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Coming Soon Christopher Golden - 46th post - 16 Jul 2003 12:53
Summer's flying by. Life is chaos. You spin me round round, baby, right round . . .
:)
Hello again, friends. Very soon the BBC is sure to make an announcement about several things, including the precise start date for the serialization of the GoA novella, "ASTRAY." Suffice to say that the delay in beginning the serialization has to do with a certain . . . ahem . . . enhancement that it's undergoing. Something Amber thought you all would enjoy. Needless to say the rest of us agreed. (No, it's NOT being made into an episode. It's a prose novella. But the super-secret added wrinkle is going to be fun.)
In other news, conversations continue apace about what's going to happen AFTER the novella. Hopefully by the time the novella has wrapped up we'll have LOTS of different bits of news for you.
I check in pretty frequently, so say hi. Hope all's well with everyone here.
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
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I see dead lesbian cliches
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Cult hits grow Web roots
When a hit film or television franchise like 'Doctor Who' or 'The Matrix' has devoted fans, broadcasting new short films or animated episodes on the shows' Web sites keeps interest growing
By Todd Allen, Special to the Tribune. Todd Allen is a freelance writer
Published July 26, 2003
In an effort to rev up demand for popular entertainment titles, Web sites are introducing innovative new products for fans and reaping new profits in the process.
Where Hollywood used to utilize Web pages to promote films and fill seats, popular science fiction franchises like "The Matrix" and "Doctor Who" are Webcasting new episodes to drum up interest between releases, then selling the products on DVD.
"When you put something out that's good, people will shout about it," said Spencer Lamm, Matrix Internet team leader.
Before "The Matrix Reloaded" was released to movie theaters this summer, four animated episodes, collectively known as "The Animatrix," were released on "The Matrix" Web site, one debuting each month since February.
More than 19 million of the large animation files - ranging from 18 to 150 megabytes per episode - have been downloaded, including 8 million copies of the first installment. At one point, the downloads averaged more than 10 terabytes per day, said Lamm.
Nine episodes of "The Animatrix," done in the Japanese style of animation called anime, were completed. The episodes were originally intended to be free downloads until executives at AOL Time Warner, struck by the quality of the work, devised the DVD concept. Sales of the DVD exceeded expectations, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard's DVD sales chart.
"You can't give something good away and not have people want to own it," Lamm said.
A similar animated approach was used to cater to fans of the cult hit "Doctor Who." The long-running BBC science fiction serial - a Sunday night fixture on WTTW-Ch. 11 in the '80s and early '90s - offered a Flash-animated serial from an original script by the now-deceased author Douglas Adams. In November, the BBC will offer a new animated serial, with popular British actor Richard E. Grant taking over the title voice.
For six straight weeks, starting in May, the cult section of the BBC's Web site released 25-minute episodes from a 1979 script, "Shada," by Adams, best known for the novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." The adaptation was written as a radio play and is available in both animated and audio formats.
"Shada's" Flash-based animation was limited, but the effect was a new lease on life for a franchise nearing its 40th anniversary - helping to fuel rumors of a "Doctor Who" TV revival.
No new series yet
So far, the BBC has said it is content to serve and retain the series' established fans through the animated serial, though a representative said a DVD version of the Grant-voiced cartoon is expected. A feature film may also be in the works, according to a recent British media report.
Throughout the original 6-week run, "Shada" brought in 200,000 new viewers, numbers comparable to digital TV programming in the U.K.
Its success lead to the more fully animated follow-up due in November. If the response is strong enough, more episodes will follow, and the BBC currently considers "Doctor Who" an ongoing activity.
"'Doctor Who' has an amazingly faithful, eager online audience," said James Goss, senior content producer for BBC Interactive. "So it's fantastic to reward them with extra content while at the same time trying out new things for BBCi."
"Doctor Who" doesn't have an overtly commercial mandate, since it's broadcast on a publicly owned outlet. "We have to make our work accessible to as wide an audience as possible," Goss said. "It's part of our public service remit. The BBC is funded by a license fee paid by people in the U.K. to use our services."
Interactive offerings grow
Those services include an expanding progression of materials on the BBC's Web site, ranging from reprinting e-books for "Doctor Who" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," to "Ghosts of Albion," an original project co-written by "Buffy" actress Amber Benson, who has produced both an animated and e-book edition.
