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> May 2004
| 2004
Festival Details |
May
31 2004 |
The
Dark Shadows Festival has posted further details
for its August 13-15 gathering in Tarrytown, New York. The
proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer's Association.
Highlights
from the schedule include a "preview" of the recent
WB pilot, though it has yet to confirmed if this
will include footage from the production. As previously
reported, there will be a screening of rare Night of
Dark Shadows deleted scenes, a cabaret from Nancy
Barrett (Carolyn), plus a performance of the lost 1957
television production The House, on which Dark
Shadows was based. The centrepiece of the charity auction
is Josette's music box from the 1991 series. Other
activities include a Friday bus-trip to the Lyndhurst Estate
(Collinwood in the spin-off movies), and the traditional
closing banquet.
Fans
can read more details at the Festival's website, which includes
a printable registration form. The Festival have also made
some new items of merchandise available, including a limited
run promotional DVD about creator Dan Curtis, including
interviews and highlights from his work. To visit the website,
click
here.
In
the wake of widespread speculation since its rejection,
fans can now read the first full review of the Dark Shadows
pilot, courtesy of the Dark
Horizons website. The piece discusses the cast and production
design in detail, drawing largely positive conclusions.
Its unnamed author is a source privately confirmed as legitimate.
To read the full article, click
here.
| Winds
of War DVD |
May
27 2004 |
Creator
Dan Curtis' epic miniseries The Winds of War
comes to DVD this week in a special six disc collector's
set, including bonus footage and retrospectives. Several
Dark Shadows actors appear, including John Harkins
(Garth Blackwood), Stefan Gierasch (1991 Professor
Woodard) and Barbara Steele (1991 Julia), and the
score is by Robert Cobert. The set can be ordered
at a discount from Amazon by clicking here.
| TV
Guide Salute |
May
25 2004 |
The
May 30 edition of TV Guide sees the magazine showcasing
its "Top 25 Cult Shows". Dark Shadows features
as number 19 in the countdown, a timely reminder of the
show's unique and enduring appeal.
| DVD
Collection 13 Extras |
May
21 2004 |
MPI
Home Video have confirmed the extras for Dark Shadows
DVD Collection 13:
|
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 13 ·
Released July 27
 ·
Episodes 694-733,
presented on four disks
· Disc 1: David
Selby interview
· Disc 2: Marie Wallace interview
· Disc 3: Louis Edmonds interview
· Disc 4: Lara Parker interview
· Collectable postcard
· Region 0 Encoding/NTSC (Compatible with
players worldwide)
Order
now at a discount price from Amazon.com |
|
In
other DVD news, creator Dan Curtis' acclaimed Kolchak
movies The Night Stalker and The Night Strangler
are due out on August 25 in a new double disc set. The
release will include bonus interview material with Curtis.
To order it from Amazon.com, click
here.
| New
Pilot Photograph |
May
20 2004 |
We
are delighted to premiere another publicity picture from
the new Dark Shadows pilot, once again courtesy of
original series photographer Ben Martin.
John
Karlen, the original Willie Loomis, is seen giving his
stamp of approval to pilot actor Matt Czuchry, the
new recruit to the role.
John
Karlen, the actor who played Willie
Loomis in the original Dark Shadows series is pictured
with newcomer Matt Czuchry during production of the
new Dark Shadows, outside Stage 20 on the Warner
Bros. lot in Burbank, California.
Photograph
by Ben Martin © 2004.
Reproduced with permission
| Alexis
Resurrected |
May
19 2004 |
Gone
but not forgotten, uber-bitch Cassie returns to Days
of Our Lives on May 24th, once again played by Dark
Shadows pilot actress Alexis Thorpe (Kelly Greer).
Cassie is one of several departed characters rising from
the dead for a special story.
| David
Selby Honoured |
May
19 2004 |
David
Selby (Quentin) received an honorary doctorate and delivered
a commencement address on May 16, as part of West Virginia
University's 135th Commencement ceremony. Click on the thumbnail
image for a larger view of David making his speech. For
more photographs and additional coverage of the day, visit
David's official website by clicking here.
