The Zocalo Today, Saturday, October 22, 2005

JMS UPDATE

Here are a few segments from the B5 moderated newsgroup I think you
will be interested in reading:

Update from JMS:

First, an advance word to those who are looking on...as noted here
earlier, all of the B5 scripts that I wrote are going to be
published in book form via www.babylon5scripts.com (a clever and
inventive title), and I just had it confirmed to me that the site
will be going on line right around the 28th of this month, give or
take a day or so.

There will be 14 volumes, containing all the episodic scripts that I
wrote, plus "In the Beginning" (in the 14th) and in volume 1 the
ORIGINAL 1989 version of "The Gathering" that was used to sell the
show but which was massively changed prior to production, which
features different characters and gave Kosh a life-mate named
Velana.

The 15th volume will be given without charge to those who pick up
all 14 volumes...even the shipping charges will be covered. That
volume will contain the lost Soul Hunter script (well, not lost, I
recalled it because I'd unwittingly written a Star Trek style script
instead of a B5 style script), a never-before-seen draft of Midnight
on the Firing Line written a YEAR before we got the go-ahead for the
series to show WB how the series would work, which is *massively*
different (and a bit more surreal) from what was filmed...the
original B5 series bible...the 5 year arc overview given to WB
before we started filming season one to show how the series would
work (and which followed Sinclair's character all through those five
years on B5)...and the script used in the now-famous (or infamous)
practical joke played on Andreas and Peter which had G'Kar changing
genders and ending up in bed with Londo.

Each volume also has an original introduction from me, and a lengthy
discussion of each episode, averaging about 40 pages per book, with
a lot of behind the scenes information never revealed before, along
with what went into the writing and producing.

There will also be a collection of B&W photos from my private
collection taken behind the scenes, which have never been seen by
anyone before. (Some books will have more photos than others,
depending on how often I made it to set that week.)

As noted before, for the first week or so after each new volume is
released, they'll be knocking ten bucks off the price of each volume
to reward the B5 community for keeping an eye on this. And yes, they
do ship internationally.

Insert from a later message for clarification:
Yes, they will be released one volume at a time, every two or three
weeks. The 15th volume will not be available until after volume 14
has been put out there. This creates a level playing field between
those who can only pick up one book at a time, and those who'd dive
in and get them all at once.

Moving on to other topics for a moment....

The same week, the 26th, will also see the publcation of issue one
of "The Book of Lost Souls," the new comic I'm doing with Colleen
Doran, and published by Marvel. This book is not like anything I've
ever written before (the closest would be Midnight Nation), and it's
definitely not like anything else Marvel is doing, and it's just
gorgeous to look at (and not bad to read, either). No spandex, no
costumes...a kind of modern dark fantasy, very adult, sometimes very
dark but ultimately hopeful...and best of all, it has a talking cat
named Mystery who is modeled after Buddy the Miracle Cat, so really,
how can you go wrong?

Finally...and I almost hate to type these words for fear of jinxing
anything...but in addition to the network project in development,
I've been offered show-runner on another series which should, if all
goes according to plan start shooting up in Vancouver in the spring.
That's all I can say about it for now, except that I've accepted the
offer and we're now concluding negotiations. More on this as it
develops.

Q: Whatever happened to the B5 Quote Book?

A: The book was going to come out from Simon and Shuster under Byron
Preiss' ibooks imprint...but just as things were being finalized,
Byron was killed in a car accident, and the whole reason I'd placed
that (and the other books of mine) with ibooks was because of Byron
being there. So when he was gone, there was no reason to keep it
there, and I'm not sure what the future for ibooks is going to be
without him there to oversee it.

We are, however, considering bringing it out via the same venue as
the B5 script books, should that initial publication work out as
planned.

And speaking of...the babylon5scripts.com site is scheduled to go
live at the end of the month. I've finished writing the last bits --
captions for some of the behind-the-scene photos I took back then,
including the first makeup tests of G'Kar, Londo and Delenn, candid
shots of the cast and crew, the first time we assembled
everyone...it's quite a cool look back, and stuff nobody's ever
seen.

