BRIGHTEST DAY COVERS COLLECTED

DC: The Source has posted the variant Brightest Day covers in one collected epic piece.

DC DIRECT APRIL 2011 PRODUCT RELEASES

DC Direct have released their up coming products for April 2011, which includes Brightest Day Series 2 action figures and an amazing Sinestro DC Dynamic statue and my all time favorite Larfleeze bust and Orange Lantern.

GREEN LANTERN SOLICITATIONS DECEMBER

DC Comics have released their December solicitations.

Welcome to Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors Online, your number #1 resource for all things Green Lantern. Every week, keep up to date with all the current news surrounding the comic books, media, merchandise and listen to our weekly podcast, where we have exclusive interviews with people from the industry and a look at all things Green Lantern past, present and future...

THE EMERALD WARRIORS ONLINE TEAM:
 

Bob Tilley: Senior Editor, Site Webmaster and Podcast Host
Bob is the original creator of Gotham Knights Online and has been a massive Batman fan since 1989 when Tim Burton gave us the Batman movie, then fell in love with Batman The Animated Series only to discover a weekend job in a comic book store where the world of Batman comics was at his door. Like most fanboys of the nineties Batman: Knightfall will always be the ultimate Batman story...
 
Cory Lewellen: Senior Editor, Podcast Co-Host and Site Reviewer
Cory has been a lifelong fan of Batman, but only recently collecting comic books, as he felt his nerdiness was overshadowing his geekiness. His favorite character is Dick Grayson/Nightwing with special mention to Tim Drake as Red Robin and Batwoman and his favorite Batman story is The Long Halloween. He loves to play guitar, follow politics and study history. Oh and he's just an all round nice guy who saved GKO.
 
Gary Allegra: Podcast Co-Host and Site Reviewer
Gary has been a superhero fan for most of his life. His first experience with Batman was the '89 Michael Keaton film, and his first (and favourite still) Batman comic story was Knightfall. He's a biladg Superman/DC comics fan in general, as well as a sci-fi/pop culture junkie. He also enjoys long walks through the park, rainbows and sunsets. And he's single...ladies.
 

GREEN LANTERN CORP

Green Lantern Corps history and members list.

SINESTRO CORP

Sinestro Corps history and members list.

GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT INTERVIEW - VICTOR GARBER

Posted by High Ball

TITANIC, MILK STAR VICTOR GARBER DISCUSSES HIS ANIMATION DEBUT AS THE VOICE OF SINESTRO IN GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT, THE NEXT DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL FILM COMING TO DVD JULY 28, 2009

From Academy Award blockbusters Titanic and Milk to Emmy-nominated performances in Alias and Will & Grace to Tony Award nods for a lengthy list of leading roles on Broadway, Victor Garber has achieved acting greatness regardless of the format.

Now add animation to his list of successes.

In his animation debut, Garber masterfully crafts the voice for the calculating, villainous Sinestro in Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies. Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are set to release the all-new film – as a special edition 2-disc DVD, a Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def edition, as well as single disc DVD – on July 28, 2009, as distributed by Warner Home Video. The action-packed movie will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download day and date, July 28, 2009.

Green Lantern: First Flight finds Hal Jordan recruited to join the Green Lantern Corps and placed under the supervision of respected senior Lantern Sinestro. The earthling soon discovers his mentor is actually the central figure in a secret conspiracy that threatens the philosophies, traditions and hierarchy of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Hal must quickly hone his newfound powers and combat the treasonous Lanterns within the ranks to maintain order in the universe.

The Canadian-born Garber first captured national attention in his 1973 big screen debut as Jesus in Godspell. Garber’s film credits include Titanic, Milk and Sleepless in Seattle, while his television career boasts six Emmy Award nominations spread over four different series, miniseries and movies. He earned a Saturn Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for his portrayal of Sydney Bristow’s mysterious father in Alias, and most recently was featured in Eli Stone and Justice.

The toast of Broadway for more than three decades, Garber has four Tony Award nominations for a career of performances that range from the Devil in Damn Yankees! to originating the role of John Wilkes Booth in Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins.

