Starz Launches Transmedia Experience "Battle For Nuceria" in Advance of Final Season of "Spartacus: War of the Damned"

By Admin on November 30, 2012 6:00 PM

Online Experience Immerses Fans in Social Experiences with Prizes and More Than Three Hours of Exclusive "Spartacus" Video Content as Global Franchise Launches Final Season

Exclusive Pre-Premiere Viewing Opportunity for the First Episode of "Spartacus: War of the Damned"

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Entertainment has launched a comprehensive digital experience, "Battle For Nuceria" (www.battlefornuceria.com), for the upcoming final season of the international hit "Spartacus: War of the Damned." Designed to be a season-long companion piece to the series, fans will be taken to the front line of Spartacus' fight against Rome and will be immersed in the opportunity to compete with other fans to unlock unprecedented rewards, including more than three hours of exclusive video content, a grand prize trip to Italy, and the first online opportunity to unlock the premiere episode before it airs on Friday, January 25^th at 9pm ET/PT.

The video-rich transmedia touch points and gamification elements incorporated into the "Battle For Nuceria" make it one of the most unique digital experiences ever launched for a pay television series. Features include:

Sixteen missions for fans to play against one another
An all-expense paid trip to Rome among other prizes
Preview of the "Spartacus: War of the Damned" season premiere episode prior to the January 25^th premiere on STARZ for winners of "Battle for Nuceria"
Three hours of additional exclusive video footage
Tractus browser app allows fans to "hijack the 'Net" by tagging and capturing global websites with rebel badges and symbols
PC/Mac +iOS customized mobile app experiences and rewards

"Battle For Nuceria" offers a unique, personalized way to engage with a "Spartacus" fan's favorite characters storylines within their daily life from now until the series finale nearly five months from now. A deep interactive cast and crew photo roster allows fans to zoom in and learn about the "Spartacus" talent they have grown to love over the past four years.

"Starz is taking our fans deeper into 'Spartacus' - a show that has a rabid fan base that is eager to step inside the world of our characters - and 'Battle For Nuceria' rewards their loyalty with great prizes and a bounty full of video," said Kelly Bumann, Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing for Starz Entertainment. "Battle For Nuceria" rewards consumers in a way no other experience has before. From the exclusive content we are reserving just for the fans, to the exclusive prizes, this is the ultimate digital experience for the fans that have been so loyal over the past four years."

"We have leveraged the immersive nature of the 'Spartacus' story, and taken the experience beyond television screen with the 'Battle for Nuceria," said Erin Dwyer, Executive Director of Digital Marketing for Starz Entertainment. "We want to reward our loyal fans and bring this epic story to life. The digital experience empowers our ultimate fans in new ways and makes them a part of our show's legacy in a powerful way that builds engagement and loyalty."

Exclusive Pre-Premiere of First Episode of "Spartacus: War of the Damned" + Prizes and Rewards with the "Battle for Nuceria"

In addition to exclusive content, "Battle For Nuceria" participants compete for several prizes.

One lucky grand prize winner will receive a six-day, five-night trip for two to Rome; a getaway estimated at approximately $10,175.00. Based on the leaderboard, participants will also have the chance to win trips to the Riviera Maya, Spartacus gear, prop replicas, iPad minis and more.

There are 16 total missions that earn points; six missions leading up to the premiere that will allow fans to earn points and increase their chances to win prizes.

"Battle For Nuceria" participants will be able to watch the first episode online as early January 23 depending on when the community reaches the points needed to unlock this unique reward.

More on The "Battle For Nuceria" Transmedia Experience

The Encampment website (www.battlefornuceria.com)

This is home base for our consumer rebel army.
Receive missions, download your rewards, and check your status in the leaderboard.
See what other rebel army members are talking about; smack talk your Facebook friends that you're beating in the leaderboard.
The encampment website has Facebook and Twitter connect integration for ease of sign on and social connectivity that uses Geo-caching for real-time activity reporting.

