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Home , Ahmed Best, Bullseye Art, Carl Macek, Conan the Destroyer, Damon Santostefano, Demon Knight

PHANTOM MENACE 's revenge Tooned-in tomorrows VOYAGER Tales of Paris STARSHIPTROOPERS CGI-animated war Meet the new BEASTMASTER & the original HERCULESk I

If you're a fantasy and sci-fi fanatic. If you're into toys, comics, coliectltiles, manga and . if you love , . Buffy arid X-Files.

Why aren't you here - WWW.ign.COm T

1993 snowljall.com. IGN.com is a trademark of snowbail.com, © incorporatei). Ail Rights Reserveil, Ail referenced properties are trademaris of tlieir respective owners. ' NUMBER 269 DECEMBER 1999 THE SCIENCE FICTION UNIVERSE® INSIDE THIS ISSUE 20 DESTINATION: FUTURAMA 56 LOVE & KISSES, JAR JAR David X. Cohen adds mad Ahmed Best likes playing the alien science to tomorrow's toon some fans love to hate

24 A TOY'S LIFE 61 BEASTMASTER TALES launches Buzz & woody Daniel Coddard can talk to into 2 adventure animals & interviewers, too

32 GALAXY BIMBO 66 RAIDERS OF LOST RELICS Amazingly blonde, Sigourney creator Gil Grant Weaver returns to SF action unleashes a female Indiana Jones 36 007: MILLENNIAL MISSION 72 PARIS IN WONDERLAND James Bond battles Robert Duncan IVIclNieill steps nuclear terrorists through the looking glass & deadly assassins 76 QUEEN OF CYBERPUNK 43 GEOF HARROW serving Tea from an Empty DRAWS Cup, Pat Cadigan reigns He envisions boy robots, metal giants & 78 BUG HUNTERS Starship Troopers march off to computer- 47 YOU'VE COT MAUL! animated TV war STAI?LOC's cartoon Jediare out to vivi- 83 sect the lord UNEMPLOYED Kevin sorbo says 51 SPEAKING OF farewell to myth & DARTH... hello to Andromeda Lightsabre in hand, 90 THE Ray Park ORIGINAL consid- HERCULES ers the Unchained at dark last, Steve side Reeves recalls his labors V WORDS WITH YOU.

> J -s i

YOU HAVENT EXPERIENCED STAR WARS UNTIL YOU VE EXPERIENCED COMMTECH

Now you can capture all the explosive

power of Episode I. Each new Scar Wars figure comes with a cool COMIVITECH chip that holds multiple quotes from the movie. Collect them Maul. CmmMMlTECH READER EPISODE I IT'S YOUR UNIVERSE 1.

QUOTE OF THE RECOMMENDED READINGS MONTH OK, so you're sanvpling this issue of STARLOG because "I shrivel up a little every time you're an SF movie or TV fan. And that's great, but sou someone mentions Star Wars to really should read science-fiction literature. It'll take you places.? mc." that TV producers and movie directors can merely envy—via —Sir your imagination—into the worlds created by the true visionar- (to interviewer Fintan O'Toole ies of science fiction and fantasy. The writers, '5 in Talk) Let's start with some basics, five books that you just can't go wrong with—and all are in print or available at the local| library. i 1) Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. Well, this is a no-brainer. Great adventure fighting Bugs and learning citizenship plus lotsa philosophy (not always to contemporary tastes). See for yourself what the movie and the new TV series (page 78) left out. 2) Dune by Frank Herbert. It's back again in a classy new $24.95 Ace hardcover edition. Journey to the planet Arrakis, spice source of the uni- verse. A stunning realization of a planetary environment. (And a TV mini- series is in the works).

3) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. Is this his best book ? Could be, but there are so many to choose from! Aliens visit Earth—and mankind grows up. This is for all the folks who may have wondered what inspired V and Earth: Final Conflict. 4) Tlie Martian Chronicles by . AUens visit Mars, but they're from Earth. His brilliant collection of interconnected short stories offers a poetic blueprint to Mars landings yet to be. Maybe next Millenni- um? 5) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkiem. The field's most impor- tant fantasy is an enormously lengthy trilogy (The Fellowship of the Ring, Sir Alec Guinness sure has shriveled a lot, hasn't he? Having The Two Towers, The Return of the King) heralded by a briUiant prequel secretly been on the dark side of the Force all along, it's no (The Hobbit). But it's a must read. (And the eagerly awaited live-action . wonder he won't do interviews about Star Wars. (And he film version is shooting now.) 4 doesn't like The Bridge On the River Kwai, the acclaimed David Lean epic In which he starred, either!) FILM FANTASY CALENDAR l^elease dates are extremely subject to change.

November: , End ofDays, Sleepy Hollow, The World Is Not Enough. December: Stuart Little, , The Bicentennial Man, Fanta- sia 2000, The Green Mile, The Ninth Gate. January 2000: Supernova, Lost Souls. February: Pitch Black, Flight 180, Scream 3. March: Mission to Mars, The Red Planet, The Crow: Salvation. Spring: The Road to El Dorado, Frequency. May: Battlefield Earth. June: Dinosaurs, X-Men. July: The Hollow Man. Summer: The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Chicken Run, Titan A.E. Fall 2000: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Kingdom of the Sun. December 2000: Minority Report, Lord of the Rings, 200L- A Space Odyssey (re-release). STUPID ...ANQ NOW. NETWORK ^WILL THE HERCULES BRING ME THE HEAD NOW ON SALE DECISION OF Kffi^L iCHABOD CRANE PLEASE BEAT UP OF to a newsstand THE MONTH OTHER TWO The Headless Horseman rides Look near you for SCI-FI We got nothing. once again—^thls time as an TV, the magazine of sci- articulated action figure. He's You?? ence-fiction television part of a new McFarlane Toys In issue line based on the Tim Burton today from the STARLOG editorial team. fantasy adventure Sleepy Hollow #8 (now on sale), executive producer/Tre^ guy (which hits theaters this month). Jonathan Frakes and young stars Shiri Appleby & The Horseman is available both Jason Behr chat about Roswell. The issue also standing while holding lotsa includes interviews with Amanda (SG-1) Tapping, heads and on horseback. Other Tia [Relic Hunter) Carrere, Eric (Now & Again) figures include Ichabod Crane Close and Robert (Salmoneus) Trebor. Plus: Seven^ (styled to look like the film's Days, BeastMaster, the Avalon TV movie, Spider- Johnny Depp) and the Crone (a and Black Scorpion. witch complete with horned skull Man Unlimited, The Avengers and mortar and pestle). Issue #8's episode checklist posters provide guides (Year 1-5) and (Yl-3). to Voyager Buffy Art: Kev Brockschmidt exclusive

^figures l inside.'

We've bagi crea4ure^ 5lrQigh4 frotn he swoMps of JMaboO-

You never know what you'll find when you venture deep inside this Otoh Sunga ooze. You could release one of- the dungan kaadus or unleash a Naboo sea creature lik^ the opee sea killer or colo claw fish. A collection of 16 Star Wars Sea and Swamp creatures in all — four in every bag,

Some rarely seen in Episode 1. Others with major roles. All of them oozing with collectibility.

Call 1-800-327-8264 for the retailer nearest you. © Ltd. & TH.

All rights reserved. Used under authorization, *TM & ©1999 , Inc. httpi/^starwars.eom http:/^hafibK>.com President/Publisher GENRE PEOPLE COMICS SCENE NORMAN JACOBS Crichton returns to who should play Iichael So Executive Vice President M:the genre with his next Peter Parker (and a RITA EISENSTEIN novel Timeline. It is, naturally, a certain web-slinger) in the long-brewing Spi- Associate Publisher time travel tale. MILBURN SMITH Marina Sirtis and Dwight der-Man movie? At least Schultz are also back in the sci- three actors have thrown V.R/Circulation Director ART SCHULKIN ence fiction universe. They their secret identities guest star, once again playing By DAVID MCDONNELL into the ring: Wing Com- Executive Art Director W.R. MOHALLEY Deanna Troi and Reg Barclay, ^^^^ mander Freddie Prinze Jr., Starship Troopers' ; in a Star Trek: Voyager episode Editor Scheduled to airDecenaber 1. In "Pathfinder," Barclay works and Nicholas DAVID MCDONNELL

? on Earth (with holographic versions of the Voyager crew) to Brendon, Xander of Buffy the Vam- Managing Editor pire Slayer. : possibly determine a way home for the real Voyager. Troi KEITH OLEXA i aiTives to counsel him when he gets a tad obsessed with this James (Disturbing Behavior) Special FX Editor Marsden is playing Cyclops in the f. impossible mission. DAVID HUTCHISON Fantasy novelist Jane Yolen's Young Merlin trilogy is to be X-Men movie currently shooting. filmed by Independent Family Entertainment. Tyler Mane is Sabretooth. ILM vet Contributing Editors ANTHONY TIMPONE Mike Fink is serving as the film's MICHAEL CINGOLD visual FX supervisor. TOM WEAVER CHARACTER CASTINGS IAN SPELLING the Rings continues to assemble the most intriguing Lord of Consultant cast in years. Sean Bean—seen as rogue Agent 006 in GoldenEye. one of the bad guys in Patriot KERRY O'QUINN Games and as Sharpe in the British TV movie adaptations of the Bernard Cornwell military adven- Senior Art Director It like John Rhys-Davies will be Gimli. Also in the film; Dominic tures—will play Boromir. looks JIM MCLERNON Monaghan (as Merry) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas). Benjamin {Law & Order) Bratt is co-staixing in The Red Planet Art Director RICK TENG {formerly known as Mars). Colm Meaney leads the Leprechauns in the NBC mini-series air- West Coast Correspondents SHAPIRO ing November 7 and 8. Randy Quaid, Kieran Culkin and Whoopi MARC BILL WARREN Goldberg co-star. Billy Zane—who discussed his latest movie last issue—will Financial Director: Joan Baetz Marketing Director: Daniel Sierra next star in Sole Survivor, a four-hour mini-series for Fox based on Circulation Manager: Maria Damlani the Dean R. Koontz novel. By the way, the next Koontz thriller, Art: Yvonne Jang, JoMn DInsdale, Dmltrly Ostrovskiy, May Yung. False Memory, is out in hardcover next month. Staff: Debbie Irwin, Dee Erwine, Jose Soto, Sunny Wltcbel, David Andreas. Fan favorite Colm Meaney gets his Irish up as the wee guy in Correspondents: (West coast) Kyle charge of all the Leprechauns.Jhe mini-series airs on NBC counts, Pat Jankiewicz; (NYC) Mike McAvennle, Maureen MCTIgue, Joe November 7 & 8. Nazzaro, Steve Swires, Dan Yakir; () will Murray; (Chicago) Kim Howard Johnson; (The West) BUI Flo- GENRE TV rence, Jo Beth Taylor; (D.c.) Lynne Stephens; (Florida) Bill Wilson; (Cana- Sci-Fi Channel has acquired , the Canadian-German SF da) Peter Bloch-Hansen, Mark Phillips; The (Booklog) Penny Kenny, Jean-Marc series akeady airing internationally (previewed in SCI-FI TV Lofflcler Scott schumack, Michael #7). Its cast includes Xenia Seeberg as love slave Xev, Brian Downey Wolff; (Cartoons) Kev Brockschmidt, as Stanley Tweedle and Michael McManus as dead assassin Kai. Alain Chaperon, Mike Fisher Tom Holtkamp, Bob Muleady. Lexx will bow on SFC in January. Thanlcs: Michael Apted, Vic Arm- The Sci-Fi Channel has also picked up rerun rights to Brimstone (which begins airing shortly) and strong, Kristy Bernath, Ahmed Best, Meredith Blume, Tye Bourdony, Pat (due next year). Prey cadlgan, Jim Clark, David x. cohen, Beauty & the Beast reruns have returned. They're on the Odyssey Channel weekdays at 1 1 a.m. and 8 Bridget cooper Chris corbould, ceof arrow, Lauri First, Geoff Freeman, p.m. Sunday nights. Anne Cay Daniel Goddard, Oil Grant, Showtime has dechned to renew Total Recall 2070 for a second season on the cable network (which Howard Green, Lynne Hale, Lindy Hem- ming, Diane Herzog, Ellssa Johans- has akeady broadcast all the first season shows). The series is—as was originally planned—going into meier Jeff Kline, Leah Krantzier, project, however, may make it syndication on local stations in January. Showtime's withdrawal from the Rodney Labbe, John Lasseter impossible to continue Total Recall 2070 beyond its already produced freshman year. Desmond Llewelyn, Krlsten March, Robert Duncan McNeill, NIcholls, has slotted a number of new movies for its Fri- UPN TV Ray Park, Tom Phillips, Steve Reeves, day night Cinema slot. Project Overkill (a.k.a. Denise Richards, John Russel, Steve Sansweet, Fiona Searson, Kevin Sorbo, The 10 Billion Dollar Warrior) is targeted for December. Jeff walker, crystal warren, Slgourney It's written and produced by Glen Larson in The Six Million Weaver Michael Wilson, Zelda Wong, Alex Worman, Jason Yungbluth. Dollar Man/Now & Again vein, i.e. the brain of a dying guy Cover Art: Toy Story 2: ©1999 DIs- (Andrew Jackson of All My Children) is transplanted into a ney/; Sorbo: ©1999 Studios USA technically perfect superbody. Action heroics ensue. Brad- TV Distribution LLC; weaver: Murray Close/Trademark & ©1999 Dream- ford (Asteroid) directs. Monte Markham who had May — works LLC. his own brush with bionics 20 years ago on The Six Million i=or Advertising Information: (212) 689-2830. FAX (212) 889-7933 Dollar Man co-stars. — Advertising Director: Rita Elsenstein Airing November 5 in the slot is Avalon: Adventures of Classified Ads Manager: Tim Clark The Faust Company, the Abyss, an underwater adventure starring ex-Hardy Boy west Coast Ads: 24050 Madison St. suite 101, Torrance, Parker Stevenson. Once intended to be a syndicated series, CA 90S05 (510) 373-9604. FAX (310) 373- Avalon is now a TV movie pilot for a possible UPN show. 8760. international Licensing Rep: Robert

J. Abramson & Associates, Inc., 720 underwater with the heroes of Avalon, a TV Dive Post Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. movie pilot premiering November 5 on UPN.

Photo: Richard Foreman/Copyright 1999 UPN 8 STARLOG/Decemfcer 1999

BUG COLLECTORS DVD VOYAGES after Thanksgiving, Disney Studios' much-heralded entry into the Shortly The 's great fan- DVD market continues this month with A Bug's tasy-adventure The 7th Voyage Life—Collector's Edition ($49.99). The wealth of of Sinbad ($27.98, Columbia TriS- supplemental material on this DVD is so extreme that tar) debuts on DVD. The disc the studio has elected to make this a two-disc set. On includes several featurettes: 'This the first disc is the movie (uniquely, as a direct digital Dynamation," "A Look Behind transfer from the original Pixar data) in either the Is the Voyage" and "Jason and Arg- original theatrical widescreen (2:35:1) aspect ratio or onauts." They're followed by a completely recomposed (not pan and scan) for the documentary ("The Ray Harry- ' 1.33:1 TV screen. hausen Chronicles") and pictures Besides the Dolby Digital 5.1 SuiTound soundtrack, there's director John Lasseter (see page 24), original theatrical posters. ' of the co-director/co-writer and supervising film editor Lee Unkirch's audio commentary. The animated Heavy Metal There is also an isolated music and special FX soundtrack in full surround sound. Pixar's Academy (Columbia/TriStar $27.98) is a Award winning short "Geri's Game" completes the disc. compilation blending adventure, All of the supplemental visual material has been collected on disc two, beginning with introduc- horror, SF and fantasy tales with a tions and explanations by the filmmakers, followed by an early presentation reel entitled "Fleabie," as well as the feature's original story contrived story thread. Supple- treatment and pitch boards. A lengthy ments include commentary by gallery, section is devoted to character Carl Macek, a photo a designs, concept art and color script. documentary, deleted scene, the A few deleted scenes and a story- alternate framing story with com- board-to-final film split-screen com- mentary. Elmer Bernstein's parison of several sequences are evocative score ties the best of the shown. The production story is high- stories together. hghted with a behind-the-scenes fea- Lauded by nearly every turette on the creation of A Bug's Life, reviewer and loved by everyone followed by several sequences involv- who saw it this past summer, ing the voice talent. Early production director Brad Bird's The Iron tests are shown, as well as a complete Giant comes to home video on series detailing how the CGI images DVD and VHS, complete with behind-the-scenes ai-e developed as the film production commentary, documentaries, deleted scenes, progressed. And finally, sound engineer Gary Rydstrom discusses the movie's sound design. gags, filmographies, DVD-ROM Film trailers and posters, and a description of how the movie was recomposed from widescreen content and trailer sample. It's anamorphic to TV broadcast standard for the home video VHS release complete the disc's production $24.98 from Warner. story. And finally, there are both sets of hilarious outtakes which played during the film's closing Star Trek IV: The Voyage credits. arrives on Other new Disney DVD features bowing this month following October's release of Pinocchio are Home ($29.98) DVD Paramount Video and Mulan, Hercules, 101 Dalmatians, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Peter Pan and Lady and the from Home includes a director's series fea- Tramp. These , however, do not contain the extra goodies found in A Bug's Life. While a few turette with Leonard Nimoy. may have the original theatrical trailer and sometimes a music video of one of the songs, all basical- episodes of Classic Trek ly only contain the movie. Even the Lady and the Tramp DVD only includes the CinemaScope ver- More are being issued: Star sion and not the non-widescreen version which the studio produced at the same time for release in on DVD includes "What Are Lit- non-anamorphic widescreen theaters. All of these tides are priced at $39.99 each and will only be Trek: OS Girls Of?" and "Dagger available for a limited time before being pulled from the market. tie Made of the Mind." Star Trek: 06 fea- tures "Miri" and "The Con- MATRIX BUGS CAROUSEL TURNS science of the King." Each double-episode DVD is priced at Warner Home Video has just announced another of Innovative animation from the Hubley $19.98. their extremely hi-tech titles following the success Studio is showcased in Everybody of The Matrix, which hit stores in September. This time Rides the Carousel: The Hubley Collec- Wild Wild West ($29.98, Warner Home Video) includes tion ($24.98) from Image Entertain- not only the movie with audio commentary by director ment. This DVD includes the feature Everybody Rides the Carousel; the Barry Sonnenfeld, but^ve behind-the-scenes documen- Academy-Award-nominated A Doonesbury Special based on 's taries showcasing special FX, costumes, props and gad- comic strip and My Universe Inside Out in which animator Faith Hubley inter- gets. Also, there are cast interviews, two music videos, cuts an animated self-portrait with a parallel story of the universe.

stills gallery, a DVD-ROM section for use on home The Hubley Studio, long known for its innovative and challenging anima- computers, an interactive game and other goodies. The tion, which has always stood in sharp contrast to the mainstream "Disney laser edition with no extras is $39.98 in CLV Style," began with John and Faith Hubley and continues with Faith and Emily A word of warning to those of you who are playing Hubley today. some of these technically-loaded DVDs on your home Other Hubley tities appearing this month are: The Hubley Collection Vol- computers. Though the discs meet current DVD-ROM ume One ($24.98), which includes: "Enter Life" (1981), "Upside Down" specs, not all DVD drive decoders can easily handle (1991), "Who Am I" (1989), "Blake Ball" (1988), "Time of the Angels" them. However, you can find valuable technical support (1987), "People, People, People" (1975), "W.O.W. Women of the World" "Tall at www.pcfriendly.com, which should be able to solve (1975), "Amazonia" (1989), "Yes We Can" (1988), "Moonbird" (1959), almost any problem. However, if you're hoping to cap- Time Tales" (1992), "Windy Day" (1967) and "Cloudland" (1993). Volume 2 mre a movie frame on your computer to decorate your includes "Seers and Clowns" (1994), "Sky Dance" (1979), "Cockaboody" of Hawaii" screen, forget it. The DVD computer drives are set-up (1973), "Hello" (1984), "Step by Step" (1978), "Rainbows (1995), with what is called zoomed video, which completely "The Big Bang and Other Creation Myths" (1981), "Zuckerkandl" (1968), by-passes the operating system, so you can't capture "Whither Weather" (1977) and "Her Grandmother's Gift" (1995).

still frames or sequences using traditional methods.

10 SlhRLOG/December 1999

Servant of the Dragon by David Drake (Tor, he, 480 pp, $25.95) Never take a friend to see a dimensional get kidnapped and car- Owlknight by Mercedes Lackey and Larry bridge. They're liable to ried across it, and that means you'll all have to Dixon (DAW, he, 400 pp, $24.95) go your separate ways to solve various facets of Thanks to Darian's efforts, all is running the same problem, then meet up again just in smoothly in the Vale of k' Valdemar. But when he time to take care of the heavy. Garric, Sharina, learns that his parents, who he thought dead for Cashel and Una are at it again. years, are actually alive and in danger, nothing will While the structure of this latest installment prevent his going to them. is strikingly similar to Queen of Demons, Despite the surfeit of detail in the opening Drake's previous book in the series. Servant of chapters, Owlknight is a welcome addition to the the Dragon is still a thrilling read. The original quartet are still very Darian's Tale series. There is plenty of action, much their intriguing selves with Cashel and Una remaining the drama and humor. But the most fascinating plotline — most interesting and now they have some fascinating new characters involves Darian and his lover Keisha, the healer. — to play off of Servant of the Dragon is a solid addition to the series. Their mutual successes are putting a strain on their relationship, and —Penny Kenny Lackey and Dixon do an excellent job of showing two adults trying to make their lives blend together under less-than-ideal conditions. The Sorcerer's Gun: Book Two the Owlknight is a fantasy, but it speaks realistically about relationships. of —Penny Kenny Changeling Saga by Peter Garrison (Ace, tpb, 352pp,$13) Questing and questioning is the name of the Past Lives, Present Tense edited by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (Ace, game in this tale. Several misplaced humans tpb, 342 pp, $13) wander about the world of Castle, wondering In "Soulmates," author-editor Scarborough presents the fascinating why they're there and what they're going to do premise of this anthology: a technique for implanting memories recov- next while dodging nasty mage judges and ered from the dead into a living brain, producing a composite of person- color-coded battles. Meanwhile, on Earth, the ahties. evil Mr. Smith continues to plot. In Scarborough's story, her hero merges minds with his beloved, dead Despite a rocky start. The Sorcerer's Gun is wife. Most of the stories, however, deal with people merging with histor- an entertaining follow-up to The Changeling ical figures ranging from Leonardo da Vinci to Doc Holiday. War. Garrison has wisely concentrated on the Castle in this volume, The best tales include Lillian Stewart Carl's "A Rose With All Its developing character and filling in a few of the blanks left over from the she Thorns," in which a scholar finds Ann Boleyn wasn't the victim imag- first book. He continues to not only make unlikable people interesting, ined, and Kristine Kathryn Rusch's "Relics," in which faith and skepti- but also gives them emotions readers can relate to and sympathize with. cism vie with guile and greed. Gary A. Braunbeck catches the spirit of While nothing outstanding occurs. The Sorcerer's Gun is still a satisfy- Edgar Allan Poe in "Who Am a Passer By," and Rod Garcia y Robertson's ing book. "Forever Free" is a provocative critique of exploiting the past. —Penny Kenny Despite the fascinating premise, too many of the stories suffer from predictability as, repeatedly, the contemporary host realizes their grafted Lord Prestimion by Robert Silverberg (Harper Prism, he, 384 pp, personas aren't what they expected. While the individual yams are clever $25) and diverting, the book as a whole seems repetitious. The colorful saga of the middle period of the vast tapestry that is —Scott W. Schumack the history of the world of Majipoor continues in this novel, a direct sequel that deals with the issues created at the end of Sorcerers of Majipoor. Lord Prestimion has used "sorcery"—in reality, a form of r/je Silk Code by Paul Levinson (Tor, he, 320 pp, psychic mind control—to erase the memories of the divisive clash that $23.95) pit him against would-be Coronal, Korsibajr, in the previous novel. But The genre and its suburbs are full of stories such cataclysmic events cannot be pushed too far back into the sub- dealing with biological warfare from a hi-tech per- conscious without creating worldwide psychoses. spective. But Levinson, in his first novel, presents Silverberg unfolds his story slowly, but with a sure hand and a us with a neat twist: a low-tech biowar story. masterful sense of direction. Prestimion becomes a more realized Here Levinson has his best-known character. character before the reader's eyes as he faces new challenges and New York forensic detective Phil D'Amato, wit- grows into his role of Coronal. Majipoor :Fans will be pleasantly sur- ness the mysterious death of one of his best friends. prised to revisit events only hinted at in a previous story puWished in The subsequent investigation uncovers a fantastic Majipoor Chronicles detailing the origins of the Barjazid family, plot which spans the history of mankind, reveahng which eventually become one of the Powers of Majipoor. While this is a carefully constructed web of genetic intrigue cen- the middle novel in a series, and certainly not a suitable introduction tering around the production, and ultimate importance, of silk. to the saga. Lord Prestimion will dehght all readers familiar with, and Levinson has already acquired an enviable reputation as a non-fiction eager to return to, Majipoor. writer, and as an acclaimed author of short stories. With The Silk Code, he —Jean-Marc Lofficier produces a hard SF novel which smoothly takes the reader from the 8th Century A.D. to the streets of today's world, outlining one possible fron- the twin sis- tier of a science that existed long before antiseptic laboratories and sterile their son. But the Forest saves boy's instruments. ter, and it's she who will lead the Forest into bat- —Michael Wolff tie. Despite the need for some editing that would clear up who was doing what in certain scenes,

this is a good book. The final confrontation is Wind in the Stone by Andre Norton (Avon Eos, he, 288 pp, $23) stunningly vivid, and not without its black humor. There's as much magic in Andre Norton's use of language as there is But it's Norton's realistically portrayed characters in her stories themselves. This is evidenced in the opening sentences of who are especially appealing. What more could Wind in the Stone, which inunediately draw the reader into a tale of want from a story? ancient powers, bound and loose. you —Penny Kenny To rule the Valley and the Forest, a mage destroys a family and takes

