Tag Archives: science fiction

Reviews

Cutting Edge Practical Effects Featured In New Sci Fi Fantasy SPACEMAN

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J.K. Simmons and Mena Massoud star in Dan Abramovici’s New Sci-Fi Fantasy

SPACEMAN

New sci fi fantasy by Canadian Film Center alumni is a coming of age film breaks barriers via a deeply human handcrafted story made by fusing old Hollywood techniques with state-of-the art cinematic mastery.

TORONTO (July, 2024) – Press Play Films announces their newest film, SPACEMAN. Written and directed by emerging visionary filmmaker Dan Abramovici, the film stars Academy Award-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Being the Ricardos, Red One), Mena Massoud (Aladdin, The Royal Treatment) and Trevor Copp (Bulfinch’s Mythology). SPACEMAN is not only a fresh and innovative take on some of the most beloved and renowned cinematic genres, it’s something brand-new: A mix of sci fi, fantasy, and coming of age, combining elements of classic Hollywood, a la Chaplin and Keaton, with cutting edge practical effects, in a film that brings to mind classic works by Michel Gondry and Baz Luhrman. 

SPACEMAN is produced by Ali Mashayekhi (The Last King, Evolving Vegan), Mena Massoud, and Dan Abramovici.

SPACEMAN uses mime, stop motion, classic animation, and theatrical elements, to explore one artist’s loss of creative passion and his journey to get it back. Allied with his passion (Mena Massoud), Spaceman (Trevor Copp) has to travel through the looking glass, and battle his imposter syndrome (J.K. Simmons), in order to truly see himself once more.

The film is an exploration of identity, artistic passion, and the fragile nature of human connection. It weaves themes of self-discovery, mental health, and the pursuit of dreams. 

“My hope is to blur the lines between the tangible and the ephemeral. By delving into Spaceman’s subconscious we are able to explore  the cathartic nature of artistic creation and the ways in which it can offer a sense of purpose, as well as the danger and risk to one’s sense of self.” Said Abramovici. 

“Spaceman is a unique film in many ways, including it being highly commercially viable while staying true to its artistic integrity. It’s a movie that audiences all over the world will relate to on so many levels.” Said Mashayekhi. 

After immigrating to Canada, Abramovici used filmmaking to explore his many questions about identity, often using a surrealist approach to broach complex human moments. He began his career  as an actor, most recently on projects such as Sofia Coppolla’s Priscilla, HBO’s  Jane, FX’s What We Do In The Shadows, and CBS’s Star Trek Discovery.

Abramovici is an alumni of the CFC/ Canadian Film Center.

Abramovici sold his first feature film, the comedy BEN’S AT HOME to Netflix and then jumped behind the camera, writing and directing a series of short films, including the Academy-Qualifying PLAY IT AGAIN (Austin FF Best Short Winner 2021), LIMINAL (Raindance, HollyShorts), STUCK (Dances With Films LA), and SPACEMAN.

He is also a Top 10 screenwriting award winner at Cinequest, where Laurence Kasdan (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) and Dennis Lehane (The Wire, The Drop) served as writing mentors.

Abramovici’s upcoming feature, SEARCHING FOR MARCEAU, builds upon this previous work. It has ranked in the top 1% of projects on Coverfly, is a Shore Scripts Finalist, Top 50 at the LaunchPad competition, and a CineStory recipient.Ali Mashayekhi has produced over 85 films around the world since 2003 including; Japan, Indonesia, USA, Netherlands and France, screening at over a 100 festivals and winning several high profile awards including Best Short Film for “Play it Again”, directed by Dan Abramovici, at the Austin Film Festival in 2021. 

Ali is also the Executive Director of the Ethnically Diverse Artists (EDA) Foundation, a non-profit and charitable organization founded by Mena Massoud (Aladdin), which aims to inspire inclusivity and diversity in the arts. Additionally, Ali is the “Lead Creative Ambassador” for the International Network of Aid and Relief Association (INARA) founded by Ex-CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon, bringing creative film related initiatives to philanthropic work. 

Recently Ali premiered at Raindance Film Festival 2024 a Stephen King short story adaptation based on Sherlock Holmes, The Last King, entirely in the Persian language.

This fall, Ali is producing a gritty crime-thriller with Fortin Films, a Canadian production company from Toronto. Currently Ali is the Executive Producer on the travel vegan food show Evolving Vegan, with producing partner and Host Mena Massoud under their Press Play Productions company. 

J.K. Simmons has appeared in a diverse range of projects spanning from motion pictures, television and the stage on and off-Broadway.  He won the 2015 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of merciless jazz instructor, ‘Fletcher’ in Sony Pictures Classics’ “Whiplash.” His performance in the film also garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award, Golden Globe, Independent Spirit Award and BAFTA Award, as well as many critics’ group awards around the world.  “Whiplash” premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and won the Dramatic Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for Best Film.  The film also garnered five Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.  Simmons will next be seen in “The Union,” “Red One,” “SNL 1975,” and “Juror #2.”

In 2021, Simmons was seen starring alongside Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in Amazon’s biographical drama about Lucile Ball, “Being the Ricardos” in which he received an Academy Award nomination.

Simmons was also seen starring in STX’s, “National Champions’ and starring alongside Chris Pratt in Amazon’s sci-fi thriller “The Tomorrow War.” 

In 2020, Simmons starred in Hulu’s “Palm Springs”, alongside Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. He also appeared in the Apple TV+ miniseries, “Defending Jacob,” based on the 2012 novel of the same name.

In 2019, Simmons starred in the second season of the critically acclaimed Starz series “Counterpart” which began its run in 2017. Created by Justin Marks, Simmons portrays both primary characters as two vastly differing versions of themselves.  

In 2018, Simmons starred in Director Brian Kirk’s action thriller “21 Bridges,” alongside Sienna Miller, Taylor Kitsch and Chadwick Boseman. The film follows a disgraced NYPD detective (Boseman) who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a cop killer. Simmons was also seen in Jason Reitman’s “The Front Runner” with Hugh Jackman and Vera Farmiga. He was recently seen in Universal’s thriller “The Snowman” with Michael Fassbender and Rebecca Ferguson and the Warner Bros. comedy “Father Figures” with Owen Wilson and Ed Helms.  In 2017, he was seen in the highly anticipated “Justice League” where he portrayed the iconic ‘Commissioner Gordon.’  

In 2016, Simmons voiced the character of Kai in Dreamworks’ highly anticipated “Kung Fu Panda 3” that released in January and voiced the character of ‘Mayor Leodore Lionheart’ in Disney’s “Zootopia” which released in March. Also in 2016, Simmons was seen in Sony Pictures Classics “The Meddler” with Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne and Gavin O’Connor’s “The Accountant” with Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick. Simmons also portrayed the real-life hero Jeff Pugliese in the 2016 Boston marathon film “Patriot’s Day” directed by Peter Berg. That same year Simmons completed production on an independent film entitled “I’m Not Here” which was directed by his wife Michelle Schumacher.  

He is known for playing the character J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s “Spider Man” trilogy and memorably, his portrayal of the off-beat but not deadbeat father, Mac McGuff, in the hit comedy “Juno.” 

Past projects include “Terminator: Genisys,” “Jobs,” “Labor Day,” “The Words,” “The Music Never Stopped,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Extract,” “The Vicious Kind,” “I Love You Man,” “Beginner’s Guide to Endings,” “Contraband,” “Hidalgo,” “The Ladykillers,” “The Mexican,” “Off the Map,” “For Love of the Game,” “The Gift,” “Thank You for Smoking,” “Rendition,” “Burn After Reading” and the Academy Award-nominated “Up in the Air.” 

