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Century 21 Films lockdown phenomenon Nebula-75 is due to air early next year in Japan and via cinemas too. To celebrate, the Century 21 Films team have made a free preview episode available on Youtube that you can watch HERE. However, without the coronavirus situation of the past 20 months the series may never have been. Intended to evoke a 1960s Supermarionation series that never actually existed, Nebula-75 began its life during the UK Coronavirus lockdown of 2020. When the team at Century 21 Films found their planned projects cancelled as a result of the global pandemic, they made the decision to attempt to produce something worthwhile using the resources they had to hand in the London flat where a number of them lived. Fortunately, thanks to their work on productions such as Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes, Endeavour, and UK television advertisements, they had numerous puppets, props and models to hand. Nebula-75 was filmed by a crew of three who happened to already live together during a time when travel was made impossible, with other members of the Century 21 Films team lending their talents remotely. It was originally intended as a one-off production and premiered as a ten minute short, but the resulting film was received so warmly and passionately by online viewers that plans for further instalments were soon made. A full length series of half hour episodes were produced throughout the course of 2020, introducing new vehicles and guest characters. Following the easing of lockdown restrictions, the team have also been able to leave their flat in order to continue production in more suitable studio premises. The result has been a second series of episodes that expand upon the scope and ambition of the original run. Transcending its lockdown origins, Nebula-75 has evolved into a fully fledged Supermarionation production in its own right. You can watch Season 1 of Neubula-75 on Amazon now and watch the first episode of Season 2 via Amazon Prime. |
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Nebula-75 Trivia – Nebula-75 was created during the first UK lockdown and is intended to nostalgically evoke a 1960s series that never actually existed. It takes inspiration from the Gerry and Sylvia Anderson “Supermarionation” series of that era (Thunderbirds, Stingray, Fireball XL5, Captain Scarlet etc), while remaining its own unique entity. – The series was created by Stephen La Rivière and Andrew T. Smith. – Stephen and his two flatmates (his girlfriend Géraldine Donaldson and colleague Elliot Pavelin) filmed and puppeteered the first short film themselves in their small living room and used existing puppets from previous Century 21 Films Supermarionation productions. – A couple of friends helped from outside – such as making the model of the Nebula-75 remotely and posting it to the flat. – The voices of Commander Neptune and Lieutenant Solstice were delivered remotely from Canada. The rest were recorded in the UK. – The sets were initially built onto the back of bookcases and dressed in vinyl and ordinary objects the team had laying around. – The initial short film went live on YouTube and Facebook in May 2020 and received a huge response – at least a million views across different platforms – The team produced a second episode due to viewer demand and in response received an enquiry about buying from the Tohokushinsha Film Corporation in Japan. TFC have controlled Japanese rights to Thunderbirds and other Supermarionation shows for 50 years. – BBC Front Row interviewed the team within the first three weeks which increased the series’ following. The team then turned Samira Ahmed into a puppet and she did the voice for the series’ Christmas episode. She later promoted the series on Channel 4’s Countdown. – In a year Century 21 Films produced 8 episodes in the flat (by the second lockdown, Andrew was able to come to stay so the crew expanded to four). – The initial 8, plus a further 4 episodes produced recently outside of the flat, have been bought by Tohokushinsha Film Corporation to broadcast on Star Channel in Japan in Q1 of 2022. – This is part of an overall campaign in Japan that showcases all of Century 21 Films’ new Supermarionation work including a theatrical release of Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes, and a broadcast of the documentary Century 21 Slough. – The first episode of Nebula-75 will be shown at the cinema, along with three new 50th anniversary episodes of Thunderbirds that Century 21 Films produced in 2015. – One of the four recently produced episodes has been directed by 90-year-old David Elliott, who directed on the original Thunderbirds series. – David Graham – the 96-year-old voice of Parker in Thunderbirds – also provided a voice for Nebula-75. He played a character modelled on Thunderbirds director David Elliott to celebrate his 90th birthday. – The series has spurned merchandise, including a DVD and Blu-Ray of the first series, and “Solar Smacks” badges. |
