Armchair Commentary

Clive Barker Exclusive: “Why Do You Choose Any Story to Tell? Because It Excites You”

Clive Barker — writer, artist, and master of the horror genre — speaks exclusively with Amazon Studios about the true nature of fear, finding the right arena for his stories and his Neverland dreams.

What separates great horror from the things that go spatter in the night?

Clive Barker: Metaphysical despair. That the world is meaningless and we’re just bouncing around on it and when we’re finished we die and that’s the end of it. That’s scary. That’s existential. When Sartre put the idea of existentialism in front of us at the beginning of the 20^th century, the idea of human hope was possibly at its lowest ebb. The bombs were going off. Europe was trashed. Economies were in ruins. And worst of all, we’d learned new ways of killing each other. Existentialism arose from the ashes of Auschwitz and Hiroshima and we had to address that very seriously.

There are horrific moments in movies (and not necessarily horror movies either) when something is evoked that has an awe-inspiring emptiness. When we are imbued with the sense that the cosmos is huge … and empty.

Pascal says, “We may enlarge our conceptions beyond all imaginable space; we only produce atoms in comparison with the reality of things. It is an infinite sphere, the center of which is everywhere, the circumference nowhere.

What that phrase evokes is the sense of a limitless empty meaningless space we as human beings have no control over and a total inability to impress meaning upon.

We think we have the power to impress ourselves upon the world in some fashion — through having a family, through feeling love, through our associations with political parties or to a church — and when we feel those connections we feel momentarily safe. And that’s horror; it is only momentary. It’s about reducing our sense of importance. Most horror says, “You think you’re fine and fancy, don’t you. Well you’re not. You’re meat.”  That I can be so easily erased.  In my estimation, all of that is as far from a simple ‘boo’ as it gets.

You tell stories in so many different arenas (books, movies, comics, video games) … how do you decide which is the right one for a particular idea?

Barker: I don’t. They choose it for me. I’ll start something with the intention of being a novel for example, and through one circumstance or another, it will end up a comic book. Or a movie. I’ve found that the story will end up being the format it wants most to. I just try not to get in the way of that.

If you could create a mashup with one of your worlds with one of someone else’s, which would you choose?

Barker: Neverland and my very real, very personal world. As a child it was always Neverland that caught my imagination. I didn’t read Narnia till quite a lot later by which time some of its charm had waned. I was rather too old for it.  I was a very shy kid. A very solitary kid. I couldn’t play games in the play yard. I wasn’t the kind of guy that played war. You have to remember this was twelve years after the second world war. It’s all everyone still talked about. And the cleanup is going on all around us. And we still had ration cards. It’s bizarre to think this, but that’s what was going on. So there was me feeling like a solitary little kid and when the wind came along, I was just carried away. I’ve always loved the sound of the wind. The sound of the wind to me is about the far away.  And there was just something about Neverland that I adored. As a child I used to see myself as Peter Pan and still do to some extent, I suppose.

What has been the hardest story for you to tell?

Barker: My life story. It’s an ongoing story, and I don’t know what happens at the end yet.

Read more from Barker, and learn more about Barker's work with Amazon Studios.

One Opinion on the Emmys

The 2012 Emmy Nominations have been announced. Time for couch dwelling, idiot box watchers everywhere to argue far too passionately over who should  and shouldn't be recognized. So, myself being one of those have decided to share my qualified opinions on the matter as well. Qualified you ask? Yes, I'm qualified. I watch TV.

First observation is that like certain political offices, Emmy nominations need term limits. I mean, merit aside, don't you get tired of seeing the same people nominated over and over again? I love Alec Baldwin, I really do. His performance as a rage filled, out of control, abusive father on "The Call to His Daughter" will never be forgotten. OK, that was low, really Alec is best when he's flexing his comedic muscle in movies like Outside Providence. But does he need to be nominated every year. His ego is healthy. This goes for everyone's sweetheart Tina Fey too. Jon Cryer is also very likeable but six nominations for Two and a Half Men? Really, it has a laugh track. Stop it. Charlie Sheen is smart enough to know this show doesn't work without him.

