Stars of J.J. Abrams series Fringe set to make an appearance at the Calgary Expo April 27-29, 2012!

(Calgary, ab) John Noble, also known as Denethor in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and Jasika Nicole also known as Egypt in Take the Lead, have joined the Calgary Expo's already star-studded line-up.
Fringe, having been on the air since 2008, has become an incredibly successful television series, having been compared to such sci-fi hits as The X-Files and Altered States.
“Both John and Jasika have a lot to offer our convention”, states Event Director Kandrix Foong. “Not only are they talented actors but they are both talented artists in their own right, which is something that the Calgary Expo has always worked to support from day one.”
Priding itself on supporting the arts, the Calgary Expo strives to bring in local, national and international artists to showcase their work in Artist Alley. The Artist Alley section of the exhibition offers these talented individuals an opportunity to demonstrate their skills to both fans and fellow artists. The Calgary Expo will also be featuring panels and workshops that will include topics such as breaking into the arts industries, portfolio critiques and so much more.

The Calgary Expo is a non-profit organization that showcases the incredible talent of comic creators, artists, actors, voice actors, musicians, writers and pop culture icons from all over the world. Founded in 2006, the convention has grown rapidly having hosted guests from every genre including William Shatner, Star Wars' Billy Dee Williams, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, and Emmy award winning artist Bruce Timm. The 2011 convention saw 30,000 attendees and is the 2nd largest convention of its kind in all of Canada.

Guests for the 2012 Calgary Expo currently include Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), Amanda Tapping (Stargate: SG-1, Sanctuary), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adam West (original Batman and Family Guy) and voice actor Tara Strong (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and The Powerpuff Girls), Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Scream 4), Adam Baldwin (Serenity, Firefly, Full Metal Jacket) and Dave Prowse (Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange).
The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo will be held April 27 – 29, 2012 at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
For more information and tickets, visit our website at www.calgaryexpo.com 

LA OPENING DAY ANNOUNCEMENT!

MILLENNIUM ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENTS

RAMPART

WILL OPEN ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10th AT THE LANDMARK THEATRE - LOS ANGELES

A FILM BY OREN MOVERMAN

Los Angeles, 1999. Officer Dave Brown (two-time Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson) is a Vietnam vet and a Rampart Precinct cop, dedicated to doing "the people's dirty work" and asserting his own code of justice, often blurring the lines between right and wrong to maintain his action-hero state of mind.  When he gets caught on tape beating a suspect, he finds himself in a personal and emotional downward spiral  as the consequences of his past sins and his refusal to change his ways in light of a department-wide corruption scandal seal his fate.  Brown internalizes his fear, anguish and paranoia as his world, complete with two ex-wives who are sisters, two daughters, an aging mentor dispensing bad advice, investigators galore, and a series of seemingly random women, starts making less and less sense.  In the end, what is left is a human being stripped of all his pretense, machismo, chauvinism, arrogance, sexism, homophobia, racism, aggression, misanthropy; but is it enough to redeem him as a man?

Directed by Oren Moverman (The Messenger), from an original screenplay by James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential) and Moverman, the film also stars Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Ice Cube, Ben Foster, Ned Beatty, Steve Buscemi, Cynthia Nixon and Anne Heche. The film is produced by Lawrence Inglee, Clark Peterson, Ben Foster and Ken Kao. Michael DeFranco serves as executive producer. 

Produced by: Larence Inglee, Clark Peterson, Ben Foster and Ken Kao

Directed by: Oren Moverman

Written by: James Ellroy & Oren Moverman

 Starring: Woody Harrelson, Robin Wright, Sigourney Weaver, Ice Cube, Ned Beatty, Cynthia Nixon, Anne Heche, Brie Larson

Release date: February 10th, 2011 - NY & LA

Distributor: Millennium Entertainment

Total Running Time: 107 minutes

Rating: R for pervasive language, sexual content and some violence

RaroVideo Announces January 2012 Releases

ROME, ITALY & HOLLYWOOD, CA (January 28, 2011) -- Hailed by cinephiles for expertly restoring rare films by influential filmmakers and publishing them with compelling extras, Italian DVD label RaroVideo announces an exciting January 2012 slate of DVD and Blu-ray releases beginning with the Blu-ray edition of the boxed set that DVD Talk called “one of the year’s best DVD releases.” Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times and USA Today also highlighted this incredible collection of films. FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION BLU-RAY BOX SET will arrive in-stores and online on JANUARY 31, 2012. All the films have been newly transferred from their original 35mm negatives and have never before been available on Blu-ray. FERZAN OZPETEK’S STEAM – THE TURKISH BATH is the winner of numerous international awards and high praise from The New York Times and The Village Voice, STEAM – THE TURKISH BATH explores how one man’s search for self, after returning to his homeland Turkey, becomes a way for him to also understand his sexual identity. Extras include interviews with the director, producer and a twenty minute documentary on the film. Rare and hard-to-find ALBERTO LATTUADA’S THE OVERCOAT is based on the short story by Nikolai Gogol. The DVD extras include interviews and a fully illustrated booklet. Nothing could be better for horror film lovers than a horror film within a horror film. UBALDO TERZANI HORROR SHOW explores how the main character is manipulated by the one that creates the horror films and we get to witness the insanity and bloodshed that follow. The DVD extras include a short film, screen tests and audio commentaries. ALBERTO LATTUADA’S THE OVERCOAT will arrive on DVD on JANUARY 17, 2012. THE FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION BOX SET SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY, UBALDO TERZANI HORROR SHOW and STEAM – THE TURKISH BATH will all arrive on DVD on JANUARY 31, 2012.

