#heatherly dawn

[fightinglikeaman]

Heatherly Dawn

[rockymountainmayhem]

So please don't give a thought to me, I'm really doin' fine

You can always find me here, I'm havin' quite a time

Countin' flowers on the wall

That don't bother me at all

Playin' solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one

Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo

Now don't tell me I've nothin' to do

[rallamajoop]

An update on that charity auction thing (or, how I spent several months constructing elaborate headcanons about undercover agent air hostesses instead of just writing the damn fic)

Point the first: I still have not written the auction-winner's fic which I owe from way back in January. Her request called for case fic starring one of UNCLE's recurring female cast, such as Sarah Johnson or Heather McNabb, which was all well and good.

The sensible thing for me to do at this point would probably have been to churn out something starring Sarah, who is My Favourite and the much better developed of the two (I've had half-an-idea for something along those lines for ages). Heather (who, for all her established qualifications, mostly seems to be stuck being the girl back at the office who answers the phone) gives you far less to work with character-wise -- so little that the question of how to make a case-fic starring her work at all struck me as a real conundrum.

Unfortunately, I never can resist a good conundrum, and that's the long and short of how I found myself mentally committed to filling out that auction fic the hard way.

I could ramble on about the process here,* but the bottom line is that I've had the thing basically plotted out since around, oh, May or June or so, minus a few key details that remain sticking points (like a rather infuriating innocent-shaped-hole in the story). It was there that it dawned on me that one of the little details I really ought to have pinned down about Heather herself -- at least in my head, whether or not it came up in the story -- was the dangling question of just who her roommate was.

Some context: among the few things we do learn about Heather in her very first appearance is this bit of dialogue from Napoleon:

Napoleon: Oh, no, Heather's been with us almost a year. She used to be a stewardess. She rooms with--

But Waverly cuts him off there, so we never hear who she rooms with -- let alone why Napoleon might thing it worth mentioning to his superior.

 Knowing Napoleon, the obvious answer is that Heather rooms with some other attractive young woman he has dated, or would like to date -- perhaps another beautiful UNCLE girl (or stewardess). All the same, I spent some time casting for alternate possibilities before my brain inevitably went, "Well, duh, it's Wanda Townsend from S3 -- the other stewardess-cum-UNCLE-staffer, who very nearly became Heather herself? Who else would it be?"

This would call for a little context from what has become my specialty subject in the land of fandom trivia, the women of UNCLE. See, back before May Heatherly was cast as Heather McNabb, the role very nearly went to an actress called Sharyn Hillyer, who had a small role in the UNCLE pilot as the stewardess on the plane with Napoleon in the final scene (pic on the left below). I'm halfway-convinced that line I just quoted about how Heather used to be a stewardess could very well be an artifact leftover from when Hillyer was in the lead for the role, by way of explaining to the audience why a woman we'd last seen playing a stewardess was suddenly working for UNCLE as of episode 2 (it's certainly more interesting than to assume the writers were simply going "how can we make this sexy woman even MORE sexy to our straight-male-target-audience?" -- which it might still be, but I digress).

Hillyer's story on UNCLE doesn't end there, however, because she was eventually cast as a recurring UNCLE girl (the affore-mentioned Wanda Townsend) starting with The Indian Affairs Affair at the end of S2. But by Indian Affairs, Hillyer was actually making her third appearance in the show -- just 4 episodes previously, she'd appeared as another stewardess in The Project Deephole Affair (pic on the right above).

There's nothing remarkable about the same actress getting called back for multiple different roles in a show like UNCLE, of course, but the neat thing about Hillyer's parts is that you can so easily headcanon them them all into the same character. Her stewardess character from the pilot certainly seems to know Napoleon -- perhaps even who he works for -- and though it's subtler in Project Deephole, I always did like the idea she might just have been an UNCLE plant there too, helping keep an eye on the episode's hapless innocent. Heck, if UNCLE (read: probably Napoleon) canonically recruited one stewardess into their regular staff with Heather, why shouldn't there be more?

Now, I reiterate, to this point I have already dedicated north of 4K words to the subject of these characters and their place in UNCLE, from every obvious angle (and a number of less obvious). But so habituated had I become to thinking of the various Wandas as underdeveloped punchlines, and of the 60's stewardess as a one-dimensional male fantasy, that I am ashamed to admit it was only now that it hit me: recruiting stewardesses as UNCLE staff isn't just a convenient backstory for a couple of bit-parts, it's an act of genius!

Not seeing it? Let me explain!