On the small screen, Simmons played LAPD Assistant Chief Will Pope in TNT’s hit series “The Closer.” He also played Vern Schillinger on HBO’s acclaimed drama “Oz,” and had a recurring role as Dr. Emil Skoda on NBC’s “Law & Order.” He has had guest starring roles on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” and a recurring role on TBS’ hit comedy “Men at Work.” Simmons has appeared on the Broadway stage in performances of “Guys and Dolls,” “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” “A Change in the Heir,” “Peter Pan” and “A Few Good Men.”  J.K. Simmons is repped by Gersh. 

Mena was born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He attended the University of Toronto for Neuroscience before transferring to Ryerson University’s notable theater program and graduating with a BFA in acting. He got his first big break starring in ABC Spark & Teen Nick’s mystery-drama television series “Open Heart” as “Jared Malik.”

After several years of acting in high-profile television and film projects, Massoud went on to star as “Tarek Kassar” in the highly-anticipated series “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”.

In 2018 it was announced that, after an extensive worldwide search and multiple auditions, he had landed the coveted role of “Aladdin” in the Disney live-action remake of “Aladdin,” directed by Guy Ritchie. After leading “Aladdin” to the highly coveted $1 Billion Dollar mark at the box office, Massoud went on to star in Netflix’s “The Royal Treatment” which became its #1 film worldwide for several weeks in a row in 2022.

Mena’s banner Press Play Productions was set up to address a growing need for diverse stories and content, particularly from the MENA region, which comprises fast-growing entertainment industries. The international expansion of streaming services such as Netflix into MENA has provided more commissioning opportunities for companies like Press Play. Mena Massoud is repped by LINK Entertainment, Gersh and Hensen, Jacobson, Teller & Hoberman.

For the Silo, Lon Haber.

Culture

A Historical Look At Robots In Cinema

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You probably just heard a robot in your head right? And depending on when you grew up there is one particular robot voice that you heard. Perhaps you grew up in the 1960’s and heard “EXTERMINATE!!!” or you grow up instead in the 1970’s and it was Mel Blanc’s “Twikispeak” or maybe you grew up in the 1980’s or the 2000’s (and later!) and heard Anthony Daniel’s charming English butler like C3P0 voice.

Tell us in the comments below if this was the case.

Evolution Of Robots In Film Infographic

Convert your voice or audio to a robot’s voice.

Did we miss any? Which ones are your favorite and why? We’d love to hear from you.

Fashion

Why Costume Designers Always First To Encounter Actors

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During the 12-year span of The Naked Truth, many of the world’s most alluring and enchanting actresses passed through the costume fitting room doors of costume designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac atelier.

Among them were Maude Adams, Jonelle Allen, Eve Arden, Belinda Bauer, Marisa Berenson, Joan Blondell, Ahna Capri, Kim Cattrall, Rosemary Clooney, Arielle Dombasle, Barbara Eden, Britt Eklund, Anne Francis, Eva Gabor, Erin Grey, Pamela Hensley, Olivia Hussey, Anne Jeffries, Maren Jensen, Carole Lawrence, Kay Lenz, Sondra Locke, June Lockhart, Sarah Miles, Anita Morris, Patricia Neal, Sheree North, Andrea Marcovicci, Yvette Mimieux, Donna Pescow, Eleanor Parker, Daphne Maxwell-Reid, Barbara Rush, Cybill Shepherd, Brooke Shields, Jill St. John, Jean Simmons, Laurette Spang, Camila Sparv, Stella Stevens, Ann Southern, Gloria Swanson, Liz Torres, Sela Ward, Lesley Ann Warren, Nancy Walker, Alfre Woodard and “Mae West.”

Original Battlestar Galactica Costume Design Sketch

Forget about a painted façade, towering elaborate hairdo, ostentatious and chunky borrowed jewelry, an overly pushed up décolletage and a see-through spangled gown—the true magnificence of a movie star is in her demeanor and sincerity, not in the all-too-plastic manifestation.  As has been stated many times, “beauty is only skin deep.”  With all the cosmetic surgery and filler injections available now, that is hardly true any longer.

Deep beneath the surface of what everyone sees is where the true splendor of a person lies.  It’s not in the eyeliner or false eyelashes, bright lip gloss, rouged cheeks, stiletto pumps or wearing something someone else has borrowed from a designer you never heard of … although in the ongoing Hollywood parade where everyone tries to out “glam” one another, it appears to be de rigueur.

Few of the true beauties ever subscribe to such theories.  What made each of them unique and magnificent were their skills, goodness, kindness and attitude, above all.

Life Looks Better When You Do 1985
Life Looks Better When You Do 1985

Many of the greats never wore anything but casual clothes when they went about their daily lives, sans make-up and glitz.  Few were pretentious and none thought of themselves as better than anyone else.  The ones that professed to be “the best” usually had the shortest careers in the long run.

Since costume designers are always the first to encounter an actor or actress, usually hired unseen through casting, their experiences are the bar by which those who have yet to work with these performers is measured.  Depending on the first encounter, many artists are never hired again because of their lack of professionalism and ability.

In The Naked Truth, award-winning costume designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac’s entertaining chronicle of 12 years, readers will revel in the highly explosive stories that are filled with entertaining confrontations of every nature and, heretofore, untold tales of the glitter and tinsel capital’s drastic change that began in the early ’70s.

This often funny and quite fortuitous success story is filled with splashy tales and entertaining confrontations involving glamour, politics, graft, sex, scandal, and candid accounts of the glitter and tinsel capital’s assets being sold off by the new capitalist.

About the Author
Jean-Pierre Dorléac is no stranger to the film industry.  His award-winning costume designs can be seen in Somewhere in Time, The Blue Lagoon, Heart and Souls, Battlestar Galactica, Quantum Leap, Knightrider, Airwolf, The Lot and numerous other award winning productions.

The Naked Truth
by Jean-Pierre Dorléac
Publisher:  Monad Books
ISBN: 0974551111
Book and e-book available nationwide at independent and major book stores, Amazon.com or contact marketingdirector@thesilo.ca

Art

Was Fabled Pontiac Aztek Design Influenced by Bladerunner?

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Upon it’s release in 1982 Bladerunner polarized film critics and quickly divided the viewing audience. Critics had no cinematic basis on which to make a comparison and watchers were unsure what to make of it. There were a few forward thinkers who sensed its bold departure from the ordinary and they mainly focused on the mindblowing design of its imagined world. We can say the same about the Pontiac Aztek upon it’s release in 2001.

Image result for bladerunner city street

More than an exercise in design.

Bladerunner crammed a lot into a relatively short running time: a detective story (which really should used the phrase “bounty hunter adventure”), a love story (how could Deckard NOT fall for the gorgeous Rachel?) , a revenge story (Batty’s answer to the inevitable end of his four year life span was to murder his creator)and a number of subplots that are beyond the scope of this short article. As the years passed, re-cuts and re-releases proved the critics to be wrong. Bladerunner is Shakespearean.

Before becoming a leading Futurist and designer for Hollywood, Syd Mead was an automobile concept artist.
Top: A taxi cab design by Mead for Bladerunner. Bottom: The 2001 Aztek GT in Aztek Yellow.

Aztek

When it was released, The 2001 Aztek GT didn’t win over automobile reviewers or the car-shopping public but in the last half decade perspectives have changed, online fan pages have sprung up and buying demand is on the rise.

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Culture

Former Canadian Minister Of Defense Claimed UFOs Are Here

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Some years ago, in 2015,  I spoke with Paul Hellyer the former Canadian minister of defense, who stated he believes UFOs are from another planet and that the U.S. Government has kept it covered up.

As Canadian Minister of National Defense in 1963, Hellyer was responsible for integrating and unifying the Royal Canadian army, navy and air force into a single organization, the Canadian Armed Forces.

