Terminating Batman at the Salvation Army Store

So the other day I decided to walk around town a little bit more than usual and anyone who knows me is fully aware that I walk around town a LOT. However yesterday was a little bit different in that I ended up at the local Salvation Army Store- the one in Redlands California is more like a Antiques repository but on the right it still has DVD’s, Video/PC Games, Comic Books and Collectables…and Music CD’s. I actually went in to look at the DVD’s as they are priced to move and often have a good selection of films that I’ve wanted to see and have never been able to.

Aeon Flux caught my eye right away, it had a strong chance of being picked because it ticked all the right boxes for the kind of film I wanted to experience. However in the end I found myself kneeling in front of the CD rack and looking very carefully at the titles for anything I might like. It turns out there ended being two items that grabbed my attention…well to be honest 3, but when I opened the first one I found the dreaded stolen/missing disc staring at me. So I handed it to one of the workers to get it out of circulation.

Has Justin Lin Put Himself Back Into the Running for Terminator 5 Director?

Justin Lin has directed every movie in the Fast and Furious series since he came on board for Tokyo Drift and arguably with each film he has crafted a greater and more powerful and robust piece of entertainment. Fast 5 was the first in the series I took the time to see in theaters since Rob Cohen’s The Fast and the Furious. And as a film it blended high octane car racing with the heist film for absolutely nutty amounts of fun, the ending chase is action heaven.

Now Justin is putting the finishing touches on Fast 6 which will be by all indications even more fun and spectacular than Fast 5. Universal wants to get going right now on Fast 7 and that’s forced Justin Lin to drop out of the directing gig ostensibly because he doesn’t want to be in Post Production on one film while being in Pre-Production on the next simultaneously. I can’t fault him for that, and though it’s a shame that we won’t get to see him complete his planned Fast and Furious arc we will get to see Fast 7 coming down the pipe very very soon as Universal Pictures is apparently talking to Director James Wan to fill the directors chair.

This leads to my question: this move once again opens up the possibility of Lin signing on as director of the long gestating Terminator 5. Will rights owner Megan Ellison seek him out? The script is currently being written and Justin Lin has shown interest in directing the 5th film in the past.

Terminator 5: Dawn of The New Screenwriters!

The Terminator (soundtrack) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s with a somewhat heavy heart that I write this official Terminator 5 news update as it means that I’ll no longer have to defend Ferris and Brancato on another Terminator script. Seriously though this news both excites me and bums me out since I spent a good deal of last year working on securing this very project.

However I’m also happy since that means Laeta Kalogridis  (Avatar/Shutter Island/Alexander) and Patrick Lussier (Wes Craven’s Dracula/My Bloody Valentine/Drive Angry (Writer and Director) are going to be the ones to receive any blow back from the fans if the film under performs.

It’s and interesting duo that’s for certain however I know that Terminator rights holder Megan Ellison isn’t into making stupid decisions. She is after all behind such awesome films as Zero Dark Thirty and The Master and is very serious about making great use of the Terminator name.

This is someone I fully trust to know what they’re doing.

Apparently the Laeta/Lussier was combo writing a SF original for David Ellisons’ Skydance Productions and was so impressed with it that he landed them the Terminator job.

More news as it breaks.

Ross Out.

Related articles

• Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier to Pen New TERMINATOR Movie (collider.com)
• Laeta Kalogridis And Patrick Lussier Set To Script New ‘Terminator’ (deadline.com)
• Laeta Kalogridis And Patrick Lussier Set To Script New ‘Terminator’ (m.deadline.com)
• New ‘Terminator’ Film Gets A Pair Of Screenwriters (screencrave.com)
• ‘Shutter Island’ and ‘Drive Angry’ Writers Tapped For ‘Terminator 5′ (slashfilm.com)
• ‘Terminator 5′ Gains New Screenwriters (screenrant.com)

Terminator 3: Final Retribution Sketches

Way back in 1999 I with the help of a good friend released my Terminator fan script Terminator 3: Final Retribution (T3:FR)onto the internet. The site went through a number it iterations including hosting through two different services, a liquid metal logo animation, message boards and even a Future War set written Terminator RPG.

We advertised the script as…”The Fan script fit for the big screen!“

You can still find on of the old sites on the internet to this day, it features artwork by another friend, Terminator short fiction and who knows you might even be able to still read the script online! If not you can download it from Terminator Files- They have absurdly detailed files! look under Scripts.

On top of that just like my inspiration in screenwriting Jim Cameron would draw artwork I also did some drawings as as part of the Digital Restoration Project I’m going to upload some artwork that I did around the time of the website release. So prepare to be Terminated by mediocre artwork as we travel back to 1999!