Then there are the shows that were cancelled but the actresses received nominations. Congratulations! Ashley Judd and Kathy Bates, your performance was so strong we decided no one should watch it anymore. It's a clear case of big screen envy. You used to be in movies so clearly your acting is superior to these small screen hacks. Don't get it.

Modern Family, it's a funny show the whole family can watch. Yaaay!! But nominating four men for Best Supporting Actor and two women for Best Supporting Actress is a joke. Maybe there's just a serious lack of good traditional comedy on TV right now. The mainstream just isn't ready for shows that are actually funny like Wilfred. Or maybe recognize that there are four actors on Parks & Recreation, Nick Offerman, Rob Lowe, Aziz Ansari and Chris Pratt, that are deserving.

 

 

Enough of the negativity you say! Alrighty then, let's mention some folks that should be recognized. I realize not everyone loves it but when will Sons of Anarchy get the recognition it deserves. It's Shakespeare on Harleys with guns and sex. It's America. There are a number of brilliant performances in this show that aren't recognized including Charlie Hunnam.

 

 

I know Louie C.K. received a nod for individual honors but it's a shame to not have the show recognized once again in Outstanding Comedy Series. This will all be rectified when I begin constructing life size Louie C.K. statues across the country with gold plaques reading, "The Funniest Man on the Planet". This is a more prestigious title than Emmy winner.

 

 

I would like to recognize the Emmys for getting one unexpected nod right. Bill frickin' Hader! I'm just glad others are noticing. I've come to expect any time this guy comes into frame that my sides will hurt. Just his presence and expressive, built for comedy face, is enough to be entertaining. Cheers Bill and thank you.

 

 

 

And for the softer side. I love NBC's Parenthood. I do, it gets me every single time. I can make it through an episode for 53 minutes without tearin up and then BOOM!, they hit you with the heaviest moment at the end. It's acted superbly, everyone on the cast; kids included do a fantastic job. With vets like Craig T Nelson (Remember Coach?, loved that show too), Bonnie Bedelia, Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, hell even Dax Shepard is great, the sometimes heavy drama is made believable. Congrats to Jason Ritter for his nomination but I think some others are being looked over as well as the show as a whole. How Erika Christensen didn't get recognized for her emotional roller coaster this season is a shame.

 

 

And a few more things you should be watching Justified, Workaholics, The River (Oh, it got cancelled?), Falling Skies and anything with Nicolas Cage. I know he isn't on TV but we can dream can't we. A few more straight to DVD projects and he'll be there soon, don't worry. Weekly Cage.......

 

--Adam

Amazon Studios Offers Its First Book Trailer Contest

The movie industry has proven that trailers are a great way to get people excited about a story, so it’s no surprise to see the books world take a page from Hollywood, and create video clips to entice potential readers.

And now, Amazon Studios is giving filmmakers a chance to create the official book trailer for a chilling new horror novel, Seed, and win $3,000. The fan favorite will receive a $500 Amazon gift card, and 10 runners up will receive copies of the book signed by the author, Ania Ahlborn.

“I’m so excited about this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what you come up with,” said Ahlborn, who found the “dirty magic” of the rural South inspiring. “Swaying moss hanging off of the branches of an ancient oak, a dilapidated swamp shack falling half-way into the water, the hum of locusts, the smell of algae, the sticky heat — all of these things play into the tone of the book.”

Trailers have been a part of the Amazon Studios experience since the movies and series development site first launched in November 2010. This isn’t Amazon Studios’ first trailer contest, but it is the first trailer contest focused on a book rather than a movie script.

Seed is the story of a man who miraculously survives a violent car crash only to face a profound evil from his past — a dark force hungry for his angelic youngest daughter. Of course, the book is available at Amazon, but Ahlborn has created materials to guide anyone interested in making a trailer: a description of the tone of her work as well as a detailed synopsis of the story. These are available at Amazon Studios.

