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The Chronicles
Volume 2 Issue 9 |
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London Vampyre Group
PO Box 487
London
WC2H 9WA
© Copyright 2007
London Vamypre Group
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On-Screen Vampyres
Compiled By Rockula - January 2007
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Vlad’s Castlevania -
Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil / Event Horizon) will write, direct and co produce (with partner Jeremy Bolt) the film version of popular video game ‘Castlevania’.
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Starting in 15th century Transylvania (with Dracula’s beginnings as the real life Vlad Tepes) the movie will cover several eras and the exploits of the vampire hunting Belmont family.
Rogue Pictures will produce the project and Crystal Sky Entertainment and locations are being scouted in Hungary and Romania with interiors of the castle to be shot in Budapest. Personally, I’m not familiar with the game (not being a gamer myself) but fans should be pleased to hear the production aims to recreate the look and atmosphere of the video. Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek:TNG)is rumoured to be taking the role of ‘Grandfather’ but this is not yet confirmed and no other cast details or release date are available at this time.
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Bloody Sacred -
Darkwood Motion Picture Productions have announced that they are embarking on "the most ambitious independent action movie ever brought to production" and that’s a mighty big boast to live up to on a budget of only (only?) $5 million. What we have here is the (hopefully) epic tale of an ancient Roman (what have they ever done for us?) vampire queen who tries to create an army of bloodsuckers and, in the process, inadvertedly converts a descendent of the vampires mortal enemies, the ‘E~Mortaks’.
This ancient race of extraterrestrial warlords (yes, it’s got aliens too) once fought the vampire’s forbears, the ‘Gifters’, so there’s obviously the usual ancient prophecy of apocalyptic disasters and doom mongering and stuff. The story was initially called ‘Cup Of Sacred Bloods’ and apparently read like an ‘Indiana Jones Vs. The Vampire Horde’ script but they’ve settled on ‘Sacred Bloods’ as the films title.
The first time writer/director Oscar Dean Ray has confirmed that principle photography has commenced in Oklahoma City on a proposed 44 day shoot aiming for a theatrical release in 2007. Confirmed in the cast are Larry Sellers (The Sopranos), Ford Austin (Carnies) Heather Surdukan, Jessica Dixon and Peter Zhmutski. Bones And Such will provide FX.
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Vlad’s Castlevania -
Bill Kong (producer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) has confirmed that Ronny Yu (Freddy Vs. Jason) will direct the live action version of Blood: The Last Vampire. The original anime, produced and owned by Production I.G. studio in Japan, was the fastest selling Manga DVD to date and concerned a vampire hunter sent undercover to an airbase to destroy a faction of bloodsuckers, but it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. Excellent!
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The French company Pathe will produce this version (under licence to the Japanese copyright holders) with independent financing supplied by Kong and Yu and filming is set to commence in January 2007 (in Tokyo and Melbourne, Australia) for a Spring 2008 release. The story will be set at a United States Army camp in Tokyo around 1948 following Hiroshima, Nagasaki and the conclusion of WWII.
The original animated version was set in the 60’s but Ronny Yu feels it will be more visually stunning to rewind to the 40’s with the destruction left by the war still very much in evidence. There’s also talk of an anime TV series based on the movie. I loved the original and this is one I’ll be keeping my eyes on. Don’t botch it, Yu.
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More Uwe Bollox -
Yes, the man widely regarded as the worst horror director of his generation is at it again. Although, personally, I think he has some good visuals in his movies he will insist in making naff adaptations of popular computer games that gets gamers and movie goers alike riled up. Well, if you sat through Bloodrayne and are prepared to endure more here comes the obviously titled Bloodrayne 2.
This one has (the admittedly very attractive) Natassia Malthe replacing Kristanna Loken in the title roll and the setting has been moved from the Transylvanian mountains to the frontiers of the old Wild West. Set in the Western town of Deliverance it has Rayne facing off at High Midnight against, wait for it, a vampiric Billy The Kid. Christopher Donaldson and Neil Every filled script duties and Boll himself (with Sean Williamson and Dan Clarke) is producing it. No other actors have so far admitted to being attached to the project.
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Curse Of The Undead In The Desert Of Blood -
Whilst we’re on the subject of Westerns, writer/director/producer Don Henry and Windchill Films are giving us Desert Of Blood, which is inspired by the old 1959 vampire cowboy flick Curse Of The Undead. Although not really a Western this movie will be set at a Mexican ranch near an old Spanish ghost town where a vampire, buried alive (undead?) for 35 years is released to seek revenge on the woman (who he still loves) responsible for his incarceration. He finds he may have a second chance at love with her niece or she may be the catalyst to horror and catastrophe.
The vampires here don’t know exactly how or what they have become or the rules to their new existence. Powerful and dangerous, driven by the instinct to eat and survive but confused and frightened by the transformation there will be no self-assured leader in a tailored dinner suit here.
And the director has said with all the blood and nudity and the love stories running through the piece that it might make this the ideal horror date movie. So, if any of you bloodsuckers are going out for film and a bite. Special effects veteran Richard Miranda (Lost Boys) is onboard together with a cast of bright young things, up and coming actors and international cover models Annika Svedman and Justin Quinn. Spanish number-one pop star Naim Thomas is in there too somewhere.
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Going Dutch -
Dutch director R. Kan Alby has just released The Flemish Vampire (hrrgh, clears throat), which was filmed in Belgium from a script written by him, and Nore Maatala. The official plot summary goes something like this; Frank, a vet, discovers that his daughter Anne is a lesbian, which is hard for him to accept, so he decides to drive to a theatre in Flanders where she is performing in a play called (you guessed it) The Flemish Vampire.
The play is about demons, angels and vampires and before Frank can confront his daughter a legendary evil demon awakens after 500 years of dwelling (presumably under the venue). On this stage (it says) the ultimate battle will be settled. I’m intrigued.
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East End Vampire Junkies -
Night Junkies is a film written and directed by Lawrence Pearce. The synopsis that follows is taken from the official website:
"Set in the winding streets and dark alleyways of riverside London, Night Junkies centres on an unusual couple, Ruby and Vincent. Ruby works as a lap dancer for an East End outfit intent on promoting her as a call girl. Coming from a very dark past, Ruby has always had to battle the world. Vincent was 'turned' in a dark alleyway by a femme fatale, and after weeks of battling with his condition, he has now learnt to give in to his addiction: blood.
Vincent and Ruby meet via a chance encounter in a London café and fall in love during one special night. Vincent goes against his heart and tries to feed on Ruby to satisfy his addiction. Ruby escapes, but has now been 'turned' and has also become an addict... a junkie... a vampire. Ruby, unsure of what is happening to her, returns to a remorseful Vincent who convinces her to stay and work things out.
Together they try to go 'cold turkey' on their blood addiction. Ruby's previous 'owners' want their star girl back and Matt (a contemporary Jack the Ripper) seeks her out. Matt eventually catches up with them, which makes for an explosive and deadly fight to the end..."
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