But the main thing, again, is the publication of the scripts. It's
been an exhaustive process, gathering up all the script files,
cleaning them up, and writing introductions for all of the episodes.
(The intros are now averaging about 40-50 pages each per volume...so
that by the end, there will be enough new content in the intros to
make a whole book all by itself.) It's a real chance, with the
passage of time, to talk about stuff I could never talk about
before, and other stuff I can now discuss in more detail than could
be possible in an article or a convention appearance.

So keep an eye out...the site goes live in about ten days....

Babylon 5 Books by Mongoose

Mongoose asked me to consult with them, since they are doing just a
couple of books and as I understand it ONLY for release in the
UK...asked if I could help come up with some stories for them, or
provide material from myh notes, proofread the manuscripts, make
corrections, maybe write an intro, and do lots of other stuff...and
I said okay, great, what are you going to pay for my work?

At first, silence. As if they were stunned that I would actually ask
to be paid for my time and work. Then finally, they came back
with...five hundred bucks per book.

To which I responded, "You have GOT to be kidding me."
I have, subsequently, washed my hands of the Mongoose books. I
haven't seen anything, don't know what they're doing, so sure as
hell it ain't canonical.

This is getting annoyingly commonplace. I got an email from the
Warner Bros. division handling the German DVD superbox, for
instance, wherein they said, very happily, that they were figuring
on getting maybe six to ten million bucks for this new edition, and
would I help them to make sure everything was right, to consult with
them on the design, the packaging, the text, the artwork, the docs,
a bunch of stuff. So I said, again not unreasonably, "And what is
WB's standard fee for this consultation?"

To which WB responded that they don't pay people for the honor to be
involved in these DVDs. But he's getting paid, the guy who did the
artwork is getting paid, the only person who's not getting paid is
the guy who made it. So I declined. They replied with ominous words
suggesting that it would be bad if I let the fans down...but I don't
bow down for emotional blackmail.

Writing is a job no less than being a carpenter. All a writer has,
at the end of the day, is time, energy and visceral material. And
right now, there's an awful lot going on career wise, and my free
time is at a premium. You pay for someone's time if you have them
consult, or write, or research for you, or if you otherwise engage
their professional services. That is pro forma for every profession
on the planet...except, it seems, for writing, where they think
you're so glad to be asked to the ball that you'll go along with
being treated unprofessionally.

Pass.

NEW DISCUSSION TOPIC

Here's a topic from Ranger Gary. Let us know what you think.

"Recently, the Sci-fi moguls have released (or will be releasing
soon) DVD sets of short-lived or obscure Sci-fi & Fantasy TV Shows,
some examples are B5 Crusade, Earth2, Firefly, BattleStar Gallactica
Original series, Seaquest DSV (12/26/05), War of the Worlds Season 1
(11/1/05) and American Gothic (10/25/05) to name a few. I am
personally thrilled to have the opportunity to buy these sets in DVD
studio-quality format. So, what do you think is the main reason(s)
that these largely discarded and originally unsuccessful series have
made it back into the light and onto the DVD store shelves? Also, do
you have any favorites that you are still waiting for in DVD
release? (I am still waiting for Earth Final Conflict seasons 1& 2,
Friday the 13th -The Series, The Invaders/Roy Thinnes, Blakes 7
Region 1, Space Giants & Ultraman to name a few)."

Send in your opinions to share with your fellow readers to
sgbruckner@... and I'll post it on the Discussion Page. If
you have other issues you'd like to talk about, send them along.

KEEPING UP WITH CAST AND CREW

JMS - DARK DIMENSIONS:
In a note at the B5 moderated newsgroup, someone asked about Dark
Dimensions and a new short story. JMS said, ....my new short story
will be appearing in Dark Dimensions. The magazine's website now has
info available at:
http://www.darkwisdom.com/darkwisdom.htm

JASON CARTER:
Anyone who knows Jason knows how much he loves children -- and
having fun. Here's something from Jason you and your children should
enjoy.

