Conucopia Infobot News - 25-Aug-1999 Conucopia, NASFiC '99, c/o SCIFI, PO Box 8442, Van Nuys CA 91409. Conucopia is dedicated to the memory of Gary Louie, fan and friend. The Conucopia Infobot News is a service of the Conucopia Web Site, http://www.99.nasfic.org/ . If you know someone who'd like to subscribe, tell 'em to go to our web site at http://www.99.nasfic.org/ and enter their e-mail address, or write to listmaster@99.nasfic.org. If your e-mail address changes, or if you wish to be removed from the Conucopia Infobot News mailing list, or if you don't have web access and want to be added to the list, please write to listmaster@99.nasfic.org. In this issue: Films - No Fantasia 2000 Films - "Pitch Black" sneak preview Programming Update: Two Heinlein Panels Golden Duck Awards Membership Rates Films - No Fantasia 2000 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Films - "Pitch Black" sneak preview * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Conucopia: Films and Video Conucopia Films and Video [New 18-Aug-1999] Rev. 24-Aug-1999 Previous: Filk Music (Table of Contents) Next: Film and Video Contest [New 23-Aug-1999] _________________________________________________________________ E-mail: films@99.nasfic.org See also: * Anime - Japanese Animation schedule * Film and Video Contest [New 23-Aug-1999] No Fantasia 2000. [New 25-Aug-1999] Despite the radio, television and newspaper coverage, there will be no showing of Disney's "Fantasia 2000" at the NASFiC. The convention could not make an acceptable accomodation with Disney. _________________________________________________________________ Pitch Black [New 25-Aug-1999] Sneak Preview showing of this movie on Sunday at 1 pm. Don't be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what's in the dark. On this planet, the first thing you notice is the temperature: the heat is brutal. You''ll pray for night. But, once night falls, the worst is yet to come: creatures who emerge after dark to hunt for prey. You. From the mind of writer/director David Twohy (The Arrival and Disaster in Time) comes a new science-fiction thriller, Pitch Black. In the not-too-distant fuure, junior space pilot Fry (Radha Mitchell of High Art) makes a forced crash-landing of her spacecraft on a distant planet. Fry's crew is killed, even as some of the passegers escape. Lawman Johns (Cole Hauser of Good Will Hunting) is unharmed, but so is his prisoner, the murderous Riddick (Vin Diesel of The Iron Giant and Saving Private Ryan). As they explore the uncomfortably hot planet, they must band together in order to survive. The planet is eerie, aarid, and lifeless. But as the sun sets and the planet plunges into total darkness, its other inhabitants emerge from hibernation. These monsters are not human, and their hatchlings quickly take flight and attack the human visitor -- who desperately try to fight off, and escape, the nightmares come to life. ... Gramercy Pictures presents an Intrepid Pictures Pty, Ltd. production for Interscope Communications. A Film by David Twohy. Pitch Black. Radha Mitchell, Vin Diesel, and Cole Hauser. Costume Designer, Anna Borghesi. Production Designer, Graham "Grace" Walker. Director of Photography, David Eggby. Editor, Rick Shaine. Executive Producers, Ted Field, Scott Kroopf, and Anthony Winley. Produced by Tom Engelman. Written and Directed by David Twohy. USA Films will release Pitch Black nationwide in mid-January 2000. ... David Twohy (Director and Writer) David Twohy's previous films as writer/director are The Arrival, which starred Charles Sheen and Ron Silver; and Disaster in Time (a.k.a. The Grand Tour), which starred Jeff Daniels and Ariana Richards. The Arrival received a 1996 Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Disaster in Time received a 1992 Golden Scroll from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror; and the Grand Prix at the 1992 Festival Du Film Fantastique (in Brussels). As writer, Twohy's credits include The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, for which he wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay (which received a Writers Guild of America nomination); G.I. Jane, starring Demi Moore (for which he co-wrote the screenplay); Waterworld, starring Kevin Costner (for which he co-wrote the screenplay); and Terminal Velocity, starring Charles Sheen and Nastassja Kinski (wihch he wrote and executive-produced). Vin Diesel (Riddick) Vin Diesel was most recently heard starring in Brad Bird's animated film The Iron Giant, for which Diesel provided the voice of the title character. His other film credits as actor include Steven Spielber's Academy Award-winning Saving Private Ryan, in which he played Private Caparzo. He will next be seen with Ben Affleck and Giovanni Ribisi in Ben Younger's Boiler Room. As