Some details:

• The deadline for entry is Aug. 31, 2012.
• Trailers should be between 30 seconds and 90 seconds long.
• Entries can employ live action, animation, or even a text-driven approach.
• A successful book trailer will convey the dark and chilling atmosphere and tone of the book, while also communicating key plot points and/or introducing key characters.

Check out Ahlborn’s note to would-be trailer-makers.

Learn more about Amazon Studios.

The Highs and... Highs of Comic-Con 2012

Every self-proclaimed nerd, geek, fanboy or girl, such as myself, looks forward to one event every summer.  The Comic-Con International convention held in San Diego, CA.  The first time I attended SDCC was in 2009. As a day trip down to San Diego for my bachelorette weekend, we were only there for a mere 8 hours.  Sure, some people spend their last hurrah in Vegas or party it up in Miami, but my idea of the perfect bachelorette party was to get my (spray) tan on at Santa Monica Beach, attend a taping of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NOT Leno), and spend a day at San Diego Comic-Con (being from Seattle, I wanted to get as much California in for my trip).  The first time around I was ill-prepared, wearing bad shoes, an Audrey Hepburn screen-tee, and no strategy on how to get into the panels I wanted.  For the first time, I questioned my level 82 Hunter and Guild Leader (from Maple Story) status, and felt like such a poser.  Perhaps I should’ve packed my Hobbit costume from Halloween?   So when the opportunity to attend Comic-Con came around again, this time, I was going to be prepared. With my Comic-Con App installed on my phone, comfy running shoes, and my Thunder Cats t-shirt, I was ready to tackle SDCC Day 1 like it was the Battle of Dagorlad, because I just never know when I'll be at SDCC again.  Below I share, in no particular order, the highlights from my weekend at Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego.

Snakes in a Cage
Which I’m pretty sure came on a plane.  One of the first of many exhibits on my “must –see” list was the Indiana Jones Snake Pit.  In honor of all four Indiana Jones films available for the first time on Blu-ray in one collection, a glass snake pit was created to announce the release at Comic-Con.  This got my vote for most creative display because it creepy yet cool to see real snakes climbing the sides of the walls and glass. Paging Dr. Jones (and Mr. Spielberg of course), I want to go on another adventure with you.  Until that day comes, the Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures will have to keep me company.

 

 