He is outspoken about UFOs visiting Earth and the US Banking System that he feels is greatly responsible for the present economic hard times. He feels we are naive and fail to understand we are being visited by alien life forms.

https://www.tvo.org/video/archive/hon-paul-hellyer-on-ufos

He told me he had spoken with key US government officials who confirmed aliens are visiting us and providing advanced technology.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel Hellyer BookHis book, “Light at the End of the Tunnel: A Survival Plan for the Human Species” reveals that humans are hell bent for extinction unless we change our attitudes and actions with an urgency appropriate to an impending disaster. Paul Hellyer suggests that we have about ten years to wean ourselves from the oil economy and profoundly regrets that the Copenhagen Conference reflected little progress in that direction.

The whole atmosphere was one that reminded him of Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned. World leaders simply have to do better! The book outlines the three monumental changes required to accommodate the miracle. First, the book claims that exotic energy sources already exist. They have been developed by the U.S. “shadow government” at the massive underground “black operation” installations in Nevada and Arizona using technology borrowed from visitors from other planets. Yet they remain secret for the alleged benefit of the privileged few. Second, the money has to be found to subsidize poor nations and facilitate major changes. This can be accomplished by a fundamental re-working of the monetary and banking system. Bank leverages must be dramatically reduced and the percentage of virtual money they create as debt strictly limited so that governments can gain the financial flexibility to finance the transition to sustainability. Finally, it will be necessary for all countries, races, faiths and colors to drop their antagonisms and work together in common purpose to save the heritage they have in common.

When Hellyer was Canada’s Minister of National Defense he stated, “I got periodic reports on sightings and I looked at them very casually, and it was decided that about 80 percent of them were natural phenomena of one sort or another, and the other 20 percent roughly were unexplained, and therefore unidentified. While spending one Thanksgiving holiday north of Toronto, Hellyer and his wife spotted an UFO. “The two of us stood there transfixed for 20 minutes, looking up at this thing moving first in one direction, and then another. By process of elimination, we determined it wasn’t a star or satellite and it wasn’t the space station, so there was really no explanation for it other than it was, in fact, a UFO.”

“It looked like a star, but it maneuvered in a way that stars do not. I must admit that when I saw this one, I wondered whether it was extraterrestrial or American. And I guess the thought that occurred to me was that if it is American, then they have learned some pretty big secrets about acceleration, because it accelerated at a pace that nothing I’ve ever known about that was built here is capable of.”   For the Silo, George Filer.  Join MUFON.

Supplemental- renowned Scientist Stephen Hawking warns about the danger of Extra-terrestrials.

Culture

Sci Fi Like Devices Part Of Queen’s Park Security Update

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Canadian director James Cameron projected into the future for 1986's Aliens radar motion tracker. Now this tech seems to be ready for Queen's Park.
1986 film- Aliens radar motion tracker. Now this tech is ready for Queen’s Park.

Eight years ago at Queen’s Park, the Cross-Border Institute (CBI), part of the University of Windsor, hosted an event to demonstrate advances in security, surveillance and fingerprinting technology. That technology had immediate application for border crossing screening, supply chain security and cybersecurity.

The CBI hosted the event as part of its mandate to support ongoing, practical research aimed at addressing numerous cross-border issues with the United States. The CBI works in collaboration with a number of University of Windsor departments, private sector partners and organizations and all levels of government, looking at making land border crossings work better.  The technologies demonstrated represented a number of research projects and initiatives currently being conducted at the University of Windsor as part of its strategic focus related to understanding borders. These projects and activities were also supported by the Department of Research and Innovation at the University of Windsor.

Queen’s Park staff and members had a first-hand opportunity to see the work of Dr. Roman Maev’s high-speed biometrics ultrasonic system for 3-D fingerprint imaging. This system allows reconstruction of fingerprint patterns from deeper layers of skin while embedding the internal parameters of these deeper layers as key features of the fingerprints. Also on display was Dr. Sazzadur Chowdhury’s 77GHz short range radar. At the time- the smallest and thinnest in the world and economical enough to be carried by an individual for mobile motion detection or used in multiples in such large surveillance application as airports. Cue the Aliens movie soundtrack.  Both Drs. Maev and Chowdhury are members of the University of Windsor Faculty.

The University of Windsor has developed an area of expertise in technologies that can detect threats and violations, provide positive identification and secure the transfer of data. The projects all have practical security applications and are at or approaching the commercialization stage. All of these projects have received support from the Federal Development Corporation for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) Prosperity Initiative Project 802390, which is administered by the Cross-Border Institute at the University of Windsor.

Quick Facts: The Cross-Border Institute at the University of Windsor was founded in 2008 under the direction of Dr.  Bill Anderson.  The Centre approaches the study of border issues from a multi-disciplinary perspective that includes economic development, geography, engineering, management science and political science.  The CBI has focused on initiatives, events and research that address ongoing challenges at land crossings between Canada and the United States. The CBI, as part of the University of Windsor, looks at the impact of trends in cross-border transportation and the impact of policy decisions by governments on both sides of the border. Currently, the CBI is working to launch Canada’s first university level certificate program in border management, Managing Borders and International Trade.

Technology Quick Facts:
Short Range Radar for Surveillance Applications – UWindsor engineering professor Dr. Chowdhury has developed the world’s smallest and thinnest short-range radar unit. Because it is inexpensive to build and completely weatherproof it can be used effectively in a variety of applications for motion detection, ranging from individual units attached to a soldiers uniform to arrays of units for border and perimeter surveillance.

High Speed Biometrics Ultrasonic System for 3D Fingerprint Imaging – World-renowned UWindsor physicist Dr. Maev has taken a new approach to fingerprinting using acoustic microscopy technology. This device generates far more detailed information from fingerprint images below the skin level, making it more accurate than conventional technologies, yet it is fast and practical.

Real Time Location System for Security and Indoor Location – Based on the novel indoor positioning method developed by Dr. Majid Ahmadi and Dr. Rashid Rashidzadeh at the University of Windsor, this system will identify, locate and track people in indoor environments. Its positioning algorithm takes advantage of various sensors on smartphones to improve positioning accuracy.

Automated Vehicle Identification – Cameras that can read license plate information are increasingly common. University of Windsor computer scientists Dr. Imran Ahmad and Dr. Boubakeur Boufama have taken this technology several steps farther, allowing the shape and colour of a car to be extracted from video feeds and stored in a database. This technology will be tested in the University of Windsor’s new parking structure in the Spring of 2015.

Data Encryption Using Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) – Data encryption is an increasingly important function that normally requires the use of expensive add-on cards known as crypto-accelerators. UWindsor researcher, Dr. Roberto Muscedere has developed algorithms that make it possible to achieve the same kind of encryption using much cheaper GPU units typically found in laptop computers and game consoles.

Secure vehicle-to-vehicle (v2v) communications – Advanced vehicular communications technology has enabled such life-saving features as collision warning, collision avoidance and emergency vehicle signaling. However these systems may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks that threaten the privacy and safety of drivers and passengers. University of Windsor faculty researchers Dr. Mitra Mirhassani, Dr. Kemel Tepe and Dr. Wu and their students are working to fill security gaps in V2V systems.

Control, Monitoring and Surveillance in Wireless Systems – Large scale power and communications systems, manufacturing and process control plants, networked building energy systems and others are increasingly controlled by autonomous, sensor-rich, wireless systems. Given the consequence of failure in these systems and the danger of cyber-attacks upon them, UWindsor researchers Dr. Mehrdad Saif, Dr. Rashid Rashidzadeh, Dr. Alavi and Dr. Razavi-Far are developing methods to detect intruders and faults early.

