"Da Vinci's Demons" Season 2 - Diva Gets Devious With Blake Ritson and Carolina Guerra

Starz TV's very hip and very sexy cable TV series "Da Vinci's Demons" scored themselves a strong fan following in its first season.

Created by David Goyer, the historical-fantasy show is a re-imagining of the life of young Leonardo Da Vinci. The series stars Tom Riley as the lead character, Blake Ritson, Laura Haddock, Elliot Cowan, Lana Pulver amongst others. Part of the series draw are the sequences and depictions of what goes on in young Leonardo's mind as he observes the things around him, and fervently engineers his often over-the-top inventions. Well, over-the-top for that era, anyway.

At NYCC 2013, Red Dot Diva was given the chance to find out more about what's in store for the second season of "Da Vinci's Demons", which has moved beyond the Italian city of Florence, to South America and would feature the Inca Empire and related characters.

Hmmmmmm.... this certainly sounded absolutely absurd, and yet....  very imaginatively intriguing.

Before we get more into that and see what David Goyer had in mind for Season 2, Red Dot Diva managed to draw some tidbits from resident "Da Vinci's Demons" villain Count Girolamo Riario, played by British actor Blake Ritson, and gorgeous Inca high priestess Ima, embodied by Columbian actress Carolina Guerra.

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" Press Conference in Singapore - The Good, The Bad and The Unexpected

A special and international press conference was held right after "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" red carpet event at Marina Bay Sands on 27 March. As part of the special access given, those with the blue wristbands were allowed into the Mastercard Theatres upstairs to sit in the press conference.

The hall was decorated with a giant Spider-man logo on the stage and at the side was an interesting intricate web pattern. Sure gave the setting a nice Spidey feel.

@Sarahcoldheart and Red Dot Diva literally sank into the plush seats with a sigh of sweet relief. Their tired feet, sore from standing more than 4 hours before and during the red carpet event, needed rest. However, they did not manage to score seats in the front, but had a pretty OK view of what was going on onstage.

(For more details of the red carpet event, click here!)

Turned out local actor Adrian Pang was host for the event. He came up to the podium to say that there was going to a bit of a delay with the cast coming on stage. One can assume that there were probably some exclusive VIP meet and greets happening before the press con, and some much needed freshening up.

It wasn't too long though that the cast and crew were introduced and they entered through the side door. Everyone was so excited, they just stood up and snapped photos with their cameras. Being a petite dwarf, Red Dot Diva could do little more than peep through the raised arms.

When everyone settled back down again, Adrian Pang took some questions from folks sitting in the media section. About half of the questions were interesting and fun, and then there were the other half which Red Dot Diva thought were just bizarre.

Fans Go Wild For "The Amazing Spider-man 2" Cast And Crew - Red Carpet Event in Singapore

With Spider-man being the first Super-Hero for Earth Hour, a glitzy international "The Amazing Spider-man 2" red carpet and press conference event was held at the Marina Bay Sands' (MBS) Skating Rink, Singapore on Thursday evening (27 March 2014).

Our little Red Dot Island is the home for Earth Hour, and this year's festivities will kick-off at The Float @ Marina Bay in a few hours' time, at 5 PM on 29 March 2014.

At first, Red Dot Diva did not expect that she will be able to attend the red carpet and press conference because she had no media invite, and she did not join any contest in a bid to win passes. Then, out of the blue, fellow lady geekster @Sarahcoldheart invited Red Dot Diva to be her +1 for the event. SQUEEEE!

HBO Asia Sets Up Special Fan Premiere Screening of "Game of Thrones" Season 4 !

Click photo above for a larger view

Calling Red Dot Island geeks -- how hardcore of a "Game of Thrones" fans are you??

HBO Asia is looking to anoint 200 fans of the hugely popular, Emmy and Golden-Globe-winning series so that they can invite them for a first-ever special screening of the Season 4 debut episode, "Two Swords"  - totally uncut and ahead of its April 6th premiere date in the USA!

The details of the screening are:
Date: Friday, 4 April 
Time: 6:30 PM 
Venue: GV Grand, Great World City

Here's how you can join the contest to attend the screening:

1. Like HBO Asia's Facebook page

2. Share the post pertaining to this screening with the hashtag #GOTAsia13Apr

3. Leave a comment on the same post to tell HBO Asia why you are the greatest "Game of Thrones" fan in Singapore.

SRT's "Rising Son" Is Made In Singapore - An Interview with Dick Lee

This year, the Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) has announced a run of locally-made plays in their "Made In Singapore" production series - "A Wedding, A Funeral & Lucky, The Fish" (Dora Tan), "Stand Behind The Yellow Line - Garisan Kuning" (Michelle Tan), and "Rising Son" (Dick Lee).

