Director's Cut
Last uploaded: (way too early) Tuesday, March 10, 1998

Bits and bytes

Here's some news scoops to tide you over until the late Tuesday night update hits your photonic screen. I spent today surfing the Web for info and got lost. First I caught up on the TV shows I've been missing (thank you Yahoo! for your evil TV section), then lost an hour or so on a spiffy site devoted to Oz, a cool HBO show I've recently developed a taste for. But after that, it deteriorated into visiting web camera sites. So instead of updating the main pages, here's a sample of some news items that've crossed my desk. The big update hits the main film pages sometime tomorrow, after I feed my pet Chupacapra.

  • Let's begin with yesterday's coverage of Stuart Hazeldine's Blade Runner Down script, a proposal for a sequel to the 1982 film. The mention garnished some commentary from some people-in-the-know, both pro and con. But first, let's start it off with a letter from Brian Powell, seated at the back of the room, who's got a question that a lot of people have asked me lately...

    "I just read your Director's Cut for March 8 and I am curious about the Blade Runner Down script. Is it possible for you to send it to other people because I would love to read it? What do you say?"

    Well, I can't say much because of those 75 or so guns aimed at my head if I did start handing out scripts, Bri. No shame in asking and I didn't mean to use you as an example, but this has been a commonly-asked question since Day One, and it's seemed to have grown in popularity in the last few months. I cannot, under copyright laws, distribute scripts. In fact, I may read some but then that's it, and the person/entity/hugely-powerful-force-that-could-squash-my-corporeal-form-like-a-bug nicely asks for the script back. If I receive permission from the writer of the script, and it's not been sold to someone else, then it can get posted on CA. But that hasn't happened yet, and I don't foresee it happening anytime soon.

    Legally, studios and production companies are within their rights to sue you for unlawful distribution of their privately-owned work. Since a lot of people working in studios (including some very nice people in legal affairs, hope you enjoyed that cake I sent you, *wink wink*) read CA, putting up a hot new Universal Pictures or Twentieth Century Fox script would be kinda like jumping outta a plane without a parachute, expecting to land and pick up an espresso. But it's an often asked question, and until I get time to design an official CA FAQ, this'll have to suffice.

    I've heard about places on the 'net that point to places where you can purchase scripts, or (cough) read a script online. As for what those places might be (cough) Psst!!, well, I -- Drew's Script-O-Rama! Tell 'em (cough!)Sprocket sent ya! (damn that cold!) -- I guess you can find out yourself. (Thanks Brian. For being my unlucky subject of focus, you'll get the new Star Wars, Episode One treatment. Please pick it up at my future prison address.)

    Ok, back to the BRD feedback. Most of it was concerning the Jeter book, which I haven't read. Some, like 'gautum' felt that it was "...a very mediocre novel indeed," and said "Any script based on it could not possibly be worth even a tele-movie." (Even with Tori Spelling as Pris? I dunno, man...) Others thought my choice to hire Alex Proyas was all-off, like 'Los Gordos'. "I think David Fincher would be a better choice to direct BRD. After all he is one of the world's biggest fans of the film and modelled much of Seven after it's inspiration. Proyas is competent and has a decent imagination but as far as performances from the actors and a richness of detail and atmosphere I don't think Proyas can touch him with a ten foot pole. Fincher would do the film justice because he would know exactly what he was getting into and what would be required to enhance ad match the depth and quality of the the first film. Also, he's got big B.O. dollars under his belt the studio big wigs would be sure to take note of." One fellow who hands me some trustworthy material even has a website that talks a bit about his thoughts on a BR sequel. 'The Gline' invites you to visit this commentary about a proposed BR sequel.

    But of the ones that has read the script, they were staunch supporters of it. "I agree with you for the most part," 'Dynamic_One' wrote in. "Never read the book but liked the script. But Ford's a busy guy, and with Ridley Scott interested in the sequel he might not come back." Another anonymous individual wrote "With the right director it could be great or it could be a car wreck." Yeah, but name a project that isn't like that?

    Still, for me it's one of the best action specs I've read in a while.

  • Yesterday it was announced that Pressman Films, the people who're developing a third Crow movie, are shifting direction and taking a new approach to the second sequel. Dark Horizons reports the core concept of a crow spirit ferrying dead souls back to the land of the living is out, and a follow-up email to CA seems to confirm that, but from the POV of Zombie's camp two seperate projects are in development now. Anonymous reports:

    "Rob Zombie is taking his original concept of a new dark ages and doing it as low budget independent feature for producers Ed Pressman and Jeff Most. The lack of immediate studio interest in the Crow version contributed to this change. Rob's film will now be totally original while more conventional Crow movies are being developed by Pressman and Most. New scripts are being created all around. This new reality should be seen as positive; Rob will have a chance to create something without the usual studio interference; new Crow films will be put into production without delay."

    Cool. I'm still gunnin' for the Crow Cereal one day.

