March News Digest

• A fan campaign is underway to get Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) commemorated on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2013. If you would like to submit a nomination for Jonathan, you can do so by clicking here.
• Sharon Smyth Lentz (Sarah Collins) has just launched a new official website, offering signed photographs and other merchandise. To pay a visit, click here. 
• Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) is one of the artists taking part in Hanged, a group art exhibit which runs at the JP Art Market until March 31. For more information, click here.
• Bella Heathcote (Movie Victoria Winters) is to star in a new independent film, The Curse of Downers Grove. The movie is slated to begin production this spring.   
• The Tim Burton Dark Shadows movie comes to Cinemax next month. The film will be seen daily on the channel, with screenings beginning on April 6.
• And finally, visual effects house Buf have posted some of their work on Dark Shadows, demonstrating before and after versions of the digital effects shots they contributed. The video can be viewed in the window below.

Dark Shadows Movie Artistry

• Prosthetic make-up company BGFX have released some images of their work from the recent Dark Shadows feature film, including an unused design for an emaciated Barnabas. Check it out online by clicking here.
• Concept artist James Carson has posted a gallery of Dark Shadows artwork on his website, including early designs for the interiors of the Collinwood mansion. To view it online, click here.
• And finally, the Moving Picture Company have posted a video breakdown of their visual effects work on Dark Shadows, which can be viewed in the window below.

Writing The Visual Companion: Mark Salisbury

As director Tim Burton's official biographer, author Mark Salisbury has worked a number of Burton-related volumes, including the acclaimed Burton on Burton and the newly released tie-in Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion. We caught up with Mark to get the lowdown on the new book...

You've had a long association with Tim Burton. How did you first make contact with him?
One Sunday afternoon in 1985 I went to see a Touchstone Pictures’ dinosaur film Baby: The Secret of the Lost Legend at my local cinema and was surprised to find Burton’s original short Frankenweenie showing prior it. I didn’t know who Tim Burton was – this was before Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure was released – but I was completely enthralled from the word go, and knew I was watching something very special. I remember scribbling Burton’s name on a scrap of paper in the dark when the short ended, certain it was one to remember. 

Did it take long to meet the man himself?
I eventually met him a few years later at a Warners’ Christmas party in London – he was shooting Batman at the time – although I had arranged to have dinner the following week with him and horror author Clive Barker for an article I was writing for the now defunct horror magazine Fear: Their conversation was later reprinted in the book Shadows of Eden. I interviewed Burton again for Edward Scissorhands and Batman Returns and in 1994 approached him about writing Burton On Burton, which was first published the following year.

Given your unique perspective, where would you say Dark Shadows fits into the Burton filmography?
I think all of Burton’s usual themes and preoccupations are present in Dark Shadows. Perhaps the only difference is the film marks the first time Johnny Depp asked Burton to direct him in a film. Typically it’s been Burton doing the asking.

Any theories on what attracted Burton to tackling Dark Shadows?
He grew up on the show. Just like Depp, he would run home from school in order to see it. As a monster movie-loving child what’s not to love about a TV show featuring vampires and werewolves and ghosts? Moreover, a show that was on during the afternoon.

You were on set for Dark Shadows. How would you compare the atmosphere to previous Burton shoots?
Burton’s sets are generally fun-filled and relaxed. This appeared even more so. The script was funny, once the actors got hold of it, wearing those costumes, in those environments it was hysterical to watch. There was much laughter on set and during dailies.

What does The Visual Companion have that will surprise fans?
Because the book’s publication comes after the film’s theatrical and home entertainment release, we were able to show certain images – among them Carolyn’s transformation – that we might not have been able to if the book had preceded the film. For me, the book’s strength, however, is the sheer amount of behind-the-scenes photos that reveal the artistry involved in creating the film’s amazing sets. I particularly love the section detailing the creation of Collinsport – designed by the genius that is Rick Heinrichs – although my favourite photo is on pages 124-125, which shows Alice Cooper performing at the happening.

And what did you think of the finished film?
I always find it really hard to comment on any new Burton film, because, typically, I’ve read the script, spent many, many days on set, and so feel too close to the finished product to form an objective opinion. Typically it takes me a few years to divorce myself from the “I-was-there-when-they-shot-that-bit” or “That-wasn’t-in-the-script” thoughts when I’m watching one of his films. That said, I’ve seen Dark Shadows a couple of times and really enjoyed it.

Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion is available at a discount price by clicking here, and also in a limited collector's edition signed by Tim Burton, which can be ordered by clicking here. UK readers can also purchase the book by clicking here.

Dark Shadows Movie Effects Revealed

Digital effects house The Senate have released a promotional reel dissecting their work on the recent Dark Shadows feature film. To discover how shots of Collinsport, the Collinwood mansion and the ghostly vision of Josette were achieved, check out the video in the window below.

Meanwhile, Dark Shadows has continued to do good business on the US home video market following its release earlier this month. Industry website The Numbers reports that the film shifted 428,000 units during its first week in stores. Dark Shadows is available now on Blu-Ray at a discount price by clicking here and on DVD by clicking here.

Movie Visual Companion Preview Pictures

The long-awaited behind the scenes guide for the recent Dark Shadows movie, The Visual Companion, is finally released next week and, courtesy of Titan Books, we're delighted to share some exclusive preview images from the book. 

Shown below are director Tim Burton posing with actors Gully McGrath, Jonny Lee Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloe Grace Moretz, along with early concept artwork for Widows' Hill and Collinwood. Click on the pictures for a larger view.

Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion by Mark Salisbury is published on 26th October 2012, by Titan Books priced £29.99, and will be released in the US in November. UK readers can order the book now at a discount price by clicking here. US readers can pre-order the book at a discount price by clicking here.

 
Photographs are ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Win The Dark Shadows Movie On Blu-Ray!

The Dark Shadows movie is out on Blu-Ray and DVD in the United Kingdom today, and Warner Bros UK have released some special online content to mark the release, which can be viewed in the panel below. Courtesy of Warner, we have a copy of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray to give away to one lucky reader. For your chance to win, just answer the following question:

What is the name of the rival cannery business Angelique runs in the film?

Send your answer with your name and postal address to webmaster@collinwood.net by October 28. This prize draw is open to UK residents only.

UK readers can order Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray by clicking here and on DVD by clicking here.

John August Discusses Unused Shadows Script

Screenwriter John August has spoken for the first time about his unused Dark Shadows screenplay. August wrote the first draft of the film's script, before the assignment was taken over by Seth Grahame Smith. "It was before Twilight had come out and before True Blood," he tells ShockTilYouDrop. 

"They said, 'Let's make a big gothic, vampire drama.' I pitched that and I wrote a Godfather-like saga of the Collins family and Barnabas was at the centre of it all... but it played itself straight." Citing delays in production and the current proliferation of vampires in films for the change in direction, he concludes: "I think it's one of the best scripts I've written. But I totally get why, at the time they went off to make it, they didn't make that version."

Meanwhile, the Dark Shadows movie has just been released on DVD and Blu-Ray and is performing strongly in the US marketplace. PhillyBurbs reports that the film is currently the number one film home rental and number two retail title, behind The Avengers. Dark Shadows can be ordered on DVD by clicking here and special edition Blu-Ray by clicking here.

Dark Shadows Movie Deleted Scenes

Warner Bros. have released a selection of unseen deleted scenes from the recent Tim Burton Dark Shadows movie, ahead of its home video release next week. These segments will be included on the special edition Blu-Ray, along with a selection of behind-the-scenes featurettes and other bonus content.

The scenes can be viewed in the windows below. Dark Shadows can be pre-ordered on Blu-Ray at a discount price by clicking here and on DVD by clicking here.

Look Inside The Dark Shadows Movie Crew Book

Recently I was lucky enough to obtain a copy of the Dark Shadows movie cast and crew book. This hefty 200-page limited edition hardback was produced as a gift to people who worked on the film and was never made available to buy.

Only 1,000 copies were produced and mine is number number 398. It's a beautiful collection of of unseen backstage photography, with comments from cast and crew, including director Tim Burton and the big screen's Barnabas Collins, Johnny Depp.

Seen below are some glimpses from inside the book, including a wry little nod to this very blog. Click on the thumbnails for larger images. Don't forget, the Dark Shadows movie comes to Blu-Ray and DVD on October 2 and is available to buy now in Instant Video download format by clicking here.

 

Dark Shadows Movie Takings Pass $235 Million

• As it approaches the end of its initial cinema run, the Dark Shadows movie has grossed over $79 million within the United States. Box Office Mojo reports that domestic grosses for the film stand at approximately $79.7 million, with an additional $156.8 million from overseas territories, making a total of $236.5 million worldwide. As we reported previously, the film comes to DVD and Blu-Ray in October.
• The upcoming behind-the-scenes book for the Dark Shadows movie has been brought forward in the schedules and will now be released on October 26. Re-titled Dark Shadows: The Visual Companion, the final cover design is shown above. Featuring contributions from Johnny Depp, director Tim Burton and late producer Richard D. Zanuck, The Visual Companion can be pre-ordered at a discount price by clicking here. UK readers can also order the book from Amazon.co.uk by clicking here.
• Joel Harlow Designs have released a selection of concept images from Dark Shadows, showing early prosthetic make-up designs for Chloe Grace Moretz as Carolyn Stoddard, along with other unused ideas. To view the gallery online, click here.
• And finally, website Retail Jeweller has interviewed Stephen Einhorn about his work on Dark Shadows, which included Johnny Depp's Barnabas ring and Angelique's key pendant. "I had to make two different sized rings for Johnny," says Stephen. "Tim Burton and Johnny Depp liked the ring so much they wanted it to be worn throughout the film, one for his extended finger and one to wear over his gloves."

Dark Shadows Movie Comes To Blu-Ray and DVD

The recent Dark Shadows movie from Tim Burton has been announced for home video release on October 2, just in time for Halloween, available on DVD and special edition Blu-Ray. Warner Bros. have confirmed the following bonus features for the Blu-Ray version:

• Becoming Barnabas Johnny Depp discusses his re-imagining of this iconic character.
• Welcome to Collinsport! Explore the detailed fishing village created for the film at Pinewood Studios.
• A Melee of Monstrous Proportions behind the scenes of the film's ambitious closing battle sequence.
• Angelique: A Witch Scorned Johnny Depp and Eva Green discuss their characters and the century-spanning passions that bind them.
• Reliving a Decade Strut through the Collinsport of the 1970s and discover the topsy-turvy world that Barnabas finds himself in.
• Dark Shadowy Secrets Behind the scenes with Tim Burton’s spectacular props and special effects wizards.
• The Collinses: Every Family Has Its Demons Explore the film's quirky characters, with Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and the rest of the cast.
• Cooper Rocks Collinsport! Shock rock the night away with Alice Cooper, as Johnny Depp and the cast invite him to Collinwood.
• Vampires, Witches and Werewolves, Oh My! Tim Burton reveals how he adapted some of his favourite classic movie monsters for Dark Shadows.
• Deleted Scenes Dr. Hoffman and Elizabeth discuss Barnabas; David and Barnabas discuss dinosaurs; Carolyn and Victoria – Girl talk; The police warn Willie and Barnabas; Dr. Hoffman offers Victoria help.

The only additional content on the DVD edition will be The Collinses: Every Family Has Its Demons featurette. To pre-order Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray at a discount price, click here; To pre-order on DVD, click here. Shown below is cover artwork for both editions. Click on the thumbnails for a larger view.

Warner has also released high resolution cover artwork for the classic Dark Shadows movies House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows, which as we recently reported, will come to BluRay and DVD in October. To pre-order House of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray, click here; To order on DVD, click here. To pre-order Night of Dark Shadows on Blu-Ray, click here; To order on DVD, click here.

Colleagues Pay Tribute To Richard D. Zanuck

Last week we reported the sad news that Richard D. Zanuck, the veteran producer who oversaw the recent Dark Shadows movie, died suddenly on Friday. Friends and colleagues across the industry have been quick to pay tribute, including those from Dark Shadows. Original series actress Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) shares a candid snapshot of Richard and Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins) taken at Pinewood Studios last summer, when she and Jonathan joined co-stars David Selby (Quentin Collins) and Lara Parker (Angelique) to film a cameo scene for the production.

"I am so sad to hear of Richard Zanuck's passing," Kathryn. "I've long admired him and the wonderful films he produced, but didn't meet him until Jonathan, David, Lara and I arrived at Pinewood to film our cameos for Dark Shadows. He was the first to greet us… and he was so warm and welcoming. We later exchanged a few emails regarding Return to Collinwood, and again he couldn't have been more gracious and encouraging. He responded immediately and his generous support made all the difference. He was so kind and caring, reaching out and including us in what would be the final film for both Mr. Frid and Mr. Zanuck."

"I'm in shock and heartbroken at the news of Richard Zanuck's passing," director Tim Burton said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "He was like family to me – a mentor, friend and father figure. Richard was a completely unique and amazing individual and there will never be anyone else like him."

"Totally bummed about Richard Zanuck passing away," Jackie Earle Haley (Willie Loomis) said via Twitter. "I was lucky to hung out with him a bunch on the Dark Shadows set. He was a great guy." Screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith posted: "I'm heartbroken, but so grateful that I got to know and work with Dick Zanuck. I loved him. I'll miss him dearly. Thoughts to his family."

Richard D. Zanuck: 1934-2012

The Los Angeles Times has reported that legendary film producer Richard D. Zanuck died of a heart attack earlier today. He was 77. His long career included numerous critical and commercial hits, including Jaws, The Road to Perdition and Driving Miss Daisy, for which he won an Oscar.

Over the past decade he enjoyed a particularly rewarding collaboration with director Tim Burton, which lasted through to the recent Dark Shadows feature film, his final completed project. Our condolences go out to Richard's family and friends.

October Release For Shadows Movies on Blu-Ray and DVD

Warner Home Video has announced that all three Dark Shadows feature films will be released this October in Blu-Ray and DVD format. First up, the recent Dark Shadows movie from Tim Burton reaches stores on October 2. The release is expected to include bonus content, though this has yet to be confirmed. 

October 30 sees the release of the two 1970s films produced with the original cast – House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows – in both Blu-Ray and DVD format. It is not yet known if these titles will be available outside of the United States.

As we reported last year, it had been hoped that Night of Dark Shadows would be restored to its longer director's cut for this edition, but the studio has chosen to present the film as originally released in cinemas. Warners have confirmed that both classic movies will include a theatrical trailer as their sole bonus content. Look out for cover artwork and more information soon.

Update: To pre-order both titles at discount prices, click on the hyperlinked titles: House of Dark Shadows DVD, House of Dark Shadows Blu-Ray, Night of Dark Shadows DVD, Night of Dark Shadows Blu-Ray.

In other DVD news, the new edition of the Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series box set is released tomorrow, collecting all 1,225 classic episodes in a coffin-shaped display case. To order it online at a discount price, click here.

Dark Shadows Takings Pass $225 Million

• Box Office Mojo reports that global takings for the new Dark Shadows movie passed the $225 million mark this weekend after seven weeks of box office rentals. To date, the film has taken $75.8 million in the United States, along with a further $151.6 million overseas. As of July 1, Dark Shadows' worldwide total stands at $227.4 million.
• The Canberra Times has interviewed Bella Heathcote (Victoria Winters) about filming Dark Shadows' ghostly special effects and her nervous first meeting with Johnny Depp: "He went to shake my hand and realised he was wearing prosthetic fingers, so he held out his elbow instead. It was so endearing and awkward and defused the whole situation."
• The Dark Shadows visual effects team is interviewed as part of an extensive article on website The Flickering Myth: "We are not a grandstanding effects film," explains supervisor Angus Bickerton. "That's one thing [director] Tim [Burton] tends to shy away from. Tim would rather you not know that there are any visual effects in the film at all... he wants it to feel like a film made in the 1970s. Tim has such a strong clear vision that’s not cluttered with a lot of fancy camerawork – that’s why he has a recognizable style." To read the full piece, click here.
• Elsewhere, CGSociety chats to Mark Breakspear of effects house Method Studios, who reveals how the town of Collinsport was created for the movie, with before-and-after video comparisons. To view the feature, click here.
• And finally, artist Alex Tuis has revealed some of his Dark Shadows concept artwork, featuring early make-up designs for the film's supernatural creatures. To view the gallery online, click here.

Movie Premiere Party Photographs

Last month the Dark Shadows Festival teamed up with Los Angeles' historic Vista Theatre to host a special fan party marking the premiere of the Tim Burton Dark Shadows movie. Nearly 500 fans joined guests from the original series to watch House of Dark Shadows and the new film on the big screen. Courtesy of our friends at the Vista, we are pleased to be able to share some photos from the event.

Shown are Lara Parker (Angelique), Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans) and Nancy Barrett (Carolyn Stoddard); Nancy Barrett in conversation with original Dark Shadows scenic designer Sy Tomashoff; Lisa Richards (Sabrina Stuart) and Christopher Pennock (Jeb Hawkes) in high spirits signing autographs; And finally, Roger Davis (Jeff Clark) and other actors settling down to watch the film. Click on the images for larger views. 

New Dark Shadows Movie Portraits

Warner Bros. have released some unseen cast portraits from the Dark Shadows movie. Shown are Bella Heathcote as the ghost of Josette duPres; Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins; director Tim Burton with Barnabas' umbrella; and Burton pictured with Helena Bonham Carter as Dr. Julia Hoffman. Click on the pictures for larger views.

 Images © Warner Bros. Entertainment Ltd.

Dark Shadows Takings Reach $190 Million

The Dark Shadows movie has now been out for a month and the film's global takings have recently passed the $190 million mark. Box Office Mojo reports that, as of this weekend, the film has taken approximately $72.7 million within the US, with a further $120.5 million overseas.

While performance in the US has been respectable, if a little subdued, overseas Dark Shadows has enjoyed strong business in a number of territories. Key performers include the UK ($9.7 million), Australia ($9.4 million), Russia ($11.1 million), France ($14.2 million) and Japan ($18.6 million). The film should pass the $200 million mark this week, as a second wave of releases begins in South America. Elsewhere in the Dark Shadows world...

• The official making-of book for Dark Shadows has new release date, and will now reach stores on November 27. The Art of the Film is a lavish hardback, gathering unseen photographs and production artwork, and can be pre-ordered by clicking here.
• Website Dexigner goes behind the scenes of the opening titles for Dark Shadows, speaking to designer and frequent Tim Burton collaborator Richard Morrison: "We decided to keep things really simple and work with type to evoke the mood," he explains. "Together with the music score, we arrived at a very simple opening, but one that's quite unsettling, which captures the essence of the film."
• Rocker Alice Cooper is enjoying his new status as the ugliest woman ever encountered by Barnabas Collins. "As soon as Johnny Depp said that... it got a big laugh in the movie theatre," he tells MSN Entertainment. "I went, 'Boy, I just got stuck with a new one. That's gonna be the new catch line... We're going to get T-shirts made!"

New Dark Shadows Production Design Featurette

• Warner Bros have released a new video featurette for the Dark Shadows movie, this time exploring the film's production art, with contributions from director Tim Burton and production designer Rick Heinrichs. It can be viewed in the window above and eagle-eyed fans should look out for Brewster's department store and Braithwaite & Sons, as featured on the original Dark Shadows episodes.
• Danny Elfman's Dark Shadows: Original Score album entered the Starpulse album chart at number 35 for the period ending May 14, making it that week's highest-placed soundtrack release.
• Website VFX Snapshot go behind the scenes of visual effects house The Senate's work on Dark Shadows, which include the digital exterior of the Collinwood mansion, which fascinating before and after shots. To read the feature, click here.
• Meanwhile, FX Guide speaks to Dark Shadows visual effects supervisor Angus Bickerton, who discusses the film's retro-styled imagery and special effects work with more unseen images. To see more, click here.
• And finally, Dark Shadows screenwriter Seth Grahame Smith is interviewed by Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool about vampires in movies. To view the chat online, click here.

Dark Shadows Takings Reach $130 Million

Box Office Mojo have published revised global takings for Dark Shadows, revealing that the film has generated over $132 million in less than two weeks in cinemas. As of May 20, the US domestic total is estimated at $50.9 million, with $81.3 million for overseas territories. 

In addition, The Hollywood Reporter have noted that Dark Shadows' opening weekend in Japan has generated another $5 million not included in these figures, which also omit the $5.3 million Russian takings reported earlier in the week. When these sums are factored in, as it enters its third week of release, Dark Shadows' combined earnings stand at over $142 million.

While the US box office for the film has been sluggish compared to the stellar business enjoyed by The Avengers, Dark Shadows has performed strongly in a number of foreign territories. In France, it beat The Avengers for a second week and has additionally opened as the number one film in Belgium, Finland, Italy, Japan, Portugal and Spain. In the US, Dark Shadows slipped to fourth place, but was still estimated to generate $12.7 million over the course of its second weekend.