Though Garber has recorded books on tape and done some narration for television, Green Lantern: First Flight represents his first-ever voiceover performance for animation. It is an ear-catching performance that captures Sinestro’s true sinister nature. Garber stole a few moments during his New York-based Green Lantern: First Flight recording sessions to chat about his first-ever animation experience, his hero-posturing co-star, Simon Cowell’s attitude, and the directing tornado that is Andrea Romano.

For your enjoyment and, of course, liberal use in your journalistic endeavors, here is the first in a series of Q&A interviews with Green Lantern: First Flight voiceover cast members and filmmakers – this one featuring the voice of Sinestro, Victor Garber.

Sinestro pursues a murderer in “Green Lantern: First Flight,” the all-new DC Universe animated original movie set for distribution July 28, 2009

QUESTION: How did you settle on the voice of Sinestro?

VICTOR GARBER: The challenge of bringing this character to life was to find exactly the right tone. My tendency would be to make it a little too colorful, but Andrea (Romano) and Bruce (Timm) gave direction that was very specifically to modulate it and find the right tone. It was interesting because with animation, it’s all voice – at the recording stage of the process, you don’t even really know what it’s going to look like. But when I read the script, I had sort of an idea of the sound of Sinestro, because it was very specifically written – and very well written – so you could understand the sense of humor and irony in this character. I appreciated that.

QUESTION: How does Sinestro compare to other characters you've played before?

VICTOR GARBER: Having played the the ultimate villain as the Devil many years ago in Damn Yankees!, I found Sinestro was just kind of a modification of that character. The thing about villains is that they all think they're doing the right thing, and Sinestro believes that what he's doing is for the better, that it's going to improve the universe. The scariest part about a villain is that you know, at any cost, human life or super-powered life, they will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal. They believe in their cause, and Sinestro fits that mold.

QUESTION: Do you enjoy playing the villain?

VICTOR GARBER: I like to play any character that has dimension and complexity and if he happens to be a villain, great. If he happens to be heroic, great. I just like well-written roles.

Sinsetro tries to get past his frustration as he trains Hal Jordan in Green Lantern: First Flight

QUESTION: What development did you put into the voice?

VICTOR GARBER: I actually read the script aloud a couple of times and sort of experimented with a certain qualities. In the script, it says – and maybe this was a bit misleading – but it refers to Sinestro as having a bit of a Simon Cowell attitude. I tried not to let that influence me too much, but Sinestro is sarcastic and he’s got a real edge. So I played with it, and once I got into the studio with Andrea, the voice really came out.

QUESTION: What was your impression of Sinestro’s dialogue?

VICTOR GARBER: When I first read the script, I came to these four-paragraph speeches, and that always alarms me a little bit because with anything (that long), you really have to figure out how you're going to shape the entire piece. But they're well written, and they have a definite rhythm. So I sort of read it aloud in the privacy of my own home, because I just wanted to get the sound of it – you don’t want to be tripping over your words when you get to the studio. So I had a sense of what I wanted to achieve and it worked out pretty well.

It’s important to prepare and understand the entire script, not just your lines. You don’t want to upstage the other actors. If it’s a scene with two or three or five people, you really basically need to think, “How am I communicating with all these people?” Everybody in this mix makes it whole, and I think they've assembled a really good group of people for this film.

Sinestro and Hal Jordan assess an oncoming battle

QUESTION: Speaking of the cast, you’re playing opposite Christopher Meloni’s heroic Green Lantern, and you had the opportunity to act with each other in the booth. How was that experience?

VICTOR GARBER: Chris was very disappointing (LAUGHS). Christopher Meloni is a really great actor and I'm a huge fan of his -- the opportunity to work with him was really my incentive to do it. I'm on a little break, I’ve just come back from Morocco, I was jet lagged and my agent called and I thought, “Two days in the studio with Chris Meloni? I can do that.” We had a lot of fun. He really does exude the heroic quality that Green Lantern would embody. It was funny because you’re in the studio and you're focused on the microphone, reading the script – you hear each other in your headphones so you can play off each other, but you don’t really look at each other. And occasionally I would catch a glimpse of him – striking the (super hero) pose. He was definitely in character.