Hypogeum iOS mobile app
A key tool for our rebel army when on the go.

Check into locations.
Unlock new missions on the go and keep track of your progress.
Use the visual recognition scanner to scan rebel marks and key art to unlock more points and rewards.
Receive messages directly from your rebel leaders who will give you clues and alert you when new missions and rewards are unlocked.
When users check in with the Hypogeum iOS mobile app, a PNG sequence of images is triggered to create an augmented reality-based experience onto your native camera, immediately throwing the user into the world of Spartacus.

Tractus browser app

"Battle for Nuceria" participants will use this to make their mark online across the Internet with the ability to 'conquer' sites for the Rebel Army and make their battle for freedom spread.
Leave your mark and message for other rebel army members to see.
Earn more points for being the first to take over a site.

Learn more about the STARZ Original series "Spartacus: War of the Damned," and engage with your favorite characters in the "Battle For Nuceria" at http://www.facebook.com/spartacus.starz and on Twitter (#BattleforNuceria #Spartacus).

About "Spartacus: War of the Damned"
"Spartacus: War of the Damned" takes place following the defeat of Roman commander Gaius Claudius Glaber. Spartacus and his men have amassed major victories against the Romans after the Battle of Vesuvius. These victories have not only forged the legend of Spartacus, but have greatly increased the ranks of the rebellion slaves to more than 30,000. Rome is indeed beginning to tremble at the threat Spartacus now represents.

The "Spartacus" franchise began its run Friday, January 22, 2010 with "Blood and Sand." It was followed a year later with the prequel, "Gods of the Arena" (January 21, 2011). "Vengeance" hit the air on January 27, 2012 and "War of the Damned" is scheduled to air January 25, 2013. More than six million weekly viewers watched last season, "Spartacus: Vengeance," which has amassed more than 2.5 million Facebook fans. Globally, the series airs in 150 countries in more than 15 languages.

"Spartacus: War of the Damned" sees the return on Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), Manu Bennett (Crixus), Dustin Clare (Gannicus), Dan Feuerriegel (Agron), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Naevia) and Ellen Hollman (Saxa). This year, Todd Lasance joins the cast as Gaius Julius Caesar, along with Simon Merrells, who will be playing Marcus Crassus and Anna Hutchison as Laeta.

STARZ also shared a series recap and look at the upcoming season with a new "Strategy of War" video.

Possible New Rob Show: Julius Caesar Spinoff From Spartacus War of the Damned

By Admin on November 29, 2012 11:44 AM

Here's some very interesting news from Deadline. Starz and Rob may be teaming up again to for a spin-off from Spartacus. It will be about Julius Caesar.

Julius Caesar is being played by the fantastic Australian actor Todd Lasance in the upcoming Spartacus War of the Damned. Now this would fantastic if it did happen. Todd is a superb actor.

Deadline reports:

"I learned that there is talk about a potential Spartacus spinoff series centered on Roman leader Gaius Julius Caesar. The spinoff idea, which is in the nascent stages, is being shepherded by Spartacus executive producer Robert Tapert"

The character, played by Australian actor Todd Lasance, is adding star power and a formidable new nemesis for the famous gladiator despite the fact there is no hard evidence that Caesar actually was involved in the campaign to put down the Spartacus-led slave rebellion, as he is on the show. Spartacus: War Of The Damned could serve as a nice starting-off point for a spinoff as it features a young Caesar who is yet to begin his ascent toward ruling the Roman state.

Read more on Deadline

First Evil Dead Poster: The Most Terrifying Film You Will Ever Experience

By Admin on November 21, 2012 8:29 AM

Yahoo Movies has unveiled the first Evil Dead movie poster.

See more on the AUSXIP Rob Tapert Evil Dead News for more news, photos, video and other multimedia

Rob Tapert with Author of Angelfall Susan Ee

By Admin on November 17, 2012 11:02 AM

EW.com has a great photo of Rob along with the rest of the producers for Angelfall - the new movie based on the book by Susan Ee.

