Inside NBC's Dracula's Crypt at SDCC 2013

Hey awesome nerds!

While at Comic Con, one of the attractions that was set up outside of the convention center was Dracula's crypt...promoting NBC's new series Dracula! It was definitely a fun experience...haha!! I am definitely looking forward to watching this!

Check it out, we're inside Dracula's crypt!

About Dracula

Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones) stars in this provocative new drama as one of the world's most iconic characters. It's late 19th century, and the mysterious Dracula has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. He's especially interested in the new technology of electricity, which promises to brighten the night - useful for someone who avoids the sun. But he has another reason for his travels" he hopes to take revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier. Everything seems to be going according to plan... until he becomes infatuated with a woman who appears to be a reincarnation of his dead wife.

From the producers of the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning hit Downtown Abbey comes Dracula, a twisted, sophisticated and sexy take on Bram Stoker's classic novel, proving that some stories never die. 

The Cast

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Dracula/Alexander Grayson/Vlad Tepes

Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Jonathan Harker

Jessica DeGouw as Mina Murray/Ilona

Thomas Kretschmann as Abraham Van Helsing

Katie McGrath as Lucy Westenra

Nonso Anozie as R.M. Renfield

Victoria Smurfit as Lady Jayne Wetherby

Ben Miles as Mr. Browning

Robert Bathurst as Lord Thomas Davenport

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Check out the official trailer below

Premieres October 25, 2013 Fridays 10/9c 
on NBC

New Pirate Adventure series on Starz: Black Sails

About Black Sails

1715. The Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean is at its apex. The former British colony of New Providence Island is now lawless territory, controlled by a few dozen of the most notorious pirate captains in history. The most feared among the is Captain Flint (Toby Stephens).

But as the British Navy returns to these waters, and the threat of extinction looms, another side of Flint emerges. A man driven by deep, complicated, even romantic motives. He will ally himself with the beautiful Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), daughter of the local smuggling kingpin who turns the pirates' loot into profits. Together, they forge a plan to hunt the ultimate prize, and by winning it, stave off reclamation of their home by a resurgent empire.

Arrayed against them are a series of opponents: rival captains, jealous of Flint's power; Eleanor's father, whose ambitions for the island conflict with his daughter's; and a young sailor recently recruited onto Flint's crew, who will somehow manage to constantly undermine his captain's agenda. His name is John Silver (Luke Arnold).

Black Sails stars

Toby Stephens as Captain Flint, Captain of the pirate ship Walrus, and known throughout the West Indies as being the most feared of all the Golden Age pirates. His charisma masks a deep, simmering rage, and a propensity towards breathtaking violence. In order to hold off the British and Spanish forces he'll make himself ruler of Nassau through any means necessary.

Hannah New as Eleanor Guthrie.  Beautiful and determined, Eleanor is the daughter of Richard Guthrie (Sean Cameron Michael), the wealthiest black marketer in the Bahamas and the chief fence/supplier for the many pirate crews of New Providence. Left by her father to oversee all his dealings with the pirates in Nassau, she owns and operates the tavern on Nassau's main street. Eleanor wields considerable influence, leading her to form a pact with Flint that either bring her dream of complete independence to fruition, or doom it entirely.

Luke Arnold as John Silver, a lowly sailor turned pirate recruit. John Silver is a born opportunist. He insinuates himself into the crew of Captain Flint while secretly possessing the "schedule" Flint so dearly wants. A staunch individualist, Silver resents authority of any kind, a quality that brings him into direct conflict with Flint, even as events conspire to make them reluctant partners in the quest to take the Treasure Fleet.

Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max, seductive, cunning, and coolheaded, works as a prostitute in the brothel. In Eleanor Guthrie, she's found a kindred spirit, a lover, maybe even a savior, but when her aspirations and Eleanor's begin to conflict, their relationship, and Max's well-being, take a dark turn for the worse...

Tom Hopper as Billy Bones, Boatswain of the pirate ship Walrus, and is widely assumed to be the next quartermaster should anything happen to Gates. Billy's belief in the righteousness of the pirate cause will be continually tested as he's drawn deeper and deeper into Flint's plans for the future. 

Mark Ryan as Gates, the Walrus's Quartermaster, elected representative of the crew's interests and a check on the power of the ship's captain. Gates is by far the most senior member of the crew; he is loyal to Flint to a fault and is very much aware he's playing a younger man's game.

Zach McGowan as Captain Vane, the next great pirate captain on New Providence Island, known as much for his vicious temper as his tremendous financial success.

Toby Schmitz as Rackham, Quartermaster on the pirate ship Ranger, Rackham is the brains behind Vane's brawn, and in some ways even more dangerous.

Clara Paget as Anne Bonny. Beautiful and cold-blodded, Bonny is Rackham's lover, and Vane's deadliest henchman. Her youthful looks mask a borderine psychopathic personality.

Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Mr. Scott, Eleanor Guthrie's right-hand. Formerly Richard Guthrie's house slave, his loyalties will be put to the test asEleanor allies herself more closely with Flint.

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Black Sails pirates even made their presence known at the Starz booth at the San Diego Comic Con 2013!!! They definitely drew in crowds, checking out the elaborate booth set up, the pirates and, of course, the wenches...haha! As crowds checked out the Black Sails set up, behind all that, attendees were able to watch video clips and trailer(s) of this upcoming Starz original series.