12 STARLOG/December 1999 HRATKM

Explore science fie tion—the mythology ofthe new Millenni- um—in the pages of STARLOG. Ifs the galaxy's best Sci-Fi movie 8 j TV magazine and the original for 23 years. Every issue features intrigu- ing interviews

with the Stars • Directors •

Writers. . . fascinating behind-the-scenes

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Total enclosed: $ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO CUT OUT COUPON, WE WILL ACCEPT Account No. WRITTEN ORDERS. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery. Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle (Roc, he, 275 pp, The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction: $21.95) The 50th Anniversary Anthology edited by Beagle's latest novel is a delightful fantasy that Edward L. Ferman and Gordon Van Gelder blends the pains and joys of adolescence with a (Tor, he, 381 pp, $24.95) ghost story rich with romance and tragedy. This 50th anniversary collection confirms When her mother remarries, Jenny Gluckstein The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction's is transplanted from Manhattan to a crumbling reputation as the most literate and artistically manor in rural , where she is thoroughly ambitious SF magazine. There are no space bat- miserable and glad to make everyone else miser- tles or evil wizards here, just mind-stretching able. As she adapts to her new life, she finds that stories, beautifully written. Stourhead Farm throngs with supernatural beings Some of the tales, like Ursula K. Le Guin's rangmg firom mischievous boggarts to menacing oakmen. Her guide to "Solitude" and Esther M. Friesner's "A Birthday," are justly famous, the twilight world of incarnate folklore is the ghost of a young woman, but among the less famiUar SF gems are Brace Sterling's hilarious look Tamsin, whose doomed love and tragic death is still shrouded in mystery. at an emerging computer network-based community, "Maneki Neko," To bring peace to her friend's spirit, Jenny must face an evil rooted in her and Robert Reed's vision of tomorrow's hometown politics, "First new home's past. Tuesday." Gene Wolfe's "No Planets Strike" is a funny, touching recast- Beagle writes convincingly about teenage girls and restless spirits ing of Christmas lore, and Tanith Lee's chilling "All the Birds of Hell" without resorting to cliches and stereotypes. Jenny's tale would be sits neatly, and disturbingly, on the border between fantasy and SF. enchanting even without the supernatural, but the book's earthy, scary and On the fantasy side, the standouts include Michael Blumlein's fiinny vision of a world of a pookas, the Wild Hunt and elder goddesses in poignant dissection of an American myth, "Paul and Me," and Ray disguise make Tamsin a masterpiece. Bradbury's sentimental "Another Fine Mess." —Scott W. Schumack There are no bad stories here, and even the weaker ones, Uke Paul Di Flippo's "Have Gun, Will Edit" and Terry Bisson's "Partial Peo-

ple," are still entertaining. I c R e B n I, B H .: ii H jy^g^^ j,y Pat Murphy (Tor, he, —Scott W. Schumack 304 pp, $24.95) This light-hearted space opera version of J.R.R. The Annunciate by Sevema Park (Avon, he, Tolkien's The Hobbit delivers old-fashioned sense 320 $23) of wonder in a simple, but not simplistic, adven- pp, Eve is one of the Meshed, an upper-class ture. minority who can control an interplanetary sys- Bailey Beldon is a norbit, a comfort-loving tem-wide community of nanomachines that asteroid dweller whose quiet life is disrupted when manifest virtual worlds as well as manipulate a legendary adventurer dragoons him into joining the physical objects. Hunted by the Jacked and some ambitious clone siblings on a quest for the Jackless for their power. Eve and her Meshed PHT muRPHM ancient, alien secrets. Mild, unassuming Bailey allies survive by producing Staze, a drug they becomes a hero as he helps the crew defeat pirates and monsters, but he hope will keep the populations of three star sys- longs for the cozy home he has lost to interstellar distances and time dila-

, ,i tems docile and controllable. But when Eve's tion, until a strange artifact offers a way back through space and time. , lover Nav spurs them back to their ruined homeworld, trouble stirs. Sometimes the attempt at mimicking Tolkien seems strained, as in If you're looking for novel twists on nanotech, alternate realities, Bailey's riddle duel with a cyborg, but mainly There and Back Again is gritty, dystopic planetary communities and blatant religious allegory, pleasant entertaitraient. then The Annunciate is definitely worth a look. Park's melding of nan- Adding to the whimsy. Murphy has also included aspects of Lewis otech with VR works on a surprising number of levels, and her two Carroll's "The Hunting of the Snark," and, in the biggest joke of all, the heroines are compelUng and all too human. book is ascribed to Murphy's alter-ego. Max Merriwell, a veteran author But if you like solid plotting, hard science or a cast of equally compelling who, of course, writes fantasies under "his" own feminine pseudonym. besides Eve and Nav, this book doesn't have it. Considering The —Scott W. Schumack characters Annunciate's extremely mythopoeic slant, however, you can almost forgive well as the extreme metaphors that border on hyperbole. The Merlin of St. Giles' Well {Book One of the Joan ofArc Tapestries) that, as it's an uncertain read that is bound to interest some while by Anne ChamberUn (Tor, he, 320 pp, $23.95) Overall, A merchant's vision-plagued child, the willful, reckless lord's son and alienating others. —Keith Olexa a pagan hermit working under the cloak of Christianity all play a part in Merlin's ancient prophecy which foretells the coming of La Pucelle, the virgin whore, Joan of Arc. Through Alien Eyes by Amy Thompson (Ace, tpb, 336 pp, $13.95) It's good to see an author mine legends other than the familiar A sequel to The Color of Distance, Through Alien Eyes (which Celtic/Arthurian lore, if only because it's different. But how doubly plea- nevertheless can be read independently) takes the alien Tendu and

surable when it's done as well as it is in The Merlin ofSt. Giles ' Well. With their human companion, Juna Saari, back to Earth. This time, it is the

its mad king and back-stabbing aristocrats, turbulent 15th-century France Tendu who are the "fish out of water" who must learn to decipher and becomes a fascinating backdrop in the age-old battle between paganism adapt to an alien culture. Parallel to this, Juna, who has been changed and Christianity. by her own exposure to a foreign world, must also learn to bridge the Chamberlin's prose is poUshed. Her characters are deftly dehneated, gap between her new self and her native culture. having a historical authenticity yet resonating with the modem reader Through Alien Eyes is a wonderful novel that deals in a well-writ- Chamberlin is an author to watch. ten and entertaining way with various issues relevant to today's cul- —Penny Kenny tural clashes: anthropological, biological, political and even philosophical. The narration wisely alternates between Juna's point- Rift by Kay Kenyon (Bantam, pb, 624 pp, $5.99) of-view and that of the Tendus. The plot is suspenseful, the characters Genuine SF adventures come few and far between these days, but some engaging and the dilemmas all too real. authors are still trying to produce the genuine item. Kenyon is one of them. —Jean-Marc Lojficier Reeve Calder is a resident on a space station orbiting a faiUng human colony world. When the station is mysteriously destroyed, Calder finds well as human colonists and an alien race with plans of its own. himself stranded in a hostile environment, and learns that his former com- Kenyon knows how to move a story along, as well as keep an ensem- mander plans to ultimately destroy the planet. Calder races to stop the ble of characters jumping. While her output right now isn't tremendous, destruction, while also fighting the very ecology he's working to save, as has time. she —Michael Wolff

14 SIARLOQ/December 1999 Aastifi

© 1999 NIP, Inc. GATEGUIDE If you're going to enter a Star- Gate, come take a look at this WEBLOG site first. This lists E-mail addresses and http://www.sg-l .net/gguide/ websites for SF, fantasy & animation creators and their cre- LAURIE HOLDEN SITE ations. Website operators may But you know her as X-Files' Mari- add their sites to this list by send- ta Covarrubias. Check this out. ing relevant information via E- http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/ maU only to communications® laurieholden/ starloggroup.com SHE-RA AND XENA SITE UNOFFICIAL MATRIX Separated at birth? This site FANPAGE We'll invade Earth, conquer its explores their similarities. http://www.geocities. com/Tele- Includes story synopsis, IRC people, then use all our influence and fan visionCity/ Studio/ 1217/shexen. chatroom, image gallery to make sure that Jar-Jar is htm art and fiction sections. written out of the sequel. http://matrixmain.tsx.org/ ASSOCLVTION OF SIGOURNEY hit Combine Lost It's SURE to be a movie! WEAVER SITE THE COMPLETE MST3K SCIENCE FICTION AND In Space and Godzilla with a dash of REFERENCE GUIDE FANTASY ARTISTS and you have... Dedicated to that From Brain Guy and Bo Bo to These are some of the people lOSTINGODZIimi rockin' woman from the Nanites and Tom Servo, it's who make SF and fantasy a the ALIEN series all here. visual thrill. Check it out. who also stars in http://www.itsnet.com/~masse/ http://wwvi'.asfa-art.org/ Galaxy Quest. mst3k.html http://usuarios2. ANGEL'S intercom.es/albertbr/ JOURNEY This vampire HEAVY METAL gone good is MAGAZINE PAGE getting his own Get the pics and info show—come join on Heavy Metal him on his jour- F.A.K.K. 2 ngUhsre.. ney. http://www.fakk2. http://bystarlight. com/default-2. htm simplenet.com/ angel journey/ SOLARIS SITE TOY STORY 2 SITE A look at 's pos- The toys are back in this sequel THE PHILO- sible film remake of Stanislaw where Buzz must save Woody SOPHICAL Lem's book about a mysterious from an obsessed toy collector. HUFFY PAGE planet-sized Ufe form. http://www.toystory2.com/ YOU LOCKBQ WE KEYS INSIPB AOfiiti?! Explores the ethical http://www.k26.com/solaris/ quandaries of the SOLARIS_INTRO/ JAR JARGONIZER KAUU CONVERSATIONS various characters on Bujfy the solaris_intro.html Converts web pages from Eng- Talk to those people who make Vampire Slayer. lish to Gungan talk. You-sa go such Japanese monsters as http://home.4w.com/pages/ UNOFFICIAL BEN see! Godzilla and Gamera a reality. btvs/index.html BROWDER SITE http://www.hit-n-run.com/ http://users.pdnt.com/~kaiju/ Looking for info on the new lead jarjar.html THE BATTLESTAR GALAC- of the Sci-Fi Channel's SPLEENWORLD'S TICA MOVIE PAGE Farscapel Then stop here. STAR WARS H SITE PLANET OF THE APES It has been 20 years, but the http://www.benbrowder.com/ For updates on Star Wars: Everything you wanted to know "rag-tag fugitive fleet" is back to Episode II, look here. about those damn dirty apes. face the Cylons in a new film. THE SIXTH SEPULCHER http://www.episode2.net/ http://www.spleenworld.com/ http://www.battlestarmovie. An interesting Poltergeist: The apes/main.html com/index2.htnil Legacy site. http://www.maryaUce.0rg/p:tl

CONVENTIONS Monroe, CT 06468 VULKON Union Plaza Hotel about cons listed? Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address listed for (781)986-T11EK Las Vegas, NV Questions November 12-14 the con. Do NOT call STARLOG. Note; Con guests listed may not always appear and conventions E-mail: [email protected] Creation Entertainment Orlando Hilton North may be cancelled without notice. Conventioneers: Send all pertinent info no later than four months The Galleria Tower http://beam.to/unitedfancon Orlando, E-mail to FL prior to the event to STARLOG Con Calendar, 475 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016 or Picardo, 100 West Broadway Guests: Robert Vulkon Conventions provide a phone number and (if one's available) an [email protected]. You must Sarah Sutton Penthouse Suite 1200 limitations, that your con will be list- c/o Joe Motes E-mail address. STARLOG makes no guarantees, due to space Glendale, CA 91210 2133 208 Terrace ed here. This is a free service; to ensure a listing in STARLOG not here, but elsewhere—contact NW — (818) 409-0960 Clark (212-689-2830 x215) for classified ad rates & advertise there. WINDYCON XXVI Pembroke Pines, FL 33029- Tim http://www.creationent.com November 12-14 2320 Hyatt Regency Woodfield (954)441-8735 . PA 15236-0076 NOVEMBER UNITED FAN CON Schaumbui^, \L http://www.scifmetwork.com/ CREATION (412) 650-8163 IX WindyCon XXVI slartrek HERCULES & PRAXIS http://welcome.to/Praxis November 5-7 PO. Box 184 Guests: Andreas Katsulas, November 5-7 Foundation XENA Marriott Hotel Palatine, IL 60078-0184 James Marsters, Alice Krige Holiday Inn Greentree Chevolleau, November 14 Guests: Richard http://www.windycon.org Pittsburgh, Springfield, MA PA Paula Crist, Andrew Hassfur- Union Plaza Hotel Guests: Kristine Kathryn The Praxis Foundation United Fan Con IX CREATION TREK Las Vegas, NV ther Rusch, Dean Wesley Smith, P.O. Box 18076 500 Monroe Turnpike November 13 See earlier address Barry Longyear, Ellen Datlow Put Yourself Inside

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Meet the men, women, aliens and robots of Futurama: Kif, Dr. Zoidberg. Zapp, Hermes, Fry, , , Nibbler, Mom, Walt, Amy, Larry, Igner and .

^'Science nerd" David X. Cohen takes i viewers intomtdonish tomorrow.

felcome to the Bigger Apple. ent planet every week would be ridiculous in Thirty-first century Manhattan Uve-action. You would have to have a thousand

is now a busy, hi-tech mega- carpenters and artists working around the clock lopolis. You can be whisked to build your sets and the budget would be $50 across the city, firom Times Square to Radio million an episode—it would be impossible to City Mutant Hall in a matter of seconds. do live action.

Everything is at your fingertips, fi-om food and "Even Star Trek, with most of the planets robots to Suicide Booths! Pizza delivery boy looking Uke the desert, still pushed Fry, alien pilot Leela and alcoholic robot Ben- the very limits of what they could do. Then, der are back, rejoining executive producer they were forced to go to the 'Old West' planet David X. Cohen for another season of the ani- and as many planets as possible that happened mated SF comedy, Futurama (airing Sunday to look just like sets lying around. It's really nights on Fox). hard to do a science fiction show week in and "Part of the appeal in creating the far future out. Star Trek does a great job, but to do what

on the show is that you can see they still have a we do, with actual non-humanoid alien future version of the same problems. Cars are worms? Even with computer graphics, it long gone," explains Cohen, "but your space- would be impossible. We also do a lot of car- ship wUl stUl stall." toony stuff, with people getting hit in the head that would exhaust quite a few stuntmen." Future Shocks Futurama's central character. Fry, is the

Futurama's animated format serves it weU; antithesis of the usual man out-of-time hero allowing encounters with alien races and plan- like Buck Rogers and Captain America. Fry is ets not possible on a live-action SF show. "We a lazy, 20th century 25-year-old who never wouldn't even consider doing this Uve-action," even had a car. "Fry's appeal is that he's lost in Cohen declares. "The idea of going to a differ- the world. Because there are so many crazy

20 STAKLOG/December 1999 PATJANKIEWICZ

first thing he working with Matt," he states. "I had been on wants to do. The Simpsons for about five years. After four

Kramer from years, he first mentioned Futurama to me. I things going on in our universe, we would need was also that type. They're not similar, knew Matt fairly well by then. My background one person there who says, 'I don't understand but they share a complete lack of consideration is in science. I studied physics in coUege and in this,' to comfort the viewer into saying, 'Oh for what others think of them. I love Bender." graduate school, I studied computer science at good! I'm not the only one.' Fry stands in for While he drinks, smokes and indulges in UC Berkeley. Then I came to work for The people from our time and says, 'Wait, why is other bad behavior. Fox execs are less likely to Simpsons and was the 'science nerd' on the this planet populated by giant, gelatinous mon- criticize the character because Bender is a writing staff and a big SF fan. Matt probably sters with bulging eyes?' Anyone who lived robot. "That's the case to some degree," the thought, 'Hmm—this guy has been on Simp- there would know that and wouldn't ask that producer confirms. "It's true that, if they say, sons a few years, he knows the basics of doing question. We needed someone to ask the ques- 'Bender's a bad influence—^he keeps a bottle this kind of show and he's a big nerd, so he's a tions that you would ask if you were there." of liquor in his chest,' you can say, 'Wait a good fit for the project I have in mind!' Of the show's vast collection of slackers, minute, a kid can't open up his chest to puU out "On Simpsons, there were rumors circulat- robots, mutants and aliens, the producer admits a bottle of hquor.' It's harder to directly imitate ing that Matt was thinking about doing 'this to having a particular favorite. "Even though his behavior. If Bender takes off his arm as a science-fiction show,' but we didn't know that he's an obvious choice, I have to say it's Ben- cigar holder, you can't do that in real hfe. We much about it," Cohen shrugs. "He was kick- " der, Cohen confesses. "I just love a character find it helpful to have a character whose ing ideas around in his head, reading a lot of who has no shame whatsoever. People are so actions can't be imitated." books, and then he brought me in and we start- restricted from doing what they really want to Cohen collaborates on Futurama with ed meeting informally when we had spare time do in Ufe. It's such a relief to see a character on Simpsons creator Matt Greening (who dis- from The Simpsons. We would meet at night TV who just doesn't think twice—^he does the cussed the series in STARLOG #262). "I enjoy for diimer and on the weekends, at his studio

Three for adventure! One-eyed Leela, bad oy robot Bender and time-lost innocent Fry e the focus of Futurama. —

Here's what every museum should have "I also like Arthur C. Clarke for his scien- Pamela Anderson's head in a jar. Cohen tific stuff, like Fountains of Paradise, where promises more well-preserved, satellites basically lower fishing lines as an decapitated celebrities in future episodes. easy way of getting stuff into orbit," Cohen where he works on his Life in Hell comic strip. notes. "I love stuff based on hard science. We sat, chatting for close to a year, coming up Dune has always been my favorite SF book. I with lots of ideas for stories and who the char- love all the Dune books, even the ones that are acters would be. 10,000 pages long." "Matt would sketch characters and we In its first season, Futurama has drawn would comment on them. I would say, 'What inspiration from dozens of SF films, books if Bender had a bigger antenna?' and we and comics. The show has deftly made refer- would go back to work. We had accumulated a ence to Metropolis, Flash Gordon, Planet of mountain of material by the time we went to the Apes, , Magnus the Robot

Fox. I don't think we were aware of how much Fighter and countless others. "Many of those we had and just started pitching the show to things have certainly influenced the look of it," them. Our mouths flapped for two hours. It the producer states. "Matt loves the look of aU was an impressive array of guns that we came that old SF cinema and magazines. He loves in firing, with stories and picmres of what it the old magazine covers, and we have quite a would look like. We overwhelmed them and few of them around for inspiration. then the serious work began." "As far as just for the feel of things, we cer- tainly love Brazil and . We make Future Influences a Friday the 13th movie {Part V). "That is specific references to them in upcoming As executive producer of Futurama, "I'm impressive," he admits with a laugh, "but I did episodes. Our third episode this season is our the show runner. Basically, the most important not do any of that! My real name is David S. first Star Vfcra-kind of thing, with a big space job I have is as head writer. I make the deci- Cohen, but I changed it to David X. because battle and Star War^-type ships. We obviously sions about which stories we're going to do there are so many other David Cohens. The have to make use of anything that has soaked and who will write the script, and after the only thing people would know me from before the population as much as Star Trek or Star script comes in, what we're going to do to Futurama is The SimpsonsT Wars. We have to work with what the pubUc is familiar with to some degree. The more

Strange bedfellows. Poor obscure things are a little treat for the hardcore Leela has succumbed to Zapp SF fan," he says slyly. "Star Wars and Star to Brannigan. She's going Trek are so saturated in our consciousness, that hate herself in the morning. we use them right out in the open and make fun of them because most people know what we're referring to. "There's other SF that, even without specifically parodying, we've taken something from—like Gattaca. I really liked that film because it had the nerve to not explain the technology they were using. They used all this DNA-testing stuff, but didn't bother with hav- ing the usual long-winded speech that comes in every SF movie where they say, 'Ah, this

DNA is...' That speech is not very informative, because they can't really go into the science without losing the whole audience, but they

feel obliged to explain it. "Even on Star Trek, they have long-winded speeches— 'The Inverse Phase Modulator doesn't match the frequency of blank.' You know you're not learning anything, but they

feel obhged to say it. That's one lesson I got from Gattaca for Futurama, you can just use the technology and people will accept it with- out bogus explanations."

improve it. In addition, I do most of the voice Working on the show, Cohen has found his Future Advances directing when we're recording episodes, love of science fiction to be an asset. "There's Are there any SF conventions, like time that the plans although sometimes other people do it. I also one author who isn't as well known in this travel or parallel universes, show travel is do a lot of the video and audio editing—it's country, but is a big influence on me, Stanislaw to parody in future episodes? "Time way too much work," he says with a laugh. Lem. He's a Polish SF writer who uses a lot of something we spent a lot of time talking with "I'm pretty heavily involved with everything puns in his work; he's really funny with a lot of Matt about in the show's early stages," Cohen

except the animation. I give my feedback to it, great ideas in the mode of Futurama—com- relates. "One thing I am always concerned but I can't even draw a stick figure." mentaries on our society today disguised as a about is not that we're 100 percent scientifical- Cohen's IMDb onUne biography is quite future world. He has stories which take place ly accurate, even though I am a scientist at the entertain- extensive; it notes that besides his work on in universes entirely populated by robots, with heart—I care more that show be Futurama and The Simpsons, he created the no hving beings. They are weirder than most ing and funny—^but I'm concerned that the magazine Psychology News and even co-wrote science fiction. level of reality stay fairly consistent.

22 STARLOG/December 1999 — ;

"If we say time travel is possible on Futu- rama, that's actually a big change to our world and throws many things into question. For

example, can Fry go back to his own time? If been on so long, that it's a machine that has a : of talking about the stories before someone we ever introduce time travel, and it's possible lot of parts and people. The whole system is in • writes the script. They do an outline for a week will we way down the road, it would defmitely place. On Futurama, we had to build the : or so, then a first draft for a few more weeks,

be a big deal, and we're not really prepared to machine from the ground up. We were writing • We rewrite it as a group of seven or eight peo- do that right now. want to explore this the pilot We and hking people, while casting and ; pie for a week and then bring in the actors for a

world before it gets too compUcated. making up new stories, all at the same time. 'table read' to hear how it sounds.

to ', "We are going introduce a device in the Doing the first season almost did me in, it was "We do a httle more rewriting, record it and

season finale, a machine that can predict an so hard. This year has been somewhat easier then it goes off to animators who do their thing. ; alternate future. It's a 'What If episode. still Fry but extremely difficult. ; That's an even longer process, because they do can say, 'What if I never came to the future?' "It's even harder for the animators because storyboards, an animatic—which is pencil ani- and Bender can ask, 'What if I feet was 300 we have a different planet and location every : mation—and we rewrite it through aU of these tall?' That's gonna be one of them," stages, giving us a chance to hone

Cohen promises. "We're gonna do it it. In the last stage, it goes to hke a Simpsons HaOoween episode, South Korea where the real ani-

where we ask, 'What if...' and go into mation work is done." three different segments. We may As for the first season of bring it back once a season as a way Futurama, Cohen muses, "I think to test out the more far-fetched tech- it definitely took a few episodes nologies, Hke time travel, which we before we really felt comfortable. might be afraid to introduce into our We had so many explanations to world, but can explore through this —who the characters were mechanism." and what their world looked like. Futurama, like The Simpsons, The first few episodes stand out also fields its share of guest stars. In as not exactly what we were the pilot, we visit the Head Museum, shooting for, but the last two where curator (and head in jar) episodes are big favorites of Leonard Nimoy gives a speech on mine. 'The Garbage Ball' [an the dignity of the heads offering 20th parody where a century wisdom (then, incidentally, giant ball of 20th century trash is begins hungrily chomping fish on a colhsion course with Earth] food). "Meeting Leonard was great," was great, because in addition to Cohen confesses. to "We were glad me just enjoying it as a story, we have him on because Star Trek is got to make a little bit of an envi- | obviously one of our biggest influ- ronmental point. i ences. My parents are both scien- "We don't want to make the tists, so I inherited my love of Welcome to Robot Hell. show overly preachy or political- science and science fiction from Cohen is all fired up about ly correct, but if there's any one them. They watched Star Trek all the o; this episode: "I can't believe point we want to bring up as an . time when I was a kid, even my in one season that we've actual lesson, it's that the envi- , Mom! I can hardly describe the size gotten to the point where it ronment is at risk from garbage. of the grin on my face at meeting almost makes sense." Episode nine, with the Robot Leonard. I think Leonard liked the Devil, reached such an insane cU- whole thing; he has a good sense of max with the musical number humor and has been on The Simpsons a few episode, whereas The Simpsons are around • between the Robot Devil and the Beastie Boys times." town and most of the locations were designed : in Robot Hell, that I just went, 'Wow, I can't Subsequent trips to the Head Museum in that show's first years. We're putting the beUeve that in one season that we've gotten to revealed " 20th century giants Pamela Anderson writers and animators through some serious the point where it almost makes sense!' and , among others. What heads additional work! Not that that makes it a better The future of Futurama looks bright. This would Cohen most like to see jarred? "A cou- show, just a different show that changes more season, the show boldly goes to a number of ple of people—for different reasons. Heroes of from week to week. We're still making up our new places. "I don't know where to begin my youth like Willie Mays, Arnold world, which is a hard process. We had eight because we have 20 different episodes in pro- Schwarzenegger I'm not naming people who writers last year while Simpsons had 18 or 19. duction. We have a couple big visual extrava- have any logical reason to be there, just people As a new series, we didn't have as many ganzas this year—we'll be testing out our I always thought were neat," he laughs. "One resources as a 10-year-old show with a huge computer graphics department. The first is person Simpsons had on that I would like in budget. Now, we're at the point on Futurama 'Space Titanic,' with a giant ship. Our third there would be Stephen Hawking, and some where we understand who the characters are." episode is our big Star Wars space battle, SF authors, although many of my favorites are From concept to broadcast, the average with laser guns, dozens of ships and every- dead." Futurama episode "takes nine or 10 months. It thing! Our secondary characters will also be can take longer," Cohen cautions. "The first developed more; we have stories that focus Future Plots couple airing this season are 'holdovers' on Hermes, Amy and Dr. Zoidberg, so we'U With its far-out stories and futuristic set- ones we did along with the first season but held learn more about the Planet Express gang," tings, Futurama is a harder show to do than for this season's beginning. It will be a solid David X. Cohen promises, "and there will be The Simpsons. "It's a quantum leap in difficul- year for those episodes. There's usually a week plenty of Bender acting like a drunken, crazy ty," he says emphatically. "The Simpsons has robot!" —

^^V ohn Lasseter is a creature of I I habit. Every workday the direc- I I tor of Toy Story, A Bug's Life ^1 I and the soon-to-be-released Toy #W I Story 2 leaves his office prompt- t M ly at 5:30 p.m. So how does he ^^fc^^ deal with interviews scheduled for that time? Via his car phone, of course. This begs the question: Is this car phone business a filmland affectation, or is he real- ly so busy that he must do interviews for Toy Story 2 while on the move? Lasseter laughs good-naturedly at the seeming impertinence of the question. "I really apologize. I'm extremely pressed for time right now. I live up in Sonoma, which is about a 45-minute drive, so it's a good time to reach me. Also, getting me away from Pixar is good, because I'm pulled from all sides when I'm there, especially at this point in the film's produc- tion." Film Figures Thankfully for Lasseter and his support "In computer animation, you're always creative director of a studio that has already team, this crunch period is rapidly coming to looking at the movie in abbreviated states established itself as one of the premier ani- an end. Toy Story 2 has an estimated delivery you never really get to see what the final mation houses in the world. Toy Story was date of early October, giving them approxi- thing is going to look like. At the end of pro- the biggest moneymaker of 1995 mately a week to finish their polish on the duction, you start seeing shots you worked (domestic gross: $191 million), and A much-anticipated sequel, which opens on from the modeling stage to the layout, ani- Bug's Life performed almost as well November 25. mation and shading. That's really when it all at the box office, pulling in just "We just finalized our last FX shot," Las- comes together, when it's lit and put on film. under $163 million. Even if Toy seter announces happily. "Final shots are also Your mouth is wide open, watching this Story 2 winds up being just being done in lighting and rendering. Then stuff—you just can't believe how amazing it OK—a highly unlikely we start work on the post-production, then looks. Even though everybody has been prospect, given the amount of the sound work, which is being done out at working really hard and is exhausted and all talent involved—it stands to do big Skywalker Ranch [located in San Rafael, not that, it produces a kind of energy and excite- business. That would be three hits far from Pixar's Richmond, California loca- ment." for three films made, an enviable tion]. So, within the next week or so we Lasseter has plenty to be excited about. At record for Pixar, a relatively new out- should be done, at least at Pixar. only 42, he is the much-admired leader and fit that produces, for the moment,

