Jiffy PoP

The first few kernels pop, then is starts to swell getting bigger and bigger and soon it will mushroom into a full blown explosion of PoP.


Jake will be west coast bound after filming wraps for this week, heading to WonderCon in San Francisco. Jake is joining Bruck, Mike Newell and Jordan Mechner on Saturday for a panel discussion about PoP and for an exclusive sneak peak of the movie.

What's WonderCon? I'ts an annual comic book, science fiction, and motion picture convention in Bay Area since 1987.

And it might not be just the movie or the game that might gets the attention at WonderCon but the graphic novel as well with the WonderCon crowd.


While we've seen Todd McFarland's name pop up and the action figures, his also the name most seen with the PoP graphic novel, he's not alone. There's a whole list of some heavy hitting artists in the graphic novel universe that are interpreting the Prince and the story including Tom Fowler, David Lopez, Bernard Chang, Tommy Lee Edwards, Cameron Stewart, Nico Henrichon, Pete Pantazis and Dave Stewart.


We've talked about the sights but what about the sound?

Now what's a movie without a score and theme music. While OMG's Prince on Prince was passed over they did go with something maybe as good. Maybe.



Some of the songs include The Prince of Persia, Tamina Unveiled, The King and His Sons, No Ordinary Dagger, The Sands of Time, and Destiny. But it's the Ostrich Race theme makes me wonder what that sounds like, and if the son Journey Through the Desert sounds like the theme to Lawrence of Arabia. And with the Sands of Time sound like "likes sand in an hour glass, these are the Days of our Lives", and what kind of song could it be with a title "So, You're Going to Help Me?" I say polka but I might be wrong. : )

One thing if for sure is who is singing the theme song for Prince of Persia. Mike Newell had hinted about a female singer to sing the theme song, but no one was sure he was talking about. We know it is Alanis Morisette, while you might thing she would remake Jagged Little Pill into Jagged Big Dagger, you'd be wrong, she is singing the title song I Remain.


Now if you want to put on you Tamina or Dastan outfit, grab your toy dagger, get the Legos, and grab a truckload of sand to make your own PoP epic, you can buy the sound track on Amazon.com. You're on your own to find your own ostriches. Just don't ask Jake.



From the Comingsoon video we find out the three things Jake feared the most making PoP, ostriches, the accent and swordfighting.

He is more confident about his accent, sounds like he held his own with swords, but the ostriches...

Which is surprising since he handles a goose and a wild turkey so well.

Wonder if he is going to ditch the ostriches out of his Lego sets.

Check out the rest of Jake's interview here: Comingsoon.com

Into the Lions Den

Tonight Jake heads over to the Video Gaming Awards (Live 8pm EST) to hand out video game of the year. Some would say its a risky move taking the star of the biggest video game adaptation of one of the true classic video games and introducing him to hard core gamers and the game industry on national television, but in reality it is truly savy.

Presenting the biggest award of the night and it is doubtful that reception will be less than enthusiatically positive and it gives them platform to show off the newest clip of PoP to a very captive audience while being televised, something that Comic Con couldn't do. It was a shrewd move of Bruck who understands that VGA's on Spike TV, gives him the demographic that he want to grab, gamers and guys.

They want to see the action, the parkour and if the movie looks like the game, so look for this preview to lite on love and more hand to hand (combat). Bruck and Disney must be confident that Jake has captured the Prince/Dastan. Look for a small simmer of PoP starting now through the spring when it gets to a full boil by May.

VGA 2009 Update:

The VGA's will be streaming live online starting at 8 pm. You will be able to check it out from four different camera vantage points.

Not sure if it will stream outside of the US and Canada, but its worth a try.
VGA 2009 Live Online

Program note: Entertainment Tonight will have another sneak peak of Jake and Prince of Persia on Monday.

Steph at IHJ has the clip of Jake's first appearance on the VGA's already up. Thanks Steph!!!


Steph just put up the clip of Jake announcing the Game of the Year. Thanks again Steph.

Thanks to everyone who participated and gave recipes for OMG's 2nd Annual Cooking Klatch. Look for a collection of all the recipes together beginning of next week.

Perfect menorah for a true blue pair. : )

Happy Hanukkah!

It all fun and games...

Don't forget we will starting off celebrating the holidays, on Friday with OMG's 2nd annual Cooking Klatsch. Bring your recipes to share. Metric, English and US measuresments all are welcome. Appetizers, cookies, deserts, salads, main dishes, and hey drink recipes are alway welcome.