The latest self-published YA novel heading full steam towards its big-screen moment. When it was announced on Wednesday that Good Universe had acquired the film rights to the deliciously dark Angelfall, (with Sam Raimi set to produce!), we immediately reached out to author Susan Ee for comment. She was thrilled to share her thoughts on the film and even shared an exclusive photograph (below) featuring her with the film’s producers.

Originally self-published in 2011, Angelfall was picked up by Amazon Children’s Publishing for a re-release in August of this year. The novel takes place six weeks after angels of the apocalypse have destroyed the world as we know it. When enemy angels fly away with 17-year-old Penryn’s little sister, Penryn is forced to team up with Raffe, an injured angel who wants his wings back. Together, they will journey to the heart of San Francisco and the angels’ stronghold, where an unimaginable horror awaits them.

To keep updated on news related to Angelfall, check out AUSXIP Rob Tapert Angelfall news section

Spartacus War of the Damned To Premiere in Canada 27 January

By Admin on November 16, 2012 10:09 AM

US fans will have to wait until 25 January to see the final chapter of Spartacus but Canadians will see the premiere on 27 January.

On The Movie Network and Movie Central, beginning Sunday, January 27 at 10 p.m. ET/ MT, swords and sandals come to Sunday nights as Spartacus: War of the Damned, the final season of Starz' Spartacus saga, debuts. The final episodes take place following the defeat of Roman commander Gaius Claudius Glaber as Spartacus and his men have amassed major victories against the Romans after the Battle of Vesuvius. The series stars Liam McIntyre as Spartacus.

Source

WATCH TRAILERS

Rob Tapert Set To Produce Fantasy Book Series 'Angelfall'

By Admin on November 15, 2012 10:43 PM

Deadline is reporting that Rob, Sam Raimi and Good Universe has acquired the Fantasy Book series 'Angelfall'.

What is this book about?

The plot begins six weeks after angels of the apocalypse descend to demolish the modern world, and street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her 17-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back, including making a deal with an enemy angel Raffe, a warrior who has been left bleeding and wingless. The two journey toward the angel's stronghold where Penryn must risk everything to rescue her sister and Raffe must decide whether to put himself at the mercy of his enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Click here to read more about this movie

2001 NPR Interview with Lucy Lawless & Rob Tapert Audio Files Back Online

By Admin on November 13, 2012 9:49 PM

Some of the multimedia files on AUSXIP are in the process of being converted/digitised including audio and video files. The mp3 files for the following interview are now back online. You can also download the outtakes which are quite funny.

NPR Interview with Lucy Lawless & Rob Tapert

Profile: TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess"
Host: SCOTT SIMON Time: 1:00-2:00 PM

16 July 2001

- Click here to download mp3 interview file
- Click here to download outtakes from that interview (very funny)

SCOTT SIMON, host:

Xena, the warrior princess, is about to lay down her breastplate. By the end of the month, the last episodes of the six-year-old series, that's made in New Zealand and syndicated around the world, will be seen from Kansas City to Kotka, Finland. Lucy Lawless, the sculpturesque actress who is Xena, describes the show in a way that manages to convey its best quality without getting carried away.

Ms. LUCY LAWLESS (Actress): I always called it a goofy show for smart people.

(Soundbite of "Xena: Warrior Princess" theme)

SIMON: Xena began her run as a lethally sultry, raven-haired villain on the old "Hercules" series. One of the producers was American, Rob Tapert.

Mr. ROB TAPERT (Producer): They had been pushing me to come up with a spinoff show, and so I kind of went, `Well, we could spin off this character,' and they saw the footage and were very eager and it was kind of--they said, `Well, it's going to be a tough sell to do a woman warrior as its own show, but we're game if you are.'