^TXK\.0G/Decemherl^9' -1 endering lojf was hardly child's piay for director John ^ Lasseter & friends.

only computer-generated animated films. career, but I don't quite see myself in that Though Lasseter pooh-poohs compar- Remind you of another California-based light." isons to Disney, it's clear that he is revered in animationnauon company?co Actually, the compari- Lasseter's vision of Pixar isn't that differ- much the same manner as the creative genius son to Disney Studios is quite ent from Disney's dream for his own movie behind Disneyland. Employees frequently appropriate. Lasseter has been and animation studios. His hope was to cre- refer to his "brilliance," his "amazing eye for referred to by animation fans as ate a place where top-flight artists could find detail," his "approachability." According to the "closest thing to "100 ^ percent creative satisfaction." Where one Pixar employee, when Lasseter is in the

Jfhis industry has right now." How they could Uve and work in the geographical- building, there is a palpable energy in the air, does he feel about being com- ly desirable San Francisco-Bay Area, and almost as if a foreign dignitary has dropped pared to such a legendary giant? have "a lot of fun making movies" he hoped in for a visit. "Ummm... well. ..you know...umm... people would see over and over again. Based Lasseter may have absolute power, but he uh...what do you say to something on the public's enthusiastic reaction to the doesn't rule the roost with an iron hand. He is like that? It's an incredible compli- studio's first two animated features (not to always open to input from employees. For ment. But I'm not sure / would put mention award-winning shorts like "Geri's instance, he has encouraged staff members to myself in that league. Walt has been a Game"), his dream appears to have already send him e-mails throughout Toy Story 2's tremendous influence in my life and come to fruition. production, asking for their feedback about

j/December 1999 a s

Playtime is over. Mr. Potato Head (voiced by Don Rickles), Bo Peep (Annie Potts), Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Slinl

the film-in-progress and, in some cases, chronicled its making in STARLOG #258). A that have personal meaning for me. I have incorporating their suggestions into the final Bug's Life brilliantly tackled everything from five boys, the oldest of which is 19. The product. He gives his staff free reign to deco- the movement of blades of grass to the look younger ones love coming to daddy's office, rate their cubicles to suit their individual per- of breath on cellophane and, in the process, and they looooove playing with daddy's toys. sonalities and senses of humor. Like Disney, reinvented the language of computer anima- Next thing you know, I'm trying to find Pixar has a fun, family-oriented feel, tion. Yet, when a sequel to Toy Story was pro- something they can play with that they can't designed to bring out the best in its employ- posed, it was initially planned as a smaller. wreck. When we were creating Toy Story, I ees. In keeping with this informal atmos- gave a lot of thought to the characters of the phere, Lasseter is referred to by everyone as toys. In giving life to inanimate objects, I "John," never "Mr. Lasseter." always like to think of their purpose. Toys Also like Disney, Lasseter has hopes to are manufactured to be played with by a release one animated film each year— child, to make a child happy. Therefore, that timetable he estimates wiU take approximate- would be at the core of its being: wanting to ly five years to realize. "We've pretty much make a child happy, wanting to be played been able to figure out the production time on with. Things preventing them from being these films," he says. "What we need to do is played with would cause great anxieties in a work on our film development so that we have toy's life, like getting lost, getting broken or a lot of projects in the pipeline and can keep being stolen. our production staff busy, making sure to give "After watching my boys play with my them a rest period in between features." While toys, and me continually putting them on the focus of Pixar's output wiU continue to be higher shelves, I started laughing. Here are animated films, Lasseter says he is not toys that are manufactured to be played with opposed to other combinations, like blending by a child, and I'm a collector preventing live action with computer animation, a la Who g kids from playing with them! I was sitting at Framed Roger Rabbit. "We never say never," | lunch with , the supervising ani- col- he adds. "It's all about the story: what the| mator on Toy Story and one of my dear started talking about this movie is about and if the story is right." $ leagues, and we dilemma. And out of that conversation came of a Collector Crazes | the idea that Woody was the star show called Woody' Toy Story 2's history Toy Story 2 director John Lasseter '50s TV begins, of course, with Toy eschews comparisons to Walt Disney, but Round-up, and that he is extremely Story, which not only put com- does cite the animator as a "tremendous valuable because he still has his puter-animated features on the influence in my life and career." hat! As a collector, you want a toy map, but proved amazingly popu- with all of its parts. What, we lar with audiences (Lasseter dis- less expensive film, exclusively for the video wondered, if a toy collector steal cussed it in STARLOG #221). market. Why the change of heart? were to find him and

That, in turn, lead to A Bug 's Life, "I'm a huge toy collector," Lasseter him?" which was a major technological explains. "I have a lot of collectible toys, The thief in ques- leap for the studio (Lasseter some old antique toys and some special toys tion is Al, of Al's Toy Bam, a

26 STARLOG/Decemfocr 1999 character featured briefly in a TV commercial seen in Toy Story. The rotund, stubby-legged geek is a greedy toy collector who plans to sell off his collection to a museum. He does not care that Woody isn't for sale when he spies him resting on a table at Andy's mom's garage sale. He has to have this rare toy, even if Woody's arm is slightly torn from being played with a bit too vigorously by Andy. (In a feverish moment. Woody imagines that Andy picks him up and frowns. "You're bro- ken—I don't want to play with you anymore," then dumps him into a trashcan full of smashed toys.) Unscrupulous

soul that he is, Al picks the lock on the cash box Mom has stashed Woody in for safe- keeping (he actual- ly isn't for sale), and whisks him away. Tak- ing Woody back to his apart- ment, Al adds him to his collection of valuable toys. That's

when Woody discovers he has a secret life, that he is based on a character made famous by a '50s kid's show similar to Howdy Doody. After warming up to his new friends—Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl, Bulls- foul play and have banded together to mount a was something new and different." eye the Horse and Stinky Pete the Prospec- daring rescue mission. When Buzz reaches tor—^Woody finds himself conflicted. Should Woody and has a heart-to-heart over Woody's Woody's worries he remain with his "own kind"—other rare, divided loyalties, he finds himself spouting It didn't take Disney (Pixar's partner and

collectible toys—or return to Andy, where he nearly the identical lines dehvered to him by releasing company) long to realize it had a is likely to be put on a shelf and forgotten? Woody in the first fihn: "You are a toy! You're terrific story on its hands. So, even though !" Enter Buzz Lightyear his Toy collectible! and Story not a You're a child's plaything! ! the studio's own direct-to-video sequels for Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast had per-

formed quite well, it was decided that Toy Story 2 didn't belong on the small screen

after all. "As we started developing it [as a feature], many of the story's deeper emotions started coming out," adds Lasseter. "We real- ized, 'Wow, this could be really good.' " A story reel was developed and screened for the Disney powers-that-be, who then decided that the film was indeed worthy of develop- ment as a theatrical feature. That was two years ago, when Ash Brannon, a directing animator on Toy Story, was already at work on the direct-to-video version of TS2. "When the decision was made to bump it up another level, we start-

ed working really hard on it,' Lassester continues. "I had wanted to come out with a sequel to Toy Story after A Bug's Life, but When Woody gets a tear in his shoulder, his worst fears are realized. Now he's they said, 'Well, damaged goods, but Is he ready for the trash bin? you know, if you compatriots—Hamm (voiced by John "We got pretty excited about this idea," come out then, Ratzenberger), Bo Peep (Annie Potts), Mr. recalls Lasseter. "I've seen many a sequel it'll be way

Potato Head (Don Rickles), Slinky Dog (Jim that just rehashed the film that spawned it. I too long after Vamey) and Rex (Wallace Shawn). All the didn't want to do that. But the collector angle the original.' original Toy Story actors, in fact, reprise their The perks to Woody's Round-up. A toynapped roles in this sequel, including Tom Hanks as Woody (Tom Hanks) greets his past—and Jessie Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. the Yodeling Cowgirl, Stinky Pete and Bullseye They've deduced that Woody is a victim of the Horse (pictured). for the TV program, everything from cereal (Woody's Cowboy Crunchies) to record albums (Woody's Polka Party). There's even a Life magazine cover (dated January 12, 1957) that trumpets Woody as "Children's Favorite Cowboy!" All products were inspired by a meeting with one of the top toy collectors of former cowboy star Hopalong Cassidy merchandise. "Hopalong Cassidy was the first TV star who really understood merchandising," Las- seter says. "His face was on everything. This collector brought in some of the actual mer- chandise, which was quite interesting. He talked about how to restore collectible toys, and the kind of aging you would see on a toy of that era. That gave us a better idea of how to age Woody's merchandise to make it look old and more believable. There's a lot of yel- Collector/toy thief Al (Wayne Knight) thinks he has gotten away with the lowing on the packaging, and the edges are goods (read Woody), but those aren't the CIA's spyglasses on him. kind of torn up."

That's one reason why Disney wanted to making it better. We'll do a version of the New Neighbors make it a direct-to-video. But when it story and all the different sequences on story- Lasseter is particularly excited about Toy became a theatrical feature, it made sense to boards and story reels, then take a look at it. Story 2's new cast of characters, which redevelop the story and give the film a larger It's right there in front of you, so you can see includes Mrs. Potato Head, voiced by sitcom scope. Because this was a much bigger pic- how it plays. We're constantly improving it. veteran Estelle Harris. "Jessie the Yodeling ture now, I brought over Ash and Lee We were doing story revisions on Toy Story 2 Cowgirl is a tomboy, a cross between Annie Unkrich, our editor on both Toy Story and A up until this spring." Oakley and Elly Mae Clampett from The Bug's Life, to co-direct. The story was still in One of TS2's highlights is an episode of Beverly Hillbillies. She's not intended to be a the storyboard stage, so nothing had been Woody 's Round-up, a string-puppet show love interest for Woody, but more of a buddy. into full production yet. featuring Woody, Jessie, BuUseye and Stinky Joan Cusack did a spectacular job in voicing "I like to joke that Pixar movies are never Pete. Production designers William Cone and her—this is one of the great vocal perfor- completed, they just get released," he laughs. Jim Pearson worked with Pixar' s art depart- mances in animation history, in my estima- "We're constantly tweaking the story and ment to create a host of realistic memorabilia tion. Jessie is very effusive with energy, and

28 STAKLOG/December 1 —

In addition to rescuing Woody, Buzz must also confront demons from his past— in the form of dreaded Emperor Zurg.

she has very high mountains and very deep song written for the film by Randy Newman, tossed into Andy's bin of forgotten toys. valleys—she wears her emotions on her "When She Loved Me" performed by Sarah Jessie's story only underscores this theme of sleeve. She's so excited when Woody shows McLachlan. "You see, through this rich, abandonment and displacement, which Las- up, but when Woody wants to go back to warm, overexposed flashback, that Jessie seter believes is the equivalent of a human Andy, Jessie gets very depressed, because was loved and played with by this little girl, being's fear of mortality. Woody may find she knows she'll get put back into storage but this girl slowly grows up and forgets fame and adoration as pait of a toy collection she has been in a box of Styrofoam peanuts about her. At the song's end, she's given in a museum, but his life will be lived behind for a really long time." away to a Goodwill-type charity. The end the glass walls of a display case, which Jessie's "backstory" provides one of the shows Jessie watching her owner drive away. means he will never be played with—or truly film's most moving scenes. Like Woody, we It just rips your heart out." loved—again. learn that she was once loved and played When Woody's arm is accidentally torn Along with Jessie, Woody's new friends with by a child—in this case, a little girl by Andy, his worst fear is realized: he is now include his faithful horse, Bullseye (a mute Andy's age. We're told her story over a new officially damaged goods, and likely to be character envisioned by Lassester as the

rTARhOG/December 199 ' s

equestrian equivalent of "a big, lovable "And Al is really a remarkable piece of puppy dog") and Stinky Pete the Prospector, technology," Lasseter enthuses, "one of the voiced by Frasier's Kelsey Grammer. great technological advances in this

"Stinky Pete is the Gabby Hayes-ish, crusty- movie. In terms of the humans, it old-miner comic reUef of Woody 's Round-up, was very important to us to main- but he's the most valuable collectible toy you tain the same look and feel of the can be, because he's still in his original box. first film. We didn't want a bunch j^^^ ' That means he was never sold, and never of realistic humans walking played with. We animate him from within a around. So they're caricatured, but box with a little cellophane window, which the level of complexity, particularly looks like an outhouse. He's pushed around in Al, is far greater than in Toy Story. A by Bullseye, like old man Potter in his wheel- great deal of research that went into making chair in It's a Wonderful Life. He's a wise, 'Geri's Game' was applied to Toy Story 2. grandfatherly figure. It's a funny, weird col- "Al is the villain of the story in that he lection of characters." steals Woody," adds Lasseter. "Woody is the last piece he needs to complete his Woody' Buzz Battles Round-up collection, then he's going to turn The one remaining new toy character in around and sell it to a Japanese toy museum

Toy Story 2 isn't part of the Woody 's Round- in Tokyo for a ton of money. He puts Woody Sure, Toy Story 2 is a CGI event that once up gang: Buzz Lightyear's arch-nemesis, the in a glass cage in a room filled with his other again raises the animation bar, but " great Evil Emperor Zurg (voiced by Andrew Stan- collectibles, in his penthouse apartment in Lasseter adds that there's also a deal of deep emotion" in the film. ton who contributed to the original story and the city. On the building's front door is a sign co-wrote the screenplay for Toy Story). Zurg that reads 'NO CHILDREN ALLOWED.' makes two brief appearances in the film, one It's definitely not a place for a toy that wants If John Lasseter is nervous about how Toy of which occurs in the movie's spectacular to be played with by a child." Story 2 will be received by critics and the opening sequence, set in outer space. Las- Making a sequel to a highly successful public, he doesn't show it. "I hope people seter politely declines to discuss details of film can be a nerve-wracking experience, really enjoy the movie," he says, fairly burst- the film's prologue, as he wants moviegoers especially when you directed the original. Is ing with pride. "We work and work and tweak to be surprised by what they see. However, Lasseter worried about following in his own a film until it's something we can aU watch cautions theater patrons especially SF footsteps? "One of the neat things about Toy again and again—that's sort of one of my he — — fans "not to get stuck in a long popcorn Story 2 is that it works on many levels. The filmmaking rules. The film's supervising line" before the movie starts, as "you don't fans of Toy Story won't be disappointed, animator, Glenn McQueen, said it best want to miss the opening." because it has even more of their favorite when he said, T feel like we're plan- Lasseter is especially proud of the characters, and some great new ones as ning the greatest surprise new human character that graces Toy well. It's not a rehash of the original. Tech- party.' You just know that Story 2, Al, voiced by 3rd Rock from nically, it's really advanced. While it's still the people who see Toy Story the Sun's Wayne Knight (who most the world of Toy Story, there are some 2 are going to love it. Yet you have to recently played Tantor the Elephant beautiful sequences in it that are just sit patiently and wait for it all to in Disney's Tarzan), whom the direc- breathtaking. There's also a great deal of happen. I've got to tell you, though,;h, i tor praises as "a great ad-Ubber—he deep emotion in this film, which I that we're as proud of this movie asis became this character. think is going to surprise people." anything we've ever done.' r

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he's taller than you might expect, and surpris- 5^ingly forthright, greeting the ^ visitors to the Galaxy Quest set the minute she sees them. She W sports for this role a blonde wig and a meticu- lously engineered, busty space out-

fit. This amuses Sigoumey Weaver, who quickly calls attention to these new "developments," but she's also almost shyly proud, for once in her career, of being a blonde bimbo—or playing one, anyway. "The fact that the movie is about struggling The enterprising cast of Galaxy Quest actors, unemployed actors, has-been actors, is SIgourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tim all very touching," the actress says, "and it JL \M %M. J.\A A Jarf A Allen and Tony Shalhoub. allowed me to get into what might have hap- pened if I had come out here—and been a big, Madison that she has had a hard time getting buxom blonde. That's one of the main things work ever since. SF conventions pay some-

that drew me to it, rather than it being a science thing, but mostly she has had to struggle. fiction film. It was really more the human That is, until she and the rest of the Galaxy story. Quest cast are taken into space by friendly

"Any time I see an actor, I'm so aware that but desperate aliens, who firmly beheve that

it has so much to do with luck and timing and RETURnS the TV series told the simple truth—and that everything," Weaver says. "That's why I found all these surprised actors really are the char- Tawny's story so interesting. She was there at acters they played. The aliens have even built the right time [to star in the series], but then 1 w 1 SJLKi a working replica of the spaceship ft'om the nothing happened." series, and the non-plussed actors are expect-

ed to use it in a battle with the space vUlain Remember Gwen Sarris. In Galaxy Quest, directed by Dean Parisot, Or at least, this is the premise of the script Weaver plays Gwen DeMarco, star of the cult by Robert Gordon and David Howard. It favorite SF TV series Galaxy Quest. You takes Weaver into space, which on the one

remember it, don't you? It was the one that hand is familiar—aU those ALIEN movies started around 1979, ran until the early '80s, Ficrion and yet unfamiliar, since her only voyages then went off the air, but remained popular into space have been as Ripley. "It's very dif- enough to generate its own "Questies" fandom ferent playing a science fiction comedy, with (though, of course, the most intense among the long waits and everything," she says. them prefer "Questarians"). DeMarco played "I've done ensemble comedies, from the Tawny Madison, blonde bombshell, whose Ghostbusters days. I'm like Alan [Rickman]; role mostly consisted of repeating aloud every- I would rather be in a comedy. Everything is thing the computer said, and looking sexy. such a joy, but they're difficult to do." But like most of the other members of the Choosing this role was "a hard decision," cast—including Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen) she admits. "I did a very solid film last fall and Sir Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) called A Map of the World. I think that's my DeMarco became so identified with her role as best work, and the film is remarkable. Then I

32 STARLOG/December 1999

Weaver just couldn't say no to Galaxy Quest, a film comedy about a cast from an old SF TV series who are swept up in real outer space drama.

good-hearted. After she came to LA, she prob- ably started to take some intense acting classes, and kept up her dance work. "I gave her some of my background. She had a call-back for a film, but her manager said, 'Galaxy Quest is a series. This is going to put you on the map, so don't even think about the Woody Allen film.' That was her crossroads," Weaver explains, and adds that she herself was originally offered a large role

in Allen's great Annie Hall, but turned it down. "It was the part of the girl at the beach who

doesn't have a sense of humor, and it was like

a three-week thing. I turned it down because I was doing an actor's showcase, so he offered me one of the people at the party. My line was a famous one from a [Roy] Lichtenstein paint- ing of a woman drowning. T would rather die " than ask Brad for help.' Around the same time, she took a role on the short-lived soap opera Somerset. "I took

the soap," she says, "because I didn't have any money. It was weird—I still haven't worked with Woody Allen, except as another actor. I turned out fine, but I figured Gwen probably looks back at her own choice and wonders,

'What if..? What if I had taken that part? What

if I had caught on in some artistic way? What if

I could have really been someone, and not just

what I look like?' "She did [the Galaxy Quest TV show], and

it was great for what it was, but she was totally

the sex object in it. I think it has been especial- ly hard for her as a woman who has evolved, who has had this on-and-off relationship with Jason. It's hard for her to have a new vision of herself because she was once so un-empow- ered. She has been limited by her training, and a lot of energy has gone elsewhere—she teach- es yoga and things like that. For me," Weaver

adds, "it's like a mask class, where it takes over. The physical stuff, I can do that, but with my nails and my hair—it just comes out differ- 1+ alloLued me +o ge+ in+o ujha+ migh+ ently. "Gwen is a little embarrassed by Tawny, but she's really a good person; she's funny and have happenedif I had come ou+ wry. She doesn't want to be in space, and it here—ana been a big, buxom blonde. does take her by surprise. All of them are kind of losers, and to be given this kind of acknowl- did Company Man, this ridiculous comedy ing to be secure. It's the one part I've ever edgment, even by creatures from outer space, about the CIA in Cuba with Doug McGrath played where I never end up doing what I want actually does something almost medically to and John Turturro. Then suddenly Galaxy to do." them. Since Jason will never tell them we are Quest came up. actors, we have to come through for them. She

"I actually thought it was a bad idea for me Madison Venue does many things in her own way—I mean, it's to do this, but I was drawn to it. First of all, I Weaver has clearly given the role of not Ripley at all—and she comes out feeling love Tim Allen, I love Alan Rickman and I DeMarco/Madison a great deal of thought, that she has been taken seriously for the first loved the script. And I thought, 'Well, I don't including fiUing in a background for her char- time. And she takes herself seriously, which know if it's appropriate for me to play this part, acter that involves some elements of Weaver's was maybe the problem in the first place. I love but I'm really drawn to her, because I've never own experiences. Not that Weaver ever did a her, I admire her, she's self-sufficient, she cre- played anyone like her.' " But then the actress stint as a Vegas showgirl, as she imagines ates order in her life." decided, "It would be really nice to play some- Gwen did. "She's pretty, she's one of those Another problem is Gwen's erratic rela- one who's this what-you-see-is-what-you-get. people who won local beauty contests. I think tionship with her co-star Nesmith, who played There's no inner turmoil. She's there, she loves of her as a very natural beauty, and I think of Galaxy Quest Commander Peter Quincy Tag- Jason and these guys, she's like their camp these"——she gestures to her now-ample cleav- gart. "He's one of these guys who doesn't want counselor. She's not secure, but she keeps try- age "as real. She's very pleasant, and very to settle down," Weaver explains. "He's kind of

34 STARLOG/December 1999 —

Just your fine, well-oiled military crew—not. But Weaver admits playing part of a TV series cast

' where the actors bicker with each other" was

a kid, he loves the adora- tion [of the fans] and does Ifs the one not want to have a serious part I ve ever commitment where I'm actually going to call him plaged ujhere I on some of his stuff. "There are moments never end ui during the film, such as on doing uuha the planet, where he'll say something like, 'Well, if uuanT +o do. you had been more sup- portive, you could have not realizing for a second that of course held onto me.' And I say, it was all for the movie. That character 'What do you mean, I was my introduction to films. could have held onto "I was able to watch ALIEN pretty you?' Alex says, 'You're objectively, just for the beauty of it. It really going to do this was such a beautifully shot film, and hereV while we're try- all the actors were so great. That was — From the ridiculous to the sublime. Before Weaver became a a ing to roll this beryllium questing space beauty, she had some serious scraps with real character piece, too. I would love sphere up a hill. We're like xenomorphic beasties in four ALIEN fWms. it if there was some sort of series where an old married couple. I you could see ALIEN, then ALIENS, love all the relationships, where the actors two media. Dean has been very careful that it then ALIEN^, then ALIEN Resurrec- bicker with each other." doesn't get into gags and jokes; it's all about tion. For me, it would be very interesting— 10 Weaver liked the Galaxy Quest premise the characters" years, then five years, then seven years." and the way it paid off, particularly because the When ALIEN had its "re-premiere," Weaver The initial Ripley action figure hardly story was about actors. "It's about people who turned up at the Egyptian Theater on Holly- resembled Sigoumey Weaver, because she did [think of themselves as] losers with really no wood Boulevard in her blonde Galaxy Quest not give them permission to use her image. "So sense of self-worth. You get put into this situa- wig, which took some reporters aback, but she they did this thing with blue eyes," she says tion with absolutely no idea how to handle it, was determined to make an appearance. She with a laugh, "so they didn't have to worry and yet there are these other people who think has never forgotten what that film did for her about me. But yeah, it was nice to see a Uttle of us as gods. If I understand Dean's vision career. "It was so great to see it on a big screen, doll of me. I would love to be a doll like correctly, and the vision of the writers, it's which I hadn't done since it first came out. I this"— she gestures at her Galaxy Quest almost like a Wizard of Oz thing, where we used to wander around these magnificent sets look "a Tawny Madison doll would be very each get what we need from this experience, thinking, 'This is so cool. They built this just funny. You can rip her clothes, then put them where we come out fulfilled. It's not about the for us! We don't have to pretend anything!' back on."