Looking for stories to read to your children? How about a DinkyStory
played on your Palm device narrated by Jason? DinkyTV has available
for download, "Geraldine, the hip hop hippo", based on a poem
written by Jason Carter also known as "Ranger Marcus Cole" on
Babylon 5. Geraldine's story was conceived while Jason performed on
stage in London. A small pink hippo doll was hidden in the theater
before each show. The actors played the game of finding Geraldine
while entertaining the crowds. Like most genius actors, Jason's
imagination runs wild. He didn't just find the doll, he formulated a
story about life and struggles of a little pink hippo. Here is a
taste of his story...
Geraldine was a hippo, not unusual you think
Except for the fact that Geraldine was very small and pink
It was this that caused her problems each and every day
Being small and pink while all her friends were big and grey
It's a great story that reads over four minutes well within bedtime
story guidelines. Jason's twisted humor makes it an interesting
story for anyone. Because of the writing and the quality of his
voice I enjoy hearing the story over and over again.

JEFF CONOWAY:
SIN-JYN: Jenna Jameson is finishing up work on SIN-JYN SMITH. The
movie takes place over a Halloween weekend and centers on two
federal marshals who must transfer a mysterious man with no
identity, who may or may not be straight out of Hell. SIN-JYN also
stars Richard Tyson, Jonathan Davis, Lewis Smith, Kevin Cage, Jeff
Conaway, and Reb Brown. The film will be released in the summer of
2006.

PAT TALLMAN:
It is that time of year again to begin thinking about Pat's efforts
during the holidays for PENNY LANE. Be sure to drop over to
http://www.thegalacticgateway.com to catch up on what Pat has in
mind for this year. Your help is desperately needed, so please help
out if you can.

INSIDE SCI-FI THIS WEEK:
CORALINE:
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that Dakota Fanning has signed on
to voice the title character in Laika Entertainment's animated
feature CORALINE, based on the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman.
Henry Selick (Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas) is
writing and directing the film. Bill Mechanic will produce through
his Pandemonium Films, along with Laika's Mary Sandell. CORALINE
centers on a young girl (Fanning) who discovers an alternate version
of her life after walking through a secret door in her new home. On
the surface, this parallel reality is similar to her real life, only
much better. The adventure turns dangerous, however, when the girl's
counterfeit parents try to keep her forever.

LUCASFILM - SINGAPORE
Variety reports that Lucasfilm Animation Co. Singapore will open
Oct. 27, just about one year after it was created. The U.S.-based
vice president and general manager of Lucasfilm Animation, Gail
Currey, will be in town for the opening ceremony at the facility in
Changi Business Park. Heading up the 50-strong operation is G.M.
Chris Kubsch, a German native who was previously a production
executive at DreamWorks Animation and produced major animated
features, as well as visual-effects and character animation for many
live-action pictures. The Singapore studio is expected to handle
much of the animation and special effects for the upcoming Star Wars
toons and live-action TV series announced by George Lucas earlier
this year.

GEORGE LUCAS
Speaking of George Lucas, the Hollywood Reporter stated that the
STAR WARS made a $1 million contribution to help build a memorial to
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Mall in Washington.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
A producer has been signed for BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, a Disney
fantasy film based on the children's book by Katherine Paterson. The
Hollywood Reporter says it will be Hal Lieberman, producer of
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES.

PAINKILLER JANE
Emmanuelle Vaugier, who played Lex Luthor's wife in SMALLVILLE,
stars in the title role of PAINKILLER JANE, the pilot movie based on
the Event Comics character created by Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe
Quesada. Set to premiere on Sci Fi Channel on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 9
p.m., the network describes the film as:
"Painkiller Jane is a super-heroine for the new millennium. When
Jane Browning is exposed to a biochemical weapon that alters her
genes, she becomes endowed with incredible self-healing powers and
extraordinary physical and mental abilities. Now, on the run from a
sinister organization determined to replicate her powers - or
destroy them - Jane joins forces with some unlikely allies to become
an ultra-covert crime-fighting agent."
Tate Donvovan plays Graham Knight, a Ph.D. professor who tries to
help Jane figure out her new abilities. Richard Roundtree co-stars
as Colonel Watts, her commanding officer and mentor.
Venus Terzo, who did the voice of Jean Grey in X-Men: Evolution,
plays Carla Browning, Jane's sister. The cast also includes Eric
Dane, who reportedly is playing Jamie Madrox in X3, and Walker
Howard. The film was written and executive produced by John
Harrison, Greg Gold and Don Opper and directed by Sanford
Bookstaver.

