Tuesday, November 29, 2011

THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON


Street Date: December 6, 2011           
Suggested Retail Price: DVD $29.98 ($37.48 in Canada)
Length: Approx. 315 minutes 

“…at the centre of the show has always been Elisabeth Sladen. It's a poignant thought that for certain kids, she was their Doctor.”   
The Guardian

New York – November XX, 2011 – BBC Home Entertainment announces the release of The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Complete Fourth Season available on DVD on December 6, 2011. Created and produced by award-winning writer Russell T Davies (Doctor Who, Torchwood), the exciting action-adventure children’s series follows the exploits of school friends Luke, Clyde and Rani, who team up with alien investigator Sarah Jane Smith and her trusty super-computer Mr. Smith to examine strange and mysterious events.  The series is a spinoff of the long-running science fiction favorite, Doctor Who.
In the fourth season, Luke faces down the terrifying Nightmare Man stalking his dreams before leaving Sarah Jane and the gang as he departs for university. But the planet won’t save itself and there are still more adventures in store for the gang: confronting the Men in Black at the Vault of Secrets; waking up to find every human on the planet has disappeared; being scattered through the past in order to find three objects forged in the Time Vortex. In two special episodes written by Russell T Davies, Sarah Jane is reunited with another of the Doctor’s former companions, Jo Grant (Katy Manning), as they investigate the fate of the Doctor at his own funeral. Things get more complicated when they’re joined by the Eleventh Doctor himself (Matt Smith) in an alien-busting adventure featuring brand-new vulture aliens, the mysterious Shansheeth and a trip to an alien planet.
Finally, Sarah Jane faces her saddest day: realizing that no one can defend the earth forever, she prepares to hand over the reins to a new regime. But is her replacement completely trustworthy?
Elisabeth Sladen, the actress who first played the landmark companion Sarah Jane on Doctor Who in 1973, sadly passed away earlier this year. She is missed not only by generations of Whovians but also by the young fans who first met her thanks to The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Guns and Weed: The Road to Freedom - Director's Cut


A film by Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi
Guns and Weed The Road to Freedom: DIRECTOR'S CUT

On DVD December 6, 2011

  "Because there's no such thing as half-free"  
A stunning and entertaining examination of Constitutional issues in America. Covers abuse of authority by police, nanny laws, problems of a two-party system, self-defense, States' Rights, Natural Rights and taxation. GUNS AND WEED: THE ROAD TO FREEDOM shows, in no uncertain terms, why Freedom of Ingestion AND The Right to Keep and Bear Arms are equally indisputable civil rights, and why the War on Drugs and the War on Guns are both entirely immoral.

Part entertainment, part civics lesson. Part hip-hop, part punk rock. Filmed in the Wild West of Wyoming and Colorado. Features mountains of marijuana, great interviews, comedy, fake news, animation, rock video and stunning outdoor footage of cute girls and guys shooting guns that are not legal in California.

FEATURING: Sheriff Richard Mack, Shane Scheid, MamaLiberty, Neema Vedadi, Michael W. Dean, J-Tizzle, Shepard Humphries and many more. 

 GUNS AND WEED - THE ROAD TO FREEDOM - Official Trailer

WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING: 
"A great film that truly IS America". --Adam Curry   
"Guns and Weed is an intelligent documentary addressing prohibition, regulation, taxes, government schools and property. It wisely advocates that if you want to be free, you must stand up for the liberty of other peaceful humans, even those who would do or possess things with which you disagree."--Ian Freeman, Free Talk Live radio   
"I was surprised by all the humor, and I loved that you guys made such hardcore, principled points without beating your audience over the head with abstruse philosophy." --Claire Wolfe, author 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution   
"I'm impressed with how well you presented such a difficult synthesis of two freedom-loving cultures which often view each other as antithetical. The message of 'Live and let live' shines through in this very hip and unique video." --Boston T. Party, author Boston's Gun Bible   

The Puppet Monster Massacre 2 - IndieGoGo Campaign



  
On July 26th The Puppet Monster Massacre was unleashed upon the masses. It was an all puppet tribute to the horror films of the glorious 1980's. Instantly the film garnered a cult following to rival any other underground film. The film was a success. The fans are demanding more. It is time!

