Saturday 31 October 2020
Willy's Wonderland - Official Teaser Starring Nicolas Cage
TRAILER: Your Honor, starring Bryan Cranston coming to Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in early 2021
Holby City trailer gives glimpse of series returning to BBC One soon
BBC Tribute to Bobby Ball
Jackie Chan's Vanguard Trailer and Behind the Scenes Featurette
Vanguard is a 2020 Chinese action adventure spy-thriller drama film written and directed by Stanley Tong, starring Jackie Chan, Yang Yang and Miya Muqi. The film was scheduled to be released on 25 January 2020 in China but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is Jackie Chan's seventh film with director Stanley Tong.
An accountant is threatened by the world's deadliest mercenary organization and Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for him.
Jackie Chan as Tang Huanting
Yang Yang as Lei Zhenyu
Ai Lun as Zhang Kaixuan
Miya Muqi as Mi Ya
Zhu Zhengting as Shendiao
Fady Zaky as The Bodyguard
Xu Ruo Han as Fareeda
Thursday 29 October 2020
NETFLIX AND UBISOFT TEAM UP FOR LIVE ACTION SERIES ADAPTATION OF ASSASSIN’S CREED
The South Bank Show set to return on 22 November to Sky Arts with four artists at the top of their game: Gillian Anderson, Bernardine Evaristo, Benjamin Zephaniah and Simon Armitage
Sky Kids Announces Brand-New Series The Epic Adventures of Morph
Further details of The Break series five revealed, as filming begins
BBC One Daytime serves up second helping of Ready Steady Cook
Anthony Boyle and Toby Jones lead cast of new BBC Two drama Danny Boy
Tuesday 27 October 2020
Smash hit Love Island reaches Canada
Mephisto commissioned for ITV Studios America
McFly share their story in McFly: All About Us
’13 Reasons Why’ ‘Supernatural’ Star Mark Pellegrino and Internet Attorney Announce ‘The Guardian Project’ Reality Docuseries
Gritty British drama My Day from director Ibrahim Miiro arrives on digital 7th December
Heist Comedy Finding Steve McQueen set for UK Release - Starring Travis Fimmel, William Fichtner, Rachael Taylor & Forest Whitaker
Monday 26 October 2020
Interview with Michael McCarty by David Kempf
I’ve been writing for a very long, long time.
I started writing for the school newspaper The Jaguar News in sixth grade. My first pro sale was in 1983 for a regional music magazine, The Prairie Sun I did a record review of Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut.” My first national sale was in 1993 to Starlog magazine. And my first book was in 2003. I’ve written hundreds of articles and interviews in newspapers and have over 45 published books.
How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?
When I was a kid, I use to watch a local horror show called Acri Creature Feature that showed all the classic horror movies and I really loved them. I started reading the books, which the movies were based on sometime in Junior High School, Dracula by Bram Stoker and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. After that I was hooked.
Tell us about your first publisher.
I spent close to a decade writing and trying to get my first book, the vampire novel LIQUID DIET published. I tried everywhere. At that the time the suits said, “Vampire books are dead. Everyone loves a serial killer story. Can you change your vampire into a serial killer instead?”Vampire books have been popular since Bram Stoker wrote DRACULA over a century ago.” This was long before TWILIGHT or TRUE BLOOD.
One day I was talking to Bentley Little and he gave me some excellent advice. He said it was time to put my vampire novel in the trunk and begin another. A lot of writers never get their first books published, including Mr. Little. I started working on another horror novel, called MONSTER BEHIND THE WHEEL, but figured that might take a lot of time to get published. In the meantime, I needed a new game plan. I was talking with my friend Mark McLaughlin about this and he suggested I do a “best of your genre interviews” type book.
I sent a query to a small publisher who specializes in collectible books. The editor wanted to publish the book, but in the end, I decided my book wasn’t right for this house. Next, I sent it to a publisher in Spain. The editor also wanted to publish the book, but ultimately, it didn’t work out there either. During the World Horror Convention in Chicago, I talked to William F. Nolan about the book project; he was enthusiastic, saying if two publishers liked it, a third was probably around the corner very soon. And he was kind of correct about that. About ten minutes after meeting with Nolan, I talked with Neil Gaiman about the book. He suggested that publisher John Betancourt at Wildside Press might like it. So I sent a query and three chapters about my new book idea called GIANTS OF THE GENRE to Mr. Betancourt. He read the three chapters and outline and politely rejected it.
A couple of weeks later, on the fourth of July weekend, 2002, I was thinking about Betancourt’s rejection. He said a lot of nice things in the rejection. So that Monday, I wrote back to the publisher saying something like, “Hey John, you’ve been in the publishing business for awhile, who would you recommended I send my book to.”