RING OF NIBELUNGS/DARK KINGDOM: THE DRAGON KING
Variety reports that the Sci Fi Channel has picked up the rights to
air Germany's most successful TV movie of 2004 -- RING OF NIBELUNGS.
RING was loosely based on of the Germanic myth about the magic ring
of the Nibelungs and the Nordic Volsunga Saga. The movie stars
Kristanna Loken, Alicia Witt and Benno Fuermann. It was directed by
Uli Edel. RING will air in the U.S. under the title DARK KINGDOM:
THE DRAGON KING. After it airs on TV, Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment will release the film on DVD.

INVASION - FULL SEASON ORDERED
The Hollywood Reporter reports that ABC has ordered a full season of
new series INVASION. The network announced Thursday it would add
a "back nine" order to the 13 episodes it scheduled for the fall.
INVASION marks the second full season order in as many days ABC has
made for new series, following the nine episodes it ordered
for "Commander in Chief" on Wednesday. "These shows are great
additions to our network and continue ABC's creative and ratings
momentum," ABC Entertainment president Steve McPherson said. "I
applaud all the tremendous work that has gone into making both of
these series."

CREEPSHOW
CREEPSHOW, the 1982 horror anthology movie written by Stephen King
and directed by George A. Romero, is getting the remake treatment.
Warner Bros. Pictures is developing the remake, which will be
produced by Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment along
with Taka Ichise of OZ LA and Tony Ludwig. James Dudelson, the
original rights holder, also is attached to produce. Although in the
original anthology the stories -- which were written in the old
1950s EC Comics style -- were unconnected, the plan is to structure
the new movie a la "Go," where individual stories will have
interconnected characters and situations.

WALK OF FAME
Associated Press reports that Antonio Banderas (Shrek 2, Spy Kids,
Zorro) has been presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
16 years after he arrived as a penniless young actor from his native
Spain.

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
One of my favorite movies is on the re-make schedule. Variety
reports that Breck Eisner has signed on to direct Universal's remake
of the classic CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Gary Ross is
producing via his Larger Than Life banner. The son of former Disney
chief Michael Eisner made his feature directorial debut on last
spring's SAHARA and also helmed a segment of SCI FI Channel's
original miniseries Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN. Ross wrote the
current Creature draft, a present-day update of the 1954 monster
classic. He has a particular interest in the project because his
father, Arthur A. Ross, wrote the screenplay for the original film.
The original movie introduced the Gill Man, who terrorized
archaeologists exploring the Amazon. Plans for the update call for
shooting in the U.S. as well as in a Central or South American
location.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
According to the Hollywood Reporter, ABC has elected a full season
for the new drama "Commander in Chief," ordering nine more
episodes. "Chief" is the most-watched new series of the fall season,
averaging 16.5 million total viewers to lead its 9 p.m. Tuesday
slot. While second in the hour in 18-49, "Chief" is still up 10% in
that demo from last year's 9-10 p.m. combination of "According to
Jim" and "Rodney."

DEJA VU
With portions of New Orleans returning from the ravages of
hurricanes, the Hollywood Reporter indicates that Tony Scott is
returning to direct Walt Disney Pictures' DEJA VU. The action-
thriller is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Denzel
Washington. Its future had been in doubt since Scott left the
project this month after its key location, New Orleans, was
devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Scott was adamant about shooting in
the city for creative reasons -- in part because the script called
for a dock and ferry in key scenes. But the director reconsidered
when he learned that the city's dock was being repaired and would,
along with parts of the city, be ready for a winter shoot. If the
plan goes through, DEJA VU would be the first film to shoot in New
Orleans post-Katrina. The studio said it hopes to begin shooting in
New Orleans in late January or early February. The screenplay by
Terry Rossio and Bill Marsilii centers on an FBI agent who travels
back in time to save a woman from a murder and falls in love with
her in the process.