Feeling “Brave”
After getting my morning coffee, I finally worked up the courage to ask a fellow attendee in costume for a picture.  You’d think it wouldn’t be a big deal, but every time I wanted to ask for a picture, I chickened out.  But when I saw Merida from Disney/Pixar’s Brave, I figured, you can't come dressed as a Disney character and say no and finally got my first picture!  Speaking of Brave, through July 19 (tomorrow) you can save $8 on Brave (Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition: Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy) when you pre-order it on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expect millions and millions to be taking this journey in 148 Days
I know I will. Ever since I watched Frodo and Bilbo sail away to Valinor in Return of the King, I have been counting down the days for a Hobbit movie.  Thanks goodness The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releases in theaters on 12/14/12. If the world does end on 12/21/12, it’ll be fine because we’ll all have had a week to watch it.  Get it in as many times as you can.  At SDCC this year, Peter Jackson and a few members of the cast including Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and Gandalf (Ian McKellan) spoke on a panel and even shared a 12-minute clip from the movie.  Don’t remind me on how I let myself miss that one…  On the convention floor, I was thrilled to see the posters from the movie as well as the Trolls created by the talented folks at WETA.  Back to Middle Earth we go!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Browncoats & Whedonites rejoice! 
If you were one of the lucky ones to get into the panel for the Firefly 10-Year Reunion with Joss Whedon and cast, millions of us envy you.  To Joss and the Crew of Serenity- we’re still flying with you.  By the way if you haven’t had a chance to check out this ultimate sweepstakes for any Whedonite or Avengers fan, make sure you visit the Amazon.com Movies & TV Facebook page to learn more about a chance to win Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled (10-Disc Limited Edition Six-Movie Collector's Set) personally autographed by Joss Whedon.  If that doesn’t get your kite flying…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready for a Zombie Apocalypse
In what I believe to be the perfect marriage of Comic Book and TV, that had children in the form of Toys (not the ones for kids, but Action Figures and Collectibles) with a possible baby on the way (the first person shooter video game at SDCC was just okay in my opinion), The Walking Dead had quite a presence at Comic-Con this year.  From the Zombie Make-up Station to taking a picture with Michonne as one of her pets, everywhere you went you could tell a zombie fan was near.   And thanks to Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead comic book and executive producer of the show) I now have five different ways I plan to take out a zombie if World War Z indeed takes place one day.  For the ultimate fan, on display was the zombie statue head of The Walking Dead Season Two (Limited Edition) on Blu-ray in which a bloody screwdriver acts as a key to unlock the set when you stick it in the zombie’s eye.  How sick is that? I also got to witness my first ever Zombie Walk, which if I return next year, I will make sure to take part in dressed as a Zombie Karl Lagerfield (my Halloween costume for this year –zombiefied).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dark Knight Rides
T-minus 2 days (well 1 day for some that will be attending a late Thursday night showing such as myself) before the legend ends.  I’ve never been more excited and sad at the same time to see the final installment.   Actually, the last time I felt this way was when Friends ended…ok, and Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and I imagine how I’ll feel when the 6^th and last film in the Fast and the Furious series comes out next year. Christopher Nolan’s reboot of the Batman series will forever go down as one of my favorite trilogies ever.  Also I would be doing a great injustice to the female population if I didn’t mention all the eye-candy to look forward to – Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, and Gary Oldman to name a few. Thank You Mr. Nolan! – For the fellas you’ve got Anne Hathaway and Marion Coutillard.  To celebrate the final chapter in the Dark Knight series, a full line of Batman cars were on display. (Photos courtesy of the Amazon Toys Team, who took better pictures of the Batmobiles - check out the Amazon Toys & Games Facebook Page for more photos from Comic-Con as well)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not your average Bond Collection… or Bond Girl
Let’s be honest, not even close to a Bond Girl is what everyone is thinking and I couldn’t agree more.  It’s why I asked the fine team at the Fox/MGM booth to join me for this photo op with the Flying Parahawk from The World Is Not Enough on Day 2.  In celebration of 50 years of Bond, fans of the films had the opportunity to take pictures with some of the exquisite vehicles featured in the Bond films.  During the 4 days at Comic-Con along with the Flying Parahawk, the Jet Boat from and Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day, and Aston Martin V8 Volante from The Living Daylights, were all brought in on display for fans to take pictures with.  I got to see a copy of Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection on Blu-ray which if you pre-order on Amazon includes the Limited Edition Hardcover Book that has 50 Years Of Movie Posters.  It’s a definite must-have for Bond fans.  It has over 130 hours of never-before-seen content from the Bond archives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Superman and Clark Kent!
This goes down as one of my favorite costumes at Comic-Con.  C’mon, how often is it that you get to see this?  Also, do you think they came back the next day and switched costumes?  “Ok fine… tomorrow, you can be Superman….”  I was also excited to hear my laminated celebrity crush #4 Henry Cavill, who stars as Superman in the Zack Snyder reboot, Man of Steel made an appearance at Comic-Con.  Less than a year for that to be released in theaters - June 14, 2013, save the date!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resident Evil-The franchise that keeps giving and giving
As a die-hard fan of the Resident Evil video games, I’ll be honest, I’ve never been much of a fan of the movies.  However after seeing the trailer of Resident Evil: Retribution, the fifth installment of the film’s franchise, it has been added to my Must-see in Theaters List.  Director Paul W.S. Anderson revealed at a panel on Friday that this could be one of the last in the Resident Evil films. This means it could also be one of the last times we watch Milla Jovovich kick some zombie…tail, which is why I’m sure most people watch these movies.  Regardless, I’m most excited that Capcom decided to move the release date of Resident Evil 6 to 10-2-12. By the way no need to call for a missing persons report, the hubs and I will be locked up in our house playing Resident Evil 6 until we beat the game – how long that takes will depend entirely on how many breaks we take from my tendency to get motion sickness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next in line for the Throne
No Comic-Con experience would be complete without a stint in the waiting line to get into the Hall H panels.   A good chunk of my time Friday was spent waiting for The Walking Dead and The Game of Thrones panels.  Needless to say after 5 hours of waiting in line, I wasn’t able to get into the either of the panels but why is this still a highlight?  It’s in the lines that you really get to connect with fellow Comic-Coners and discuss and debate the love of your mutual favorites.  There’s a sense of camaraderie as you make another loop around the corner of each rope, knowing that you’re that much closer (and really, making sure no one new tries to cut in front).  Sure, I was bummed I didn’t make it into the Game of Thrones panel, but the company along the way made the time I spent waiting, feel un-wasted.  Plus my favorite character, Jon Snow, wasn’t at the panel anyway…and I was getting hungry and had to use the bathroom.