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NEBULA-75 CHARACTER PROFILES: COMMANDER NEPTUNE A lone man in uniform responsible for a crew of lively civilian recruits, Commander Neptune’s overriding desire is to get his shipmates home. In a vast and isolated patch of space, he grapples with the loneliness of command at the same time wondering if his destiny might actually lie amongst the stars. DOCTOR ASTEROID Fastidious and knowledgeable, German Doctor Asteroid can sometimes care a little too much about the well-being of his patients. Even when distracted by his favourite snack, Solar Supremes, the Doctor’s heart is in the right place and whenever the situation calls for it, he bravely rises to the occasion. ATHENA A mysterious telepath from a race known as the Space Maidens, Athena is an unexpected arrival aboard the Nebula-75 and a guiding light in a dark corner of the universe. Kindly and enigmatic in nature, she uses her extraordinary powers to assist the crew when she can. CIRCUIT Ramshackle, rusty, and feisty, Circuit is nevertheless a valuable member of the Nebula-75 crew. Always at the ready, he is an all purpose robot capable of piloting the ship, combatting intruders and making the tea. LIEUTENANT SOLSTICE Organized, positive, and a little playful, Lt. Solstice multi-tasks to keep the ship running. A calming influence, she uses her knowledge of the crew to bring out the best in them whenever she is able. LIEUTENANT MERCURY Whatever the job, the crew of the Nebula-75 know they can turn to the dutiful Lieutenant Mercury for help. Wide eyed and enthusiastic, Mercury is equally at home on the bridge or in engineering and he aspires to some day be as capable an astronaut as his Commander. |
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FILMMAKER PROFILES: Stephen La Rivière (Co-Creator, Writer, Director, Voice Actor), Andrew T. Smith (Co-Creator, Writer, Producer), Geraldine Donaldson (Voice Actor, Writer), Elliot Pavelin (Editor, Post Production Supervisor) STEPHEN LA RIVIERE Stephen La Rivière is a co-founder of Century 21 Films Ltd and the co-creator and co-writer of Nebula-75. He serves as the series’ lead director and co-producer in addition to providing the English language voices of Doctor Asteroid, Lieutenant Mercury and other guest characters. He has written numerous publications both for England and Japan, including his book Filmed in Supermarionation, which offers a comprehensive history of the puppet productions of the team led by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. This in turn led to his 2014 feature documentary of the same name. In 2015, he oversaw Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes – creating three new episodes of classic-style Thunderbirds using the techniques employed during the 1960s. ANDREW T. SMITH Andrew is a co-founder of Century 21 Films and the co-creator and co-writer of Nebula-75. Andrew has acted as co-producer for the series in addition to overseeing the recording and editing of the English language dialogue tracks. His most recent documentary film, Cartoon Carnival, was released in 2021 and outside of production he has authored and co-authored books on film and television history. GERALDINE DONALDSON A puppeteer, script-writer, actress and costume designer, Swiss-born Géraldine Donaldson moved to England to join the crew of Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes. For Nebula-75 Géraldine was responsible for the dressing, stringing and styling of the puppets, as well as lip-sync operating. She also oversaw all elements of the set design. In addition to puppet-wrangling and set-design, she performs the English language voice of Athena. ELLIOT PAVELIN A puppeteer and post-production supervisor, Elliot Pavelin’s first job with Century 21 Films was on Thunderbirds: The Anniversary Episodes and he has since worked on all their subsequent Supermarionation productions, including a Thunderbirds advert for the Halifax bank and the Endeavour TV series. He has turned his hand to many roles and for Nebula-75 he multi-tasked as the lead puppeteer, picture and sound editor as well as finding time to do visual effects work. |
WEBSITE: www.nebula-75.com CENTURY 21 FILMS WEBSITE: www.century21films.co.uk TWITTER: www.twitter.com/nebula_75 FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/nebula75series INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/century21films |
Tag Archives: TV
Experience12 tests your pop-culture knowledge this Christmas!