BLACK SUNDAY
Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has made a preemptive deal
for screen rights to BLACK MONDAY, a novel being written by Bob
Reiss. Paramount-based Tom Jacobson will produce. Reiss, whose
novels include "The Last Spy," is writing a thriller that revolves
around oil. A mysterious condition is eroding the quality of the
crude with catastrophic results, and a federal investigator tries to
solve the problem before the world is brought to a screeching
halt. "It is a very timely idea, and what works best about this is
the way the consequences unfold both on a personal level as well as
in the context of a global crisis," Jacobson said. The trade says
the studio will put a screenwriter on it quickly while Reiss
completes the novel.

GEMINI AWARDS
STARGATE SG-1 & STARGATE ATLANTIS received a combined six
nominations for the 20th annual Gemini Awards, handed out by the
Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. The complete story is
available on the Gateworld (Stargate fan) website at:
www.gateworld.net/news/2005/10/istargateiearnssixgeminino.shtml. The
complete list of Gemini Award nominees are at: www.geminiawards.ca.

CONAN: RED NAILS
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ron Perlman has signed on to
voice Conan of Cimmeria for Swordplay Entertainment's CONAN: RED
NAILS, the first animated film featuring the mythic barbarian.
Perlman joins a "voice" cast that already includes Marg Helgenberger
and James Marsden, Clancy Brown, Cree Summer and Mark Hamill. The
script is by Steve Gold and Timothy Dolan and will be directed by
Victor Dal Chele.

STAR WARS
Variety reports that Spike TV has engineered the biggest movie
purchase in the net's 22-year history, ponying up between $65
million and $70 million for a six-year exclusive deal covering all
six Star Wars movies.

MONSTROUS MEMOIRS According to Variety, Walt Disney Pictures and
Jerry Bruckheimer Films have paid $1.5 million for film rights to
the unpublished novel Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless by
first-time writer Ahmet Zappa. The story concerns a young brother
and sister who learn their family is part of a long line of monster
hunters. The pair squabble constantly, but must band together
against the most diabolical creature in the universe to rescue their
father. The book is scheduled for publication in August from Random
House as a hardcover, with full-color art. Zappa wrote the story and
penned some 300 illustrations.

ALIAS
In this week's TV Guide Online "Ask Ausiello" column, it is reported
that producers of ALIAS have closed the deal to bring back co-star
Michael Vartan, whose character, Michael Vaughn, appeared to perish
in the season opener. "The deal officially closed late last week,
and Vartan returned to work on the ALIAS set yesterday," the site
reported on Oct. 18. "Please don't ask me who he's playing or how
long his return engagement will last, because that I can't tell you.
(Mostly 'cause, well, I don't know.)"

SCI-FI THRILLER
Variety reports that Universal Pictures has bought a sci-fi thriller
pitch from Simon Kinberg and Brett Matthews. The story is being kept
under wraps for now. Matthews will write the script. Simon Kinberg
says, "It's more thriller than big, broad action; more gritty than
other sci-fi movies we've seen in the recent past. Almost what
BOURNE IDENTITY did for action movies, this will attempt to do for
sci-fi movies." Simon Kinberg, David Engel and Lawrence Mattis will
produce.