 

The Artists…
While I went down to Comic-Con most excited for the Movies & TV Show announces, it would be a miss not to mention all the amazing artists throughout the convention floor.  Each booth I passed, especially watching the artists draw on the spot, was like watching an actor give a Tony Award-winning performance on stage.  It’s not every day you get to see raw talent performed in front of you before your eyes.  For me, it might as well have been Michelangelo painting a part of the Sistine Chapel.  As someone who’s been drawing the same characters (as seen in the picture below) as long as I can remember, you can see why I was in awe of everyone.   My favorite new find, was artist Nidhi Chanani.  As an aunt-to-be, I had baby on the brain and fell in love with Nidhi’s artwork and purchased a few on the spot!  For any Amazon Mom or Dad’s out there looking to decorate a new nursery, I would definitely recommend checking her out!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally the Characters...
Comic-Con always makes for some fun people watching. Below were some of my favorite costumes from the weekend. I am relieved I didn’t see anyone dressed up as a centaur.  I don’t care how cool they are, there is something about half-man, half-beast that I just find repulsive.  Unless that half-man, half-beast is werewolf like Alcide (Joe Manganiello) from True Blood. Yes please!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “You Stay Classy San Diego”
To close I take a quote from one of my favorite movies, Anchor Man with a big thank you and shout out to the city of San Diego, for hosting yet another successful Comic-Con!  From the volunteers at the event, to the hotel and restaurant staff at the many places I visited, the city sure knows how to host tens of thousands of out-of-towners with a warm welcome.  So until next time, “You stay classy San Diego.”

--Ann

For more on Comic-Con, be sure to check out IMDB’s coverage and photos of Comic-Con 2012. 

Browncoats & Whedonites rejoice! 
If you were one of the lucky ones to get into the panel for the Firefly 10-Year Reunion with Joss Whedon and cast, millions of us envy you.  To Joss and the Crew of Serenity- we’re still flying with you.  By the way if you haven’t had a chance to check out this ultimate sweepstakes for any Whedonite or Avengers fan, make sure you visit the Amazon.com Movies & TV Facebook page to learn more about a chance to win Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled (10-Disc Limited Edition Six-Movie Collector's Set) personally autographed by Joss Whedon.  If that doesn’t get your kite flying…than maybe this kite’s not for you.