filmmaker, Diesel wrote, directed, and starred in the short film Multi-Facial, which screened at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. He next wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the feature film Strays. The film screened at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, where it was entered in the official competition. He is currently developing Doormen, an original screenplay which he will direct and star in, based on his experiences as a bouncer in New York City. The New York City native began his acting career in the New York theater at the age of seven. _________________________________________________________________ Hong Kong SF Action Film Fest brought to you by Tai Seng Video and Planet Ric . Film notes by Inside Kung-fu movie columnist and World Martial Art Hall of Famer Ric Meyers. Our film program will be open in Orange County 4 at 10 am each morning, with the last scheduled movie starting at midnight. After-midnight screenings are subject to volunteer availability and audience interest. Thursday 12 noon: Iron Monkey Kung-fu film legend Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix's martial arts master) uses a Chinese Robin Hood to mount eye-bulging battles featuring men, women, and children. A true classic starring Donnie Yen. 2 pm: Encounter of Spooky Kind Sammo Hung (star of CBS's Martial Law) created the kung fu-horror-comedy genre with this amazing tale of kickass zombies and warring wizards. 4 pm: Project A, Part II Jackie Chan's great personal martial art masterpiece - an homage to Buster Keaton, Gene Kelly, and Steven Spielberg - as he gets caught between Mainland assassins, vengeful pirates, and corrupt cops. 6 pm: City Hunter This Hong Kong version of a Japanese manga is as crazy as the combining of Under Siege, musical comedy, video games, and an international cast might lead you to suspect. Starring Jackie Chan, the lovely Joey Wang, the sexy Chingy Yau, the singing heartthrob Leon Lai, and the musclebound Gary Daniels. 8 pm: Dragons Forever The last word in kung-fu comedy from the legendary team of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Baio, featuring every kung-fu co-star they could cram in, most notably Benny the Jet Urquidez and Yuen Wah. 10 pm: Duel to the Death Every hundred years during the time of the Martial Art World, the greatest Japanese warrior faced the greatst Chinese warrior in the title bout... only this time both sides cheat like crazy with naked warrior women, exploding ninja, giants and legless swordsmen until the literally earth-shaking climax. 12 midnight: Eastern Condors Even the people who say this is a rip-off of every modern war movie admit it's also a masterpiece of action as Sammo Hung leads an army of actors (including directors Yuen Woo Ping and Yuen Kwai) into Vietnam to destroy an army dump before the 'Cong get it. Buckle in for pathos and pandemonium in this "Dirty Dozen meets 007" epic. 2 am? After-midnight screenings are subject to volunteer availability and audience interest. Friday 10 am: Cartoons Tribute to David and Max Fleischer part 1: Koko, Betty Boop, Popeye. Hosted by Tom Safer 12 noon: Zu Warriors of the Magic Mountain The "Steve Spielberg of Hong Kong," Tsui Hark, masterminded this fantasy classic of good and evil demigods slugging it out for the fate of the Earth. Featuring mystical with women, swashbuckling swordsmen, a monk with super-powered eyebrows and a villain who is the color red, this is one comic-book adventure that stays in the memory. 2 pm: Heroic Trio The best superheroine comicbook movie Marvel or Image Comics never made. With Michelle Yeoh in red spandex, Anita Mui in black lycra, and Maggie Cheung in leather, battling a supernatural monster in a futuristic retroworld, what more could you ask? 4 pm: Executioners The Heroic Trio is back, but they're not happy -- stuck in a post-apocalyptic world and trapped between evil Government agents and a monstrous sect leader, it's bleak, brutal action 'till the last body falls. 6 pm: Bride With White Hair The best sword and sorcery ever made by anyone anywhere. If you haven't seen it, stop reading this and go (and listenfor the unique villain's last line... it's a doozy). 8 pm: Mr. Vampire Producer Sammo Hung does it again -- creating a wonderful comedy/horror/action subgenre with this classic featuring the famous feng shui undertaker know as the "Priest with one Eyebrow," and starring history's original varmpires: those hopping bloodsuppers known as gyonshi. 10 pm: Iron Monkey Kung-fu film legend Yuen Woo Ping (The Matrix's martial arts master) uses a Chinese Robin Hood to mount eye-bulging battles featuring men, women, and children. A true classic starring Donnie Yen. 12 midnight: Encounter of Spooky Kind Sammo Hung (star of CBS's Martial Law) created the kung fu-horror-comedy genre with this amazing tale of kickass zombies and warring wizards. 