To start with, the stewardess is the perfect courier. She might travel anywhere in the world as part of her daily routine, carrying items on and off the plane without half the fuss facing the average traveler. If there's a person of interest among the passengers, the stewardess is the one person on the plane who can walk by his seat a dozen times in an hour without looking the least bit suspicious, who can "helpfully" take an interest in whatever he's doing. Many in the job speak multiple languages, and what better job to give you familiarity with locations across the country, if not the world? Finally, after all that time in customer service, she'll have ample practice at sizing people up at a glance, quickly remembering names and faces, and maintaining a cheery smile no matter how much stress she's under (which may well include real life-or-death situations, given that air safety in the 60s was not what it is today). All invaluable skills for the budding spy!**

And if UNCLE aren't forward-thinking enough to have put all that together long ago, you can bet your liver Napoleon would be the one to rectify it. What better way to pass some microfilm to a courier than to conceal it in a bunch of roses, to be presented to his latest stewardess-girlfriend over dinner (during which he'll ask if she's ever been to Paris -- oh, you're scheduled to fly out this week? You must try this little shop -- let me write down the address -- ask for Jean-Louis, drop my name if you need to -- you won't regret it, I promise).

Heather may well have been one of his first recruits. This is all ancient history by the time we meet her, of course, as she's long since transferred to UNCLE New York full time (where, if her first bio is to be believed, she's since been promoted to head of Communications). Maybe she even personally recommended Wanda to Napoleon as another recruit. Wanda herself started out in nursing before moving to aviation (which was actually the normal career path for stewardesses back in the 30's, and far from unheard of even in the 50's and 60's -- neatly explaining how Wanda is qualified to give Napoleon all those shots in My Friend the Gorilla). Wanda was obviously spent at least a good couple of years working as one of UNCLE's stewardess-air-couriers, given she's in the same job from the pilot right up until late S2,  But by this point, Heather had long-since disappeared from the office (probably transferred to some other UNCLE office elsewhere in the world), and the New York office was short-staffed, so this would be when Napoleon talks Wanda into transferring to the office full time.

This is also where it all starts to go wrong. Napoleon, inveterate flirt that he is, leaves Wanda with the impression that he wasn't just offering her a transfer, he was also asking her to go steady -- and when it comes right down to it, both of them were a little at fault for that bit of miscommunication. Gentleman that he is, Napoleon did his best not to let her down when he realised the mistake (see: dates mentioned in Monks of St Thomas and Pop Art). But truthfully he just wasn’t that into Wanda, and got far too much use out of charm in the field (see: Do It Yourself Dreadful) to stay faithful very long. (Sharyn Hillyer herself once suggested that the particular joy Wanda takes out of sticking Napoleon with all those needles in Gorilla was a subtle little bit of revenge for all that cheating, and I don't think I can add much to that.) But by the end of the season, she's come to terms with the reality of the situation. (Maybe she has a rebound office-fling with Paul Westcott, guaranteeing maximum shadenfreude when Napoleon inevitably found out about her new beau).

No-one else at UNCLE has any great sympathy for Napoleon through all this. It may not have been entirely his own fault, but he absolutely brings it on himself.

(FWIW, feel free to adopt any part of all that needlessly-elaborate headcanon for your own fic use if you like it. I mean, I’d like to hear about it if you do, but c'mon -- now that I've put the idea in your head, there's just no way Napoleon isn't recruiting stewardesses to UNCLE's cause, is there?)

All well and good, but jumping back several topics, it is now still over 6 months since I promised that fic, and excited as I am by all this backstory, I am no closer to having anything to show for it. What the hell, thought I, even if there isn't a proper fic in all this, surely I can at least get a short prelude ficlet about how Heather was originally recruited to UNCLE out of it. I'll still have the case-fic to write, but I should be able to bang it out quickly as a quick apology to my requester for making her wait so long.

Naturally, this was my cue to... start furiously researching the world of the 60's stewardess, buy two different books, track down a library copy of a third, watch a few documentaries and generally get myself so excited over the research aspect that the fic still hasn't been written.

Over air hostesses. No, I know. I was not expecting this either.

But easy as it is to write them off as an outdated male fantasy, the world of the 60′s stewardess turned out to be a mess of fascinating contradictions -- not to mention a truly enlightening (and frequently horrifying) window into the world of Cold War gender politics. In an era when aviation was still something new, exciting and prohibitively expensive to the masses, it's hard to overstate how much it meant to some of these women just to have the opportunity to fly. So many applied for every opening that the airlines could pick and choose. Many if not most had college educations, spoke two or even more languages -- a small handful even had pilots licenses, but the airlines wouldn't hire female pilots, so they took the next best thing.