TORCHWOOD
With the success of its DOCTOR WHO series, the BBC has announced
that it has commissioned a spinoff series of DOCTOR WHO for its BBC
Three network. The new series, from the new Who's creator Russell T.
Davies, will be called TORCHWOOD—an anagram of "Doctor Who"—and will
feature the character of Captain Jack (John Barrowman), a
swashbuckling spacefarer who was introduced in Who last season. The
network has ordered 13 episodes. "TORCHWOOD is a British sci-fi
paranoid thriller, a cop show with a sense of humor," Davies said in
a statement. "It's dark, wild and sexy. It's The X-Files meets This
Life. It's a stand-alone series for adult audiences, which will have
its own unique identity. I have just begun working on the scripts
with a team of writers and cannot wait to see the results." Set in
modern-day Cardiff, TORCHWOOD will get its launch in the Christmas
special and second season of DOCTOR WHO and will center on
TORCHWOOD, a renegade group of investigators. No stories will cross
over between TORCHWOOD and DOCTOR WHO, the BBC said.

NEANDERTHALS
According to the Hollywood Reporter, ELF and ZATHURA helmer Jon
Favreau will write and produce the CG-animated feature NEANDERTHALS
for Sony Pictures Animation. While the project is based on Favreau's
original story, further details about the plot line "are being kept
in a cave under a large boulder protected by a mastodon," said the
studio. It will be Favreau's second collaboration with SPA; he also
is voicing the character of Reilly, the beaver, in OPEN SEASON, the
animation studio's first full-length feature, which is scheduled for
release September 29, 2006 by Columbia Pictures. Favreau recently
signed up to direct JOHN CARTER OF MARS for Paramount Pictures and
has a role in THE BREAK-UP, with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston.

STAR TREK - JAMES DOOHAN
Reuters reports that STAR TREK star James Doohan's cremated remains
will be launched into space in accord with his last wishes.
Commercial space flight operator Space Services Inc. will launch the
late actor's remains into space aboard its Explorers Flight on Dec.
6. Doohan, known to STAR TREK fans as chief engineer Montgomery
Scott of the U.S.S. Enterprise, will be among more than 120 others
whose remains will be aboard the flight, including those of an
unidentified astronaut and Mareta West, the astro-geologist who
determined the site for the first spacecraft landing on the moon.
Doohan died in July at age 85. To mark the flight, Doohan's family
will hold a service for fans on a 60-acre site near Vandenberg Air
Force Base north of Los Angeles the day of the launch to pay tribute
to him. Doohan's cremated remains will be packed into a special tube
that is ejected from the rocket and expected to orbit Earth for
about 50 to 200 years before plunging into the planet's atmosphere
and burning up. Fans can post tributes to Doohan at the Space
Services Web site. Those messages will be digitized, packed with
Doohan and blasted into space.

CATEGORY 7
The CBS digital effects team took great delight in destroying the
Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Great Pyramids, Mt.
Rushmore and the Arc de Triomphe for the upcoming miniseries
CATEGORY 7: THE END OF THE WORLD. The super-storm drama is a sequel
to last year's hit Category 6, and the only character reprising a
role is Randy Quaid as a storm chaser. The four-hour sequel co-stars
Gina Gershon as a new FEMA director, Shannen Doherty as a
discredited scientist, Tom Skerritt as a pilot and James Brolin and
Swoosie Kurtz as a televangelist couple saying that the storm is the
coming apocalypse. Only weeks before the miniseries' Nov. 6 and 13
premiere, the digital team is working on destroying some of the
world's most recognizable landmarks. The first one, the Eiffel
Tower, is struck by lightning and sucked into a tornado while diners
are blown off the structure and a car smashes into one of the legs
of the tower. "There are more than 100 special-effect shots in that
one sequence," visual effects supervisor Craig Weiss said. The
Eiffel Tower is the first landmark to be destroyed in a sequence
that lasts 10 minutes, and more than one-fourth of the miniseries'
nearly 400 special-effects shots will go into that one sequence
alone. In another nearly completed sequence, Paris' Arc de Triomphe
is struck by lightning in the heart of Paris and comes crumbling
down. Can a lightning strike bring down solid stone like that?
Christopher DeCristo, the show's 2-D supervisor admitted: "We don't
really know."

