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Posts Tagged ‘dan aykroyd’

Ghostbusters ABC Sunday Night Movie Intro

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Two weekends ago, I was lucky enough to find some VHS tapes of Ghostbusters II which contained special bumpers from ABC.  Today, while at home for Thanksgiving, I found the holy grail.  This tape was my first look at Ghostbusters (the film, my first intro to the franchise was The Real Ghostbusters).

This taping was recorded from ABC 7 in Chicago (WLS) in 1987.  Enjoy the bumper and, for those in the states, have a happy Thanksgiving!

Fan Projects: EctoMix (Ghostbusters Remix)

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

What do you get when you mash-up one of the most quotable movies with a syncopated beat? A fresh and original remix by Dave Thomas.  Truly amazing, very creative!

Fan Projects: Ghostbusters Forever

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

I’m normally not a fan of tribute videos, but this Ghostbusters tribute video by Kenny does justice to Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II.  Well done!

Atari To Publish Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

After months of silence since the mass hysteria which left Ghostbusters: The Video Game without a publisher and fans of the Ghostbusters franchise enraged, we now have new information from a trusted source.

Dan Aykroyd, father of the franchise, has confirmed that Ghostbusters: The Video Game will be published by Atari on a Dallas morning radio show.  He also noted that the game is roughly “a year away” from being released.  More as it develops.

EW: Ghostbusters, Funniest Movie of the Past 25 Years

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

Ghostbusters, which celebrates its 25th anniversary on June 8 2009, was named funniest movie of the past 25 years by Entertainment Weekly.

In the summer of 1984, the only pop-culture question more common than ”Where’s the beef?” was ”Who you gonna call?’

Ghostbusters II TV Spot Unearthed

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

A short, yet rarely seen, Ghostbusters II TV spot that aired in 1989.

Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson to Discuss Making of Ghostbusters: The Video Game at Comic-Con

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

From the San Diego Comic Con website. Thanks to QZEDDEMOORE from the Ghostbusters Message Board for spotting this.

1:45-2:45 Ghostbusters: The Video Game— Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and panelists from Sierra Entertainment and Sony Pictures Consumer Products discuss the eagerly anticipated Ghostbusters: The Video Game, due out this October. The panel focuses on what it takes to bring fans the next chapter in the Ghostbusters universe, including working with the original cast members and Sony Pictures Consumer Products to create a completely true and faithful interactive ghostbusting experience. Room 6B

From Real to “Real” (Part Three - Ray)

Monday, July 7th, 2008

Newcomers: parts one and two.

Ray’s character design is the Yang to Winston’s Ying. Where Winston’s design might have been the most difficult translation from film to animation, Ray’s design was no doubt the easiest. Of all four Ghostbusters, his translation is most direct, even down to the color choices. This can be contributed to the fact that Dan Aykroyd physically embodied most of Ray’s character traits so well.

And what are those character traits?

  • Open minded
  • Boyish/child-like enthusiasm
  • Purist heart and soul
  • Not intimidating
  • Able to step in anyone’s shoes (brainiac, everyman, funny guy, business man)

How were these qualities translated into the character design? Lets take a look at the face.

As I wrote earlier, much of Akyroyd’s features were brought over due to the fact that he physically embodied the character so well. This is rarely the case with movie to cartoon translation. But one can contribute this to the fact that Ray Stantz is really just Dan Aykroyd with a fictional name. The part was writen for him, by him, about him. So many of Aykroyd’s qualities cross over. As you can see, they mimicked his chin, lips, and nose almost perfectly.

To accentuate the qualities of pure heart and child like enthuasiam they took Aykroyd’s already established features and made them more child like by making his head more round, adding a fair amount of pudginess to him and giving him larger eyes. As a matter of fact, Ray has the largest eyes of the Ghostbusters. The other main change is his hair. Winston and Peter both have dark hair, to add variety to the group, they gave Ray lighter, brown hair. Besides helping him stand out, the lighter hair also brings out more of the child like qualities since most children rarely have dark hair right out the gate.

As for the body, much of the same rules apply. They gave Ray, Aykroyd’s basic body, and altered it to enhance the child like characteristics and help him stand out from the group.

Just like with the face, they added some pudge to round him out, and give him a slight pear shape. They also made him the shortest of the group. This again shows him as more youthful, also makes him more recognizable standing along side the group. Since Ray is the character translated most directly from the movie, his suit colors reflect that by remaining the same and retaining the tan color scheme, with no variation in color along the collar and cuffs. Where as the other characters had color schemes that reflected their personality, Ray kept the colors of the movie. Why? Because Ray IS the Ghostbusters. He is the heart and soul of the team.

In the next chapter, I will discuss Peter Venkman.

Too Zuul For School

Ghostbusters #58 on EW’s Top 100 Films of the Last 25 Years

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

Ghostbusters ranked number 58 in Entertainment Weekly’s 100 “new classic” films of the last 25 years.  Check out the list yourself.  Thanks to Rodie from the Ghostbusters Message Board for the tip.

Ghostbusters II Behind The Scenes

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

To celebrate the 19th anniversary of Ghostbusters II, enjoy this behind the scenes look at the film featuring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Rietman, and our green friend Slimer.