STARLOG/December 1999 35 hard to believe on a cool spring only has one 'moment' in it, and I wanted |moon in Pinewood Studios, just By JOE NAZZARO more than that. We're putting in a second tjide , that the latest James explosion and some more flames in the fore- fSdventure is being shot. But as nuclear test site in Kazakstan," the director ground so the shot stays alive longer. Some off, it ; soundstage's massive soundproof explains, "and the baddies have gotten away of the explosions didn't actually go and 'inetal doors swing open, fantasy with stealing a bomb from out of there. takes time to set it all up again." hickly replaces reality. A detailed nuclear They've set off an explosion to kill our hero testing chamber set dominates the view. and heroine. We've done a whole big explo- Secret Scenarios Hanging from a gantry 15-20 feet overhead sion sequence down the main tunnel, and The World Is Not Enough is the 19th 007 are star Pierce Brosnan and Denise Richards, now explosions [will go off here]. Bond and adventure, the third with Brosnan playing the who plays one of the film's two Bond Jones are going to get out through a vent in superspy. On this mission. Bond finds him- women, Christmas Jones. Beneath them, an the roof and end up on the top of a moun- self embroiled in an international power imposing hydraulic arm flails about, looking tain." struggle, with the world's oil supply at stake. decidedly lethal. Apted also converses with special FX Sophie Marceau plays Elektra King, the Off to one side of the set, director chief Chris Corbould over a particular shot. daughter of a murdered oil magnate whom Michael Apted observes the scene on a small Another delay, as Corbould goes off to relay Bond is assigned to protect. Richards essays color monitor and asks Brosnan and Richards new instructions to his team. "When you nuclear scientist Jones. Robert Carlyle is the to try the scene a bit differently. "This is a look at the shot," explains the director, "it doomed anarchist Renard, victim of a bullet

36 STAKLOG/December 1999 —

lodged in his skull that is cutting off his phys- Mourning really becomes Elektra ical senses, especially to pain. King »

The World Is Not Enough is a major undertaking for Apted, whose work in the action genre has been somewhat limited. The veteran director of Coal Miner's Daughter, Gorillas in the Mist and Gorky Park admits being surprised when he was offered an 007 film, but that didn't stop him from accepting the challenge—despite a few nay-sayers who questioned his suitability for the job. "Some

of them were very unpleasant about it, but

you can't blame them, because it is a strange idea. What they didn't realize is there's a big support system behind [these films]. I could

bring something new to it, and yet keep intact the stuff that people really Uke about Bond films." Nonetheless, Apted concedes that there was a settling-in period initially, as he became accustomed to working within the Bond multiple-unit system. "I'm not sure that's ever resolved. It's always difficult when you have other people doing stuff for

you. You've got to fit in their bits of film with what you've shot, but I got into the rhythm of the film very quickly. Before this, I did an HBO film called Always Outnumbered, and that was a 29-day shoot. This is a 100-plus- day shoot, but it's funny how easily you adapt to it." As Corbould's team finishes setting up, the next stop is the editing suite, where editor Jim Clark is working on the ski sequence, in which Bond and King are pursued by assas- sins in para-gliders. "The scene was story- boarded by Michael and the storyboard artist," says Clark, "and then I scanned the storyboards into the computer and cut the sequence as a rough thing. Then, after the second unit did all the doubles for Bond and Elektra, I stuck them all in, replacing the sto- ryboards where I could." Apparently relation Clark calls up the sequence, which is no to Indiana, Dr. Christmas Jones (Starship Troopers' accompanied by a "temp track" consisting of Denise Richards) is the other Bond girl Flight of the Valkyries as well as the now- a nuclear weapons expert. familiar Bond theme music. "All the long shots are done by Vic Armstrong. The travel- The next stop is the office of Michael Wil- wanted to work with Michael, so while it's a ing shots are by [third unit director] Arthur son, who, with Barbara Broccoli, is produc- Bond film, if you have an action director, you

Wooster, and the singles of the principals are ing The World Is Not Enough. Wilson has may not have the chance to cast it as well. done by Michael. Fortunately, Sophie could been part of the Bond family since 1972, and Sophie is a very experienced French actress, ski, although Pierce couldn't. is fiercely loyal to the group that has been and in this film, she's fantastic." "They're going to put in an oil pipeline assembled over the years. "We've always got As for Carlyle, Wilson admits that the with CGI," Clark continues, "so there are stiU a few new people, but it's true, we do have a actor was a potentially tough sell to MGM, FX to be done. We have to do a model shot of 'Bond family,' and many of the people who but one that has paid off for this film. "In the para-gliders coming out. It will be about are HODs [heads of department] now were America, he's known for The Full Monty, so half [its present] length when it's finalized. working as assistants before. They all con- how could he be a Bond villain? But then you The first time through, I followed the story- tribute and come up with ideas, because see Cracker. That was foremost in our minds, boards and put everything in, but it's clearly they're all trying to make it better." but we still had to sell the studio on him. going to be too long. It also needs to be faster Every time you make a film, you have to face in tempo once the flying machines get Bonded Talents a new group of studio executives, who have involved. The earlier part where they're ski- That doesn't mean the producer hasn't to make a point about their raisson d'etre for ing is very romantic, however, so we'll have been keen on bringing in some new faces. being there, so they're always second-guess- much more romantic music there. I think the "Because we have Michael [Apted], we went ing you." final version is going to be a very good for good actors who were right for the parts. Also on the list of Bond newcomers is sequence." And we were able to get them because they Cleese, as Q's new assistant. "Desmond has

STARLOG/December 1999 37 been at us for a while to get a replacement," Back on the soundstage, Corbould's team off the sweatshirt, revealing a grey Wilson explains, "so we thought that would have finished setting up. An FX man blasts a tube top and a makeup artist daubs be the idea—that in the fullness of time, John cloud of atmospheric smoke into the air, perspiration on her arms and would become the new Q." where a fan blows it into the chamber's cen- shoulders. The World Is Not That doesn't mean Llewelyn is ready to ter. Nearby, a group of firemen have extend- Enough marks a notable career pack up his gadgets and retire. Far from it, ed hoses, just in case something should go step for Richards, who has already "It's very enjoyable," enthuses Llewelyn. "I wrong. All mobile phones on the set are shut made a major impact in Starship wish I would do more, but then somebody off, so as not to accidentally set off the explo- Troopers and Wild Things. "My char- said, 'You know, that's the reason for your sive charges. "OK, chaps, we're just charging acter's name is Christmas Jones," explains great success in the Bond films—that you the hose!" warns one fireman. Wilson arrives Richards, "and I play a nuclear weapons have such a short appearance that people on set, along with his wife and a few VIP vis- expert. At my introduction, I think Bond is haven't got time to get bored with you.' " The itors. A few feet away, a phone rings, prompt- the villain. I eventually realize that he's not, actor hopes, however, that moviegoers won't ing cries of alarm and a very firm warning so I help him save the world." get bored with him any time soon. "As I've from the assistant director. Working on the full-sized Bond sets is said, I'll go on until either the producers Richards is called to the set, wearing a much easier for the actors who have some- don't want me, or the Almighty does!" blue sweatshirt and black trousers. She pulls thing to react to, as opposed to, say, shooting in front of a blue screen on Starship Troop- ers. "It does make a difference," says

Richards, "because you have it there. Doing

Troopers, I had no idea what those bugs were going to look like. We saw a test of what they looked like on film, but you can't imagine once everything is put there. It's really hard to have the director say, 'OK, now this is

going to...' Everyone has a different vision,

so to actually see what's going on makes it much easier." As a Bond girl in The World Is Not Enough, Richards hopes she'll be continuing the tradition of her predecessors, but putting her own stamp on the character. "It's good to

just bring your own thing to it instead of try- ing to copy something. You don't want to do the cliched thing, but I'm sure they will com- pare us, one way or another." Meanwhile, Apted is ready to shoot.

Richards is joined by Brosnan, who's wear- ing blue coveralls, and the actors take their places on the precarious-looking gantry. "Everybody not working on this shot, please

38 STARLOG/December 1999 —

And why is it every time 007 sees a speedboat he feels the need to borrow it?

Once again, 007 hits the slopes. And as always, hitmen on skis aren't far behind.

paye the set!" announces the first hydrauUc rams all synched in so they work sistant director. The command is together. That's one aspect of the set people sensible one—with all the probably don't realize was done for real. You lyrotechnics involved, there's a lot wouldn't want to be caught in between those f potential for danger, no matter doors." ow carefully everything has been Corbould's crew is only responsible for a ilanned. certain amount of the film's FX work. Anoth- Wilson peels himself away from er aspect is being handled by Oscar-winning his group to point out some of the miniature FX supervisor John Richardson,

attributes of production designer Peter Lam- whose office is just a few minutes' walk from

ent's set. "It's amazing, isn't it?" he enthuses. the 007 Stage. Richardson's team is responsi- "We went to Russia on GoldenEye, so we ble for a number of models of varying size, were able to see some of the big screws." from a quarter-scale MI6 building, to the oil From the set, another announcement: pipeline that provides part of the film's back- "Watch your ears, folks; a couple of bangs." drop, to a 45-foot submarine. "We have had a The understatement of the day, followed by a number of meetings and discussions," says deafening thunderclap of an explosion. The Richardson, "and there are practical, finan- firemen rush in to put out the fires, and Apted cial or safety reasons for doing things with watches the shot in playback. It looks good, models. Some of them, you read the script but the director decides to do another, with and it's very obvious—you've got a subma- even more flames in the foreground. rine underwater and it turns on one end. You're not going to get a real submarine to do Best Dressings that, so it's going to have to be a model. The World Is Not Enough is Bond "Pipelines feature heavily in the picture .ber nine for Corbould, but the special that's what the movie is all about. Long rvisor insists they never get easier, pipelines don't exist anywhere that look any- psecutive Bond has had different thing like what we needed them to, with allengek was very... scenery in the background. To build one full- intenMve is probably the best way of size is obviously prohibitively expensive, so re was a huge amount of floor they come to me and say, 'What can you do?' icular film, we have a large and I then go around and look at various amount of wofkshop fabrication going on locations and try and formulate ideas."

we're making. In the pad- Wardrobe is costume designer Lindy dock tank, we have a massive crane and heli- Hemming's responsibility. "I don't think copters, and it's a more mechanical film, as they're written as heightened as they used to opposed to the bangs and bullet hits of be," notes Hemming, "but Denise is a good Tomorrow Never Dies. We have whole sec- example in this film. She's a nuclear scien- tions of submarine twisting through 90 tist—you mustn't make her look overly sexy. degrees and then dropping into water" We wanted to get that feeling of young, Case in point: the equipment Corbould's active, sporty girls that you see on university team built for the nuclear test chamber, campuses, but at the same time, she has a which is being used today. "Hydraulics, fabulous figure; she's much prettier than you pneumatics, right across that spectrum. would imagine a nuclear scientist would be.

You're probably not aware of it, but those big So with all the choices of vest, you're going doors on the set are all hydraulically operat- to make an inch shorter than they would be in ed. They're in four-segment pieces, and there the shop, and half an inch tighter. That's the are seven or eight doors in there that we had edge you're on, but on the other hand, she to build from scratch—steel structures with wouldn't be wearing a bikini!"

STARLOG/December 1999 39 he has changed body shape; he looks on a slope, with a helicopter with a camera in stronger and more wiry, but not big. He's it flying out there. I'm with the one dropping slim and lithe rather than bulkier, and his the skiers off, giving them their last instruc- suits are a little bit more trendy. His silhou- tions. I was looking out and the blades were

ette is lean and a bit more pantherish, and he not far from the edge. The skiers jump out has a different hair style, which is shorter, and hang by their toenails while we back off and I think he looks good." and they're nearly vertical, and you're think- ing, 'A gust of wind and we're history!' Fall Guys That's the toughest part, just getting the Back on the soundstage, the crew contin- shots. ues to set up for another take, and there's "The shots themselves are all so thought time for a tour of the paddock tank on the out, organized and rigged that you tend to other side of Pinewood, where second unit think of them as just another dialogue director Armstrong will be shooting scenes. sequence. It has all been planned and if The paddock tank has been converted into a something goes wrong, it's purely bad luck. dazzling aggregation of raised walkways and It's like crashing your car on the motorway; platforms, based on a real-life location con- it's just something that happens." structed above the waters of the Caspian Sea. Back on the 007 Stage, Apted gets ready This set represents a caviar factory owned by to shoot Brosnan and Richards, who have 007's friendly enemy Zukovsky. Crew mem- returned to their gantry. The day may be bers are setting up for the night shoot, which moving slowly, but what ultimately counts is will include some very large buzzsaws and the finished product. There are still several an untimely end to Bond's brand-new BMW. months of shooting and post-production to be Armstrong is in charge of the film's action done, but Apted is glad that he accepted the set pieces, including the ski sequence, the challenge. "God knows, if you asked me this submarine battle and a boat chase down the at Christmas," he chuckles, "when I've been Thames. creamed and crucified, but right now, I'm Armstrong is surprisingly low-key about thrilled. I'm having a good time. It's an inter- Creating a similarly subtle look for Bond his work on the film, considering some of the esting group of people, and so far, the film is and King turned out to be equally challeng- obvious dangers involved. The most hair- going all right. ing. "It has been a long, conversational jour- raising moment so far? "Probably the ski "All I can say is I look forward to going to ney about Elektra. You don't want to make sequence, because every day, we're flying in work in the morning. I'm not waking up her into an unsympathetic, nasty, rich girl, a helicopter in areas that you have to be ready thinking, 'What nightmare is it today?' apart from the fact that Sophie is really beau- to move out of at a second's notice if you get which has happened many times in the past. tiful anyway, but you want to make her inter- an avalanche warning. I did some of the free People seem to want to make things work, esting, likable and have layers of texture to skiing at the beginning, after they jumped out and there are no bad vibes on the set, no egos her character. We talked to her and to of the heUcopter. I had to put the doubles out fighting against each other. People are here to Michael Apted, and invented a life and an do as good a job as they can, and Pierce is interest, which is that she feels for her dead professional, respectful of other people and mother, who came from somewhere like sets a good tone. From a director's point-of- Turkey, so in aU her costumes, we started to view, if your leading actor is a dickhead, put in a little bit of ethnicity and sparkle. you've had it, because other people become Pierce has a new look on this film, because dickheads really fast."

Back from GoldenEye, Russia's Valentin Brosnan returns for his third 007 Renard (Robert Carlyle) is a terrorist with Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) is tlie very adventure. And this time, he'll be shaken, death on the brain. A bullet lodged there friendliest of Bond's enemies. not stirred, by vengeful villains. is slowly killing him.

40 STARLOG/December 1999 Explore the HistorvofScienceJiction in

Order now while issues last! Note: All issues include numerous articles & Interviews. Only a few are listed for each entry.

#2 Gene Roddenberry. #26 ALIEN. Ridley Scott. #50 Lucas 3. Spielberg. #73 Cliff Robertson. Python. $10. #113 Doohan. Robert Goldsmith. Badler. R. Space: 1999 Guide. H.R.Giger. EP Gerry Sean Connery. Lawrence Robert Vaughn. Roy Bloch. Rick Baker. Rabbit. KH^E $10. Logan's Run. of the War Anderson. $5. Kasdan. Ray Walston. Scheider. Jason Robards. #94 Doohan. Sayles. Little Shop of Horrors. Worlds. S50. Heavy Metal. $100. Hamill 2. $5. William Katt. John Barry. Starman TV. $50. #1 34 Zemeckis. Crosby. #27 Galactica EP Guide. Michelle Pfelffer. V. Jedi Cherryh 2. James Caan. Space: 1999 #3 EP Guide. ST: IMP. ALIEN FX. #51 Kasdan 2. #74 Molly Ringwald. FX 6. $5. #114 Nimoy. Guy Ken Johnson. Sylvester Michelle Nichols. George Nick Meyer. $5. Shatner. Harryhausen. Michael Ironside. Malcolm Williams. Robert Hays. McCoy, Big. $5. Takei. DeForest Kelley. $35. Roddenberry. Jerry McDowell. Lorenzo #95 . Gareth Thomas. $100. #28 Lou Ferrlgno. Goldsmith. $5. Semple. $5. Matthew Broderick. m 35 R. Rabbit. B7. #4 3-D SF Movie Guide. Wonder Woman EP Butrick. Hauer. #116 Majel Barrett. Robin Patrick McGoohan. Richard Anderson. Outer Guide. $5. #52 Blade Runner. #75 Nancy Allen. John III. Cocoon. $5. Curtis. Whitney. Paul Jerry Sohl. Marta Kristen. Limits EP Guide. $50. Shatner. $5. Lithgow. George Lazenby Darrow. Nichols. Dr. Who. Van Williams. Alien #29 Erin Gray. Buster McQuarrie. Semple 2. $5. #96 9th Anniversary. Peter $75. Nation. $6. #5 3-D film history. LTOS Crabbe. $5. #53 Bradbury. Patrick Gushing. Jonathan Harris. Space: 1999 BP Guides. Macnee. Blade Runner. #76 Buster Crabbe. Sybil Tina Turner. John Cleese. #117 Catherine Mary #136Mandy Patinkin. $15. #30 Robert Wise. $5. Dannlng.$6. Moore. Jedi FX 7. $6. Stewart. Adam West. Jock Mahoney. Carpenter. Chekov's Enterprise. Frank Oz. Nation. Lenard. Sohl 2. Tre/f.-Losf #6 Robert Heinlein on Questor Tapes. #54 3-D Issue. Bob Gulp. #77 Phil Kaufman. Chuck #97 Mel Gibson. Ron Robocop. $5. Generation. $5. Destination Moon. Stuntwomen. $15. Connie Selleca. Terry Yeager.Tom Baker. Howard. River Phoenix. Animated Trek. $25. Gilliam. Leslie Nielsen. Trumbull. $5. Chris Walken. Donner. #118 Shatner. Rod Taylor. #137 MarshaW.Warofihe #31 Empire. 20,000 Raiders FX. Trek Glenn. e7TF.$10. Jeff Morrow. Michael Worlds. $5. #7 Star Wars. Rocl

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Darrow points to the King of Comics as an influence on his hero. that's what it was for me. While drawing it, I got a kick out of shoot-

Jack Kirby inspired Big Guy's look," Darrow reveals, "while Rusty ing and blowing up monsters. Frank and I did Big Guy and Rusty came from the Japanese robot cartoons, particularly Astro Boy. Of all because we always liked superhero comics and robots, so we thought

the characters, my favorite is the Big Guy itself. It's actually fun to it would be nice to do a robot superhero comic. I wanted the people draw this enormous robot." reading it—and now the people watching it—to have fun. It's not Wliile the cartoon's nominal characters retain their look from the pretentious."

comic, other comic elements may not get transferred to the robotic Despite Darrow's interest in seeing Big Guy and Rusty make it to I'V adventures. "I'm not sure if they're adapting any of our books, I the screen, their cartoon career caught the illustrator fairly unaware.

think they're doing all new stuff. The one we did where Big Guy "I was told that Sony wanted to do it, and then the deal happened so fights a dinosaur in Tokyo would be a good one for them. It was sup- quickly, I didn't have time to be surprised," he admits. "They made

posed to be like a big, Japanese monster movie. Since the cartoon is the right decision not to try and emulate my style exactly, because I

done by Sony and they made Godzilla, I'll bet they won't be adapt- don't think my style would animate that well. I don't really think it resembles my art. society in a virtual reality world (see STARLOG #262). It seemed a I don't care about that; I just want it to be a good show. Big Guy and perfect vehicle for Darrow. "The Wachowskis looked for me—they Rusty isn't as catchy a title as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." had liked Hard Boiled. They literally had Warner Bros, track me The animated series, which airs on Fox Kids, features a number down. Warners said, 'What do you want to hire this guy for? He lives of notable voices. Pamela Segall, the voice of Bobby on King of the in Europe [Paris]. Get somebody from around here.' The Hill, speaks for Rusty. The Drew Carey Show's, Kathy Kinney plays Wachowskis told them, 'We want Geof Darrow,' and they got me Jenny, a talking monkey. Blade Runner's M. Emmet Walsh is robot- hired. They're the only guys working in movies who understand ics mechanic Mack. R. Lee Ermey voices General Thorton. And there comic books, because they like them. are others. "I know that Tom Hanks' brother Jim voices Dwayne "Most guys making comic-book movies are condescending. Take Hunter, the man inside Big Guy. Rusty doesn't know that the Big the Batman movies, for example. One of the directors [Joel

Guy isn't really a robot. They're using a different voice for the Big Schumacher] said, 'It's a comic book, so it should be funny.' They

Guy robot [Jonathan Cook]." don't know them, they don't read them, so they don't get it. The Before Big Guy and Rusty, Darrow and Miller teamed on the ultra-violent Hard Boiled and its follow-ups. Darrow's artwork, espe- cially on Hard Boiled, is famous for densely packed panels. "Ths Abtrar mads Star Something is going on in every comer, every frame brimming with detail. "That's just the way I do things. It was never a conscious Wws look pretty boring." attempt to say, 'I'm gonna do 10 gazillion things on every page.' It's just the way I see things," says Darrow. "To me, I see things as very Wachowskis know them and love them, so when they make a comic- dense." book movie, they make it intelligently. You can look at The Matrix on

so many different levels. There's a lot going on in that thing, but it Robot Monsters also works as a slam-bang action picture. While Darrow is happy about his cartoon creations, the artist was "I really like working with them, we had a good time and we've even more excited about his design work on The Matrix. "The become great friends," Darrow declares. "They're generous, they Wachowski brothers, who directed it, are great—just wonderful guys. gave me a great credit on the film. I had nothing in my contract to They're about to begin work on Matrix 2 and 3," relates Darrow, who give me a full card credit like that, but they felt I contributed enough will provide design concepts for these sequels, "to be filmed back-to- to the picture to get such a credit. They're extremely intelligent and back" next fall in Australia. creative, and it shows. I thought The Matrix was the best film of the The Matrix, of course, is the high-octane SF thriller chronicling year. The Matrix made Star Wars look pretty boring." the efforts of a rebel band fighting an insidious machine-controlled Darrow's menacing machines, which include the power plant, a " —

8

giant contraption full of human fetuses, came about in an elementary fashion. "They told me what they wanted and I just went and drew it," he says happily. "I was lucky with some of them. I nailed that fetus thing on the first shot, but for the harvesting machines I did two drawings. They said, 'We like this for this' of the pictures, so for the Big (|uy and Rusty don't always ^larvesters, I just put my two drawings together. I loved those to seb eye to eye. Which mal

Production designer Owen Paterson (STARLOG#261) devised "From what I know about the second and the he movie's world, refining and elaborating on Darrow's concepts third one, I can promise that it's going to make ivhile also using ideas from the Wachowskis as well as visuals that the first Matrix seem like a Henry James Paterson and his design team generated. Visual FX supervisor John novel! They have ideas that no one has tried 3aeta (STARLOG #263) and the wizards at Manex, D-Film and or seen before." Animal Logic brought some of Darrow's other concepts to special Besides these much-anticipated sequels, FX life. Darrow also has a new graphic novel in the "The nice thing about working with the Wachowskis is that works. "I'm doing The Shaolin Cowboy." he :hey're very patient," Darrow says. "When I was working on The notes. "It's going to be my kung fu/sciencc- Matrix, I wouldn't let them see the drawings until I was finished, fictionAVestem/ epic. It's thematic rhey would come into the room, and I would say, 'You can't see it! and wild. The loner against , action- [t's not done!' I see drawings as being like sentences—if it's not fin- packed." shed, it's not a complete sentence. I didn't want them to hear the sen- As for Big Guy and Rusty, "My family is

:ence until it was complete. They were extremely patient, but it drove very excited about the show, especially my par- he line producer crazy. He would come in and I would say, 'You ents. I owe them money, so now I'll finally be able

;an't see it!' 'What do you mean I can't see it?' 'It's not finished!' It to pay them back. Seriously, they like that sort of frustrated him, but when I showed the finished drawing, he would thing. I'm excited that they're making toys and masks

>ay, 'That's it!' of Big Guy," Geof Darrow says with a grin. "I'm hopin And now, Darrow is looking forward to more Matrix madness. they'll make a cereal with marshmallow Rustys!

Art: Bob Muleady

n POJ^CARe WHAT Wt. POES W\TM THE- mB)?. he's SOLLM^ bestcustoher!"

Darth Maul gets a visit from the Occupational Safety and Health

Administration. ..

Mr. Maul, we have a few safety issues that we're sure you'd like to address...

Do you have a safety lock for so-called "light sabre?"

Do you secure it in a safe place VJhat is inaccessible to children?

Do you ever point your \^head at anybody? Art: "Big Bad Bubba"

Art: "Big Bad Bubba"

m^^ me t^e odds ^ f^ow G-o GKftS as

Mt^dLts T£t^- SECOND so,atat-foro-5iiw:

It's the question that fans REALLV want answered... Art: Kev Brockschmidt when finished dez^nirg Who does your haif Paame: apl^Z, besaretounclog the %yal Commode Art: "Big Bad Bubba"

'"'^-^ _ ,sr^O (.ifl^

ParthMaql had a ba4 feeling

about fiis new tattoo (Xrr DOPP AIMP ARLISS LOVELESS PUKg IT OUT K)R (WTENT RI6HTS ID THE SPIDER i^hair: I larth Maul doing his yardwork... jiiiiir^ Showoff!

Art: Tom Holtkamp

Art: Mike Fisher

It's the latest candy treat from the makers of Photo: Trademark & Copyright 1999 Lucaslilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization. Star Wars' Darth Maul (Ray Park) leaps into action. His mission: To destroy the Jedi and perpetuate The Phantom Menace.

By IAN SPELLING

All Phantom Menace Photos: Trademark & Copyright 1999 Lucasfllm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization. —

Beneath Darth Maul's devilish makeup, there's a real person. But Park notes, "People can't

quite take it in that I played this character."

world. "Tn my view, he's just a guy who doesn't talk much, who apprentices under Darth Sidious [Ian McDiarmid] and

who IS very confident and cool. He can become a bit over- confident, in an arrogant way. He shows that in his

skills, in his martial arts abilities. That's also what docs him in. He became cocky and overconfident, and that's what got him." once people saw the movie, Sith ward they would realize that Despite the long hours in the makeup chair,

I wasn't an extra. But I and the sheer physicality of the role—which didn't realize just how called upon him to fighi in full makeup and cool Darth Maul would robes for long hours under the blazing hot sun look and how popular in Tunisia—Park can't find anything to com- he would be." plain about regarding his Phantom Menace This apprentice of experience. "I enjoyed it," he raves. "I didn't Darth Maul evil is quite an enig- once think, 'Ah. I don't want to go lo work. I couldn't be more adequately named "i DION'] REALIZE JUST HOfe' especially after the mangling he CaOLOARTH.MAULfe'OULO LOOK.' does with his dual-bladed ma—even Park is don't want to do this.' I was like, 'Yeah, let's lightsaber. unclear as to the story go. Up at 5 a.m.? Fine.' I didn't even think

behind Darth Maul. about it. I looked forward to going to bed for arth Maul cuts a most "I don't know a lot about him because the next day. sinister figure in Star George Lucas didn't tell me too much," con- "Probably the hardest days on the film were Wars: Episode I: The fesses Park, a 24-year-old Scotsman and sec- when we were shooting the big batdes at the Phantom Menace, but ond-degree black belt who has competed in a end. with me, Ewan McGregor and Liam Nee- behind the Sith Lord's number of martial arts events around the son. I had to know the battles inside and out double-edged in Wars film tradition, Jedi Qui- lightsaber and that Continuing the Star Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Sith Lord Maul clash in fearsome makeup stands Ray the eternal struggle between good and evil. Park, an easygoing, soft-spoken man who makes his acting debut in the prequel to the Star Wars ^ saga. "People can't quite take it in Bju that I played this character in the H movie, or that I am who I am," H Park marvels of his newfound 3 lame. "They can't comprehend how this nice guy could have played this evil character. Some people don't beUeve me at all when I say, T played Darth Maul.' "It's weird. People are starting to recognize me as me, though. It was a very anonymous thing at first, but because of the conventions I've done, the interviews I've been doing and the premieres I've been attending, people are starting to recognize me. I didn't know what to expect. I kept an open mind about what might happen. I knew that Darth Maul was the bad guy, the vil-

lain who fouaht the Jedi. 1 knew that

52 ^TARhOG/December 1999 Martial artist Park is a second degree blacl< belt, a fact clearly established in these action shots. Jedi beware.

and know Ewan and Liam's moves as well as they did. With my experience, I could improvise or help them if they

got stuck. They were really up for it as

well, and wanted to do it. I gave them

some tips; it was a nice relationship. I

think it worked out well on screen. It looks great. I got really excited when the double doors opened." Contrary to some reports, Park did not officially serve on the film as a stuntman or stunt coordinator. Nick Gillard was the stunt coordinator and Andreas Petrides was the fight

arranger. "I was just an actor on it, but I did my own stunts," explains Park, clarifying

matters. Gillard brought him in, as a stunt- man, while he was preparing fight sequences for Lucas to approve. So impressed with Park were Gillard, Lucas and producer Rick McCallum that McCal- lum soon informed Park that the role of Darth Maul was his.

