Screen Singapore 2011 Glittery Updates

If you think the weather on Red Dot Island has been hot lately, things are just going to get HOTTER!

Screen Singapore, the first international film event held on Red Dot Island, will finally kick off this coming weekend at Capella Sentosa on June 5th. The glitzy event will run for a week till June 12th.

Organized and funded by Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA), there will be a trade exhibition, seminars, workshops for industry and professional folks, and exclusive red-carpet premieres for various Asian and Western mainstream films.

Sarah Michelle Gellar Is Back - CW's "Ringer"

Buffy fans, raise your stakes!

Have you missed your favourite Slayer?

Red Dot Diva was excited to learn that Sarah Michelle Gellar will be back regularly on one's TV screen this 2011's Fall TV season.

Petite Sarah hasn't been in much limelight ever since "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ended. Other than the horror movie "The Grudge", her other TV/ movie endeavours have been rather underwhelming. So, it would be interesting to see how her return to regular TV work will fare.

A Bloody "Macbeth" In The Park

It was purely coincidental that Red Dot Diva attended a Shakespearean tragedy on Polling Day, 7th May.

She had after all bought the tickets for Singapore Repertory Theatre's (SRT) version of "Macbeth" months earlier. The play proved to be somewhat foreshadowing with regards to the General Election results, albeit via less violent means.

There is always something magical about watching a Shakespeare play in a Park. "Macbeth" is the fourth outdoor stage production organized by SRT and Red Dot Diva had previously attended two of these ("A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Much Ado About Nothing"). Both performances turned out to be very memorable evenings. So she was awfully excited when she saw the tickets on sale for "Macbeth".

Red Caped Destiny - Smallville's Series Finale

10 years.

Imagine that.

That was how long Red Dot Diva had invested some of her pop-culture time with the long-running CW (previously WB) series, "Smallville". A re-imagining based on the popular and very well-loved DC comics character, Superman.

Perhaps one should tip a hat off to Tom Welling. For without him staying as youthful-looking as he did, Red Dot Diva doubts the series would have stayed on for this long!

The two-hour finale was announced many weeks before and fans were already aware of several re-appearances by well-loved actors, including Michael Rosenbaum. Even Greg Beeman was back directing for the final hour of the series. Greg has some wonderful behind the scenes stories and pics of the finale on his blog. Click here to check it out!

So after 10 years of trying to embrace his destiny and attempting to actually fly, "Smallville" ended two Fridays ago on May 13th with his Kal-El-ness finally taking to the skies in that familiar red-caped costume. About fraking time right?

Partying the "Lucid" Hardcover Release - LA Style!

Michael McMillian

When Archaia said there was going to be free drinks at the "Lucid" Vol. 1 Hardcover release party at Golden Apple comics store in LA, they sure weren't kidding!

"Lucid" is a graphic novel created by Michael McMillian (that vamp-hating Rev Steve Newlin in "True Blood"), who is a long-time friend of Before The Door (BTD) Productions.

The graphic novel series is a collaboration between BTD and publishing company Archaia, and tells the action-packed story of Matthew Dee - a powerful covert spy-mage with a perpetual sexy bedhead (of course, Red Dot Diva notices!) - who strives to protect the humankind from very evil conspiracies of a magickal nature.

A New NBC Series - Fairy Tales of "Grimm"

'Twas the season for much awaited news on the upfronts and USA Fall TV schedules.

This is the time where some new series are slated for premiere; some would have been sadly/ gladly (take one's pick) cancelled.

So far, Red Dot Diva noted that NBC - the TV network that many fans are still angry at ("Heroes" anyone?) - had decided to not go ahead with "Wonder Woman". Which of all strange reasons was to be helmed by David E. Kelley. As experienced as he may be, Kelley who is more well-known for dramedy "Ally McBeal", "L.A. Law" and "The Practice", just did not seem to be a good fit for a super-heroine character like "Wonder Woman".

NYCC 2011 Guest Announcements and STGCC Update

There have already been guest announcements for this year's NYCC, which will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan on October 13-16, 2011!

If one has missed the exciting news, the Guest of Honor for this year's NYCC is acclaimed writer Robert Kirkman!

Robert Kirkman, an Eisner Award-winning creator, is well-known for "The Walking Dead" and "Invincible". Last year, AMC picked up the "The Walking Dead" story for their TV series and the show has proved to be an enormous hit with many new and old fans alike.

Free Comic Book Day - Tale of A Diva and A Kilt

Freebies from Kinokuniya

It was Free Comic Book Day last Saturday (May 7) - to the gleeful delight of comic book fans around the world.

The event was also celebrated on the Red Dot Island - with fun activities heating up in three local book stores!

In fact, the weather itself was relentlessly Hot and Humid that day. Red Dot Diva declared that it was almost nuclear, and she nearly melted into gooey glittery particles.

The day began with an early bus ride to Kinokuniya main book store at Orchard Road because there was the giveaway specially for members from 10 am to 12 pm. The simple collection booth was located at the "Crossroads" of the store, and when Red Dot Diva arrived at about 10.30 am or so, there was hardly anyone around!

"Red Dragonflies" Flits Between Past And Present

Before the special media screening of "Red Dragonflies" at Iluma's Filmgarde, producer Tan Bee Thiam was frank and warned those invited, "It is not a film that is very likeable... it is a film that requires a lot of patience. It is a film that will move you if you really want to 'see' it."

True enough, Red Dot Diva felt it wasn't an easy film to sit through.

However, that didn't mean it wasn't good.

The 90-minute movie, directed by local Red Dot Islander Liao Jiekai, is definitely not targetted for the mainstream film-goer who is used to big-name celebrities, loud explosives or copious amounts of teary-eyed emo-ness. There are also no sparkly vampires nor hunky superheroes in this movie.

What one gets with "Red Dragonflies" is a quiet, reflective and very personal art film that encapsulates the innocence of youth and the relentless passing of time.

Free Comic Book Day At the Equator!

It's gonna be a Fun Fun Fun day tomorrow, the 1st Saturday of May!

Red Dot Diva isn't talking about the voting for Red Dot Island's government. That is vewwy seeeeeriiiious business.

She's talking about another kind of business of a more gleefully geeky nature.

Tomorrow, it is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Yippeee!

And this year, FCBD gets way Hotter at the Equator. A number of book stores around Singapore are participating in this event - two of them for the very first time!

Justin Harley Directed Zod's Return in "Smallville"

"Kneeeeeeel....Before Zod."

Red Dot Diva thinks that Callum Blue just reels that phrase off his tongue so snarlingly sexy in that rich British accent of his. Mmm hmmm...

Yes, peeps. Phantom Zone's resident leader, General Zod, was back in last week's "Smallville" episode entitled "Dominion", simmering with mean scruffiness in his medieval-cyber-punk wear. He has even managed to Ikea-himself a throne of bones and skulls, and made friends with some slinky albino pythons. Count Red Dot Diva impressed and ready to kneel.

She is even more impressed when she learnt that the well-paced episode was the directorial debut of "Smallville"'s very own (and Red Dot Diva's favourite character) Green Arrow - Justin Hartley.

Singapore Date with Kevin Spacey for "Richard III"

Local theatre goers - heads up!

Red Dot Diva previously hinted that Kevin Spacey would be in Singapore later this year for The Bridge Project's final season - Shakespeare's "Richard III". (Check out her blog post here.)

This seems to be shaping up nicely with cast announcements for the play posted on website Broadway World.com just two weeks ago.

The play has also been plugged on Singapore Repertory Theatre's website, with dates listed as November 17-26, 2011.

Other than Hong Kong, Singapore is the only other Asian stop for the production.