QUESTION: Did your previous work on the stage and screen help prepare you for this style of performance?

VICTOR GARBER: From my experience as an actor, every role you do helps you build a kind of a repertoire of characters that you pull things from unconsciously. This is very different from anything I've done on television or even on stage. But my job as an actor is to imbue it with some sort of authenticity and truth – to make it believable. I didn’t pull anything for Sinestro from any specific character I’ve played in the past. They're all different.

Sinestro (center) and fellow Lanterns (from left) Boodikka, Kilowog and Tomar-Re take their first look at new recruit Hal Jordan

QUESTION: From Nora Ephron to Gus Van Sant to James Cameron, you’ve worked with some impressive directors. What was your impression of your first voiceover under the direction of Andrea Romano?

VICTOR GARBER: Andrea is a task maker. She's brilliant at her job, I have to say. You just feel confident that there's someone in the booth that's really watching out for you. She’s very specific, she knows what she wants, and she's relentless at getting it – which is a great thing because then you know that the product is going to be the best it can be. I had a great time with her.

QUESTION: Based on this first experience, are you interested in doing more voiceovers for animation?

VICTOR GARBER: Well, I hope that people like what we’ve done and I hope I get more work from it, but you never know. It was challenging in that it requires some very specific techniques with the microphone, things that you would do naturally that you can’t do during a voiceover. There are constraints that you're required to pay attention to. But it was completely fun to do and challenging only in the best sense. I’d like to do more.

Please visit the film’s official website at www.greenlanternmovie.com

Trademark information for the images:
GREEN LANTERN © Warner Bros. Ent Inc. "Wonder Woman" and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday 22 May 2010
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GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT INTERVIEW - LAUREN MONTGOMERY

Posted by High Ball

DIRECTOR LAUREN MONTGOMERY DISCUSSES GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT, THE NEXT DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL FILM COMING TO DVD JULY 28, 2009

Warner Bros. animated have sent us the next Green Lantern: First Flight interview. Fresh off her triumphant solo directorial debut of Wonder Woman, Lauren Montgomery shifts gears from Amazons and mythology to intergalactic intrigue as the director of Green Lantern: First Flight, the fifth in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies.

Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are set to release the all-new Green Lantern: First Flight on July 28, 2009. The Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def edition, the special edition 2-disc DVD, and a single disc DVD will be distributed by Warner Home Video. The action-packed movie will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download day and date, July 28, 2009.

Montgomery has been a central force within the DC Universe animated original movies, directing one-third of the series’ initial film, Superman Doomsday, and wowing critics and fans alike with her solo directorial debut at the helm of Wonder Woman. With Green Lantern: First Flight, Montgomery takes the next step in her burgeoning career, directing the initial full-length story to feature the DC Comics super hero and an entire universe of fascinating characters. She is once again teamed with executive producer Bruce Timm, this time working from an Alan Burnett script that focuses on Hal Jordan’s recruitment to the Green Lantern Corps and his discovery of a secret conspiracy that threatens its philosophies, traditions and hierarchy.

There is no rest for the weary. Though Green Lantern: First Flight has just completed production, Montgomery has already begun directing her next project – another upcoming DCU that you’ll no doubt hear about in the not-too-distant future. Montgomery paused between recording sessions and storyboards to chat about the directorial learning curve, a new universe of astounding characters, a very cool quartet of key voiceover actors, and the tricks to avoiding greens and yellows for an entire background color palette.

Read on … it’s director Lauren Montgomery talking about Green Lantern: First Flight...

It’s Hal Jordan to the rescue in Green Lantern: First Flight, the all-new DC Universe animated original movie set for distribution July 28, 2009 by Warner Home Video.

