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What is SUPERMEGA MEDIA' And Why Do You Need To Know Them' Click Here And Find Out!

Remember who Charles Schneer is? Perhaps not. From 1955 to 1981, he was Ray Harryhausen's producer on all those cool fantasy films.

Gale Anne Hurd? Joel Silver? Jerry Bruckheimer? Tsui Hark? All producers that have released incredibly cool slates of films for us happy hungry filmgoers.

You know... As I sit around pondering what is in the future. And from where will it come... I find myself thinking of the same groups of people over and over again. And in a way... it can kind of get you depressed. There always seems to be the same people bringing us the cool stuff... there aren't very many new players.

Now this is where it gets kinda funny. This new player, isn't really so new... he's just wearing a new hat. For longtime readers of the site, folks that go back to when I posted those designs for STARSHIP TROOPERS... well, you'll remember that I was quite a fan of a certain Executive. Yes... it can happen. I mean... I think as a whole... we like Michael Deluca... but on a whole... we don't run into too many cool executive types. The first one I ran across was the head of TRISTAR... Chris Lee.

Well, now TRISTAR doesn't exist... and when I'd bring up his name with folks around the Sony lot... it seemed as though he were retired or something. Well, while I was out in L.A. this week (doing talks about my T.V. show, details to remain secret till a firmed up development has taken shape), I was looking through the sacred Scooby Book, and realized, that while I had Chris Lee's phone number... I had never dialed it.

So... bored in my Hotel room.... I twisted the ol rotary and engaged the line. Next thing I know, I'm supposed to meet his Chris... the meeting was this morning before my flight back to Austin.

I can say... with absolute confidence... Chris Lee's SUPERMEGA MEDIA is where it's happening. You've been following one of his productions already... this... little FINAL FANTASY movie. Unfortunately he couldn't show me anything on it... allegedly there's some sort of fantastic SHOWEST reel that'll be ready in March, and in February the Final Fantasy Film Website will go live with HOPEFULLY, a super high res Quicktime 4 preview of some of the work they're doing. What interested me in talking with Chris today, was... while he was interested in the balls to the wall cool factor... He was really much more focused on nailing the stories. Bring on strong screenwriters... not forcing them to really 'stay in the pre-fab lines'. From what he's talking about... it seems he's in the process of making this 'digimation' (sound like DYNAMATION anyone?) thing fly. This whole photorealistic stories go. I remember the films I thought would be coming after I first saw AKIRA and GHOST IN THE SHELL. I thought something like MATRIX was going to happen when LAWNMOWER MAN and JOHNNY MNEUMONIC came out... Well.. I was hoping.

Well, from what Chris is talking here... We'll be seeing in 2001 with FINAL FANTASY... the beginning of actualizing for people the dream they had after those two films. And in typical confident future action/sci-fi/fantasy movie baron style... he's got a ton of films in various stages of production right now and they all seem.... cool as hell. I'll rundown a few...

Remember that ECKS AND SEVER film I ran down a couple of weeks back? The Wesley Snipes vs Jet Li film? That's another of Chris Lee's SUPERMEGA projects. He found the filmmaker, KAOS in Thailand, where he had made a film (which looks cool as hell from what I saw today) for about half a million that just roared on screen. He had his kinetics down, without seeming like confusion. Gorgeous action work in this little film. BUT... KAOS seems to be one of the 'new' guys that Chris has found and is planning on giving us folks... While FINAL FANTASY will be coming from SONY... ECKS AND SEVER will come out from WARNER BROTHERS.

Then there is Andrew Lau. Who? Well, you see Andrew Lau is a bit of a top secret weapon right now. He directed a Hong Kong film called THE STORM RIDERS that those who have seen it... rave about. The film set all types of box office records in Hong Kong, which he later broke this past year with another film. Well, Chris Lee has gathered him on up for a project called DARKNESS. It’s based on that TOP COW comic of the same name, it’s set up at Columbia and has Chris Morgan writing away on it.. This film, if directed with the same energy and imagination that STORM RIDERS was directed with could very well blow us all away. I’m working on finding the script...as soon as it is done.