Photograph
courtesy of West Virginia University News and Information
Services
| Pilot
Press Clippings |
May
18 2004 |
The
June issue of UK magazine SFX features an interview
with Dark Shadows pilot writer Mark Verheiden.
The issue is out in stores now. Here are some highlights:
|
On
Dark Shadows...
 It's
great to be working on something that's so different
from most shows on network television. The challenge
is in finding that balance between dark romance, the
mysteries of the town of Collinsport and sheer, visceral
horror. Since the last incarnation of Dark Shadows,
we've seen an explosion of vampire horror... I feel
a responsibility to really go for it, take a few chances
and write a show that I would want to watch.
Rewriting
the Myth...
This version should re-establish the characters in
a fresh way, not radically rethinking the original,
but not slavishly imitating it either. I want to make
the characters, old and new, feel real within the
the context of the show, so people can empathise with
them and understand their situations.
On
Barnabas Collins...
Barnabas Collins is one of the great inventions of
Gothic horror. He's a tragic romantic, cursed by what
he has become, and desperate to overcome it so that
he can finally have the love that he lost centuries
before. |
|
Elsewhere,
it has been confirmed that Dark Shadows is not on
the WB's slate of shows for midseason replacements.
The hunt for a new network for the project continues and
we will report any developments immediately.
| No
Dark Shadows for WB |
May
17 2004 |
Variety
has unveiled the WB 2004 Fall schedule, confirming
that Dark Shadows has not been picked up for broadcast.
As hinted in recent months, the same article reports that:
"The WB will likely rest shows midseason by
either launching new dramas or reality shows in those slots."
However, it seems unlikely that Dark Shadows will
be considered as a midseason replacement, with the show
conspicuously absent from TheFutonCritic's
roundup of midseason projects.
Perhaps
the most telling comment about Dark Shadows' misfortune
is Variety's verdict that "franchise mania is
over," borne out by the similar failure of The Robinsons:
Lost in Space. While we understand that some attempts
are being made to shop the pilot to other networks, its
hopes seem increasingly dim. One possibility is that the
pilot could eventually see the light of day on the home
video market, though there are no known plans for this at
present.
| Festival
Updates |
May
17 2004 |
The
information mailing for August's Dark Shadows Festival
is due to sent out shortly. In the meantime, the Festival
recommends that fans book their rooms at the venue now,
as places at the Westchester Marriott are limited.
The hotel is offering a discount rate of $118.00 per night
(for one to four people per room). Call 1-800-831-4004 quoting
"Dark Shadows" to make a reservation. Overflow
accodation is available at the nearby Tarrytown Courtyard
by Marriott and SpringHill Suites by Marriott.
These locations will be offering a discount rate of $115.00
per night and can be booked at the same telephone number.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| News
in Brief |
May
17 2004 |
•
TV Guide will feature Dark Shadows in
the issue debuting on May 27, celebrating the show's cult
classic status. Series creator Dan Curtis is interviewed
for the article.
•
Dan Curtis' new HBO television movie Our
Fathers is scheduled to begin filming on June 21 at
locations in Toronto and Boston. The cast includes Ted Danson,
Brian Dennehy and Christopher Plummer.
•
David Selby (Quentin) is interviewed by the
Sunday Gazette-Mail about his appearance as commencement
ceremony speaker at the University of West Virginia. To
read the article click
here.
•
Jonathan Frid (Barnabas) is expanding his
website to include some memories of Dark Shadows
for the first time. To visit the site, click
here.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
| Pilot
Personnel |
May
12 2004 |
We
can now reveal some of the key production figures involved
in the recent filming of the Dark Shadows pilot:
The
production's design has been handled by Kirk M. Petruccelli.