SIMON: But first, the writers converted Xena from an evildoer to a muscular do-gooder, who delivers justice at the point of a sword. Sharon Delaney of Glendale, California, is head of the official Xena fan club.

Ms. SHARON DELANEY (Xena Fan Club): The actress Lucy Lawless plays her. She brings a softness to the strength.

SIMON: Lucy Lawless is a strapping presence, but has no background in stunts or stage fights. In fact, she trained as an opera singer.

Ms. LAWLESS: My nickname at school was Unco, for uncoordinated, and I was quite proud of that and quite comfortable with it. And then I got this job by accident when somebody else pulled out and was forced by the school of hard knocks to learn how to start to stunt fight. And nobody knows better than I that Xena's a composite character. There's about six people who go into being Xena, at least.

SIMON: The show has become noted among many women, who see Xena who' s a superhero whose powers are embellished by sheer feminine competence, but whatever the feminist and sensitive guy philosophizing, Xena succeeds by being the meanest mother on the block.

(Soundbite of "Xena: Warrior Princess")

Ms. LAWLESS: Ah! Yah!

Mr. TAPERT: We do have a formula, which is we certainly have three fight sequences in every single episode.

Ms. DELANEY: I didn't think I would like the fighting, because I' m not an action-adventure person by nature. But I did. And I suppose it's a guilty pleasure, but I found myself, you know, enjoying that aspect of the show as well, which surprised me.

SIMON: Xena often disarms her foes with a chakram, an old Persian weapon that looks like a fatal Frisbee, but it turns to Xena's hands like a boomerang. Maybe that's the New Zealand touch. Xena kicks up her show-stopping legs into the faces of assorted bad guys. There are worse ways to die. Fan Sharon Delaney says...

Ms. DELANEY: Rarely did you see blood, except when it seemed they were trying to make a point.

SIMON: And over the years, the action was increasingly punctuated by the personal story of Xena, the warrior princess, and her companion, Gabrielle the poet, played by Renee O'Connor.

Mr. TAPERT: We are in the business of making people feel something, which is your job on a television show, so I think over time, we' ve crafted the show or it's taken on more emotion between the two characters in order to hopefully make it a more satisfying viewing experience.

SIMON: The warrior showed the poet what a mess the world can be. The poet gave the warrior a reason to care enough to change it. Xena and Gabrielle traveled together, fought together, laughed together, and then some.

(Soundbite of "Xena: Warrior Princess")

Ms. LAWLESS (As Xena): Are you sitting on the soap?

Ms. RENEE O'CONNOR (As Gabrielle): I was wondering what that was. Hmm.

(Soundbite of water splashing)

SIMON: There were scenes of tenderness, as well as cleanliness. " Xena's" been called a love story. Does Lucy Lawless agree?

Ms. LAWLESS: The short answer is yes. This has always been about a tremendous friendship between two human beings and the whole experience was a labor of love for Renee and me and the crew. So anyway, yes. The simple answer is yes. Where are you going with this, Scott?

SIMON: We'll get to that. There's also been a twisted history aspect to "Xena." The stories are set in some imprecise all-inclusive antiquity. The likes of Julius Caesar, Hippocrates and Ares made guest appearances. Rob Tapert remembers...

Mr. TAPERT: We had some episodes a couple years ago where she questioned her way of the warrior, only to have Krishna tell her that that's the way of her life and there's no reason she should not excel and be everything she can be to be a warrior, since that's the path she should walk in life. So...

SIMON: When you say Krishna, you mean Lord Krishna?

Mr. TAPERT: That's right, Lord Krishna.

SIMON: Now what's he doing in Greek mythology?

Mr. TAPERT: Well, they happened to visit India, so we tried to touch on as many different religious, philosophical beliefs as we could, from going to China to Japan to India to the Norse gods.

SIMON: Xena's virtuosity in all areas encouraged those she encountered to fear gods but trust in Xena. Sharon Delaney.

