Season 7 Is Coming

March 10, 2017 at 2:36 pm

Seven gods, seven kingdoms, seven books (eventually)… seven seasons.

The seventh season of GAME OF THRONES is on its way. HBO has released their first teaser.

Enjoy.

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Oh, and I almost forgot… HBO has also announced the premiere date: Sunday, JULY 16.

There will be gala premieres as usual, of course. Not sure of the details on those yet. But I do know that we hope to have another premiere party right here in Santa Fe, at the Jean Cocteau Cinema… and that we will be running a Season 6 marathon in the weeks running up to the new season, so you can refresh yourselves on what happened last year, and enjoy all the action on our ~~big~~ medium-sized screen.

And speaking of season 6, if you enjoyed the show and would like to nominate us for a Hugo Award, you have only eight days left. Nominations close on March 18. GAME OF THRONES is eligible in two categories. You can nominate the season as whole in Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form (which is what I favor, personally), or you can nominate individual episodes in Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. (Or you could do both, if you were so inclined). If you are inclined to take the second course, the episodes most likely to make this year’s (extremely competitive) ballot are “The Door” and “Battle of the Bastards” IMNSHO. “Battle of the Bastards” won Emmy Awards for both writing and directing this year, and “The Door” was also a finalist for directing.

((And though I am of course hopelessly prejudiced toward GOT, I will be the first to proclaim that this was an outstanding year for drama in both categories. The first seasons of WESTWORLD and STRANGER THINGS are also worthy of being nominated for Long Form, along side last year’s best SF movie, ARRIVAL. In Short Form I loved “Leviathan Wakes,” the final episode of season one of THE EXPANSE, and two great episodes of BLACK MIRROR, “San Junipero” and “Hated in the Nation.” I would love to see all of them earn spots on the ballot… along with GOT ))

But enough about last year. A new season is coming.

July 16. Mark your calendars.

Tags: emmy awards, game of thrones, hbo, hugo awards, television

GAMES OF THRONES Competes For Golden Globe

December 14, 2016 at 4:29 pm

The Golden Globe nominations are out for 2016, and HBO’s sixth season of GAME OF THRONES has made the shortlist once again. GOT will be competing for the Globe for best drama with WESTWORLD, STRANGER THINGS, THIS IS US, and THE CROWN.

My congratulations to David Benioff, Dan Weiss, Bryan Cogman, and the rest of our amazing cast and crew… and especially to Lena Headey, who earned a Globe nomination of her own for Best Supporting Actress.

The full list of this year’s nominees can be found here: http://variety.com/2016/film/news/golden-globe-nominations-2017-nominees-full-list-1201938375/

Being an HBO guy, I’m thrilled that to see that both GAME OF THRONES and WESTWORLD have been nominated for the big prize… though WESTWORLD is going to be some tough competition. (In fact, I would figure WW for the favorite). And as an science fiction and fantasy geek, I am also delighted to see that STRANGER THINGS made the list. Three out of five finalists being genre shows… and during this golden age of television… is another sign of just how far we’ve come.

My thanks to the members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

The winners will be announced in LA on Sunday, January 8.

Tags: awards, game of thrones, hbo, television and film

Come Visit Westworld…

September 26, 2016 at 5:18 pm

… at the Jean Cocteau Cinema.

HBO’s big new drama series WESTWORLD debuts on Sunday, October 2… but we’ll be showing it a day early at the Jean Cocteau.

That’s right. We have a special Santa Fe PREMIERE scheduled for Saturday, October 1, with three showings of the first episode. A morning showing in Spanish, an afternoon screening in English, both open to the general public on a first come, first seated basis, and a special invitation-only (sorry) VIP screening in the evening.

All showings will be completely FREE.

WESTWORLD is based on the classic 1973 film of the same name, written and directed by Michael Crichton and starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, and James Brolin. It’s a science fiction thriller in Western clothes, about a futuristic theme park where patrons can live out their six-gun fantasies, gunning down robot outlaws and frolicking with robot dance hall girls… until something goes wrong.