Brow

Browncoats & Whedonites rejoice! 
If you were one of the lucky ones to get into the panel for the Firefly 10-Year Reunion with Joss Whedon and cast, millions of us envy you.  To Joss and the Crew of Serenity- we’re still flying with you.  By the way if you haven’t had a chance to check out this ultimate sweepstakes for any Whedonite or Avengers fan, make sure you visit the Amazon.com Movies & TV Facebook page to learn more about a chance to win Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled (10-Disc Limited Edition Six-Movie Collector's Set) personally autographed by Joss Whedon.  If that doesn’t get your kite flying…than maybe this kite’s not for you.

ncoats & Whedonites rejoice! 
If you were one of the lucky ones to get into the panel for the Firefly 10-Year Reunion with Joss Whedon and cast, millions of us envy you.  To Joss and the Crew of Serenity- we’re still flying with you.  By the way if you haven’t had a chance to check out this ultimate sweepstakes for any Whedonite or Avengers fan, make sure you visit the Amazon.com Movies & TV Facebook page to learn more about a chance to win Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled (10-Disc Limited Edition Six-Movie Collector's Set) personally autographed by Joss Whedon.  If that doesn’t get your kite flying…than maybe this kite’s not for you.

Guest Post: Now Leaving "Eureka" (A View from the Inside)

Amy Berg, Eureka co-executive producer, bids a fond farewell to the funny, smart and inventive Syfy series, which brought joy (and science) to fans for five seasons. The final episode airs tonight at 9/8C, and also will be available via Amazon Instant Video.

"Although I only joined the show at the start of season four, I’ve been a fan since its premiere," Berg told Amazon Studios' Hollywonk blog. "There has always been something magical about Eureka. Not just what you see on screen, but behind the scenes as well. The show brought together an amazing collection of humans, from our writing staff to our production assistants and every member of the cast and crew."

 

Eureka stars, from left to right,
Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Dr. Allison Blake, 
Niall Matter as Zane Donovan, 
Joe Morton as Dr. Henry Deacon, 
Erica Cerra as Jo Lupo, 
Neil Grayston as Dr. Douglas Fargo
and Colin Ferguson as Sheriff Jack Carter,
a regular guy who succeeds with
common sense when genius runs amok.

 

Now Leaving Eureka

by Amy Berg

“First my PDA has a camera, and now black holes are everywhere? People need to know these things!”

Oh, Sheriff Carter. I’m going to miss you.

I’m going to miss your endearing naïveté. The way you see the world and the people who inhabit it. The love you have for your family, the respect you have for your friends, and the lengths you’re willing to go to protect people you don’t even know. Most of all, I’m going to miss your charm. So. Much. Charm.  

You’re more than just a role model for young women, Allison. You are proof positive that genius is color blind. You’re strong and confident but never cold. You’re guided by your mind and your heart in equal measure, and that’s something we all can envy.

The smartest man in the smartest city also has the gentlest soul. You wear your heart on
your sleeve, Henry, and sometimes it bites back. You have all the answers, except when it comes to your own life. But despite everything you’ve been through, you’ve never sacrificed your ideals and you’ve never let down your friends. 

You don’t just save lives, you enrich them. You’re tough as nails, but not invulnerable. So what if you’re not an intellectual, you’re okay with that. You’re not intimidated by anyone, be it politicians, five-star generals, or Eureka’s resident smartypants. You may not always know what you want, but you always know what others need. I want to be you when I grow up, Jo.

Damn, you’re sexy. But you’re also quite handy with a keyboard. That wall you put up was tough to crack at first, but eventually you stopped trying to patch it. Now we know the real you, Zane. You’re a honorable guy with a good heart. So suck it up.

No one has come farther than you, Fargo. You went from bungling button-pusher to the head of Global Dynamics, and it’s been a treat watching you grow. Your inner workings and outer spaciness are a hoot and a half. We’ve enjoyed getting a peek into that inquisitive mind of yours… and occasionally, if not intentionally, your pants.

From uber-smart offspring Zoe and Kevin to overly accommodating Deputy Andy, I’m going to miss everyone who has visited Eureka over the past six years. Beloved town crier, Vincent. Long-suffering Larry. Charming thorns Nathan Stark, Trevor Grant, and Isaac Parrish. Hell, I’m even going to miss that crazy bitch Beverly Barlowe. 

Oops. Forgot one. I’m going to miss you too, Holly. I was just, uh, saving the best for last. Not that I like you more than the others, I just mean… crap.