His work includes vampire movie Blade, plus the two
recent Lara Croft: Tomb Raider films. His flair for
rich movie backdrops gives a promising indication of the
look he has brought to Dark Shadows. Costume
design is by Emmy winning Lyn Paolo, a stalwart of
several John Wells productions, including The West Wing.
Bobby Bukowski served as the director of photography.
His credits include the feature films Crime and Punishment
in Suburbia, Arlington Road and The Minus
Man.
With
thanks to Darren Gross
| Midseason
Best Hope? |
May
12 2004 |
With
the WB's key fall drama purchases now known, it seems
highly unlikely that Dark Shadows will appear on
their fall schedule. However, an article on TelevisionWeek
offers a glimmer of hope with its claim that: "Drama
pilots Dark Shadows and The Robinsons: Lost in
Space are still in contention for midseason [replacements]."
With
thanks to James Marco
| The
Mountain is Go |
May
11 2004 |
As
widely anticipated, the WB has confirmed The Mountain
as its second fall drama commission. "By picking
up our second drama series prior to our official upfront
presentation, we hope to convey the confidence we feel in
the ability of both The Mountain and Jack and
Bobby, two outstanding pilots, to reinvigorate The WB's
drama portfolio," commented network executive Jordan
Levin. An official decision on Dark Shadows has yet
to be made public, but this development does seem to confirm
Variety's recent "long shot" predictions
for the show's prospects.
With thanks to Christine Dominick
| Location
Round-Up |
May
11 2004 |
Following
yesterday's report, we have learned the remaining locations
used for the new Dark Shadows project.
A street in south Pasadena is seen in a "suspenseful
vampire attack scene", while the standing sets for
E.R. at Burbank's Warner Bros Studios
were called into service for the Collinsport Hospital. The
same studio lot also housed sets for the Collins Mausoleum.
With
thanks to Darren Gross
| Additional
Locations |
May
10 2004 |
We
have received confirmation of some of the other locations
used during the recent filming of the Dark Shadows
pilot:
The
location for the Old House interiors is the Los Angeles
Theatre, located in downtown Los Angeles. Built in 1931,
the building offers lavish French Baroque style architecture,
representing one the city's most impressive surviving movie
palaces, and has appeared in many films. Though
largely closed to the public, it is opened up once a year
as part of the Los Angeles Downtown Conservancy's fundraising
calendar for screenings of vintage films. In addition to
period furnishing and dressing, the existing structures
have been embellished with false walls and other adaptations
for Dark Shadows.
Filming
has also taken place at Sable Ranch, located
in Canyon Country, California. Most recently seen in Disney's
Haunted Mansion flick, it stands in for the Old
House exterior surroundings and grounds of Collinwood. The
Old House exterior itself has been realised using CGI rather
than an actual structure.
With
thanks to Darren Gross
| Shadows
a Long Shot |
May
10 2004 |
As
the unveiling of the WB's fall schedule approaches,
Variety comments that: "Once considered a strong
contender, the new take on Dark Shadows has turned
into a long shot." The report attributes this primarily
to an overall shift in WB strategy: "Instead
of franchises, it seems the Frog is going back to its roots,
ordering the coming-of-age drama Jack and Bobby,
and preparing to do the same with the sudsy The Mountain."
| New
DVD Covers |
May
8 2004 |
Shown
right is the cover for Dark Shadows DVD Collection 13,
due out on July 27. We should have confirmation of the bonus
interviews shortly. Amazon.com are still listing the title
at a 30% discount with free shipping:
Pre-order
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 13 from Amazon.com
Below
below are the confirmed extras and final cover design for
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 12. Click on the
thumbnail for a larger version:
|
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 12 ·
Released May 25
 ·
Episodes 656-695,
presented on four disks
· Disc 1: Jonathan
Frid interview
· Disc 2: Denise Nickerson interview
· Disc 3: Stuart Goodman (cameraman)
interview
· Disc 4: Les Schecter (network
publicist) interview
· Collectable postcard
· Region 0 Encoding/NTSC (Compatible with
players worldwide)
Order
now at a discount price from Amazon.com |
|
| Jack
and Bobby Picked Up |
May
8 2004 |
The
Hollywood Reporter has announced that the WB
will pick up Jack and Bobby for 13 episodes, taking
one of the two fall timeslots Dark Shadows is competing
for. The network verdict on Dark Shadows is expected
within the next week.
