator, the producer, the marketer, the distributor, and the final say in how your movie reaches its intended audience.

That to me says "efficiency" and "purity of vision." The "Made-to-Order" system (which revolutionized computer sales) taken to its logical conclusion.

Gawd, I have a lot of work to get done so I can capitalize on this.

Care to join me here in the future?

Scifi Greenlights "Caprica" and "True Believer"

Story here courtesy Variety.

Sci Fi Channel has given the go-ahead to "Caprica," a prequel of "Battlestar Galactica" in the form of a two-hour backdoor pilot, and has signed Rosario Dawson to develop "True Believer," the pilot for a proposed series based on a comicbook she co-created.

These were two of the highlights of Sci Fi Channel's upfront presentation Tuesday night at New York City's Morgan Library delivered by David Howe, president of the network.

*** Edit to add: I sooooo cannot believe I beat Shawna to this story***

Podcasting Goodness for Pulp Filmmakers

Scott Kirsner links to a host of podcasts from SXSW that are informative, insightful and all on the internet.

We are rapidly approaching or have already touched down on "open source" film making. Literally you'll be able to make a film anywhere, post it online with free software and storage and display it online to recoup your costs. If you open that up you can have teams of editors, sound designers and digital VFX artists working on your film --- from anywhere in the world.

As we discover that most of our work is going to be shown in 5 minute segments (or less) and laced together in a serial or pseudo-television format, then structure, character, and design will have to change accordingly. Let's add the whole social networking component to the storytelling and we have a beast that must be tamed or it will never be able to pull the internet entertainment cart where we want it to go.

Guys, we're going to need more podcasts and vidcasts like the above. Lack of information is our single greatest enemy so get online and share your experience.

Make it so.

Happy Easter, Pulpsters!

I get nothing out of this except the joy of seeing you find those cool classic serials we all love to watch.

From our friends at VCI Entertainment:

HAPPY EASTER!!!

From Monday March 17^th to Monday March 24th, VCI will offer everyone 33% off on website orders by using the following coupon code: EASTER

We are talking every single DVD at VCI is 33% off for 8 days! This is a great deal for anyone planning on purchasing any hard to find classic DVD’s. Still trying to figure out what to get Mom or that one family member you just can’t quite figure out what to buy them! Well look no further! Everyone loves movies and VCI has the largest amount of hard to find cult and classic hits that Hollywood has to offer!

VCI has set the coupon up to expire on Monday March24th at 11:59 pm (central time). As always nothing is 100% perfect and if something does happen, our customer service department is available for assistance M-F 8:30 am to 5:30 pm central time – 800.331.4077

*This is a website only special only available at www.vcientertainment.com *

All sales over $50.00 qualify for free shipping (only in the continental United States does this apply!)

Remember to get the 33% discount you must enter the coupon code EASTER on your CHECKOUT page.

Thank You and Tell Your Friends!

Christopher Rowe - PR Director for VCI

Log On Tonight!!!!

And help us relive the memories of how master creator Dave Stevens touched our lives.

Same Geek Time. Same Geek channel.

Reel News From Our Friends at VCI...

can be found here at this PDF document.

We like VCI as a company as they've put out a couple of very good serials when it would have been a lot cheaper to just throw the disc together - most notably the DRUMS OF FU MANCHU set and both the SECRET AGENT X-9 sets, both of which contained some extras I wasn't expecting.

Now will someone please put together a simple disc with some extras for this character short below?

Please?

Dark Horse Universal Pact

Dark Horse and Universal Pictures have signed a three year deal.

Details here from Variety.

From the press release:

Universal Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment have signed a three-year production and distribution agreement that establishes a studio home for all of Dark Horse’s creative properties going forward. The agreement was jointly announced by Marc Shmuger and David Linde, Chairman and Co-Chairman of Universal Pictures; and Mike Richardson, founder and President of Dark Horse.

Under the terms of the deal, Universal would have creative access to all Dark Horse characters and properties, as well as any material that Dark Horse might acquire on its own and want to develop as a motion picture. In addition, Dark Horse would have the opportunity to distribute movies through Universal.

Universal Pictures is opening Hellboy II: The Golden Army, directed by Guillermo del Toro and based on Mike Mignola’s Dark Horse Comics character, on July 11, 2008.

“Dark Horse is one of the most creative and innovative brands in the entertainment industry, as well as an incredibly supportive home for some of the most exciting storytellers working today,” said Shmuger and Linde in a joint statement. “Their unique connection to youth culture is proven, and we are thrilled to be part of their expanding film production work.”

Mike Richardson responded, “We’ve worked with many studios and have had several great experiences, but we are particularly happy to be joining forces with Universal Pictures in this deal. We feel a real connection with their vision and the energy and creativity they bring to developing our properties. We are also excited by the option that we’ll have to independently produce our own material and distribute it through
Universal; their flexibility in this collaboration is what we were looking for, and we’re glad we found it.”

Donna Langley, President of Production, Universal Pictures, added, “We are very much looking forward to working with Dark Horse’s talented writers and artists, and to realizing their wealth of creative content onscreen.”

Dark Horse Entertainment is represented by Endeavor and The Gotham Group.

Now what's interesting about this is that this sort of deal is perfect for Dark Horse to release a bunch of smaller movies that don't need to be big theatrical blockbusters to be profitable. We had a discussion of this philosophy over at The Beat regarding Marvel and their business plan, but in looking at this more carefully - the plan would serve DH much better.

