No one can stop Jack Bauer when TV’s greatest action hero is hellbent on racing the clock and saving the world on 24.

Not bloodthirsty terrorists. Not shady politicians. Not even a pesky cougar threatening his daughter in the woods.

But there was one formidable foe that even the great Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) couldn’t defeat last season: The Writers Guild of America.

Yes, the WGA is one sinister organization that bears watching in these perilous times.

When the writers’ went on strike last year for three months, only eight 24 episodes were in the can, not nearly enough for a full, nail-biting season fans have come to expect. So Fox pushed the show’s seventh season premiere back 18 excruciating months to January 2009.

Since Jack was going to be MIA for about the length of time it takes to elect a president in real life, the network worried -- and rightfully so -- that when he returned and started barking raspy orders and threats like only Jack can, viewers wouldn’t care anymore.

Enter 24: Redemption, a two-hour movie airing Sunday night (8 p.m., WFLX-Channel 29) that serves two functions: It re-introduces us to a softer, gentler Jack and jump-starts a series that was starting to feel a bit stale and one that is coming off its worst season ever.

The last time we saw Jack, he was standing on a cliff, holding a gun and blankly staring at the Pacific Ocean after enduring yet another very bad day that would’ve probably made most of us jump off said cliff.

Thankfully, Jack didn’t.

Sure, 24 has hit a few major speed bumps (how many times can you have a mole in CTU, for instance) and was starting to become as predictable as Monday following Sunday, but if movie producers successfully found a way to hit the reset button on such iconic film characters as James Bond and Batman, why can’t the same thing happen for Jack Bauer?

The first thing you’ll notice about Redemption is that it’s not set in Los Angeles, the only city the bad guys in 24’s universe ever really seem to care about blasting to smithereens.

The movie takes place in Sangala, a fictional, war-torn African country (the film was shot in South Africa and Washington, D.C.) where Jack is spending time with an old mentor (Trainspotting’s Robert Carlyle) and avoiding a subpoena from a Senate subcommittee that wants to question our intrepid hero about little nitpicky things like torture and illegal detention of prisoners.

“If they want me back in Washington,” Jack growls to his mentor, “they can come and get me.”

OK, some things never change. Jack still plays by his own rules and has major authority figure issues.

But who can blame the guy?

Despite laying his life on the line countless time for his country, Jack remains the Rodney Dangerfield of special agents -- he gets no respect on The Hill or anywhere else in the nation’s capital, for that matter. President Logan (the wonderful Gregory Itzin) even tried to have Jack killed, for crying out loud!

Although the globe-trotting agent has spent his time away from the U.S. trying to find peace, well, chaos, gunfire and explosions follow Jack like a long shadow.

In Redemption, Jack gets caught in the middle of a bloody coup led by a power-hungry general (Candyman’s Tony Todd) who’s kidnapping children and forcing them to join his rebel army. You know a general means business when he’s played by The Candyman.

The coup, of course, has U.S. ties in the person of Jonas Hodges (Jon Voight), a slimy sort whose black-ops company is providing the army’s cash and weapons.

No one plays a white-collar bad guy better than Voight. (See Mission: Impossible, Enemy of the State). Voight can make wearing a simple suit and tie look sinister. Having Voight and Todd in the same movie -- and series when 24 premieres Jan. 11 -- could make for some must-see viewing.

We also meet the new president-elect Allison Taylor (Tony winner Cherry Jones) who will clearly have a very nasty international crisis to deal with shortly after she’s sworn in as the nation’s first female commander-in-chief.

It all serves as a tasty appetizer to what 24 fans hope will become a juicy new season. The producers want Redemption to serve as bridge between seasons six and seven. The film does just that -- and does it well as it introduces a new villain, a new president and a refreshing new locale.

More important, it makes Jack Bauer matter again after such a long absence during which we saw the country’s mood shift dramatically as it elected its first African-American president. (Something the forward-thinking writers did on 24 did several seasons back.)

A more subdued Sutherland (he’s not in full kick-butt mode) remains sensational in a role he was born to play. The Emmy-winning actor can still say more with a blank stare or a one-word answer than he can with 10 pages of dialogue.

It’s T-minus 51 days until 24 returns.

Tick...tick...tick..

Courtesy Johnny Butane
DreadCentral.com



Earlier this week the local indie mavens making Beg, which to date had the likes of Tony Moran and Tiffany Shepis to boast in its cast, got the chance to add Tony Todd to their list of horror stars, and we’ve got the photographic evidence to prove it!

In Beg, Todd plays High School teacher Nathan McVay, though what his role is in the overall plot of the film is unknown. The story is of a cop (Moran) on the trail of a diabolical serial killer who’s cutting a swath of destruction across Massachusetts.

Be sure to hit the Beg MySpace page to learn more and check out the exclusive pics below!


webby's note: we will be adding a few more pics in the image gallery that were sent to us by the staff that were on hand the day of Tony's shoot!!

Director Craig Ross Jr. plans to create history by making his thought-provoking “The Mannsfield 12,” the first movie to be released on MySpace.com.



Set to turn the technological ties on independent movie distribution forever on September 29, 2008 -- “The Mannsfield 12,” which claimed Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 2007 American Black Film Festival -- will be released worldwide. The gripping drama details how 12 elite criminals, housed in the high-risk East Wing of a state penitentiary, are faced with crucial choices that test and show who they really are.



According to Ross, a new avenue for releasing movies is long overdue.



“Independent films that don’t have theatrical releases need a new business model. The old business model doesn’t benefit the filmmaker at all. It benefits the distributor,” Ross said.



Aaron D. Spears, both a star of the movie and a producer appreciates Ross’ vision to get the work out to the masses in a groundbreaking way.

“The whole internet aspect of generating revenue has been a huge selling point for me. Now we can go beyond regional distribution and open ourselves up to the world,” Spears said.

This is the 7th film for Ross, also a prolific director of TV shows such as “Bones,” “Cold Case,” “House M.D.,” Numbers,” “Prison Break” and “Strong Medicine.”



Many of Ross’ fans became entranced with his work through the cult favorite “Blue Hill Ave,” a contemporary gangster movie about the introduction of “crack” into the African-American section of Boston. The film stars Allen Payne, Clarence Williams III, William Forsythe and William Johnson. It was released theatrically by Artisan Entertainment in 2003.



“The Mannsfield 12,” was produced through Ross’ own Asiatic Inc. and Aaron D. Spears’ Henna, LLC. In addition to Spears, the movie also stars Tony Todd, Joe Torry, William Johnson and Thom Barry.



“ ‘The Mannsfield 12’ ” is special because it shows the human spirit. A lot of times we forget the power that each of us has to create what we want. I think this movie is a reminder that no matter how bad our situation is we can create something different simply by changing our minds,” Ross said.


To order the movie go to www.myspace.com/m12themovie.



For more information on the movie go to www.m12themovie.com.



For interviews, appearances and press information please contact Jocelyn R. Coleman, Favor PR, 323-330-0502 or jcoleman@favorpr.com.

Just did ADR on 24. Looks fantastic. Just watching satellite exchange, between Moi, and Jon Voight was worth the price of admission.
Gearing up to produce and perform in a Athol Fugard play, called "The Island".
Rocking in a intimate 50 seat theater called "Lucy Florence." Located in Lemeirt Park. Crenshaw area of Los Angeles. Lots of promised work circling around.
Please post the weblink for the AFI short film I did, called "DockWeiler." really proud of that one.
Again "Graves," looks fantastic. Sweet Jesus. Brian Palido and the Ronald brothers really deliver. Both "Dark Reel, & I-Murders," were selected for the "EERIE, HORROR FILM FESTIVAL." Thanks to that manical muscian and resident, Greg Ropp. He's playing an instrumental part in assisting my directorial debut, "EERRIE, PA." to Film life.

Everybody, Rock the Vote, my "Obama," (Superman) tee-shirt caused quite a stir at "Scarefest." Lexington, Ky.
Met some great folks, pyschic, witches, and charmed artisans down there. going back and visit the retired thourough bred racing champions. My chinese Astroloy sign is Horse. Go figure.
My new Living space is shaping up creatively. Thanks to all the fans, who've exhanged autographs, for antique pieces of furniture. We're all a part of each other. Hummingbird feeders are attracting steady visitors, and my two Cats, Nico & Rily are kicking it underneath my Blue Aquarium.
Peace Out.
T

Take a look over at the EVENING ECLIPSE website...

Tony just landed 6-10 series arc on "24". General Juma.


Tony-"This is huge.
Gonna lead to so many other blessing.
I'm so stoked.
They broke their 24 rule btw, as I've previously appeared as a detective, but they couldn't find an actor for this part. I was called to the excecutive headquarters of FOX. Read for Howard Gordon, Producer, and Senior VP, and we nailed it. Also Arc starts with a special 2hr. Movie of the Week, which concludes this season. Part of which shoots in South Africa."

get ready Jack...

FANGORIA -April 28, 2008

Monterrey Pictures gave Fango the word that it’s moving forward with ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD, the film adaptation of the Avatar Press comic that we previously discussed here. John Russo, whose screenplay inspired the four-color edition, is set to direct, and fellow NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD veteran Russ Streiner will produce alongside Monterrey’s Joe Majestic and Independent-International’s Sam Sherman. ESCAPE will be the first of several planned productions from Monterrey’s new genre label MM.Underground.

Set in 1971, three years after the events of NIGHT, ESCAPE deals with a group of surviving ghouls being accidentally set free from a research lab, leading to a new flesheating plague. A genre-friendly cast has signed on for the project, including Tony Todd, Gunnar Hansen and Kristina (Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN) Klebe, along with Amber Stevens from ABC’s GREEK. You can read more about the comic here; look for updates on the ESCAPE movie soon. —Michael Gingold

---

From the Monterrey Pictures website:

ESCAPE OF THE LIVING DEAD
From John Russo, co-creator of Night of the Living Dead

The plague isn’t over yet. Zombies are on the loose and hungry! From the co-creator and producer of Night of the Living Dead comes the film adaption of the Top 10 horror comic book.

Screenplay by John Russo

Director John Russo

Producers Joe Majestic, Sam Sherman, Russ Streiner ("Night of the Living Dead")

Executive Producer David Mendez

Starring Tony Todd (Candy Man, Final Destination franchises),
Gunnar Hanson (Texas Chainsaw Massacre),
Amber Stevens (TV's Greek),
and Kristina Klebe (Halloween remake)


Escape of the Living Dead - Trailer from David Mendez on Vimeo.

MONTERREY PICTURES -April 25, 2008
The latest in the phenomenally successful horror franchise will be released by Monterrey’s “mm.underground”

NEW YORK, NY, APRIL 25, 2008 --- MM.UNDERGROUND, Monterrey Pictures Entertainment’s genre release brand, will announce its new project, Escape of the Living Dead, at the Fangoria convention in Los Angeles this weekend. John Russo, co-creator of Night of the Living Dead, wrote the script, and it subsequently spawned the Top Ten comic books and graphic novel of the same name. Russo is attached to direct the feature for Monterrey Pictures Entertainment, owner of the \\\"mm.underground\\\" release brand.

Joe Majestic of Monterrey Pictures Entertainment, and Sam Sherman of Independent-International Pictures will co-produce with Russ Streiner, producer of the original Night of the Living Dead. David Mendez, of Monterrey Pictures Entertainment, will executive produce. An ensemble cast has been assembled, including horror icons Tony Todd (Candy Man, Final Destination) and Gunnar Hanson (“Leatherface” in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and Amber Stevens (TV’s Greek), and Kristina Klebe (Halloween).

Russo and Streiner will appear at Fangoria\\\'s Weekend of Horrors in Los Angeles this weekend as featured guests for the 40th anniversary celebration of Night of the Living Dead.

Escape of the Living Dead is mm.underground’s first announced feature, with plans to announce several other genre films in the coming months. Monterrey Pictures Entertainment will be pre-selling international distribution licenses at the Cannes Film Festival through Monando Film Distribution GmbH (Riviera booth No. G-13).



ABOUT MONTERREY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT – Monterrey Pictures Entertainment is a feature film development and production company based in New York City and Los Angeles. Current films in development include 700 Hill and The 88th State. For more information, go to http://www.monterreypictures.com.

ABOUT INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL PICTURES – Independent International Pictures is an independent film production and distribution company, owned and operated by producer Sam Sherman who has produced over 18 films in this genre.

This by Tony\'s friend Kim Brockington, a project that Tony felt you all should know about.

Hey Everybody,

This is a project that has been in limbo for some time and has now come to fruition.
Zora so deserves this and I am proud to be a part of this historic event
(I play Zora in the reenactments and is the voice of Zora throughout).


But again this is more about Zora than me announcing a project.
This artist did not get her just desserts alive and as artist as many of you are,
of lovers of art I know you can appreciate my sentiments.

So I hope you can be there to celebrate Zora on April 9 @9 pm on PBS
finally getting her kudos in a historical documentary in 2008!

Love, Light and Lots of Blessings to all my folks,

Kim Brockington