Dave Gibbons, WATCHING THE WATCHMEN author, WATCHMEN artist: Mr. Media Interview

Image by Seeker65 via FlickrFrank Miller must have a guardian angel. How else to explain that, in the days before his latest movie, The Spirit, would premiere to horrendous reviews, it was announced that his next project would be a remake of Buck Rogers?

Or, even wilder, that Dave Gibbons, co-creator of the greatest graphic novel ever, Watchmen, wanted to re-team with Miller to bring their comics creation, Martha Washington, to the silver screen.

It was just the kind of distracting good news Miller’s career may need with The Spirit likely headed for an armload of Razzies come award time.

Dave Gibbons is my guest today, and Frank Miller and Martha Washington are just the latest developments in a career that is set to go into warp drive this spring with the release of the film version of Watchmen likely to hit your local cinema.

The coming attractions for Watchmen are causing the kind of buzz that the original Superman movie did. It looks that good.

And then there’s Dave’s new coffee table size book, Watching the Watchmen, a collection of notes, sketches and scribblings he accumulated during the creation of Watchmen. They include contributions from Watchmen co-creator and writer Alan Moore, editors and others.

If you loved Watchmen, you have to own this book.

You can LISTEN to this interview with DAVE GIBBONS, author of WATCHING THE WATCHMEN and co-creator of the graphic novel WATCHMEN, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

Steven Paul Leiva, THE SPIRIT ANIMATION producer: Mr. Media Interview

Brad Bird image by Steve Rhodes via FlickrI know a thing or two about comic book artist and American master Will Eisner and his best known character, "The Spirit."

I spent almost three years researching and writing the only biography of the man – Will Eisner: A Spirited Life. And in the course of that, I spent a great deal of time with Will, in person and by phone.

Because of that time and intimate knowledge, I’ve been dreading the Frank Miller-directed movie, The Spirit, which opens on Christmas Day, December 25. Will’s attitude toward the many attempts at making a movie based on “The Spirit” was simple; he loved collecting the annual rights option checks but hated the idea of anyone actually making a movie on his beloved character.

He described the first effort, an ABC television movie of the week, as “cardboard.”

And I don’t think he would ever have approved Frank Miller as a director for The Spirit if it were up to him. Read the book Eisner/Miller and see if you get the impression he would want Frank doing the creative for his pride and joy.

Anyway, I tell you all that as way of introduction to tonight’s guest, Steven Paul Leiva. Several years ago, Leiva worked with Brad Bird in the early stages of development for a Spirit animated film. Bird, of course, is best known for creating and directing The Incredibles.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get an interview with Bird in time for my Eisner biography so I never learned much about the never finished Spirit animated film. Until early December 2008, that is, when Steven Paul Leiva wrote about the project for the Los Angeles Times. It’s a great story and fills in a major gap in the Eisner cinematic story.

You can LISTEN to this interview with STEVEN PAUL LEIVA, a producer of a proposed THE SPIRIT animated film, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

Will Eisner Index to Mr. Media Interviews

The
Mr. Media
Interviews
By Bob Andelman


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WILL EISNER: A SPIRITED LIFE INTERVIEWS

Michael Uslan
The Dark Knight, Will Eisner’s The Spirit, Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, Batman Begins, Catwoman, Constantine, National Treasure, Swamp Thing, Shazam!, The Shadow, Constantine


Deborah Del Prete...
On Frank Miller and Producing “The Spirit” Movie


Steven Paul Leiva
On Brad Bird and trying to produce “The Spirit”animated film


Darwyn Cooke...
On Reviving “The Spirit” for the 21st Century


Paul Fitzgerald, Cindy Jackson and Stuart Henderson...
On Will Eisner & PS Magazine


Howard Chaykin...
On Fighting with Will Eisner


Drew Friedman...
On What’s Wrong With the Biography, Will Eisner:A Spirited Life


Andrew D. Cooke...
On Producing the Documentary, Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist


Pete Poplaski...
On Working With Will Eisner, Now and Then


Gary Chaloner...
On Refitting Eisner’s “John Law” Character for the 21st Century


Gary Chaloner Podcast



Bob Andelman...
On Writing the Biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life


Benjamin Herzberg...
On Working With Eisner to Craft Fagin the Jew and The Plot”


Ted Cabarga...
On Working With Eisner in the 1960s at PS Magazine


Mike Richardson...
On Publishing Eisner’s Last Day in Vietnam


Denis Kitchen...
On What’s New at Will Eisner Studios


Scott Hampton and Bo Hampton...
On Being Eisner’s Studio Assistants


Abraham Foxman...
On Publishing Prospects for The Plot in the Middle East



Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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Michael Uslan, THE DARK KNIGHT, THE SPIRIT executive producer: Mr. Media Audio Interview

Kids, if you want to grow up to be a successful executive producer of movies like Michael Uslan ("YOU-slin") did, the key is education – and patience. Lots and lots of patience.

Uslan secured the rights to make Batman movies years before Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Jack Nicholson dreamed of working together.

And he couldn’t give away the rights to Will Eisner’s The Spirit.

But his patience and determination paid off. This year, the sixth Batman movie – The Dark Knight – and first Spirit movie will come to a multiplex near you, joining previous Uslan productions such as Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, Batman Begins, Catwoman, Constantine, National Treasure, Swamp Thing – well, you get the idea.

And he’s not one to rest on his laurels, either. Uslan’s current projects in development include Shazam!, The Shadow, and Constantine 2.

If you love comic books, and especially movies made from comic books, please welcome Michael Uslan to Mr. Media.

You can LISTEN to this interview by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

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© 2008 by Bob Andelman. All rights reserved.