Sensor fusion for concealed weapons detection – Conventional images are good for revealing a person’s identity, while infrared images can spot concealed weapons. But what if you want to both identify a person and know if they are concealing a weapon? A University of Windsor engineer, Dr. Jonathan Wu, has found a way to fuse information from different sensors to produce a clear image not only of a suspect’s appearance but also of any concealed weapon they are carrying. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker. 
Learn More: www.uwindsor.ca/crossborder

Sci-Tech

Discrimination Against Cyborgs? Tomorrow’s Hate Crime…Today

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Neil Harbisson -cyborgist (image creative commons)
Neil Harbisson -cyborgist (image creative commons)

We tend think of cyborgs as something from the type of ‘horrible future’ depicted in video games and science fiction movies. At least I do, but every once in a while I come across something that reminds me that I am already living in that future. Hate crime against cyborgs may seem like bad fiction, but it has already happened.

Waaay back in 2012 Toronto cyborg, Steve Mann, claims he was assaulted in a Paris McDonald’s just for wearing his EyeTap. Mann is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Toronto. He is known as the father of wearable computing and is the inventor of the EyeTap, among other things. The EyeTap is an assistive device that can enhance visual information for people who are visually impaired, but can also superimpose extra information on top of the visual scene. For instance, it can overlay infrared heat signatures, measurements, or statistics.

Mann states he was confronted about his EyeTap while in line to order but was left alone after he showed the employee his doctor’s note (something Mann always travels with) which explains exactly what the device is for and why Mann wears it. After eating Mann was surrounded and manhandled by several McDonald’s employees who were concerned that he was filming trade secrets. The employees tore up his doctor’s note and tried to rip off the EyeTap device. However, the EyeTap does not come off without special tools: it cannot just be removed. Although the EyeTap was damaged in the altercation, it managed to capture footage of the employees who assaulted Mann, who was upset but essentially uninjured. McDonald’s consistently denied any wrongdoing in this case despite these images.

But this is just a one-off event right? I suspect that is not the case. In a very real sense, cyborgs are already here. More and more people are turning to the sort of assistive devices that blur the line between human and machine. If you think about it, a cyborg is what you get when you enhance human abilities by adding mechanical elements.

Imagine a deaf person. After a lifetime of being deaf, he gets a cochlear implant allowing him to hear for the first time. His natural abilities have been extended using technology. Another person has a pacemaker that allows her heart to beat in a regular rhythm. Her natural abilities have been extended with technology. Sure, it is not laser hands or a Wi-Fi connection to the hive mind, but it is real and fits the definition.

The Cyborg Handbook estimates that ten percent of Americans qualify as cyborgs in a technical sense. That’s the thing about the future: we are so used to living in it; we forget to be impressed by it. There are also, however, a handful of people who would be considered cyborgs in the traditional sense.

For instance, Steve Mann himself is generally considered a cyborg. Neil Harbisson, artist and cyborg activist is the first person to be legally recognized as a cyborg. Born colour-blind, Harbisson created a head mounted device which turns colour frequencies into sound. He later had a version of this device implanted directly into his skull. With his “Eyeborg” implant Harbisson can now hear colours even into the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum.

Just as more people get closer to being proper cyborgs, more people are starting to push back against what they see as a harmful trend. Stop the Cyborgs is a real group dedicated to preventing a future where privacy is impossible, where we in fact have no expectation of privacy, where surveillance is normalized. It is difficult to argue with that, none of us regular people want to create an Orwellian surveillance state on purpose.

Fear factor? The recurring cyborg character "Davros" from TV's and Netflix' Doctor Who
Fear factor? The recurring cyborg character “Davros” from TV’s and Netflix’ Doctor Who

Their second point of contention is much more problematic. Stop the Cyborgs wants to ban or restrict wearable computing devices that can record and upload data, just as an increasing number of people are turning to such devices to manage their tasks of everyday living. They argue that wearable technology blurs the line between human and machine, with the implication of course, that this is a bad thing. They do make a limited exception for people using ‘assistive devices’ as long as the device itself and the data it gathers remain in the sole possession of the individual.

But how do they, and more importantly, how do you determine that on a daily basis? This ‘cyborgs are bad’ mindset is going to lead in a bad direction. With the widespread release of Google Glass this past spring, we are only going to see more integration of people with their computing devices. As the price goes down, a greater number of people are going to adopt wearable technologies.

Stop the Cyborgs seems like a knee-jerk reaction to the introduction of Google Glass, which threatens to normalize an always-on type of surveillance. They even go so far as to suggest that we cannot know if cyborgs are in control of their own implants, or even of their own bodies. But the actual threat is probably much less serious than that.

First, we are already at the point where we could be filmed at any time. Nearly everyone has a video camera in their phone, and most of us are recorded by closed circuit security cameras all day long as we go about our business. If we assume that every person wearing an assistive device is some sort of covert-ops tool of the state, things are going to get ugly very quickly. For instance, Stop the Cyborgs just released a new device called Cyborg Un Plug that prevents cyborgs in your vicinity from connecting with the hive mind, er, internet and uploading video or audio data.

Second, as Steve Mann points out, these cameras can be used by regular people to keep a record of the doings of the state and its agents, like the police. Mann calls this ‘sousveillance’ which essentially means watching from below. Recording and sharing the events of everyday life can allow people to share their personal experiences with others, can provide an alibi when there is alleged wrongdoing, and can make it easier to make power-holders accountable for their actions. These are the real trends to watch for as wearable computing becomes more common. For the Silo, Cathy Greentree.

Supplemental:

http://stopthecyborgs.org/

http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/profiles/steve-mann-my-augmediated-life

http://cyborganthropology.com

Comics

Sophia Robot Will Make Appearance Next Year At Comic Con

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Artificially intelligent humanoid robot, Sophia, will make her first comic convention appearance at the first annual Ogden UnCon June 7-9, 2019. Sophia the Robot, the masterpiece of Hanson Robotics (www.hansonrobotics.com), has captivated nations and has become an internet sensation. Sophia has met with world leaders, addressed the United Nations, appeared on TV shows such as The Daily Show and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and has graced the cover of Cosmopolitan, ELLE magazine, and more.  Now, this modern marvel is coming to Ogden, Utah to meet her fans and kick off Ogden UnCon’s first event.

Ever since her unveiling in 2016, Sophia has quickly rocketed to stardom. Sophia is Hanson Robotics’ most advanced human-like robot, created by combining breakthrough innovations in robotics, AI, and artistry. The epitome of artificial intelligence, Sophia is endowed with remarkable expressiveness, aesthetics, and interactivity, and can simulate a full range of facial expressions, track and recognize faces, and hold natural conversations with people.

Just like Ogden UnCon, Sophia shares a remarkable, unique and unexpected story that captivates and surprises, making her the perfect headliner for our inaugural year.

Sophia Robot Ogden ComicCon

“Sophia is the personification of the comic con spirit.” says Russ Adams, Ogden UnCon founder.  “She is science fiction, fantasy, technological marvel, and superhero come to life. And we are honored she is making her geek-dom debut at Ogden UnCon.”  

Fans attending Ogden UnCon will have the chance to engage with Sophia as she greets them on celebrity row, performs on multiple panels and parties with other celebrities and VIP ticket holders at the UnCon VIP Party. Other celebrities such as Naomi Grossman of American Horror Story, Amy Hill of Preacher, Neil Kaplan of Voltron: Legendary Defenders, and many more who have yet to be announced, also round out the show’s guest list.  

“Ogden UnCon is going to be a huge event for Ogden,” shares Ogden Downtown Alliance’s Danielle Collier, “not only will it bring guests to share in all Ogden has to offer, but it will drive our local economy, add excitement in a different realm and create an opportunity to celebrate arts and culture.” This three-day event will bring $700,000 USD in economic impact to local businesses.

Ogden UnCon is focused on bringing unconventional shows, panels, workshops and celebrity guests to Northern Utah. As Ogden’s “Untamed & Unconventional” popular culture con, this convention seeks to inspire and support local artists while entertaining and thrilling our community.

