I’ve got a new clip for "Blood: The Last Vampire," which arrives in theaters July 10, 2009. It’s a live-action version of the original Japanese anime feature film from one of the producers of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Saya (played by Gianna Jun) is a 400-year-old demon-hunting vampire slayer working undercover in Japan for a secret organization, on a mission in the Vietnam War era. It sounds like a little like a Japanese "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Check out stills, preview and the trailer here.

We’re starting to get some info on 2010 moves now, and the vampire theme continues on and on (which is fine by me!).

I just received a poster for Lionsgate’s "Daybreakers," starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe.

Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a researcher in the year 2019, and a plague has transformed the world’s population into vampires. Humans are becoming extinct, and vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or find a blood substitute before time runs out (they haven’t heard of "True Blood"?). 

But then a covert group of vampires makes a remarkable discovery, one which has the power to save the human race. The movie hits theaters January 8, 2010. Check out the official site, and the first teaser poster (creepy, huh?).

Image: © Lionsgate, 2010

Attention, anyone looking to play Seth or Leah in "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"!

There’s an open casting call listed for these two characters at EclipseOpenCasting.com. Thanks to Nieko in Film Gecko’s "New Moon Casting News & Rumors" thread for the heads up!

From the Open Casting site:

Seth Clearwater: Seth is a Quileute Indian and the youngest member of the La Push wolf pack. He is a tall, gangly limbed boy with a huge, happy grin, the son of Harry and Sue Clearwater and the younger brother of Leah. Seth idolizes Jacob, and is always eager to please. NOTE: This is an excellent opportunity for Native American and First Nations actors. Seeking age 14-19 to play age 15.

Leah Clearwater: Leah is a Quileute Indian and the only female member of the La Push wolf pack. She is tall and slender with beautiful skin and short cropped black hair. She would be considered gorgeous if not for the perpetual scowl she carries due to a broken heart and her anger issues. She is the daughter of Harry and Sue Clearwater and the protective older sister of Seth. NOTE: This is an excellent opportunity for Native American and First Nations actors. Seeking age 18-25 to play 19.

Auditions are due by June 30, 2009. Again, visit the Eclipse Open Casting site for more info and to submit your audition.

Good luck, everyone! First dibs on interviewing the lucky actors who make it!

Image: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The vampire trend continues with “Blood: The Last Vampire,” coming to theaters July 10, 2009. It’s actually an English version of a Japanese anime feature film from the producer of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

Saya (Gianna Jun) is a 400-year-old half-human, half-vampire samurai who preys on those who feast on human blood. Joining forces with a covert organization known as the Council, she’s dispatched to an American military base, where a series of swordfights leads her to the deadliest vampire of all!

Directed by Chris Nahon, “Blood: The Last Vampire” also stars Allison Miller, Liam Cunningham, Michael Byrne, Koyuki, and Colin Salmon. Check out the film’s Facebook Page, MySpace Page, and Official Site.

On the surface, this movie looks like it’s trying to glom onto the vampire trend created by “Twilight,” “Moonlight,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” among others. But I would hasten to add that the original anime film was released in 2000 (and won several awards, too), so it may have been leading the pack on this current wave. Yes, I know Buffy started pre-2000 and, of course, people have always been fascinated with vampires.

What do you think? Are you planning on seeing “Blood: The Last Vampire”?

More stills and a trailer after the jump…

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Wondering how things are going with "The Twilight Saga: New Moon"? Hollyscoop.com caught up with the stars of the vampire flick and got the scoop on the upcoming movie, in theaters Nov. 20, 2009. Check out the first trailer here.

And hear what Michael Welch, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Cam Gigandet, and Taylor Lautner have to say about it!

A friend just sent this note along. TalentHunter.com has a note saying they”re casting extras for "Twilight." You can register for free and apply online here.

I assume they’re talking about "New Moon" and possibly "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn," but they don’t specify in the ad. Anyone know anything about this site, or whether they’re legit?

This particular ad says: "No experience is needed. All looks and types wanted. Make $150-$300 per day."

If anyone knows anything about this site, tell us in the comments below!

Image: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

My pal Tiffany McFadden sent me this link, and passed the word along about a campaign to get Hana Pestle’s song "Need" into "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

All I can say is: Oh.My! I just listened to the song (about 5 times) on Hana’s MySpace site, and it is SO beautiful. It would be absolutely perfect for "New Moon" – especially the heartbreaking scene where Edward leaves Bella in the woods (check out the first "New Moon" trailer here).

Hana Pestle wrote "Need", one of her first compositions, in 2004 at the age of 15. It was produced/co-written (the bridge) for her album by Ben Moody and Michael "Fish" Herring and recorded in Los Angeles last year. The string arrangements are by David Campbell, piano performance by David Hodges, engineered and mixed by Dan Certa, and mastered at Sterling Sound in NYC.

Hana started performing live in Montana at the age of 14 with just her acoustic guitar. In 2006, at age 16, one of her performance DVDs reached Evanescence creator and writer Ben Moody, who helped to craft her first solo CD. She spent the last seven months of 2008 touring the U.S. with bands Live, Collective Soul, Blues Traveler, Joshua Radin, Graham Colton, Jon McLaughlin, Ingram Hill, Corey Smith. Look for her new CD to be released July 7, 2009.

So what do you think? Should Hana Pestle’s "Need" be in "New Moon"? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Image: NeedForNewMoon, Hana Pestle, 2009

Summit Entertainment has released the first trailer for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” and it looks explosive and heartwrenching and wild and everything else you can think of. They’re certainly ramping up the CG effects with the wolf pack.

The second movie in the “Twilight” franchise hits theaters Nov. 20, 2009, and continues the story of Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black and all the rest. What do you think of the trailer? Thanks to NewMoonMovie.org for the trailer! (This is the one that aired during the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday.)

Three new stills from "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" are online, and I’ve got them below! The movie hits theaters on Nov. 20, 2009, and continues the story of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Yes, it’s a love triangle, only with humans, vampires and werewolves. Check out the poster of the werewolf pack here.

Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan) and Edi Gathegi (Laurent):

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Three new images of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" have been released exclusively to EW.com. The pics show:

• Newly 18-year-old Bella after being thrown against a table by her love, Edward.
• The mysterious vampire Laurent (Edi Gathegi) telling Bella not to be fearful of death. "’He was bad in ‘Twilight,’ but still had some compassion," he says. "Let’s just say he’s not conflicted anymore.”
• Bella and Edward about to kiss. "Rob was the first guy to say to me, ‘You know, you don’t really need to have too much of me in this film,’" notes director Chris Weitz. "I don’t want him too present, so his apparition will be a subtle, flitting effect — clearly a reflection of Bella’s will and desire to see him.”

Check out the new images here (I’ll post them as soon as they’re available). What do you think?

Image: TM and © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.