0Featuring the best of TV, Gaming and Film from the past year |
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To view the full image & take part in the challenge please visit: www.experience12.com/xmas |
We have finally made it to the end of the year and if there is something we can all agree on, it’s that we have had some amazing entertainment to help us get through it! As is tradition, the incredible team at Experience12 are back at it again with their pop-culture Christmas challenge, and this year it is back bigger & better than before! As the world opened up following the pandemic, 2021 proved itself to be a bumper year for entertainment. October alone saw 16.4 million cinema admissions – the biggest October since 2012. Consumers are watching nearly 4 hours of TV a day, which although down on 2020 during lockdown, it’s still 50% more than 2019. Also now 93% of 16-24-year-olds are playing video games, which is also up from 73% in 2020. To celebrate our love for pop culture Experience12 have created their largest pop culture Christmas challenge yet. Hidden in their IP isometric illustration is a total of 47 references across film, TV and video games – some more overt than others, but a true pop culture aficionado will spot them all. We’ve included a tease of the full image above, but head to www.experience12.com/xmas for the full experience! |
Riot Games, Netflix and Disney to attend Lucca Comics and Games 2021
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Some of pop cultures biggest brands, stars and companies will be attending Europe’s largest pop culture festival Lucca Comics and Games 2021 from October 29th – Nov 1st. The master of comics Frank Miller, creator of ‘300’, ‘Sin City’ and ‘The Dark Knight Returns’, will be in Lucca for the presentation of the documentary dedicated to him, Frank Miller – American Genius, by director Silenn Thomas. The film explores half-century-long career of the author, who became a point of reference for the art of storytelling, pop culture and politics thanks to his work. From complicated personal affairs to worldwide success in print and film, the documentary is an epic journey into the mind and heart of one of the most prolific and iconic authors of our time. Roberto Saviano, the author of Gomorrah, a best-selling exposé of the Camorra Mafia in Naples. will be attending to promote is first graphic novel called Sono Ancora Vivo (I’m Still Alive) with drawings by Tel Aviv-based illustrator Asaf Hanuka. In gaming, Riot Games will be showcasing Arcane. The exhibition will include a series of original sketches artwork and two very special collaborative handmade pieces, the boots of Jinx and the hextech glove of Vi, the two sisters protagonists of the series, on display. The exhibition will be held at the ex-Museo del Fumetto (Comics Museum) and include works dedicated to the cities of Zaun and Piltover for a unique and perfect experience to await the imminent release of the TV series Arcane, available on Nexflix from November 7th. Netflix will be hosting a special event dedicated to The Witcher with a special panel. Kim Bodnia, who joins the cast for series two as Vesemir, will be joined by Joey Batey, who plays Jaskier. Series creator Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, costume designer Lucinda Wright and production designer Andrew Laws will be in attendance. The Walt Disney Company Italia will be present at Lucca Comics & Games 2021 to present some new titles coming to the cinema and on Disney+. The new Disney animated film Encanto and Disney+ will also present the Italian premiere of the first two episodes of Dopesick – Declaration of Addiction, starring Michael Keaton. Searchlight Pictures films The Dark House and Antlers – Insatiable Spirit will be shown at Lucca Comics & Games 2021 with special screenings. Finally, Italian Gothic Band Lacuna Coil will be present at the festival’s Rock ‘n’ Comics. Emanuele Vietina, Director of Lucca Comics & Games says “Lucca Comics & Games is the biggest comic convention in Europe, a cultural festival dedicated to storytelling and modern forms of art. Lucca is a also a community event merging the modern mythology of comics, movies and rock with the Italian monumental heritage of a historic Tuscan town. This year, we offer a unique program which presents Frank Miller alongside Roberto Saviano and brings back major film studios such as Disney and Netflix to Lucca. Bringing this festival to life after a difficult pandemic year is our own way of celebrating Pop Culture.” Official site www.luccacomicsandgames.com FB & IG: @luccacomicsandgames; TW: @LuccaCandG |
52 Self-Portraits by Italian comic book artists to be presented at Lucca Comic & Games 2021
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ITALIAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE, UFFIZI AND LUCCA COMICS & GAMES COMBINE TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMICS WORLDWIDE |