2 am? After-midnight screenings are subject to volunteer availability and audience interest. Saturday 10 am: Cartoons In Tribute to David and Max Fleischer Part 2: Color Classics, Screen Songs and Superman. Hosted by Tom Safer. 12 noon: NASFiC Short Film and Video Festival Entries. See a selection of entries from our Film Contest. In no particular order: The Rectory, The Census Taker, Tennis Match, Please Kill Mr. Kinski, and The El Gringo Brava Show. [New 23-Aug-1999] 2 pm: Zu Warriors of the Magic Mountain The "Steve Spielberg of Hong Kong," Tsui Hark, masterminded this fantasy classic of good and evil demigods slugging it out for the fate of the Earth. Featuring mystical with women, swashbuckling swordsmen, a monk with super-powered eyebrows and a villain who is the color red, this is one comic-book adventure that stays in the memory. 4 pm: Shadowlands - Introduced by Jerry Pournelle If you've ever read a Narnia book, come and see this excellent film of C.S. Lewis' life and love with American divorcee Joy Gresham. Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger. Directed by Richard Attenborough. This film will never leave you - and yes, there is a wardrobe. 130 minutes. 7 pm: TBA 8 pm: Project A, Part II Jackie Chan's great personal martial art masterpiece - an homage to Buster Keaton, Gene Kelly, and Steven Spielberg - as he gets caught between Mainland assassins, vengeful pirates, and corrupt cops. 10 pm: City Hunter This Hong Kong version of a Japanese manga is as crazy as the combining of Under Siege, musical comedy, video games, and an international cast might lead you to suspect. Starring Jackie Chan, the lovely Joey Wang, the sexy Chingy Yau, the singing heartthrob Leon Lai, and the musclebound Gary Daniels. 12 midnight: Bride With White Hair The best sword and sorcery ever made by anyone anywhere. If you haven't seen it, stop reading this and go (and listenfor the unique villain's last line... it's a doozy). 2 am? After-midnight screenings are subject to volunteer availability and audience interest. Sunday 10 am: Cartoons In Tribute to the Columpia/UPA Studios. Hosted by Tom Safer. 12 noon: Heroic Trio The best superheroine comicbook movie Marvel or Image Comics never made. With Michelle Yeoh in red spandex, Anita Mui in black lycra, and Maggie Cheung in leather, battling a supernatural monster in a futuristic retroworld, what more could you ask? 2 pm: Executioners The Heroic Trio is back, but they're not happy -- stuck in a post-apocalyptic world and trapped between evil Government agents and a monstrous sect leader, it's bleak, brutal action 'till the last body falls. 4 pm: Dragons Forever The last word in kung-fu comedy from the legendary team of Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Baio, featuring every kung-fu co-star they could cram in, most notably Benny the Jet Urquidez and Yuen Wah. _________________________________________________________________ Previous: Filk Music (Table of Contents) Next: Film and Video Contest [New 23-Aug-1999] Top | Table of Contents | What's New | Register | Addresses | Help info@99.nasfic.org Programming Update: Two Heinlein Panels * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Golden Duck Awards * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Membership Rates * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * If you've sent in your money and haven't seen your name show up on the web site, check back again. We just uploaded a new list. Attending Membership (No Vote, no Patronage or support)...... $100 Conversion: if you voted at LoneStarCon 2, you need to pay .. $80 Kids 5-12 ................................................... $50 born on or after 27-Aug-1986, and on or before 26-Aug-1994. Kids-in-tow up to 4 years old are free. Kids 13 and up are $100, same as adults. Supporting Membership (Must pay conversion fee to attend) $20 Make Checks Payable To: Conucopia/NASFIC '99 c/o S.C.I.F.I. Inc. PO Box 8442 Van Nuys CA 91409 At the Door ................................................. $100 Daily (Available at Convention ONLY) ........................ $50 Note that at-the-door rates have been lowered, to $100 for a full membership or $50 for one day. If you join at the door for $50 for one day, you can come back the next day and pay the other $50 to get the rest of the convention. Service Mark Notice * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Service Mark Notice: "World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", "World Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC" and "Hugo Award" are registered service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society. 19990823.txt sent to 493 subscribers of NASFIC99-NEWS.