Jake's got a couple of appearances this week. First he is hanging with a clingy octopus on Sesame Street, this Friday. It is the Rainbow show, sponsored by the letter O and the number 12. And the word du jour will be separate.



Then on Saturday Jake will be hitting the Spike TV's Video Game Awards where he will be presenting the award Game of the Year. Jake's also bringing with him a special clip of Prince of Persia for the gamer crowd.


Disney must be confident in taking PoP straight to the gamers at the award show of the year. Maybe Bruck has broken the curse and made a the blockbuster video game movie all have been wanting over the years.

While Sesame Street and Video Game Awards seem unrelated, in a way the aren't. Both capture the imagine, encourage play, and creative, have monsters, and a lot of fun and games, and you can learn something before you realize it. But doubt that Elmo will be ever on Spike.

PoP in's welcomed

This is one PoP in that you'll like.

Official Prince of Persia Trailer



Thanks for the link PoP. PoP's link is now down. Stubborn TB put it up on You Tube. Thanks Stubborn. (We will see how long it stays up until the "official" official trailer comes online.

All the hair jokes aside. Jake has got it. He did it. He is the hero. Prince of Persia looks incredible. Incredible! It is worth the wait. Knew it would be big and epic, but this has exceeded any expectation. Blew me away. It looks like Bruckheimer has finally done what no one else has done before, translated a video game to the big screen. It is damn good! The look, the action, everything. Jake, Gemma, Ben work. Gemma is great playing against Jake, the wit and banter are great, and can tell that she holds her own against all those men. And the accent.... it works . This has all the makings of a true summer blockbuster, and it making Jake the hero/action star that he's always wanted to be.

What are your impressions?

Hmmm you think accent works on tall Texans?


Back to your Crazy Tree Hill Monday.



Julian admits he's not a guy's guy and he doesn't have homies. - Seriously do they just like to bait audience with these scripts? But Julian ordered by Brooke Davis (TM) heads off to a weekend in the woods with guys, as (Up)Chuck is the Greek Chorus for the group, starting it all off with "Who the hell is Julian?"


Julian struggles to fit in and finds out something surprising. Brooke slept with Nathan and they made a sex tape. (Color us shocked)

Meanwhile Brooke Haley and Quinn get a little girl time. Friends, psychics and pot brownies. So Gossip Girl got Tyra Banks and One Tree Hill gets Dionne Warwick as their guest star. Feats of Clay continues with his angel Sarah who helps lead him to Quinn. It makes you wonder if they will pull out Jeff Healey Band's Angel Eyes, if they are going that retro with an episode named after Cutting Crew's one hit wonder - (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight.

Mysteries PoP Open?

PoP the game calls Jordan Mechner its big Poppa but he has been a bit of absentee father since 2003's PoP:The Sands of Time game, when the last several games have come out, but that has all changed. This past week PoP Poppa Mercher filed for a new trademark called Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands. What does that mean? Not a lot on its own.

Now that with video gamemaker Ubisoft Marc-Antoine Senecal's mention on his CV on Linked In that he has been working on Prince of Persia since August 2009, that sounds like there is a new PoP game on the way. Even more mysterious he quickly changed his CV to "Working on the best game ever."

Does this mean there will new a game coming out as a tie in to PoP in May 2010? And will the Prince be looking like the his old self or will it be Disney'd?

What would be like to have a video game character that looks like you? Well it might be a better explanation of all day trailer visits or carpal tunnel syndrome, playing with Jake. THE GAME, THE GAME.


Speaking of Disney. Couple days ago linked an article about the new head of Disney, Rich Ross. At that time there is something I didn't know. He is Hollywood's first openly gay studio chairman.

"Disney has long been the most gay friendly studio in Hollywood, having had a couple of gay production chiefs over the years, most recently Nina Jacobson, now an independent producer after being forced out in a studio purge several years ago. The studio's theme parks have allowed unofficial Gay Day celebrations for years, prompting a host of venemous attacks from various Christian right anti-gay zealots.

But Disney now has a really big first -- Rich Ross, Hollywood's first openly gay studio chief." - LA Times

Back in June the LA Time profiled Ross and mentioned his partner. "The 47-year-old Ross and his partner of more than 20 years, Adam Sanderson, live in the Hollywood Hills and have no children of their own,”

The LA Times writer did a quick canvas of gay filmmakers and executives, the news about Ross was something of a revelation, even in the gay community. Saying that may be because film people don't always keep track of TV exec, especially those kid's programming.

Openly gay movie producer Howard Rosenman did weigh in the groundbreaking move.
"It's not just the first time ever, but it's the greatest thing ever,".... "After all these years, what finally matters is -- show me the money! It doesn't matter what you do with your [penis], just what you do with your job. It's a new era in Hollywood. Rich Ross will only be judged by how well he makes the product and and how commercial it is, not who he is in his private life. He's obviously already been a big success at the Disney Channel, so he clearly knows what he's doing."

Will having an openly gay studio head start the shift in Hollywood? And maybe for PoP stars?

LA Times: Rich Ross Hollywood's First Openly Gay Studio Chairman

Advocate: Disney Goes Gay with New Top Executive

Daggers, and Tigers and Snakes... Oh My!

Before the screening of the trailer, Bruckheimer did some promotion of the upcoming videogame adaptation. "It's a videogame," he explained, "But you don't have to be a fan of video games to love this movie. It's got romance and adventure; a dagger that can control time. I'm very excited." He also told the crowd that the the movie's visual effects were not completed yet it, many liked what the saw.




A slice of light tears through the darkness, dissolving into grains of sand, blown away by the desert wind...

A sweeping landscape of a far-off Persian city. A wind-beaten caravan making its way through the orange-lit desert. Dark, swirling clouds gather in the distance...

A shot of the dagger. A long, curved blade. It's hand is clear, like an hour-glass, holding the titled Sands of Time...

A shot of Jake as the Prince, standing on a wooden outcropping on the roof of a palace high above the city streets. This looks more like Assassin's Creed than Prince of Persia..."

Ben Kingsley's Nizam trying to steal the dagger to destroy the world,

Dastan and Tamina forced to take the dagger to "the secret guardian temple" and keep it safe.

Jake almost being killed by a sword when he activates the dagger and the sand starts to cover his body as he goes back in time ..

A chase through the alleys of a Persian city...An attacking tiger...A snake leaps toward the Prince, but the dagger pauses time just before the snake's gaping, venomous jaws can strike...

A journey into the snow-capped mountains. Not just deserts, it seems...

Dastan and Tamina flirting with each other. 'At one point, they appear to be in disguise as servants and she asks if he's carrying the dagger. He tells her that she'll have to do a pretty thorough search to find it

The Prince climbing up the towering, exterior walls of a castle as archers fire arrows...

The Prince climbing up the wall of a castle. We see the film's villain (Ben Kingsley) and also a cloaked demon-like figure and hints of a more powerful, robe-cloaked demon controlling him.

Lastly, the Prince and Tamina enter a vast, underground tomb. It begins to crumble down around them, the high hallways collapsing, entire portions of the building tumbling down an incline as the Prince leaps and runs and ducks and rolls as audiences would, of course, expect.

No word about the voice overs, or how Jake sounded. Having Tamina do the voice over seems like a interesting choice for an action adventure video game, but romantic tale. Not many movies uses a female voice for a voice over, and even less in a blockbuster. Inspired? or something else?

"Overall, the trailer was beautifully shot, atmospheric, action-packed and exactly what one would hope from a Prince of Persia film. With the release date (May 28, 2010) still a ways away, who knows when viewers will be able to see the trailer in theaters. But we can assure those of you who might be anxious that it should be worth the wait." IGNmovies.com
"Movie looked great even though a lot of the visual effects weren't completed." Latino Review


There was one very unscripted moment at the preview, "Someone in the audience yelled out to Jerry Bruckheimer, after talking about Prince of Persia either “And you’re also gay!” or “Get off the stage!” Neither one were appreciated, but either made sense from an angry Disney fan."

PoPing under Pressure?

D23 opens this Thursday and the question is how big of a sneak peek is Disney going to give to its loyal fans who attend, and what will the be reaction. It seems that D23 will be the kick off for PoP, yes it has had a few soft previews, the teaser on ET, the interview with Bruck, stills and pics from the set, the Lego deal and the new action figures that will come out in May.

The mention is that there will be lots of Disney stars attending the events, even including speculation that Johnny Depp may attend for the the sneak peek of Alice. Will Jake attend as well as the part of the PoP launch? With Jake above the title on Disney's first try in video game adaptation it seems in all likelihood he will make an appearance at the Disney exclusive event.

Disney's recently acquisition of Marvel also launches them in to the superhero business, new territory for them, does that increase the industry expectations for PoP now?

And with past videogame movie adaptations falling short is Bruckheimer the answer to finally getting over that last hurdle?

There is a lot riding on PoP, and it much more than just Jake's resume.


So how will Bruck and Disney present to the fans. The action? or the romance?


