SHADOWGRAM
The Official Online Dark Shadows News Updates List
Marcy Robin's Cyberspace "Dark Shadows" News Update List
An Internet Publication of SHADOWGRAM
ShadowGram@aol.comNumber 184. June 16, 2008.
Hello, Dark Shadows Fan,
ShadowGram (SG), The Official Newsletter & News Source for Dark Shadows (DS), announces the following breaking news.
*** DARK SHADOWS MOVIE UPDATE
As first announced in SG Update #173 (July 26, 2007) and reported in subsequent Updates and in SGs #111 and #112 print issues, Warner Brothers has secured the rights to produce a feature film based on DS which is to star Johnny Depp as vampire Barnabas Collins. Writer John August has been hired to write the screenplay and is currently at work on the script.
John's screenwriting credits include both CHARLIE'S ANGELS feature films (2000 & 2003). He previously worked with Johnny Depp and Tim Burton: He composed lyrics for several songs in CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005) and CORPSE BRIDE (2005), and wrote the screenplay for BIG FISH (2003). His writing/producing/directing credits also include TV and movies.
Longtime Depp friend and collaborator Tim Burton, who directed Depp's recent film SWEENEY TODD, has expressed interest in helming the feature and is expected to officially join the project. Several recent online news items have mentioned Burton's involvement. However, the studio has not yet issued a formal confirmation, though will likely do so when the motion picture is closer to production.
Depp is currently finishing his next movie, PUBLIC ENEMIES. After juggling his many other projects, he hopes to begin the DS movie as n as the script is completed and approved and he has time in his busy schedule. More updates will be announced on this SG Updates List, in upcoming SG print issue newsletters, and at the DS Resurrected convention next month (see below).
*** SHADOWGRAM UPDATE: DS FESTIVAL'S 2008 DS RESURRECTED EVENT
Our annual DS Festival event will be July 18-20, 2008, at the Burbank Airport Marriott & Convention Center, located at 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505. 1-818-843-6000.
Special Guest - Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20 Only - JONATHAN FRID (Barnabas) in his first West Coast DS event in over a dozen years.
Previously-announced guests to appear in person during the weekend: LARA PARKER, JOHN KARLEN, JERRY LACY, KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT, MARIE WALLACE, CHRIS PENNOCK, ROBERT RODAN, SY TOMASHOFF, and ROBERT COBERT. Other guests to be announced.
The SG #112 print issue newsletter has details about our planned programming, special activities, information about the many local famous Los Angeles / Southern California attractions, and more.
Scheduled activities include the following. SG in print and this List will announce new developments as we finalize them.
---- Onstage Cast Reunion & Guest Autographs – Jonathan Frid Dramatic Readings – Question & Answer Sessions With The Stars – Original DS Actors Performing Unproduced 1968 Lost Episode – The Best Of Barnabas Retrospective – Panel Discussion About The New Johnny Depp DS Movie – Photos/Books/Merchandise for sale – Memorabilia Auction (benefiting charities selected by some of our guests) – Rare Screenings – Costume Gala (unjudged fan participation to share DS creativity and enthusiasm) – Contests – Banquet With the Stars – and more.
Jonathan's autograph will be available only to those attending the banquet on Sun. evening. Each banquet attendee will receive a commemorative autographed photograph of Jonathan as Barnabas Collins. The Fest says: "If you are paying for the banquet, your first name will be personalized on the photograph - no exceptions. NO REFUNDS for the banquet for any reason, but if you must cancel, you will be sent the photograph autographed by Jonathan Frid."
Cost of the banquet is $50 per person. Non-refundable reservations and pre-payment are required and must be received at the Fest postal-mail address (below) by July 10.
Following are memberships rates to the DS Resurrected event. All advance membership payments must be received at the Fest postal-mail address (below) by July 10.
With any payment, you must include the membership form that is available from the Fest when you send a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to its postal-mail address, or you can print the form
directly from the Fest website:
www.darkshadowsfestival.com When paying, you should include 2 SASEs and clearly write the name(s) and address(es) of each person for whom you are paying. The Fest can not accept Paypal or credit card payments.
You also can pay for your membership(s) at the door at the same weekend/daily rates.
Please send all check/money order payments only to:
---- Dark Shadows Festival, P.O. Box 92, Maplewood, NJ 07040.
Weekend membership (Fri. 7-18, Sat. 7-19, Sun. 7-20) - $30 per adult
Friday (6 pm-midnight) - $15 per adult
Saturday (11 am-midnight) - $15 per adult
Sunday (11 am-7pm) - $15 per adult
Banquet With the Stars (Sunday 7pm-10pm) - $50 per person
---- PLEASE NOTE: The Burbank Airport Marriott soon will be sold out of its final block of special-rate rooms for the DS weekend. If you plan on attending the event, please directly call the hotel as soon as possible to make your reservation: 1-818-843-6000.
Once the hotel is out of sleeping rooms, out-of-town Fest attendees should find available rooms at these nearby hotels. Please contact each directly for more information.
Ramada Burbank (
www.ramadaburbank.com) 818-843-5955.