The Puppet Monster Massacre was a true DIY film constructed entirely by writer/director/psycho Dustin Mills and a small ragtag crew of dedicated maniacs. Funded entirely by the director's wallet and fueled solely by passion and energy drinks The Puppet Monster Massacre emerged as a passion project with heart, soul, and originality.

After a successful distribution deal and critical success we are ready to give the people what they want. PMM2 will be bigger, badder, better, and sexier than the first. Whereas the first film had one vicious monster, the sequel will be an all out monster filled bloodbath! More of the characters people love, and some new ones for the audience to fall in love with. More puppet nudity, more foul language, and more blood by the gallon!
    
We have big Plans for PMM2 including an amazing cast. Not only will everyone from the first film return (including Steve Rimpici (Red Dead Redemption), and Bart Flynn (The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy) but we have added a few exciting new members as well. Joining our cast will be Shawn C. Phillips (Assault of the Sasquatch, Haunted High), Sarah Swofford(Ratline, Pumpkin Scissors) and Robbie Rist (Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch & the voice of Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). As well as a host of cameos. 
     
We truly intend to deliver a bigger, better, funnier, gorier, crazier film this time around. We learned a lot from making the first film and we have talked to the fans about what they love and what they... well lets just say "Didn't love". PMM2 will have:
1. Fewer fart jokes! (we may have gone a little overboard.)
2. More practical gore! (with a bigger budget this time around we can afford to use less CG)
3. Better audio! (Better microphones and a better working knowledge means that PMM2 will sound great!)
4. More puppet nudity! (including some male puppet nudity... for the ladies... um.. and for some of the fellas)
5. All the zany antics, lines, references, humor, and characters that made the first film great.
     
The Impact
In a cinematic world filled with remakes, prequels, sequels, and reboots DIY filmmakers are a true source of originality, ingenuity, and creativity. The original Puppet Monster Massacre was one of these films. A no-budget oddity filled with the blood sweat and tears of its creators. We love the world we have created and the characters that live in it. We need your help you make a fantastic sequel. This isn't a cash in. This is a new story that we are dying to tell. If this project doesn't get funded, then it may be a long while before we see the world of PMM spring to life again. This is a good time to mention that if the film gets funded we have guaranteed worldwide distribution. PMM2 will not sit on the shelf. 

What We Need & What You Get
What we need:
1. To pay our amazing actors. These are pros, people. The actors were volunteers the first time around, but we are doing it right this time and paying these talented folks.
2. Special FX. In the world of DIY filmmaking digital fx are practically free. Since we have vowed to have more practical fx this time around, we will need the supplies to do so.
3. Sound. We want better mics, boards, transmitters, receivers etc. so that PMM2 can sound clear and professional.
4. Marketing. When the film is finished we want to tell the world how amazing it is! We'll do this in magazines, websites, and via some really kick-ass posters and merch. 
5. DVD Production. Its cheap, but it isn't free. We get our DVDs produced a thousand at a time, so sometimes we need a chunk of money to get them manufactured and delivered to our distributor.
6. THE PUPPETS!!! You can't make a PMM movie without the puppets. Our new puppets will be much more advanced than the originals. Most importantly they have legs!!! PMM2 won't be shot entirely from the waist up. They will also have more realistic bodies, and arms that can actually move!
 

Amanda Palmer Wraps Tour of Seven Occupy Sites. Teams Up With Boston Filmmaker Michael Gill To Create "Occupy" Homage Film





Amanda "Fucking" Palmer, who recently wrapped a west coast tour with husband Neil Gaiman, has been visiting Occupy sites around the country, making stops at Occupy sites in L.A., Oakland, Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle, in addition to her recent stops in Boston and Occupy Wall Street. "One of the most fascinating things outside of visiting the sites themselves is chatting to the locals in each town about their relationship to the Occupy movement,” notes Palmer. “Lots of locals are quietly stepping up and driving daily supplies to the sites, bringing food, bringing blankets, bringing water, tweeting news...it's the beautiful sight of a larger, empowered DIY culture taking positive control over their environments.”

Now Palmer has teamed up with local Boston filmmaker & friend Michael Gill to create a video montage of images from the Occupy movement, backed with Palmer's ukulele version of "The World Turned Upside Down".  The 1975 Leon Rosselson song about the Diggers movement was recently recorded at Boston's Mad Oak studios, after Palmer played it first to enthusiastic crowds at Occupy Boston and Occupy Wall Street.

