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Archive > June-July 2004
| Action
Figures for 2005 |
July
27 2004 |
In an exciting development, Majestic Studios are
to release a range of deluxe Dark Shadows action
figures, officially licensed by Dan Curtis Productions.
The prototype models for Barnabas and Quentin
were unveiled at last weekend's San Diego Comic Convention.
Each figure stands 12 inches tall, with real clothes and
detailed accessories. The first figures in the range are
projected for a Fall 2005 release, with a recommended retail
price of $40.00.
Barnabas
Collins is presented in two costume variants; his present
day clothing and full 1795 regalia. The figure is also planned
to be include three interchangeable head; a standard head,
a version baring his fangs, and his aged old man visage.
Quentin
Collins is presented in his 1897 clothes and styling,
complete with a changeable werewolf head.
To
view photographs of the prototype models posted on Figures.com,
click
here.
| Wells
Speaks Out |
July
21 2004 |
As the post-mortem of the WB Dark Shadows pilot continues
across the media, executive producer John Wells has
joined the debate, refuting recent comments from the network.
Last week, WB chairman Garth Ancier suggested that
the WB and the pilot's creators had mutually decided not
to continue with the project, commenting: "If John
Wells wanted to... I'm sure we would do it."
Speaking
to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Wells gave a different
take on events: "We liked it and they [the WB] didn't.
They wanted young and pretty. Barnabas was never a handsome
leading man. He was a 215-year-old with bad skin. They wanted
more Interview With a Vampire. We wanted Dark
Shadows."
As
for the pilot's prospects, Wells suggested that the project
may still have a future. Ruling out the WB, he commented:
"We are going to take a step back and see what we're
going to do. We might take it somewhere else." To read
the full article, click
here.
| Longer
House Print Confirmed |
July
21 2004 |
Following months of research, Dark Shadows movie
expert Darren Gross has finally confirmed the persistent
rumour that the film House of Dark Shadows was released
in Japan in a extended form. Darren
tells us: "Contacts at the PR firm that handled House
of Dark Shadows in Japan have confirmed that the Japanese
version was longer than the US one. Its length in Japan
was at least four minutes longer, running 101 minutes. The
only prints that currently exist run just under 97 minutes."
However,
what additional scenes the Japanese release contained remains
open to conjecture. Darren comments: "There have been
conflicting reports over the years, but the most likely
case is that this version would include the 'David hanging'
sequence, which encompasses several new scenes added to
the beginning of the film, and offers a new introduction
scene to virtually all the main characters in the cast."
Attempts
are now underway to locate any surviving Japanese prints
of the film. If any readers have information, please email
us, and we'll pass your comments on to Darren. To read more
about the deleted sequences from the film, click
here.
With thanks to Darren Gross
| Pilot
Photos and Interview |
July
20 2004 |
Fangoria
online has published an interview with Todd
McIntosh, the make-up designer for the recent Dark
Shadows pilot, who discusses his work on the production
and shares some previously unseen photographs. To read the
feature, click
here.
| DVD
Collection 14 Extras |
July
20 2004 |
MPI
Home Video have confirmed the extras for Dark Shadows
DVD Collection 14:
|
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 14 ·
Released September 28
 ·
Episodes 736-775,
presented on four disks
· Disc 1: David
Selby interview
· Disc 2: Kathryn Leigh Scott interview
· Disc 3: James Butler (ABC-TV
Publicist) interview
· Disc 4: Leonard Goldberg (ABC-TV
Executive) interview
· Collectable postcard
· Region 0 Encoding/NTSC (Compatible with
players worldwide)
Order
now at a discount price from Amazon.com |
|
| Selby's
Final Assault |
July
17 2004 |
Final
Assault, an original play written by David Selby
(Quentin), is to receive a stage reading as part of the
2004 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights. The
reading takes place at 1.00pm on Tuesday August 10 at the
Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. For more information,
visit the their website by clicking here.