'Spirit' moves up release to Dec. 25! (Hollywood Reporter)

Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson star in the film

By Carolyn Giardina

May 6, 2008, 10:52 PM

Hollywood Reporter

Lionsgate has moved up the nationwide release of its comic adaptation "The Spirit" -- written and directed by Frank Miller -- to Dec. 25.

The film, based on the comic book series created by the late Will Eisner, was originally slated to open Jan. 16, 2009.

Also slated to open on Dec. 25 are Disney's "Bedtime Stories" and Fox 2000 Pictures' "Marley & Me."

Of the move, Lionsgate president of theatrical films Tom Ortenberg said: "Comic-Con fans (in New York in March) resoundingly confirmed what we felt in our bones about 'The Spirit': this is a great film and an irresistible piece of entertainment. ... For all of us, it was an easy decision."

"The Spirit" stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Stana Katic, Dan Lauria, Jaime King, Paz Vega and Louis Lombardi. Odd Lot Entertainment and Lionsgate are production partners.

International release dates have not yet been announced. Sony Pictures Releasing International is handling distribution in many European territories and Latin America. Odd Lot International is distributing to the rest of the world, except for the U.K. and Australia, where the film is being released by Lionsgate.

Eva Mendes as "Sand Saref" in New The Spirit Movie Poster! (CanMag.com)

The folks at CanMag.com just put upthis image she signed exclusively at New York Comic-Con from Frank Miller's Will Eisner's The Spirit movie. Not bad!

The Spirit Movie Trailer!!! (MTV.com)

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So what do you think? The trailer, not surprisingly, looks quite stylish - a lot like Frank Miller's Sin City, but distinctive nonetheless. But what do you think of the brief interview with Frank Miller that follows it? Why is he dressed as The Spirit? Bright red tie, hat, shirt sleeves pushed up - shouldn't actor Gabriel Macht, who plays The Spirit/Denny Colt, be out there in the costume?

And how about Eva Mendes?

Love to get your comments here!

New Spirit Movie Poster on AintItCoolNews.com

Quint was first was with the new poster for Frank Miller's Will Eisner's The Spirit. See what he had to say about it HERE. And as soon as the first trailer posts online, we'll get you the link. Stay tuned!

Will Eisner & PS Magazine Discussion LIVE on Mr. Media, Friday, April 18, 1 p.m. EST

With the announcement last week that Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries has posted complete scans for 145 regular issues, 3 special issues, and 14 index issues of Will Eisner's rare PS Magazine, I thought it would be fun to have the VCU librarian in charge of the project, Cindy Jackson, as well as the author of the upcoming book, Will Eisner & PS Magazine, Paul Fitzgerald, come on Mr. Media and talk about this little known period in the comics master's career.

As Eisner's authorized biographer -- you have read Will Eisner: A Spirited Life by now, haven't you? -- I certainly have a little extra interest in the topic. And with all the hype for Frank Miller's upcoming film, Will Eisner's The Spirit, the time seems extra-ripe for this!

Eisner drew and was artistic editor for PS Magazine from its inception in 1951 until 1972 and these are truly rare examples of his incomparable art work and direction. In an effort to encourage soldiers to keep better care of their equipment, the US Army hired Eisner's American Visuals Corporation to do a digest-sized publication focusing on preventive maintenance. Each issue consisted of a color comic book style cover; eight pages of four color comic continuity story in the middle; and a wealth of technical, safety, and policy information printed in two color.

Won't you join us LIVE on BlogTalkRadio.com this FRIDAY, APRIL 18 at 1 p.m. EST? CLICK HERE: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mrmedia/2008/04/18/Cindy-Jackson-and-Paul-Fitzgerald-WILL-EISNER-PS-MAGAZINE-VCU-librarian-and-author-Mr-Media and you can participate in a simultaneous web chat or call in and ask the experts your own questions at (646) 595-3135.

Maxim Magazine Pimps The Spirit Movie Babes

You can't blame the producers of "Will Eisner's The Spirit" for the avalanche of advance publicity promoting the movie's release - although it is still eight months off. Today I picked up the latest issue of Maxim - which I read for the pictures, not the stories - and the cover photo is of Jaime King, one of the many beautiful actress featured in Frank Miller's upcoming film. And the cover also teases a page of photos of another co-star, Scarlett Johansson.

And let me add this: as his authorized biographer, I can't say whether Will Eisner would have liked Miller's version of The Spirit, considering he always opposed the idea of Hollywood adopting his character. But as man who loved beautiful dames, I think it safe to say he would have approved of Miller's female cast!

Raging Debate Over Frank Miller's "Interpretation" of Will Eisner's The Spirit

We hear a lot of whispering about Frank Miller's upcoming cinematic take on Will Eisner's "The Spirit." And with the first trailer due to be released in just a few days at New York Comic-Con, the whispering is picking up steam, especially as the first green screen images were leaked to the fan press a few days ago.

Of course, if you're old enough to remember the brouhaha about Michael Keaton as "Batman," you know it's too early to accurately judge.

On the other hand Brandon Routh as "Superman"? Terribly miscast, poor guy.

Anyway, if you'd like to keep up with the debate - or participate in the conversation - check out this message board over at The Comics Journal. You can also see green screen shots there of Gabriel Macht as The Spirit, Samuel L. Jackson as The Octopus, and several more, including a hot shot of Eva Mendes.

The Spirit Movie Countdown Clock! (Get Yours!)

NEW VIDEO! Frank Miller on Will Eisner's The Spirit Movie

Frank Miller is interviewed by Peter Guber, co-host of AMC-TV's "Sunday Morning Shootout," about the challenge of writing and direction the upcoming film, "Will Eisner's The Spirit."