Trek XII Fast Tracked, Millions of Inferi, & The Beatles Go CGI...

     Simon Pegg spoke recently about the sequel to Star Trek XI as well as his life since the movie was released.

"Transformers 3" To Go Beyond Earth -  "More of an Intergalactic Thing"

LOS ANGELES (AP)   If there's going to be a third "Transformers" movie, director Michael Bay says he'll be back to make it.

And star Shia LaBeouf promises it'll be darker than the first two.

While a third chapter has not been officially announced, Bay said he intends to return to the franchise if No. 3 moves forward. But he wants some time off first, having just finished the second one.

"I will do it, but you've got to give us time," Bay said. "I need a little rest."

LaBeouf said he expects a third "Transformers" would carry the action beyond Earth and become "more of an intergalactic thing."

"Revenge of the Fallen" takes place largely on Earth as LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro and other co-stars continue their alliance with the benevolent shape-shifting Autobots in their war against the evil Decepticon robots.

A third movie also "will be darker. Something crazy will happen," LaBeouf said. "Someone has to die."

The Summer Tent Pole is Clearly Here to Stay

(forbes.com)                                 At this point last year, Iron Man had already crossed the $300 million mark, with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull closing in. A 2009 movie of this genre--most likely Transformers--may not break the $300 million threshold until mid-July.

Studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount are outperforming expectations, jam-packing the summer movie season with anticipated blockbusters.

But 2009 may still eclipse 2008's total revenue and take the crown as the highest-grossing year at the box office. One executive at Time Warner cited a "diverse film slate" for Warner's success in particular, pointing to its investment in both large and small films.

Companies like DreamWorks Animation ( DWA - news - people ), Lionsgate Films and Marvel Entertainment ( MVL - news - people ) earn almost all of their profits from film releases and DVD sales. So if you think Shrek Forever After will be a hit in 2010, investing in DreamWorks might be the right move.

Don't count out the summer blockbuster, though. Marsh said that as the summer progresses and 3-D screens reach more theaters, distributors would be able to cash in on the resulting 20% to 30% increase in ticket prices.

"You've also got this 3-D catalyst that could jump-start cash-flow growth rates as we move into 2010, when much more 3-D content comes on and many more theaters will have 3-D screens," he said. This, he felt, especially benefits animated films like Up and could turn out well for others like Avatar, which will open in December.

"I think the summer tent pole is clearly here to stay. Year in and year out, they seem to get pooh-poohed by the film critics, but they deliver the numbers," Marsh said. "I think Transformers will be a good example of that." And Transformers has so far done well, earning more than $200 million in its first week; it has re-solidified the possibility of a blockbuster in 2009.

However, a recent Piper Jaffray report on Lionsgate concluded that poor performance at the box office negatively weighed on studios that are in pure theatrical distribution. And a number of tent-pole films this year have disappointed. Angels and Demons by Sony and Terminator: Salvation by Warner Bros. came in weaker than anticipated.

(reelzchannel.com)                   Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceIn an interview with the LA Times, visual effects supervisor Tim Alexander explains what it took to bring Lord Voldemort's undead army of Inferi to life and suggests that the result may give even grown-up fans nightmares.

First off, there are a lot more of them than you might expect:

    Above water, you'd probably see about a hundred at a time. But when Harry gets dragged into the lake, there is a whole underwater environment... and it's actually covered in bodies. It's all just ... bodies crawling on top of each other, and that's how you get into the millions.

In coming up with the design, he notes that they were very determined to avoid making these dead people look like zombies. He was aiming for a more realistic but no less scary look:

    The Inferi themselves are very skinny and emaciated people. Very humanoid, but way skinnier than humans could be. Waterlogged and gray. We used the old lady that comes out of the tub in The Shining as a reference. Most of the Inferi are adult, but we did also build two children, too.

All this, says Alexander, who has created a lot of terrifying creatures for earlier Harry Potter movies, is a lot "bolder and scarier" than he ever thought would be possible in a Potter movie.

From "Coraline" to SPAM

(oregonlive.com)                     You may have heard the recent NPR report about how Hormel's humble SPAM is getting a sales boost in these tough economic times. But did you know that LAIKA/house, as the commercial-making side of the locally based production studio is known, helped create the "Break the Monotony" campaign for the venerable protein brand?

LAIKA/house (which on the movie side, had a bang-up freshman offering with "Coraline") worked with BBDO Minneapolis to create three animated spots currently on TV. Since budget-minded consumers are buying more SPAM, the campaign takes a playful approach at showing how SPAM can help you break the monotony of ordinary meals.

The Beatles CGI: Rock Band Intro Now Online

(forums.cgsociety.org)                        The Beatles Rock Band game was revealed at Microsoft's E3 press conference, and represents the first time fans will be able to experience The Beatles' musical career for themselves. From the early touring days in 1963 Liverpool to the immortal, final performance on the Apple Corps rooftop, fans can follow in the band's footsteps as they traverse the globe during the height of Beatlemania.

Take a look:      http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/cinematic.php

Dark Knight Receives Best VFX At  Saturn Awards

(AWN.com)                  It was a stellar evening for "The Dark Knight" as the Christopher Nolan film garnered five Saturn Awards at the 35th Annual Saturn Awards. The film was named Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film. The Warner Bros. release also received awards for Best Writing: Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan, Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, Best Music: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, and Best Special Effects.

Also receiving multiple Saturn Awards were "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Iron Man" which won three Saturn Awards apiece.

DreamWorks Animation studio head, Jeffrey Katzenberg, was awarded the inaugural Visionary Award for his efforts in advancing 3D film presentation. Top filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer presented this prestigious award to Mr. Katzenberg at the event.

Genre icon Leonard Nimoy was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in film and television which covers five decades. Mostly known for his portrayal of the Vulcan, Mr. Spock, Leonard's accomplishment extend to many more projects including the series, Mission Impossible, Columbo, and the recent show, Fringe. Presenting the award was 

Full Press:      http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=28255