With
thanks to Criseyde
| Pilot
Hopes Fade |
July
15 2004 |
SciFi
Wire has reported further comments from WB chairman
Garth Ancier, elaborating on the network's response
to the Dark Shadows pilot, declaring that despite
being: "wonderfully produced by John Wells [and] very
well-written," it "just didn't quite gel the way
we hoped... and we're not going forward [with the project]."
Pressed
for further explanation, Ancier blamed the creative problems
squarely on the project's director: "There was a director
[Rob Bowman] assigned to it who was terrific... He
pulled out to do a feature film. We had a new director [P.J.
Hogan] come in who was accomplished in movies, but frankly
didn't do a particularly good job, and the rest is history."
Ancier
also suggested that the project had suffered a crisis in
confidence from its executive producer, John Wells:
"It's not like John has come back to us and said, 'You
know what? I really still love this. I really want to go
forward with it. If John Wells wanted to do that, I'm sure
we would do it."
Sadly,
this news does seem to confirm that the project's development
is at an end. We
would like to extend our commiseration to all the cast and
crew of the production. The pilot has been a very exciting
time for Dark Shadows fandom, regardless of the outcome.
As creator Dan Curtis once commented, with the slightest
hint of irony: "There's always another Dark
Shadows [project] in the works!" Let's hope so,
Dan.
| Memories
CD Delayed |
June
15 2004 |
The CD audiobook of Dark
Shadows Memories has slipped back in the schedules slightly
and will now ship from the first week of August. All advance
orders received before August 1 will also receive a new
signed colour photo of Kathryn Leigh Scott. The cover
art for the CD is seen right; click on the image for a larger
view. To view the back cover, click
here. For ordering information, visit the Pomegranate
Press website.
With
thanks to Patrick DeBlasi and Pomegranate Press
| WB
Pans Pilot |
July
15 2004 |
WB
chairman Garth Ancier has become the first network
official to comment publicly on the recent Dark Shadows
project, delivering a crushing verdict. The Hartford
Courant reports that: "a badly directed pilot has
sunk the WB's proposed Dark Shadows remake... Though
the pilot episode cost as much as $6 million, Ancier says,
'there were no salvageable scenes.'"
Speaking
earlier this week on radio show Sci-Fi Overdrive,
Dan Curtis Productions representative Jim Pierson
also hinted that director P.J. Hogan's approach had
played a role in the project's failure, commenting: "The
script was terrific, [but] creatively the end result did
not come out the way we'd all hoped for."
| Dark
Shadows Movie Panel |
July
14 2004 |
August's
Dark Shadows Festival will include a special presentation
on Night of Dark Shadows, presented by movie expert
Darren Gross. Darren will be screening and discussing
clips of lost scenes from the movie, some previously unseen,
followed by questions and answers with some of the film's
actors. The panel takes place on Saturday afternoon.
Darren
also announces that his Night of Dark Shadows Restoration
Website will close at the end of this month. The www.nightofdarkshadows.com
address is now no longer available, though the site's content
can currently be viewed here.
Plans are now underway to find a new online home for some
of its material, to be announced soon.
With
thanks to Darren Gross
| News
in Brief |
July
14 2004 |
•
The Westchester Marriott, the venue for August's
Dark Shadows Festival, is now virtually sold out
of rooms for convention attendees. For information on overflow
hotels click
here. Actress Diana Millay (Laura) has been added
to the weekend's guest list.
• The
CD release of Return to Collinwood, the audio play
sequel to the original series, is now confirmed for release
in August over the weekend of the Dark Shadows Festival.
• MSN Personals recently
provided eligible guys and girls with some dubious relationship
advice, naming Barnabas and Josette as one of the Most
Romantic TV Couples. Doubtless jumping from a cliff
is all that's required to cement any healthy relationship.
Read the article by clicking here.
• A seemingly cursed production
of Hamlet which starred Chris Pennock (Jeb)
is the subject of a recent article in LA Weekly.
Read it online, complete with Chris' original illustrations,
by clicking here.
•
Matt Czuchry (2004 Willie) has found favour
on another WB show, following his role in
the recent Dark Shadows pilot. Matt joins the cast
of Gillmore Girls in a recurring role for its new
season.
