Stallone “May Not” Makes Big News

Craig / / 2011, Expendables, Expendables 2

On March 8, 2011, the Los Angeles Times posted a piece by Steven Zeitchik titled “The Expendables Aims to Come Back — But with Stallone in a Different Guise.”  Here are some tidbits…

  • The follow-up movie is a priority at producer Millennium Films, where it’s being developed by  Stallone, the creative force behind the original. But Stallone, who both starred in and directed the 2010 summer hit, isn’t, at the moment, planning on helming the new movie. Instead, he’s been meeting with directors to tackle the sequel,,,
  • The script for the new movie has been written by David Agosto and Ken Kaufman…
  • Made essentially outside the studio system and distributed by Lionsgate, “The Expendables” became a $275-million global grosser on the strength of an action-hero ensemble cast that included Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and Steve Austin.

 

You can read the full piece here.

As you can imagine this made headlines at other sites:

 

 

Sean Gordon Murphy: Rocky & Butkus

Craig / / 2011, Craig's Sly Art, Rocky 2

Sean Gordon Murphy is one of those artists who just seems to come out of nowhere with his own distinctive style that you can’t help but love.  I met Sean at last year’s Heroes Con.  His sketch list was full, but he said he started a new list each day and I should check back the next day.  I made sure I was first in line and ended up with this classic piece of Rocky and Butkus.

You can see more of Sean’s art at his site and his DA spot.  Sean is going to be at Heroes again this year and I’m hoping that lighting strikes twice.

SZoner Bill Pruitt’s Sly Experience

Craig / / 2011, Fan Art, Sly Fan, Sly's Art

I received an e-mail from SZoner [and super talented artist] Bill Pruitt with this amazing story…

  • Hi Craig,

    just wanted to let you know I met with Sly on Friday at his office building for about 40 minutes and it was a really nice visit. He bought 2 more of my paintings that I delivered. The PopSly I posted on he StalloneZone and the latest Expendables piece on the StalloneZone (both of which he saw on there) so thanks so much to you. I didn’t get any photos from the meeting but that’s ok. We talked mostly about art and different painting techniques including mine and his and a lot about Rambo 3 and about me doing an epic type painting from that movie on a large scale like a battle scene or something of that nature. We talked on the phone prior to that on Thursday regarding my paintings. Also, about Rambo 3, he said he thought it was underrated and I agree. I told him my favorite scene was the stick fighting scene and that I think about that before working out because it really motivates me.

    I sat down with him in his own office and he showed me a book of his paintings and he described them to me and how he did them and said he even did one using a screwdriver. He said he regretted letting go of a few of them. I suggested a technique to him for creating a lot of texture on the canvas and he seemed interested like he might try it. He asked what he could do to make the oil paint dry faster and I suggested a fast drying medium to use. He showed me around the different rooms on his floor and he pointed out an old painting of mine hanging up that he purchased in 1994 of Cliffhanger (hanging on the cliff scene) and I hadn’t seen it since then. There was also a room with art and other things that fans had sent him over the years. His own paintings were hung up in the hallway and there were props from his movies throughout the place like the R Rambo mailbox from the ending of “Rambo” and the big sign that says TOOL’S from “The Expendables” and the big Leroy Neiman painting of Rocky and Apollo used in Adrian’s restaurant in “Rocky Balboa”. That wasn’t the original Neiman but a print made to look like an original. The original is smaller.

    I am working on a web page this weekend of ALL of my Sly paintings so I can show him. There are so many he hasn’t even seen. Also, I might add, his assistant was very nice and hospitable while I waited for Sly who was en route from the gym. After my visit, she informed me that Sly had hung the PopSly piece in his own office there on that floor. In all, it was a very nice experience just visiting and talking to Sly one on one.

    Thanks Craig.

    Bill

    My Art web site: http://billpruitt.com

    My Stallone art: http://billpruitt.com/sly_prints.htm

+++++

Bill, Congrats on the sale of the paintings.  The personal meeting with Sly and the tour of his offices was priceless.  Wouldn’t ANY Stallone fan love to have the same opportunity?  Thanks for sharing the experience with us.  Can’t wait to see your next Stallone piece! – Craig


SZ Exclusive: Sly in Brazil

Craig / / 2009, 2011, Expendables

I received the e-mail below and these photos earlier this week from SZoner, Toni C.

  • Hello Craig!My name is Toni Coutinho (SZoner tonibalboa) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Congratulations for excellent work in StalloneZone!

    I’d like to share with all fans of Sly some pictures I took with the cast of The Expendables during filming. Ok, I know this happened in 2009, but I’m sure everyone will enjoy… I met Sylvester Stallone! Unbelievable!!

    I am a member of a group of fans called Sly Squad and I am a friend of Osmar Daou, a brazilian SZoner.  I have more new photos of Sly.

    Thanks for your attention!

    Toni Coutinho

Thanks to Toni for sharing these cool photos.  We look forward to seeing more in the future! – Craig

Brian Stelfreeze: Barney Ross

Craig / / 2011, Craig's Sly Art, Expendables

Brian Stelfreeze.  Barney Ross from The Expendables.  What else needs to be said?  Simply enjoy the genius of Brian Stelfreeze.

Ok.  For those new to the show, Brian Stelfreeze is one of the most amazing artists working today.   He can do it all… pencil, ink, color, design.  I have never seen a bad piece by Brian.  Yet, he is one of the most humble, approachable and appreciative artists you’ll ever meet.  This is my second piece by Mr. Stelfreeze. [You can see my first here. Both are “cornerstones” of my collection.]  I hope it is not my last.

Rare “First Blood” Footage

Craig / / 2011, First Blood

Earlier this week I received the following e-mail:

  • Hi Craig,

    Reegs, Scott and I,( aka the First Blood Team :), have been working on this new First Blood video that shows very rare footage that was edited for a Canadian TV version back in 1983 and never made to DVD.  It was important to preserve these footage.

    The video also includes at the end a rare photos slide show that I’m sure First Blood fans might enjoy.

    If you think this video deserves his little entry in your SZ weekly updates, Feel free to add it!

    Thanks

    Herve, Reegs and Scott.

Obviously I felt the video deserved to be posted.  It’s great footage that needs to be preserved.  Thanks to SZoners, Herve, Reegs [our own Raven] and Scott! – Craig

Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo

Craig / / 2011, Rambo

On Febraury 23, 2011, Culture Mob posted a throughtful review by Josh Katz of Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo.  Here’s a taste:

  • To call Sylvester Stallone’s 2008 action epic Rambo “frustratingly watchable” mislabels the matter somewhat—the film is compulsively watchable.  On an aesthetic level, it is a well-shot, well-cut, entertainingly-if-not-always-competently acted, and relentlessly paced piece of work.  I’ve seen it five times, and it goes down smooth every time.
  • I believe Sylvester Stallone wanted to make an important movie.  If you listen to the commentary track on the theatrical cut of Rambo or watch his Production Diaries on the extended cut (and I recommend giving these a whirl, just to get a sense of how eloquent and thoughtful Stallone can be), he seems committed to bringing the plight of the Karen genocide in Burma to light.
  • Stallone is a master of action movie filmmaking; that much is certain.  He instinctively understands where the camera needs to go to maximize visceral and spatial impact, how to split the balance of exposition and action, and how to vary action scenes while marrying them to logical narrative momentum.

You can read the whole piece here.