Author Archives: alexfitch

About alexfitch

Co-presenter / producer of "Panel Borders", Thursdays 5pm Resonance 104.4 FM. Film reviewer for www.electricsheepmagazine.com Podcaster for www.sci-fi-london.com

Electric Sheep podcast – Eli Roth: filming The Last Exorcism

Electric Sheep podcast – Eli Roth: filming The Last Exorcism

Alex Fitch interviews producer Eli Roth and director Daniel Stamm about the new ‘mockumentary’ horror film The Last Exorcism which is in UK cinemas now and tells a tale of possession, cattle mutilation and murder in a small rural community. Daniel and Alex talk about how using a documentary style to make supernatural movies helps break the fourth wall for the audience to help draw them into events, while Eli talks about how his experience of producing his own movies Cabin Fever and Hostel differs from his more advisory role on this film.

Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell in The Last Exorcism

Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell in The Last Exorcism

More for more information and a variety of formats you can stream / download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org

Links: Official The Last Exorcism website
Wikipedia pages on The Last Exorcism and Eli Roth
Interview with Daniel Stamm
Read Alex Fitch’s review of The Last Exorcism at shinyshelf.com

In association with

Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK

Panel Borders: Making Marvels in the UK

Continuing our month long look at British creators who have written and drawn superhero comics for both the American and domestic markets, in a panel recorded in front of a live audience at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival, Alex Fitch talks to a quartet of Marvel UK luminaries who were responsible for some of the best action / adventure titles in the 1980s and 90s.
Simon Furman, was (and still is) the primary writer of Transformers, as well as the scribe behind a dozen installments of the Doctor Who comic strip, plus many of Marvel UK’s most memorable SF titles including Dragon Claws and Death’s Head. John Freeman, helped create many of Marvel UK’s early 90s titles such as Death’s Head II, Warheads, Killpower and Motormouth. Dan Abnett and Gary Erskine co-created the Knights of Pendragon, a series which gave UK superhero Captain Britain a new, darker spin in the 1990s by adding him to an Arthurian team of heroes.
Alex and the four creators discuss the rise in popularity of Marvel UK as a producer of original material in the 1980s and some of the memorable comics they founded along the way. (Part 1 of 2)

4 covers of Marvel UK titles from the late 70s to mid 80s - Hulk Comic #41,  Captain Britain #1, Transformers #8, Action Force #24

4 covers of Marvel UK titles from the late 70s to mid 80s - Hulk Comic #41, Captain Britain #1, Transformers #8, Action Force #24

For more info about this podcast and a variety of formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org / Listen to part two of the Marvel UK panel

Links: Wikipedia pages on Marvel UK, Dan Abnett, , Gary Erskine and John Freeman
John’s website on British comics news: www.downthetubes.net
Gallery of Marvel UK covers at the Grand Comics Database
Marvel UK fanblog: It came from Darkmoor
Interview with Gary Erskine in The Guardian about working in the British comics industry

Listen to Alex’s interviews with Chris Claremont and Alan Davis / Paul Cornell about Captain Britain
Listen to Alex’s interview with Simon Furman about Transformers: part one / part two
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Panel Borders: eXpat Heroes

Panel Borders: eXpat Heroes

Starting a new podcast series of the UK’s only weekly radio show about comics, Panel Borders has a month of shows looking at the ‘British Invasion’ of UK creators who have worked on American and American-style superhero titles.

Alex Fitch talks to Chris Claremont, a veteran comics writer born in London who became one of the most prolific and popular American comic book writers of the 20th century, most famous for a 16 year sojourn writing the Uncanny X-Men from 1975 – 1991, with his last few issues selling in the region of eight million copies each.

In this episode, recorded at this year’s Bristol International Comics Expo, we’re focussing on a superhero Chris created for the UK market – Captain Britain – in 1976, the character’s relocation to America via the monthly comic Excalibur in 1988 and his more experimental X-Men spin off – New Mutants – which Chris created in 1982 and returned to writing last month.

(Originally broadcast 2nd September 2010 on Resonance FM)

New Mutants and Captain Britain by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis

New Mutants and Captain Britain by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis

For more info about this podcast and a variety of formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Wikipedia pages on Chris Claremont and Captain Britain
Article on New Mutants Forever at newsarama.com

Listen to Alex’s interviews with Alan Davis and Paul Cornell about drawing and writing Captain Britain respectively

Recommended events:

Pat Mills’ Electric Picnic

Graphic Content: The Big Comics Chat… A chaotic and fun-stuffed rocket ride through the inner and outer reaches of the comics and cartooning universes. Our intrepid and esteemed panel – Pat Mills (2000 AD), Steve Bell (Guardian), Emma Vieceli (Manga Shakespeare), Phil Barrett (Matter) and Mel Gibson (Northumbria University) – will cheerily dissect and debate the “sequential art” scene as it and was: offering thoughts, opinions and recollections on a wide range of topics, including: Classic British comics, Manga, Bande dessinée, Girls’ comics, John Major’s underpants, the Irish small presses, and much, much more. Masked and caped crusaders may also get an occasional mention…

Friday 3rd September, 5.30pm, Stradbally Hall Estate, Stradbally, Co. Laois, Eire