  • Yesterday I was told Dan Ackroyd (Psi Factor action figures, man! C'MON! You know you want to!) gave an interview to USA Today reporter Danielle Gray.Our scoopmeister 'Zen at the Temple' tells us Ackroyd wrote the script a bit long, and Columbia reps wanted it shortened and to leave it as a 'trilogy'. But the consensus after trimming the script down was that it still fit into two seperate pieces. The scooper says that Columbia is considering Ackroyd's suggestion to run production for both films at the same time and release the fourth film nine months after the release of the third.

    Now, the scooper was a tad unclear as to whether this actually ran in the paper yesterday, or if the interview was held yesterday. (Or, for that matter, if I'm being slimed...)

  • Paramount people, where are ya? First we heard buzz from inside MGM gates that talks were beginning that Cameron may get to do Spidey after all. Now I need my mountaineers to scope this one out for me: a set constructor told me they're being hired to start work on an "elaborate set" on the lot for a film shooting in December. Now, word is this film could have Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, and Steven Spielberg involved with it. What's up, guys? (Remember to phrase your answer in the form of a question for bonus points.)

  • The very cool 'GF2020' reports that X-Files electronic composer Mark Snow announced at the touring convention the soundtrack for the film will be released one day after the picture, on the 20th of June. Snow is currently working on the soundtrack and said it will include a mixture of his electronic sampling and a full orchestra. According to him, other artists such Sting, Beck and U2 will also be on it.

  • A neat project I heard about is called Urban Legend. It's about a college student who's doing a study of how urban legends begin and thrive, especially on the Internet (*ahem* -- must be that cold again). Anyway, because of her investigation she becomes the target of someone who's using the legends for their own purpose. The director is a first-time feature director, an Australian named Jaime Blanks. This guy I remember from before because he created a three-minute trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer that Kevin Williamson wrote himself, and Blanks actually paid to make the trailer himself. Apparently that got the attention of Fox, which hired him to do a trailer for them. The script's supposed to be good enough that Phoenix Pictures wants this one shooting come April, and it's supposed to have that hip Scream-like appeal to it. Anyway, it's another one people will hound me to design a page for...hang in there...right after the Buckaroo Banzai sequel page (It's coming! Really!)

  • Our man 'Beaummont' reports LL Cool J is in Halloween 7, but still no news if Williamson's script incorporates the events of Halloween III: Season of the Witch into its premise. (Hey! I was just kidding, ok?!)... 'TrapeZe' reports Brian "Alien Bounty Hunter" Thompson will get some scenes in the X-Files movie, but I've got no way to confirm that (your Armageddon info hits tomorrow, dude), while someone else tells me Steven Williams character gets resurrected for an appearance (yes, he is dead, and yes, I'm not buying it until I see more, Mr. You-Know-Who-You-Are)...more scoops up tomorrow, including some interesting gossip about Gibson's F451 project, Martial Law (they're filming right now at the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, so get out there pronto!), and other assorted flavors of celluloid ice cream treats. Be good.
  • Patrick Sauriol
    Creator, Chief Content Writer & Director
    Coming Attractions

    Got some neato items from the shoot? Parking passes, photos from the set? Poster images, or the latest hot script making the rounds?
    Or maybe you walked off the set with an extra tucked under your arm, perhaps?
    That's why we're here.

    Send them to our NEW mailing address:

    Coming Attractions
    7971 Burnfield Crescent
    Burnaby, B.C., CANADA
    V5E 2B8

    FAX: (604) 517-4405

    We'll do our best to get 'em on the page. (Just remember to poke air holes in the parcel if it's alive -- thanks.)


    Enter the world of Technopolis!
    Aliens, gangsters and flying roadsters from the 50's
    Published bi-monthly by Caliber Comics
    Issue #2 OUT NOW!
    To order, call 1-888-22-COMIC, or just yell really really loud into the air. We'll get back to ya.

    For more info check out the Technopolis website.

    Coming Attractions

    Previous Issues of Director's Cut:

    December 15, 1998
    December 4, 1998
    November 15, 1998
    October 28, 1998
    October 15, 1998
    October 8, 1998
    October 6, 1998
    October 2, 1998
    September 28, 1998
    September 24, 1998
    September 16, 1998
    August 30, 1998
    August 27, 1998
    August 19, 1998
    August 17, 1998
    August 12, 1998
    August 1, 1998
    July 15, 1998
    July 7, 1998
    June 23, 1998
    June 19, 1998
    June 17, 1998
    June 10, 1998
    May 27, 1998
    May 17, 1998
    May 10, 1998
    May 8, 1998
    May 4, 1998
    April 22, 1998
    April 21, 1998
    April 8, 1998
    April 5, 1998
    April 3, 1998
    April 1, 1998
    March 30, 1998
    March 24, 1998
    March 18, 1998
    March 13, 1998
    March 10, 1998
    March 8, 1998
    March 5, 1998
    March 1, 1998
    February 24, 1998
    February 22, 1998
    February 18, 1998
    February 14, 1998
    February 12, 1998
    February 11, 1998
    February 7, 1998
    February 4, 1998
    January 10, 1998
    December 30, 1997
    December 24, 1997
    December 20, 1997
    December 17, 1997
    December 15, 1997
    December 12, 1997
    December 10, 1997
    December 8, 1997
    December 4, 1997
    December 3, 1997
    December 1, 1997
    November 28, 1997