"I was employed because I had done some martial arts on screen before in Mor- tal Kombat: Annihilation. Nick wrote the fights on The Phantom Menace. Liam,

Ewan, Nick, Andreas and I all worked together on the scenes," Park says. "We

would all have our input, and I did make suggestions because I wanted to do things as Darth Maul, all the spins and jumps, that were comfortable for me. Obviously, we worked in George's ideas as well. He wrote

the movie, and the fights had to fit into everything else he was doing." Though nothing scares Darth Maul, Park couldn't help but be nervous around Lucas, at least in the beginning. "I was in awe of George," he notes, "and a bit intimi- dated, but when you meet him and talk to him, he's just such a nice, down-to-Earth guy. He's really creative. He's such a perfectionist. Everyone around him is like that as well. He made you feel good about what you had done. He would compli- ment you and tell you if he was happy with something. If he wasn't happy, he would tell you that, too, but that wasn't the case very often. I think he got the movie he had in mind. I doubt he would have released it if he didn't get what he wanted." Just as Lucas helped Park, so too did McGregor,

SX.KKLOG/Decembci- 1999 53 —

"SOME PEOPLE GON'T BELIEVE ME AT ALLVi'HEN

\ SAY /I PLAYED DARTH MAUL.

stunts. It was a good experience, but it made me feel even more that I wanted to be an actor, out there infront of the camera, doing stuff for myself and not for someone else. Thanks to The Phantom Menace, I'm getting closer and closer to that." Next up for Park is next month's Sleepy Hollow, Tim Burton's Gothic horror story, which stars Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, , Casper Van Dien and McDiarmid. Park handles the swordplay for the Headless Horseman sequences, but does not act in the film. "Nick Gillard, the stunt coordinator on that, just asked me to come down," Park says. "It was just a bit Unlike Maul, Park did not of fun for me. I was teaching and helping have the Force to draw and doing other things. I wasn't acting in upon when dueling, only anything else yet and I love that kind of his years of training—and work, so I wasn't going to turn it down, practice, practice, practice even though acting is what I would prefer

thought, 'Here I am working to do."

with all these big, experienced Currently, Park is in Canada shooting actors in this big movie.' I just the eagerly awaited X-Men. The Marvel had to have confidence in myself mutant heroes are led by Patrick Stewart. and in my abilities. All three of Park, of course, is on the dark side of that them—Ian, Ewan and Liam force. He plays the Toad, hench-mutant to really helped me get comfortable, X-Men arch-nemesis Magneto (Sir Ian which helped me be more confi- McKellen). dent." At the end of The Phantom Menace, Park knew going into the film Darth Maul winds up sliced in two by Obi- that Darth Maul would die, but he Wan (McGregor), which would seem to pre- didn't know for certain that another clude Park from appearing in Episode 11 or actor would provide the character's ///. And indeed Lucas has said that Maul is voice. On the set. Park was miked for Sure, Darth Maul Is one tough villain, dead and gone, a situation that spurs Sidious sound, but Lucas ultimately hired Peter but Park admits he "was nervous" about on the search for a new apprentice. Chances his acting debut. "I didn't want to look Serafmowicz to utter Darth Maul's dia- are, though, that Gillard will return as stunt stupid." Not to worry, red guy. logue. "I think the voice is excellent," coordinator on the prequels, and there's no Park says, evincing no displeasure. reason why he couldn't turn to Park for help '"Peter did a great job. His voice really the reasons I started with martial arts," he with the stunts. "Nick and I have spoken about suits the part. My voice may not have notes. "Also, my dad was a big fan of movies. that," Park acknowledges, "but I'm not too sure

been nght. I'm not bothered about it. It's We watched a lot of martial arts and SF it'll happen. Actually, I'm not too sure myself not a big speaking part anyway. It would movies. I saw Star Wars when I was about because, as I say, I would like to do more act- have felt really good to do everything, but seven years old. It was one of the first movies I ing. I want to carry on with my acting career,

I acted the role and I did the physical saw after we moved to London. I got all the but it's a possibility."

action, so it's me." action figures. I was a big fan. My dad cried Besides, that's all so far, far away. For now. when he saw the trailer for The Phantom Men- Park just wants to bask in the glow of life as the Knight Moves ace. He hasn't seen the movie yet and I'm latest villain in the Star Wars Universe. "It's I get a little Bom in and raised in England, dying for him to see it. just mind-blowing. Now and again, Park always planned to pursue a career as a "Anyway, I was into movies and martial crunch inside. I get really excited, but I try not thespian. He insists that he was just three arts. My heroes were lackie Chan, Arnold to lose my head about it," Ray Park concludes. years old when the interest in acting over- Schwarzenegger and Jet Li. : "It really, really is overwhelming, though. The 'You're Park! came him. But it wasn't until Park was a Annihilation was my break. It was where I response I get is amazing. Ray teenager that he figured he could parlay his learned about the industry. Before I got that, I You play Darth Maul! Wow...' And some peo- impressive physical presence into performing was going to set up a gym and teach full-time. ple treat me like some kind of icon. I'm like. " opportunities. "My wanting to act was one of I met people on the film. I got to perform 'Hey, It's just me. r m just Ray.'

54 SIA'RLOG/Decemher 1 999 These lithographs, magnificent examples of film artThave been signed by Ralph McQuarrie, the original production artist and numbered in a Limited Edition of only 2,500. They come matted and ramed with a still from the-sequence ictured in the lithograph and a light- ed one-of-a-kind (no two are alikei) 70mm film eel from the actual movie scene. Batteries not included. Lithographs measure 18" x 12".

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11 landing in line for popcorn at a Binks in Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom man. "George made a movie for kids. That was Manhattan movie theater, actor Menace. "That's a pretty nice feeling." always the idea, and they love it. Jar Jar is not Ahmed Best finds himself rec- gay. I didn't play him as a gay character and ognized by a dozen or so peo- A Star's war George didn't ask me to play him as gay. His ple. One by one, they come By now, well after the debut of The Phan- voice is just a voice. He's not Jamaican or any- over to him to offer greetings, tom Menace, Best is something of a celebrity. thing else like that. He's a Gungan; he's from shake his hand or request an But—and this is a big but—he's also a light- Otta Gunga. That's just how he speaks, it's just autograph. Best obliges them aU graciously. "I ning rod for criticism. Phantom Menace bash- the voice I came up with." guess because I've been doing so much public- ers gleefully point to Jar Jar as representative A few weeks earlier, while chatting in a ity for the movie, people are starting to recog- of everything they perceive as wrong with hotel suite. Best appeared to nize me as me," says a rather bemused Best, George Lucas' Star Wars prequel. A fan asks sense that not everyone appreciated either the who, of course, is the human behind Jar Jar him about it. "It's nonsense," Best tells the film or his performance. He was eager to talk,

56 STAm^OG/December 1999 AS mm JAR JAR, AHMEQ BESTiS 6UM&AN m FOR IflC

He's no Chewbacca, but Best points out that Jar Jar was a labor of love not to be dismissed. "He wasn't just a cartoon character," says the actor.

deal of respect was paid to the character's cre- ation." Jake Lloyd, who surely knows from Phan- tom Menace criticism, contended from the beginning that Lucas created a film for chil- dren, and that some adults don't realize that,

refijse to accept it or are incapable of tapping into their inner kid. Best pretty much concurs.

"Most adults are taking it too seriously," he comments. "When people slag on The Phan- excited about The Phantom Menace, but also going to do a completely digital animation tom Menace, it's like, 'What do they expect? protective of it, as well as Lucas, Jar Jar and character that looks like a Hve-action character What are you looking for?' Jar Jar is for the himself. and is voiced by a live-action actor.' That's not kids. He was created to balance off Darth Maul "What really hasn't been explored in all of easy to do. [Ray Park]. Darth Maul and Jar Jar are proba- this is how serious I am about the character. "People can come out of the movie think- bly the two extremes in the movie. I know

Some people look at Jar Jar as this novelty act, ing whatever they think about it. They're pass- many adults want to pick it apart, but if they're that he's just there to get the laugh," Best ing judgment on all of these different aspects doing that, then they're missing the point." argues. "That's just disrespectful to George, to of it, but many of them don't realize that a lot OK, enough of the negative stuff for a me and to everybody involved in the film. Jar of work went into Jar Jar, that many people's moment. Time to revisit Best's casting, the Jar was probably one of the most complicated lives went into Jar Jar. He wasn '/just a cartoon movie's making and the creation of Jar Jar. The characters ever to be created in movie history. character scribbled onto a piece of paper. A lot process began nearly three years ago, when It was the first time somebody had said, 'I'm of work and money went into him and a great San Francisco-based casting director Robin

STARLOG/Decem&er 1999 57 For Best, The Phantom Menace he knew, too, that he ulti- was the thrill ride of the centur Though would And he's ready to go again. mately be replaced by CGI, Best nonetheless performed as any actor would on any set. Lucas directed him as such and Best's co- stars, including Lloyd, Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, treated him as such. "I even wore a costume that made me look exactly like the character does in the movie, aside from the ears and the neck," he explains. "The arms were made of foam latex. They had the same design, the same flesh tone and fingers. The costume was made out of leather; it's the same thing Jar Jar has on in the movie. I would do scenes with the actors in rehearsal and then shoot them with the actors. Then, I would go back to the bench and George would do shots without me in them, too. The costume got pretty hot, especially when we were in Tunisia, but I survived." Best's voice, unlike Park's, also survives in the film. "I was very happy they decided to use me, but I always knew they would use my voice," he says. "I just had to convince

them. I guess I did a good job of it. It was always in the back of my mind that they

wouldn't use it. That's reality, but it didn't stop me from doing the best I could do. And

then they used it."

Jar Jar Cist As seriously as Best took his tasks, he never got into the mindset of an aUen. And for a most interesting reason. "Jar Jar's mind- set isn't really alien," he notes. "The people who are the aliens in the movie, especially for Jar Jar, are the Jedi. After all, they're on his planet." And, yes. Best enjoyed playing Jar Jar. "I "JAR JAR WAS PROBABLV ONE OF TKE like how Jar Jar is so personable and how the other characters like him so much. Sometimes MOST COMPLICATED CHARACTERS EVER he's a bit much for people, but there's always a moment where the characters go, 'Oh, he's TO BE CREATED IN MOVIE HISTORV." sweet.' It's nice. George had me play Jar Jar to the extremes. Sometimes I thought it was a lit- Gurland caught Best performing in a local pro- are, out there. I tried to approach Jar Jar as a tle over the top, but George said, 'It's perfect.' duction of the percussive stage show Stomp. personal character. It was more than a sur- And he's the guy. He's the one sitting behind She instantly realized that Best—who was prise—it was a shock that they cast me in the the camera, seeing everything. He created the bom in New York City and considers himself a movie. I had no idea, no inkling. I had no moti- character, so if he says, 'It's right,' it's right." singer-dancer-actor, or better put, a "per- vation, even, to seek out this movie in any way, That's true. Perhaps even too true. Millions former"—could bring to Jar Jar the right blend shape or form. After I got it, I just knew it of fans loved The Phantom Menace and it of energy, movement, dexterity and good would be cool." made a mint at the box office worldwide, but humor. "Stomp is very different from The Phantom Menace, in terms of what I do as a performer," he says. "Stomp was an incredible training ground. You could

try anything. If it worked, if it got a reac-

tion, you swam, and if it didn't, you sank. So, I learned how to play off peo- ple.

"In doing The Phantom Menace, I looked at George as the audience. I just bounced ideas off of him. Stomp was also a very personal show. It's very much about putting your personality, who you

Best is shocked by some fans' critical reaction to The Phantom Menace. "Many adults want to picl< it apart," he notes. "They're missing the point."

58 STARLOG/Decemherl999 —

Hold on, folks, Jar Jar's wild performance makes for a bumpy ride even for Best. "Sometimes," lie says, "I

ttiouglit it was a little over the top."

many Star Wars aficionados were, to say the least, disappointed. And many of the disen-

chanted scorned Jar Jar. "I don't take it per- sonally as a criticism of my performance," Best explains. "I performed to the best of my ability. Overall, the film is George's vision. So, I have a certain amount of distance from

it. I can remove myself from it. The kind of

person I am, though, I really don't listen to

what other people have to say, unless it's good." And Best has only good things to say

about The Phantom Menace. "The first time I

saw it, I was so jazzed just to look at it that it all went by really fast. I was primarily looking at

myself," he admits, "so I really didn't take in the whole thing. The second time, I was more relaxed. Oh, and the first night I was sitting next to Harrison Ford and his family. That flipped me out. He was on the edge of his seat. So I was bugging out, because I was looking at the movie and looking at Harrison Ford. I'm watching Episode I and was right

there. I didn't talk to him afterward, but I "JARJARISFOR THEKIOS: talked to his wife [E.T. screenwriter Melissa

Mathison] and kids. They really enjoyed it. She Gungans only appearXo be flop-eared, awkward primitives. They, like other aliens in the leaned over and said, 'You were wonderful.' I Star Wars Universe, actually help save the day. was like, 'Thank you!'

'The second time, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bottom line, did Jar Jar and It was everything that Star Wars was supposed The Phantom Menace meet to be: great action, great story, great effects. It Best's expectations? "It was just sucks you in. And it gets going Uke that everything that Star Wars was supposed to be," he affirms. [snapping his fingers, bam-bam-bam], so fast.

Whether or not it lives up to all the hype, I per- sonally don't care. It lived up to it for me, and that's good enough. Star Wars is a very person- al thing. Some people aren't going to like it.

Some people are going to love it. Personally, I loved it, and not just because I was in it." Just like Ford, Best can lay claim to being an action figure. And that's also a huge kick. "I have a bunch of them," he enthuses. "It's really cool, because most of them have my voice. Of course, they don 't look Uke me. I wish they had at least one Jar Jar doll where you could pull off the head and it would look Hke me. They have yet to do that, though, and I'm not really expecting them to do it. There are just so many look," he jokes. "But I saw me, so I was pretty working with George and with everyone else, of the toys out there. There are Jar Jar dolls. Jar excited. I was at ILM shooting some stuff and and I loved the character, so I definitely would

Jar slippers. Jar Jar heads and all of this Jar Jar they were shooting all of these extras who were like to be a part of it if they want me to be." stuff. The Jar Jar Super Salad is the craziest playing senators. They asked me if I wanted to Right now, though. Best is thinking more thing I've heard of yet." be a senator I said, 'Yeah, sure!' Of course, I about his future beyond Star Wars. "I want to wish they had done a close-up of me, but I do more theater. I definitely want to do some Times of Best guess you can't have everything." music," Ahmed Best concludes. "I've been Actually, Best does turn up as Best in The Best doesn't know yet if he'll be back on working on an album, and putting my music Phantom Menace. During the ornate Senate board for Episode II, which begins lensing in out there is a matter of finding the right music sequence in which Queen Amidala (Portman) Australia next summer. It seems likely, howev- company. And I hope there are some more demands a no-confidence vote. Best appears in er, as Lucas has said publicly that he intends to movies in my future. the lower left comer of the screen as a Senator feature Jar Jar in the subsequent adventure. "I "I hope there's more of everything in my "It's hard to see unless you know where to hope I get to do it again," Best says. "I liked future." ^ STAm^OG/December 1999 59 sa-FJ sEMSATiarusi

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By KIM HOWARD JOHNSON

Goddard has been bitten really set kids' Danielby eagles, gnawed on by fer- minds free." i rets, pawed by tigers. He has Bom in Sydney,

I also been covered with Australia, Goddard to to f cockroaches, spiders, mag- went America gots and snakes. The Aus- further his show tralian-bom actor realizes, business career

however, that it's just all in a day's after appearing in work for the BeastMaster, the hero he plays in the Australian TV the new syndicated TV series based on Andre soap opera Home Norton's novel The Beast Master. and Away, fronical-

Goddard is Dar, last surviving man of his ly, when he was tribe, who must search throughout a fantastic, cast in mythological realm for Kyra, his kidnapped BeastMaster, he

sweetheart. He is assisted by the members of returned to Aus- the animal kingdom, with whom he can com- tralia for lensing. municate telepathically. hi other words, he can "I was actually

talk to the animals. No wonder they call him in Florida when I BeastMaster. got the audition,

and I had to come Wild Animals back to LA," recalls

Of course, it is the animals that help set Goddard. "Meeting this series apart, and Goddard admits that Steve Feke, the working with sidekicks hke a tiger, an eagle show's creator, was and a pair of ferrets is an unforgettable experi- one of the most ence. "You don't normally get that close to a interesting things

tiger. We've got a 400-pound tiger that walks about it. As an

alongside me. If you walk too far in front of it, actor, you go in for nika tigers by nature don't like that, so they'll have a lot of auditions Schnarre, left),Tao (Jackson a good swipe at you, but it's only playing. and meet people Raine) & Kyra (Natalie Every time you're doing anything with the who treat it as just a Mendoza) make up for Dar (Daniel Goddard) the bad. animals, you have to understand that these are job. But when you the good & tlie^beautiful. wild animals. They're domesticated, but meet someone like they're instinctive, and the core of their King of the Jungle. "I'm so grateful to being is wild. pretty much have my own series," "We have a four-year-old wedgetail says BeastMaster lead Goddard. eagle that we work with, but the bottom

line is: it's an eagle, and it wants to fly

and kill everything it sees," says God- "They're generally conceived of as some dard. "They're raptors, and you can't kind of beefcake role, with long hair and really control those instincts. You always muscles. But the way BeastMaster is have to keep in mind that there are limits being done, it's almost like X-Files in the to what you can do with the animal jungle. We have storylines which are very aspect, because of its genetic coding. I've had the science fiction-like in one very ethereal in that eagle bite my fingers. It might see some Zen-Uke in another. Dar is pink on my fingers and think it's meat. he will never hurt anybody, even if he "The eagle can sit [quite peaceably] thinks they deserve it. But in order for him right for the on my arm, but if it gets startled, it has to exist, he must do what's 900 pounds per square inch of crushing jungle and nature as a whole. It's a very power per talon. You always have to have Yin-Yang relationship." a glove on when you handle the eagle, but When he was being cast, the actor

even then, if it gets shocked, it'll lock watched the furst Beastmaster film, even down and bruise through to your arm. though it has little to do with the series. "I These birds can grab baby lambs and was told I should watch it, just to get a lock onto them—they're incredibly pow- loose idea of what the program is based erful and incredibly beautiful. upon," says Goddard. "I don't really think "The ferrets have the attention span of our TV series has a direct correlation to a small child in a candy store, or worse. the movie. We want to get more of the They just want to eat, bite everything and essence of nature and balance, whereas the run around. They're out of control! They movie went for the straight-out warrior- bite you because they think, 'What's that? I'll Steve, you just know that his heart is in the job type entertainment." differs noticeably from the bite it.' I think I've been bitten by everything." and he really believes in the project. He's Goddard's Dar The actor has been a science fiction fan enthused about everything he does, and it movie Beastmaster played by Marc Singer. from boyhood. Although he enjoyed shows shows in his writing." "We're trying to ground Dar a little more and like Battlestar Galactica, his particular Dar's many facets captivated the actor. make him more accessible," Goddard says.

favorite is . "I love science fic- "You see a lot of roles like Conan and Her- "Marc did a great job with the character. The tion," Goddard says. "Shows like Doctor Who cules—very one-dimensional," says Goddard. conception of Dar in the film is that he was "

Sure, Dar gets along with his feral friends, but Goddard knows his co- stars still have a dangerous side. "You have to understand that these are vv/Vd animals," he notes.

I bom from animal. In the series, he's based on a scene, he got a big block of ice i myth about this demon called Curupira that and laid on it until he got the 1 protects animals in the Amazon, death-shakes. I just thought, c "Dar's village is wiped out because they 'Try this one, Marlon.' g didn't do their job in protecting the animals, As an actor, Goddard must I leaving Dar as the only survivor. Dar had to be treat the tiger, eagle and ferrets a put through some tests, though, to make him as though they are friends, yet

?! understand that he had the qualities to protect he can't lose sight of the fact

I, the animals in nature. From there, he was torn that they are wild animals.

apart and reassembled by the animals I II them- "The choice made, which I 0 selves. So it's a different conception. We're try- talked to the tiger's trainer g ing to make it more organic." about, is if I'm running and it Z has to chase me, when it catch- 1 Fierce Creatures es up, it will jump at me and S Despite his more deadly animal co-stars, swipe me," Goddard says. "He

5 the actor says the toughest work came with tells me that it's only playing, ig much smaller critters. "My worst experience but nevertheless, you must be 5 was in episode five, 'Demon Curupira,' which careful. So I made the choice explains how I get my powers," Goddard that every now and then when

explains. "Curupira puts me through this test the tiger does that, I'll incorpo- where I have to lie for three entire days in a hut rate the moment into the scene,

that I build. I get covered with insects, scorpi- even though it's not scripted. ons, rats, snakes and spiders. They said they And if there needs to be dia- could do a prosthetic if I wanted, but I said no, logue with the tiger, we try to

it should be fine. It would be a very Method- synchronize that with the acting, character-building experience. rest of the scene. "I had a couple of hundred cockroaches, worms, maggots and spiders, half a dozen scorpions, 25 rats and about 25 snakes on me—and the snakes decided to fight. Dar had to he there "We've

for three days, not • had takes blink and not where we have move while he undergoes all of these tests the tiger walk along, to see if he's worthy. After two days of and then stop, smell filming, I can say that I am no longer afraid something in the of spiders, insects and snakes. They went ground—where they've everywhere! They went down my shorts! buried a little piece of meat—and "The fuimiest part was, I had to have some then we move on. If the tiger hits the blood and scars on me, because I was being scene and the actor doesn't, you're in a chased by people as a child. When Dar gets his tough situation, because they'll most powers, he's 15, so I had to be 15 for this bit. likely want to use that take because the

The blood that we used was chocolate and tiger got it right. It forces you as an actor

cherry sauce. When you have chocolate and to get everything right the first time." cherry sauce on your body and then they put

insects on you, it doesn't really mix. You'll get Savage Beasts

a better idea of it when you see it. Besides the regular cast of beasts, "It was difficult lying there dead still. I guest animals will appear frequently. couldn't blink, but then I had the crew and peo- "This week, we have three huge African

ple watching. The director would say, 'All elephants," he says. "Grace Jones is right, put the cockroaches on him.' I would guest-starring as a female Zulu-like hear somebody go, 'Ugh! No!' And I would warrior who has killed every animal think, 'What's going on?' Because I couldn't around. The episode begins with her look down, I had no idea. The next thing I slaughtering three elephants by herself would know, a snake would crawl across my She has had a witch doctor give her face and sit up above my eyes, then another magical powers. So now she finds that I

one would come across and they would hiss at exist, and I would be the greatest kill, each other. I would be thinking, 'Am I really making her the greatest warrior who has doing this? Am I crazy?' I would feel some- ever walked the world. She decides to

thing biting at my leg and it would be a huge hunt me down. In other shows, we have dol- mal actors, the eagle is his favorite. "We have

burrowing cockroach, and someone would phins, sharks, cougars, wolves, bears and of two eagles," he explains. "The four-year-old is

come over and lift it off so it wouldn't burrow course, copious quantities of snakes and Bart, and the older one. Jack. Jack is less into me. I read stories about Marlon Brando insects." inclined to want to fly off or bite, so for some filming Mutiny on the Bounty—for his death Although Goddard loves the variety of ani- scenes we'll use Jack. But there's something

STARLOG/Of ember. iS99 In a fantasy world of multiple lands, the BeastWIaster combats sorcerous evil & tries to restore balance between man and nature. watched a lot of Chinese martial arts films. o> Even then, we've incorporated other fighting |2 styles into it." ^ Goddard prepared for the role in several ~ other ways—especially to get into such | sinewy shape. "I changed my diet," he says. "I

started training in a very gymnastic way, g, didn't want because the fight choreographer | me lifting weights. He said it would bind me down to movement unlike that which Dar would do, because Dar wouldn't Uft weights. I started doing push-ups, hanging from bars and stretching, to give my body the look and flexi- bility you would have if you ran, Uved in the jungle and climbed trees."

Primitive Peoples His human co-stars are a fine group, says Goddard, including Natalie Mendoza as Dar's lost love Kyra, Jackson Raine as the faithful Tao, Momka Schnarre as the Sorceress, Steven Grives as King Zad and Grahame Bond as the Ancient One.

"When I was cast back in March, we had not cast Tao," says Goddard. "I read with a lot

of people in LA, then I read with a lot of peo- ple out here [in Australia]. The guy we cast was just perfect. As soon as Jackson walked in, we said, 'That's the guy!' He and I have become very good friends, and we spend a lot **WHEn YOV HAVE CHOCOLATE AHD CHERBY of time together off-set. I'm very happy with Jackson as Tao, because the rapport we have in SAVCE on YOVILBODY AHD THEH THEY PVT life comes across on screen. You can't expect to have this camaraderie if you can't stand the insECTs on yov, iT doesh't really mix,** person in real life. Jackson and I just have a ball together

about Bart. He's this obstreperous little guy, think he isn't in on the action. "I pretty much "Grahame is an old Australian icon who

and he has bitten and clawed me, but I can't do it all. The only thing I don't do are the acro- plays the Ancient One," the actor adds. "He's help but like Bart." batics, because I'm not good enough to do perfectly cast. Natalie, the girl I'm trying to

Aside from cockroaches and spiders, God- that. I did martial arts for years, and I want find, my childhood sweetheart, is a very talent-

dard is reluctant to name the animals he cares people to know that it's basically me doing a ed stage actress, a very exotic-looking for the least. "I would like to say the ferrets, lot of the stunts. I do all of my own fight Malaysian-Spanish-AustraHan girl, and she's a because they've bitten me the most," he notes. scenes, except for the acrobatics. sweetheart as well." "But in all honesty, you look at them and "We're choreographing the fight scenes With a number of episodes completed, they're so cute, you can't help liking them. with a Chinese most of the highlights of BeastMaster involve They bit me on the neck the other day. The fer- Kung Fu instructor," the animals. "In every aspect, it has been a ret handler said that's just the way they he explains. "We're highlight, because whenever the tiger comes are—never take it personally. They see trying to re-invent on set, everyone not immediately involved in something and the wheel by design- the scene has to go into a cage in case some- they want to ing a fighting style based thing goes wrong," he explains. "I get to stand

bite it. solely on animals. The attacks next to the tiger and scratch its head and walk

are either snake, eagle, tiger or with it. To be able to have an eagle leave your crocodile attacks. You'll never see a arm, flying, and land back on your arm is an punch thrown or any conventional form incredible feeling. It's just so majestic and "I'm talking to the of martial arts. It makes us proud, because honorable. ferrets. So I have them the fighting style is dynamic, powerful and "On the whole, I'm so grateful to pretty near my mouth, I lower very good visually." much have my own series. As an actor, you them down, and one just BeastMaster sees Dar carrying a club endure so much and do everything you can to locks onto me. It has me by the instead of a sword, which Goddard has learned get where you want to go. I'm thankful every

skin of the neck, and I'm trying to pull it off. to use quite well. "In the movie. Marc Singer day that I'm here, that I get to have this chance.

