Horror horror everywhere at Comic Con

Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine

Horror took over the advertising inside the main halls of the San Diego convention center during Comic Con 2010. Resident Evil: Afterlife, The Walking Dead and True Blood banners were everywhere. It was nice to see and a welcome change from some of the usual lesser interesting advertising (we won't mention any names).


Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine


Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine


Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine


Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine


Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine

Comic Con Report: Stan Winston booth report

Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine

Metal Life Magazine visited the Stan Winston School of Character Arts booth and got to check out full size movie props from Avatar and Iron Man 2. The school offers instruction in all forms of character arts in physical and digital forms. Classes include puppetry, 2D & 3D sculpture, fabrication, animatronics and more.


Photos by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine


The school offers hands on workshops, streaming video lessons and instructional DVDs. If you have an interest in special effects, this school is for you.

"Four decades, four Academy Awards and hundreds of characters, Stan Winston and his legion of artists created film icons that terrify, entertain� and inspire. When the art and technology existed, they mastered it � when it didn�t, they invented it. From concept to creation, Stan Winston laid the foundation for the techniques that drive an entire industry."


Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine

http://www.stanwinstonschool.com/

SKYLINE promoted at Comic Con with ad and bubbles

Photo by E. Lacey

Universal's upcoming sci-fi thriller Skyline had a hotel sized ad on the Marriot in San Diego during San Diego Comic Con 2010. The movie is about a group of friends who are awoken in the night by a bright light and when they go outside to investigate, they see everyone else is drawn outside as well. Then everyone rises up into the air and vanishes. A small group of survivors must now struggle against the foes that taking the Earth's population.

In a stroke of advertising genius, there was a bubble machine that made human shaped bubble blobs that were sent up into the air over the San Diego Convention center. These bubble people also vanished into the sky, although not due to an alien force like in the movie. It was awesome to see the reactions of all the Comic Con attendees that saw the bubble people floating away.

US release date is set for November 12, 2010

Guillermo del Toro to make HAUNTED MANSION movie

SAN DIEGO, Calif. � July 22, 2010 � Guillermo del Toro surprised the 6,500 fans gathered today at Comic-Con with the announcement that he is currently developing a new film for The Walt Disney Studios based on the classic Disney theme park attraction, The Haunted Mansion.

�Dark imagery is an integral part of the Walt Disney legacy. After all, Disney himself was the father of some really chilling moments and characters - think Chernabog from Fantasia or Maleficent as the Dragon or the Evil Queen in Snow White,� said del Toro. �I couldn't be more excited to be a part of my own adaptation of the original theme park attraction Walt envisioned and that remains- for me- the most desirable piece of real estate in the whole world!"

�Millions of people from around the world visit The Haunted Mansion each year, but no one has ever had a tour guide like Guillermo del Toro,� said Rich Ross, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios. �Guillermo is one of the most gifted and innovative filmmakers working today and he is going to take audiences on a visually-thrilling journey like they�ve never experienced before.�



Since August 1969, foolish mortals have dared to trespass on the macabre grounds of Disney�s Haunted Mansion. A hallowed landmark in Disneyland�s New Orleans square, it�s the dwelling place of 999 happy haunts dying to meet new visitors each day. The plantation-style of the mansion�s facade is a sweet deception for visitors. Inside, ghostly doom buggies line the hallways. Since its construction, the mysteries of the mansion have transcended the attraction with stories surfacing about horrifying encounters with the supernatural. Versions of the daunting edifice have been built at other Disney theme parks in Orlando, Tokyo and Paris.



Editor's Note: Perhaps, this time, we will get a proper Haunted Mansion since it sounds like Mr del Toro will not be making this into a silly comedy.