52 self-portraits of some of the most talented comic book artists on the Italian scene will enter the collection of the Uffizi Galleries, Italy. The works – created with different techniques, formats and styles – will be presented at Lucca Comics & Games 2021 from October 8 to November 1 as part of the “Fumetti nei musei | Gli autoritratti degli Uffizi” (Comics in the Museums | Self-portraits of the Uffizi) exhibition, curated by Mattia Morandi and Chiara Palmieri. The exhibition is an inititative between the Uffizi Galleries and Lucca Crea to foster the development and promotion of comics in Italy and abroad. The initiative will also see one of the portraits, selected by the Uffizi and the Ministry of Culture, going on display in the self-portrait collection of the Florentine Museum. The new cluster of self-portraits of contemporary Italian comics will add a new dimension to the collection of self-portraits of the Uffizi Gallery – the richest and most prestigious in the world. These works will be exhibited in the new rooms dedicated to self-portraits that will open in the coming months on the second floor of the Vasarian Museum. The agreement also sees the participation of the Uffizi and the Ministry of Culture in the selection of the Master of Comics within Lucca Comics Awards at Lucca Comics & Games and the entrance, every year, of the winner artwork into the self-portrait collection of the Florentine museum. The agreement will have an initial two-year duration at the outset and within its scope, a variety of shared initiatives may be undertaken in addition to exhibitions, events, cultural productions, creative, educational and scientific partnerships and much more. |
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The works that will be on display in Lucca have been generously donated by the artists who participated in Fumetti nei Musei, the project conceived by the Ministry of Culture. “Thanks to the artists for this important donation, which represents a further evolution of a path of valorization of contemporary comics that was born around the ambitious project Fumetti nei Musei. This new fund is an important innovation for the Italian contemporary art scene: the Uffizi thus becomes one of the first museums of classical art to bet on the vitality and creative force of the ninth art,” says the Italian Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini. “With this unprecedented, innovative alliance between the Uffizi and Lucca Comics, one of the most important comic events in the world, the goal is to reiterate a key concept: culture is pop and to effectively reach as many people as possible. The agreement we are presenting today is the first of its kind in the world: I am convinced that it will give rise to great results and will be the forerunner to many other ‘crossovers’ that will bear fruit in terms of ideas, creativity and inspiration for the future,” comments the Director of the Uffizi, Eike Schmidt. Francesca Fazzi, President of Lucca Crea, adds “Even the most difficult edition of Lucca Comics & Games has generated exciting results. The presence of Eike Schmidt at Lucca Comics & Games in 2020 marked the start of a collaboration, which today takes concrete form in an initiative that will bring, every year, the Master of Comics crowned in Lucca to the Uffizi Galleries. It is a great recognition for the Festival and for all Italian comics“. Her words are reinforced by Emanuele Vietina, Director of Lucca Comics & Games. INFORMATION: www.luccacomicsandgames.com www.fumettineimusei.it www.luccacomicsawards.com FB & IG: @luccacomicsandgames; TW: @LuccaCandG |
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From left: Eike Schmidt (Gallerie Uffizi Director), Emanuele Vietina (Lucca Comics & Games CEO), Alessandro Tambellini (Major of the City of Lucca) and Francesca Fazzi (Lucca Crea President) |
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Lucca Comics & Games festival takes place from October 29th to November 1st in Lucca, Italy
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To re-behold the stars: light is the claim of the 55th year of Lucca Comics & Games festival happening in person from 29th October to 1st of November 2021 in Italy. This year Italy is honouring Dante Alighieri, the poet and philospher, by celebrating the 700th anniversary of his death and Dante’s Divine Comedy sets the tone for the returning festival – a community event that not only produced culture but creates a place where people can share experiences by occupying and interacting with and within a unique and monumental city. Light is the synthesis of this new Lucca Comics & Games, which signals a passage from dark to light, and paves a road to a new kind of normal. Visitors will go back to meeting creators of universes that have been an integral part of the festival – comics, games, storytelling, modern mythologies and big and small industries represented in these worlds. “Lucca Comics & Games is a unique cross-media event dedicated to pop culture, cosplay and comics held in a medieval Tuscan town. Before the pandemic, each year more than 250,000 fans walked through our city walls to immerse themselves in a world of fantasy. Our organisation has worked very close with government to implement safety rules. We are delighted to be able to open our gates again after a year of darkness. “Thence we came forth to re-behold the stars” is the last line in Dante’s Inferno. To me it means a new beginning and the hope that we will again be able to embrace our imagination and experience an unforgettable live event.” says Emanuele Vietina, Director of Lucca