Innagural Ogden UnCon
June 7-9, 2019
Ogden Eccles Conference Center
2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden Utah 84401

Tickets for Ogden UnCon go on sale October 1, 2018. To see a full celebrity lineup and purchase tickets visit OgdenUnCon.com. Stay up to date with happenings and announcements by following @OgdenUnCon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Ogden UnCon

Ogden UnCon is a limited liability company and an annual event dedicated to the appreciation of pop culture, its creativity, and art forms. Through our convention, we will shine a light on the arts, artists, and city of Ogden, Utah.
http://www.ogdenuncon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OgdenUnCon/
https://twitter.com/ogdenuncon/ 
https://www.instagram.com/ogdenuncon/

About Hanson Robotics Limited

Hanson Robotics Limited (HRL) is an AI company dedicated to research, robotics and the creation of the world’s most realistic humanoids. We quest to create robots with intellect, empathy and wisdom, traits future AI technologies and robots will need in order to solve some of humanity’s toughest problems. Led by renowned roboticist, sculptor and former Disney imagineer David Hanson, HRL recently received the prestigious 2018 Edison Prize for Robotics. For more information, please visit http://hansonrobotics.com.

Vintage

Amazing Fan Series Star Trek Continues Wraps Up With Florida Supercon Screening

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The cast and crew of STAR TREK CONTINUES finished principal photography on our series a few months ago, and we are working at warp speed to put all of the finishing touches on Episodes 9, 10, and 11 – which will complete our salute to The Original Series.

And while we are all sad to see STAR TREK CONTINUES come to a close, we have committed to our supporters that these last three chapters in our story will be finished and released this year. That means three more upcoming premieres of the continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Episode Nine is in sound design and will have a debut screening at the end of July at Florida Supercon in Ft Lauderdale. We’re so honored to announce some very familiar names in guest starring roles for Episode 9, including John de Lancie and Anne Lockhart.

Of course, John needs no introduction. His character will be among the first to appear on our Planet Set (constructed with support from our crowdfunding campaign).

Anne Lockhart may be best known to science fiction fans for her role as “Sheba” on the original Battlestar Galactica, but she has also been in hundreds of other productions and commercials – including a recurring role in Chicago Fire on NBC. (And, of course, her Mom was June Lockhart, the matriarch of Lost in Space!)

John de Lancie, Chuck Huber (McCoy) and I will each be guests at Florida Supercon. So we hope you might plan a trip to Fort Lauderdale to enjoy the world premiere screening of “What Ships Are For,” at the end of July. Details about the screening will be on the Supercon website.

Finally, our remaining episodes constitute an exciting two-part story that will not only finish out our series, but bring an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the original five year mission of the Enterprise. Episode Ten is set to premiere at Salt Lake Comic Con (the weekend of September 21) and Episode Eleven will have its debut screening at New York Comic Con October 6.

Keep this comm channel open for more info about our final installments. And again, thank you to all of you for your enthusiasm and support for this “love letter to Star Trek”.
John De Lancie Beaming In To STAR TREK CONTINUES
With Episode 9, STAR TREK CONTINUES adds another feather to its cap — versatile actor, comedian, singer, director, and producer John de Lancie. Well-known to fans for his strong Trek background, de Lancie met STAR TREK CONTINUES founder Vic Mignogna on the convention circuit, and Mignogna offered him a role in the production.

“Vic asked me if I’d be interested in appearing in STAR TREK CONTINUES, and he told me a little bit about the show. I asked him to let me read the script, and I was immediately impressed with it. It’s definitely classic STAR TREK, because it’s a secular moral story and one that I think is particularly poignant in our current times. I believe the material is the most important thing, and this is really good material.” Episode 9 is penned by Kipleigh Brown, who appears as Lt. Smith in the series.

De Lancie says he’s “also very sympathetic to people who put together their own projects. I know how much work it is. And in this case, Vic has his hands in every element of the production. It was an easy choice to say yes because I knew I could be somewhat helpful in a modest sort of way. And I knew I would be acting in an interesting story.”

Strange New Worlds

De Lancie said he didn’t really have any preconceptions about STAR TREK CONTINUES, since he had not seen any of the series’ episodes.

“I have to say legitimately that I was really impressed,” once he joined the production crew on set in southern Georgia. “There is a lot of attention to detail, and a lot of love went in to all of this.”

He said that he was surprised and “got chills” as he walked the halls of the Enterprise.

“I had the feeling that I was on a historic set, even if it is a facsimile of the original. These were the identical colors to what was used in the 1960’s, when they were trying to sell color TVs. And the other thing that struck me is that these sets have a certain 1960’s look, from the gadgets to the crew quarters. This had the same look of all the shows that I used to watch as a kid.”

Growing up in the 1950’s, de Lancie said that he didn’t watch that much television, and in fact his parents had taken the TV away. “I had a real problem with reading, so my parents just took the TV out of the house.” De Lancie’s escape was Saturday afternoon science fiction movies at the theater.

For Episode 9, de Lancie is careful not to reveal any plot details when describing his character, except to say that there are elements of the character that are revealed as the story unfolds.

“He is a character not unlike many of us. He has recognizable human traits and deep-seated prejudices.”

De Lancie came prepared for his role, just as he is for any acting assignment, and spoke his first lines on the Planet Set that had just been dressed into a lush forest environment.

Convention Capers

A frequent guest at conventions throughout the world, de Lancie had just returned from FedCon in Germany when he spoke to STAR TREK CONTINUES.

“I really do enjoy meeting the fans at the conventions. I enjoy being up on stage and answering the questions. And I enjoy having drinks later with the actors. But what is becoming wearisome is the travel – especially if you go overseas. It takes your body about three days to adjust to a new time zone, and then the event is over and you’re heading back the other way.”

Travel has certainly been on his agenda of late for another reason, since the entire de Lancie family recently returned from a big journey.

“My wife was in Burma, teaching. So I went with her. Then we went to Vietnam, and then our kids joined us in Japan and the whole family took a boat trip. I was back for a couple of days, did a convention in Phoenix, and then it was off to Bonn, Germany,” for FedCon.

Ponies, Dragons, and Video Games

The busy actor has another fan base, far different from those who appreciate his Trek credentials. For the past six years, de Lancie has been the voice of a dragon named Discord on the cartoon series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

“Yes, there are conventions for My Little Pony. But it’s a very different fan base. I like particularly talking with the little kids. They have a hard time imagining that they’re looking at someone their grandfather’s age who plays a mischievous dragon. It’s also an unusual fan base, in the adult world. I did a documentary about that. I like the show very much, because it also has a sort of secular morality attached to it. You don’t need to have a religious text to be the source of a moral lesson. There are a lot of unusual people involved with My Little Pony. I talk to a lot of people in the military who just like looking at something bright, happy, and upbeat,” de Lancie says.

In addition to the My Little Pony TV series, de Lancie has also voiced his character for a Pony video game. And he’s worked as a voice actor for games like World of Warcraft, StarCraft 2, and others.

“While I don’t play video games, I was asked a few years ago to do voices for one. I’ve watched my kids over the years play a lot of games. I’m a big history buff, so one thing I really liked about the game Assassin’s Creed was the fun way they went back in time with very detailed representations of Florence and Constantinople.

“I like the fact that doing video games keeps me current in the minds of people who are 20 years old,” he adds.
Guest Star Anne Lockhart Comes Full Circle with STAR TREK CONTINUES
An actress and voiceover artist with literally hundreds of credits to her name, veteran performer Anne Lockhart will be a guest star in Episode 9, which will have a debut screening in late July.

Lockhart is best known to science fiction fans for her groundbreaking role as Sheba in the original Battlestar Galactica in 1978. Now her travels take her to another science fiction universe. An invitation to join the cast came from STAR TREK CONTINUES creator Vic Mignogna.