I'm pulling and pulUng, still trying to do the uses a sword, but my Dar has a staff that he Some people might think that sounds corny, scene, but in my brain I'm thinking, 'Daniel, carved from a dead whale or large mammal," but until you've really put everything you have why are you still trying to do the scene? You says Goddard. "There's a blade on one end and into something that pays off—^you have to be can't have the ferret chewing you to death!' a knot of bone on the other I trained for about grateful for it," Daniel Goddard concludes, Then the director went, 'Cut.' I was thinking six weeks, so we got the staff movements "I'm out in the jungle in the middle of the day, he could have cut a Mttle earlier!" down to an art. It looks pretty impressive. getting paid to hang out with the animals and

The actor is happy to do most of his own When you attack with it, it's like something have a great time. I'm really trying to not take stunts and fights—and doesn't want anyone to you haven't seen before unless you've it all too seriously and to just enjoy myself." ^

.64 S'\:'\\U.OG/D('iciiiher I'm '

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GNPD8057 .CD GUPD 8052 CS/EnhancedCD ' GNPD 8041 " CS/CD,.' GNPD'8022. CS/CD GNPD 8040 CS/CD' GNPD 8034 CS/CD Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Original Mof/on Picture Soundtrack EMMY WInnsr Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Original^Motion Picture SoundtrsSk ' Original Te}evision Soundtradk II . STJIH THEK STAR trek STAR TReR STAR TREK STAR TREK . STAR TREK VOYAOeR The Wrath of Khan GjENERATIONS, DEEP SPACE NINE • FIRST CONTACf" Music Musib ^Vfi^^rr^" t^usic By Jay Chattaway By James Hornet Music By Oennis MgCarthy By.Dennis McCarthy ' * ^'^'^^ Music • Goldsmith ' 'iS By^erry Theme by,JerTy Goldsmrtti Includes Sound FX .

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J

grails And she spelunks, / unljoly too. Grant understands that damsels in distress

don't cut it today, 1i and welcomes "feminine, sexy and smart" Carrere as Relic Himter. the show's lead.

(^H il Grant may bear the title etc., etc.—it really is a buddy show. Sydney FOX Hunting ^ "executive consultant" on the and Nigel go on these adventures together, Buddies they may be, but Sydney leads the syndicated TV series Relic which makes it more of a relationship show. I way, exemplifying once more the appeal of the Hunter, which stars Tia Car- could put these two people in anything—they action heroine. Xena, La Femme Nikita and rare and Christien Anholt, could be in a detective show—but it just hap- that virtual vixen from the interactive video H but he is very much the show's pens to be a light action-adventure." game Tomb Raider, Lara Croft, have all helped .W creator. If he does solidify the genre's popularity. With flashlight in one hand and Nigel not have a corre- — "Obviously, there's a market eating out of the other—Sydney hunts sponding title, it's because the co- for it," notes Grant. "Both women history. But to be fair, Nigel pulls his production's stipulations rule that and men like to see someone like weight, and gets to her occasionally, too. out. Grant took the suggestion of Tia in action because it's sexy. Canadian Fireworks president Jay Firestone and developed a show with Carrere as a female Indiana ^^^^ Jones. "Jay [executive producer along with Adam Haight] came up with the initial idea, and I put flesh on those buns," explains Grant. "Tia was a given, but Christien was a real i surprise, because I didn't know he Women like seeing women doing did comedy. I saw him in a serious their own thing without relying on role in the British mini-series The men—someone in control but still Black Heath Poisonings, but he and very feminine. Tia is clearly femi- other actors who tested for the part nine, sexy and smart." had comic scenes to read—and he Grant doesn't see Relic Hunter has real comedic timing. Tia and as sexy fantasy adventure fluff, but Christien work really well together." as brainy, fun entertainment. Syd-

Although the adventures of Syd- ney's backstory, for example, is ney Fox (Carrere), history professor about "a girl who grew up travel- and relic hunter extraordinaire, and ing all over the world with her Nigel Bailey (Anholt), her teaching father, a civil engineer who built assistant and partner in retrieval, are dams and bridges in exotic locales. clearly inspired by the Indiana She [matured around] many cul- Jones films. Grant firmly believes tures and civilizations. Sydney that his show could stand on its agrees to search for ancient relics own, even without that debt. partly because she appreciates "It's a buddy show," he explains. them—she loves the history "Even though Tia is the star, and they're embedded in—and partly therefore the reason we're all because she has sympathy for here—her cachet, her star appeal, those who seek her help in getting

ecember 1999 action series episodes is daunt- ing. She's very physical, she knows martial arts and she has done physical parts in other movies, so she's credible from the athletic standpoint. "She's also part Asian, so there's an exotic element to her, [which works since] the con- cept of an adventurer who goes around the world is exotic. Everything came together for this—it seemed natural. It's i: heightened reality, like Indiana Jones or The Mummy. It's big-

these relics. Finally, she gets ger than life, and it has that Sat- involved because the univer- urday serial feel. We deal with sity assigns some jobs to fantasy, with relics that have her." myths and legends attached to The latter reason, them—and even a certain according to Grant, enables supernatural element. Some- the show's writers to "bring times that element can be in characters Sydney would explained away, and sometimes not ordinarily get teamed up not, so you just have to go on with—an arrogant, young, faith. hot baseball player who had "In one episode called 'The a downturn in his career Headless Nun,' a nun, behead- donates money to the uni- ed by a pirate many years ago, versity to find a baseball [returns to haunt a monastery]. glove. The government itself They find her bones, see her Extra credit. Though basically coerces her in one body and hear her voice. Our she's a worldly, darir 1*1 episode to go into the Peru- relic hunters witness appari- adventurer, Sydney vian jungle to find scrolls tions at night in the fog at the is also a dedicated about transmutation—turn- scholar who's always monastery. It could be the nun's ing lead into gold. curious about curios. beheaded body, but then it "She's intelligent and might not be. familiar with various cul- "In another episode, we tures, reacting with intu- have a gun that Al Capone ition. Nigel, on the other allegedly killed a man with,

hand, is book smart, but and then used to frame an not street smart. He [has no innocent guy. That guy's real life experience] and grandson begs Sydney to

gets all of his knowledge help him find the gun from reading." Sydney, for because it will clear his all her sophistication, "is name. They search a hotel unlucky in love—this exot- in Chicago where Capone ic, classically beautiful once occupied the top three woman should be able to floors, and they discover get a date with anybody, secret tunnels underneath and she has had many the hotel." dates, but she can't seem to Grant also mentions the Sydney's not a make it last. That's an episode about the lost base- mercenary. In "The ongoing character frustra- ball glove that once Smoking Gun," for belonged to "Smiling" tion, her tragic flaw." example, she agrees Jimmy Johnson, and that to help a man locate rumored to have magic Tokpn a weapon in order to was Appreciation clear his powers; a sword of a popu- Does that mean that grandfather's name. lar French order, also with Sydney is likely to seek supposed powers; and Elvis solace in Nigel's arms? In a word: doubtful. "I don't want to admit to, I don't foresee them Presley's guitar, which the legendary singer wanted to cast two people who like each other, getting together." gave a musician while serving in Germany. who have chemistry between them and who Carrere was an integral and established The man kept playing the guitar after all those sometimes find themselves physically close show element, and Grant feels that the actress years, but pawned it to pay for his child's birth.

together in awkward, sexually charged situa- has what it takes to have a series tailored Later on, when he wants to give it to his rock-

tions. That charge isn't acted upon, but it's the around her talents. "She has a great sense of er kid, the guitar has vanished. idea to let the audience say, 'Come on, humor, very wry," he points out, "and from the "It's this mixture of pop culture elements Sydney, look what you have right by physical standpoint, she's very athletic and and myth," says Grant, "that makes coming up your side!' So, although there's an does many of her own stunts. We have her do with ideas so much fun. A relic, after all, can unspoken attraction that even they less and less because the wear and tear in 22 be anything—it's in the eye of the beholder." Every episode, adds Grant, starts with a "flashback that shows an important moment in the relic's past—how it got lost or stolen, and then we snap into present-day, as

i Sydney gets the mission

1 to retrieve it."

Since he oversees "all aspects of the produc- I

'. tion," Grant works with the writers, adding his input into the various sto- rylines. Because of the production deal, the show is shot in Toronto (16 episodes) and Paris (six episodes). "We picked Toronto because we need- ed to replicate different American and Euro- pean locations. I went to Vancouver &st, but it's too new a city. Toronto made perfect sense;

other shows use it for New York a lot. It has many old buildings, ethnic neighborhoods. We've been able to turn Toronto into Nepal, the jungles of Peru, Switzerland and Mexico. "The good news about shooting in France is that, unlike some series where suddenly they have to invent reasons to go to Europe, we go to a different part of the world every episode. We will shoot the university parts of the story before we leave for France, so we'll have the campus look when Sydney gets the assign- ment, and then we just marry that to the French episodes. And while we're in France, we won't just be shooting episodes that take place there,

we'll duplicate it as Italy and other European locations." Cape Crusader For Grant, fun and hard work go hand in hand when doing a series. In this respect. Relic Hunter isn't all that different from The Cape, the space program-theraed series Grant exec- produced for MTM.

"On The Cape," he recalls, "it and Jamie Lee Curtis in her first role.

was interesting to actually shoot a Then I moved to LA and did Eight is

real orbiter at the Kennedy Space Enough, and that's when I started Center. In hindsight, the show didn't developing my own shows." quite know what it was—it was syn- Grant, whose credits also include dicated, but probably should have the series Covington Cross and The been a network show. Because we Oldest Rookie, enjoys working in the had a big cast, you wanted to get to entertainment business. "I try to do know those characters, and you things that interest me and not just needed the platform of a specific for the buck—although you do that at time slot on a network with a big times to pay the rent. I'm lucky that audience so that you could develop Adventures' I've done not only detective shows, those relationships. Otherwise, we await the reli(^ but also a high school musical, a couldn't decide whether we were hunters. But toj Medieval drama, a space show, so it doing 'mission of the week' or a per- say exactly] has been all over the place. /hat would ruini sonal story. "I just want to work," he con- the story.' "Relic Hunter is much easier to cludes. "I love the process of starting figure out," he continues. "The off on new shows, as difficult as they vision is clearer, and it's an easier show to exe- been, we would have been renewed, because are. I would love to have a hit that runs for five cute. Still, The Cape was a lot of fun. I don't our numbers weren't that bad." years, but just to do the work is already a plea- mean to denigrate it at all; I was very fond of it. Grant, a Tucson, Arizona native, majored in sure. Nobody sets out to do a bad show, so, as But we were also hampered by the fact that English and creative writing, and began work- I've always said, let's at least try to have a good

MTM was being sold. I'm sure if it hadn't ing for local affiliate still a NBC while a sta- time while we're doing them." . . . .

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By IAN SPELLING

cene #44 of "Alice," the sixth episode of Star Trek: Robert Voyager's, sixth season, is not going smoothly. The director, David Livingston, intends for a hand-held Ehmcan Steadicam to glide back and forth between Tom Paris (McNeill) and B'E- McNein lanna Torres (Roxann Daw- son) as they argue while walking through a Voyager corridor. But it's not quite work- is stin ing as imagined. Livingston, a noted perfec- tionist, confers with his camera operator and the Ughting crew and ttiey try the scene again. Still not right. McNeill then offers a suggestion

as to how he might move as he utters his lines. Livingston nods his head in the affirmative as McNeill speaks. It still requires a few more tries, but Livingston eventually has his shot in loose the can and McNeill runs off to the makeup trailer to be prepared for his next shot.

It's suggested to McNeill while he is being made up that Livingston listened to him as phaser. much for his thoughts as a director as he did for In directing, lUlcNeill has discovered a grand vocation. far, his reasoning as an actor. McNeill, who has If there's a problem on the set, yeah, it has def- new So he has called the shots on three Voyagers. called the shots on "Sacred Ground," "Unity" initely helped that I've observed directors and and "Someone to Watch Over Me," smiles. directed myself. If I'm asked, I can sometimes ting back to the Alpha Quadrant will become "That's nice," he says. "It may actually be a lit- help solve the problem." more and more reaUstic as we go on this year. tle bit true, too, even though I try not to talk More on directing later For now, it's time We'll probably have more contact with things like a director to a director from home as we get when I'm not directing. closer. That has already There are those actors who started to happen. Just will tell the director what look at 'Equinox, I & H.' to do and have lots of opin- We'll probably see more ions, and I try not to do too rogue ships and other much of that. My feeUng is people. For my character, that when I'm not direct- we did talk a little bit ing, whoever is directing about using his love of has done his homework the 20th century more | and is coming in with often. People seemed to ^ many thoughts and ideas 1 enjoy Captain Proton and | may not know about, and that whole storyline. I ^ he wants me to listen as an don't know if we'll see o actor. more of Captain Proton | "So, I just try to do the or not, but there's a lot of one job that I'm doing, fun we can have in Star which is acting. I really Trek time to bring the embrace that. I find it dis- present time into that tracting as an actor some- world." times to think too much Viewers didn't see all about where the camera is that much of Paris during going or technical what other things are hap- to discuss season six of Voyager. "They really the fifth season. And when they did, it felt as if pening. I really try to not do that, although I haven't told me what to expect this year, either it were merely for the occasional quick like directing and I want to direct more—and for the show or for Tom Paris. It seems to me," moment with paramour Torres. "You know maybe because some people see me a Uttle bit notes McNeiU, "that I don't know much more what's interesting? I only had one episode that as a director or at least know I have some expe- than the audience about it, but we're definitely you could really call a 'Tom Paris episode,' and rience, it sneaks out when I'm on the set acting. getting closer to home. I think the idea of get- that was 'Thirty Days,' but I actually had a lot

STARLOG/Detcmfecr 1999 73 rank, though, I don't think you'll see too many

repercussions. What it does, I think, is give us the opportunity to see him earn back his rank as Lieutenant. That's an appropriate rank for Paris, just in the big picture. It's about right, in terms of his life's experiences, his attitude. He has been around long enough to warrant that rank. An Ensign rank suggests that he's a little more naive, younger or inexperienced than he

really is. "The episode was very dramatic. It had a lot of action. The special FX were great. All the stuff in the brig was added at the very end.

It was not in the original script. The episode ran so short that they had to add about 10 min-

utes to it. So they went back, reconceived the whole show and sort of book-ended it with

these scenes in the brig. That gave it a lot more

depth than it originally had and made it a much better show." Fans might also point to "Course; ObUv- ion" as another fairly big Paris episode. That was the one in which Paris and B'Elanna to do last year as the buddy of the character appeared to have gotten married. Though who had the A-story," McNeill notes. "That entertaining, the hour was a great tease, question: McNeill was OK, too. I was here at Paramount a which begs the Does writer-producers have lot and I did a great deal of work. It's think the Voyager rela- one of the things I like most about done right by the Paris-B'Elanna Paris. He mixes well with just about tionship? everybody on the ship. If you put him "I've been OK with it," he responds. with Harry Kim [Garrett Wang], you "Early on, I always thought that Tom have the two young guys, the best Paris would be a character like Riker or friends, the buddies. If you put him even Captain Kirk, with the babe of the with Tuvok [Tim Russ], you've got a month. And I think he has been the great opposites thing going on, which least like those guys. That stems from is good for a lot of humor. If you put the fears that the writer/producers had him with Neelix [Ethan Phillips] initially about this rebel character being who's so nervous and always wanting too unattractive if he appeared to be a to please everyone, you get to see how womanizer. He already had other qualities different an attitude Paris has. "It's the same with all of the characters, and that worked very well last year. Even in the show I directed last season, 'Someone to

"Paris-and I, actually-are si ttying to accept his demotion."

Watch Over Me,' I had a lot of scenes with To McNeill's Seven of Nine [Jeri Ryan] and the Doctor relief, Voyager

[Robert Picardo], I was so focused on direct- has not focused on the soap ing the episode that I didn't even worry much opera aspects about my scenes as an actor. When I saw the of the Paris- whole show cut together, it was some of my Torres affair. favorite work I've done as an actor on Voyager. But even he I was just so distracted by being the director isn't sure that as an actor I was relaxed. Even [executive what's ahead producer] Rick Berman called me and said, T for the young

didn't want to cut a minute of the show, and it lovers. was some of your best work as an actor.' I said, 'Maybe you should have me direct all the and attempted to shows, and then I'll be briUiant as an actor all torpedo a refinery that was depleting an ocean of its oxygen. For that might be unattractive, so they didn't want his major indiscretion. Captain Janeway (Kate to throw womanizer onto that Ust, too. They've Ensign in Love Mulgrew) put Paris in the brig and busted him been very careful about that. I think that's one McNeill's big moment last year down to the rank of Ensign. "He really got it of the reasons they hooked him up with B'E- came in "Thirty Days," the Rick good," McNeill jokes. "Janeway came down lanna. It makes him seem more mature and Kolbe-directed hour in which hard on him. Paris—and I, actually—are still committed. Paris ignored orders trying to accept his demotion. Beyond the "I would have liked to have played out "

When you go to more stories with guest star interstellar war—or even characters that had more possi- just holo-WWII—it's bilities. Once you start doing it always nice to have a with a series regular, you have Borg on your side. to be careful. Every step has to

be really thought through. Are lot, Uke Jonathan and LeVar. we going to commit to this? That would be nice." How do we deal with this later As McNeill's makeup on? What are the repercussions man applies some final of keeping them together? Of touches, the young children breaking them up? of a Voyager staffer step into

"I don't know exactly what the makeup trailer. The actor they're going to do with the makes pleasant small talk relationship this year. I do with the two kids for a few know that Rick and Brannon moments before they leave. Braga both feel that to follow the relationship like a soap

opera is not a good thing to do. I agree with that. They only want to use the relationship

when it applies to a specific

episode. What I mean is that

they want it to come out of the story. We don't want to just go into a Paris-B'Elanna scene for

its own sake, just to say, 'Well, how are the lovers doing this week?' Commander with Camera And now back to directing, which McNeill yearns to do again. As soon as possible, in Homeward bound? fact. He's not currently lined McNeill believes Voyager Is definitely getting ! up to step back behind the Voy- closer to Earth. ager camera, but hopes the powers-that-be will find an I The encounter gets McNeill episode for him later this sea- 1 musing out loud about his son. "I've done three i shows so own children and how Voy-

: far and I'm very proud of ager is as much a part of them," he says. "They all their lives as it is of his. His Resisting the temptation, turned out really well. I think McNeill often just acts instead comments are an appropri- everybody has enjoyed it when of dispensing directorial advice ate epilogue, once more I've directed. / enjoyed it when to colleagues. "I just try to do reflecting his love of direct- I directed. Star Trek has given the one job," he says. ing. "My kids are so used to many people the opportunity to their Daddy being on Voy-

direct and to produce, to ager that I think they're expand their careers beyond going to be in for a shock acting. You can go back to sure 111 direct again Fm when it stops," Robert Dun- Leonard Nimoy and then can McNeill comments. you've got Jonathan Frakes, of before the series^ endL" "My son was bom just a few course, and LeVar Burton and months before the show half the casts of Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Those familiar with McNeill's career know started, so he doesn't know anything except There are lot politics a of involved. They have that he takes directing very seriously. His base- Daddy doing Star Trek. My daughter, who is to be careful that it doesn't get out of hand. So, baU-themed fihn short, "The Battery," has been nine, has a vague memory of my life before

they've been very supportive of me directing, well-received on the film festival circuit. He's Voyager, when I was like most actors, going but also very careful. also branching out into producing and recently from one project to another and going on loca- "They want everyone to feel comfortable sold a TV movie idea to Paramount and UPN. tion. with it. They don't want too many actors That idea is now Monster, which will probably "I did a lot of theater, too, and was in New directing too many episodes because it affects air early next year. "I found the script and sold York City quite a bit, for months at a time, the scheduling. But who knows? Just like it to Paramount with the intention of directing though I usually had her and my wife with me. Jonathan and LeVar, I would love to come back it. We couldn't work out the dates for me to It was a different kind of a life, much more of a and direct Star another Trek series. At that direct because it's shooting now in Australia vagabond-Gypsy Ufe. So, it will be interesting point, I would be more free in terms of getting and I have to be here. I'm producing that and to see what happens when Voyager does end. directing slots, not to mention my schedule am trying to sell UPN on other ideas. I think That's another reason that directing is so easier. would be I'm sure I'll direct again UPN and, hopefully, other people reahze that I appealing to me. There's a little more stability. the before series' end, but I'm not sure when. want to do more than just act. Who knows? In a weird way, you're a bit higher up on the Obviously, I would love to do one this season Maybe by the end of all this, I'll have my own food chain. You also get in on the process early and one next, it's but out of my hands." production company here on the Paramount and stay there until it's done." -Jw

STARI-OdZ/'ncv;//','/ T?, With a virtual nod & an alternate quip, Pat Cadigan rules.

Queen of Cyberpunk?" Pat was paying more than I had ever gotten for close to my Aunt Loretta. She was like anoth- Cadigan smiles. "Well, actu- anything, and it wasn't paying a fortune. But it er parent, and when she died, after we had ally I'm Queen of Cyberpunk was just the most fun I've had in public work- taken care of her through a long illness, we

only because I couldn't convince anyone ing with my clothes on." had the wake, an open-casket affair. The that Queen of the Universe was a much What would she like to tell us about work- undertaker didn't use a very good wig on her

better title. A journalist interviewed me for ing in public with her clothes off? She laughs, and also bought the wrong kind of dress—it the woman's section of The Guardian [a "I'm afraid that's another interview." was very elaborate and lacy. But my aunt British newspaper] in 1994, and she said overdressed for everything. She worked in this about me without my having to throw a steel factory and you would have thought

hints. I didn't even have to play charades she was a showgirl going to work. So we with her. You know, sounds Uke 'queen.' looked down at her in the cofFm and final- [She pantomimes wearing a crown.] But ly I said, 'At least she's overdressed.' To

'cyberpunk' is too hard to mime. It's not which my mother rephed, 'Thank God for something I can do when I'm sober that.' That was what our life was like. "I take no responsibiUty for the acco- That's how it always was. lade except that I'm tickled to death that "My grandfather used to do this thing they said it about me. Every time I see it, I with his seven kids where he would buy chuckle madly to myself. I have to go out them all desserts. As soon as the kids sat every so often and have someone beat me down, he would push their faces into the desserts. Then he would buy seven more By ANNE CAY & STAN NICHOLLS that they could actually eat. That just about sums up my comer of the gene pool.

up to bring me back to Earth. Fortunately, As far as my DNA-bearers are concemed, lampshade that's not hard—daily life is a humbling there's a chromosome with a experience. When people are rude to me on it somewhere up the Une. I don't think in the supermarket, they're being rude to if a thousand wild savages were coming the Queen of Cyberpunk now, not just any towards me to kill me, I would make a old person." wisecrack. I would probably wet my pants Bom in Schenectady, New York, Cadi- and scream. But I've been in situations gan grew up in Fitchburg, Missouri, where you're not supposed to laugh, only attending the University of Kansas after the situation seems so funny I can't help high school, but now she calls London, it." England home. Cadigan's work has principally been m for the dark and gritty reahn of cyberpunk, an Though Cadigan is best known her Enter the artificial reality of Pat Cadigan's stunning popularized by William Gib- punchy, intricately plotted SF short stories novel, Tea from an Empty Cup. She's the Queen of SF sub-genre and novels, her books have all received Cyberpunk. son in such works as Neuromancer and varying degrees of critical acclaim—from "Johnny Mnemonic," which made cyber- her debut, Mindplayers (1987), to the more Virtual Author space and virtual reaUty famiUar terms. She's recent Synners and Fools. Both of these, in Humor is an ingredient of all Cadigan's also a Visiting Scholar attached to the Cyber- fact, won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, making work, even if only a glint of Ught intrudes in netic Research Unit at the University of War- her the only author to walk off with this pres- an otherwise dark narrative. She's witty when wick in England. So what is it about VR and tigious best-of-the-year prize twice. Her latest she gives public readings, too, or engages in the new technologies that interests her so novel. Tea from an Empty Cup, is also garner- interviews, where wisecracks regularly punc- much? Cadi- ing its share of critical plaudits. tuate the flow. "It's something that started "Everything about it interests me," Cadigan's devotion to film-related books inadvertently," the author says. "I would like gan notes. "It comes down to having grown up like The Making of The Mummy, however, to claim that I'm witty all the time, that I can poor and seeing everybody with all these ter- comes from a simple love of movies—and the always think of devastatingly clever things to rific gadgets in their houses. I decided that in promise of an attractive paycheck. "Writing say, but it's something that just runs in a fami- the future I wasn't just gomg to have gadgets, The Making of Lost in Space was a complete ly with a gift for languages. I was going to be privy to how they were pro- departure for me, but I took the assignment "I was raised by my mother, my aunt and duced and maybe invent some myself mostly out of pure greed," she confesses. "It my aunt's business partner. I was very, very "What began to interest me more, though.

76 STAm^OG/December 1999 were the repercussions. As it turned out, peo- tered and more like from someone who's when I was at the University of Kansas, lo! ple lots who had of pretty gadgets, who aware there's a world besides America." these 25 years ago, I took Mandarin on a dare. always knew where their next meal was com- Tea from an Empty Cup is set after Japan This was back even before dinosaurs roamed ing from, for some reason just weren't happy has been destroyed by a series of earthqu^es the Net. It was before the discovery of flame. all the time. Sometimes it seemed like having and a group of people are using the Net to re- At the fime, there was a large Chinese student lots of really neat gadgets worked against create it as a virtual experience. "The novel population at the University of Kansas. I had a them. Corny as it sounds, no matter how much started out as a novella that Keith Ferrell asked part-time job at a local restaurant where the you've bought, there are things you just can't cook was Chinese and most of the regulars buy. You can't invent your way out of some were Chinese. situations or use technology to get around "It got to the point where I was taking their them." orders in Chinese and giving their orders to Her latest novel. Tea from an Empty Cup, the cook in Chinese, and then bringing it to might be called a "VR whodunit," a descrip- them and talking Chinese to them. I started to tion Cadigan understands. "Like many SF think in Chinese. Unfortunately, after that, writers, apparently, I've always liked detective everyone went back to the Orient, so I'm not fiction, true crime stuff,' she explains, "and I fluent any more. But can you imagine Chinese decided that I wanted to write a future crime with a Kansas accent? novel. But I didn't want it to be, 'This is a "Japanese intrigues me, too. Ten years 2016.' bank robbery in the year passed and I had my son, and my son hap- "I wanted the crime to be one that would pened to catch anime on television one morn-

be possible maybe in the future, but certainly ing and that was it. Anime features these was not possible today—a completely new big-eyed women with little-girl faces so, being

kind of crime. It occurred to me that whatever a guy, he got very interested in Japanese stuff. new technology you add to a culture always Writing all those novellas, I had to go to him seems to bring many benefits, but also a bunch for quite a lot of references. Because by then of hazards. You always add the potential for he had watched Akira five times and he, about people to be very seriously hurt or killed as much as any Westerner, opened my eyes to somehow, and this usually tends to bring law how non-Western people feel they are seen by enforcement into the picture. Western people, particularly Americans." "I made a change to the phrase VR, inci- In another departure, Cadigan recentiy dentally. Many people call it Virtual Reality. wrote a young adult SF novel. Avatar, part of Me too. I was always calling it VR, and then the Web series for Dolphin, the YA imprint of there was a TV series called VR.5, so I decid- UK pubhsher Orion Books. "My hat is off to ed I wanted to distinguish it from that. In Tea the writers of children's fiction," Cadigan Or blast off with Cadigan as she tackles from an Empty Cup, the characters use the says. "I did this one young-adult book, and I media tie-ins, Making ofbooVs and young expression AR, and AR has a few more possi- had never appreciated how extremely difficult adult SF novels. bilities. In the next book, it'll be clear that it is. Young-adult fiction, children's fiction, is

some people call it AR for Artificial Reality, me to write for an anthology about future a calhng. It's not something that you just do. I but other people will insist that it's not Artifi- Japan called Black Mist. At the time, he was can remember reading young-adult fiction cial Reality, it's Alternative Reality. So I can still Editor-in-Chief at Omni magazine. He when I was small and loving it, and I know the push that angle culturally with it. Lieutenant said, T really need to use this for Omni spirit that it's supposed to give you, the feeUng Constantine, the heroine that of novel, is going Online, the Internet version. Will you write that it's supposed to bring you. I know it, but I to star in the new book. She'll be assigned to another one?' So I wrote another one, and by can't do it. It's like I can tell you how to tap-

Artificial Reahty whether she likes it or not. the time I had finished, I realized I had most of dance, but I can't do it." They call it VCAP—Virtual Crimes Against a book. Eventually, I took the raw materials of Can Pat Cadigan talk about her next pro- Persons. As opposed to VICAP, which is what both of them and made an awful lot of changes ject? "I was thinking about that as I wrapped we have in the —Violent Crimes [and had a book]. up The Mummy book. As I did the last bits of Against Persons." "I've long been interested in Oriental cul- research, I realized, 'I don't know what I'm " ture anyway. I've always liked learning lan- going to do next.'

Alternate Orient guages, and my favorite languages to learn are And now? She looks relieved. "Now I The novel doesn't take place in America, ones that don't have alphabets like ours. So know. But you'll have to wait to find out." the center of so many cyberpunk stories. U\ "Remember," Cadigan adds, "I don't live in lilhen people are America any more. I Uve in London. I've had rude to me in the the European experience. I'm getting more of supermarketT they're being rude to an international perspective, so I'm hoping that my work will read as less American-cen- the iSueen of Cyberpunk now.''

SrtARLOG/December 1999 77 SIARSHIPTRHOPERS^ENEM ALIENS CLASK, CGI Sia hough the lavish, action- Trooper Scoops teenagers and loved, and really do it deeper satirical packed, brutally Interviewed in his office at , than the movie could."

movie Starship Troopers which is lined with posters from Dean Martin's He admits that, like the movie, the class- didn't overrun the box Matt Helm movies, Kline proves to be a friend- room scenes that form the bulk of the Robert A. office like a horde of alien ly and articulate spokesperson for his series. Heinlein novel won't play a large part—if Bugs in late 1998, executive The reason he wanted to be involved is simple. any—in the TV series. "It's an action show, so producers Richard Raynis and "For the same reason many of the people we decided to err on the side of action. We took and probably Jeff Kline, who have previ- around our studio," he says, "the artists, the the adventure elements, made more of the soap opera elements on our show ously brought Godzilla and designers, were clamoring for Starship Troop- ers. We had all read the book at some point in than Heinlein did." Also, Heinlein's controver- Men in Black to television, our Uves and thought it was fantastic. Many of sial socio-poUtical views won't turn up in the still saw promise for the con- us thought either the movie was disappointing, series. But do look for visits to more planets, cept in another medium, and have adapted or that it didn't take advantage of all the stuff in and even for the Skinnies, the novel's alien it into a new TV series. But Roughnecks: the book. race enslaved by the Bugs. Starship Trooper Chronicles differs from "So it was an opportunity to explore the Some of what the producers include from that it is being their past efforts in done characters over 40 episodes, and do some of the novel is "technology stuff. Even on that entirely in computer graphics, and unlike the stuff which they couldn't afford to do in the movie budget they couldn't afford to do every- most American TV series, has a begin- feature, like drop suits and hundreds of differ- thing. For example, we have a version of the

ning, middle and an end, telhng its story ent kinds of Bugs. It was a chance for all of us drop suit. When the troopers drop out of a ship, over the course of 40 episodes. to revisit a book we read when we were the suit kind of bums away as they descend, a Why CGI? It's far more realistic to wage interstellar war on a budget when computers render the thousands of alien enemies.

paratrooper without a para- "I have learned that that's chute." pretty unusual," PCline admits. Roughnecks (which is "For us, if you're going to

part of the syndicated war, you're going to show its Bohbot Kids Network) consequences. You're going breaks its 40-episode arc to have to have people you into five-episode "chunks," care about not survive, as Khne puts it. "Each because that's what happens.

chunk is its own campaign, I'm not going to tell you who, so it typically takes place obviously, but there are char- on one planet in or one area acters who will not make it all against a particular strain of the way to the end of the sea- Bug, although others figure son." in. It's a chronological Kline is something of a highlight film of the war, survivor himself. Upon his concentrating on eight dif- arrival in Hollywood, he first ferent campaigns, the last worked for Roger Corman, two of which take place on and later for Charles Band Earth." before ending up in televi- The series' main char- sion. He wrote pilots and acters include some of those from the novel who is similar to the movie's Lt. Raczak. scripts for such series as Lawless, Fortune and movie (though none of the actors from the Green soldier/war correspondent Higgins Hunter, God Squad and his favorite. Matt film do their characters' voices). Johnny Rico, (Alex Polinsky), experienced Sgt. Brutto Helm. He worked in daytime progranmiing at voiced by Rino Romano, is still the central (David DeLuise) and combat engineer Gossard NBC, arriving at the Televi- character; the others include tough Dizzy Ho- (Bill Fagerbakke) are all new grunts on the sion development department in 1989, eventu- res (E.G. Daily); Carl Jenkins (Ryder Strong); series. Other characters will turn up from time ally becoming Senior VP. Now he's one of the pilot Carmen Ibanez (Tish Hicks), who is not to time as well—and since this is a war story, heads of the animation division at in love with Johnny here; Zander Barcalow don't expect all of these troopers to survive the Sony/Columbia Pictures Television. He has (Nicholas Guest) and Lt. Razak (Jamie Hanes), 40 episodes. worked on Jumanji, Men in Black, Dragon

STARhOG/December 1999 79 —

Troopers. These aren't the only Bugs fans will see. More than Men in Black veteran Jeff Kline was eager to enlist with Starship two dozen unpleasant monsters are on the prowl. Like most SF fans, he had read and loved the Robert A. Heinlein novel.

defensive Tales and Godzilla and, in addition to Starship one medium, there's a high chance of being types of protective and weaponry, Troopers, he's currently an executive producer disappointed when it's translated to any other from spitting fire to shooting poison or darts. on Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot, based on medium. So while we all came to Starship There are lots of different things the Bugs can the comic book created by Frank Miller and Troopers because we loved the book. I hope do to you to mess you up." (or Geof Darrow (see the page 43 gatefold). the show can be judged on its own terms. Yes, In the film, it wasn't entirely clear why the war with Earth. He hopes that even those who loved the it is Starship Troopers. Yes, Heinlein's book even if) the Bugs began Starship Troopers novel but didn't like the was absolutely our jumping-off point, but the They slaughtered Mormon settlers on one movie will give this CGI series a fair shake. show has to live and breathe on its own. Televi- planet, and dropped a big rock on Buenos sion is a different Aires. But their goals are never very clear, and medium. Our means of the TV series is hewing reasonably close to this storytelling and the approach. "The basic idea is that they are terri- kinds of things we're torial and bent on expansion. It doesn't matter going to do will be dif- who's in their way, although it just so happens

ferent." it's humanity this time. They're moving from For example, those place to place, and intend to take it over. Kind who missed Heinlein's of like real estate brokers." powered "jump suits" This is the furst CGI series from Sony TV, in the movie will con- and it's a formidable task to do 40 episodes in tinue to miss them in the time span and budget allowed. They're the series. "We didn't using CGI "strictly to separate ourselves visu- want to make the sol- ally from the other stuff out there," says Kline. diers too powerful," "We hadn't done a CGI show before, but Kline explains, "and as everyone here was intrigued by the idea. we started fiddling "It seemed like if we were ever going to do around with whether a show CGI, Starship Troopers was the one, we wanted them to because we were very concerned about how make superhuman we were going to animate thousands of Bugs. leaps, both from a In eel animation, it's hard to draw all those design and story stand- things. And how do we do armies, spaceships

point, it became a little and the technology? It was so detailed for eel complicated. If they animation, we thought we would have to keep

"The movie has to tell its story in two hours, can just jump away from stuff, it's harder for us cheating, to keep cutting back. It's not 200 beginning middle end. We can attenuate that to create conflict. More importantly, that's a lot Bugs, it's 20 Bugs, and they're aU seen from over 40 episodes and really show you how of drawing. If they're constantly shifting their the back," he laughs. Rico becomes the hero of the Bug Wars." position, we have to constantly shift the back- "So when we realized that CGI could allow ground and everything going on in that frame. us to really not compromise on some of our Bug Outs That's very time-consuming. Bug, interplanetary and adventure stuff, then it if The show is aimed at kids from 10 to 16. "So in a weird way, the more contained we became, 'OK, let's try this CGI, we can be "Think of Roughnecks as a high school show could keep them, the better it was for story. It satisfied that we can also get the human stuff or college drama, then transpose that situation let us play more with their resourcefulness out of it.' And when we decided that the into Oh My God We're Thrown into the Most how do we get out of this?—intellectually, not expressions are good and Richard Raynis Incredible War. One issue we wanted to deal just by jumping away from it. It also let us do became satisfied that CGI could deliver the with was romance, and that's why we made more detail within the ft-ame because we didn't human stuff in a way that we could all be more out of the female characters—^both to have to keep jumping from place to place to happy with, that's when we finally pushed the " give us more relationship stuff to play, and place." button and said, 'OK, let's do this CGI.' because as we sat around and tried to envision There were a half-dozen different types of The first batch of episodes were split the future, we all assumed men and women Bugs in the movie. So the TV series, of course, between two effects companies, Foundation would be much more equal, whether in the mil- wiU up the ante. "You'll see about 25 Imaging and Flat Earth Productions. Founda- itary or anywhere else." or 30 more types here," Kline points out. "I tion—responsible for the effects in Mystic No matter what else Heinlein might have don't want to give too much away, because I Knights ofTir Na Nog and the pilot said about the movie and this series, it's very would rather you watch the show, but we'll (as well as several seasons of S5)—eventually likely that he would have approved of their feature Bugs in all shapes and sizes. We'll took over completely. For the movement of the inclusion of women in the troopers. KUne does show all different modes of transportation- human characters in the series. Foundation is technique, shooting point out, "The truth is, if you love anything in flying, swimming, whatever—and different using the motion capture " a —

Roughnecks follows the Troopers Elements from the book which went unused It's an action show, so there's always through eight dangerous battle in the film are part of the TV series, but not, plenty of action. In this case, the mission campaigns onward to battleground Earth. alas, everything. No jump suits, for example. is to alien-nap a plasma bug.

their stages in on Valencia, CA. helped us cover the need for some of the more talk about it, maybe bring some people back, "We have separate motion capture on minimal human movement. They were specifi- try some other things. And hopefully we'll find mouths," Kline says, adding that the bodies cally designed to cover some of CGI's failings some agreement, or Richard and I will just go and faces are done at different times, and not of the moment, and allow us to work faster, to into a squared circle and fight it out until some-

necessarily by the same performers. "Mouth replicate faster, because the smoother the lines, body gets it. movement was a huge issue for us, because the easier it is for us to do." "The idea of using known voices vs.

much of our show is about the people, and so Movements and backgrounds are archived unknowns doesn't matter to any of us at all you need expression. A thing that CGI has his- in a computer library so they can be reused it's not the most important element. The most

torically not done well on a TV budget or time with some tweaking, a change in color or important element is whether the voice is frame is expression. There are still times when angle. Unlike, say, a Hanna-Barbera TV car- working, does it go with what we envisioned I cringe and wish we could have gotten more, toon where Yogi Bear or the mouth flap isn't working just right, but keeps running past the

it's as good as it can be right now. By the time same few trees, it's

we get to episode 40, it will probably be better likely that in Starship than when we started, because we will have Troopers even the learned, and the technology will have pro- most observant view- gressed. ers won't spot the "We are fighting every minute. I would be reused material. lying if I told you that I wasn't worried some- "Hiring the writers

times, there are times where we're going to for this one was a little have to clip a comer here, but we don't have more complicated time to go back. That's true of any creative than most," Kline process. There are times where you say, 'OK, points out, "because

that's the way it is for now, let's move on to the we had 40 episodes, next one.' and we had even more of a time crunch than Graphic Battles usual. So in this one, Although, like almost everyone else in Hol- we had five different lywood, Kline is sure that CGI will be used teams under single more and more as it becomes easier (and story editors working cheaper) to do, he doesn't think it will actually concurrently, and each replace cartoon animation. "I believe the two was responsible for five scripts. Each story edi- for the character," Kline explains. "The leads will co-exist. There is definitely a different feel tor took one week, and was responsible for that are serious business." to eel animation. Video tends to be much more week's arc. Because of the trouble we were in But, Kline insists, the series is "absolutely immediate, film has more of a dream quality. time-wise, all of the writers were people we meant for boys and girls. I believe it's true that With eel animation thus far, you can get a had worked with before, and who we knew if you're a kid, you want to be your older broth- warmer quality than you can with CGI. One would deliver. Marsha Griffin, the team of er or sister. You want to watch what they watch, reason we went with Starship for the CGI show Greg Klein and Tom Pugsley, Greg Weisman to be exposed to what they get to see. Writing a is that it's already about a mechanized, some- who did Gargoyles, and who's doing a show little bit above the very specific age of your what cold environment. for us now called Max Steel—we went to our audience is a good thing, because they'll aspire "With CGI, you can do incredible land- strengths. to get there. If you try to write for them, you scapes, the Bugs are fantastic, crowd stuff "We've been very fortunate in being able to end up writing down to them in a way, because looks great. But small, familiar movements— both lure and hang onto a sUghtly higher level they don't want what they perceive to be little shirt flapping, an arm doing a subtle move- writer than some other animated series because kids' stuff. ment, a hand picking up something—tend to script is so important to us," KUne claims, "and "Think back to your own childhood," Jeff look not so great in CGI," Kline admits. "The character is what drives our shows, which is a Kline suggests. "You never wanted to read technology isn't quite there yet. little more appealing than gags driving the what they told you that you were supposed to "If a Bug is running, you're going to buy it show." read, you wanted to read one level up. I wanted if it has a little stutter step or something, Voices were cast much the same way. "Sue to go further and understand more, and watch because who knows what a huge Bug would do Blu is our voice director, and she does a huge what the older kids were watching. I think that on Pluto? But with a human movement, you casting session where she's getting submis- actually stimulates more imagination than have a very strong frame of reference, you sions and bringing people in for readings. delivering exactly what you perceive kids that know when it feels wrong. So the suits were Then, Richard, studio executives and I listen to age want. It means you'll be giving them stuff designed to be boxy, edgy, sleek, because it CDs or tapes with the top 20 or 25. We'll all that they'll feel is beneath them." ^

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The X-Files™ & © 1999 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. Dark Horse Comics® and the Dark Horse logo are trademarks of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. registered in various categories and countries. All rights resen/ed. n the last "Michael and I knew, as we

day, God shot certain scenes, that 'this is smiled the I on it.' The final scene with lolaus little heroes. and Hercules is basically us The story talking about life. 'Don't you goes like think we've done enough? i'^this: For almost six years, Don't you think there's some- Kevin Sorbo had starred as the thing else we can do?' Hercules ultimate hero in Hercules: The tells lolaus that this is all he ^Legendary Journeys. And now knows, this is it, this is what Sorbo, Michael Hurst (as makes him happy. He says, lolaus) and the rest of the cast 'I'm going to keep walking and crew were assembled on down that road. Why don't you set in New Zealand shooting join me?' And lolaus says, the last scene of "Full Circle," 'Yeah, why not?' And we walk t' the series" final episode (airing into the sunset together. fthis month). The end was "There was a weird thing ! indeed near, though not quite about that particular scene, ilas near as one might imagine, though. We shot it on a location 'ifor the abbreviated eight- called Wheeler's Beach, which iepisode season was not shot we used quite often. It's a mag- sequentially. The final episode ical place. We were rushing in fact filmed was as episode through the day because it was number two. extremely windy, and suddenly "It was strange to be shoot- the clouds broke. It was the last ing the episode and to sudden- shot of the day, a huge crane ly realize, 'Hey, this is the last shot. We had to have the Sun. |fight or the last goodbye or the We needed the Sun because it past walk into the sunset that was the final shot of the series.

people will ever see on a first- "And we got it," Sorbo con- un basis.' So doing all of those tinues. "You have to under- [ings, for us, lost a little of the stand, we were using this huge npact they would have had we crane, and a lot of mistakes ishot them in order," Sorbo could have happened. You explains about "Full Circle," could flub the dialogue. The basically a "character-driven" J crane may not move at the "piece directed by Bruce Camp- proper pace. Well, the Sun was bell that resolves the relation- just dipping down into the ships between Hercules and ocean as we shot this scene, Zeus, Hera, Ares and lolaus. and these 40-foot shadows are

By IAN SPELLING

As his legendarv journevs end, Kevin Sorbo reviews past labors & future exploits.

STARLOG/December 1999 83 "

coming off of Here and lolaus as we recede that Hercules would be a successful show. from the frame. You can see the ocean, the We were into the third of the five TY movies wind and the waves coming in, and it was we shot back in 1993 and 1994, and it just just gorgeous. And then the Sun went down. hit me. Actually, we had done a really big We didn't need another take because every- fight scene at the second movie's end. It was thing worked perfectly for that one last amazing. I saw the rushes, and I said, 'This scene. Michael and I looked at each other is like a feature film. This is not a TV and hugged. It was really emotional on the movie.' I realized that we had something set. It was a nice way to go out, even though there. we knew we had six more episodes to "When we did go to series, it was not shoot." what people imagined or expected. The show's biggest fans are people who came in Heroes Unleashed two or three years down the road. They Hercules goes out having broken a great heard about Hercules and said, 'Yeah, yeah, deal of ground. A phenomenon not unlike yeah. I don't watch that stupid thing.' But we Star Trek, Hercules begat spin-offs {Xena: all make assumptions before we take a look Warrior Princess and Young Hercules), fan at things. We alt do that. It's human nature. I clubs, conventions, an animated film, offi- still get letters from people, men and cial merchandise and so on. As for the pro- women, who say, T heard about it, but didn't duction itself, Hercules made tremendous want to watch it. Then I saw it and thought it use of the emerging CGI effects process to was really kind of fun.' pit Here against everything from three-head- "They got what the show was about. The ed monsters to morphing demigods (cour- critics originally didn't know what the show tesy of the FX wizards at Flat Earth). Even was supposed to be about, but once they its tone was unique. In a given episode, realized what we were doing—and that we drama, comedy, action or a flight of fancy were doing it on purpose—they said, 'You might take center stage, or several such ele- know what? Hercules is a cool show.' I think ments could simultaneously come into play. that kind of reaction, from the regular peo- Who knew? ple who watch TV and the critics, is why "I didn't realize that Hercules would Hercules went on to be what it went on over 100 episodes. This thing is going to go a fortune spawn all of these copycat shows," Sorbo to be. on forever in reruns. We can make asserts. "I didn't even realize we would "And, I didn't realize that all of on this now, so let's not worry about making spawn a spin-off. I did know, however. these copycat shows would follow, but it anymore.' I should have thought of that," he con- Rumor suggests, however, that Sorbo Why is Hercules laying down his tinues. "That's what television is. wanted out, that Hercules was laying down sword? The actor says it was a studio That's what the movies are. One his sword eight episodes into the sixth sea- decision. movie comes out that's about a ship son at the actor's insistence. "I love that,"

and it's a big hit. Suddenly, four more Sorbo says sarcastically. "And Universal studios put out movies about ships. played that up, which didn't sit too well with

That's just the way it is." me, to be honest. My contract was for eight According to myth, Hercules episodes in season six. That was a renegoti- eventually lost his mind and killed ated contract [agreed to] in 1996. So, it was his entire family. As Hercules winds almost four years ago when that contract down, does Sorbo feel there was was renegotiated. They didn't come forward more to discover about his alter-ego, with any kind of offer [for Sorbo to do more or maybe, should they have gone out sixth season shows]. The studio didn't deny with a bang? "Killing everyone or confirm the fact that / wasn't the one

wouldn 't have been good for family killing the series. I find that very funny. Her- viewing," Sorbo jokes, then turns cules was a wonderful experience for me serious. "I think Hercules could have and it did wonders, obviously, for my career. easily gone on for another three or Now it's time to look for other things." four years. The studio just wasn't

willing to go on with it. They decid- Fasts Unearthed ed that they had what they had. I First, though, it's time to look back. shows reach 100 There are plenty of aspects to Hercules that i mean, how many episodes? If you combine the 111 Sorbo will miss and a batch that he won't. I

> episodes plus the five movies, that's There are episodes he'll treasure, and others than 120 hours of television. he wishes he could bury. "The first thing that I more So, we're very fortunate. We're comes to mind is that I'll miss the cast and lucky to have had the crew," Sorbo notes. "We've been doing Her- hit that we had. I'm cules for six years. It has been six years surprised that the away from the country I love, six years away studio pulled the from my family and friends. You get home- plug, but then again I real- sick. You never really get entirely comfort- ize that this is a business. able being away. But the cast and crew are The show had become what made the job fun for me. It was a great too expensive for group of people. We had a relaxed set. We them and they said, had a lot of fun. Michael Hurst and I had an 'Look, we have absolute blast, but everybody was great. I In myth, the maddened hero slew his own family. Not on TV, though. "Killing everyone wouldn't be good for family viewing," Sorbo quips.

Journey's over for Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) and lolaus (Michael Hurst), mythic heroes and syndicated TV stars. They've gone "Full Circle."

had a really wonderful time on the set. work world doesn't pay a whole lot of atten- first show I directed and, I thought, a really "I won't miss the bumps and bmises, but tion to syndicated series. I will not miss the good episode. The humor was great. that was OK, actually. It comes with the ter- makeup process, though. I would just as "The other show was 'Mercenary' [in ritory if you want to play an action hero. soon slap on a costume and go to work. But which a wounded Here and a hired gun do What I'll probably miss even less is the that was part of Hercules' look. I had to have battle with assorted pirates and monsters whole hair and makeup process. They shel- the big hair. I had to have the perfect tan." while trapped on an island]. That was the lacked me with this body wash every single Sorbo also doesn't lack for words when it first one that Michael directed. I like that one day to make me look like I had this perfect comes to addressing the best and worst of a lot just because it was so dramatic. It was tan. The stuff just plugged up my pores for Hercules. "I hold two episodes very dear to so different from most of the other episodes six years. My body couldn't breathe. my heart, though it's hard to say, 'This is our we had ever shot. It was very heavy, charac- "Annie, " my makeup artist, God love her. finest hour,' says Sorbo. "Number one is ter-driven drama. I wanted to do more of She's a blast, such a great person. And she 'The Apple' [a second season entry in which that. There were things we could do as actors knows her stuff. She should have won five mayhem erupts when lolaus judges a beauty that most of the time we couldn't do simply Emmys for Hercules. Unfortunately, the net- contest among goddesses], which was the by the fact that the scripts were comic

SIARLOG/December 1999 85 atrical feel to them." As for the lowlight? " 'The Cave of Echoes,' " Sorbo shoots back unhesitatingly, referring to the second- season finale. "It was horrible! I felt so bad for our director, Gus Trikonis. He got stuck with this crappy script. It was one of those four-or-five-day episodes where we would shoot for a few days and they would fill it in with flashbacks. And that one was just horri- ble. I loved the modern-day clip shows ["Yes, Virginia, There Is a Hercules," "For Those of You Just Joining Us"]. They were

fun to do. I always wanted to do Gilligan's Island or Easy Rider. We did a French episode called 'Les Contemptibles,' which was wonderful. So, I wish we could get rid of 'Cave of Echoes' and replace it with Amazingly, Sorbo hasn't yet done a something completely different." Samson and gotten a haircut. "I'm a long-haired guy anyway," he notes. Futures Unfettered Given that Sorbo picked "The Apple" as books. That's what the show was, and some- one of his prefeixed Hercules episodes, it's times you wanted something a little more surprising that he didn't step behind the meaty to sink your teeth into. camera more often during the show's run. To "Another good show, from a comedy hear Sorbo tell it, though, pulling double- show called Hercules. They expect Hercules perspective, was And Fancy Free.' That duty simply proved too hard. "You end up to be around, and that made sense. I really was our dance episode, which introduced working 20-hour days, and you really never enjoyed directing, though, and I thought the Widow Twanky [played by Hurst, who get done what you want to get done," he about directing one of the last eight also directed the show]. It's hard to pick argues. "You don't get a chance to edit it episodes. But I said, 'Why put that extra favorites. Last year, we had an arc of Celtic properly, because you're onto the next stress on yourself? Why don't I just relax, mythology ["Resurrection," "Render Unto episode. You couldn't go to , sit enjoy the last few episodes and have a great Caesar"] and Norse mythology ["Norse by with the editors and discuss what you want- time with the cast and crew?' And that's Norsewest," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow ed. I really would have loved to have done what I did."

Bridge"]. I loved the Norse mythology more. Next go-round I think I will, but I'll Did anyone catch Sorbo's phrase "next shows. They were big, and I said, T wish we work it in that I don't have to be in every go-round?" By now, everyone knows that could do more like these.' There was a the- scene as well. That's what happens with a Sorbo will soon return to the small screen to Conquering Hero Back in 1997, Kevin Sorbo made the leap to the big screen with Kull the Con- queror, based on the prototype hero con- ceived by pulpsmith Robert E. Howard before he created . The film—^which cast Sorbo as a troubled bar- barian king wooing Zareta (Karina Lom- bard) and battling the evil Akivasha (Tia CaiTere)—failed to catch fire at the box office. Sorbo discussed making the movie at length before its release (#238), but address-

es it now with STARLOG for the first time "1 since it reached theaters two years ago. was very pleased with Kull," he says. "There were a couple of things that hurt the

film. Number one, it opened on Labor Day. Producer Raffaella de Laurentiis, the late John NicoUela, our director who passed away about six months after the film's

release, and I all fought Universal on that issue. We felt that Kull was a cold-weather

movie. We wanted them to open it in Janu- ary. People don't go to movies on Labor Day. They're movie-ed out. It's the last weekend for families before school starts. There are barbecues, picnics, camping and

fishing trips. It has always been a bad week- end to release movies. On top of that, His two favorite episodes are "The Apple" (which Sorbo directed) and "Mercenary" (helmed by co-star Hurst).

star as Commander Dylan Hunt in Androme- da, a new series based on a concept by Gene Roddenberry and produced by Tribune Entertainment in conjunction with Majel Barrett Roddenberry. Sorbo will co-execu- tive produce tiie SF program, which begins lensing next April or May in Vancouver, in time for a September 2000 launch. "We're already guaranteed 22 episodes, and may be guaranteed as many as 44," enthuses Sorbo, whose character is freed from suspended animation after 350-plus

Princess Di died that weekend. Everybody stayed home to watch the news on TV. "Another thing that hurt us was that we went the wrong way with the film. It was initially R-rated material, the way Conan the Barbarian was. It's unfortunate that the public needs to see blood and guts and love scenes. When I read Kull. it was an NC-17, and not just for the sexual content, but also for the blood and guts. It was something we went back and forth on. I was the one who pushed for the PG-13, because of my Hercules audience. I think the Labor Day release and the rating combined ultimately hurt the film. But it's doing very well in video rental now, "I was not disappointed by the film itself." Sorbo continues. "'I look at what's out there now and say, 'How could //(w make 'Although Kull the Conqueror wasn't a more money than Kull'?' It's all about hype, office triumph, Sorbo doesn't mind. "I markefing and timing. There are so many not disappointed by the film itself," he different factors that work into it. Features says. "I'm actually very proud of it." are such a big roll of the dice. I'm not embarrassed by Kull. I worked my butt off free? "Certainly, that was a part of it, too," in there that were very reminiscent of Her- on Kull and I'm actually very proud of it." he acknowledges. "It's one of the reasons I cules, but for the most part, Kull was a dif- It's not lost on that Sorbo part of the picked Kull. There were other projects that ferent character. I look at the similarities as problem with Kull is that it may have too were available to me, but I said, 'Why not something that would maybe get more peo- closely resembled Hercules. After all, why do something that's close to Here?' It's one ple into the theater. 1 figured people would should fork over anyone the price of a reason Universal came to me in the first say, 'It's on the big screen. It has a little movie admission " when they could see place. The characters are different. Kull is more money thrown at it.' Sorbo every week, acting very heroic, for a darker character. We did some one-liners —Ian Spelling

STARLOG/December 1999 87 — ; : ;

embarking on Andromeda, Sorbo is relax- ing at home in Las Vegas, spending time with his wife, Sam, playing golf at every opportunity and spearheading A World Fit for BQds, an organization that seeks to cre-

ate mentoring programs for inner-city kids ;

and other youths at risk. And, believe it or

not, Sorbo's hair is still long. "I didn't go to i the extreme that Michael did," he laughs. "Michael shaved everything. He has a quar-

ter-inch of hair all over the place. I actually ';

buzzed off only about five inches of it. I'm up for a few parts and I may need to be a character with long hair, so I'll keep it this way for a while. Besides, I'm a long-hair

kind of a guy anyway. So, I won't make the ; final cut until Andromeda starts." Should the much-speculated Hercules theatrical feature come to pass, Sorbo would grow those five inches back. But don't count on him to return to action for TV movies or for, say, the Xena finale, whenever that comes to pass. "If there's a Hercules feature, I would be very interest- ed," he says. "There have been rumors ?

about movies and I told the producers, 'If r He's willing to be a big screen Hercules, but don't expect Sorbo to show up for the it, Trek did. Don't eventual Xena finale. "Beyond the film idea, I'm done," he says. you do do it the way Star make it look like a two-hour TV movie in years. "That's unbelievable, because we Ust of 22 one-page story ideas he had for it. feature filmland.' We would have to throw initially at it, make it look big, make it look haven't even shot a frame yet. Tribune is So they'll follow his original ideas money J

to ; very high on this project. There were a lot of and then build from there. I think Androme- good and make it fun. I would be happy shows that were presented to me by different da is something Mr. Roddenberry would do it. Beyond the film idea, I'm done." studios, different networks. They knew that I have been very proud of. Majel is very And, as this conversation and Hercules i was going to be done with Hercules, and the hands-on. I've had several meetings with come to an end, Sorbo offers a few last interest from the Hollywood TV world was her. We keep in touch, and she's a golfer words of appreciation to those who made is very flattering to me. And Andromeda was like me, so that's a good thing. We can do Here's journeys legendary. 'AH I can say i the one that stood out the most. business on the golf course. She's very pro- 'Thanks' to the fans. Without them," Kevin "I'm a huge fan of the original Star Trek tective of his legacy, very protective. She Sorbo concludes, "we wouldn't have had and The Next Generation as well. I was a sent me a foot-high pile of paper—manu- six years. I know that they'll miss the fact still going. I'll miss it, kid who grew up on Star Trek. I watched all scripts, speeches and ideas. It was interest- that the show's not the reruns through high school and college. ing to see this archive of his work, of his too. But we'll be in reruns forever. This now. Her- It's an honor to be associated with Gene past. It was a chance to get into his mind a show will be on 30 years from Roddenberry's name, even though he has bit. He was a brilliant man and very funny. cules is timeless. It's in a time and space passed away. His memory is living on I don't know if people who didn't know that knows no bounds. through his work and also through his him knew that he was funny." "So thank you, and I'll see you in the widow, Majel. They presented me with Right now, in his downtime before future." these different ideas. We actually took two of the ideas Phoenix Ascending and Andromeda—and made one show out of it. I thought the name Andromeda just had

more punch to it, and so did Tribune and everybody else involved. "We have a great show ruimer in Robert Hewitt Wolfe. His ideas have been amazing. He wrote quite a bit for Deep Space Nine. He's very good. The ideas he has for the series blew me away. I'm excited. Right now, we're just in the beginning stages. I'm the only person cast at this time. We have six or seven other roles to cast, and we're going to be looking at people soon. They're throw- ing out names for consideration right now." Frontiers Unexplored And, yes, swears Sorbo, Andromeda really is based on a concept by Roddenber- ry. "He actually wrote this back in the 1970s and, I believe, touched upon it again Other episodes Sorbo praises include "...And Fancy Free," "Yes, Virginia, There Is in the early 1980s," the actor says. "I have a a Hercules," "For Those of You Just Joining Us" and "Les Contemptibles."

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4 as the cin- xcuse me, sir, "I would always shake my head and achieve immortality " I but—um—aren't you, like, a answer, 'No, no, I'm not a movie star,' ema's greatest Hercules, tearing down stone Uons. His 1 movie star or something?" laughs the robust 73-year-old Reeves. "This temples and deftly wrestling mangy 3" Steve Reeves had grown would happen all the time, long before I had amazing physical attributes (6' and 200- sohd muscle) set a new stan- Elaccustomed to hearing that question given any consideration to a film career. At plus pounds of masculinity, especially in the » as a young man. He was asked it that point, acting—and movie stardom—was dard for movie action genre. Reg Park, Ed M on trolley cars, in ticket hnes, on the stuff of dreams, very far removed from my "sword & sandal" crowded sidewalks and at foot- real-life goals. I just wanted to hft weights and Fury, Mark Forrest, Lou Ferrigno—not one of " to Reeves. was the ball games, and it never failed to become a bodybuilder." them could hold a toga He amaze him. Of course. Reeves did indeed go on to screen's ultimate demi-god.

90 STARLOG/Decemher 1999 Steve Reeves made Remembering his mark on the world of pro- bodybuilding in the days gods & before screen musclemen, stardom Steve Reeves reviews his beroic career. Iron Man In 1959, Joseph E. Levine's Ital- ian-American import Hercules smashed box-office records. Most audiences were aghast. "How," they collectively asked, "can any flesh and blood human possibly play a bruiser like Hercules?" What mainstream America didn't know was that long before Reeves toppled his first column, the Mon- tana-bred powerhouse had already left a mark on professional body- building. During those early years after World War n, bodybuilding desper-

ately needed a good publicist. It was true, athletes lifted weights—but curling barbells and doing squats solely for looks? Outrageous and unacceptable! Big muscles had to have practical applications. If they weren't needed for sports activities or manual labor, well, then what good were they? Or so the argument went. Nonetheless, many red-blooded American males secretly coveted a powerful physique (ask bodybuild- ing pioneers Charles Atlas and Joe

Welder). and ESPN, there was very little money to be a vaudeville show, where I played straight Reeves, fortunately, was blessed with the made ft'om professional bodybuilding. man, like Dean Martin to Jerry Lewis. One raw material to make it in the body-shaping "Right after winning the Mr. America day, a scout for [legendary producer/director] industry. "When I was finding my way in [title], I went backstage and was handed a Cecil B. DeMille watched the show and asked bodybuilding," he says, "the trend leaned telegram from an agent," Reeves recalls. "He if I would be interested in making a screen test. I toward bulk and mass. had inherited excel- wanted me to come to New York City and take A screen test? My head swirled. Of course I lent genes and developed what has since a stab at acting. I considered his proposal very would be interested! Things began moving become known as the V-taper: wide shoulders seriously. I had just begun chiropractic school, very quickly. On my 22nd birthday, I boarded and a very small waist." and giving that up for a 'what if seemed a plane bound for California with a six-month This new look—aesthetic and supremely somewhat foolish. On the other hand, I real- contract in my back pocket." proportional—redefined bodybuilding as a ized an opportunity of this magnitude might At the same time, DeMille faced a trouble- sport and art form, and bestowed upon it a not pass my way again. So, I threw caution to some dilemma. Casting had begun for his newfound measure of respect. In four years. the wind, packed my bags and relocated to the newest Biblical extravaganza Samson and Reeves scored big wins at both the fledgling Big Apple." Delilah (1949), with superstar Hedy Lamarr Mr America and Mr Universe contests, and Though no starry-eyed kid. Reeves was signed to play the seductress. But who, among his face and incredible physique soon graced taken aback by the hustle of New York life, a Hollywood's many he-men, could fill Sam- every muscle magazine then pubMshed. far cry from his more laidback California. "I son's sandals? Samson had to be , hand- Perhaps it was a given that Reeves would didn't know what to make of anything," he some, masculine, believably powerful and eventually turn to acting. After all, in those says. "I just kept my eyes and ears open, built like a Greek statue. Going for an days before million-dollar endorsement deals because I wanted to learn. My agent got me in "unknown" like Reeves seemed DeMille's

SlkKVOG/Decemher 1999 91 iiiM nBjajiii

best bet. ing from, but really, bodybuilding was a The memory of those days makes dead-end for me. Being under contract with Reeves smile. "I had no sooner set foot on Mr. DeMille meant incredible possibilities. Paramount's lot before being ushered into I concentrated and tried to drop the weight, a lush, cavernous office," he remembers. but in the end, I could only peel off about 'Huge photos adorned the walls—Para- five pounds." mount's biggest stars; Bing Crosby, Bob DeMille refused to compromise. Either Hope, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour..and Reeves lose the entire 15 pounds or forfeit me! Mr. DeMille pointed to my picture what many stars considered a plum role. and said, 'See that, Steve? There's my "Mr. DeMille had a schedule and couldn't Samson.' wait for me," Reeves explains. "Basically,

"You can imagine how I felt! What he thought I wasn't dedicated, that I seemed incredible luck! I would be working with distracted by other things. He needed a star one of Hollywood's greatest directors. who could focus and take direction. What And Mr. DeMille really went all out. I was could I say? Though I wanted very much to given a private acting coach. Every week, be an actor, I had blown a great opportunity.

I would learn a httle scene and perform it Mr. DeMille wished me luck, my contract for Mr. DeMille. He would make sugges- was cancelled, and I went back home—hav- tions, and I would work on my technique. ing learned a very valuable lesson." Instead,

I was determined to do well. Victor Mature played Samson. "Then," Reeves chuckles, "Mr. Who needs DeMille started explaining how the cam- barbells after Wood Role era puts on weight, and that at my present movies like The next several years for Reeves were Hercules size, I would overwhelm an audience. He uneventful. His Olympian physique kept have made asked me to drop 15 pounds. I figured, him busy in the fitness field, but dreams of you an sure, I could do it. Fifteen pounds didn't an acting career grew dimmer international Enter director Ed (Plan 9 from Outer sound so bad." star? Reeves' bodybuilding friends immedi- Space) Wood. "Ed had seen this Uttle pilot ately balked at the idea. Why would any- film I had done [Kimbar, Lord ofthe Jungle] one decimate a championship physique and contacted my agent. How he ever came just to become an actor? "I would go down across Kimbar, I'll never know! We didn't to Muscle Beach, and the guys would say, have enough money to finish the pilot—it 'Why are you dieting? You'll ruin your- was only 15 minutes long and never even

self!' I understood where they were com- aired."

92 STAR1.0G/Decemher 1999 —

Asked about his stint as a Wood stock play- the Hercules set. or I er, Reeves pauses thoughtfully, then says: "Ed would miss my cues. Wood always presented himself as a real pro- "It was like this: We fessional, and no, he didn't wear women's would be working, and clothing on the set. We made The Hidden Face I'm speaking English,

together, which was released as Jail Bait. I everyone else is speaking appreciated his methods, how he treated actors Italian or whatever

and actresses. Jail Bait was my first film, and I French, Yugoslavian, felt very comfortable working with him." Czech or Slovak. And After wrapping Jail Bait, he landed a small then an airplane goes but showy role in Athena, a MGM musical over or a bus rattles by, starring Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds. and they would keep right

Designed as a follow-up to Powell's immense- on filming. It wasn't Uke ly successful Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the States, where there Athena's, contemporary setting worked against are closed sets and per- it, and box-office returns were disappointing. fect silence, and everyone Nevertheless, Athena led to Reeves landing understands one another. the role of a Ufetime, "Out of the blue, I got a Basically, we were film- letter from Pietro Francisi, an ItaUan producer. ing like a silent movie, He had seen Athena, was impressed with my with the voices dubbed build and wanted to know if I would consider later by radio actors." playing the lead in Hercules. Well, I had no Hercules drew record idea—I had never heard of this person! But numbers in Italy but barely made a ripple any- Dream: successful, handsome, well-built and once Francisi came through with a $5,000 where else—until producer showman Joseph not about to take crap from anyone. Post-war

advance and an airplane ticket, I knew he was E. Levine purchased the U.S. rights. A massive America at its glorious best. serious. I made arrangements to fly out to Italy publicity campaign ensued, inspired by the and went on from there." phenomenally successful Ben-Hur. Audiences Silver Screen Like DeMille's Samson, Hercules present- immediately reacted. Teenage boys bought Hercules single-handedly launched a curi- ed an almost insurmountable casting hurdle. their tickets and sat mesmerized as Reeves bat- ous cinematic trend: sword & sandal epics. In The part called for extraordinary physical quick succession. Reeves lensed Hercules talents, as well as confidence, star power Unchained, The IxistDays of Pompeii, The and a modicum of experience in front of the Giant of Marathon and Goliath and the camera. There certainly were Italian actors Barbarians. Duel of the Titans (co-starring who could emote well, and still others who Gordon Scott) was universally recognized

looked good in Grecian togs. No one indi- as the ultimate muscle fest. vidual, however, possessed the necessary From 1957 to 1967, Reeves made two attributes of a "complete" Hercules. Such a films a year, sometimes three. The schedule superhuman creature obviously did not was burdensome. There had to be more to exist, thought Francisi, except in fantasy. being a movie star than running around Thanks to Francisi's young daughter, half-naked and tossing papier mache boul- fantasy became flesh-and-blood reality. ders at fake monsters. After seeing Athena, she rushed home and 'They approached me about a third Her-

exclaimed, "Daddy, guess what! I've found cules," Reeves says, "but 1 talked them into your Hercules! His name is Steve Reeves, Morgan the Pirate instead—and not and he's everything you've been looking because I disliked playing Hercules. On the for." contrary. Since Hercules was such a big Once Francisi screened the film, he con- success, the producers in Italy saw a good curred: Reeves was Hercules. With an thing. Even the neighborhood butcher was American star on board, Hercules became calling himself a producer. They would con- something more than a routine foreign pot- nect with some Hollywood agent and say, boiler. Reeves immersed himself in the part, 'Hey, go to Muscle Beach and find me a big training for it as he would for a bodybuild- guy.' Seriously! About six to eight Califor- ing contest—and though the strenuous nia guys went overseas for Hercules and physical demands were easily met, his gladiator films. They were B and C class greatest challenge was more intricate—a Ut- movies, really, and I didn't want any part of tle thing called language. "Oh, the language them. barrier!" he sighs. "I didn't speak a word of "I branched out with Morgan the Pirate, Italian, and the director [Francisi] didn't The Trojan Horse, The White Warrior, Thief speak one word of English. And 90 percent of The first film's success spawned a legion ofBaghdad and The Ixist Days ofPompeii. AH the actors couldn't understand or speak Eng- of musclebound sword & sandal fantasy of them were swashbucklers, but I wanted, lish. flicks. more than anything, to do a Western. Remem- "It was extremely difficult for me. I had to ber Sergio Leone? He directed A Fistful ofDol- memorize the entire script—everyone's part, tied evil, laughed triumphantly and flung a lars, with CUnt Eastwood. Sergio also directed what they were going to do—and watch all metal discus into oblivion. The Last Days of Pompeii, and we knew each their moves, too! When they would make a For many, it was a life-altering experience. other well. certain gesture, I would go into my hne. To me, Sales of barbells increased dramatically. Body- "He came to me one day and said, 'Steve, a actor is reactor good a good and always inter- building magazines, once considered little look, I'm thinking of directing a Western, and I ested in what the other is person doing. As you more than softcore pornography, found accep- would like you to star. It's called A Fistful of might imagine, I had to be very interested on tance. Reeves came to personify the American Dollars and is based on a Japanese samurai — — —

and clothes, they came around. Yeah, Steve Reeves

could be a Western star. Why didn't we think of him before?" Golden Icon Hollywood indifference aside. Reeves took control of his own career and began to navigate the turbulent waters of independent filmmaking. While living in Switzerland, he had found The Judas Gun, a novel incorporating the best elements of spaghetti West- Reeves' role in a MGM ems and authentic American musical resulted in the folklore. "I paid $10,000 for offer to play Hercules rights, got together and a spot in the the film pantheon of ultimate with an Italian writer and movie he-men. went to work on the screen- play," the actor explains. "I put in the authentic Western- type things, and he did the patterns, how to open and close a scene, and all that. We also changed the title— I felt The Judas Gun sounded too Biblical." '1 With Long Ride, Reeves didnt sp^ a wcNrd of Itafian, and the bid adieu to life as a movie icon. Today, his legacy stands dirad;or dicui't speak one word of English.*' golden, untarnished by those who have followed in his san-

film.' I wondered how an Italian, who had good and get it relaxed, and afterwards, ice it dal-steps. You might think this Herculean never even been to the United States, could down. actor would be content in his retirement. He take a script—scene by scene—from a Japan- "Acting was stressful for me, very stress- raises horses and is happily married to a beau- ese samurai movie [possibly Akira Kuro- ful. I liked seeing myself on the screen, seeing tiful and supportive wife, Deborah. An ideal sawa's Yojimbo] and make a good Western out my name up there, and being a celebrity was existence? Most assuredly, but the world isn't

of it. I turned Sergio down, and that was my great, but the actual filming, no. You had to go willing to give up its gods so easily. big mistake." to bed early, you had to look exactly right, Star Wars and the advent of role-playing Reeves continues: "I always kept my eyes everything had to be just right. I longed for the games renewed interest in film fantasy, open for other parts and considered a few days when I could show up on the set in jeans spawning such descendants as Conan, Beast- interesting things. Hammer Studios wanted and a T-shirt, like the directors. But leading Master and Hercules: The Legendary Jour- me to do One Million Years B.C. with Raquel men were kept to different standards." neys, the series starring Kevin Sorbo (see page Welch, and I had an offer to play James Bond, Reeves' friends, fellow swashbucklers 83). Yet, for millions, there is only one, true long before Sean Connery's name was men- Tyrone Power and Errol Flynn, were dying Hercules: Steve Reeves—and he casts a very

tioned. It came down to money. The English young, victims of Hollywood's frantic pace long shadow. and Germans didn't want to pay anything for an end he vowed to avoid. "One died at 44 and "Last year, I was involved in Hercules: their talent. Why should I go to England for the other at 50, and they loved what they were Recycled, a direct-to-video project that was

$50,000 when I can make a picture in Italy for doing. But I didn't love it. If making movies really fun to do. These two enterprising young $250,000? was killing men who loved their craft, how fellows spliced together Hercules and Her-

"Listen, when I was about 32," he adds, "I about a person like me? I could see the writing cules Unchained, wrote some comic dialogue,

began a 15-year project. I would earn enough on the wall. It was time to get out and do and it came out quite well," the actor notes.

and retire at 45. Just take it easy for the rest of something else with my hfe where I would be "And there was a rumor about my appearing liked to my life. Forty-five came pretty quickly, but 1 happier and healthier." on Hercules, with Sorbo. I would have stuck with my plan. One of the reasons Ironically, Reeves didn't cap his film do that. It would have been interesting to see besides having promised myself—had to do career with another swashbuckler Instead, he the two Hercules together, bonding genera- with injuries. chose A Long Ride from Hell, surprising fans tions. "On The Last Days of Pompeii, I hurt my who were unused to seeing their idol fully "Looking back, I'm kind of amazed at

shoulder and could never get it right again. I clothed and firing a six-shooter. "It was a hard where my life has taken me. I've been very, would do scenes—like picking people up and sell, especially to the money men," says very fortunate and have had some wonderful get letters throwing them off ships—and it would hurt Reeves. "They couldn't picture me as any- experiences. I do conventions and like hell! Sword fighting was incredibly stren- thing but this muscular guy. So, one day, I put every day from people who say I've inspired

uous. I would have to use my left hand, other- on my cowboy duds, walked into Universal them. Funny how things turn out. I was just I wise, I would never have gotten through it. My Studios and went right up to the front office. a kid who wanted to be Mr. America. never shoulder bothered me all the time, especially That did the trick. Here were people who had dreamed what spectacular things would hap- in my last picture, A Long Ride from Hell always known me as Hercules, but when they pen to me once I picked up that first [1970]. They would heat the shoulder up real saw me without the beard, in a Western hat weight!"

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and an attack on our Park Avenue offices by projects. Although I was the boss, our rela- and his TIE fighters, and for our tionship was collaborative, and Damon was climax, we launched a NASA Space Shuttle often heard to growl, "I disagree." He was into the distant wonders of the galaxy. As the delightful, inspiring and invaluable. film unfolded, each adult was transformed I took him to Los Angeles for tire first for Celebration into a child—symbolizing the youthful spirit time, and I remember the dazzle in Damon's within us. eyes as we arrived and drove north on the 1 Hfhen STARLOG marked its fifth year in that science fiction nurtures print, there was cause around our Making this film would require more San Diego Freeway to our hotel in Holly- offices for celebration. Other fan pubhca- than three months of production, and I wood. He was like a kid on Christmas

tions had been thrown together after Star couldn't devote full time to it. I needed a morning. He gazed at the passing palm Wars' huge success and helped generate skilled Production Manager with enthusiasm trees, the flashy convertibles, the distant awareness of the science fiction market. But who could work closely with me, turning mountains and gasped, "Wow!" I knew he by 1981, most of the others had vanished. my vision into reality. I interviewed several was feeling what I had felt when I first STARLOG remained. experienced individuals. One day a young arrived in New York: "Someday I'U conquer Most people, including our newsstand man walked in, fresh from NYU, with a this city." distributor, had predicted that there would be short film he had made as his senior project: Although he has straggled through diffi- no audience for this magazine. "There are a "Roublex-OMF." It featured a floating robot cult years, starving between writing scripts few nuts who put on pointed ears and show invented by a lazy college student who need- and directing TV shows (and Fangoria up at a hotel once a year to drool over Star ed help to wake up, make hot coffee, get Films' Severed Ties), Damon has finally Trek," we were told, "but that's not enough dressed and take care of mundane chores conquered Hollywood as a major director. to sustain a national publication." around his apartment. It was witty and "None of my past projects count," he told

Having reached its fifth birthday, we visionary, and I could tell that the writer- me recentiy. "In Hollywood terms, the littie were oveijoyed that our child had defied all director was serious about movies. His name stuff you did doesn't even get included on

predictions of doom. Norman Jacobs and I was Damon Santostefano, and I hired him. your resume. The only thing that matters to decided to celebrate with the entire science We worked together so well on "STAR- big studios are big movies."

fiction community. I wrote and directed a LOG's Birthday Fantasy" that I kept him on His latest film is definitely big—a $22 short film, "STARLOG's Biithday Fantasy." as my assistant, and we expanded the pub- million romantic comedy for Warner Bros,

When it was finished, this littie movie would lishing company into production activities. called Three to Tango, starring Matthew be available to school groups, fan clubs and During the next few years, Damon and I Perry, Neve Campbell and Dylan McDer- conventions. It would feature real STAR- produced a FANGORIA video series for mott. For almost 20 years, I've watched a LOG employees and would, through a series Paramount, Scream Greats, and he directed success story as wonderful as a Hollywood of fantasy sequences, take viewers on a trip the first episode on horror FX artist Tom screenplay. Everything Damon has accom- through the history of science fiction in the Savini. We followed with an episode on plished is due to his creativity and persis- 20th century. Beginning with black-and- Satanism and Witchcraft, then produced sev- tence. I will fly west for the fall 1999 white Flash Gordon serials, we went to eral shows for other labels, developed a dra- premiere of Three to Tango, because I can't monster invasion movies of the 1950s, then matic series for HBO called Futuretales and help feeling my own cause for celebration. trailblazed through 2001: A Space Odyssey brainstormed together on numerous film —Kerry O'Quinn )

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If you do not want to cut out coupon, we will accept written orders. I I I I Ill Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery. "It would have been easy to interview: Tliomas McKelvey Cieaver, issue #88 that it's evil." do The Incredible Hulk as a —Peter MacNicol 'monster show,' but that's not "I'm as confused as everybody interview: Jami Bernard, issue #148

what the Hulk is about. He's else. I tell everyone that 2007 is a 20 Years Ago in not a Frankenstein; he's Uke a big giant Rorschach test." "The thing that I love about STARLOC kid who doesn't know his own —Keir DuUea Paracelsus [the character he plays Beast] is that The show's principal asset? "It's strength." interview: Lee Goidberg, issue #88 in TV's Beauty & the Gil Gerard. He's going to be a —Lou Ferrigno he's not just an out-and-out villain, killing people left, right and center major star. He just hasn't had the interview: Samuel J. Maronie, issue #28 10 Years Ago reason or motive. right vehicle so far; and Buck Janosz Poha, his Ghostbusters 2 with no rhyme, He's a villain with a point-of-view'' Rogers fits him lilce a glove. He's 15 Years Ago character, is a bad guy. "He's an —^Tony Jay James Gamer, Burt Reynolds, all "I love to entertain people. I feel eternal optimist. And he's practi- those people—given the chance." really good when people walk out cal. If Sigourney Weaver won't interview: Edward Gross, issue #148 —Bruce Lansbury, Buck Rogers of a theater and feel good about date him all on her own, he'll producer having seen the movie." make a pact with the devil in order Five Years Ago "Television is a very fast medium, Interview: David Houston, issue #28 —Arnold Schwarzenegger to secure a date. He doesn't know and you either have it or you don't, and if you

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