Khylin and Aramis at the Oscars After Party 2013

Last night, actors Khylin Rhambo (Dink Meeker) and Aramis Knight (Bean) smartened themselves up and headed out to attend the after party of Hollywood's most glamorous event:

Before

After

Facebook

A trip to Fatburger: everyone's dream ending to a night on the town.

For more pictures of Khylin and Aramis at the Oscars check out our Events gallery -- and Khylin's official Facebook page.

Perhaps this time next year, this pair will be attending the Academy Awards in support of the Oscar-nominated Ender's Game!

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Ender's Game Trailer Possibly Coming Soon!

We have the first official mention of an upcoming trailer for Ender's Game.

Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns was live on CNBC's Fast Money program last night, talking about the Oscars, Jennifer Lawrence and what's in store for Lionsgate in 2013. Here's the part that matters for Ender's Game fans:

CNBC: You've got a big pipeline in 2013. What's the one film that we need to be watching for out of Lionsgate?

Burns: [mentions Catching Fire and Red 2] ... I feel very good about, I saw the trailer yesterday for Ender's Game, that looks very exciting!

You can watch the show in CNBC's Video Gallery - jump to 32:20 for Michael Burns' appearance.

Now we know that an Ender's Game trailer definitely already exists! It might not be the final version that will be shown to the public, but it seems they are pretty close. I was originally expecting a first teaser trailer sometime in May, but now we might see one as early as next month.

There is no official word from Lionsgate or Summit Entertainment on an actual release date yet, but we will keep you posted on any details as soon as we learn them.

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EnderCast Episode #4: Salamander

The newest episode of our Ender's Game podcast EnderCast is now up and available for download! You can also download and subscribe to us on iTunes.

This week we talk about:

-- Jimmy Pinchak's birthday and upcoming live gig
-- Cryptozoic Entertainment and Ender’s Game trading card series and board game
-- Battle School Army logo
-- New Still of Salamander Army
-- Contests on EnderWiggin.net and Ender News

Don't forget: We are always looking for people to talk to, so if you're interested in being a guest on our show, please let us know!

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Contest: Make your own Battle School space food!

Ender Wiggin never cleared his plate.

"Can I finish eating?"

"You never finish eating."

It was true. Ender's tray always had food on it after a meal. Ender looked at the plate and decided he was through. "Let's go then."

- Alai and Ender, Ender's Game

Knowing what we know now, can we really blame him?

Here is your challenge:  Re-create one of the delectable-looking Battle School food items located on Ender and Petra's mess hall trays - or some space food of your very own! Once your creation is complete, send us a picture along with the recipe you used!

The One Rule: Everything you use in your recipe must be edible. 

Khylin Rhambo (Dink Meeker) has shared enough information to get you started:

Twitter

Alternatively, you can also check out the super cool Battle School food recipes that Crystal from EnderWiggin.net posted. But be creative -- if you do decide to use one of hers, try to change it up a bit!

Send in your submission to endernews@gmail.com by March 13th, 2013 - Midnight EST. All submissions will be posted in a gallery here on Ender News -- and the very best will be up for a prize! Two winners will be chosen to receive a Third or Dragon Army pin from Smart Pop Books!

Good luck, guys. And keep in mind: Ender News is totally not responsible for anyone making themselves ill while participating in this contest. ;)

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Fansite Exclusive: Ender and Petra in the Battle School Mess Hall

Click to enlarge - or download full size here!

Ender's Game Set Visit Preview 

A close-up of Ender's monitor. Lift-off. Ender vs. Bonzo. A Formic ship. My eyes slid from one image to the next as I tried to take in as much as I could while waiting for our promised production art tour. We had only been on set for 5 minutes and I'd already seen enough to last a lifetime. The first part of our visit, a 1.5 hour visual treat led by producer Roberto Orci, was being held in a conference room which seemed to be used for planning; story boards from the film covered all four walls and I knew that if I had enough time I could go along on Ender's journey simply by making one lap around the room.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

On May 22, 2012, a group of journalists, bloggers, and other online media representatives were invited to New Orleans to take a tour of the Ender's Game set, myself included. This was a huge opportunity, more than any of us dared hope for, and I spent the entire 8 hour flight nervously grinning at the stewardesses and going through the preparation materials in my head.

“Business or pleasure?” the man sitting beside me asked as I stared out the plane window at the Atlantic ocean below. After a pause, I told him the truth.