Like "The Matrix," the BBC has marketed their online material in different formats. Previous online "Doctor Who" serials have been issued as audio CDs, and the BBC is expected to issue November's serial on DVD.
One new media professional thinks the varied product approach is good for Internet-based entertainment offerings.
"The BBC uses the 'Doctor Who' cartoons to promote an upcoming DVD," said Kelli Feigley, director of Dreaming Tree Films, a Chicago Internet entertainment company. "But heck, who needs the DVD - we'll just charge a couple bucks per download instead.
"Actually, we'll do both of these, and have the DVD for rent at Blockbuster. Why? Because people consume things differently - some like to rent, others want to own, some will use the Internet."
Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune
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So . . . Christopher Golden - 48th post - 30 Jul 2003 13:19
I HATE WAITING!!!Whew. Glad I got that out. I'm not a patient guy, by nature. At least, not when I'm waiting for answers. So I doubly appreciate how patient you're all being.
Let me tell you a few things:
1) The novella's done.
2) We could have started serializing weeks ago.
3) We're waiting on that added element I mentioned before, and that's why we haven't begun yet. All I can say is that it will be SOON.
4) Official announcement of what that added element will be and when the thing will launch will come soon as well. 'Cause if they don't announce it by Friday, one of you e-mail me and remind me, and I'll come and post it.
Cuz, y'know, I'm impatient. And frankly, I think you've been waiting long enough.
I hope everyone's ready, and that the GoA army will help spread the word once we're running again. I know we've promised all kinds of news. Let's just say August should have a bunch of announcements concerning the future.
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Christopher Golden
Aug. 01 2003,07:09
There will be more various pieces of news this month, but here''s the novella news . .
The delay is all Amber's fault!She had a wonderful idea, and suggested that along with serializing the novella, the BBC create an "audio book" version to go along with it. So . . . Jasmine Hyde, who provides the voice of Tamara, will be recording an audio version of "Astray" next week. I'm sure they will begin posting the first installments of the novella quickly thereafter.
We promised you the novella would start in July and I felt very badly about this delay. Amber and I wanted to make sure that you all knew WHY the delay . . . and now that you do, I hope you'll think it's worth the extra few weeks. I know I do!![]()
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
________
"Oh, good! I was hoping to add theft, endangerment and insanity to my list of things I did today."
"Ah! You, too?"
(Stitch laughs delightedly)
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"The suspense is terrible. I hope it'll last."
-Willie Wonka
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Patience is Rewarded Christopher Golden - 50th post - 13 Aug 2003 15:45
Hello all.
GRRRRR these darn boards.
Word is they're functioning at a lower capacity at the moment, but the BBC is working hard to return them to their former glory as soon as possible. Meanwhile, however, I hope everyone keeps checking in, because I can now say very confidently that we have at least three significant announcements to make in the next few weeks. And that, of course, is in addition to the announcement that the novella, "Astray," will have both its text and illustration version as well as an accompanying audio only version, read by the marvelous Jasmine Hyde, who played Tamara in "GoA: Legacy."
The final bits and pieces are being put into place and "Astray" should begin soon. I'm sure the BBC will be making a formal announcement, including start date, any time now.
Meanwhile, other announcements will come from myself or Amber or the Beeb, so keep an eye out.
Chris
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
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Coffee, Food, Kisses and Gay Love........Get it while you are hot
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The Sidewalk Film Festival starts in just 3 weeks.. it runs from the 18th to the 21st of September.
One film that is going to be shown that hasn't been announced on the website yet is "Ghosts of Albion"! It'll screen on Saturday 9/20 at 5:30pm in a new venue called THE BRICK ROOM, on 3rd Ave North a block down from the Alabama Theatre.
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Christopher Golden says:
Wed Aug 27 2003 18:51:02
The new GoA novella should be serialized starting in a couple of weeks on the BBC site, and there's LOADS more GoA news coming in the next week or two.
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
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"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."
-Me & Bobby
McGee
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Hear new Ghosts
01 September 2003
Our upcoming Ghosts of Albion novella, Astray, has gained an exciting bonus feature.
Written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden, Astray was originally planned as a text-only presentation with original illustrations by Cosgrove Hall. However, the adventure will now be available as an online audio book too.
Even better, it will be read by none other than Tamara Swift herself, actress Jasmine Hyde.
