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Column: The Private Sector – Back in the Saddle

[Proton Charging is proud to feature this new weekly column in which old school Ghosthead, Troy “Netsolo” Benjamin opines on the past, present, and future of the Ghostbusters film franchise!]

Welcome to The Private Sector, where results are expected and patent clerks still continue to earn next to nothing… This is a bit of a unique experiment as, for the first-time ever; we’re simulcasting an op-ed article across three Ghostbusters fan sites at the same time. Syndication comes to Ghostheadom, you might say.

I know what you’re thinking right about now… So what exactly is this all about, and who the hell is this guy? Is he really that narcissistic to want an article on three websites? First of all, the answer is yes. But here’s the lowdown on what The Private Sector is and who I am.

The Private Sector is going to be an editorial column on recent goings on, a bit of nostalgia, and a whole lot of gibberish spewing from my crazy mind about the crazy community we have. Every Wednesday, Proton Charging, GBFans, and Ghostbusters.net will syndicate the column to each of their sites for your reading pleasure (or displeasure, if you can’t stand me).

Which brings us to the next question that I thought I was effectively going to dodge: who am I? Well, I’m the old man around these parts that grumbles and shouts at people to get off his lawn. Posing under the super-chick-magnet handle NetSolo for close to almost fifteen years, I was the maniac behind the wheel at GhostbustesHQ.com for what seems like an entire lifetime. If you haven’t heard of me, I can’t blame you; I had taken a bit of a backseat in recent years when it came to community goings on. During that time Ghostbusters, as the little franchise that could, exploded and left me behind. I’m actually working in the entertainment industry now and have signed so much of my life away to non-disclosure agreements that make discussing anything that isn’t my opinion increasingly difficult. If you’re interested in my credentials, you’re more than welcome to stalk me on the interwebs over at stillplayingwithtoys.com. Or you can do a Google search for Troy Benjamin – I’m the one that’s not a football player or porn star. Okay, well maybe I aspire to be the latter. But that’s beside the point.

The Private Sector isn’t just an outlet for me to pull a Michael Corleone and come back to the family and get back involved; it’s also very interactive as well. Especially with Ghostbusters III on the horizon, there can be a whole lot of confusion as to how the development and pre-production process for a feature film works. When is a project greenlit? What is needed for that greenlight from the studio? What’s going on behind closed doors now? If you have any questions, no matter how great or small, film related or not, or if you just want to send rampant hate mail – feel free to fire away to netsolo@aol.com (yes, I’m still on AOL – if that’s any indication as to what a fossil I am around these parts).

All right, so with the pleasantries out of the way – we now resume you to your regularly scheduled GB site programming. Tune in next Wednesday for the first REAL column of The Private Sector!

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Toy News International reveals GB Minimates Series 3

Toy News International has a figure shot from the third series of Ghostbusters Minimates, which like the first two, will only be available through specialty stores (ie comic shops, mostly).

A Diamond Select Release! Art Asylum Designs & Sculpts! The top-selling Ghostbusters Minimate line continues with this exclusive set only available in specialty stores! This four-pack includes the marshmallow-covered Gooey Egon and Gooey Winston from the original film as well as the sequel’s Janine Melnitz and EPA lawyer Walter Peck! Each Ghostbusters Minimate stands two inches tall with 14 points of articulation and a wealth of pint-sized accessories.

More to come.
Ghostbuster_Minimates__scaled_600

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Hudson talks more about Reitman’s tentative plans

Just like the Philly GBs, Metal Machine.com got some facetime with Ernie Hudson at the Big Apple Comic Con, and they got his comments about the third Ghostbusters film on video.

Ivan [Reitman] said its going to happen and if anybody knows, he does,” said Hudson. “I think probably we’re going to shoot in the fall, this is what I’m told, and it’ll probably come out in May, 2011.

This ads 2011 as a release year to the speculative 2010 start, but please note Hudson’s “Probably”, meaning it’s still not a go just yet, and this is basic, preliminary due diligence on Reitman’s part as producer.

[Via WorstPreviews.com] Thanks to EDFX and Steven Hough for the heads up.

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Rue Morgue Radio gives nod to Ghostbusters

bloodspatteredguideRue Morgue Radio, the aural wing of the Rue Morgue Magazine empire, featured a look at the Ghostbusters theme this week, which is a nice encapsulation of the history of the tune. And then they kind of cause a headscratcher by playing Ghostbusters by… Allister? I’m not an expert in the Ghostbusters cover versions, but I always thought this version was by Attaboy Skip. Were we wrong? And if we’re not, it’s a shame they didn’t know – Attaboy Skip was also sued by Huey Lewis for their cover, according to the band, and have since then referred to it as Ghost Chasing Science Guys. A nice treat is their except interview with Ernie Hudson, from previous years, but given he opens by saying he doesn’t think the movie is going to get made, it’s in contrast to this week’s excitement rumours and news.

Have a listen for yourself – Rue Morgue Radio should be a weekly must listen, particularly around this time of year.

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Hudson hearsay sez Reitman guessing a Fall 2010 GB3 start

group500I’m posting this partially because its intriging and partly as a test of my no-comments-for-GB3-posts resolution.

Top notch PC reader and Philly GB member EDFX got to meet Ernie Hudson at the Big Apple Con this weekend in New York. The guys got a great photo with him, as well as a video interview – not included on the tape, but rather told to them afterwards by Mr. Hudson, is that Ivan Reitman has contacted him about a third Ghostbusters and that Ivan Reitman is guessing on a Fall 2010 filming start.

So, to recap, for those that are reality or impulse impaired – this is hearsay (ie, Hudson told the Philly GBs) of intent (Reitman contacted Ernie just to check on things – schedule timing, etc. most like) and a guess (Reitman is guessing on a Fall 2010 start, leaving a year for the principles to clear their work schedule for GB3, and assuming Sony says OK.)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – sometimes some details have to be started before the money starts to come in and cameras start to roll, meaning Reitman, who intends to make the film, has to get an idea of when everyone will be free now, even before Sony says OK. Otherwise Sony says OK, and THEN they start to schedule things… which means it doesn’t start until later, which means it doesn’t get done and released until later…)

Thanks Ed and Co.

OK, it’s 9:10 on Sunday…

…how long until this is all over the movie news sites, who are currently Ghostbusters 3 Insane!?