Why Captain America is Filming in London

The Los Angeles Times has published an article on why Marvel studios chose London to film Captain America. Here are excerpts from the article:

The upcoming movie from Marvel Studios was originally to be filmed in Los Angeles. Instead, "Captain America: The First Avenger," starring Chris Evans, Samuel Jackson and Hugo Weaving, will shoot this July in London, where the story is partially set.

But the studio, which was acquired by Walt Disney Co. last year, concluded that London was the best location for "Captain America," largely because the story is set in Europe and will feature a number of scenes in London such as Piccadilly Circus, and also because of favorable tax incentives.

Though Marvel could have done the stage work in L.A. and shot exteriors in London, it wasn't economically feasible to split the production between two locations, given the heavy filming required in Europe, said Marvel Studios co-President Louis D'Esposito, who oversees physical production.

D'Esposito, who was recently recognized by the Los Angeles City Council for his efforts to keep production in Hollywood, said he had strongly considered L.A.

"I actually had location scouts here to see what could be done,'' he said. "But it would have required so much visual-effects work and set construction, it didn't make sense."

D'Esposito acknowledged that Britain's film incentive, which offers a 20% to 25% payable tax credit on qualified expenditures, was another factor. Marvel could not apply for a tax credit from California's program because the film's budget, in the $140-million range, would make it ineligible, said D'Esposito, who personally lobbied California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to enact a film tax program, which took effect last year. California's program excludes films costing more than $75 million.

Jemaine Clement Playing Villain in 'Men in Black 3'

Heat Vision reports “Flight of the Conchords” star Jemaine Clement is in final negotiations to play one of the villains in Columbia’s “Men in Black 3.”

Joining Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin in the Barry Sonnenfeld-directed sequel, scheduled to hit 3D and 2D theaters on May 25, 2012.

Most of the action is taking place in 1969, with Josh Brolin playing a young Tommy Lee Jones, who will bookend the movie.

Most of the new casting will be the villains, whose identities, look and super-abilities are being kept under lock and key. It is known that Clement is playing a villain named Boris, who is described as being charmy and creepy at the same time. (The name Yaz was used as a filler name, and since the script is still being polished, there is a chance the name may change again.)

I've never actually heard of Clement before, so I can't even pretend I'm surprised here, or even excited at this news. The fact that we're even getting a sequel to MIB ten years later is the only shocking thing about this production.

Ellis Directing 'War Monkeys'

ShockTillYouDrop.com reports that David Ellis (Final Destination 2, The Final Destination) is attached to direct War Monkeys. Kevin Munroe was first attached to the project, followed by Kyle Newman.

Written by Cleve Nettles, War Monkeys is about a pair of janitors who are trapped in an underground research facility over Christmas weekend and must struggle to survive an escaped horde of military-trained monkeys.

According to shocktillyoudrop he's infatuated with the 3D technology trend going around right now, so there's a good possibility War Monkeys will be 3D as well, but there has been no confirmation on this as of yet.

"Lost" Goodbyes

So we're nearly at the end.  Less than a week go before the final episode of Lost.  I have been addicted to this show since the very first episode, and as much as I can't wait to see where this all ends up (and I have been avoiding spoilers like the plague), I'm not looking forward to seeing it end, either.

Well, ABC decided to tug on the heartstrings of Lost fans everywhere by releasing this short retrospective from the cast:

Dammit, I'm gonna miss them all too!

Here's a rundown for everything planned for the final week of the show:

Tonight:  The penultimate episode, "What They Died For," which according to early buzz, is supposed to be a good one.

Thursday:  "Time Talks Live:  Lost," a live discussion with creators Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse which will play in movie theaters for one night only.  Check here for a list of theaters and showtimes.

Saturday:  ABC will re-air the two-hour Lost pilot.

Sunday:  The Lost fun starts at 7pm with a two-hour retrospective.  Then, we're on to the 2-1/2 hour final episode, appropriately titled "The End," which starts at 9pm.  Then stick around after your local news for a special Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost at 12:05am, which will feature cast & crew interviews, three exclusive alternate endings, as well as Kimmel's famous Lost spoofs.

And then it's all over.  Can't say I'm looking forward to it (although, of course I am!)

First Full Length Trailer for NBC's 'The Cape'

NBC has released the first full length trailer for their new superhero styled drama.  A good cop has been falsely framed for a deviant crime and must go into hiding while trying to clear his name and eventually connect with his family again.

The trailer lets on with a good bit of information in what we can expect from this series. Its hard to say how audiences are going to react with this one. Some of the events in the trailer come off a bit campy but I enjoy how much it feels like its straight from the page of a comic.  Reminds me a lot of 'The Flash' series years ago starring John Wesley Shipp. 

