Interviews – ScienceFiction.com

Exclusive: Star Trek’s Michael Dorn Talks ‘Agent Revelation’

Mike Phalin — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:00:05 +0000

Today we had the honor of speaking with Michael Dorn (‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’) about his role in the upcoming sci-fi spectacle ‘Agent Revelation’. Mr. Dorn gave us some insight into the production, casting, and how a successful actor/director relationship works. He also let us in on his upcoming project, a Western that he will write, direct, and star in. Check it out below. Agent Revelation will be available on-demand on January 22nd. Synopsis: Jim Yung, a rejected CIA analyst, has been exposed to an ancient ‘dust’ that transforms him into a super soldier that can communicate with aliens. When a secret organization works with him to discover why aliens have returned to Earth, the truth comes at a price.

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Exclusive Interview: Guy Moshe Talks ‘LX2048’

Mike Phalin — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 15:56:15 +0000

In ‘LX2048’ humans from our not-too-distant future have resigned themselves to their homes, for it has become too dangerous to step outside. Unlike our present reality in 2020, it’s not Covid19 that’s keeping us locked up, it’s something far more threatening. Fast forward another 28 years and the earth is at the mercy of toxic sunlight. Humans slip away from reality with the help of VR, but at what cost? Today we got to speak with Guy Moshe, the writer and director of ‘LX2048’. Check out our full interview below: ‘LX2048’ will be available on September 25th in theatres, digital, and VOD. The film stars James D’Arcy (‘Cloud Atlas’), Anna Brewster (‘Versailles’), and Delroy Lindo (‘The Good Fight’). Synopsis: In 2048, the sun has become too toxic to leave one’s house in daytime and life as we know it exists mostly inside the virtual realm. Against this backdrop, a dying man fights for his family’s future while coping with what it means to be human…

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Interview: ‘Cosmos: Possible Worlds’ Neil DeGrasse Tyson And Ann Druyan On Presenting Science In A Science Denial World

Janice Kay — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 19:47:41 +0000

In a time when the attack on science has become commonplace, National Geographic’s ‘Cosmos’ presents like a beacon of hope. Developed by Ann Druyan, the widow of renown scientist Carl Sagan, and hosted by astrophysicist and cult icon Neil deGrasse Tyson, the third season of ‘Cosmos,’ aptly titled “Possible Worlds,” presents viewers with a somewhat optimistic, albeit cautious, view of the world and the potential of what the future holds by not only exploring the possibilities of life outside the confines of our planet, but also scientifically exploring the possibilities of the world around us. During an interview with both Druyan and Tyson promoting the upcoming season of ‘Cosmos’ on the Nat Geo channel, Druyan lights up as she explains, “That’s exactly what I intended with the title: not just the possible worlds of the exo-planets that we can visit, worlds of other suns, but the worlds within us. ‘Cosmos: Possible Worlds’ is a vision of the future we can still have if we have the wisdom and the will to act on what the scientists are telling us.” But how will this season translate within the current environment of science deniers? After all, a lot has changed since the […]

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Exclusive Interview: Butch Patrick And Why ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ Never Got A Chance

Mike Phalin — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 14:45:55 +0000

Fifty years ago, Norton Juster’s book ‘The Phantom Tollbooth‘ was translated into a fantastic animated film by legendary animator Chuck Jones. The feature animated film starred a who’s who cast of voice actors including Mel Blanc, Hans Conried, and ‘The Munster’s own Butch Patrick. The fantasy adventure follows a boy named Milo, who is perpetually bored by the average world around him. This neverending malaise is squashed when a mysterious tollbooth materializes in his home, and he is whisked off to the Lands Beyond. The lessons that Milo learns along his journey could apply to many adults today. Some of these things include the proper use of grammar or the importance of rhyme and reason to balance out chaos. Regardless of its use as a teaching tool, ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ is a masterpiece of animation with many of the hallmarks seen in Chuck Jones’s Looney Tunes shorts. There’s plenty of coyness and sharp wit to go around. When I noticed that the 50th anniversary of the film’s release was this year, I reached out to star Butch Patrick. I hoped he could shed some light on the production side of things. How had it impacted him? What was […]