HBO’s version has been completely reimagined and redeveloped by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, however (hey, it’s not 1973 any more), and stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, and Evan Rachel Wood. Everything I’ve heard about it sounds terrific; I can’t wait to see it.

Here’s a taste.

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We’re planning to have some gunslingers and dance hall girls of our own on site to help with the festivities. Whether they will be robots ot not… well, you’ll need to puzzle that one out on your own. Come join the fun!

Tags: hbo, jean cocteau cinema, television and film

Emmys, Emmys, Emmys

September 13, 2016 at 6:20 pm

GAME OF THRONES kicked ass and took names last weekend in LA, at the Creative Arts Emmys, racking up nine victories, way more than any other show.

“Dominates,” the Hollywood press is saying. Hey, cool, I will go with that.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/creative-arts-emmys-game-thrones-927671

GAME OF THRONES took home the Emmys for casting, for makeup (non-prosthetic), for makeup (prosthetic).

Also for production design, for costuming, and for sound mixing.

And for editing, for stunt coordination, and for special visual effects (that was the fifth consecutive win for our SFX guys)

I’d say “eight is enough, and nine is even better,” but we also lost some… so instead I will just say congratulations to all our winners, and condolences to all our losers, and to all the other nominees as well. Hugo, Nebula, Oscar, or Emmy, it IS an honor just to be nominated.

With these nine wins, GAME OF THRONES has now taken home more Emmy Awards than any other drama in the entire history of television. That is a tribute to HBO, which truly has no rivals when it comes to production quality, and to David Benioff and Dan Weiss and the outrageously talented cast and crew they assembled to bring the Seven Kingdoms and their people to life. I have been thrilled to be a part of this.

And who knows? There are more Emmys Awards this weekend, so we may not be done making television history quite yet. Tune in on Sunday night to find out.

Tags: awards, emmy awards, game of thrones, hbo, television

Three-and-Twenty Golden Gals

July 14, 2016 at 6:27 pm

This year’s Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and once again GAME OF THRONES and HBO kicked ass and took names.

HBO collected more nominations than any other network… once again.

And GAME OF THRONES was responsible for a big chunk of those… 23 nominations all told, more than any other series… for the second year in a row (we had 24 last year).

Last year we won Best Drama, and we’re nominated once again this year, so we have a chance to make it two in a row… against a formidable lineup of competitors in HOMELAND, DOWNTON ABBEY, MR. ROBOT, BETTER CALL SAUL, THE AMERICANS, and HOUSE OF CARDS.

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss got a nod for Writing, which they won last year.

For directing, two nominations: Jack Bender for “The Door” and Miguel Sapochnik for “Battle of the Bastards.”

And in the acting categories, GAME OF THRONES had its best year yet. Max Von Sydow was nominated for Best Actor in a Guest Role. Peter Dinklage and Kit Harrington both got nods for Best Supporting Actor. And in Best Supporting Actress, GOT snagged not one, not two, but three nominations; Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, and Maisie Williams will all be vying for the Emmy.

I am thrilled and happy for all our nominees, of course… but it made me especially happy to see Kit and Maisie get some love from the Academy at last. About damn time, I say. They are several years overdue. (And I would have loved to see Sophie Turner on that list as well. I know, I know, I’m greedy).

For a full list of the nominees, go here:
http://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/2016-emmys-nominees-list-drama-comedy-acting-nomination-1201814021/

The awards will be presented on September 18 in Los Angeles. Two days ahead of my birthday this year, but maybe we’ll get some presents anyway.

Tags: awards, emmy awards, game of thrones, hbo, television

Pretty Dany Moneyeyes

July 12, 2016 at 4:12 pm

This wild ride I have been on for this last decade just keeps getting wilder.

The amount of GAME OF THRONES stuff out there boggles even me.

Here’s the latest:

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I have not seen this one in person myself. I understand there is one at the Sky City casino down near Acoma, west of Albuquerque. Whether Sandia or Camel Rock or any of the other Indian casinos nearby have them I don’t know, though I suspect they do.

I don’t go to casinos very often, and when I do I prefer to play poker or blackjack with other human beings rather than the slots, but I’d play this one. In fact, I want one for myself. Though I have no idea whether it is even legal for an individual to own a slot machine, or if you need a casino to be able to have one.