In T3:FR I wrote a direct follow up to Terminator 2: Judgment Day in which General Connor came back through time to protect himself and stop Skynet from two Automated Personell EXterminator Terminator units sent back through time by Skynet to kill off John Connor in the past. Here is a sketch of Apex One based on a certain actor.

“I am cold and unforgiving on the inside.”

After the break meet his female counterpart and find more art from 1999′s Terminator 3: Final Retribution!

And Now On Kickstarter…The Thief in The Night!

For the better part of a year now I’ve been rather busy that’s why there have been fewer updates here at Ruminations of RossBondReturns. Well it’s time to let you all know what has been consuming my time and it is a Independent Film called The Thief in The Night.

The film is still in active production and we are still filming scenes and recording dialogue and doing all the nitty gritty things that need to be done in order to make a complete film experience. More than 17 dedicated and hard working individuals have donated their time and skills to make The Thief in The Night into a project on the verge of completion.

However we need your help,

Awesome New Skyfall Theater Standee!! New Bond Teaser!!

So today I went to see The Dark Knight Rises with a very good friend of mine with whom I do voice work for his podcast. And lo and behold what do I see from outside the theater as I’m waiting for the B.O. to open but a new standee for the new James Bond film SKYFALL starring Daniel Craig and directed by Sam Mendes. Needless to say this puppy is freaking badass!

Below are a few photographs some taken inside and a few from outside. Once The Expendables 2 is out of the way I expect they’ll be moving it into the place where the TE2 standee is but it is very visible from outside the theater.

Later this week I will be returning to take some pictures later in the evening to try and get some from outside sans all the reflections but here’s a few shots that i took just hours ago.

Also a new Teaser for Skyfall premiered during the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games last night and here it is courtesy of youtube:

I am so stoked! Fixing his cufflink at the end of the teaser there is so 007!

Ross Out!

Zack Stentz Writes NoFateCon into His Calendar!

My writers sense is tingling!

Image via Wikipedia

Man I am so damned excited now if all things work out I’ll finally get to meet ZACK STENTZ!

Heck maybe…nah…well maybe…there I go thinking out loud again.

Zack wrote imho some of the very best episodes of T:SCC and he’s still writing for television and movies with writing partner ASHLEY MILLER.

Perhaps you saw a tiny movie called THOR or another little flick called X-Men First Class?

Yeah…that’s my dudes right there.

Don’t forget to check out The NoFateCon Website where you can find out more about this excellent event!

Go team SCC!

Ross Out

New MEG Trailer for MEG ORIGINS!

Image via Wikipedia

This is breaking as i only got to my e-mail today and foun a new news update from the awesome Steve Alten author of many books in his case focusing on the MEG series.

It seems he’s released a new E-Book called MEG: ORIGINS.

That’s kickass!

Here’s the trailer for the book…I can’t wait for the MEG movie to emerge from the Abyssal Plain that is Hollywood!

Congrats Steve thanks for keeping us up to date!

Ross Out!

James Bond!! SKYFALL!! Nov. 9, 2012!!

Official Announcement Logo

It’s official.

Daniel Craig is back as 007 in SKYFALL which is slated to hit theaters stateside on Nov. 9, 2012.

The short and sweet logline reads as follows:  “Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.”

I am going to say that it is being directed by Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition) and the lead villain is being played by Javier Bardem!

Below I link you to DigitalSpy’s coverage of the Press Conference to announce the film (some second unit stuff is being shot today) full on shooting begins the 7th of November. The full press conference is fun seeing as how they can’t answer much, but it’s a great thing to listen to the banter…and you’ll find some things I haven’t spoiled for you in this article.

Since I’m a huge Bond fan expect me to cover film news as it breaks.

Ross Out.

Related articles

• James Bond 23 SKYFALL Officially Announced & Story Details Revealed (geektyrant.com)
• ‘Bond 23′ Officially Titled ‘Skyfall’, Character and Plot Details Revealed (slashfilm.com)

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol BTS Footage!

Image by thetravelguru via Flickr

We all know Tom Cruise likes to do his own stunts…and now a Sizzle Reel of BTS scenes footage has been released of Tom Cruise gettinghis stunt on dangling from the worlds tallest building the Burj Khalifa.

Check it out here!

If I find it on youtube I’ll update this post.

A new trailer is said to be hitting tomorrow…it’s getting close folks and I can’t wait for M:I Ghost Protocol!

Ross Out