Then there’s a project that I’m quite interested in taking a look at called, I, HITMAN. It’s a film being written and directed by a Joseph Kahn (who I can’t seem to place), but I’ve been told that it’s looking to be JET LI’s next film, and will begin production early in 2000 at New Line. From what I know, the film will feature next to no dialogue. The reason? The situations that take place in this film are such, that to talk would mean to give away position.... set off alarms, etc etc etc... Frankly, I’m quite excited by this. If handled right, it could make for a fascinating action film for Jet Li.

SWAT.... Well, you know this project, I’ve been covering it forever. It’s over at Columbia, and is still waiting for a greenlight. The script was fantastic. One of the best pure action ensemble scripts I have read... period. Fortunately/Unfortunately... the project got tied up in the hell that is Arnold Schwarzeneggar... meaning lots of rewrites, delays, schedules, etc. HOWEVER... I’ve heard bumps that this project might get going again soon. Let’s hope.

HIGH SCORE.... Remember when we were hearing all those rumors about a TRON film in development at Disney? Well... It might very well have been this project which is an animated film by Disney that SuperMega is involved with, that takes place in cyberspace. I didn’t get any further information about this project.

NINE RINGS OF THE WU-TANG... this is an anime by the team that brought us GHOST IN THE SHELL and Tab Murphy the writer of Disney’s TARZAN. The production designs on this are quite compelling. The film would take place at some point in the 1100’s China in a world of Magic. This could be a very cool project or just one of those things... I’m not sure. But like I said... the character designs were awesome. And with Production I.G. executing the film... the eye for detail will just be amazing methinks...

HEAVYGEAR.... set up over at Columbia, this is a big film with AMG.... Futuristic knights in heavy duty armor and missles and weapons... basically... that whole powersuit type a thing.

FULL CONTACT remake.... This is over at New Line and is a remake of the amazing Ringo Lam film of the same name. It’s to be directed by KAOS, and is still in the scripting stage. I’m telling you, this KAOS kid is someone to watch. If anyone can find his original Thailand film, I’d love to see it (as I’m sure you would as well) The clips I saw were amazing... I just wonder about the overall storytelling abilitiy which I hope this guy has in spades.

TRANSFORMERS!!!!!!!

Yes, that’s right a film based on TRANSFORMERS. To be done as a live action/photoreal cgi film.... It’s been written and will be directed by this Joseph Kahn fella. I almost left a wet spot on Chris’ couch when I saw he was doing a TRANSFORMERS movie. I mean Christ, that TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE with Orson Welles was just one of the coolest things ever. Apparently, the film details the entire where they came from.... how they got to Earth.... Why Decepticons can become dangerous things, and Autobots became passive domestic vehicles. The film will allegedly span something like 250 million years of history and it will have Optimus Prime my friends. AND I CAN NOT FRIGGIN WAIT! AND IT’S SOOOOO FRIGGIN FAR AWAY! This is at Columbia.

EVERQUEST.... based on that big fantasy game of Sony’s.... The film will be done by the same folks (Square’s Digimation) that are bringing us FINAL FANTASY. It will be one gigantic, photorealistic fantasy film. And SUPERMEGA is currently in negotiations with Columbia to take the project. This will be beautiful.

PARASITE EVE.... based upon the Playstation game of the same name, it’ll be co-produced with MADGUY FILMS, and will be down in full Digimation photorealistic CG animation (like FINAL FANTASY and EVERQUEST) and has to do with something coming to earth or evolving on Earth that puts our (humankind’s) existence at risk. Stars a cg female lead and is heavy duty action.

MASTER OF KUNG FU.... that’s right, the super cool martial arts comic from MARVEL that wasn’t Iron Fist. The film just screams to star Jet Li, but that hasn’t been done yet. The director attached to the project at the moment is KAOS (like I said, he’s gonna be a real busy guy) and it is unknown at this time what type of plotline they will follow for the character. Ari Arad from Marvel Comics is going to keep his eye on this one to try to keep some sort of Marvel stamp of quality upon it.