QUESTION: Will Green Lantern: First Flight be in the well-known design of Bruce Timm, or be more of the Lauren Montgomery vision from Wonder Woman?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: We’re actually having a lot of fun trying different artistic styles on different movies – Bruce felt his style has been done enough, and I just had my turn – plus I knew there were many other character designers who are infinitely better at designing aliens that I am. We were lucky to get Jose Lopez to create the characters for Green Lantern. I think he even took a pay cut from his last job to do Green Lantern, but this project really allows him to let his animation go wild. You’ve never seen anything like some of his designs for this film. His take on the familiar characters is fairly true to form, but he’s designed – literally – an entire universe of completely new characters in the different Green Lanterns, aliens and background characters. There are a lot of awesome, fantastical creatures. Like me, Jose is trained in animation instead of comics, so his style really lends itself to being animated – and everything he's done has looked spectacular. I think it's really looking different from anything we've ever done.

QUESTION: Did Jose ever over-step any boundaries and need to be reined in?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: Actually, his first designs were a little too stylized. For the main characters, the designs were a little too streamlined – we had to make Sinestro more like the comics. But once he got that figured out, he really went crazy. It was exciting to see him come in with these characters. Even his Weaponer designer is far different than what we’ve seen before, but DC was okay with it. So we just let him run wild.

QUESTION: Were there any beyond-the-norm issues strategizing a color scheme for a film with an entire army of characters wearing the same color?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: We tried desperately to avoid as much green as we could in backgrounds and supporting characters, so the Green Lanterns and the rings and their effects were the only green portions of the scene. We also tried to stay away from copious amounts of yellow – so that would make an impact later in the film. When you eliminate two of the main colors, it kind of limits you, so we had to utilize a lot of shades of blue, red and orange, and I think we were able to make it work. It was a really wise decision on Bruce's part to keep the green and the yellow to the characters that were defined by that color.

Lauren Montgomery focused on the big picture in directing Green Lantern: First Flight, but she take the time to do the character design on Boodikka (voiced by Tricia Helfer).

QUESTION: Did you learn anything directing Wonder Woman that you were able to apply and/or improve upon for Green Lantern: First Flight?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: Wonder Woman taught me that you can't board the whole movie by yourself (she laughs), so I just let my storyboard artists do their job on Green Lantern. I let them come up with their ideas and I focused on keeping everything cohesive. Ultimately, I think the movie is better for it. I guess I learned to be more relaxed and to not be such a control freak. Which I think is good (laughs again). It certainly made my work load a lot easier.

QUESTION: How much origin story should Green Lantern fans expect to see?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: As we had already done the origin story a few movies back in Justice League: The New Frontier, we really didn't want to spend a whole lot of time telling that same story over again. So in Green Lantern: First Flight, the origin story is over and done before the opening credits. That way we get right into Hal Jordan’s first adventure.

QUESTION: What do the four main voice cast members bring to their roles?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: Christopher Meloni is a very serious actor and really got into the character to understand all the little nuances of exactly what Hal was thinking at every moment. He would ask very interesting, detailed, unexpected questions so he could totally get the mind set, and in doing so he was able to deliver an incredible performance that that really defines Hal as a confident hero, but not cocky or a jerk. Hal Jordan has a humor to him that isn't quite as big as the Flash, but still not stiff like Batman. Christopher was able to give us that fun side of Hal, too.

Victor Garber has this intimidating presence and power behind his deliveries where you can hear that Sinestro knows what he's doing, he's been through this before and he's pretty sure of himself. He gives Sinestro a very believable sense of suave sophistication. Sinestro is not your typical evil villain, and Victor Garber makes him seem like an incredibly intelligent, worldly guy who believes he is doing the right thing, even though he might not be doing it the correct way.

Kilowog is this big, hulking creature and he needed a voice that was really recognizable and had a strong presence. Michael Madsen was able to give us these line readings that we really didn’t expect – you can’t help laughing at his intonations – and he ends up with some of the funniest lines in the whole script. He even did some fake burps that are just ridiculous – you’ll actually hear a couple of those in the movie. It was just a match made in heaven, really.