John wrote “You know, funny thing is — I’ve been bugged by GIANTS since I turned it down. This usually means I’m convinced on some level that I’ve made a mistake. If you are still interested in having me publish it, I’ll do it next year.” And that is how I got my first book published. Mark McLaughlin wrote the introduction.
Since that time, I have had other books published with Wildside Press including MORE GIANTS OF THE GENRE, A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FIENDS and DRACULA TRANSFORMED & OTHER BLOODTHIRSTY TALES (co-written with Mark McLaughlin).
How would you classify the genre you write?
I call myself a Gumbo Genre Writer, because I write in so many genres and styles. I do nonfiction, horror fiction, science fiction, vampire fiction, vampire comedy fiction, short stories, novels, novella, YA books, kid’s books.
Maybe that is the reason I have had over 45 books published. Here is a link to a listing to all my books:
https://monstermikeyaauthor.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/michael-mccartys-book-publications-1-40/
What is your favorite kind of monster in dark fiction?
I’m going to cheat and name two: vampires and Frankenstein’s monster. Big fan of both of and wrote two books about them as well. FRANKENSTEIN’S MISTRESS: TALES OF LOVE & MONSTERS published by Grinning Skull Press and DRACULA TRANSFORMED & OTHER BLOODTHIRSTY TALES by Mark McLaughlin & Michael McCarty published by Wildside Press.
Other vampire novels I’ve written or co-written: LIQUID DIET & MIDNIGHT SNACK published by Simon & Schuster, the BLOODLESS series co-written with Jody LaGreca: BLOODLESS, BLOODLUST and BLOODLINE also on Simon & Schuster. And another short story collections as well.
The reason I think people like vampires over other monsters is they seduce their prey. And Frankenstein’s monster is so popular because he is an outcast of society and only wants to be loved and how can’t relate to that?
Tell us about your collaborations.
A collaboration is like a marriage; if it is good - it is a good marriage; if it is bad - it is a bad marriage. Writing wise, I’ve had good and bad marriages.
I wrote a great article about this very topic in ESOTERIA-LAND and the ebook is only .99 cents. Check it out.
Tell us about your Stoker experiences especially the poetry book.
Scott Edelman once gave me a big pin that says, “5-Time Stoker Award Loser.” That pretty much sums it up.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author?
Getting 45 books published is a major accomplishment. Actually starting and finish a book is major accomplishment these days.
The writing business is a rough roller coaster ride of highs and lows. You have to hold on for dear life and pray for the best sometimes.
Other accomplishments, having Jimmy Fallon hold a copy of my book CONVERSATIONS WITH KRESKIN on his show.
And of course, having the fans, they are the bright rays of sunshine in this dark fiction profession.
Do you have any advice for new writers?
My advice is this: writing what I call a “blindside” book. Which means, you hit the reader and they don’t see it coming. They spin around and say, “Where did that come from? I wasn’t prepared for that.”
My best advice and I hate to do self-promotion here – is to read MODERN MYTHMAKERS: 35 INTERVIEWS WITH HORROR & SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS AND FILMMAKERS by Michael McCarty, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at your favorite bookstore or library (if they don’t have it, have them order it).
The reason I wrote MODERN MYTHMAKERS in the first place was to talk with the likes of Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Richard Matheson, John Saul, Whitley Strieber, Neil Gaiman and other 29 others – about the craft and art of writing.
I can give all kinds of advice. But wouldn’t you like to hear advice from Bradbury or Koontz instead?
Plus the ebook is only .99 cents.
What is your opinion of the new self-publishing trend?
The majority of my books, 40 or so have been by book publishers. Half a dozen or so, I’ve done myself. I am a writer. I like to write. I don’t like to do layout and design. I really don’t like to edit, especially edit my own work (it is a necessary evil, like voting).
I like just to write and let others worry the other crazy stuff in the publishing business. That’s show business.
What are your current projects?
I just finished up FRANKENSTEIN’S MISTRESS: TALES OF LOVE & MONSTERS which was recently published by Grinning Skull Press (the same publisher who put out LOST GIRL OF THE LAKE by Joe McKinney & Michael McCarty, a few years ago).
I am currently writing a sequel to GHOSTS OF THE QUAD CITIES by Michael McCarty & Mark McLaughlin and published by Haunted America (Arcadia Publishing / The History Press). Which was an Amazon bestseller. Here is a little about the first book:
Divided by state lines and the Mississippi River, the Quad Cities share a common haunted heritage. If anything, the seam that runs through the region is especially rife with spirits, from the Black Angel of Moline's Riverside Cemetery to the spectral Confederate POWs of Arsenal Island. Of course, the city centers have their own illustrious supernatural residents – the Hanging Ghost occupies Davenport's City Hall, while the Phantom Washwoman wanders Bettendorf's Central Avenue. At Igor's Bistro in Rock Island, every day is Halloween. Michael McCarty and Mark McLaughlin hunt down the haunted lore of this vibrant Midwestern community.