Extended Stay America (
www.extendedstayamerica.com) 818-567-0952.
Quality Inn Burbank (
www.qualityinn.com) 818-848-1680.
If you are looking for hotel roommates, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Pam Jarman, P.O. Box 45674, Los Angeles, CA 90045 or email:
PLJarman@hotmail.comFan volunteers are welcome to help at the event. Those serving a minimum number of hours can attend a private party with DS stars. Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Nina Johnson, 411 Victoria Dr., Columbia, MO 65201 or email:
DS_Volunteers@hotmail.com.
This SG Online News Updates List and the next SG #113 postal-mail newsletter will announce and update all confirmed Fest developments.
---- All fans attending the Fest are invited and encouraged to send their photos and reports to ShadowGram to be included in future published SGs. In this way, all SG readers everywhere - including many of the DS personnel, who directly receive complimentary copies of every SG issue - can share through your experiences. A complimentary Contributor's Copy SG print issue is given in appreciation for major contributions.
Please send all materials by e-mail to
ShadowGram@aol.com or by postal-mail to Marcy Robin/ShadowGram, P.O. Box 1766, Temple City, CA 91780-7766.
*** DAVID SELBY APPEARS IN STAGED READING OF "SUMMER & SMOKE"
The SG #112 print issue and this Updates List previously announced that David (Quentin) stars in the classic Tennessee Williams' drama "Summer & Smoke," presented by LA Theatre Works June 18-22.
The performances are held at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood, CA. 310-827-0889.
David has participated in many LATW programs, each done in the radio-play format. The cast is recorded live as they read their lines in character. Live sound effects, music, and audience reaction are recorded at the same time.
These programs cover a range of classic, contemporary, and new works by a variety of playwrights, in drama, comedy, satire, and social commentary. Many familiar and multi-faceted actors appear in the productions and often direct these shows as well. The recordings air later on NPR radio stations and also are available on CD/cassette directly from LA Theatre Works. Website:
www.latw.org*** MPI DARK SHADOWS CONTEST WINNERS
Earlier this year, SG and MPI announced a special contest. The Grand Prize winner would get free admission for 2 to the Burbank DS event as well as lunch there with Lara Parker. Five other fans would win special autographed DS merchandise. Fans could enter via postal- or e-mail and winners would be drawn completely at random. Here are the lucky fans:
Beth Anne from Lynn, MA will have free admission for two to the DS Resurrected Festival and have lunch there with Lara Parker (Angelique).
Eric from Manchester, NH won a DS t-shirt.
Ed from Memphis, TN won an autographed DS DVD.
Sharon from Port Arthur, TX won an autographed DS DVD.
Belinda from Talladega, AL won an autographed DS DVD.
Wendy Ann from Torrance, CA won an autographed DS DVD.
**** UPCOMING NEW DS MERCHANDISE
--- At the DS Resurrected event, a number of fresh DS items are expected from MPI, including a new t-shirt, collector plates (Barnabas, Quentin, Angelique and Maggie), the Barnabas ring (back by popular demand), and other items.
--- Big Finish Productions tells SG, "We've recorded two new CDs, featuring Kathryn Leigh Scott and Alec Newman, which will be launched at the Festival. They're single-disc dramatic readings, each telling an original story from Maggie's point of view." Set in 1967 after Maggie escapes from Barnabas, Julia uses hypnosis to probe what happened to her when she disappeared. Maggie tries to face her abduction while her mind flashes back to her childhood – and the buried memories of mysterious voices and figures who knew her then...and know her still....
Alec Newman portrayed "Barnabas" in the 2004 pilot shot for the WB. The network passed on picking it up as a TV series. The pilot has screened at the Festival but has never been aired and is not available for sale. (See recent SG print issues for more details and exclusive pictures.)
--- A new book, "The Physics of Dark Shadows: Time Travel, ESP, and the Laboratory" by Frank Borzellieri, explores the "scientific reality" studies, theories, and experiments behind some of the supernatural elements seen on DS, such as extrasensory perception, precognition, possession, hauntings, clairvoyance, time travel, and other possibilities. The book is $9.95 + $3 shipping (total $12.95), payable via check/money order, credit card, and Paypal. Cultural Studies Press, Box 780142, Flushing, NY 11378.
http://www.culturalstudiespress.com/physics_of_dark_shadows**** PLEASE NOTE: The latest confirmed, official news and developments about the above will be posted on this SG News Updates List and reported in upcoming SG postal-mail newsletter issues.
**** PLEASE NOTE: The published issues like SG #112 are *not * the same as this SG Online Updates List. These e-mail Updates are brief news "bulletins" to announce and update key DS news. The actual print SGs are complete newsletters with full details, photos, media materials, extensive information, and much more. The SG Newsletters have been published for 29 years, since April, 1979.
**** Subscription information for the ShadowGram Newsletter print issues follows. When your order arrives, I will send you the current SG #112 to start / renew your subscription. Subsequent issues will be sent to postal-mail subscribers as they are published..
Thank you.
Marcy Robin
ShadowGram Editor / Publisher
Marcy Robin
P.O. Box 1766
Temple City, CA 91780-7766