“I’ve known Vic for a couple of years. He called me one day and said that he had an idea to talk about regarding STAR TREK CONTINUES, which was a guest starring role in an upcoming episode. And I asked him what took him so long! It’s such an honor to be in an episode, because I’m a fan. I love the whole look and the concept of it. And the fact that I got asked to be part of that universe is amazing,” Lockhart says. “I was there before I’d even read the script!”

Lockhart loved working with fellow guest star John de Lancie on the episode, and it was actually the second time that both had worked together.

“We did the first two-hour episode of EMERGENCY, a long time ago. I don’t think he remembered being in that one with me. He played a doctor, and I was his patient – rescued from a burning building. I remembered him because he was so dear. Working with John is joyful. There are so many actors who just show up and do it in their sleep. But not him.”

Lockhart has built an impressive resume over several decades of TV, film, and commercial work. Her first series was Lassie in the late 1950’s, as a child actress. Years later, Glen Larson, the creator of Battlestar Galactica approached Lockhart about a role in proposed series.

“The role of Sheba was written for me. I knew Glen Larson because I had done episodes of the The Hardy Boys for him. He sent me the barebones pilot script for Battlestar Galactica. And basically it was about a bunch of guys and a girl who came in every few pages and said ‘don’t forget your laser gun.’ I turned it down,” Lockhart explains. She was recovering from a fire that had burned down her house and was living with her mom (TV actress June Lockhart) at the time.

“Glen said he could always rewrite the character, and the script went through several re-writes.” Lockhart loved the revised script and came aboard the Battlestar.

“Jane Seymour didn’t want to do a series. So they killed her character. The character of Sheba was so strong and so wonderful to play – and it was nothing like the original script. I ended up with a better character.”

Being in space was nothing new to the Lockhart family. Lockhart’s real mom played Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space, the mother to a family traveling the stars. Some days, Anne and her sister were dropped off at the 20th Century Fox lot to wait for their mom to finish her work and do homework in her dressing room.

“I remember one day there was a chunk of time when Billy Mumy (who played Will Robinson) had nothing to do. We just took off and wandered the Fox lot for two hours, exploring the sets of shows like Peyton Place. And then we finally wandered back. My mom was panicked. And so was Billy’s mom,” Lockhart laughs as she recalls the memory.

Currently, Lockhart stays busy with the recurring role of a dispatcher on Chicago Fire, a role that she has to reprise at the drop of a hat. “There are some times when they’ll call me over the weekend and say that I have to be in Los Angeles on Tuesday.”

She worked out the schedule to come to southern Georgia and the new planet set of STAR TREK CONTINUES for her role in Episode 9.

“We worked our tails off. Vic shot over twenty pages in three days. That’s just insane. But that shows how good he is. It shows how good the crew is. I was just so overwhelmed with the commitment and the people who were there volunteering their time, just out of love. It was really a wonderful experience.”

Like William Shatner, Anne Lockhart has a fancy for horses and has raised thousands of dollars of the years with rodeos benefitting autistic children. And she serves on the board of directors for the Thousand Oaks, California Kingsmen Shakespeare Company.

“It’s been several years since I’ve appeared on stage with Kingsmen. It was started by my friend Lane Davies, and literally it started with a dirt stage and two lights. Now it’s one of the premiere Shakespeare companies in the country. My children have grown up performing with me. It was so cool to go there, thrown down your blanket, and see Shakespeare presented in a very contemporary way. We did Julius Caesar, but set in a city like New York. It was like The Godfather. We did The Merry Wives of Windsor as if it was the swinging London scene of the 1960’s. It’s not just a bunch of people in togas,” says Lockhart.

While she has seen some rough cuts of the episode, Lockhart says she’s looking forward to the public release of Episode 9.

“This was kind of like a dream come true for me. Being part of the STAR TREK universe is something I’ve looked forward to doing. I adored STAR TREK. And Lost in Space, to be honest, kind of became a comic book. STAR TREK was always just my favorite.”

For the Silo, Vic Mignogna -Captain of STAR TREK CONTINUES

Vintage

Fans Of 1960s TV Star Trek Should Be Aware of Star Trek Continues

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When the next episode of STAR TREK CONTINUES is revealed, science fiction fans will see a familiar face in a guest star role.  The new episode, titled Still Treads the Shadow, features guest star Rekha Sharma, perhaps best known to science fiction fans for her role in more than 30 episodes of Battlestar Galactica.   While details of Sharma’s character in STAR TREK CONTINUES are being kept under wraps until April, she says the offer for a role came after meeting Vic “Kirk” Mignogna at FedCon Germany last year during the 50th Anniversary of STAR TREK event.



“Vic and I kept in touch after FedCon, and then he asked if I’d be interested in coming aboard STAR TREK CONTINUES.  He told me about a script that was in development and the character he had in mind.  I’m so delighted that it worked with my schedule,” Sharma says.   Sharma’s first introduction to the original STAR TREK series came from her big brother.   “All my friends were watching Full House or something.  I’m not sure! And there I was, coming home after school and watching the original STAR TREK and old Perry Mason reruns!  I remember my brother told me that there were people opening and closing the doors, which I thought it was so cool and cheesy. And it very much appealed to my dreams of utopia — especially as a young colored girl growing up in very white neighborhoods,” says Sharma.   Rekha’s character of Tory Foster in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, which began in 2004, developed after several auditions.   “From the very first audition, I was immediately struck by the intelligence, artistry and kind-heartedness of the directors and producers. I thought, I’d really like to work with these people! First I went in for the role of a Viper pilot, then a captain, and then the role of Tory came along.  Oh yeah, I thought, this is a perfect part for me.” Galactica’s producers apparently agreed.   “Working on Battlestar Galactica was a dream come true.  From my previous experience, I honestly didn’t think I could be creatively satisfied working in TV. But Battlestar Galactica changed that. Not only was it creatively satisfying, but we also had such a great team of people.  We are all like family to this day,” Sharma explains

 star trek continues bridge

What does it mean to be a STAR TREK CONTINUES guest star?   “It means I have fulfilled a dream, in a way, and that I’ve come full circle. I loved those stories. They had a wonderful morality and vision for humanity that made my heart sing. And then I got to step onto those sets and step into my childhood and be a part of telling that kind of story.   Not only that, but that world was so fun! I loved those neat-o futuristic gadgets when I was a kid. And now, as an adult, I got to play with them. I got to sit on the bridge.  There weren’t any trailers, so when I needed to rest between scenes, I took naps in sickbay on board the Enterprise.   And I got beamed in the transporter!  I can’t wait to see that,” she says enthusiastically.   The experience of working on the STAR TREK CONTINUES set “was so refreshing,” Sharma says.  “Everyone is there for love, not money. It felt like Battlestar Galactica that way. Although it’s a fan run project, the STAR TREK CONTINUES sets were surprisingly professional and very impressive. It was a mix of TV veterans and total newbies, and that made for an awesome atmosphere to work in. It was the best of both worlds, really.”   Sharma likes to compare the character she’s playing in Episode 8 to be much like aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.  “She is smart as a whip, very technically inclined, and brave. I thought of her as a bright light of goodness and intelligence with a big heart.”   She admits to being very surprised at what the cast and crew have created with STAR TREK CONTINUES.   “You know, Vic told me that I’d become part of the family, but I had no idea what he meant. They have chosen a team who are all friendly, diligent, thoughtful and good-hearted people. I felt so welcomed and incredibly lucky. It makes sense that they’re shooting in the south – they’re so hospitable!  And those sets! Again, Vic told me what they built, but until you’re there you just can’t conceive of it. It’s really impressive. I know I’m not the only one who was moved to tears,” Sharma says.   Fans will be able to see Rekha Sharma at future conventions and events.   “It’s funny. At first it felt so strange to do conventions, but as time has gone on I’ve really come to appreciate them.  It’s special to have the opportunity to meet the fans and discuss the themes of these shows. You get to connect with people that you’d never get to meet otherwise. And sci-fi fans are awesome because, generally speaking, they still have dreams. They’re not jaded. They believe in possibility. And without that, nothing would ever change for the better. We’ve got to hold on to our dreams and keep being warriors in this world – to truly go where no man has gone before.”   “Still Treads the Shadow” will premiere at Fan Expo Dallas on April 1 at the Dallas Convention Center.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about remaining episodes of STAR TREK CONTINUES 