For the sequel, I am collaborating with John Brassard Jr. this time (whom I interviewed a lot in the first book). It is going to be a little different than the first book, but also a lot bigger and more photos and it should be out Fall of 2021. For the most updated news, please check: Facebook website:
https://www.facebook.com/Ghosts-of-the-Quad-Cities-103021898053505
Please in your own words, write a paragraph about yourself & your work.
I have been a professional writer since 1983 and the author of over forty-five books of fiction and nonfiction, including FRANKENSTEIN’S MISTRESS: TALES OF LOVE & MONSTERS, ESOTERIA-LAND, DARK CITIES: DARK TALES, A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FIENDS, DRACULA TRANSFORMED AND OTHER BLOODTHIRSTY TALES (with Mark McLaughlin), LOST GIRL OF THE LAKE (with Joe McKinney) and GHOSTS OF THE QUAD CITIES (also with Mark McLaughlin).
My mega book of interviews MODERN MYTHMAKERS: 35 INTERVIEWS WITH HORROR AND SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS AND FILMMAKERS which features interviews with Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, John Carpenter, Richard Matheson, Elvria, Linnea Quigley, John Saul, Joe McKinney, the cast and crew of “Night of the Living Dead” and many more.
I live in Rock Island, Illinois with his wife Cindy and pet rabbit Latte.
I’m on Twitter as michaelmccarty6
My blog site is at: http://monstermikeyaauthor.wordpress.com
Facebook! Like me on official page: http://www.facebook.com/michaelmccarty.horror
Or snail mail me at:
Michael McCarty
Fan Mail
P.O. Box 4441
Rock Island, IL 61204-4441
RELIC - In Cinemas & on Digital Friday - Starring Emily Mortimer
COMPETITION: Win Monsoon on Blu-ray
Synopsis
https://amzn.to/3kvhXEM
For your chance to win just answer the question below.
COMPETITION CLOSED
Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-11-20
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
COMPETITION: Win Adult Material on DVD
Adult Material is released on Digital and DVD on November 2nd
Synopsis
Buy From Amazon at
https://amzn.to/37DEw6F
For your chance to win just answer the question below.
Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 09-11-20
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
Saturday 24 October 2020
REVIEW: Paranormal comedy DEAD
DEAD will also be at Frightfest on 22nd October (UK Premiere) & Soho Horror Fest on 6th November
Friday 23 October 2020
David Tennant and Michael Sheen, or should that be Michael Sheen and David Tennant return with more Staged for BBC One
I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! new promo
Channel 4 announce Stath Lets Flats Series 3
JIU JITSU | UK Trailer | Starring Nicolas Cage, Tony Jaa, Frank Grillo and Alain Moussi
ONCE UPON A SNOWMAN | Disney+ Trailer | Official Disney UK
Thursday 22 October 2020
New Trailer for Ryan Murphy's THE PROM
First look at poster & trailer for VHS Retro Horror 'RENT-A-PAL' starring Wil Wheaton
https://apple.co/3oiweXs
Wednesday 21 October 2020
ITV announces new Yorkshire Ripper drama
The Sister Episode 1 Preview - Starring Russell Tovey
Chilling Spanish Horror, Ropes, set for UK release on 19th November
Tuesday 20 October 2020
EUPHORIA returns to Sky and NOW TV with two special episodes
This Morning's Phil Vickery goes in search of 'Britain's Best Tart'
Phil, tell us about this new series and how it came about…
"Well, a couple of weeks ago on This Morning I did an almond tart and I hadn't done a lot of baking on the show for a while, but Phillip [Schofield] and Holly [Willoughby] loved it and said it was really lovely, and on the back of that I was asked by my bosses 'We'd like you to do a thing on Britain's traditional tarts' to which I laughed at first and then they explained further 'the culinary version'. I did a bit of research and narrowed it down to the Manchester Tart, Bakewell Tart, Yorkshire Curd Tart and the Gypsy Tart - which I remember at school! And then we went off and filmed up and down the country, all within Covid guidelines."
What can This Morning viewers expect to see?
