August Newsletter
MEG vs THE LOCH: Which movie will come out first?
Two different projects, two different tracks. MEG is the bigger budgeted movie
and farther along in terms of piecing together a package (script, producers,
etc) but THE LOCH is gaining fast. By shear coincidence, MEG: Hell's Aquarium
(hardback) and The LOCH (mass market paperback) will BOTH debut in May of 2009
as a creature double feature. MY THOUGHTS: Both novels will make incredible
movies that I'd love to see, so here's hoping. More updates as they come in.
MEG: Hell's Aquarium - WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Erik Hollander has designed two amazing book covers and we are STILL not sure
which one to use. YOU DECIDE! Go to my website and cast your vote for the preferred
hardback cover design! One vote per e-mail please. So far it's 54%-45 % too
close to call. We'll make a decision on September 1st.
Go to SteveAlten.com to Vote...
THE SHELL GAME & THE 2008 ELECTION
As mentioned above, we are making one last "surge" to promote THE
SHELL GAME in September through to the November Presidential election. One reason
is that many of the threads running through the novel are quite factual, or
(God help us) may soon come true. (completed in late 2005, the book correctly
predicted McCain as the GOP candidate, the steep rise in oil, some serious 9/11
reveals, and a lot more). The SHELL GAME also details an "October surprise"
which would be an act of terror that would swing or potentially postpone the
election so that Bush and Cheney would use an event as an excuse to "bomb
bomb bomb Iran." (McCain's sick quote).
The original "October surprise" dates back to the 1980 Presidential
election. The American Embassy in Tehran was invaded, the Americans inside taken
as hostages. President Carter was preparing to implement a secret rescue. When
the Reagan-Bush campaign heard about the rescue, they launched a major publicity
blitz warning the public that President Carter was timing an `October surprise'
solely to win the election. Meanwhile, former CIA director George Bush and other
members of the Reagan team were secretly meeting with high-level Iranian and
Israeli representatives in a hotel in Paris, forging an agreement that promised
to award Iran with arms and spare military parts in return for agreeing not
to release the American hostages until after the November election. On October
21, Iran publicly broke off negotiations with the Carter Administration, dispersing
the hostages to several different locations a day later in order to dissuade
another rescue. Two days later, a planeload of F-4 aircraft tires arrived in
Iran from Israel without the Carter Administration's knowledge. Reagan won the
election and the hostages were released on January 21, 1981, only minutes after
the Republican nominee was sworn in as President. (And now, as Paul Harvey would
say, you know the rest of the story.) What happens in THE SHELL GAME is far
more serious 9/11 serious.
LIVING TIPS: Must-See Video I
Watching this short video could SAVE YOUR LIFE or the life of a loved one. Apparently,
tire dealers are selling old tires as new and these tires can lead to fatal
blowouts!
Watch and learn how to revent being a statistic...
LIVING TIPS: Must-See Video II
Aspertame dangers! Other names for aspartame: Equal, Nutrasweet, Sugar Twin.
As CEO of G.D. Searle, Donald Rumsfeld (late 1970s) pushed the FDA to approve
a chemical called "aspartame" as an artificial sweetener. For eight
years the FDA refused to certify aspartame as safe because it produced seizures
and brain tumors in lab animals. SO WHAT HAPPENED? When Ronald Reagan became
president he removed the FDA commissioner who was blocking its acceptance. Rumsfeld's
company followed up by presenting the FDA "new and improved" studies
showing the additive to be safe. The data presented was later proven to have
been FALSFIED, but aspartame hit the market anyway. Take the time to watch this
video if you or loved ones consume artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is a dangerous
substance that causes cumulative damage to the brain and immune system. As someone
suffering from Parkinsons, with three friends with MS, I found it pretty frightening.
(I may have to burn these guys in hell in GRIM REAPER)
Watch Video...
Pitch The Pros
Professional or amateur filmmakers there's a new website where you can showcase
your films and ideas to film distributors and executives. So if you need distribution
for your film or have an idea to pitch, this is the site for YOU!
You can showcase your films and/or ideas by three (3) different showcase options. For as little as $19.95 per month you can obtain membership and showcase your film to distributors from all over the world! PitchThePros.com will be marketing the website to the industry 24/7 through various campaigns and outlets all year round!
Also, PitchThePros.com will be attending The American Film Market (AFM) in November. The AFM is the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood's decision-makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof.
PitchThePros.com Grand Opening Promo will be a contest that begins September 1st. The first 250 filmmakers that registers and uploads trailers and scenes will be on a looping reel at the market. PLUS beginning in September the public will be rating film submissions and the top 10 will be pitched at the AFM. Also, the first 250 will be included in 7 drawings for a FREE day pass into the market!
Either way ALL 250 filmmakers that register by August 31st, will be promoted at the AFM through the website as a whole. And the top 10 finalists will receive EXCLUSIVE promotion in their booth at the market!
NOTE: Contest entry deadline is August 31st OR when they have 250 filmmakers which ever comes first.
In addition, if you have a way of contacting filmmakers and helping PitchThePros.com get the word out to filmmakers worldwide, please contact Leisa Coffman at (866) 745-6964.
Go to PitchThePros.com
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS: New edition of MEG:
The new publisher is APELLES, the new ISBN is 978- 1-59955-169-2. Teachers can
order quantities at discounts by calling 800-SKY-BOOK or contacting their local
book stores.
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That's all for now. Stay well, stay safe have a safe rest of the summer and know this author appreciates you very much.
Sincerely,
Steve Alten
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Email: meg82159@aol.com
Web: http://www.stevealten.com