With
thanks to Jim Pierson
| Shadows
on the Airwaves |
July
9 2004 |
Dark
Shadows marketing director Jim Pierson will be
a guest on the July 12 edition of radio show Sci-Fi Overdrive.
Jim will discuss the show's past, present and future, along
with the upcoming Dark Shadows Festival in August.
The programme airs at 4.00am ET. For more information, visit
the show's website by clicking here.
With
thanks to Joey Donovan
| DVD
Collection 14 |
June
30 2004 |
Dark
Shadows DVD Collection 14 has been announced for
release on 28 September 2004. The cover image is seen right;
click on the thumbnail for a larger view. The set features
episodes 736-775, continuing the 1897 flashback, with the
destruction of Laura and Dirk's rampage as a vampire. The
bonus interviews should be announced shortly. Amazon.com
are currently listing the title at a 30% discount with free
shipping:
Pre-order
Dark Shadows DVD Collection 14 from Amazon.com
| Levin
Leaves |
June
19 2004 |
Variety
reports that Jordan Levin, who acted as the WB's
CEO throughout the development of the recent Dark Shadows
pilot, has unexpectedly resigned. Notorious for cancelling
Angel, Levin reportedly walked to avoid an effective
demotion to the role of entertainment chief. Whether or
not this development will cast any light for Dark Shadows
remains to be seen.
| Jenna
Dewan Profiled |
June
17 2004 |
The
News Courier paper recently profiled the career of
actress Jenna Dewan, who played Sophia Loomis in
the recent WB Dark Shadows project. Speaking of the
pilot's failure, she drily comments: "That’s kind
of a bummer." To read the full article, click
here.
| Night
of Dark Shadows Script Sought |
June
13 2004 |
As
part of the Night of Dark Shadows restoration effort,
which hopes to restore the movie to its original two hour
length, urgent attempts are being made to locate actor John
Karlen's original script from the shoot. It is hoped
that a copy exists within the fan community. If you have
access to this script, or any other production documents
from the film, please email the restoration producer by
clicking here.
With
thanks to Darren Gross
| Pilot
Photograph Posted |
June
10 2004 |
Our
friends at the Night of Dark Shadows Restoration Website
have posted a new behind the scenes photograph from the
recent Dark Shadows pilot, showing Barnabas actor
Alec Newman in the make-up chair. To pay the site a visit,
click
here.
| New
Audiobook |
June
9 2004 |
Pomegranate
Press are to release a new audiobook of Kathryn
Leigh Scott (Maggie) reading her bestselling memoir
Dark
Shadows Memories. Due out on July 1, the two-CD set
also includes original Dark Shadows music. Fans
who pre-order the CD will receive a rare promotional trading
card. To order, send payment of $19.95 plus $4.00 shipping
to: Pomegranate Press, P.O. Box 17217, Beverly Hills, CA
90209.
With
thanks to Kathryn Leigh Scott
| News
in Brief |
June
3 2004 |
•
Michael T Weiss (1991 Joe) guest stars in
the season finale of NBC's Crossing Jordan. The episode
airs on Sunday June 6 at 10.00pm.
• Retro
musicians The Moon Rays have recorded a cover of
the Dark Shadows theme tune for their new album The
Ghouls Go West. Look out for a review here on the site
soon. The CD can be ordered from Amazon by clicking here.
•
Alec Newman (2004 Barnabas) is currently working
on a new film, Constellation, which chronicles the
lives and loves of an African-American family in the deep
South.
•
Jason Shaw (2004 Joe) will soon begin filming
on The Hillz, a new movie co-starring his onetime
girlfriend Paris Hilton.
| Kate
Jackson Appearance |
June
2 2004 |
Kate
Jackson (Daphne) will be appearing at the 2004 AdventureCon
collector's show, which takes on June 5-6 in Knoxville,
Tennessee. Kate will be signing autographs and meeting fans.
For more information, visit the AdventureCon website by
clicking here.
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