"Rising Son" is written by well-known performer and composer Dick Lee, who also happens to be SRT's Associate Artistic Director. Unlike his other more familiar works in theatre, which were musicals like "Beauty World" and "Snow.Wolf.Lake", "Rising Son" is part 1 of an epic drama about set against the backdrop of the Japanese Occupation in Singapore during World War II.

The story spans the period of 1941 to 1945, and follows the story of a young ambulance orderly Sunny (Tan Shou Chen), and his younger sister Ruby (Seong Hui Xuan), and their lives and relationships during these horrific times.

To find out more about this new local production, Red Dot Diva posed "Rising Son" 's playright, Dick Lee, a few nosy questions:

"War Of The Worlds: Goliath" Now Steampunking Its Way To Viewers

Long awaited indie animated movie "War of the Worlds: Goliath" is now readily available for its viewers in the theatres and in other formats.

The 2D/ 3D futuristic action adventure - a joint collaborative venture between Malaysian set-up Tripod Entertainment and American creators like director Joe Pearson (Epoch Ink), Executive Producer Kevin Eastman (CEO, Heavy Metal) and writer David Abramowitz (head creator of the "Highlander" series) - has been several years in the making. The story, which is loosely based on the world created by H. G. Wells, also features many familiar talents voicing its characters, for example - Peter Wingfield (Highlander/ Caprica/ Sanctuary), Adrian Paul (Highlander), Adam Baldwin (Chuck/ Firefly), Mark Sheppard (Supernatural/ Leverage/ BSG) and Elizabeth Gracen (Highlander).

Ever since it's inception around mid-2000's or so, geeks and fans who knew about the project have been eagerly waiting to view the finished product in the cinemas and in digital formats.

Interview: Studio Ghibli's Geoffrey Wexler Talks About "The Wind Rises"

It is a rare chance indeed to be able to meet an executive from the Japanese animation film outfit, Studio Ghibli, founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.

Through the years, the animated movies from Studio Ghibli, like "My Neighbour Totoro", "Princess Mononoke", "Grave of the Fireflies" and "Spirited Away", have touched the hearts of audiences all around the world, despite language and cultural differences.

Yesterday morning, in view of the local premiere of Oscar-nominated "The Wind Rises" on March 19, Red Dot Diva had the opportunity to interview Geoffrey Wexler - Chief of International Division from Studio Ghibli, and one of the Executive Producers of the English language version of "The Wind Rises".

"The Wind Rises" - purportedly Hayao Miyazaki's latest and last film - is a tale about the life of aeronautical engineer Jiro Horikoshi, and his legacy of a killing flying machine - the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter used during World War II. The long awaited English-dubbed version features well-known voice actors like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

Held in a cozy meeting room at the swanky Fullerton Hotel, a very warm and knowledgeable Geoffrey Wexler (or Jeff, for short) shared about "The Wind Rises" as well as his insights on Studio Ghibli and the animation industry.

Will You Join Forces With "The Amazing Spider-man 2" Cast For Earth Hour 2014, Singapore?

 

When news emerged last month that the cast from "The Amazing Spider-man 2" will be swinging into town for Earth Hour, one could almost hear a wave of excited gasps emanating from the lips of Red Dot Island geeks.

Together with director Marc Webb, three of the cast members - Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxxx - will be at the Float @ Marina Bay on March 29 as part of Earth Hour 2014, Singapore.

Nerd HQ 2014 Kicks Off With A Crowdfunding Campaign

Calling Nerds from ALL over the world (and other dimensions and universes)!

It's Time We UNITE for Nerd HQ and ensure its survival!

This year, The Nerd Machine -  the fine people who organize Nerd HQ - seeks support from fans to contribute just USD 5 each via an Indiegogo crowdfunding project, so that they can secure venues and production teams prior to the event date.

For those who are not aware, The Nerd Machine consists of actor Zachary Levi ("Chuck"/ "Tangled"/ "Thor" The Dark World") and his good friends David Coleman and Courtney Coleman.

Since 2011 (the unfortunate year Red Dot Diva was unable to make it to San Diego), Nerd HQ has operated as an off-site event during San Diego Comic-Con.