Hopefully its good enough that audiences catch on to what looks to be a more fun and adventurous show parallel to what 'Heroes' is giving us. There is plenty of room on television for more than one main stream comic inspired show.

'Entourage' Releases First Season 7 Promo

HBO releases the first trailer of "Entourage" season 7 which is premiering June 27 with the episode called "Stunned".

In the season premiere, the director of Vince's latest action film talks his star into doing his own driving stunt, agitating both Eric and Ari. Turtle's attraction to an under performing employee named Alex threatens to damage his fledgling car service business. Ari looks to add to his resume as "the biggest agent in the world" by eying an alliance with the NFL. Worried that his holding deal is about to expire, Drama pressures Lloyd, now his agent, to land him a project.

Jessica Simpson and porn star Sasha Grey are among the celebrity guests this season. The former is playing herself while the latter is taking the role as Vince's girlfriend.

As much as I love Entourage, and I've been looking forward to season 7, what was the point of this promo video? Absolutely nothing happens. If I had never seen the show before or I knew nothing about it, I'd think this looked ridiculous.

We're Being Screwed by 3D Ticket Prices!

Are consumers being ripped off by Movie Theatres? The short answer, yes.

Ever since the release of James Cameron’s Avatar in 3D went on to make 2.7 billion, Hollywood has been nuts about 3D, Studio’s are announcing at a rapid pace almost every new big budget project will either be shot in or converted to 3D. Is this because it better serves the presentation of each individual film, no, it’s because the cost for 3D tickets is as much as %60 percent more in comparison to General Admission in most markets.

There is a growing trend of adding a surcharge to ticket prices for anyone who wants to see a 3D movie of $3-$5. The owners of some theatres have raised prices 20-30 percent, citing "initial costs". Reportedly, it's costing between $7,000 and $8,000 to have a silver screen installed (they're needed for quality reasons). While more honest operators admit theirs only cost $4000.

Theatre owners and VP's have reported these costs, knowing they are untrue. I've looked into this, I've seen the paperwork, they're blowing it out of proportion wildly. You may also see reports of 3D Bulbs having a life of 1,000 hours and costing anywhere between $1,500 and $2,000 when they actually have a life of 2,000 hours and cost theatre owners/projectionists maybe $400 on a bad day.

Is the growing trend of 3D nothing more than a gimmick, absolutely, we’re to believe that the increased ticket prices, inflated to the amount they are, is justified by the cost of providing 3D to the consumer. With any business decision where you upgrade or add new features, you’re going to incur costs, but where do we as customers draw the line in just how much more we should be charged for something.

I’ve heard people compare the re-emerging of 3D to bringing sound to pictures like Warner Bros did in 1926, when every other studio said it was a trend, and it wouldn’t last. The inclusion of sound in film has obviously bettered the entire industry as a whole. Aside from films like Avatar, what has 3D done to increase the quality of individual films, its put more money into the pockets of studios and theatre owners.

When Warner Bros made the decision to release a post converted Clash of The Titans in 3D, it turned into a terrible presentation, and if anything took away from the overall experience, but if the execs at Warner could have done it differently would they, of course not the inclusion of 3D may have helped it's somewhat poor box office run that made that extra little bit.

Sadly we’ll be seeing the growing trend of 3D in Hollywood for as long as us the consumers are willing to pay for it. If you’re upset about the ticket prices now, I wouldn’t hold your breath for a change anytime soon. As much as I’m against 3D being in every movie, like it’s been as of late, I don’t expect to see it fade away soon, much like sound never did in the early 1920’s, regardless of the ridiculous prices we're being charged.

Murphy Writing Nutty Professor 3

Eddie Murphy is talking about a possible sequel to The Nutty Professor franchise, is anyone surpised.

Murphy played almost every character him self, in a large overwheight family inlcuding the main Character Professor Klump.

“You know what, there might be another ‘Nutty Professor,’” Eddie Murphy told Access Hollywood at the LA premiere of “Shrek Forever After” on Sunday, breaking the news of the possible sequel’s latest development. “We kind of wrote something that might be kind of funny.”

Whether or not the film hits theaters, he added, depends on just how funny it is.

“If the studios want to do it, we’ll do it,”

“If you don’t see it, the studio was like, ‘This isn’t funny.’”

News of a possible sequel was first reported in 2008, when The Hollywood Reporter noted that such a project was in the early stages of development.

1996’s “The Nutty Professor,” a remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis classic of the same name, and the 2000 sequel “The Nutty Professor II: The Kumps,” were both a hit with viewers, each earning 273 million and 161 million respectively.

I think people are looking forward to this about as much as anyone wants to see Big Mommas House 3. The project I'd like to see Murphy re-visiting is Beverly Hills Cop, which is said to be in development with Brett Ratner set to direct.