Yet for all their qualifications, no-one could hope to be hired if she didn't meet the airline's exacting beauty standards, and girls could be fired for no more than putting on a few pounds or turning up in the wrong underwear. They were 'acceptable' to mores of the day only because they played a suitably servile role, usually for no more than a year or two before leaving the job to get married (wedded stewardesses were, of course, forbidden) -- but a minority still made the work into a lifelong career, used their salaries to buy homes and independence, and their image in the fight for feminist causes. And for all that the airlines had originally hired women in the belief they'd be that much less likely to unionise and make trouble, there seems to have almost never been a time before these women had begun fighting for their rights. My reading list includes two different personal accounts from former stewardesses, both of whom worked 5 years for the same airline, barely a decade apart, and their experiences could hardly be more diametrically opposed. It's fascinating.

...and 2K more words of meta later, I still have not written my fic.

It's coming, I promise. It’s just not exactly written just yet. >.>

(Quite possibly there is yet another post’s worth of shameless history-geek-out over the world of the airline stewardess coming too, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point.)

* Did I mention I also spent some of those months finishing a PhD and starting a new full-time job again for the first time in years? I don’t mention this to boast, it’s just, well, that sort of thing does get a bit distracting. Ahem.

** Lest you imagine I’ve come up with anything remotely original here, I’d point out that while researching the topic, I also discovered that idea of stewardesses as spies was a major plot point in the short-lived 2011 series Pan Am. It wasn’t a particularly great show -- I barely made it two episodes in -- but it did spark enough online discussion that I have seen former flight attendants (and various other commentators) both dismiss it as ridiculous, and suggest there was no way it didn’t happen -- especially once regular commercial Russian flights began. So take that as you will.

[dansmithfyp]

Zak Snyder

Zak Synder

Snyder is a director whose way of directing is torn by fans of film due to his unique style of how he focuses on the visuals of a film. He was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, US, on 1st March 1966. Being raised in Riverside, Connecticut. After completing high school, he studied painting for a year at Heatherly School of Fine Art in England. This is most likely where he picked up his massive interest within visuals and how his interest within paintings, transferred over into his film work.

He made his film debut in 2004 when he directed Dawn of the Dead, this was a remake of the 1978 film of the same name by George Romero. The success from his first film, led to him being able to gain success within Hollywood. He has directed numerous films such as 300, Man of Steel, and his own Snyder Cut of Justice League. Snyder is known for making films about comic book adaptations, or superhero films. Leading into him directing several movies within the DC Extended Universe. He seems to work within darker themes within his films, using darker colours but also not being afraid to use brighter colours to help set the tone. He tends to use slow motion scenes within his films also, which are divided on opinion.

[intacodez]

Anunciado DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders

Outright Games ha anunciado hoy su colaboración con Universal Games para el desarrollo de DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders, un juego que presenta una nueva historia dentro del exitoso universo de DreamWorks Dragons.

Desarrollado por Climax Studios y distribuido por Bandai Namco y sus filiales, DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders se lanzará para PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One y Nintendo Switch. El juego se pondrá a la venta en Europa en febrero de 2019, para coincidir con el lanzamiento de la película Cómo entrenar a tu dragón 3.

Terry Malham, presidente ejecutivo de Outright Games, ha declarado:

Hace ocho años que se estrenó la primera película de Cómo entrenar a tu dragón, que fue el origen de una franquicia muy querida que ha enamorado al público de todo el mundo e inspirado toda una serie de películas, series de televisión, etcétera. DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders nos ofrece una oportunidad única de colaborar con Universal y formar parte de la historia de los dragones. Crearemos una historia original que presentará a dos nuevos personajes muy especiales. ¡Estamos deseando poder desvelar más detalles!.

Los jugadores acompañarán a dos nuevos héroes, Scribbler y Patch, y vivirán una épica batalla en pos de salvar a los dragones y derrotar a Eir, una nueva villana que está controlando a los dragones para llevar a cabo planes malvados. En esta nueva y divertida aventura, se enfrentarán a feroces enemigos, explorarán tanto ubicaciones nuevas como otras ya conocidas e interactuarán con varios de los personajes favoritos de los aficionados.

Características

Una nueva aventura

Ayuda a Scribble a recuperar sus recuerdos y a forjar una amistad con Patch, su híbrido de dragón único.

Combates épicos

Desbloquea poderosas habilidades y haz frente a temibles enemigos.

Explora vastas ubicaciones nuevas

Vuela a entornos ya conocidos y a lugares nuevos, como Havenholme, la montaña de Valka o la isla Zarza de Sangre.

Resuelve puzles

Alterna entre Scribbler y su dragón Patch para superar todos los obstáculos.