Astray sees William and Tamara Swift begin to understand what it means to be Protectors of Albion. When a desperate visitor arrives at Ludlow House, the siblings must embark on a mission to a troubled village and a spooky wood.
Expect old friends and new, mysteries and myths, as well as scary supernatural beings.
Both the text and the RealMedia audio versions will be launched simultaneously at the rate of one chapter a week from 18th September.
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
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"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."
-Me & Bobby
McGee
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How's he gonna read that magazine rolled up like that?
~ Famous last words of an insect
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"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."
-Me & Bobby
McGee
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Ghosts of Albion Ebook
18 September 2003
Today sees the launch of Astray - our brand new Ghosts of Albion Ebook.
Written by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden, Astray can be read like our other Cult ebooks, or listened to as an audiobook in streaming RealMedia.
The audio version is read by actress Jasmine Hyde, who played Tamara Swift in the first Ghosts of Albion online adventure, Legacy.
Astray sees William and Tamara Swift begin to understand what it means to be Protectors of Albion. When a desperate visitor arrives at Ludlow House, the siblings must embark on a mission to a troubled village and a spooky wood.
Expect old friends and new, mysteries and myths, and scary supernatural beings.
Astray features several new illustrations by Cosgrove Hall. A new chapter will be added each Thursday for seven weeks.
Click on this link to start reading.
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
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Web Warlock
The Other Side,
home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks: Available October 31st, 2003!
“Well-behaved women rarely make history.” - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich,
Professor Harvard University.
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"Why do you try to hold on to what you'll never get a hold of? You wouldn't try to put the ocean in a paper cup."
~Ani Difranco, 'Hour Follows Hour'
me now, do you? lolQuote:
At last . . . Christopher Golden - 55th post - 22 Sep 2003 20:08
So, at last we're back. Thanks all of you for returning with us. I've seen some of your posts on another thread that it seems much quieter than with "Legacy" and I think that's true. The delay and the problems with the board are probably a large part of that, and, possibly, that this one isn't animated.
But there's more to come, for certain. We have plans, my friends, plans.
And so . . . I'll ask you to please spread the word, far and wide. Get people to come back to GoA or to try it for the first time.
Your efforts are appreciated.
:)
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fairweather friend amber benson - 27th post - 22 Sep 2003 21:06
Hey everyone--
Sorry I've been incommunicado, but I've been super dooper busy with work. Anywho... :) Astray came out really well. I know that Chris and I are both super happy with it. Jasmine's pretty fantastic, isn't she! She gives me goosebumps! Thanks to everyone at Cosgrove and the BBC - they did a bang up job once again. And thank all of you for coming and joining us for another installation of Ghosts! Yay!
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."
-Me & Bobby
McGee
---------
"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
-----
Web Warlock
The Other Side,
home of Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks: Available October 31st, 2003!
“Well-behaved women rarely make history.” - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich,
Professor Harvard University.
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Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival gets reel fresh
September 29, 2003
by Anita Havel
Managing Editor
A few months ago, while surfing the Internet, I found a site for the Sidewalk Film Festival held amazingly enough, in Birmingham, Ala. Being the movie critic for this newspaper, I decided it was my duty to go give my opinion of independent film in Alabama and beyond.
In addition to the many shorts, we went to some other films. The next one we saw was an animated feature-length film directed and written by Amber Benson who played the character Tara on the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It was called "Ghosts of Albion" and we were not entirely sure what to think about it. I'm serious. We left the venue talking about how horrible the writing was and how the animation was not very good but, like some works of genius, as we thought and talked about it more, we realized we might have taken the entire film wrong. At this point, thinking back on it more, I am convinced it was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, poking a bit of fun at the fantasy/horror genre, and animation itself. The animation was reminiscent of Scooby Doo, where the mouths move at random and do not go with the words at all. The story was about evil creatures in England and the people (and ghosts) who are supposed to protect England from the evil. The two chosen to protect England are brother and sister, and sexual innuendo toward both brother and sister were rampant in the film. Everyone seemed to want to get with one, the other, or both at some point during the 60 minutes. The general consensus is, if it was meant to be sarcastic, it was a fabulous spoof, but if it was meant to be serious, it missed the mark.
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"I want to be Byron... because I want to date young boys." Amber Benson
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