With
thanks to Lum Edwards
| Ben
Cross Returns to London Stage |
May
6 2004 |
Ben
Cross (1991 Barnabas) returns to London's West End in
Coyote on a Fence, alongside his 2002 co-star in
Art, EastEnders actor Alex Ferns. The tense
death row drama runs at the Duchess Theatre until July 17.
Showtimes are Monday-Saturday at 7.45pm, with matinee performances
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3.00pm. To book tickets, call
the box office on 020 7494 5075.
| Blair
Brown On Stage |
May
6 2004 |
Pilot
actress Blair Brown (Elizabeth) is to appear at California's
Pacific Playwrights Festival, in a staged reading of Richard
Greenberg's play Safe as Houses. The performance
takes place at 11.00am on May 9 at the Segerstrom Stage,
Costa Mesa, California. For information and ticket bookings,
call the box office on (714) 708-5555.
With
thanks to
DSBoards
| WB
Schedule Shapes Up |
May
5 2004 |
Variety
reports that: "The WB is close to picking
up drama pilots The Mountain and Jack and Bobby,"
two rivals Dark Shadows is pitted against for a place
in the network's fall schedule. This will be disappointing
news if true, as pundits seem agreed that the network would
only pick up two pilots for this season.
However,
changes in overall WB programming strategy this season
may allow Dark Shadows a place in the schedules
regardless. In The Hollywood Reporter last month,
WB executive Jordan Levin announced: "We're
going to stagger our [programme] launches, not only backward
from September but forward into the summer. We're going
to try to arc out our original episodes in longer bursts
by taking advantage of shared windows in timeslots, like
we did a few seasons ago. A show might run twice a week
and share a time slot with another program versus showing
an episode once in October with a repeat in January under
the traditional repeat model." In practice, such a
schedule would potentially free up additional slots for
pilot pick-ups. More news as we get it.
With
thanks to James Marco and TVTome
| Pilot
Guest Cast |
May
4 2004 |
The
latest issue of ShadowGram confirms the guest cast
for the Dark Shadows pilot. E.J. Callahan
plays an old man Victoria encounters on the train to Collinsport,
a cameo role originally offered to Jonathan Frid
(Barnabas). Callahan's many guest credits include roles
in Angel, Friends, Malcolm in the Middle and E.R,
amongst others. Child actor Nathan Weiss plays the
intriguingly named Boy in Devil Costume, who appears in
the same sequence.
The
same issue of the newsletter also includes a selection of
on-set photographs from the production. For more information,
email ShadowGram@aol.com.
With
thanks to ShadowGram
The
Wall Street Journal reports that the WB has chosen
to break with network convention and not use audience tests
to determine its pilot commissions this season. "What
60 random people in Las Vegas think about a show can be
a huge distraction," quips WB executive Jordan Levin.
The fate of the Dark Shadows pilot will now apparently
be decided solely by the WB's management, though
"limited testing" of chosen primetime shows has
not been ruled out.
With
thanks to James Marco
| First
Pilot Photograph |
May
3 2004 |
Original
series photographer Ben Martin was on set of the
recently wrapped Dark Shadows pilot and exclusively
shares with us the first publicity photograph from the new
production, seen left.
Original
series actor John Karlen is pictured with two actors
showcasing the stunning make-up designs created for the
project.
John
Karlen, the Emmy Award winning
(Cagney and Lacey) actor who played Willie Loomis
in the original Dark Shadows series is grabbed by
two actors from the new Dark Shadows, outside Stage
20 on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California.
Photograph
by Ben Martin © 2004.
Reproduced with permission
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