Now it’s awkward.

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” – Isaac Asimov

Eureka isn’t just a town, it’s an idea.

A place where intellectual aptitude is celebrated, not ridiculed. Not only is it okay to be smart, geeky, or obsessive… it’s required. Don’t let all the explosions, AI takeovers, and space-time disturbances fool you. Eureka is a damn fine place to live.

Guest Post: J. Michael Straczynski on Why Comic-Con Matters

J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Changeling) has a special place in his heart for Comic-Con. It's not just an opportunity for JMS to connect with fans of his work in TV, movies and comics — it helped him succeed as a writer, as he explains in this exclusive guest post, written for the Amazon Studios Hollywonk blog:

What’s so special about San Diego Comic-Con? I hear you ask. Yes, that’s right, you, seated in the last row where you thought I wouldn’t notice or call on you. Sit up straight, stop fiddling with your papers and pay attention, because I’m not going to repeat this.

I lived in San Diego from 1974 through 1981, when I made the long trek up to Los Angeles to pursue my writing career in venues a bit broader than were locally available at that time. Despite being a massive comics fan, I was only able to attend SDCC a few times during those years because ... well, frankly, I couldn’t afford it. The con wasn’t unduly expensive, in fact by most measures it was quite a bargain, but at the time every penny I earned as a writer, and there were very few of them, went into buying writing supplies instead of luxuries like convention tickets or food. Which is why despite being 6’3” I weighed only about 145 pounds. I was determined to make it as a writer or die trying.

Whenever I could scrape up enough cash to buy a ticket to SDCC, I did so, even if it meant not eating for a while. It was that important. Why?

Lemme explain.

There is a vast difference between a convention like SDCC and most of the for-profit conventions that are run more by businessmen than by fans. In the case of the latter, there is the audience and there are the participants — the speakers, panelists and special guests — and rarely is there the opportunity for one to become the other.

But that transition, from audience to participant, from fan to professional, is what fan-run conventions are all about. Despite its staggering size and complexity, San Diego Comic Con is the Mount Everest of fan-run conventions. In the course of its history, it has become a Mecca for those who love the visual arts and want to do more than just look on passively.

As a college student, on the few occasions when I had enough cash to buy a ticket to SDCC, I was able to see folks like Harlan Ellison, and Robert Bloch, and Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury and dozens of other leading professional writers talking about the craft of writing. I often learned more about writing in one hour-long panel hosting luminaries of that level than I’d learned in two years of college work. And then there were all the editors and publishers and agents who came to talk about their part of the business, what they looked for in new and aspiring writers, and what it took to break through the background noise and be noticed by those empowered to purchase your work.

And further down the hall, in the dealers’ and exhibits room, you could find publishers from DC Comics, Marvel and other publishers who would actually take the time to review art by novice illustrators or talk nascent writers through the process of improving your dialogue or breaking down a plot for a comic book.

For as much as the event was about comic book companies and others showcasing their wares, it was also about bringing up the next generation of writers and artists, about the transition from here to there, from fan to professional.

And here’s the amazing, the stunning, the delicious part of it all.

It’s still about that!

There is a supportive and positive tide that runs through the core of San Diego Comic Con that crests in the panel rooms and sweeps people up from their seats and deposits them behind the dais where they encourage the next group to hold on as the tidal surge now starts to come their way. It is as regular as clockwork, as powerful as an earthquake and as intimate as the quiet turning of your considered conscience.

It is a celebration, a passing of the torch, a reunion of glorious madmen and women, a parrot-pretty parade of costumes, a top-flight university in the visual and creative arts...and every year it is my favorite place in the world to visit. Because in the final analysis, the whole thing is about hope.

Read the full post at the Amazon Studios Hollywonk blog.