 "It's actually the Billy Bragg version that I knew", says Palmer. "That song hit me to the core when I first heard it and it's a perfect song to share at Occupy. People have been singing along at the tops of their lungs. With lyrics like 'This earth was made a common treasury for everyone to share' you kind of couldn't pick a more perfect song to speak to the movement.”

Michael Gill met Amanda Palmer when interviewing her for a documentary about local and recently deceased Boston music scene hero Billy Ruane. When discussing her plans for “The World Turned Upside Down”. Gill revealed that he had already created a short film of the arrests that took place at Occupy Boston. They quickly agreed on the idea and decided to collaborate on the video which was released today – watch it here! We encourage you to post and share.

Palmer is widely known for having carved a career for herself using social media and direct fan support, she has been an innovator in creating new models in the music business that do not depend on corporations. She recently released “Ukulele Anthem” with artwork by Shepard Fairey, an ode to the DIY ethos to which Palmer (and her army of fans) is firmly committed. Through Amanda’s typical "pay what you want" model, fans will be able to get the recently released “Ukulele Anthem” track and artwork by Shepard Fairey for free or voluntary donation via bandcamp.com.

"The Scarlet Worm" brutal, original Western on DVD December 6


Highly Original Western 'The Scarlet Worm' Hits Home Video Same Day As 'Cowboys & Aliens' - Proves The Genre Doesn't Need To Resort To Outrageous Hybrids

DVD available December 6 


On December 6, two competing Westerns hit store shelves, and they offer two very different possibilities for the genre's future. Cowboys & Aliens is a big studio Western that mixes in sci-fi, CGI and noisy blockbuster elements, seeming distrustful that today's audiences will accept a straight-ahead Western.
The Scarlet Worm (on DVD and Blu-Ray from Unearthed Films/MVD), on the other hand, is a glowingly reviewed independent Western that proves a horse opera can still capture the public's imagination - even on a low budget - as long as its story offers something fresh and original within the traditional framework.

"We feel there is still new ground to break with an old plow," says the film's associate producer Mike Malloy. "But if you look at the recent major-release Westerns, they have either been remakes like True Grit and 3:10 to Yuma or genre hybrids like Jonah Hex and Cowboys & Aliens. We wanted to make a film that resorted to neither extreme. Plain and simple: Make a straight Western with a story you haven't seen before."
Exactly how original is the Scarlet Worm story? "It's the first Western ever to center around abortion, insofar as we know," says screenwriter David Lambert. But he's quick to add, "This is not an advocacy movie that makes any generalizations about the abortion controversy. I wasn't interested in writing a message movie."
The plot of The Scarlet Worm has a gentleman assassin named Print (Aaron Stielstra) hired to rub out a cruel brothel owner (Spaghetti Western veteran Dan van Husen) who mandates abortions on all his whores. Considering himself an artist, Print normally has style and flourish to all his killings, but this latest job presents two challenges: He is being told by his employer to get it done "quick and dirty," and he is forced to train a young understudy while working.
While it's a story set-up that allows for crowd-pleasing traditional elements of gunplay (replete with real practical squibs) and romance (which includes some whorehouse nudity), the film also has plenty of room for highbrow prestige elements, as introduced by the intelligent, highly original script.
And those elements are getting noticed, both in the form of festival selections and advanced praise. With this press and word of mouth, The Scarlet Worm has cut through the throng of other low-budget Westerns, which are mainly just direct-to-video shootemups.
Although Scarlet Worm's cast includes a fistful of veteran Spaghetti Western actors - Dan van Husen, Montgomery Ford, Mike Forest and Ted Rusoff - the film is not a Spaghetti homage. It instead seeks to recapture the gritty realism of the early '70s American Westerns - films like Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid or Robert Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller.
"We aspired to be like those intelligent Westerns," says Lambert, "And while The Scarlet Worm delivers plenty of traditional genre excitement, we're so pleased that we're not being lumped in with the low-budget action Westerns coming out these days."
Judging by the latest advanced review, the Scarlet Worm filmmakers hit their mark:
"Lambert's script rises above ... by investing depth and texture into the characters, their relationships and the serpentine history they all share. He also invests much time in crafty dialogue, bringing a wordsmith's touch to the expected profane, macho insults but also weaving in exchanges that are shockingly philosophical." (Schlockmania.com)