(I do have the GAME OF THRONES pinball machine. Which is very cool itself).

What’s next, you ask? No idea…

Tags: game of thrones, hbo

HBO Premiere

April 24, 2016 at 4:03 pm

Tonight’s the night.

Season 6 is coming atcha.

‘Nuff said.

((Some of you will want to discuss the episode. Please remember, this is not the place for that. Go to Westeros, to Tower of the Hand, to Watchers on the Wall, to Winter Is Coming, and to all the other fan sites. Thanks)).

Tags: game of thrones, hbo

Season Six Premiere

April 13, 2016 at 5:28 pm

GAME OF THRONES had its gala season six premiere last week in Hollywood, at the historic and glorious Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

The rest of the world will have to wait until April 24 to see the first episode.

But here’s the latest trailer from HBO:

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Tags: game of thrones, hbo, television

Season 6 Is Coming

March 17, 2016 at 12:37 pm

GAME OF THRONES is coming back. Mark down Sunday, April 24 on your calendars.

HBO has released the first full-length trailer. Here’s a taste:

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And yes, it’s true. After last year’s unfortunate leak, HBO is not sending out any press screeners this year, to try and cut down on the piracy.

They have also eliminated all the regional premieres, including (sob) the one we had scheduled at my own Jean Cocteau Cinema. This year the only premiere will be the big one in LA at Grauman’s Chinese.

The Jean Cocteau will, however, go ahead with our season 5 marathon. Admission is free, so watch our website and newsletter for show times.

And we’ll all just have to wait to see what season 6 has in store.

Tags: game of thrones, hbo

Odds and Ends

March 3, 2016 at 1:45 pm

Got back from MystiCon on Monday. It was a fun weekend, and did much to restore my spirits. After all the internet rancor that has dominated on-line discussion of late, it was good to be reminded of what cons are all about… and how warm, welcoming, and open fandom can be. The Roanoke crowd seemed like good folks. And it was great to see how many young people and first-timers were at the con (I asked for a show of hands on several occasions). All the alarums about the demise of traditional SF fandom may be somewhat premature, I’m thinking.

Back home, of course, I had the usual thousand new emails waiting in my inbox. But among them, at long long last, was my Hugo PIN from MidAmericon II. I can finally begin nominating for this year’s awards. I urge all of you to do the same. (And will have a few more Hugo thoughts and recommendations in subsequent posts).

We had a great event at the JCC with Tony DiTerlizzi of THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES. And one last week, before I left, with Joe Lansdale and HAP & LEONARD. Plenty of signed books from Tony and Joe both are now available in the Cocteau bookstore. If you’re an autograph hunter, strike now while the supply lasts.

We have more fun events coming up in the next few months as well. Magician Francis Menotti will be making a return appearance, with the trick that fooled Penn & Teller, and we have booksignings scheduled with Darynda Jones, Joe Hill, and Stephen Graham Jones. And a little further out, Neil Gaiman will be appearing with some gigantic Tasmanian cave spiders. Go to the JCC website and sign up for our email newsletter if you’d like more details on forthcoming events at the theatre.

Meow Wolf’s opening comes closer every day. The gang down at Silva Lanes is working overtime right now, getting a little frantic as they labor to make sure everything is ready for opening weekend.

Oh, and GAME OF THRONES season six is drawing nigh as well. You may have heard. Before the season six debut on April 24, the JCC will be running a season five marathon. Weekly screenings, two hours per week, of the S5 episodes on our ~~big~~ medium-sized screen. And admission is FREE. First come, first seated.

I am sure there’s more. Life is busy. Hope yours is too.

Tags: everyday life, fandom, game of thrones, hbo, hugo awards, jean cocteau cinema bookstore, signed books

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Season 7 Is Coming

GAMES OF THRONES Competes For Golden Globe

Come Visit Westworld…

Emmys, Emmys, Emmys

Three-and-Twenty Golden Gals

Pretty Dany Moneyeyes

HBO Premiere

Season Six Premiere

Season 6 Is Coming

Odds and Ends

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