“I'm not entirely sure.”

We met in the lobby of our hotel at 8:15 Tuesday morning. After a short introductory session with Ryan Fons, our Summit contact and guardian for the day, we piled into a van and headed to the Michould Assembly Facility, the NASA complex where the majority of principal production was taking place. The ride was was filled with nervous questions: How do you pronounce Asa? Are we going to get to touch anything? Can I keep this press badge?

But the biggest questions I was secretly keeping to myself. “What if they've ruined it?” I thought. “Will I be able to continue on with Ender News if I recognize nothing from the Ender's Game I love in what I see today?”

I needn't have worried.

Production Art Tour

Unit publicist Diane Slattery greeted us at the door of the facility and took us straight inside to meet Bob Orci and begin a tour of Ender's Game production art. I could instantly tell they weren't really planning on hiding much from us; the room we sat down in was filled with concept images and early story boards, a goldmine of plot points and spoilers. If it weren't for the promise of further excitement, I think a few of us would have stayed in the room well into the evening, scribbling in our notebooks and exclaiming over our luck.

The tour felt somehow invasive: Suddenly, after many false starts and teases about a movie possibly being made, everything that had previously only existed in my head was splashed on a wall for everyone to see. But it looked good. What stuck out especially for me was that – unlike in so many big blockbuster movies today – most of the sets and scenery were not being added in during post-production but were actually built, tangible surroundings the actors (and luckily we!) could touch and interact with.

An hour and a half later, when the lights came on and Orci stood up, I was suddenly deeply aware of how much my imagination had let me down. Everything I saw in that room looked 100x more impressive than anything I'd ever come up with in my head. The Buggers? The Battle Room? Formic technology? I had not been prepared for how cool it all looked or how hard it was going to be not to share everything I knew on Ender News immediately.

Interviews

Over the course of the day, we had the opportunity to speak with many of the actors and professionals involved in Ender's Game, including stunt coordinator Garrett Warren, production designers Ben Procter and Sean Haworth, and costume designer Christine Bieselin Clark -- who, by the way, has no regrets about including socks in the film. All of these people were more than kind and went into great detail about their work on the project. What we saw and heard from them was very convincing.

Ushered into a trailer which had been set up in a press conference-style before our arrival, we also got to spend a while chatting with Asa Butterfield (Ender Wiggin) and Hailee Steinfeld (Petra Arkanian) about their favorite stunts, the book – they are both fans! -- and what it was like working on a film with such a large fan base.

Here's a hint: I think they'll be able to handle the pressure.

We also spoke to director Gavin Hood who talked extensively about the challenges of adapting such a popular book to a movie. It was clear right away that he understands our concerns that a film may not do justice to Ender's story and is doing everything he can to preserve what fans love about the novel. I look forward to giving you more details about our conversation with him, as it was this part of the visit that rid me of every last fear that the source material might not be taken seriously.

Gavin Hood is a true fan of the novel and I am 100% certain this will come across on screen.

When Asa, Hailee, and Gavin were called back to set, a fleet of other Battle School students and staff flooded the room: Aramis Knight (Bean), Khylin Rhambo (Dink Meeker), Suraj Partha (Alai), Conor Carroll (Bernard), and Nonso Anozie (Dap)! We even had a surprise appearance by Stilson actor Caleb Thaggard who quietly made his way into the press conference at one point, all grins. We spent ages casually talking to them about all aspects of the movie and their various experiences: it was an hour filled with laughter, jokes, and a lot of fun.

And Pop Tarts, somehow. There was a lot of talk of Pop Tarts.

Near the end of the tour, we also found out that Sir Ben Kingsley was kind enough to free up some time to speak with us about the film and his role as Mazer Rackham. He sat down with us in full costume and make-up, calmly answering all of our questions and assuring us that the heart and soul behind Ender's Game was being faithfully preserved.

Everyone we spoke to took a lot of time out of their day to answer all our questions and a lot of what they revealed was intensely exciting. Ender News will definitely be sharing these tidbits with you when the time is right!

Filming and Set Visits

At one point, we were directed to an area of the set everyone referred to as the “video garden,” a dimly-lit area filled with monitors where actors and their family could sit and observe what was currently being filmed, and we had the cool opportunity to plug into headsets and watch Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld in action. I'd never realized how many times one scene could be shot, and how exhausting it must be when it's a scene that involves running!