And lastly.... DANNY’S TOY.... a project that seems to be one part BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED... one part GALAXY QUEST.... one part GREMLINS and well... you get the idea. Apparently an alien race comes to earth... only to find that they is wee small. A boy named Danny finds the ‘toy’ and they have to escape the kid, complete their mission and get the heck off earth. It’s going to be a comedy, sci-fi-adventure thingee. And will be made for Sony.

Now... will all these projects work? Probably not, but some will. If the footage from FINAL FANTASY that we’ve all heard about is as wonderful as those describing it say... then at least on those DIGIMATION projects... we’ll be stunned. Also... if the quality of talent attached to FINAL FANTASY (Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Ming Na, Donald Sutherland and James Woods) is any indication of the quality of performers that Chris Lee and his production folks want to pursue... then this could very well be one of the places we most need to focus our attention. And... beyond anything else... They got a friggin TRANSFORMER movie in development.... TOOO COOOOOL!!!! More than meets the eye! They have a website up with some artwork and various cool things up. Check it out! SuperMegaMedia.Com and they told me that just plain ol, SuperMega.Com would be their primary site soon! So.... That’s a ton of new projects to roll over in your minds!

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Reader Talkback

Final Fantasy needs to rock
by Niiiice
Jan 13th, 2000
03:50:10 AM
brave new world - it's time to move on
by c9751451
Jan 13th, 2000
03:55:50 AM
A CGI Transformers better than an animated Transformers?
by Niiiice
Jan 13th, 2000
03:57:02 AM
Maybe they could even find a home for a wayward pooch like Hong
by Robot D.O.G
Jan 13th, 2000
04:17:29 AM
BRAVO!!!
by Edward_Russell
Jan 13th, 2000
04:18:47 AM
YESYESYES!
by Dead Eye
Jan 13th, 2000
04:33:55 AM
Transformers The MOVIE!!!!! I must be dreaming!
by Darth Siskel
Jan 13th, 2000
04:48:03 AM
Harry, I smell a double standard...
by Loki Trickster
Jan 13th, 2000
04:53:35 AM
Andy Lau--Kick ass.
by Jed
Jan 13th, 2000
04:56:03 AM
I saw Harry in Fox Tv building
by Autronic Eye
Jan 13th, 2000
05:01:17 AM