The Starz booth featuring Black Sails at SDCC 2013

Black Sails

Guess I'm a new pirate recruit...haha!!

Yah! Joel has joined the pirate crew...haha!

Captain Mariah!
She's got one hot Quartermaster...haha!

Michael Ausiello chats with the cast of Black Sails at SDCC 2013

Not only is Black Sails a highly anticipated series on Starz, a second season has already been approved...the first season hasn't even aired yet!!! Wow!!!

Check out the Black Sails article on Something to Muse About, here:

http://www.museled.com/2013/07/starz-gives-black-sails-second-season.html

Check out the Black Sails video clips below, which includes the official trailer and an "in production now" clip that includes interviews with the cast and more!

Black Sails coming to Starz January 2014

My San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Experience

So, we have survived another year at the San Diego Comic Con! And, as always, the Con did not disappoint with the grueling schedules and the abundance of fun in and outside of the convention center. This event definitely brings together fans, from around the globe, of everything from comic books, books, TV shows and movies. And, each year, it just gets bigger and bigger. 

This is our third year attending Comic Con, and every year, we prepare an entire year for this. Our excitement mounts as months turns to days, then to hours as we get closer.  What made it all real that the Con was upon us was when the schedule was finally posted.  As soon as we looked over the schedule, our stress level increased...haha!!! 

There's so much we wanted to do, but we couldn't do everything. Not only did we try to plan out our four days in the convention center, we had to "squeeze" in panels at The Nerd HQ!!!  Yes! There was no way we could miss that! We have been going to Nerd HQ since it started in 2011! Even though we had planned out our four days, we didn't necessarily stick to it...haha!!! All four days was filled with excitement, fun and chaos...haha! 

And, for those that are huge fans of Zachary Levi and Nerd HQ, The Nerd Machine merchandise was also available for purchase! It was totally AWESOME!!! Since I didn't purchase any during the Con, I will just order merchandise from their site. I definitely need to get some new Nerd Machine stuff!

Zachary Levi

The wasn't just confined to the convention center and the surrounding hotels, we also enjoyed our time at the Nerd HQ sitting in panels and checking out the games that were set up for fans to play and to enjoy. This year, we sat in two panels at Nerd HQ...The Maze Runner and I, Frankenstein! 

To make these amazing panels (Conversations for a Cause) at Nerd HQ, all proceeds from Nerd HQ goes to benefit Zac's favorite charity, Operation Smile!

James Dashner, Wyck Godfrey, Dylan O'Brien, Wes Ball

Check out the video of The Maze Runner panel at Nerd HQ!

For more photos of The Maze Runner panel, go to: 

The Maze Runner album 

As always, the talents from The Maze Runner and I, Frankenstein were fun and entertaining as they answered fan questions. Yup! Zachary Levi has definitely put together an amazing line up of panels at the Nerd HQ! 

Aaron Eckhart, Kevin Grevioux, Stuart Beattie,
Yvonne Strahovski

Check out the video of the I, Frankenstein panel at Nerd HQ!

 For more photos of the I, Frankenstein panel, go to:

I, Frankenstein album

For more videos of the various panels held at Nerd HQ 2013, go to: 

http://www.thenerdmachine.com/nerd-hq/conversations-for-a-cause/

The entire Gaslamp Quarter was decked out for the festivities, from banners to elaborate set ups...and the amazing booths in the convention center! 

Starz booth featuring Black Sails

ABC's booth featuring Once Upon A Time

AMC's booth featuring The Walking Dead

Oh yeah! it's "no holds barred" when it came to putting up elaborate booths to draw in attendees. Many fans, as well, went all out dressing up in their favorite cosplay. 

We met a variety of fans in the lines for signings, swag and just walking the exhibit hall! Amazing how thousands of people come together to this massive convention of comic books, books, television, movies, anime and video games. We even ran into friends! It can be difficult to put into words...but, the pictures! The pictures can show how massive, exciting, fun and exhausting this Con can be...haha!!

Doctor Who cosplay!!

Legend of the Seeker cosplay

Even the kiddies were decked out in cosplay!

No matter which way we turned, the Gaslamp Quarter was completely decked out with movie banners...

In addition to meeting a variety of celebrities, we met a few favorite authors! These meetings definitely added to a memorable ComicCon experience! 

Kristin Kreuk & Jay Ryan of Beauty and the Beast

The cast of Once Upon A Time in Wonderland

The cast of Under the Dome

Frank Beddor, author of
The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy

Kami Garcia, co-author of Beautiful Creatures,
signing ARCs of Unbreakable

All in all, we had a blast! We were definitely exhausted...haha! Nevertheless, every year, we attend the San Diego Comic Con, the fun doesn't stop for the entire four days! Five days...if you got preview night! Now, we have to get ready for next year! Yes! It takes us a great amount of time to prep for the next Con!! Hahaha!!!

Jasmine and Sherrilyn Kenyon

Mariah and Yuri Lowenthal & Tara Platt

Jasmine and Frank Beddor

Mariah and artist, Bill Sienkiewicz

Til the next San Diego Comic Con!!!

Check out the full photo albums of our fun-filled four-day adventure at the San Diego Comic Con!

• Thursday: SDCC 2013 July 18, 2013 
• Friday:  SDCC 2013 July 19, 2013
• Saturday:  SDCC 2013 July 20, 2013
• Sunday:  SDCC 2013 July 21, 2013