Not only did we get to experience the sets via the monitors, but we also visited them in person! The most impressive areas we explored during our visit were, in my opinion, the control room on Eros and the set for the epic final scene. I would love to tell in detail about how they are going to pull this off, but we'll have to leave that for upcoming set-visit pieces. But one thing is for sure: none of you are ready for how amazing it's going to look on the big screen.

Final Thoughts

All in all my impression of the project could not be better and I'm so pleased I have had the opportunity to visit the set and report positively back to the Ender fan base. The story I have loved for over 10 years will definitely be coming to life with this movie and I can't wait for you all to experience what I saw last year in New Orleans.

Over the next couple of months leading up to the release of the film, you can expect detailed reports from Ender News about what we learned while visiting the Ender's Game set, including interviews and specifics about set and costume design.

We have so much to look forward to in the coming months, and the whole team at Ender News is very excited to share all the major revelations and small tidbits of the Ender's Game project with all of you.

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Exclusive First Look at Dragon Army Logo

Today, Ender News is very excited to exclusively reveal:

The Dragon Army logo from the upcoming Ender's Game film!

Previously disbanded because of its losing reputation, Dragon Army is given over to the command of Ender Wiggin after he proves himself by consistently remaining at the top of the Battle School individual soldier standings.

In the film, each army in Battle School will be represented by their own insignia, a patch located on the arm of each soldier's flight suit.

Want to see more? You can take a look at several of the other Ender's Game army logos by visiting our friends at EnderWiggin.net (Salamander), Ender's Ansible (Rat), and Enders Game Fansite (Asp).

But the fun doesn't end here! Tomorrow morning at exactly 11am EST we are going to have even more exciting news for you, something you don't want to miss: a brand new still from Ender's Game with an extended look at Battle School!

Make sure to follow Ender News on Facebook and Twitter to be updated when the still goes live!

This is it, guys. Show up tomorrow with your seat belts firmly fastened. It looks like we're about to launch!

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Cryptozoic to Release "Ender's Game" Game!

Cryptozoic Entertainment, the company known for their exciting, big-brand fan products such as card games, board games, trading cards and comics is currently attending the New York Toy Fair 2012 where many of their current and upcoming projects are on display. One project in particular may interest many Ender's Game fans. Notice anything in the image of their booth below?

Photo © gamebrooklyn

We contacted Cryptozoic shortly after running across this photo and they've assured us it's true: the company has obtained the rights to develop a game based on Ender's Game -- and they're really excited about it!

While we don't have many details about the project at this time, we do know that Cryptozoic Entertainment has had great success with their board and trading card games (including the very popular The Walking Dead and World of Warcraft versions) and are assuming that this game will be something rather similar.

As the company is currently in the middle of designing the game, there are no pictures as of yet, but we will definitely know more soon. You can be sure we'll be updating with more information as it rolls in!

Update: Confirmed with Summit PR that Cryptozoic will be releasing not only a board game but a trading card series as well in conjunction with the film's release.

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Suraj Partha Covers "Gone Gone Gone" by Phillip Phillips

I


Seriously -- whoa. There is really nothing to add. This is gorgeous and Surja Partha is a very talented young man. Make sure you head over to YouTube and show him some love.

While you're at it, you should also check out his recording of John Mayer's "Dreaming with a Broken Heart."

Insert obligatory "Buggers and Astronauts" cast band comment here.

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Fly Molo Actor Brandon Soo Hoo on "Ender's Game"

Teen entertainment magazine J-14 recently had the opportunity to sit down with Brandon Soo Hoo (Fly Molo) and talk about his role in Ender's Game and what it was like to work with some of his teenage co-stars.

The 17-year-old actor reveals that he has been a fan of the novel since he was 11 years old and Ender's Game was passed on to him by his teacher. "It's funny," he admits, "because when I was reading the book, I was thinking, 'If this book is ever made into film, I hope I can work in it.' I was thinking Han Tzu, but Fly Molo works too!"

Although the character of Fly Molo isn't as developed in the original novel as some of the other members of Ender's inner circle, Brandon gives us some insight into director/screenwriter Gavin Hood's version of the brilliant Filipino:

"My character, Fly Molo, is a veteran soldier in Battle School. At first, he is introduced as Bonzo's lackey, but he eventually comes to recognize Ender as the superior commander. I can definitely relate to Fly's second-in-command role. A leader will always feel the majority of the pressure in a high-stakes situation, whereas the lieutenant is usually allowed to function below the radar. However, I'd say that unlike Fly, I would have a bit of trouble putting up with Bonzo. I have mild authority issues."