by Mioch Must DIE!
Jan 13th, 2000
05:02:27 AM
CHEE CHOOCHOOCHOOO CHCHCHCHOOO
by Funk4America
Jan 13th, 2000
05:10:06 AM
Diagnose me...
by BDDres
Jan 13th, 2000
05:10:50 AM
SuperMegaMedia is...
by reni
Jan 13th, 2000
05:12:15 AM
Transformers was cool but how about a CGI Robotech?
by dan-E
Jan 13th, 2000
05:29:42 AM
"I, Hitman" could be renamed "Iron Hitman" if THE IRON GAINT get
by Todd
Jan 13th, 2000
05:47:10 AM
my bad
by Funk4America
Jan 13th, 2000
05:50:17 AM
YES, THE ORIGINAL TRANSFORMERS ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!
by J-Dizzle
Jan 13th, 2000
07:00:09 AM
And one more thing.........
by J-Dizzle
Jan 13th, 2000
07:01:50 AM
More than meets the eye!
by GiantRobot
Jan 13th, 2000
07:33:29 AM
Will Schwarzenegger be in SWAT Harry???
by ABking
Jan 13th, 2000
08:30:54 AM
Now that you've got us all stirred up, answer me THIS...
by Rufus T. Firefly
Jan 13th, 2000
08:38:44 AM
MY DREAM!!!
by crisp
Jan 13th, 2000
08:41:01 AM
I hear you Dan-E.......TRANSFORMERS !!!!!
by E_Man
Jan 13th, 2000
09:07:37 AM
PRAISE THE LORD! MY CHILDHOOD DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE! A NEW TRANS
by Kubrick
Jan 13th, 2000
09:34:46 AM
To HANSOLO
by Kubrick
Jan 13th, 2000
09:42:15 AM
PRAISE THE LORD! MY CHILDHOOD DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE! A NEW TRANS
by Kubrick
Jan 13th, 2000
09:43:42 AM
I think I'm old..
by SCOTT1458
Jan 13th, 2000
10:08:30 AM
A new Transformers movie would be nice, but
by Exatron
Jan 13th, 2000
10:10:15 AM
Master of Kung-Fu and Parasite Eve
by Bloodclot
Jan 13th, 2000
10:19:43 AM
I HAVE SEEN BITS FROM "FINAL FANTASY"
by smilin'jackruby
Jan 13th, 2000
11:13:28 AM
Andrew Lau
by Rockurota
Jan 13th, 2000
11:33:00 AM
Joseph Kahn
by Dreckhead7
Jan 13th, 2000
12:06:40 PM
Cool fuckin' news, indeed...
by shaithis77
Jan 13th, 2000
12:07:44 PM
FinalFantasy Pictures
by MangusX
Jan 13th, 2000
12:25:15 PM
Transformers and questions for the posters
by ZICRON
Jan 13th, 2000
12:39:17 PM
Insecticons,Dinobots and Megatron oh my!
by Mini Ebert
Jan 13th, 2000
12:51:50 PM
This is all fine and dandy...
by All Thumbs
Jan 13th, 2000
12:52:57 PM
Transformers and Joseph Kahn
by One Hung Low
Jan 13th, 2000
12:53:17 PM
Harry, You Bastard, the title of this story should have been TRA
by moviet00l
Jan 13th, 2000
01:15:04 PM
ROBOTECH!
by Binky
Jan 13th, 2000
01:22:41 PM
TRANSFORMERS!
by Ambrose Chappell
Jan 13th, 2000
01:48:08 PM
Why the TF movie will suck:
by realfan-3
Jan 13th, 2000
01:48:29 PM
Harry, Joseph Kahn is...
by Zinema
Jan 13th, 2000
01:59:27 PM
Robotech and Transformers
by Sidious80
Jan 13th, 2000
03:03:18 PM
The voice of Starscream...
by WesReviews
Jan 13th, 2000
03:03:42 PM
80's tribute & Realfan-3
by moviet00l
Jan 13th, 2000
03:45:59 PM
The Touch
by Darth Blumpkin
Jan 13th, 2000
03:57:15 PM
What I would do in a Transformers movie...
by WesReviews
Jan 13th, 2000
04:00:11 PM
Transformers movie
by Darth Blumpkin
Jan 13th, 2000
04:09:28 PM
I'm all excited about a Transformers Movie, but here's why I am
by TheOrange
Jan 13th, 2000
04:13:34 PM
Transformers / Dirk Diggler Song
by yakitty_yak10
Jan 13th, 2000
04:19:30 PM
Joseph Kahn and TF
by genesis-comics
Jan 13th, 2000
04:31:05 PM
Soundwave, Jazz, and WE WANT DEVASTATOR!
by WesReviews
Jan 13th, 2000
04:31:52 PM
Starscream and Cobra Commander
by EXP.Serum114
Jan 13th, 2000
04:35:35 PM
Transformers the Movie
by PipsOrcle
Jan 13th, 2000
04:41:03 PM
Yes.
by WesReviews
Jan 13th, 2000
04:48:14 PM
MORE robot TALKBACK
by NuSchool
Jan 13th, 2000
04:52:00 PM
My Childhood, now in THX
by Lightstormer
Jan 13th, 2000
05:17:04 PM
While you're at it bring back M.A.S.K.
by Funk4America
Jan 13th, 2000
05:21:46 PM
TRANSFORMERS
by Francie
Jan 13th, 2000
05:30:46 PM
OK, TIME FOR THE OBLIGATORY, PREMATURE CASTING IDEAS FOR "TRANSF
by Lightstormer
Jan 13th, 2000
05:34:10 PM
Jazz and Sparkplug
by WesReviews
Jan 13th, 2000
05:48:07 PM
The Marvel Stamp of Quality...
by Otaku73
Jan 13th, 2000
05:48:49 PM
Imagine The Fucking Teaser/ Trailers for Transformers!!!
by IG_69
Jan 13th, 2000
06:13:56 PM
chii-chii-chu-chu-cho-che-che!
by Karnak
Jan 13th, 2000
06:24:52 PM
An EQ movie! an EQ junkie dream!
by Tremere22
Jan 13th, 2000
06:50:12 PM
I have a better idea for THE TRANSFORMERS
by The Great One
Jan 13th, 2000
06:59:57 PM
One other thing....
by The Great One
Jan 13th, 2000
07:05:29 PM