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Exclusive Interview: Laura Fraser Talks ‘Dark Encounter’

Mike Phalin — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 17:02:49 +0000

Sometimes subverting expectations can be a good thing. Ya know … if done right. Over the years there have been a number of “alien encounter” movies that try to spring life in this underused sci-fi subgenre. We’ll get the occasional icons like ‘E.T’ or the awesome original ‘V’ series. Then we’ll get things like ‘Signs’ that try to be clever but fall apart upon closer examination. For a while now, there hasn’t been much in this subgenre that made me go “oooooooh” in a good way. That was until ‘Dark Encounter’ hit my desk. ‘Break Bad’ actress and Glasglow native Laura Fraser strapped on her perfect North American accent again as she enveloped herself in the role of Olivia, the mother of a missing child. The vanishing of her daughter Maisie may seem like an average, if not tragic, event. On the one-year anniversary of the disappearance, however, strange things begin to happen. Lights appear in the sky and forest. More people vanish into thin air right in front of loved ones. Is the family’s personal tragedy connected to the odd events? I recently spoke to Laura Fraser over the phone about this film. We kept everything spoiler-free, so […]

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Exclusive Interview: Isabella Blake-Thomas Talks Disney+ And ‘The League Of Legend Keepers’

Mike Phalin — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 19:34:27 +0000

Kids’ entertainment is a tricky thing to master. Some films focus on gross-out humor; some are just glorified commercials. There’s a very thin line between something disposable and something worthwhile. However, if you put ‘Kindergarten Cop’ actor Richard Tyson in it, then it’s instant gold. Tyson is joined by ‘Days of Our Lives’ Abigail Titmuss and Jake Brennan of ‘Airplane Mode’ in a supernatural thriller aimed at young adults: ‘The League of Legend Keepers: Shadows.’ The feature also stars Isabella Blake-Thomas, who serves as the project’s writer. This movie marks Isabella’s fourth credit as a writer. She has had the opportunity to get her creative visions on screen with another family member, her mother, Elizabeth Blake-Thomas, who served as the director for ‘The League of Legend Keepers: Shadows.’ Not only does this young star get top billing, but she is also set to play a significant part in an upcoming Disney film. The young Miss Blake-Thomas is no stranger to Disney-related projects. In 2016 and 2017, she appeared in ‘Once Upon a Time’ as a young Zelena. More recently, she has been involved with a film that will appear exclusively on Disney’s premier streaming service, Disney+. Though most of […]

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Beyond Infinite Earths: Kevin Conroy Is Batman

Nick Cavicchio — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 07:55:34 +0000

When you think about Batman there are any number of faces that might come to mind, from Christian Bale to the classic comic book renderings of Dick Sprang and everything in between. But as many faces as there are to choose from, there’s only one voice: that of Kevin Conroy. Conroy has been voicing the Dark Knight on a regular basis since 1992, most famously for the various series that make up the DC Animated Universe, but also for countless video games and animated movies. Ahead of the recent Blu-ray release of ‘Batman Beyond’, we had the opportunity to speak with Conroy. Our conversation included discussion of his now-legendary Batman voice, bringing a live version of Bruce Wayne into the ‘Crisis in Infinite Earths’ crossover, his thoughts on Robert Pattinson, and more! I like the beard. Are you growing it for a job? Well I’m doing a job right now… ‘Crisis’? I’m playing Old Bruce Wayne. With a beard. Are you shooting it yet? Yeah, I flew in from Vancouver last night. I’m in the midst of doing it now. The producers let me come, isn’t that cool? It’s awesome. Ruby Rose is so great! She’s really such a generous […]

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Tana Ford Takes On The TSA With ‘LaGuardia’

Nick Cavicchio — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 23:48:22 +0000