Fortunately, he didn't seem to have much trouble getting along with his fellow Battle School students on set:

"All three of them [Abigail Breslin, Hailee Steinefld, and Asa Butterfield] were quite charming individuals in their own ways. My first impression of Abby (Abigail) was that she was outgoing, witty, and easy to get along with right off the bat. I remember Hailee to be one of the most composed, sophisticated young women I've spoken to. When I met Asa, he seemed like the shy-brooding type, complete with flowy hair and teenage angst. But upon getting to know him better, I now recognize him as the hilarious, British, electro music fanatic that he is."

When asked to give three reasons why J-14 readers should see Ender's Game, Brandon replies, "Because it's going to be a classic, guaranteed. It's an epic sci-fi novel, converted into an equally epic film. Plus: aliens, laser guns, and a racially diverse cast. What more can you ask for?"

What more, indeed.

You can catch Brandon on Cartoon Network every Thursday night in his new sketch comedy series Incredible Crew. He'll also be making an appearance this Saturday in the Nickelodeon season premiere of Supah Ninjas (8:30 pm) -- make sure you don't miss it!

Ender's Game is set to hit US theaters November 1, 2013 -- 266 days to go.

(Read the full interview here -- and thanks to Ender's Game Fandom for the tip!)

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Free "Ender's World" Excerpt Now Available!

Hey Launchies! Smart Pop Books contacted us today to give us some more exciting Ender's World news! Not only have they recently added the book's table of contents to the site, but they're also offering fans a bit of a sneak preview to hold us over until April.

All you have to do is visit Smart Pop's site and sign up for the mailing list. After submitting your email address, you'll receive an email with a confirmation link. Once you click on it, a free advance PDF excerpt from the book will be sent directly to your inbox. Super easy, right?

They're also looking to add excerpts from individual essays at a later date, so make sure to keep checking back.

Ender's World will be released on April 2, 2013 and is available for pre-order now on Amazon. Don't miss out!

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The Jimmy Jax Band Live at Molly Malone's

Jimmy Jax Pinchak

Jimmy Jax Pinchak's team reached out to Ender's Game fans yesterday to let us know that he and his band will be playing live at Molly Malone's in Los Angeles on March 8, 2013 at 8:45 pm.

Check out a clip of his single "Tell Me" over on YouTube.

And here's a bit of extra excitement for Ender fans: If you plan on checking out Jimmy's band and are 21-and-over (Malone's is 21+), don't forget to bring along your copy of Ender's Game! Jimmy has promised he will be signing copies of the book after the set!

Cool, right? Keeping it short:

What: The Jimmy Jax Band
Where: Molly Malone's
When: March 8, 2013. 8:45 pm
Who: Everyone 21+
Why: Great music (classic rock), and a chance to have your book signed by Jimmy Jax Pinchak

Make sure you also check out Jimmy's brand new website and let him know over on Facebook that you'll be attending!

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SDCC 2013 Badges On Sale February 16, 2013

Just a super quick heads-up for everyone who is planning on attending Comic-Con this year: public badges go on sale two weeks from tomorrow: Saturday, February 16, 2013.

In order to apply for a badge, you must already have a valid Comic-Con Member ID or sign-up for one before February 12th.

From the site:

Everyone who intends to purchase, apply, or register for a Comic-Con badge must have a valid and confirmed Comic-Con Member ID. The Member ID site will close to new registrations and changes on February 12, 2013 and will not reopen before badge sales begin. This includes attendees, volunteers, professionals, trade professionals, exhibitor main contacts, and members of the press.

If any of you Launchies are intending to attend Comic-Con this year to support  Ender's Game, I suggest you sign up for a member ID as soon as possible. I wouldn't want anyone who wanted to go miss out because they forgot to register in time!

SDCC Member ID: Get one right now.

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EnderCast Episode #3: Third

Hey guys! Our latest installment of EnderCast, Third, is now available! In this episode, we cover:

-- known movie changes
-- San Diego Comic Con reminder
-- the James Horner rumor
-- and a reader question from Stephen Sywak

Third also includes the very first installment of our Ender's Game trivia show called Pop Quiz, Fart Eater! Our contestant today was listener Scott -- you'll have to tune in to EnderCast.com to see how he did!

Edit: Fixed!

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