Building it is an epic is could be a risky venture, it is like building a house on the sand, if it does not live up to the expectations of the movie goers, it could wash away quickly. What is going to be interesting is to see how they do sell it, and D23 is the first first real look at how they are going to do it. But it seems like it will be teaser just enough but not too much.


There is so much discussion if PoP will boom or bust not just here or by all over other blogs, it is doing one thing that they've wanted , it has people talking. Both Disney and Bruck are savy enough to use both the positive and negative chatter to their advantage, right up until release.
It almost seems like they are playing things close to the vest for now, and not because its not good, but more for the true blockbuster surprise.




Something that caught my eye about D23, after all the discussion here about Disney and the GLTB community, was on a blog called Movie Deareast.

Jeffrey Epstein, co-author of the bookQueens in the Kingdom: The Ultimate Gay & Lesbian Guide to the Disney Theme Parks, is involved in the marketing of the D23 Expo. Subsequently, GLBT attendees can look forward to special presentations and sights geared toward our community. (Readers can learn more about Jeffrey and the queer side of the Disney parks at the Queens in the Kingdom website.)

You can lead a horse to water,,,,

Newest pictures of Prince of Persia.




And if the movie is lit like this. Talk about gorgeous lighting. And Jake wet. Oh my.

Know that many think that not going to Comic Con was a mistake. It could be. Still think that D23 will be the ultimate showcase for PoP and Alice, because they will not have to compete with anything else and the D23 will get incredible media coverage because it is the first Expo by Disney.

PoP is not pure to the first game itself and is a blend of several of the games in the PoP series. Maybe they didn't want to take PoP to Comic Con, because gamer fans would have pulled it apart on the little details, and not look at the whole of it.

Bruck's G-4 took the box office this weekend beating Harry Potter. And that's not easy. But I say this quote and thought it was a very interesting comment about Bruck.

"This summer is all about packaging and escapism," Paul Dergarabedian, box office analyst for Hollywood.com, said of the strong showing for "G-Force." "People were scratching their heads and dragging their kids to go see this thing. They were watching the trailers with absolute shock going, 'Is that really happening?' But as a kid you're like, 'I gotta go see it.' This is a testament to the fact that Jerry Bruckheimer, like ('Transformers' director) Michael Bay, knows exactly what summer movie audiences want."

Pictures: Empire Online

PoP Smart?

Comic-Con 2009 starts tomorrow but it doesn't seem like PoP will be popping up too much. Did Disney blow it or are they playing the game just on a different platform?

The only official event at Comic Con is a panel discussion and Q&A on Friday on comics and Ggaphic Novels Jordan Mechner, Prince of Persia creator and writer of the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time graphic novel, and artists Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Cameron Stewart (Seaguy), Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman), and Tommy Lee Edwards (Daredevil). They are saying there will be a sneak peek at the upcoming Prince of Perisa: The Sands of Time graphic novel, and an advance look at the book's connections to the secrets within the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie.

Does that mean it is this picture of Dastan that McFarland did that for the cover? Or that the advanced look at the book connection to the movie will be showing a teaser of the movie? Or will the pull something off that no one expects?

Is it a smart move to not promote PoP at Comic Con as much as they could?

Now what's interesting is that Bruckheimer has a new movie coming out on Friday as well. A family picture in 3-D with broad appeal. The crew over at We are Movie Geeks seems to think so.

"It seems likely that at least a teaser will be in front of ‘G-Force,’ another Disney/Bruckheimer collaboration coming out this Friday."

And it really makes sense - he's teased with the first look at a PoP poster in another of his movies Confessions of a Shopaholic, they've leaked out a lot stuff thisweek to coincide with Comic Con, and G-force (which is a Bruck/Disney collaboration) should have a strong opening. It all seems to fall in place.

So here's the question if there is a teaser. Did Bruck use the mainstream audience to boost the reception at Comic Con or is he CYA in case it doesn't ?

Little Prince - Prince of Persia

"My little man, where do you come from? What is this 'where I live,' of which you speak?

Who do you think you are?
Prince: I am the Prince of Persia.


It's only with the heart that one can see clearly. What's essential, is invisible to the eye.


Prince: How long have I been gone?

It is the time you have wasted on your rose that makes your rose so important.


The Prince: [smiles] Most people think time is like a river that flows swiftly and surely in one direction. But I have seen the face of time and can tell you, they are wrong. Time is an ocean in a storm. You may wonder who I am and why I say this. Come, and I shall tell you a tale like none you have ever heard...

"What makes the desert beautiful," says the little prince, "is that somewhere it hides a well."

But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.