Comics & Games. THE FESTIVAL RECONQUERS THE CITY Lucca Comics & Games returns to the heart of Lucca, Italy, offering the public the chance to find the most beloved publishers and exhibitors in historical areas and in places to (re)discover: the central core of comics will remain Piazza Napoleone. The iconic pavilion has is coming back together with Palazzo Ducale and the historical spaces of the Palazzetto dello Sport, where the festival was held until 2005 and returns this year for the first time in 15 years. The world of gaming will be housed in the Real Collegio and in the Cavallerizza area Japan World will conquer the large spaces of the Polo Fiere di Lucca. The Music & Cosplay area will be hosted in the San Francesco complex. All these worlds will be increasingly interconnected within the Festival: visitors will be invited to travel from one to the other, to enrich their passions and rediscover the pleasure of being in Lucca. LIGHT The theme of Light will visually accompany the Festival experience with contemporary Italian illustrator Paolo Barbieri, creating the distinctive image of Lucca Comics & Games poster. In the year of Dante’s celebrations, he creates the poetic vision that links Lucca Comics & Games to Dante’s journey with Virgil through the darkness of Hell. The artist visually tells the story of the Festival’s adventurous journey, with its colourful paraphernalia of cosplayers, dragons and spaceships married to the literary and mythological forces that live in Dante’s poetry. Paolo Barbieri says “I decided to draw a road suspended in the sky that leads us towards Dante who, opening his red robe, reveals a fantastic Lucca opening up to receive the Festival. This grassy road, suspended in the midst of other flying rocks leads to the realm of fantasy with Lucca understood as a true door of the Imagination which I have tried to recreate in my own way to convey the sense of wonder in Dante’s myth.” COSPLAY WITHIN VILLA BOTTINI Suspended between theatrical performance and costume craftsmanship, the cosplay world finds its home within the evocative Villa Bottini, an architectural masterpiece of Lucca. The frescoed rooms and the garden will host some of the most interesting communities, including Assassin’s Creed Cosplay, Terre di Mezzo Cosplayer, Ghostbuster Italia, Avengers / X-Men and 501 Italica Rebel/Legion Empisa. There will also be space for medieval fantasy, steampunk, the post-apocalyptic world of The Walking Dead, the universe of Harry Potter and the magic of Disney. Dozens of characters will come to life, animating Villa Cosplay, with professional photoshoots, workshops and wardrobe services, to enjoy the Festival in complete safety. The San Francesco Auditorium will host the long-awaited Cosplay Competition on Saturday 30 October: backstage interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and lots of fun for what has always been considered one of the unmissable events of Lucca Comics and Games. INFORMATION: Official site www.luccacomicsandgames.com FB & IG: @luccacomicsandgames; TW: @LuccaCandG |
UK HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE SCHEDULE – AUGUST 17th 2020
0Here’s the schedule for all UK home entertainment releases including VOD, DVD, Blu Ray and more.
Thanks to Strike Media for the schedule for the week commencing August 17th 2020.
#MoviesTogether
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Yes, God, Yes
Release Date: 17th August Distributor: The Movie Partnership Format: VOD Trailer Contact: Strike Media Growing up in the Midwest in the early OOs, sixteen-year-old Alice has always been a good Catholic. But when an innocent AOL chat turns racy, she discovers masturbation and is overwhelmed with guilt. Seeking redemption, she attends a mysterious religious retreat to try and suppress her urges, but it isn’t easy, especially after a cute upperclassman starts flirting with her. Available on iTunes
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UK HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE SCHEDULE – JULY 27TH 2020
1Here’s the schedule for all UK home entertainment releases including VOD, DVD, Blu Ray and more.
Thanks to Strike Media for the schedule for the week commencing July 13th 2020.
#MoviesTogether
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UK HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE SCHEDULE – JULY 13TH 2020
0Here’s the schedule for all UK home entertainment releases including VOD, DVD, Blu Ray and more.
Thanks to Strike Media for the schedule for the week commencing July 13th 2020.
#MoviesTogether
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UK HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE SCHEDULE – JULY 6TH 2020
0Here’s the schedule for all UK home entertainment releases including VOD, DVD, Blu Ray and more.
Thanks to Strike Media for the schedule for the week commencing July 6th 2020.
#MoviesTogether
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UK HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE SCHEDULE – JUNE 29th 2020
0Here’s the schedule for all UK home entertainment releases including VOD, DVD, Blu Ray and more.
Thanks to Strike Media for the schedule for the week commencing June 29th 2020.
#MoviesTogether
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