Allegory is among the proudest traditions in science fiction, having permeated the genre for as long as it’s been a genre. It makes sense, of course. In a genre that allows you to frame issues outside of their familiar, contemporary context, it’s naturally easier to encourage your audience to consider them from a new perspective. Sometimes that means slipping some obvious-in-retrospect social commentary past Standards and Practices. Others it’s about embedding themes in a work that may only become apparent on the third or fourth read. In any case, it means that science fiction is often uniquely equipped to address the issues of the day. And in this day, one of the biggest issues is that of immigration. That’s where ‘LaGuardia’ – the latest collaboration between writer Nnedi Okorafor and artist Tana Ford – comes in. Set in a near future world in which aliens have – more or less – integrated with human society, ‘LaGuardia’ interrogates issues surrounding immigration in a manner reminiscent of ‘District 9’. We had the opportunity to speak with Tana Ford about the book, which is now available in trade paperback. Our conversation covered the origins of the story, Tana’s artistic influences, and the trials and […]

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Exclusive Interview: Dean Alioto Talks ‘Portal’ And Heather Langenkamp

Mike Phalin — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:13:42 +0000

Director Dean Alioto sat down with us this week to talk about his new film ‘Portal’. This new paranormal flick follows a group of ghost hunters that get into a situation that’s a little too real. The Ghost Seekers soon realize that this isn’t just a case of strange noises or eerie feelings, this haunting is real and dangerous. The main draw for me, personally, was the guest star, Heather Langenkamp. Nancy has come a long way since ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’. Langenkamp let acting take a backseat over the years. You’d be more likely to see her at a convention rather than on the silver screen. She prefers to be the effects coordinator at AFX Studio. There she gets to work side-by-side with her husband David LeRoy Anderson. ‘Portals’ allowed her to work both in front of, and behind the scenes for special effects. ‘Portal’ is now available via on-demand through all the major platforms.

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Exclusive Interview: Todd Nauck Joins The Riffing With ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Comic’

Nick Cavicchio — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 22:57:15 +0000

I know what you’re thinking. “How the hell do you make a comic out of Mystery Science Theater 3000?” It’s the first question I asked when the book was announced. But thankfully, ‘MST3K’ maestro Joel Hodgson is smarter than me. In retrospect though, the answer is obvious. Instead of riffing on movies, the comic versions of Jonah and the bots riff on, well, comics. Specifically, Golden and Silver age comics that have since lapsed into the public domain. And if you know your comics history, you know that comics of that vintage give them plenty of material to work with! Unlike the series, in which the hosts watch the movies and crack jokes, the riffing here works by turning Jonah and company into participants in the events of the books on which they are riffing. But of course, it’s not all riffs. Like the show it’s based on, ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Comic’ also includes host segments with the bots, TV’s Son of TV’s Frank, and the rest of the Netflix-era cast. At this year’s New York Comic Con, we had the opportunity to chat with artist Todd Nauck, who pencilled the comic’s host segments. Our conversation touched on […]

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Exclusive Interview: Jeffrey Combs Talks ‘Holiday Hell’

Mike Phalin — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 14:55:40 +0000

Jeffrey Combs has been a horror icon for as long as I’ve been alive. In 1986 I got to see ‘Re-Animator’ in the backroom of a VHS rental shop, and the following year I dressed up as Herbert West for Halloween. To say that I was excited to speak with Mr. Combs about his newest project is a vast understatement. Combs has appeared in nearly every aspect of geek culture from some of the best horror films of the ’80s to nearly every recent ‘Star Trek’ series. He is as engrained in the sci-fi and horror genres as the tropes that made them dear to our hearts. Today Jeff Combs and I spoke about a winter-themed horror film called ‘Holiday Hell’. Written and directed by Jeff Ferrell and Jeff Vigil, this festive flick is, in fact, an anthology tale. Combs portrays a shopkeeper who’s various curiosities each contain a story. Those stories unravel as individual parts of the anthology. We won’t spoil anything, but Jeff did tell us that not everything is as it seems in the store. ‘Holiday Hell’ will be available via on-demand and DVD November 11th, but you can stream it right now exclusively on Tubi! The […]

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Exclusive Interview: Jody Houser Brings ‘Stranger Things’ To Dark Horse

Nick Cavicchio — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:00:13 +0000

During the hiatus between its second and third seasons, ‘Stranger Things‘ did what all hit genre shows eventually must: It expanded beyond its humble, televised roots into other media. And given the show’s obvious affinity for the geek culture of the eighties, comics were a natural fit. And so, over the past year, Dark Horse has teamed with writer Jody Houser to turn the comics world Upside Down. At this year’s New York Comic Con, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jody Houser to her work expanding the world of the Netflix giant. Our conversation covered both ‘The Other Side’ and ‘Six’, the future of ‘Stranger Things’ at Dark Horse, and more. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get involved with the ‘Stranger Things’ comics in the first place? Well, Spencer – who was my editor – reached out to me. I ‘d worked with him previously on a ‘Halo’ issue for Dark Horse, and he asked if I was interested in ‘Stranger Things’ and maybe writing a comic. I replied that I had dressed as Eleven for the past two Halloweens, so yes! The two ‘Stranger Things’ stories you’ve told so far […]

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Exclusive Interview: G. Willow Wilson Leads Us To The ‘Invisible Kingdom’

Nick Cavicchio — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:40:50 +0000

From ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Alien’, Dark Horse Comics in many ways made their name on the strength of their licensed books. But of course, they also produce a great deal of original work. One of the more interesting of the publisher’s recent original offerings is ‘Invisible Kingdom’, a philosophical space opera from writer G. Willow Wilson and Eisner-winning artist Christian Ward. In ‘Invisible Kingdom’, we are presented with two distinct yet interconnected story threads, one a religious acolyte, the other a freighter pilot in the employ of an interplanetary megacorporation. As the narrative unfolds, worlds collide, truths are revealed, and loyalties are tested. At this year’s New York Comic Con, we had the opportunity to sit down with G. Willow Wilson to discuss the origins of the book, the invaluable contributions of Christian Ward, and even a quick foray into religion. Let’s start off with some background on ‘Invisible Kingdom’. How did it the book come together? ‘Invisible Kingdom’ came about primarily because I’ve always wanted to do a space opera and I had been looking for a reason to work with Karen Berger again for many years. So when those two opportunities collided, I thought “Okay, great. Let’s do […]

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Exclusive Interview: The UFO Bros. Talk Travel Channel’s ‘Raiding Area 51’

Mike Phalin — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 20:35:18 +0000

There’s been a lot of talk about civilians making a physical push to get into Area 51. This conspiracy theory-laden site is more formally known as Homey Airport. The highly secretive United States Air Force base has long been rumored to house alien species and spacecraft. We may finally be at the tipping point where the truth will come out. The latest effort for true believers to get into Area 51 has been the subject of a new show on the Travel Channel. ‘Storming Area 51’ will follow the efforts of the UFO Bros: Joe and Emmett Hayes. The brothers will travel from Northern California to Nevada as they document allure and the pandemonium surrounding the site. We had the chance to speak to the brothers. Check out the interview below! ‘Storming Area 51’ will premiere on Sunday, September 29th 10 PM EST/PST.

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Exclusive Interview: Jared Cohn Talks ‘Devil’s Revenge’ Starring William Shatner And Jeri Ryan

Mike Phalin — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 20:01:05 +0000

I was sold on ‘Devil’s Revenge’ the second I saw William Shatner wielding a shotgun on the poster. Not only that, but the story comes to us via ‘Star Trek TNG’ scribe Maurice Hurley. It’s like a little ‘Trek’ reunion, except with a lot more violence and creepier creature effects. Good, bad, or otherwise there is no way I’d pass up the chance to watch Kirk team up with Seven of Nine herself, Jeri Ryan, to take on a bunch of satanic creatures in caves. When I say caves, I mean real caves. Director Jared Cohn had the cast and crew filming in various real-world locations underground in Kentucky. So, how did this story of a family cursed by the devil come about? What was it like working with the legendary Shatner? Find out in our interview below. ‘Devil’s Revenge’ is set to hit video-on-demand services on October 1st.

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