 

How are you getting around the guidelines for fan films?   As CBS/Paramount has made clear, the guidelines are not laws; they are general parameters applied on a case-by-case basis. Since the implementation of the guidelines, we have stopped all crowdfunding activities and have focused strictly on completing the four episodes which had already been funded as of that time by fans’ donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit. STAR TREK CONTINUES has always followed any and all instructions given to us by CBS regarding our production, and will continue to do so.   Does STAR TREK CONTINUES have any type of special and/or official arrangement with CBS/Paramount?   No.

 

How long are the episodes?   They will be exactly the same format as our previous episodes   Why are you ending the series?   Recent developments necessitated our finishing up sooner than we intended, but it was always our goal to bring The Original Series to a conclusion. With our final four episodes, we will have done that. It’s been an amazing five years creating this series, and we will miss making it.  But all good things… Weren’t you going to make 13 episodes? Did CBS make you stop?   CBS is not responsible for the decision to end the series. We are doing 11 episodes instead of 13 because another fan group took advantage of the good graces of the copyright holders forcing them to protect their property and the interests of their license holders. In deference and gratitude to CBS, we are wrapping up earlier than planned. We always have stood, and continue to stand, with CBS.   Can we get DVDs/Blu-ray discs of the final episodes?   As we do not own STAR TREK, we cannot sell DVDs or Blu-ray discs. In the past, we’ve made a limited number of discs available as crowdfunding perks. However, since we are no longer crowdfunding, providing episodes to the public on DVD and/or Blu-ray discs is not currently feasible for us.   What will happen to the studio/sets? Will set visits/tours be available?   We don’t have a definitive answer on this right now, but we’re considering all our options.

Sci-Tech

Why You’ll Be Wearing Your Next Computer

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Imagine looking in your glasses to see updates from your friends on social media. The future is coming sooner than you think and yes, you will be wearing your next computer- check out this future ready infographic from our friends at Frames Direct. 

Click Me to see more interesting Infographics by visual.ly
Click Me to see more interesting Infographics by visual.ly

Supplemental- Building the World of Tomorrow, 1939 New York World’s Fair

The first published concept of Virtual Reality: Pygmalion’s Spectales (short story) by Stanley G. Weinbaum   ‘You drink,’ said the elfin, bearded face, ‘to make real a dream. Is it not so? Either to dream that what you seek is yours, or else to dream that what you hate is conquered. You drink to escape reality, and the irony is that even reality is a dream.’ Published June 1935 ~ Wonder Stories

Click me for Music designed for Futurists!
Click me for Music designed for Futurists!

Culture

Celebrate 20th Century Fox Alien Day On April 26 With Re-Issued Reebok Shoes

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Alien Day Poster 20th Century Fox Is the Alien(s) franchise overdue for an official day of recognition and fan celebration? I think so.  Fans of the original 1979 movie and the sequels and prequel that followed are a loyal bunch. They spend money on toys, posters, t-shirts, Blue-ray box sets and some like me, shelled out big bucks in 1987 for a pair of Reebok’s Bugstomper shoes. That’s dedicated fandom.

1987 All Black Reebok Bugstompers
1987 All Black Reebok Bugstompers

#AlienDay426

This week’s big announcement of #AlienDay has coincided with reports in the media of ‘new’ Reebok Aliens shoes. I have serious doubts that any of those writers responsible for the reports are hard core fans of the franchise. If they were, they would know that the Reebok shoes being written about were actually available almost 30 years ago.

Perhaps I’m splitting hairs here. There’s a good chance that the re-issue shoes might be slightly different than the original Bugstompers. Images and an official 20th century fox poster being used to promote the re-issues show the Alien character Ripley in a pair of very noticeable “high top” Reebok Bugstompers. Back in the day, only “mid top” shoes were available.

Reebok Aliens Shoes Movie Size Ripley Newt

What else besides shoes?

Beginning at midnight and lasting 24 hours, 4/26 (an homage to the planet LV-426) will be filled with product launches, nationwide screenings and a Twitter trivia contest that will give away ALIEN merch every 42.6 minutes. Now you know what that twitter hashtag #AlienDay426 is all about: make April 26 the de-facto fan day for the Alien franchise. CP

Did you know?

The most sought after Alien collectible is the 1979 Kenner 18″ Alien doll– a fine likeness of H.R. Giger’s design. Originally pulled from toy store shelves due to frightening parents and children alike.

UPDATED- Aliens | July 2016 Comic Con Full Panel (James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton)

Click me! New Music created from early sci-fi soundtracks.
Click me! New Music created from early sci-fi soundtracks.

Culture

Impressive Fan Series ‘Star Trek Continues’ Is Shockingly True To Original Series

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Ahead At Warp Speed

The finishing touches are now being applied to the sixth episode produced by the fans behind Star Trek Continues, and we look forward to a debut screening in May at MegaCon in Orlando.  This week, we’re  launching another crowdfunding campaign to produce more episodes, which will bring to 10 the number of episodes in our web series.  Support us here:  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/star-trek-continues#/   Episode VI — “Come Not Between the Dragons” — is an action-packed, dramatic story that deals with deeply personal issues. It guest stars Gigi Edgley of Farscape fame. And Episode VII — featuring the return of Erin Gray and other surprise guest stars — will, with the help of this campaign, be released in the fall.

Vic Mignogna as Kirk.
Vic Mignogna as Kirk.

Between free viewings on Vimeo and YouTube, our five finished episodes have had more than four million views!  And we’re pleased to be recognized with nearly a dozen accolades and awards, and even recognition from The Wall Street Journal, which calls Star Trek Continues “the flagship of the fan film fleet.”   First and foremost, Star Trek Continues respectfully and graciously thanks CBS, the holder of the copyright to Star Trek. CBS’ understanding of the passion fans have for Star Trek is second-to-none, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to pay tribute with our fan-based non-profit web series.

We are in no way affiliated with, nor endorsed by, CBS or Paramount Pictures. This latest campaign is already off to a strong start.  And it’s the third time we’ve appealed for support in this way.  Late in 2013, our first effort raised enough money to produce episodes 2,3, and 4.  Last January, we launched a second crowdfunding campaign to continue our journey and produce two more episodes and build the enormous Engineering set.  And that’s precisely what we did.     STC’s track record speaks for itself. As deeply committed stewards of our precious fans’ donations, we do what we promise we will do. So many of our previous donors tell us they can’t wait to support us again.  One needs only watch an episode to see these generous donations at work.   We seek no return other than the joy of paying tribute to TOS — both in the creation of these episodes, and in the privilege of sharing them with beloved fans.  All money raised goes to hard costs related to the development, filming, and post-production of these stories, such as:

  • Set construction, maintenance and materials
  • Studio rental and maintenance
  • Monthly utilities costs
  • Equipment rental
  • Prop production and replication
  • Wardrobe production and maintenance
  • Make-up equipment and supplies
  • Cast and crew travel, lodging, and food during the shoots
  • Post-production costs, hard drives, online data storage, etc.
  • Fundraising costs.