Boodikka is not just your doe-eyed, token female – she has strength and believability without losing the feminine qualities of our primary female character. There aren’t a ton of women in the Green Lantern Corps – apparently it’s a male-dominated industry (she laughs). Tricia Helfer has a really sympathetic quality to her voice that captures the quieter side of Boodikka, but Tricia also has this amazing strength in her voice. She was able to make Boodikka this wonderful, relatable, three-dimensional character.

Director Lauren Montgomery said character designer Jose Lopez “ran wild” in creating a galaxy of new creatures for Green Lantern: First Flight

QUESTION: What made Alan Burnett’s script right for this first Green Lantern film?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: Alan delivered a Green Lantern script that really explored what being a space cop is all about. He didn't focus purely on the heroic Hal super power approach – it’s more of an overall Green Lantern Corps story and Hal's existence within that group. And it’s not Hal on Earth being a super hero – we’re in space for virtually the entire movie, so Alan gave us multiple backgrounds and scene settings so we could explore the galaxy. That made it even more interesting – seeing and exploring different alien locales and lifestyles. Being away from Earth is incredibly liberating in terms of design possibilities.

QUESTION: Without any spoilers, do you have a favorite scene?

LAUREN MONTGOMERY: We have a scene about 17 minutes into the movie when Hal and Sinestro go into this establishment looking for a killer, and even though you’ve already seen some of the alien Green Lanterns, this is the first time you get an eyeful of the alien characters that Jose Lopez designed. The place is packed with all these really cool aliens, and they’re all so crazy looking. But you know their personalities immediately. It’s a very tense, cool scene and you really get to see how different that world is from Earth. That’s the defining scene from the movie that lets you know you’re not in Kansas anymore.

For more information, images and updates, please visit the film’s official website at www.greenlanternmovie.com

Trademark information for the images: GREEN LANTERN © Warner Bros. Ent Inc. "Wonder Woman" and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday 21 May 2009
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GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT INTERVIEW - JULIET LANDAU GOES SULTRY ALIEN

Posted by High Ball

BUFFY, ANGEL STAR JULIET LANDAU GOES SULTRY ALIEN IN GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT, THE NEXT DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL FILM COMING TO DVD JULY 28, 2009

Warner Bros. Animated have sent us an interview with Actress Juliet Landau, a fanboy favorite from her devious appearances on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, easily glides into the voice of sultry alien Labella in Green Lantern: First Flight, the next DC Universe animated original PG-13 movie coming to DVD on July 28, 2009.

Warner Premiere, DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation are set to release the all-new Green Lantern: First Flight in a Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def edition, a special edition 2-disc DVD, and a single disc DVD. Warner Home Video will distribute the action-packed movie, which will also be available OnDemand and Pay-Per-View as well as available for download day and date, July 28, 2009.

Landau is best known for her portrayal of vampire Drusilla in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. She initially turned heads with standout performances in Tim Burton’s Ed Wood and opposite Whoopi Goldberg in Theodore Rex; she has done oodles of voiceover work, including recurring roles on Justice League Unlimited and Ben 10: Alien Force; and she has three upcoming films in various stages of production.

Turning her attention behind the camera, Landau has received notable praise for her initial pair of directing gigs. She helmed Take Flight, a documentary centering on the creative process of actor/director Gary Oldman, which drew rave reviews at a recent advance screening. Her co-direction of the Godhead music video, Hero, is garnering widespread Internet acclaim. She also has been busy at the keyboard, co-writing the Drusilla story line for the Angel comic books as well as scripting It’s Raining Cats and Cats, a short film in which she intends to play seven different roles.

Christopher Meloni provides the voice of Hal Jordan, the alter ego of the title character in Green Lantern: First Flight. The cast includes Victor Garber, Tricia Helfer and Michael Madsen. Landau offers a Cajun-style vocal performance for Labella, a mistress of the seedier side of the universe in which the Green Lantern Corps patrol.