"So I do a bit of research, and we go to the place where we believe they do one of the best or the best tart in the area, and it's not so much as judging it, it's going there, looking at what they do, and coming back and making my own version in the studio. I mean some of these tarts have such old recipes, I think the Bakewell Tart one for instance is from around 1870 so you have to modernise things a bit. And for the show I like to be careful with calories and things, so if I can lighten them and make them a lot less heavy then that's what I'll try and do. But also, a lot of the 'old' ingredients you can't get, for example, the Yorkshire Curd tart, to get fresh curds is quite difficult so my version on that tart I used cottage cheese. But also, I am kind of going on a history tour as well, I've definitely learnt things - there's a Bakewell pudding and a Bakewell Tart and I now know the history of both of them now! I'm still learning as I go on these trips for This Morning. Never too old!"
You are a master of a pudding, is this what makes you the best person for this series?
"When I was a young chef I trained in pastry and I had a flair for it. I remember making so much by hand back then; brioche, croissants, danish pastries… everything. And I ended up working for about twelve years mainly doing pastry, and actually a lot of chefs around - I won't name names - but they can't do it. They hate pastry! It's such a finite thing… an extra half an ounce of yeast can destroy bread for instance and 0.5g of salt can make a big difference, so it's very very specific and a lot of chefs don't have the patience!"
Did you have in mind what your favourite tart might be before filming?
"Not really… but I have always liked Bakewell Tart even though I don't really like almond essence, but I make mine without that because I think the natural flavour of almonds is there, you don't need to enhance it. So Bakewell is pretty high up on my list, if I'm being honest."
Do you think the humble tart is underrated or being slightly forgotten about in the UK?
"It is perhaps underrated, but because a lot of them are now so old, I guess people don't see them as fashionable anymore. For instance, in Bakewell they make a small Bakewell tart probably about 5cm across and 2cm deep and because it only had butter, sugar, egg and almonds in it, it was around 2,000 calories! So some are hugely calorific and so for a lot of people they find them too heavy. I tried one and I struggled to sleep that night!"
What kind of tart is your personal favourite to cook and why?
"Well, my personal favourite of all time is an egg custard tart. My mum used to do it for me when I was little and it was a staple in my restaurant too… I used to have a guy that came to my restaurant every Monday for lunch and he once said to me, 'Mr Vickery, if you ever take that egg custard tart off the menu, I'm never coming here again!' and it was always on the menu, so for me, that's my favourite go to. Although my mum still tells me hers is better!"
You are celebrating 21 years on This Morning, how does that make you feel?
"Yes, I am! Do you think I'll get a gold watch?... I'm not sure how it makes me feel because when Denise [Robertson] was alive, she, together with Dr Chris Steele are the longest serving contributors on the show, then I think it's me and Alison… and actually that's rather nice that I've done it for that amount of time and that they still want me! I'm getting on a bit now so I'm very lucky and I'm very appreciative of it. I think I've travelled to 37 countries in total so far for the show… how amazing is that? I've got to do so many amazing things during that time."
What have been your most memorable moments?
"There are hundreds! Just things like closing the Sydney Harbour Bridge early so we could film on top of it was incredible. Then in a catamaran moored outside the Sydney Opera House where I cooked burgers… that was quite special. We also went flying in a seaplane and landed on the Great Barrier Reef. Another time I went flying around Alaska to do the salmon run and watched all the bears coming out, and the whales came right up in front of us. I've cooked in the lowest point of the earth in the dead sea and I've also cooked 11,000ft up in Machu Picchu in Peru, and I remember the air was so thin that the gas wouldn't light and I was struggling for breath! I've been everywhere…"
He added, "The show has absolutely taken me to places I would never have seen or visited without it. Catching crabs in Norway, going to India, going to Hong Kong and then on to Bangkok where we went on the Orient Express from there to Malaysia and we cooked on the train! It's all just been absolutely fabulous. Wonderful memories."
What are your top five ingredients you are never without?
"Well, I grow my own potatoes, strawberries and a few tomatoes so I'm not usually without those for most of the year. But generally the top five ingredients that I am never without are tinned tomatoes, fresh coriander, packed rice, stock cubes and clotted cream!"
What are you likely to cook if you are watching football with friends, seeing your mum or with your children?
"If I was watching football with friends, and hopefully Spurs are winning, I would normally do something really simple like rice with a bit of chilli, simple spoon food. And if I am with my mum I have to ask her what she wants because she's a bit particular my mum and she's a very, very good cook. And she's quite adventurous. My mum and dad stayed with me a few weeks ago actually and they ate me out of house and home! They had a mix of steak and chips, prawn curry, BBQ chicken, they had allsorts. They were eating like there was no tomorrow! As for the the kids, they have flown the nest, but they do come back every now and then and Winnie will say to me 'Oh dad, can we do a quick egg fried rice?' and it's just two eggs in a pan, cooked with basmati rice and soy sauce. She loves that!"
Please credit: 'Britain's Best Tart' will air on ITV's This Morning from Tuesday 27th October at 10am