by Saulot
Jan 13th, 2000
07:15:27 PM

by Saulot
Jan 13th, 2000
07:19:53 PM
America
by Dr Phibes
Jan 13th, 2000
07:30:26 PM
check
by Starscream77
Jan 13th, 2000
07:56:38 PM
TF: The movie... why there is a god...
by Starscream77
Jan 13th, 2000
08:10:31 PM
Transformers, OH YEAH this will ROCK
by PROWL
Jan 13th, 2000
08:22:15 PM
AN EVERQUEST MOVIE!!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!
by EQ Addict
Jan 13th, 2000
08:40:42 PM
well movies are over- maybe i'll go read
by acedia
Jan 13th, 2000
09:48:03 PM
WHO SHOULD PLAY THE TRANSFORMERS/
by mistamind
Jan 13th, 2000
09:53:32 PM
Whoo!
by Twisted Mentat
Jan 13th, 2000
09:58:28 PM
excuse me but...
by Kraven
Jan 13th, 2000
10:25:48 PM
This is silly
by Wonders
Jan 13th, 2000
10:43:46 PM
I, Hitman
by Lester Diamond
Jan 13th, 2000
10:51:01 PM
TILL ALL ARE ONE!!!! CHARACTERS THAT MUST BE IN THE MOVIE!!
by Darth Siskel
Jan 13th, 2000
10:51:16 PM
What about Voltron: the Movie
by J. Lebowski
Jan 13th, 2000
11:11:56 PM
Eeeeek!
by Kraven
Jan 13th, 2000
11:14:50 PM
"Such heroic nonsense!!!!"
by Niiiice
Jan 13th, 2000
11:43:19 PM
Transformers Movie & Robotech
by Stay Golden
Jan 13th, 2000
11:49:07 PM
transformers
by The Human Bullet
Jan 14th, 2000
12:03:13 AM
Amen to that
by Kraven
Jan 14th, 2000
12:07:56 AM
I JUST SHIT MY PANTS!
by angry
Jan 14th, 2000
12:19:27 AM
A query for true transformers fanatics....
by Niiiice
Jan 14th, 2000
12:29:16 AM
Skip Transformers, get to Robotech
by RyanEnder
Jan 14th, 2000
12:35:57 AM
Only Japanese games have elicited emotion? Uhhh.. Shut up
by angry
Jan 14th, 2000
01:08:33 AM
Final Fantasy movie news (minor spoiler)
by Zoom Boy
Jan 14th, 2000
01:09:15 AM
Still Transforming
by Nymbus
Jan 14th, 2000
01:14:21 AM
Andrew Le
by bobkat
Jan 14th, 2000
01:43:44 AM
Transformers movie is LIVE-ACTION, not CGI!
by Darth Siskel
Jan 14th, 2000
02:06:59 AM
TRANSFORMERS!!!!!!!!!
by BV
Jan 14th, 2000
02:14:33 AM
P.S.
by BV
Jan 14th, 2000
02:17:27 AM
you can COUNT on the transformers to be CGI'ed!
by Niiiice
Jan 14th, 2000
02:57:35 AM
HUMAN BULLET
by Funk4America
Jan 14th, 2000
04:38:37 AM
I'm gonna have to back anger on this one.
by Regault
Jan 14th, 2000
07:01:38 AM
DARKNESS
by Aladdin
Jan 14th, 2000
07:02:27 AM
And about Patlabor
by Regault
Jan 14th, 2000
07:20:48 AM
Gundam
by GiantRobot
Jan 14th, 2000
08:52:31 AM
Transformers is cool, but...
by Human Tornado
Jan 14th, 2000
09:05:39 AM
Wolverine costume
by Darth Siskel
Jan 14th, 2000
09:23:58 AM
Adult Emotion in Games
by Kraven
Jan 14th, 2000
10:02:11 AM
Buy your Stormriders DVD here.
by Wesley Snipes
Jan 14th, 2000
10:26:59 AM
Post Transformers: the movie
by Overlord
Jan 14th, 2000
10:30:59 AM
Dinobots built by autobots during first season, episode called "
by Starscream77
Jan 14th, 2000