A batch of trailers for NBC's fall line-up

NBC has released trailers for their upcoming fall shows, I have posted 3 below and you can see more NBC.com.

With 24 coming to a close TV is going to need a new drama that mixes action, politics and conspiracies and The Event looks just the ticket to me.

NBC blurb:

"The Event" is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, "The Class"), an Everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancee, Leila (Sarah Roemer, "Disturbia"), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history. Sean's quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including: newly elected U.S. President Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, "Dirty Sexy Money"); Sophia (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes, "ER"), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Sean's shadowy father-in-law (Scott Patterson, "Gilmore Girls"). Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind. Ian Anthony Dale ("Daybreak") and Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek ("Damages") also star in the ensemble drama.

Next up is Jerry Bruckheimer's new ensemble drama Chase, set in the world of fugitive hunting US Marshal's, it looks like another slick procedural in the CSI mould but more hands on action and less lab work, Kelli Giddish looks to be excellent in the lead role of U.S. Marshal Annie Frost.

NBC blurb:

"Chase" is a fast-paced drama from Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("CSI" franchise, "The Amazing Race," "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) and executive producer Jennifer Johnson ("Cold Case") that drops viewers smack into the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse as a team of U.S. marshals hunts down America's most dangerous fugitives. Kelli Giddish ("Past Life") stars as U.S. Marshal Annie Frost, a cowboy boot-wearing deputy whose sharp mind and unique Texas upbringing help her track down the violent criminals on the run. Cole Hauser ("K-Ville"), Amaury Nolasco ("Prison Break"), Rose Rollins ("The L Word") and Jesse Metcalfe ("Desperate Housewives") also star as members of Frost's elite team.

Last but not least we have JJ Abrams Undercovers which is probably the most hotly anticipated of the season, personally I am not sold from the trailer, I love JJ's stuff as a rule but the two leads here lack a bit charisma and it's heavier on the gags than I was expecting.

NBC blurb: 

'UNDERCOVERS' - Acclaimed writer/producer/director J.J. Abrams ("Star Trek," "Fringe," "Lost," "Alias") serves as co-writer, executive producer - and also directs - his first direction of a TV series pilot since "Lost" in "Undercovers" with executive producer/writer Josh Reims ("Brothers and Sisters"). "Undercovers" is a sexy, fun, action-packed spy drama that proves once and for all that marriage is still the world's most dangerous partnership. Outwardly, Steven Bloom (Boris Kodjoe, "Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion," "Soul Food," "Resident Evil: Afterlife") and his wife, Samantha (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, "Doctor Who," "Bonekickers"), are a typical married couple who own a small catering company in Los Angeles and are helped by Samantha's easily frazzled younger sister, Lizzy (Jessica Parker Kennedy, "Smallville"). Secretly, the duo were two of the CIA's best spies until they fell in love on the job five years ago and retired. When fellow spy and friend Nash (Carter MacIntyre, "American Heiress") goes missing while on the trail of a Russian arms dealer, the Blooms are reinstated by boss Carlton Shaw (Gerald McRaney, "Deadwood") to locate and rescue Nash. The pair is thrust back into the world of espionage as they follow leads that span the globe -- and Steven and Samantha realize that this supercharged, undercover lifestyle provides the excitement and romance that their marriage has been missing. Also starring is Ben Schwartz (NBC's "Parks and Recreation").

Jessica Biel is taking on the tall man

I like Jessica Biel, not just because she is an attractive Lady but she seems pretty nice and also is taking her career on a mixed path, eschweing the route of never ending rom coms. Now she has signed on for a new thriller according to ScreenDaily.

French director Pascal Laugier will make his English-language debut with the project.

Jessica Biel will star in The Tall Man, a film to be financed by France’s SND. French director Pascal Laugier will make his English-language debut with the project.

The film is the second English-language project from SND which will also release in France and handle international sales. Budget is $15m with shooting to start in Vancouver in September.

Tall Man is a suspenseful thriller in the vein of the early films of M. Night Shyamalan, SND’s Lionel Uzan tells Screen. Biel plays a woman who must grapple with and track the mysterious figure of The Tall Man who has kidnapped her child.

Laugier, who also wrote the film, says “I like to think of The Tall Man as a sort of Panic Room… outside! It is a ‘woman in jeopardy’ movie with a lot of twists and a strong female character that you feel very connected to.”
Tall Man is produced by Clement Miserez, (Radar Films) and Steven Schneider (Room 101 Inc.).  Jean-Charles Levy and Bonnie Timmermann will also serve as executive producers.

This sounds like another good choice, after taking the big summer action film the A Team, a small thriller that will give her the chance to play a strong everywoman in a role that I imagine will see her onscreen most of the time, is just the ticket to keep the variation going.