ALBERTO LATTUADA’S THE OVERCOAT(1952) Based on Nikolai Gogol’s story with the location changed from Russia to Italy and the time changed to the present, the story is about a poor city-hall clerk (Renato Rascel) whose only desire is for a new overcoat. The town Mayor (Giulio Stival) is planning a reception for some visiting VIP’s in honor of a new, wasteful piece of construction. The clerk bungles his assignment and is fired. But he stumbles onto some bribery concerning the architects and, to keep him quiet, he’s given his job back plus a bonus. He buys his long-cherished overcoat, and it makes him so presentable he wins a new found respect from everybody. But his coat is stolen and the bitter weather causes him to contact a fever and he dies. His funeral upsets the Mayor’s reception when he returns as a ghost. RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 17, 2012

FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION BLU-RAY BOX SET (1972-76) Fernando Di Leo is the master of garish, intricately plotted, ultra-violent stories about pimps and petty gangsters and he perfected the genre with an uncanny accuracy. For the first time digitally restored and remastered in collaboration with the Venice Film Festival: 4 of Fernando Di Leo’s masterpieces – CALIBER 9 (1972), THE ITALIAN CONNECTION (1972), THE BOSS (1973) and RULERS OF THE CITY (1976) - in one box set. RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 31, 2012

STEAM – THE TURKISH BATH (1997) Tired of his troubled marriage, an Italian businessman’s life changes dramatically after he learns that an aunt has left him property in Istanbul. Francesco Alessandro Gassman arrives to the Turkish city hoping that he can take care of the matter swiftly and return to Italy. He is surprised to discover that the property is actually one of the last traditional hamams (old-fashioned bath houses) in Turkey. The family that has been running the Turkish bath for his aunt, takes him in and Francesco gradually rediscovers a long-missing sense of family as he accustoms himself to Turkish culture. Matters become complicated though when the couple’s daughter Fusun falls for Francesco, who discovers himself increasingly and disconcertingly interested in her darkly handsome brother Mehmet. The situation comes to a head when Francesco’s wife arrives to make an announcement. RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 31, 2012

UBALDO TERZANI HORROR SHOW (2010) Alessio Rinaldi, a 25-year-old director, gets the charge from a producer to write the script of his first movie with Ubaldo Terzani, a well-known writer of horror novels. Alessio moves into Terzani’s house to start this collaboration, and a strange relationship of psychological dependence grows between them: Ubaldo Terzani unveils his dark side, and Alessio falls into a state of insanity ruled by the script they are creating and the nightmares he has because of it. RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 31, 2012

WIN THE DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10 ReLEASE PARTY! 

DARK HORSE PRESIDENT MIKE RICHARDSON VISITS YOUR COMIC SHOP!

December 28th, MILWAUKIE, OR - You may be asking yourself why your issue of Previews features Dark Horse president Mike Richardson’s handsome mug.

Well, as we near the landmark tenth issue of Dark Horse’s flagship anthology, we are offering one very lucky comic shop the chance to host the official Dark Horse Presents #10 release party!

In addition to a king’s ransom in prizes, the winning store will receive a visit from Dark Horse president and founder Mike Richardson!

Here’s how the contest works:

Step 1: Cut out the Mike Richardson mask in this issue of Previews. Enter to win by commenting or posting images on the Dark Horse blog (http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/777/mike-richardson-comes-your-store) beginning on December 28. You have until January 31 to tell us why your store deserves a day with Mike Richardson, or post a photo of yourself in the mask in your favorite store. Retailers may post as many photos as they can of store staff, customers, and people off the street. We’ll narrow it down to five finalists based solely on the number of comments and notify them the following day, February 1. 

Step 2: After two more weeks of fierce competition, Dark Horse will pick from the five finalists, based subjectively on a combination of volume and creativity of the Mike photos and comments. The winning store will be announced in the February 13 FOC newsletter, and on the Dark Horse blog that same day.

Retailers: Tell us why your store deserves to host this exclusive event!

Fans: Here’s your chance to show your comic shop loyalty!

One entry per person.

The party will be held the day Dark Horse Presents #10 is released in stores. One store will win a release-night party package including:

• 200 various Dark Horse comics to give away
• 10 trades to give away
• Dark Horse Comics key chains
• An assortment of Dark Horse Comics buttons
• 4 Dark Horse Comics coffee mugs
• Pizza
• A store-exclusive Dark Horse Presents miniprint
• And more!