Landau and Meloni have worked closely together in the past, starring as brother and sister in the 1999 award-winning independent film Carlo’s Wake. Landau is also another member of the growing legion of Whedonverse actors to figure prominently in a DC Universe film. Among Whedon/DCU alums are Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, James Marsters and David Boreanaz, with a few more on the DCU horizon.

Fortunately for the masses, Landau carved a few minutes out of her busy schedule to chat about voiceover work, the development of her Green Lantern: First Flight character, and the ability to grow and create in the entertainment business. So sit back and enjoy an intriguing Q&A with Juliet Landau …

Labella (left) attempts to dissuade Sinestro from pursuing additional, potentially harmful interrogation during Green Lantern: First Flight, an all-new DC Universe animated original movie set for distribution July 28, 2009 by Warner Home Video. Actress Juliet Landau (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) performs the voice of Labella.

QUESTION: What is the enticement of voiceover for animation?

JULIET LANDAU: It is so much fun! You get to sit with a bunch of actors and play. Really play! There’s no hair and make-up, no primping – just absolute, uninhibited creativity. That’s the real joy of acting. And it doesn’t get any better than working with Bruce Timm and Andrea Romano.

QUESTION: Do you have a preference for the type of characters you play?

JULIET LANDAU: I like playing all different kinds of characters. Each one is it’s own little puzzle. Aliens are fun because you have a lot of freedom. The voice of Labella just came to me when I read the pages in a kind of organic in a way. I immediately felt like she had to sound the way I played her. When I came in for looping (pick up sound work) Andrea Romano described my Labella sound as “honey-voiced.” I think that really captures it.

QUESTION: Tell us about Labella?

JULIET LANDAU: There was a lot of room for invention in this character, especially with the device they use with her. I don’t want to give it away, but she does go through a bit of torture and it causes a rift between Sinestro and Hal. I really liked the sexuality and the flirtatiousness of the character. She’s very different from any of the characters I’ve voiced on Justice League Unlimited or Ben 10: Alien Force – she’s a completely unique character.

QUESTION: You spent some time acting alongside Christopher Meloni as brother and sister in Carlo’s Wake. Do you have any good tales to tell about our Hal Jordan?


Labella fears the power of the purple sphere – and what Sinestro intends to do with it – in a telling scene from Green Lantern: First Flight.

JULIET LANDAU: Carlo’s Wake revolved around a big Italian family gathering together at the patriarch’s funeral. The immediate “Torello” family rehearsed at my house prior to shooting. I remember working on this funny scene where (Chris Meloni’s character) Benny tells me about his existential crisis while out on the fishing boats catching tuna. With despondency, he asks something like, “What is it all for?” And my character Anna, who was not the sharpest tool in the shed, says something akin to .”I thought it was so’s we could have tuna salad sandwiches …”

Chris was flown to New York while we were shooting to meet with Garry Marshall about Runaway Bride. Upon returning, he came into the make-up room and told us about the meeting and we were all saying, “It sounds like you’re gonna get this!” And indeed, he did.

QUESTION: When did you start comics writing, and what’s the attraction of the written word?

JULIET LANDAU: My first foray into comics is a two-issue arc about Drusilla for Angel: After the Fall. I am co-writing with Brian Lynch and enjoying it immensely. The first issue will be out in July, the second in August. I have been working with 3 different artists on some of the imagery and cover art as well. I also wrote a short film called, It’s Raining Cats and Cats, which I will co-direct. Exploring these different facets of creativity has been truly inspiring. As an actor, you’re a component; but when you’re writing and directing, it is your vision of the whole project, which is very appealing. Take Flight has been an amazing experience. Gary Oldman directed a music video shot entirely on Nokia cell phones. Initially he asked me to direct the “Making Of.” But what started out solely as a behind-the-scenes “Making Of,” bloomed into a short documentary film about Gary’s creative process. He loves the movie because it shows him in a light he’s never been seen.

For more information, images and updates, please visit the film’s official website at www.greenlanternmovie.com

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