Chris Heatherly, vicepresidente ejecutivo de juegos y plataformas digitales de desarrollo de marca de Universal, ha comentado:

DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders invitará a los jugadores a vivir una nueva aventura que aunará una emotiva historia de amistad con misteriosos personajes nuevos y entornos místicos. Aunque la trilogía cinematográfica llega a su épica conclusión, este nuevo juego permitirá a los aficionados profundizar en un mundo que ha encandilado a mucha gente durante casi una década.

La entrada Anunciado DreamWorks Dragons Dawn of New Riders se publicó primero en Noticias.

https://ift.tt/2DoxeVU

[officialotakudome]

New Post has been published on Otaku Dome | The Latest News In Anime, Manga, Gaming, And More

New Post has been published on http://otakudome.com/the-mummy-game-coming/

The Mummy Game Coming

Wayforward and Starbreeze will bring a video game based on The Mummy in August:

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, June 8, 2017 — Universal Brand Development announced today that fans will be able to continue the epic-adventure of The Mummy beyond the big screen with three new digital experiences: The Mummy Prodigium Strike location-VR game; The Mummy Dark Universe Stories mobile game; and The Mummy Demastered console game. The Mummy arrives in theaters this Friday.

“As Universal makes a strategic push into gaming, we felt The Mummy was the perfect place to start,” said Chris Heatherly, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Games and Digital Platforms, Universal Brand Development. “We worked with the best developers in their fields and took creative risks to imagine exciting new ways for fans to enter the Dark Universe.”

The Mummy Prodigium Strike is a groundbreaking location-based experience developed by VR pioneer Starbreeze Studios, in which players take on the role of a Prodigium agent and are tasked with capturing the ancient princess Ahmanet—all the while battling hordes of ravens, spiders and the undead. From a helicopter hovering above to the intense action on the ground, players must protect their fellow agents as the Mummy grows in power, battling to the finish to either capture her, or be her slave for eternity. The Mummy Prodigium Strike utilizes the 210-degree virtual reality headset StarVR and a unique set of 4D experience-enhancing elements, allowing users to fully transport themselves into the new world of gods and monsters. Fans can experience The Mummy Prodigium Strike in Los Angeles at Hollywood & Highland Center and at IMAX VR center in Los Angeles and New York City. Tickets are available now for $15 on location at Hollywood & Highland, and for $12 at www.IMAXVR.com.

The Mummy Dark Universe Stories, from Night School Studio – makers of the award-winning Oxenfree as well as the critically acclaimed Mr. Robot mobile game – is an episodic, supernatural adventure game for iOS and Android mobile devices that picks up right where the movie leaves off. Players will take on the role of Nick Morton, the protagonist of The Mummy, and choose from multiple narrative options in an immersive tale, filled with dynamic comic-style illustrations. Every turn reveals a decision that changes the outcome of the storyline, and new chapters will be added on a regular basis to take players even deeper into Dark Universe.  The game will launch later this month, but beginning today, Android mobile device owners can pre-register for the game on Google Play.

The Mummy Demastered from WayForward, known for pixel games that bring the look and fun of classic arcades to modern consoles, is a platforming adventure game based on The Mummy. Launching in late August 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam, players will enter a world of evil as an elite Prodigium agent who is tasked to take down Princess Ahmanet’s army of the undead and save the world at any cost. Players will explore dark forests, maze-like military compounds and the sandstorm-filled streets of London in this retro-inspired adventure.

About The Mummy

Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy. Thought safely entombed in a crypt deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Sofia Boutella of Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension. From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters. Cruise is joined by a cast including Annabelle Wallis (King Arthur, television’s Peaky Blinders), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Courtney B. Vance (TV’s American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson), Marwan Kenzari (The Promise) and Oscar® winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator). The creative team on this action-adventure event is led by director/producer Alex Kurtzman and producer Chris Morgan, who have been instrumental in growing some of the most successful franchises of the past several years — with Kurtzman writing or producing entries in the Transformers, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible series, and Morgan being the narrative engineer of the Fast & Furious saga as it has experienced explosive growth from its third chapter on. Sean Daniel, who produced the most recent Mummy trilogy, produces alongside Sarah Bradshaw (Maleficent), Kurtzman and Morgan. www.themummy.com

About Universal Brand Development Universal Brand Development globally drives expansion of the company’s intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Along with franchise brand management, Universal Brand Development’s core businesses include Consumer Products, Games and Digital Platforms, and Live Entertainment based on the company’s extensive portfolio of intellectual properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal cable and television. Universal Brand Development is a business segment of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, and part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA).