Over at AOL TV, there's an interview up with director Kevin Smith where he drops this very juicy little tidbit: one of his upcoming projects is directing an episode of the last season of Battlestar Galactica! Smith talks about how he was able to tour the BSG set when he was on the same lot shooting Reaper:

"I walked around the Galactica [ship] and whatnot. But now to go back in a different capacity is more nerve-wracking. it is more fun to just walk around and be like, "Holy shit, that's the colonial viper." Then it is to be like," Alright, how are we going to shoot this colonial viper scene?" "

Smith also talks about his new book, My Boring-Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith (basically a collection of entries from him blog) and Red State, his upcoming horror film, which he assures fans will not be a comedy-horror like Shaun of the Dead. Sayeth Smith, "Not Shaun of the Dead. I'm sure there will be a little bit of humor in it, but it's not like a comedic horror film. I don't know how they are going to market it. The last thing you want to put on the poster is "from the director of 'Clerks.'"

It's hard for me to really imagine what a horror film from Smith might look like. All I really know about it so far is that it's about a some misfits who encounter a group of fundamentalists, and that Smith said in an interview with Rotten Tomatoes back in April that controversial preacher Fred Phelps, head of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas (you know, those folks known for their extreme homophobia and for picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq), is an influence on the film. "That dude has always fascinated me and he's really informed the horror movie that I'm working on," Smith said in that interview.

Hmm ... so kind of Jay and Silent Bob meets Children of the Corn, only with Fred Phelps starring as the freaky preacher kid ... that could work.

People tell me I'm nuts, but I absolutely adore long plane rides. Mainly because, over the years, the wife and I have assembled quite an electronics arsenal. I have the personal DVD player, the PSP, the iPod -- not to mention (in the non-electronics department) books, pillows, blankets and -- most importantly -- a big bag of Twizzlers. It doesn't get much better than that. Prior to traveling, I also map out which seat I want (and then bother whomever to make sure I get it), and do plenty of research on which films will be playing on the flight. The other great thing about long plane rides is that no one (except a flight attendant with crummy food) is allowed to bother me. No emails. No phone calls. No taking the dog for a walk. Nothing. Just me, my electronics, my pillow and my movies. This is my heaven.

I mention this because, on Saturday, I leave New York City for a two-week trip to Australia. My cousin is getting married. And I'm so there. Today I started to assemble my movie playlist, which include the actual DVDs I plan to bring, as well as what I plan to watch (all edited and whatnot) on the plane. Since I like to be diverse, here's what I have so far: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Wristcutters (a LEGAL copy, mind you -- I'm no pirate), Tale of an Osaka Love Thief (a doc I've heard wonderful things about), The Boys of Summer (another festival-ish doc), Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series, Weeds: Season 1 (for the wife) and Battlestar Galactica: Seasons 1 and 2.0. (Damn you Heroes for not being out on DVD yet!) I'm also planning to watch Fracture and Zodiac on the plane, although I'm not crazy about them being all chopped up. I'd like to add a tad more comedy and a really great thriller to the lot, so feel free to offer up suggestions. Are you as ridiculous as I am with regards to your in-flight movie planning? How does your inner movie geek go about prepping for a long trip at 35,000 feet? Do tell ...

The Harry Potter cast, as we all know by now, is growing to the point of becoming dangerously costly. Chief among the new additions to the Potter-verse this year was young actress Katie Leung, who portrayed Potter crush Cho Chang. Fans are aware that the part of Cho will grow in the next film, which of course means we haven't seen the last of Leung in Wizardland. Apparently she impressed some people with her first foray into the realm of major motion pictures; Lueng has been nominated for the Outstanding Newcomer Award to be presented during the 2006 Asian Excellence Awards sponsored by AZN Television. Battlestar Galactica's Grace Park has also been nominated for the award.  The awards show will take place in late January.

What do you think, fans? Was Lueng impressive enough to merit an award? I don't know, honestly. She filled the part well--but frankly, there wasn't alot to the part and I don't think she did anything particularly spectacular. I don't mean that to be a criticism of her acting ability, I just think we'll probably have a better idea of her talent after the next film. Presuming, of course, that her part doesn't get cut down to mere moments of screen time. Thoughts?