Ernest Borgnine, 1917- 2012

Actor Ernest Borgnine, who died on July 8th, 2012 at 95, had a career so long that how he will be remembered will depend on your age bracket. For the World War II generation, he will forever be either Sgt. “Fatso” Judson, Frank Sinatra’s nemesis in 1953’s From Here to Eternity, or else the title character in 1955’s Marty, which brought him an Oscar; movie buffs will also know that he was one of both The Dirty Dozen and The Wild Bunch. For baby boomers, Borgnine is synonymous with Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale on the mid-'60s sitcom McHale’s Navy (some may also recall that he was the very first "center square" on The Hollywood Squares in 1965), while TV viewers in the ‘80s will know him as Jan-Michael Vincent’s sidekick in Airwolf. And so it goes, through literally hundreds of big and small screen roles right up into the new millennium, when the actor, then well into his nineties, found a whole new audience as the voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob SquarePants.

Born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917, in Hamden, CT, Borgnine was the son of Italian immigrants. He turned to acting after spending ten years in the Navy, his first big break coming when he debuted on Broadway with a role in Harvey in 1949. Four marriages, including one to Ethel Merman that lasted all of one month (in her biography, Merman’s chapter about that union consisted of one blank page), ended in divorce before he married the former Tova Traesnaes in 1973.

In 2007, Borgnine became the oldest Golden Globe nominee ever, at 90, for the TV movie "A Grandpa for Christmas." It came 52 years after his only other Globe nomination, for "Marty," which he won. Although he didn't win that second time, Borgnine was as gracious as could be about it.

--Sam Graham

Andy Griffith Dies at Age 86

Andy Griffith, one of television's most treasured icons, passed away at the age of 86. Here's hoping they're biting in heaven's fishing hole. Griffith may be gone, but we will always have Mayberry, the rural haven that Griffith's Sheriff Andy Taylor presided over with a firm hand, country smarts, and down-home charm.

If you grew up in the 1960s, I'll bet you couldn't help but get a little verklempt once Earle Hagen's timeless, finger-snapping The Andy Griffith Show theme kicked in during Ron Howard's hilarious and heartwarming 2008 "call to action" for Barack Obama, in which Howard, clad as Opie, was reunited with his TV dad. In 2004, TV Guide ranked Andy Taylor TV's eighth greatest patriarch. Only eighth? Watch the Season Three episode "Mr. McBeevee" in which Andy's unshakable faith in his son is rewarded when Opie's suspect imaginary friend turns out to be a real person. Andy should have been much higher in the standings. As the rock solid anchor of that show, Griffith should also at least have been nominated for an Emmy, but he was snubbed throughout the show's eight top-rated seasons. It was up to the TV Land Awards to recognize him and his show with its coveted Legend Award in 2004.

With Andy Tayor and foxy, folksy Southern lawyer Matlock under his belt, Griffith's legacy is secure, but there are some fascinating aspects to his career that might get lost in the outpouring of tributes. Griffith got his start as a comedian, a sort of hillbilly monologist. His most famous routine was "What it Was Was Football," in which a rube unwittingly attends his first football game. He adapted other routines, such as his re-telling of "Romeo and Juliet," for The Andy Griffith Show. He was also a fine dramatic actor, exploring the dark side of the strapping, gregarious country boys he so indelibly embodied. A career benchmark is A Face in the Crowd, in which he portrays Lonesome Rhodes, a drifter who becomes a dangerously powerful TV demagogue. In 1981, he was nominated for his only Emmy for his sinister turn in Murder in Texas. Griffith kept working over the course of his more than 50 year career. In 2007, he earned accolades for a rare big screen appearance as a curmudgeonly diner owner in the sleeper hit Waitress. There are so many ways to celebrate his career. The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock are available on DVD. His comedy and gospel music recordings are out on CD. He wrote his autobiography, I Appreciate It: My Life, scheduled for publication in 2010. But let's end this on a characteristically modest and touching grace note, Brad Paisley's 2009 music video, in which Griffith, as a sage, overalls-bedecked elderly gent, offers an impatient Paisley advice on "Waitin' on a Woman." --Donald Liebenson