Anchor Bay screenings at San Diego Comic Con

WHAT:
Anchor Bay Entertainment at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con International


WHEN:
Thursday, July 22nd through Sunday, July 25th


TIME:
Events Thursday � Saturday (see schedule below)


WHERE:
San Diego Convention Center


DETAILS: Fan favorite Anchor Bay Entertainment reaches out at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con, taking place July 22nd through the 25th at the San Diego Convention Center! Anchor Bay Entertainment will have a major presence at the SDCC � globally acknowledged as the world�s greatest and largest genre convention!


Fans stopping by the Starz/Anchor Bay booth #3345 at Comic Con will experience:

• Comic Con Premiere of official Altitude theatrical trailer at Anchor Bay booth;
  
• Comic Con Premiere of official theatrical trailer for Hunt To Kill with Steve �Stone Cold� Austin;
  
• Trailers for upcoming Anchor Bay Entertainment releases including the I Spit On Your Grave remake, Adam Green�s Frozen, The Stranger with Steve �Stone Cold� Austin, Dolph Lundgren is The Killing Machine, and Tekken. Upcoming Manga releases previewed include First Squad and Redline.
  
• Authentic production props from �Spartacus� prequel
  

In addition, fans who come by the ABE booth will be eligible to win prizes, including Blu-rays�, DVDs and signed posters! The following Anchor Bay Entertainment-sponsored events will allow fans to meet, greet and talk with their favorite ABE stars and filmmakers! Thursday, July 22nd

• 3:00 � 4:00pm
  
  Frozen poster signing at Anchor Bay booth (#3345)
  
  Meet writer/director Adam Green (Hatchet, Spiral, the upcoming theatrical Hatchet 2), signing posters from the September 29th Blu-ray�/DVD release of Frozen from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Green will sign Frozen posters, plus any additional Adam Green title-related items.
  

Friday, July 23rd

• 11:00am � 12:00pm
  
  The Stranger poster signing with �Stone Cold� Steve Austin
  
  Anchor Bay Entertainment booth #3345
  
  Come meet wrestling and action superstar �Stone Cold� Steve Austin at the ABE booth, signing posters from his recent ABE release The Stranger, available on Blu-ray� and DVD. Steve also stars in the upcoming ABE release Hunt to Kill.
  
  
  
  
• 3:15pm � 4:15pm
  
  Spartacus prequel Panel (Room 6BCF)
  
  Relive the television phenomenon, as Starz Channel previews the Spartacus prequel, as well as the upcoming Blu-ray� and DVD release of �Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season.� Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless (�Xena: Warrior Princess�), John Hannah (the Mummy trilogy), Viva Bianca and executive producer Steven S. DeKnight give fans a glimpse into the exciting backstory of the ancient Roman saga.
  

Saturday, July 24th

• 3:00pm � 4:00pm
  Altitude poster signing at Anchor Bay booth (#3345)
  
  Watch the skies! Stars Jessica Lowndes (the new �90210�) and award-winning graphic novelist Kaare Andrews will be signing specially printed Comic-Con exclusive posters for their upcoming high-flying thriller Altitude, coming soon on Blu-ray� and DVD from ABE. Altitude follows a group of five teens on a weekend getaway aboard a small plane that suddenly turns deadly. Minutes after the group takes-off, an unexplained malfunction sends the aircraft climbing out of control and into the heart of a mysterious storm. Unable to get their bearings or contact the ground, the survivors gradually realize they are locked in combat with a terrifying supernatural force.
  

AVATAR & PREDATORS collectibles, Comic Con Exclusives

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products is getting in on the fandimonium at this year's San Diego Comic-Con by offering exclusive products based on its most popular television and film franchises:



Avatar - Fans will want to get their hands on Mattel's "The Final Battle" action figures. The toys depict the penultimate clash between Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) and will be available at the Mattel booth (#2945).




Predators - Hunters have to make sure they don't become the hunted while tracking down the 'Berserker Predator' from NECA (booth #3145). The figure resembles the Predator's distinct 'camouflage' mode and comes with a removable wrist blade.

Price: $20.00
Production Run: 2,000