Jul 30 2008

Geekapalooza! The Comic Con Wrap-Up

Who watches the Watchmen? Apparently every living, breathing pop culture nerd in the world. Because that’s who descended on the San Diego Convention Center last week, and The Watchmen was the hottest topic. Oh sure, there were some other high-profile projects (Fringe, Clone Wars) and even some new bombs dropped (Tron 2 footage??). I even saw three Dr. Horribles walking around. What follows is a handful of images that sum up my four days, with my profound observations underneath.

“Hey son, you wanna do something different for our vacation? No, it’s better than Disneyland. Here, put this on…”
Warner Brothers unveiled its new killing machines for Terminator: Salvation. I gotta say, I’m a little disappointed.
Yes, they do have child care at Comic Con. But it’s not the best. At least this little girl had the sense to avoid being chained at the neck.
Here’s Richard Taylor himself of Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings, Narnia). Sad to say, he was drunk on moonshine and picking off bystanders with his atomic shotgun. Here he is aiming at a poor kid in a Wookie costume, or “taking out a minotaur” as he put it.
No, Captain Planet is not wearing a costume. And yes ladies, he’s single.
Chillin’ with the Predator. We ran into each other as I was collecting action figures and he was collecting human skulls. Peace out, Predator!
And yes, there was a special Fraggle presence there, but I will devote my next blog to that.
The only other thing I can tell you from the Con is that Joss Whedon is the pioneer of new media, Seth Green is the Bono of Geeks, and  Boba Fett — from what I can tell — has put on some serious weight.

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Jul 26 2008

The New Marketing is NO Marketing

I am here at the glorious Pop Culture Nerdfest that is COMIC CON. I’ll give you a full rundown soon. But I had to give you a little taste of this, the latest in subversive viral marketing. The new generation does NOT respond to smiling models holding a product, or thunderous voice-overs telling you how awesome a movie is going to be. The smartest people in the entertainment business have figured this out. 


Marketing a movie or a game or a show is now about whispering a secret code. It’s about barely mentioning a company that is part of the plot of the comic book based on your movie. It’s about ARG’s (artificial reality games); scavenger hunts that let the audience discover and share a new project… and thus take OWNERSHIP in it.


This has started happening more and more at Comic Con, and the latest and sneakiest is something called DISTRICT 9.


Prominently displayed around the convention center are banners that say, “For Humans Only, Non-Humans Banned.” There are even signs with the same logo by the restrooms, stating, “Restrooms for Humans only.”

 

Ever so subtly displayed on these signs is a web address, D-9.com.


This has got J.J. Abrams written all over it.


Or if it’s not him, it’s someone big, for some big project. So sly….


Check out the site, and the additional link to ANOTHER site, for MNU – A big corporation called Multi-National United. Their site has a lot about maintaining peace between humans and some extraterrestrial population.


Then today I witnessed a PROTEST MARCH for “non-human rights.” Fifty people with picket signs and everything, marching around noon in the Gaslamp district.


In the “Fringe” panel today, one of the last questions was to J.J., about this D-9 stuff. He had a distinct smirk about him when he said, “No, I don’t know anything about that.”


This is the fan-centric, super-sneaky marketing that gets people talking. Heck, it got me. I think it’s genius, and I don’t even know what it IS yet!

7 comments

Jul 16 2008

Interview With Henson.com

My first official interview about the Fraggle Rock project just posted this week on Henson.com. You can find it on iTunes or link to it through the Jim Henson Company site, here.

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Jul 2 2008

Writer’s Update

Now freshly hammered with notes from all parties involved, I am heading into the second draft of Fraggle Rock. Fear not, no disastrous notes like adding a funny robot sidekick. Every producer and studio exec has been really cool, almost “Fraggle-like” with their enthusiasm and notes for the script. It feels like everyone is pulling for the same thing. 

Now on the other hand, if I had a robot sidekick, that would be Crantastic.
We’ve had lengthy discussions about the plot and character details, and I am so grateful to have some Fraggle Experts in the room. There are many, like Ahmet Zappa, who know far more than I about what Gobo would do or what Uncle Matt really thinks. And Lisa Henson has been constantly watchful over maintaining a true Fraggle Rock tone. 
As a surprise, I even drew up 100 storyboard panels for a chase sequence. I hope it has helped to get the team into the “visual groove” that’s in my head. 
Yes, I have a groove in my head. Maybe it’s more of a divot. Or just an empty spot where I used to access my adjectives. Words falling from brain now. Not type good no. Must go write happy good script yes… bye.

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