Okay,Maybe Pulp is the New Black...

Warren Ellis reports on this over at Velcro City...

Whether you call it Flash Fiction or Pulp or even Speed Fiction, the fact is that people are expressing themselves via the web and monetizing the results of this short burst literature.

I think this qualifies as a movement.

We start harnessing this for video and audio and we have something...well, cool.

Free is the New Black

We've talked about the internet and free before, gang and it seems that everyone has read the Wired article and leaped onto the new internet economy or pointed the way to the land of the free...

But really I didn't expect these.

And in fiddling around, I didn't expect to find these either.

Nor these.

Wow.

I am spent.

Budda...budda...Buck!

Dynamite Entertainment, the comics publisher responsible for the newly revived LONE RANGER and ZORRO comics has added a new pulp hero to its lineup:

BUCK ROGERS!

On the Nightstand...

Just a tease to let you know I'll be reviewing Stephanie Palmer's new book GOOD IN A ROOM: How to Sell Yourself (and your ideas) and Win Over Any Audience as well as something new for the Pulp 2.0 audience - the revival of the Choose Your Own Adventure series of books beginning with The Golden Path.

The reviews will be up by the end of the month.

Visual Style on a Budget

Scott Kirsner's Cinematech blog has an excellent overview of the Indie visual FX panel at SXSW. Especially important to pulp filmmakers are the links to free sketching and storyboarding programs online.

This is where all the cool stunts and visual FX start in a movie, and the more time you spend drawing and planning it out the less you have to spend in actual dollars.

Creativity trumps budget every time.

For those few of you...

Who aren't familiar with Dave Stevens' work, you may proceed here to have your eyeballs blown out by the wonderfulness (and yes, I know that isn't a word). Here's a great article about Dave and his work.

Our friend of the blog, Good Dog reminded me of something, and it's below:

Rocketeer Flies No More?

The news is early yet, and HAS NOT been confirmed by standard news sources, but it appears that Dave Stevens, the creator of The Rocketeer and the artist responsible for reinvigorating interest in Betty Page is dead.

More as this develops, but if it is confirmed it will be a sad, sad day here at the Pulp Headquarters.

Edit to add: Heidi MacDonald at The Beat confirms the story.

More on this later as I gather together all my memories of Dave's work, and the sorts of things that influenced the both of us.

Damn.

Update: Mark Evanier adds his remembrances of Dave.

Lee Goldberg - Mensch

If you go to the sidebar and activate the player you can listen to our wonderful conversation last night with author/screenwriter/man about Europe Lee Goldberg on Geekerati. It was like sitting down for coffee with a buddy and having a good time. Lee was honest, interesting and illuminating -- just like his blog.

Drop him a note to convince him to do a .357 VIGILANTE compendium edition. My paperback copies died a disintegrating death awhile back and we need new pulp for the library.

Tune In Tonight...

Or is that Log On Tonight?

Hmmm...either way, The Geekerati crew will be talking with Lee Goldberg, television writer (and book author) of the MONK series, DIAGNOSIS MURDER and of course, SHE-WOLF of LONDON.

Lee has been working on a TV Movie over in Germany and I hope to discuss with him first hand some of the insights he's gleaned from working on an international project and his pulpy alter-ego, Ian Ludlow, author of the .357 VIGILANTE paperback novels.

A Clear and Simple Message...

To all of the politicians in Canada who ever even entertained the notion of listening to the good Rev. Charles McVety and passing Bill C-10:

Take this message from an America that is twisting and turning because we didn't stand up and say, "No, thanks. That's against the constitution, and besides that -- it's just not right."

If you give in once, dismiss the McVety's of the world as harmless, then they're just going to keep coming back with more demands and threats. Their kind doesn't like the fact they can't control everything around them or that their way isn't the only way to live life. It makes them feel powerless, and frankly no one likes feeling that way.

So please, for the sake of your country, your pride and for the good of all your citizens - show them the door. Let them find their own way -- but leave the rest of you alone. Their truth isn't the truth.

And if that doesn't work then tell them that God is A Fat, Black Dyke.

Your pal,

Bill

Ps. To all of you who are writing letters, posting news, writing columns and making phone calls to oppose Bill C10, I just want to say that you fight the good fight. Hold your head high. You fight not just for yourselves, but for all of us, and we appreciate your effort on our behalf.

Oh Yes, I am Watching The Watchmen

Big hat tip goes to Miss Heidi at The Beat (see sidebar) for staying up late and posting these Watchmen pics...

It looks like Zack Snyder (300) is preserving the vision of Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, and moving it forward into the movie realm.

I just wish the characters were Smart Alec, Rip Rocket, Danni Daring, The Hood, Sidewinder, Dr. Droid, Judgment, Victory, Nightclaw, Chronicle and Steel Dixon...

But that will happen soon enough. Oh yes indeed...

My Characters are (c) 2008 by Bill Cunningham

It's Been One Helluva Week...

I am the hardest working man in show business...

Hahahahahahahahahaha.....genius

Grrlz Kick Ass - Especially in the 70's

See?

(Courtesy Heidi at The Beat)

More Fun Comics...

This sort of thing is why they invented the internet in the first place... no, it's not porn - it's comics!

If this sort of fun comic makes its way onto the computer screens of kids then I will consider my job done. If you remember Jonny Quest, The Mummy, Kamen Rider and a host of other fantastic Saturday morning entertainments then you'll love this: