Fall TV Lineup: ABC's detective drama, "Poe"

Illustration by Byam Shaw, Source: Wikipedia

Despite his lack of leading-man potential (and the fact that he wasn’t a detective), it still seems fitting that Edgar Allan Poe, whose early mystery stories were the foundation for future detectives in literature, will be getting his own detective drama on ABC this fall.

According to Deadline.com,

Human Target executive producer Brad Kern has been tapped as executive producer/showrunner on ABC’s drama pilot Poe. The crime procedural, from writer-exec producer Chris Hollier, Warner Bros. TV and Dan Lin's Lin Pictures, follows Edgar Allan Poe, the world's very first detective, as he uses unconventional methods to investigate dark mysteries in 1840s Boston. Kern previously served as showrunner on the WB’s Charmed.

It’s reported that Alex Graves will direct the pilot.

Known prominently for his Gothic tales of terror and revenge, Poe was the author of several detective stories that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said were “a root from which a whole literature has developed...Where was the detective story until Poe breathed the breath of life into it?”

Read “The Murder's in Rue Morgue” here.

Later this year, John Cusak will star as Poe in the James McTeigue-directed film, The Raven. The movie is a fictionalized account of Poe’s mysterious last days—spent, as speculated by some, following a serial killer inspired by his horror stories.

Cusack as "Father of the Macabre," Edgar Allan Poe, in the upcoming psychological thriller The Raven.

Blood and Puppets Cabaret Seeks Performers Dec. 7

Dear Ghouls, Goblins, Reanimated Corpses and Generally Grotesque-Looking Individuals,

Have you been seeking the opportunity to recite a frightening tale, perform your dark side, inflict utter horror upon a semi-expecting audience? Blood and Puppets is seeking interest and proposals for a horror-themed cabaret (a macabaret if you will) that can include, though is not limited to, burlesque, drag, poetry, story-telling, original music and cover bands, humour, visual art, and puppet theater.

Performances should be no longer than 15 minutes in length and be in the genre of horror or have dark undertones(obviously).

Blood and Puppets will take place on Tuesday December 7th at the Rotunda in West Philadelphia.

Please spread the word like an infectious flesh eating disease (though hopefully more pleasantly).

Most(ly)Sincere
Geppetta

**This cabaret will be a benefit for the Sent(a)mental Project, a memorial to LGBTQ suicides http://sentamentalproject.weebly.com/**

Spierig Brothers to Direct 3D Power of the Dark Crystal

Note: This may not be deemed "horror," but it scared the shit out of my brother when he was younger.

In a joint announcement by Omnilab Media's Christopher Mapp and The Jim Henson Company's Lisa Henson, Australian based Omnilab Media is teaming up with The Jim Henson Company to bring the fantasy sequel Power of the Dark Crystal to the big screen in stereoscopic 3D.

Power of the Dark Crystal will be produced by the Australia-based production arm of Omnilab Media, Ambience Entertainment. The Jim Henson Company's executive producers are Brian Henson, Lisa Henson and Jason Lust. Omnilab Media's executive producers are Christopher Mapp, Matthew Street and David Whealy. Cinemarket Films' Peter D. Graves (Terminator Salvation) rounds out the executive producer team.

Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig, writers and directors of Undead and most recently, Daybreakers, have come aboard to direct the screenplay written by Australian Craig Pearce (Moulin Rouge!, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet) based on an original script by Annette Duffy and David Odell. The legendary fantasy artist Brian Froud will reprise his role as conceptual designer of the film, which will use a mix of live action and traditional puppetry combined with visual and special effects produced entirely in Australia. Omnilab-affiliated Iloura (Where the Wild Things Are, "The Pacific," Don't Be Afraid of the Dark) has already begun work on the film's complex CGI elements. With this team in place, next steps will be to secure worldwide distribution.

"Power of the Dark Crystal is an exciting and ambitious undertaking and, having worked on previous projects with the top-notch talent and crews that Australia offers, we know we have assembled the right team to deliver the sequel to one of the most enduringly popular titles in the Henson library. Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig are sure to create a film that will continue the legacy of the original and exceed the expectations of our loyal fans," said Lisa Henson, CEO of the The Jim Henson Company. "We are especially enthusiastic to be working with Omnilab Media, a strong and growing force in worldwide film finance and production."

"We are very pleased to be producing this wonderful and fantastical film in Australia. Power of The Dark Crystal will showcase the depth of talent Australia has to offer up on the international stage, including the extremely gifted directing team of Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig. The Jim Henson Company has consistently delivered an amazing range of entertainment over generations and is an iconic creative studio that we are proud to have partner with us," added Christopher Mapp from Omnilab Media.

Michael Spierig said, "We feel a tremendous amount of responsibility in telling this story with the same meticulous care that Jim Henson and Frank Oz gave the 1982 original." Added Peter Spierig, "This is a chance to take the world of puppetry into the modern age by using modern techniques (like motion capture CGI) and the tried and true methods (like puppetry and animatronics) to create a one hundred percent real world that is unique to The Dark Crystal."

Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie when the world has once again fallen into darkness, Power of the Dark Crystal follows the adventures of a mysterious girl made of fire who, together with a Gelfling outcast, steals a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt to reignite the dying sun that exists at the center of the planet.

Source: Omnilab Media, The Jim Henson Company

For those of you unfamiliar with the 1982 film, watch the trailer below:

Afternoon Shorts: "The Machine"

"A stop motion macabre fairy tale about a robot who enjoys his power. It's awesome. And if you enjoy fairy tales, robots, animation, or just life itself, then you should watch this video.



Thank you, Channel Frederator!

I must remember to tell Shane R. Toogood.

And if you know a kid who might find this scary, then you should show it to him because March is Scare a Kid month, at least, according to R. L. Stine's Twitter.

"Look! Another glorious morning. It makes me sick!"

I tried to be fancy like Kris and upload a screencap of Tainted Tea's article in Delaware County Community College's newspaper, The Communitarian, but alas, it kept coming up too small. So, until Kris helps me, here is just the link.


(Kris to the rescue.)