So if you believe in what we’re doing and you’d like to help, now is the time to donate to keep a good thing going.And we’ve got an exciting array of perks for contributors – including a selection of screen-used costumes.

StarTrek Continues Instagramhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/star-trek-continues#/   Find STC on Instagram!   We are very pleased to announce that now you can follow Star Trek Continues on Instagram!     We will be posting never before seen production stills, behind the scenes photos, crew features, concept art from our designers, and more! You can find us there @trekcontinues, and also on Tumblr at stcontinues. Thank you so much for all of your support and enthusiasm. Please continue to follow, like, share, and tell your friends!   https://www.instagram.com/trekcontinues/   http://stcontinues.tumblr.com/

Trek Prop Fans Relish a Visit to Stage Nine   One of the ingredients that makes Star Trek Continues look authentic is attention to detail, and in particular the sets and props designed to look like they came from the soundstages in the 1960’s.   The production relies on the skills of dedicated propmakers and fans who donate use of their treasures for our episodes.  In December, prop collectors got a chance to tour the Enterprise – including the new Engineering Room – during a private visit to Stage Nine in southern Georgia.

Enterprise Engine Room StarTrek ContinuesSpace.com staff artist Karl Tate came down from New York.  His reaction to walking standing sets was typical.   “I’ve been aboard the USS Enterprise. That’s all I can say. When you’re walking down that corridor, and the stage lights are lit, and all you see is Enterprise…I’m there,” Tate says.  “It’s truly an achievement and I look forward to what Star Trek Continues comes up with next!”   The one-day event was filled with special presentations on prop-making, and an opportunity for prop fans to show off their collections and hand-made treasures.

“Many of us have bucket lists, things we want to complete or do in this lifetime. I’ve had such a list since I was a kid. One of the items on my list, one I never thought possible, was to go back in time and see the Star Trek sets at Desilu Studios. Impossible, right? Well, after visiting the Star Trek Continues sets I was able to cross one more item off my bucket list,” explains Larry Chalkey from Virginia.  “As I walked the corridors of the Enterprise, I imagined what it must have been like to be there in 1966. What it must have felt like to make the show we all love. This was truly an amazing experience and one I will always treasure.” By Vic Mignogna for The Silo.

Fashion

Garmatex Textiles Uses Jade Minerals

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For those of you unfamiliar with technical fabrics, you should know that the textile industry is currently experiencing a modern renaissance. With a long list of product innovations including: jade fibers that cool the skin, treatment methods that conserve water and fabrics that repel bugs, the textile industry is driving an evolution in performance materials while churning out a constant supply of new fabrics every day. Not surprisingly, competition in the industry is intense. The key to becoming truly successful in the field is to focus on improving and optimizing existing technologies to exceed current expectations of performance standards.

An early example of "technical fabric"- crucial to the beginning of high altitude, high speed, high G force flight. CP image: salimbeti.com
An early example of “technical fabric”- crucial to the beginning of high altitude, high speed, high G force flight. CP image: salimbeti.com

Garmatex Technologies, a progressive inventor of intelligent fabric solutions, is one of the companies driving this innovation. Located in Surrey, British Columbia, the team has developed over 40 unique technologies. Each developed with the intention of improving quality of life while anticipating how consumer needs change and evolve over time.

Garmatex’s focus on crafting better solutions has led them to invent a number of products. One of these solutions is their anti-microbial Bact-Out® technology. Not a new innovation, fabrics that inhibit the growth of germs have been a staple in the industry for some time. While usually produced through a topical treatment that sometimes includes silver, Garmatex’s Bact-Out® really stands out because the embedded technology does not involve a potentially harmful metal and lasts for 50 washes compared to the 20 washes that most competitors focus on achieving.

IceSkin shirt technology- the latest design from Garmatex utilize jade crystals!
IceSkin shirt technology- the latest design from Garmatex utilize jade crystals!

A more recent innovation to the market is found in materials that help regulate temperature, most often achieved through the use of a chemical cooling ingredient usually found in chewing gum. Garmatex has improved the science behind cooling comfort products by introducing IceSkin™ technology. Developed through a proprietary combination of knitting techniques, natural jade minerals and CoolSkin® quick dry filaments, IceSkin™ technology provides a longer lasting superior cooling alternative.

Science-fiction has paved the way for real-life products. One example are the stillsuits used by the Fremen on Arrakis  from the novel and movie Dune

In the area of protective garments, Garmatex has produced another new technology that encapsulates steel fibers inside of a CoolSkin® micro poly shell. This fabric, aptly named SteelSkin™, provides tremendous abrasion resistance and flexibility. Add to this the ability to be colored dyed to any shade, and this material fabric is certain to open many protective industrial and apparel applications.

In a highly competitive industry, Garmatex will continue to outperform its competitor’s because of its technical innovation and relentless optimization of its existing technologies.

 

Culture

Real–life Detroit set to receive ten-foot ‘pop culture’ Robocop statue

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The 10 foot tall ( 3.048 m) work in progress Robocop statue. image: freep.com
The 10 foot tall ( 3.048 m) work in progress Robocop statue. image: freep.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 1987 the Dutch auteur film maker Paul Verhoeven created a movie unlike any other. He called it Robocop and I’m old enough to remember watching this dark comedy sci-fi masterpiece when it was brand spanking new.

Orion Pictures Robocop

 

This film and its sequel  (humbly titled: Robocop 2) continue to resonate and influence today’s art and culture. Sometime this year or perhaps next, in the real-world city of Detroit a ten-foot tall Officer Murphy (aka Robocop himself) statue will be unveiled- 26 years after Verhoeven chose Detroit as the setting for a near future city on the brink of disaster due to the privatization of that city’s police force and its resulting corporate mismanagement.

It seems OCP, Detroit’s police force, have no choice but to create a half-man half-machine cyborg in hopes of not only a public relations coup but with an eye on a bright future of profitable policing. Enter the complicated messages stitched into Robocop.

 

Film like all media, has been used as a political statement before but perhaps Robocop did this unintentionally.  It’s a sci-fi movie first and foremost but the personal message  exists too:  THIS MIGHT HAPPEN.  “Dead or alive….you’re coming with me.”  CP

 

There's a reboot in the works.
There’s a reboot in the works.

Supplemental- The Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia http://www.pophistorydig.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/1982-rocky-rear-90.jpg

“Oh what the hell, frieda chicken”

Reviews

Moon

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Art imitates rural life.

If you’re like me and grew up on a rich diet of 1980’s science fiction films, you should walk (no make that moonwalk) to your nearest video store and ask for MOON. This little gem is an existential journey into the mind of a lonely farmer-astronaut and hits close to home. Sure there’s the usual high contrast and gritty sci-fi production values, but there are also some poignant connections to our rural habitat. Picture a massive, rambling, white combine harvester gathering hay under a full, late fall moon, except that in this case the moon is the earth. A tiny, lonely man is hunched over the controls in an elevated and sealed cockpit. Now remove all semblance of colour, add a few craters and hills, and you get part of what makes this film so familiar and, dare I say, rural.

Growing up here as a boy I imagined that the once plentiful silos and drive-sheds in Norfolk (especially the aluminum ones) were rocket platforms and moon bases. Even the large, four wheeled crop sprayers had a space age look to them. And that is why I felt especially connected to Duncan Jones’ incredibly moving MOON. It pulled me in and felt familiar.

If I had to bet the farm I’d say the production designer looked at both farms and farm machinery while working out the aesthetics of this movie. But more than that, the story pulls at your heartstrings.

Sam (played by the remarkably versatile Sam Rockwell in a breakthrough role) is a lonely astronaut working on the moon, farming the soil for energy until he begins to suffer from extreme isolation- complete with lucid dreams and hallucinations. What follows next is one of the finest surprise plot twists in contemporary cinema.

Satisfying space fiction from son of iconic rocker David Bowie. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.