The Prince: You are an insistent inner voice, aren't you?
The Dark Prince: Well, *someone* has to make the decisions.



What is important cannot be seen.
It’s the same as with the flower.
If you love a flower that lives on a star,
it is sweet to look up at the night sky.
All the stars are in bloom.
It’s the same as with the water.
What you gave me to drink was a kind of music,

"But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."

Tooth(y) Pick?

We've seen Jake give some hints about he's thinking about a few times out and about - Texas T's, the shirts with the flying geese, and even Disco Duck - all looks to be little shout outs to the Gray Goose.

But is Mr. Nichols the now the one sending little messages on OTH? Noticed the lip lick, which is like someone else , and in the preview for the next weeks episode there something Austin seems to chewing on and don't mean the script. Yes a henchman could have a toothpick, but lets be honest who would he find as his toothpick inspiration. Remember how is says he draws from those around him? Or are these his little shout out hints?

Spooky has made a great pic of the pick over at Austin Nichols Journal. Check it out.

Here's the latest preview from Watch with Kristen at E! Basically an edited version of the 8:00 minute preview sitting out there on You Tube that was linked on Tuesday.



Are we going to have go back and rewind and look for other little things that might be right out in the open and we haven't noticed them. Bet you Big Bucks ; ) there's more.

Seems like more people are warming up to Julian. Check out the comment left at Watch with Kristen. "one more thing, JULIAN IS SO DANG HOT! gosh, i love lucas and peyton together, but if she left him to be with julian, id soo understand! and dan needs to go ahead and die." And there are more and more mentions of Julian/Austin on all kinds of OTH fan boards. If there are fans saying they wouldn't mind Julian and Peyton together over the perennial Lucas and Peyton, will we see Peylian Nation in a Season 7?

Now before PoPping off:

Tonight, Entertainment Tonight will be run the interview with Jake from the set of Prince of Persia and in their exclusive sneak peek. Check local times and listing. Here's the preview.

Movie Magic, Mystery and Madness

The Magic

Not only do we get pictures of Austin, but Jake resurfaces at Pinewood Studios. On the same day. As Doug Henning would say -- "Magic!"

With the make up and dye hair, you get can really see Jake as the Prince of Persia. He needs the winter coat because it it looks like Dastan's shirt is built for the desert heat. At first glance it looks like Jake is wearing a shortie robe with pants, doesn't it? He better keep his eye on those boots because Austin maybe eying them. This isn't the first time Jake's gone dark (haired) for a movie. What do you think? And it looks like he is getting into the long hair thing. Guess he and Austin are doing the long and short of it aren't they?




New pictures at IHJ -Thanks PicPic


Jake's twist on a Black and Tan.


The Mystery

Informers was supposed to be screeened at Sitges Film Festival. It was an Official Fantastic Section Out of Competition selection, but looking at the schedule for each day it looks like its not there. Could be losing the vampires, made Informers lose out of being at Sitges? Can you help solved this mystery?

Check it out and let us know what you think is going.

Sitges Film Festival

An for some incentive another new picture of Austin in action

The Madness

That would be our Movie Club. Pick your choice for this month's movie club. Remember 1 vote person per day, and we will leave the poll open today and tomorrow.

Shifted Sand?

You know without your wig and a shirt on you kind of look like Bob Hope.
Well with that outfit and the hat in this light you might pass for Bing Crosby.
Damn Disney's make up department does good.
Hey stop. You know you shouldn't. And you need a shave.
What?
I know they're good disguises and you know I love PDA , but .....
I'm not doing anything.
If you're not, then who needs a shave?


Why are we messing with pictures like this when more old pictures of Jake and Austin appeared over the weekend. And some of Austin on his own too. Picture finds of them are like when you pull a jacket out that you haven't worn in a while, put your hand in the pocket and find money. A surprise find that makes your day. (Thanks Spooky and IHJ)





Now it sounds like Jake's gone gone gone and ready to go green. Green screen that is, in Pinewood Studios in England. And PoP is using over six square mile of Pinewood soundstages to recreate 6th century Persia.

The last time Jake did major green screen work it was with a tall Texan in that "small budget/small box office" movie some of you may have heard called The Day After Tomorrow. Jake's imaginination seems to have no bounds, and bet he's tapping that little boy in him as he's saying 'The mystical dagger of time is going to save us all!'.

Now here's a question for you. Will Jake hold Gemma in a clench to save her from swirling sand that compares with the one he used to save Austin from fast moving ice?



PS: All the music this week will be from artists who will be playing at Austin City Limits this weekend. Check it out!