THE FOG
According to Reuters, THE FOG topped the North American box office
in its debut, grossing about $12.2 million on the Oct. 14 weekend.
The low-budget update of John Carpenter's 1980 ghost movie knocked
last weekend's number-one film, WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE
WERE-RABBIT, to second place, with ticket sales of $11.7 million.
THE FOG cost a relatively modest $18 million to make and stars Tom
Welling, Maggie Grace and Selma Blair. ELIZABETHTOWN came in third
with $11 million, and FLIGHTPLAN had the number four spot with $6.5
million. Tony Scott's DOMINO opened at number six with just $4.7
million. Here are the estimated ticket sales for the top ten films
over the weekend at the box office:
1. The Fog - $12.2 million
2. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - $11.7 million
($33.3 million)
3. Elizabethtown - $11 million
4. Flightplan - $6.5 million ($70.8 million)
5. In Her Shoes - $6.1 million ($20 million)
6. Domino - $4.7 million
7. Two for the Money - $4.6 million ($16.5 million)
8. A History of Violence - $3.6 million ($22.4 million)
9. Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - $3.5 million ($47.65 million)
10. The Gospel - $3.2 million (12.2 million)

ANIMATED X-MEN:
Marvel Entertainment is teaming up with First Serve Toonz to make an
animated X-MEN series that focuses on Wolverine. The plan is to
produce 26 episodes, in a 2D-3D combination of characters and
background, which will be available for distribution in 2007. Avi
Arad said in a statement, "X-Men is one of Marvel's crown jewels,
and it makes sense to focus on the popular Wolverine character for
our second animation project. First Serve Toonz, one of the leading
animation houses in the Indian animation market, was a natural
choice for our first animation partnership in this creative and
talent rich market."

SURFACE:
NBC Universal Television has given a full-season pickup order for
SURFACE, the fantasy-mystery drama series. The total number of
episodes ordered for the show's first season is still being
determined, in part because NBC will pre-empt much of its primetime
schedule in February for coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
in Turino, Italy, slated to run Feb. 10-26. "Surface," which stars
Lake Bell, Jay Ferguson and Carter Jenkins, has pulled in
respectable ratings for the peacock in the 8 p.m. Monday slot since
its Sept. 19 debut.

DEEP SPACE NINE - SIDDIG
Alexander Siddig did a fine job playing Dr. Bashir on Star Trek:
Deep Space Nine. You can catch the British-Sudanese actor in Ridley
Scott's recent Crusade epic KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, and he plays an Arab
prince in the intriguing-looking thriller SYRIANA. Although it's not
quite as flashy as a Hollywood blockbuster, Siddig has a lead role
in another film currently in production. Sid City reports the actor
to be starring in a BBC documentary-drama film about Hannibal, the
brilliant Carthaginian general who nearly defeated Rome in the Punic
Wars. There's already a gallery up full of set images from Hannibal,
which will be broadcast in Britain next year. Also watch for
Alexander Siddig in The Last Legion, another historical war film set
in ancient Rome.

ROCKY 6
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that Sylvester Stallone has signed
on to reprise his role as boxer Rocky Balboa, and will direct the
sixth installment of the long-running film series, titled
simply "Rocky Balboa," from his own script. The film will be co-
produced and co-financed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia Pictures
and Revolution Studios and will be distributed by Columbia Pictures.
Stallone has been trying to make a sixth movie for years and has
spent time reworking a script. The latest version, which sources
said is similar to tone and grit to the first two movies, persuaded
the studios to negotiate a deal. In the new installment, Rocky,
lonely and retired in Philadelphia, is approached to fight a match
with reigning heavyweight champ Mason "The Line" Dixon, and soon his
comeback ignites a media firestorm. Shooting is scheduled to begin
in December in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

SMALLVILLE
The WB has to be pleased at the ratings so far for SMALLVILLE. The
most recent episode, "Hidden," continued to provide a punch to
Thursday's lineup. Smallville ranked No. 1 in men 18-34 (3.3
rating/12 share) and men 12-34 (3.2/11) and was No. 2 among persons
12-34 (2.7/9) and men 18-49 (2.8/8) and #3 in adults 18-34 (2.7/9)
and adults 18-49 (2.5/7). SMALLVILLE improved its time period over
the parallel week last season including plus-108 percent in adults
18-34 (2.7/9) and plus-79 percent in total viewers (5.9 million).
The series, which has again become The WB's most-watched series,
moved to its Thursday time period for its fifth season after airing
on Wednesdays last season.