 

The other four finalists will each receive 10 copies of Dark Horse Presents #10, signed by the big guy himself.

---

The fine print: No purchase necessary. You must be eighteen years of age or older to enter. Contest entries only accepted if they are submitted by 11:59p.m. (PDT), Jan. 31st, 2012, to be eligible. Winner will be selected, as determined at Dark Horse's sole discretion, from all applicable entries and will be notified by Feb. 13th, 2012. Entry becomes the property of Dark Horse upon receipt. Entry constitutes agreement by winners to be publicized and permission to use each winner's name for the purposes of promotion of the Contest without further compensation. Contest void where prohibited. Odds of winning dependent on number of entrants.

WHAT TIME IS IT?!
IT'S ADVENTURE TIME!
NEW ONGOING MONTHLY COMIC SERIES LAUNCHES THIS FEBRUARY
FROM BOOM! STUDIOS AND CARTOON NETWORK ENTERPRISES WITH RELEASE OF ADVENTURE TIME #1!

December 21, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - Cartoon Network’s smash hit animated comedy series Adventure Time is coming to BOOM! Studios' all-ages imprint KaBOOM! in an ongoing monthly comic book series featuring all-new original stories! Hold on to your swords! Adventure Time #1 ships this February!

The highly-anticipated first issue from the monthly series features a story written by Ryan North, author of the smash-hit webcomic Dinosaur Comics, and drawn by Shelli Paroline, the artist of ICE AGE: ICED IN and MUPPET SNOW WHITE.

“It's quite exciting to bring this series to comics. My wife and I are huge fans and sing Marceline's 'Daddy, why'd you eat my fries?' song around the house all the time,” BOOM! Studios Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ross Richie said. “Pendleton Ward has created a brilliantly original voice in this show and it's a true 'All Ages' property that appeals both to kids and also has a substantial amount of adult fans. Watch for the waving snail!”

“It was like a bomb dropped in the office when we announced Adventure Time,” says BOOM! Studios Editor-in-Chief Matt Gagnon.  “Everyone at BOOM! was just as excited as any fan. Adventure Time is such a classic story at its heart- a boy and his dog on different adventures – but the genius of the show allows us to take a simple concept and get really creative with the presentation. Everyone we've worked with is a huge fan of the show and creator Pen Ward has been instrumental in bringing this comic book to life. ”

The ADVENTURE TIME comic series will follow Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, Princess Bubblegum and the other inhabitants of the Land of Ooo as they explore many varied adventures. Since its debut on Cartoon Network, Adventure Time has become a runaway hit, with explosive growth in ratings, huge critical and fan acclaim, a major presence at fan conventions and more, it's clear fandom is obsessed and 2012 is the Year of Adventure Time! Don't miss out on this new phenomenon—this first issue is sure to get snapped up! You can pre-order the books at your local comic shop. Don't know where it is? Go to www.comicshoplocator.com Or you can stop by BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com)and pre-order issue #1 or a subscription today!

ADVENTURE TIME #1 is written by Ryan North with art by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb. This title ships with three covers in a 75/25 split by Chris Houghton and Jeffrey Brown in a 1-in-10 incentive by Chris Houghton, a 1-in-20 incentive by Jeffrey Brown, and a 1-in-30 Chris Houghton Wraparound Cover. This title ships in February, featuring a price point of $3.99 with a Diamond Code of DEC110939.

Additional information about future books in the Adventure Time comic series from KaBOOM! will be available in the coming months.

About BOOM! Studios
Founded by Ross Richie, BOOM! Studios (www.boom-studios.com) is 2009 and 2010’s “Best Publisher” and an Eisner and Harvey Award-winner, generating a constellation of bestselling comic books and graphic novels with the industry’s top talent, including Mark Waid’s IRREDEEMABLE, new HELLRAISER comics written by Clive Barker, PLANET OF THE APES, 28 DAYS LATER, and Philip K. Dick’s DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?. BOOM!’s all ages imprint KABOOM! publishes Charles Schulz’ PEANUTS, Roger Langridge’s SNARKED, and Scholastic’s WORDGIRL. BOOM!’s lit comix-focused imprint, BOOM! Town, recently won the Eisner Award for its first book, Shannon Wheeler’s I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FUNNIER.

About Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) is responsible for building consumer products and merchandising programs for a wide range of brands by securing and supporting long-term licensing partnerships across all categories. As the global branding and merchandising arm of Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, the division manages the consumer product programs for the networks’ award-winning original programming, brands and characters including Ben 10, Generator Rex, Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Adventure Time, Adult Swim and more. CNE also serves as the exclusive global licensing agent for the full portfolio of brands from Spin Master Ltd., as well as Nelvana Enterprises and Spin Master for the award-winning Bakugan brand and the PGA of America for the youth marketplace. Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 99 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.  Turner brands and businesses include CNN/U.S., CNN International, CNN.com and HLN; TBS, TNT, truTV and Turner Classic Movies; Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim; and Turner Sports.