10:55:45 AM
Thanks Overlord
by ZICRON
Jan 14th, 2000
12:14:44 PM
xmen
by Agent Sharpe
Jan 14th, 2000
01:22:19 PM
Forget Wolverine's new costume...
by WesReviews
Jan 14th, 2000
02:38:40 PM
Transformers !!!!?????
by PurpleOtter
Jan 14th, 2000
02:39:17 PM
To the above poster.
by Niiiice
Jan 14th, 2000
02:52:14 PM
Clarification
by PurpleOtter
Jan 14th, 2000
03:17:45 PM
mature taste...trannies
by Starscream77
Jan 14th, 2000
03:19:57 PM
voices in transfoemrs
by Starscream77
Jan 14th, 2000
03:47:15 PM
Transformers and whatnot
by Captain Loft
Jan 14th, 2000
03:59:16 PM
The fascination with Tansformers (Purple Otter)
by Niiiice
Jan 14th, 2000
04:42:33 PM
Giant Purple Gun
by Ambrose Chappell
Jan 14th, 2000
06:06:31 PM
not pertaining to the subject at hand
by Mr. Gerbik
Jan 14th, 2000
06:17:42 PM
how could no one mention her!!?
by siccoyote
Jan 14th, 2000
06:38:44 PM
You're all right
by Niiiice
Jan 14th, 2000
08:09:16 PM
transformer gun etc.
by Starscream77
Jan 14th, 2000
08:48:22 PM
Hugo Weaving as Megatron
by Wintmute
Jan 14th, 2000
09:21:45 PM
*Frank Welker* as Megatron!
by Raksha
Jan 14th, 2000
10:18:43 PM
More 'bot-thoughts Re: acedia and Starscream77
by Wintmute
Jan 14th, 2000
10:28:53 PM
Transformers Characterization
by Raksha
Jan 14th, 2000
10:31:29 PM
Starscream's Voice
by Nighttrap
Jan 14th, 2000
10:35:57 PM
One more thing...
by Wintmute
Jan 14th, 2000
10:37:53 PM
NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!
by Sith Lord Jesus
Jan 15th, 2000
12:00:53 AM
TF: TM
by The Matrix
Jan 15th, 2000
02:23:22 AM
Sorry, but no.
by WesReviews
Jan 15th, 2000
02:51:52 AM
Regarding hot rod's interference resulting in prime's death
by Niiiice
Jan 15th, 2000
03:12:31 AM
Gundam the Series...what happened to it???
by BV
Jan 15th, 2000
04:10:08 AM
Hard to be optimistic
by Voiceroy
Jan 15th, 2000
08:55:11 AM
You know what would be cool...
by siccoyote
Jan 15th, 2000
09:10:16 AM
Terrorsaur for Starscream
by siccoyote
Jan 15th, 2000
09:15:32 AM
Anyone remember Jayce & the Wheeled Warriors?
by siccoyote
Jan 15th, 2000
09:19:29 AM
TF Movie, but which version
by KhaosMaximize
Jan 15th, 2000
08:22:15 PM
trannies...
by Starscream77
Jan 16th, 2000
01:58:46 AM
Shockwave
by Overlord
Jan 16th, 2000
08:03:06 AM
TRANFORMERS HEAVEN ON EARTH
by Anakin35
Jan 16th, 2000
11:32:37 PM
Listen up Hollywood!
by darthflagg
Jan 17th, 2000
12:11:22 PM
TRANSFORMERS AND VOLTRON MOVIE
by realitycheck2000
Feb 3rd, 2000
10:59:43 AM
transformers /new movie
by dan
Feb 14th, 2000
01:39:49 PM
TF:TM's 20th Anniversary
by Voice_Guy
Apr 15th, 2000
11:32:58 PM
KAHN RULES!!!!!
by Lady_Hyde
Mar 7th, 2001
02:04:52 PM
Thank god these guys aren't doing Transformers!
by Darth Siskel III
Jun 13th, 2003
03:58:59 PM

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