Ms. DELANEY: Yeah. Xena invented the kite. She invented CPR, tracheotomies. She was the one under the table pulling back Ulysses' bow, you know. That's been a large part of the fun. The humor in the show, the humor of the writers, the producers, directors, actors, plays a large part in the fun of this show.

Ms. LAWLESS: People will ask me things about specific episodes or they'll mention the name of an episode and I'll go, `Oh, remind me what happened in that one.' And they'll say, `Oh, it was when you were kissing Kevin Smith or when you bit Kevin Smith's nipple,' and I'm going, `Tell me more,' you know. A little marker like that means nothing to me.

SIMON: A little thing like biting an actor's nipple you don't remember?

Ms. LAWLESS: Right. I can't remember that or I can't--which time was it when I gave birth to a centaur? Let me think...

SIMON: Well, now...

Ms. LAWLESS: Or crucified--I've been crucified that many times.

SIMON: The writers also borrowed another plot line from the New Testament. Lucy Lawless married Rob Tapert a couple of years ago. They got pregnant, in the parlance of our times. What do you do with a pregnant warrior princess?

Mr. TAPERT: There was no possible way that we thought we could conceal a pregnancy, so we embraced it in our storylines.

SIMON: Let me gently explore what I think you've been expecting, OK? And, look, this show is important to people all over the world. It's been important to many women all over the world. And I'm not going to shy away from saying it's been important to lesbians all over the world.

Ms. LAWLESS: I'm very proud of you.

SIMON: Well, we all know that.

Ms. LAWLESS: Hard hitting. OK.

SIMON: Do you see a special role for Xena in kind of the hopes and the enjoyment that some people have pinned on that character?

Ms. LAWLESS: Well, yes, I do. I do, because if you think about it, there's so little for the lesbian community to directly relate to on television, or has been in the past, that to see two women traveling along side by side, that doesn't involve talking about boys the whole time, so naturally, that would be very appealing. It seems that gay people think she's gay and straight people think she's straight.

SIMON: And, says Xena fan club president Sharon Delaney...

Ms. DELANEY: That's what art is all about. That's what music, a book--whatever you get from it when you read it, that's what's important, and that's what's valuable to you. So no one can possibly deny the love between those two characters. But where they might actually be in their sexual relationship, nobody really has a clue.

SIMON: "Xena" is closing down after six seasons because the producers and actors can launch the show into profitable syndication. The stars would like to take on a greater range of roles, including more face time as mothers.

Ms. LAWLESS: I'm relieved, because I'm out of energy. I'm not out of love with the show, but by golly, it's an incredible physical slog, and I've got two kids who need their mum, so yeah, it seemed right, and I feel very complete about it.

Ms. DELANEY: There's reruns. There's people just discovering the show now to whom the reruns are going to be original. But I will miss their next adventure.

SIMON: Lucy Lawless says she will miss the camaraderie around Xena and the care so many people have had for that character.

Ms. LAWLESS: But I don't even look like Xena. I'm much more slight than people expect. My hair's actually sort of a mousey brown. And I would hope that I can do a lot of different roles so that Lucy Lawless can go on and have a very diverse career. And "Xena" will just exist in time as a very special, slightly subversive, very fun show.

SIMON: Rob Tapert predicts that within a generation, there will be a `return of Xena' movie.

Mr. TAPERT: I bet they call my wife and ask her to do a small part as the mom or as a god or as something, so she would get a cameo, but I would think that in 20 years, I don't think she would want to put back on the leathers.

Ms. LAWLESS: There has to come a time when I'm allowed to say goodbye to that character. I feel a lot of pressure from a lot of the fans to play Xena forever, and I can't. You know, I just can't. Eventually, it's going to be ridiculous. I'm going to be 50 years old in a leather breastplate. It will just be tragic.

SIMON: Ms. Lawless has gotten to add some operatic touches to Xena. She sang her way through one entire musical episode, and then there' s Xena's war cry.

Ms. LAWLESS: I say `Ah, la, la, la, la' very fast and very high. But singers don't treat their bodies the way that I've treated mine over the last six years and aren't out in the rain and aren't yelling and shrieking and fighting, and I really feel that my voice went away for a few years. So now I'm hoping to get it back.

(Soundbite of "Xena: Warrior Princess")

Ms. LAWLESS (As Xena): Ahh! Ahh!

SIMON: Ms. Lawless, you've been awfully kind to speak to us, particularly so early in the morning, so I'm going...

Ms. LAWLESS: It is my very great pleasure.

SIMON: Well, I'm going to press ahead with just one request, OK?

Ms. LAWLESS: Oh.

SIMON: I understand you might not want to grant it because it is so early, but do you think we could hear Xena's yell? I mean, do you ever do it for your kids?

Ms. LAWLESS: I'll wake the children, Scott. Oh, man. I feel like a sideshow freak. Hang on.

SIMON: Now wait.

Ms. LAWLESS: Just for you.

SIMON: I don't want you to feel like a sideshow freak.

Ms. LAWLESS: Now you've made me mad. Now I'm going to have to do it. (Lawless does Xena's yell) All right?

SIMON: Oh, Ms. Lawless, I cannot thank you enough. I am...

Ms. LAWLESS: I thought you were going to ask me to sing you a song.

SIMON: Th...

Ms. LAWLESS: (Singing) `There were worse things I could do than go with a boy or two.' You remember that one?

SIMON: Yes, I do now. Yes. Well, what kind of music would you like to sing, like a musical role? I mean...

Ms. LAWLESS: You know, I always--I know it's on Broadway at the moment and I saw it. I loved "Annie Get Your Gun" since I was a child.

SIMON: Oh, (singing) `The girl that I marry will have to be...'

Ms. LAWLESS: That's right.

SIMON: (Singing) `...as soft and pink as a nursery.'

Ms. LAWLESS: (Singing) `The girl to whom I propose will wear satin and ribbons and smell of cologne'--or something. Anyway...

SIMON: Right, exactly.

Ms. LAWLESS: But...

SIMON: Oh, wait.

Ms. LAWLESS: Of course, I would play the other role.

SIMON: You know--wait, wait, wait. You know what song is from that, I think? Ready? (Singing) `Anything you can do, I can do better.'

Ms. LAWLESS: (Singing) `I can do anything better than you. No, you can't. Yes, I can.'

SIMON: Hey, that's my role.

Ms. LAWLESS: Yeah.

SIMON: Yes, I can.

Ms. LAWLESS: Oh, sorry.

SIMON: Well, and then the one, (singing), `I can sing anything sweeter than you can. I can sing anything sweeter than you. No, you can' t. Yes...'

Ms. LAWLESS: (Singing) `No, you can't.' Go on, Scott.

SIMON: No, no, no.

Ms. LAWLESS: Yes, I can.

SIMON: She sure can. Lucy Lawless, Xena. Her last show will air all around the world by the end of June. You can find more information on "Xena," the warrior princess, on our Web site at npr.org.

(Soundbite of "Xena" theme music)

(Credits)

SIMON: I'm Scott Simon.

Rob Tapert Interviewed on OneNews Spartacus Wraps 05 November 2012

By Admin on November 5, 2012 7:53 PM

Rob Tapert is interview by OneNews in New Zealand. The film industry is a billion dollar industry worldwide, but with productions such as Spartacus wrapping up, what is the state of NZ Film Industry. Rob is interviewed on the set of Spartacus which has generated $200 Million dollars for the NZ. There is also extensive footage of Spartacus and Xena.

Click here to view

For more about Spartacus, go to AUSXIP Spartacus News & Multimedia

For more about Xena go to AUSXIP - Australian Xena Information Page

Read More Archives

OFFICIAL ROB TAPERT SITE