Having Nerd HQ continue to operate this year means a great deal to Red Dot Diva as well as to many fellow geeks and nerds out there. Why is this so?

Here is Red Dot Diva's run-down of the reasons why:

Savour 2014 - HBO Asia Throws A "Game of Thrones"-Styled Purple Wedding!

Savour 2014 was back in town recently at the Promontory - a very picturesque sport just a stone's throw away from the old Customs House tower facing Marina Bay Sands.

It was unfortunate that on the same week, not only had the event returned to Red Dot Island, so did the horrible haze caused by land clearing fires around Indonesia and Malaysia.

But haze or no haze, no respecting geek would turn down an invitation from the brilliant folks at HBO Asia. Especially when it's a "Game of Thrones"-styled *wedding* invitation - the kind that is fit for a king - even if he's a king you'd wish would be attacked by a million zombified scorpions. Yep, it's an invitation to celebrate the union of Joffrey Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell.

With precious invitation in hand, Red Dot Diva took the opportunity to wear her favourite amethyst pendant to the party held at the Savour 2014's Premiere Lounge. That location turned out to be a secluded spot hidden away at the 2nd level of the makeshift gourmet hall with a gorgeous view of MBS and its surroundings.

Eric Clapton Live in Singapore 2014 - He Came, He Played, He Said Thank You

The last time legendary musician Eric Clapton was in Red Dot Island, it was in 2011.

Red Dot Diva had to miss his concert then because it wasn't a good year for her. Coincidentally, so were his first two times performing here (1990 and 2007).

When it was announced that Mr Slow Hand himself was coming back to the island on March 4, 2014 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Red Dot Diva jumped at the chance to score herself a SGD 298 ticket to watch him live. (Thanks to a better current financial position and pal Ryan for helping to book those tickets!) After all, Clapton is getting on in years, and she wasn't sure if she will get a chance to experience his guitar magic live ever again.

At Kinokuniya - "Land of the Meat Munchers" Meet-The-Author Session with Zombies and Blood-Red Skies

If you think the book "Land of the Meat Munchers" is a foodie's guide to the best meat dishes found around Red Dot Island, or some sordid story involving a lot of plump juicy booty, think again. Although, come to think of it, "Land of the Meat Munchers" does involve a whole lot of writhing bodies, but of a far less sexier kind.

The book, by ex-ST journalist now-freelance writer Nicholas Yong (whom Red Dot Diva meets in the local geek world from time to time), is a tale about 3 young survivors trying to make their way from Ghim Moh to Tiong Bahru MRT station during a zombie apocalypse in Red Dot Island.

The book started off with undergraduate Jim scrounging for more food and supplies around the Ghim Moh HDB estate when he met an already unhinged Serina, who saved him from a near fateful "uncle"-zombie attack. While driving along Mount Sinai Road, they bumped (literally) into Bollywood-handsome Raj with a love for cooking, and the trio banded together to keep those hungry undead gnashers out of their way.

Unisoft's "Art in Video Games" Exhibition To Make Its Way To Malaysia!

Calling all video game fans and art lovers across the Causeway!

You will soon have the chance to enjoy Ubisoft Singapore's "Art in Video Games" exhibition held later this month.

The exhibition, hosted by leading art & design college - The One Academy, is the first time Ubisoft will be showcasing their video game art in Malaysia.

Like the Singapore version of the exhibition which opened last November, there will be a gallery of art for pirate fantasy-based "Assassins Creed IV Black Flag" and "Ghost Recon Online", but with 21 additional art concept displays.

Game of Thrones Season 4's Dark Warning - Valar Morghulis

Last season of HBO's wildly popular fantasy series "Game of Thrones" ended with a gush of blood (in a Stark red hue, no less) spilling on fans all over the world.

Red Dot Diva is pretty sure viewers still have not gotten over the Red Wedding.

Vengeance is coming. And the fate of many in Westeros hang on a balance.

Yet, there is another feast to behold - a wedding fit for a King. The so-called "Purple Wedding" will have people from different lands invited to King's Landing for the celebration of the union between Joffrey Lannister and Margaery Tyrell. Including someone by the name of Prince Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal), also known as the Red Viper.

Will the Night's Watch be able to hold off the invasion led by Mance Rayder and his crew of wildlings? Will Arya Stark get to avenge the death of her beloved family members? Does Daenerys' growing Unsullied army get more powerful with every liberated slaver city?