René Carson

SneakOnTheLot offers Second Life-style social networking and contests for filmmakers

SneakOnTheLot.com today announced the beta launch of its new filmmakers’ social networking website. The site combines filmmaking skills such as writing, directing, producing and acting, all within an online, interactive game where players compete throughout the year for their shot at producing a $20,000 short film in Los Angeles. In this new back lot environment, ….

Cast members to attend NYC and LA Lost finale episode events

As Lost’s final episode inches closer to TV screens, a series of official ‘finale’ events have been planned, primarily in New York and Los Angeles, according to Variety. Lost executive producer Carlton Cuse apparently Tweeted last week that one event, called “Lost Live: The Final Celebration,” will take place at UCLA’s Royce Hall on May ….

Film fans will have chance to bet on ticket sales of future movies with Cantor Exchange

Move over corn, pork bellies and cotton futures, make way for movie futures trading. THR reports that U.S. regulators have approved the creation of a futures market for the movie industry. Under the proposed plan, called Trend Exchange, film industry pros and other investors will be able to trade on predicted boxoffice receipts. According to ….

William Shatner, Stan Lee, Bionic Woman, Futurama, and Adam West headline Anaheim Comic Con this weekend

William Shatner, Stan Lee, Ilya Salkind and the original cast of Batman and TV show and movie screenings highlight the daily programming at Anaheim Comic Con this weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center. Friday begins with a special session with Academy Award-winning make-up artist Barney Burnham (5 p.m., Room 202A), followed by the popular “Wizard ….

Weinsteins close to snatching Miramax back from Disney?

According to THR, the Weinsteins are close to a winning bid in the Miramax auction and could take back operating control of the arthouse studio they founded in 1979, then sold to Disney for $80 million in 1993. Disney’s recently shuttered niche division boasts a 611-title film library. Miramax founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein have ….

Fox wants to turn you into a Na’vi to celebrate Avatar DVD release

To commemorate the launch of Avatar on Blu-ray and DVD, Fox Home Entertainment technology company Inwindow Outdoor, will unveil an interactive digital exhibition. The exhibition uses state-of-the-art facial recognition technology to morph shoppers’ faces in real time into the natives of Pandora, the Na’vi. The Avatar face-morphing exhibition is a large, freestanding structure that will ….

Actor James Caan’s Openfilm to award $1 million film financing prize in indie film contest

Online global independent film community Openfilm announced that it will award $1 million to independent filmmakers over the next 20 months. One independent filmmaker will be selected to receive $50,000 in cash and $200,000 in financing every 5 months by the Openfilm community of 20,000 registered film enthusiasts, along with some of the world’s preeminent ….