X-MEN 3:
20th Century Fox has launched the official teaser website for
http://www.x3movie.com/X-Men 3. The anticipated sequel is directed
by Brett Ratner and opens in theaters on May 26. The site currently
features a teaser Flash intro, with much more to come soon. The
third film in the popular franchise stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick
Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, James
Marsden, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Shawn Ashmore, Kelsey
Grammer, Daniel Cudmore, Vinnie Jones, Ben Foster, Ellen Page,
Olivia Williams, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Bill Duke and Michael Murphy.

SUPERMAN RETURNS
According to The Princeton Public Library in Princeton, NJ, SUPERMAN
RETURNS director Bryan Singer will talk at the debut of the
Christopher Reeve Lecture Series and the dedication of the
Christopher Reeve Theater and Dramatic Arts Collection. Singer will
introduce a clip from SUPERMAN RETURNS and take questions and
comments from the audience in a session moderated by former
Princeton Borough Mayor Marvin Reed, a close family friend. A
reception in the Open Book Cafe will follow the talk. The event will
take place on Friday, November 18 at 7:30pm. Follow this link for
more information http://www.princetonlibrary.org/pdf/newsletter.pdf

NEW JAMES BOND NAMED:
After months of speculation, English actor Daniel Craig (Layer Cake)
has been named as the new James Bond. Reuters reports that the
announcement came yesterday in a London news conference. Craig,
swept up the River Thames on a power launch to the news conference,
was escorted by Royal Marines boats. The 37-year old Englishman will
become the first blond Bond and told reporters: "I'm kind of
speechless at the moment." The casting of one of cinema's most
iconic characters closes the successful four-film run of Irishman
Pierce Brosnan. Craig will make his debut as the martini-swilling
superspy in CASINO ROYALE, the 21st Bond film, which starts shooting
in January. Competition for the role inclded Britons Clive Owen and
Jude Law, Australia's Hugh Jackman and TV's Goran Visnjic. Only five
actors have played Bond since the first film, Dr. No, more than 40
years ago. Brosnan, Sean Connery and Roger Moore were well-loved
mainstays as the secret agent, while George Lazenby and Timothy
Dalton were less successful.

JOHNNY DEPP
The Hollywood Reporter indicates that PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN star
Johnny Depp will be this year's tributee at AFI Fest 2005, Nov. 11
in Hollywood, Calif., which will include a career montage and a
series of clips examining Depp's work.

CHANGING E-MAIL ADDRESSES:
Like so many others, I'm changing e-mail addresses. I've gone to
broadband and will be discontinuing my e-mail address at AOL next
month. My new e-mail address is sgbruckner@....

MAIL BAG:
Got something you want to talk about here -- and it's not a
discussion topic? Just drop a note and I'll put it out on the MAIL
BAG page for everyone to share.

LETTERS TO SCI-FI:
It has been a very long time since BABYLON 5 has been on the air. I
think it is time to write SCIFI and remind them that fans still want
to see this quality show. Here are addresses to use:

Bonnie Hammer, President
USA Network and Sci-Fi Channel
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY. 10020-1513

Mr. Thomas Vitale
Senior VP of Acquisitions, Scheduling & Program-Planning
Sci-Fi Channel
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY. 10020-1513

TOP SCIENCE FICTION NEWS STORIES:
To catch up on the latest news from this week -- and last month, go
to News Page at <http://www.isnnews.net/zocalo/news.shtml>. You'll
find the everything from our front page -- but over a longer period
of time.

That is about it for now.

I hope you all have a terrific weekend.

Be sure to visit the website when you have a chance and send along a
note when you have something to share with Zocalo readers.

Be safe,
Sandy

Sandra Bruckner
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net