Reality Check: Comics vs. film

Reality Check: Comics vs. film

This year’s cinematic interest in comic book adaptations shows no sign of slowing down with adaptations of Scott Pilgrim vs. the world and Tamara Drewe hitting screens over the next few weeks. To coincide with this, we have the next in our series of podcasts recorded in front of a live audience at this year’s Sci-Fi London festival – Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Woodrow Phoenix and film maker Howard Webster about the dialogue between comics, film and TV, looking at Woodrow’s work adapting his comic Pants Ant for the Cartoon Network and Howard’s interactive webcomic The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore. The podcast also features a brief appearance by Marcus Gilbert (Biggles / Army of Darkness) talking about his roles in Howard’s comics…

Clockwise from top left - Dragon Soccer and The many worlds of Jonas Moore directed by Howard Webster, Rumble Strip by Woodrow Phoenix and Pants Ant by Woodrow Phoenix and Louise Evans

Clockwise from top left - Dragon Soccer and The many worlds of Jonas Moore directed by Howard Webster, Rumble Strip by Woodrow Phoenix and Pants Ant by Woodrow Phoenix and Louise Evans

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other episodes you can download, please visit the home of this episode at www.sci-fi-london.com

Links: Woodrow Phoenix‘s website
Buy Rumble Strip from Myriad Editions
Louis (Felt Mistress) Evans’ felt renderings of Woodrow’s Pants Ant featured on her flickr pages

Howard Webster‘s website featuring the Dragon Soccer promo starring Marcus Gilbert
The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore website featuring the latest ‘Nazi Germany’ promo starring Colin Salmon

Recommended events:

Becky Cloonan at Orbital Comics

The art of American comic book artist Becky Cloonan is on display at Orbital Comics from 20th August to 20th September. Best known for her collaborartions with writer Brian Wood, the exhibtion curated by Tom Humberstone includes around 20 original pieces of work on show as well as some limited screenprints, postcard sets and a hand-painted guitar (only on display the first weekend of the show).

8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA
www.orbitalcomics.com

Hypercomics events at the Pump House Gallery and nearby

Sunday 22nd August, 12 noon – 6pm: Comiket – a small press comics fair being held in a marquee outside the venue which also features a drop in workshop for kids on character design. FREE
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Panel Borders: A tour of Hypercomics

Panel Borders: A tour of Hypercomics

In an extra additional Summer podcast of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch introduces a walking tour by Paul Gravett of the Hypercomics: The Shapes of Comics exhibition he’s curated at the Pump House Gallery in Battersea Park, featuring work by Adam Dant, Dave McKean, Warren Pleece and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey who additionally joins Paul to talk about his contribution to the exhibition and poster display outside.

Hypercomics: the shape of comics to come is on now until 26th of September at Pump House Gallery, Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ …

The Battersea Pump House Gallery with Hypercomics by Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, Dave McKean and Warren Pleece beyond

The Battersea Pump House Gallery with Hypercomics by Daniel Merlin Goodbrey, Dave McKean and Warren Pleece beyond

For more info about this podcast and a variety of formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Info about the Hypercomics: The Shapes of Comics exhibition at comicafestival.com and pumphousegallery.org.uk
Wikipedia pages on Dave McKean, Adam Dant, Warren Pleece and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey

Listen to Martin Myrone and Gerald Scarfe’s tour of Rude Britannia at Tate Britain (closes 05/09/10)

Recommended events:

Becky Cloonan at Orbital Comics

The art of American comic book artist Becky Cloonan is on display at Orbital Comics from 20th August to 20th September. Best known for her collaborartions with writer Brian Wood, the exhibtion curated by Tom Humberstone includes around 20 original pieces of work on show as well as some limited screenprints, postcard sets and a hand-painted guitar (only on display the first weekend of the show).
Becky herself will be in London on the 20th and will be available to chat to and sign books/art at the private view (8-10 pm 20th August 2010). There will also, as with all private views, be some free drink.

8 Great Newport Street
London WC2H 7JA
www.orbitalcomics.com

Hypercomics events at the Pump House Gallery and nearby

Sunday 22nd August, 12 noon – 6pm: Comiket – a small press comics fair being held in a marquee outside the venue which also features a drop in workshop for kids on character design. FREE
Continue reading

I’m ready for my close-up: 3 Zombies, 2001 Maniacs and a Chainsaw Massacre!

I’m ready for my close-up: 3 Zombies, 2001 Maniacs and a Chainsaw Massacre!

Originally broadcast 30/07/10 on Resonance 104.4 FM

Alex Fitch talks to actor Bill Moseley about his career in the horror film genre, and the continuing occurrence of sequels and remakes in his work, from appearing in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness in the 1980s, the remake of Night of the Living Dead in the 90s (and its forthcoming animated prequel), a trio of Rob Zombie films, including House of 1,000 corpses and The Devil’s Rejects and the recently released sequel to a Herschell Gordon Lewis ‘classic’: 2001 Maniacs – Field of Screams….

The many faces of Bill Moseley

The many faces of Bill Moseley

To download / stream this radio interview in a variety of formats, please visit www.archive.org

Links: Wikipedia pages on Bill Moseley, 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams and Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D
Official 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams website
Listen to Alex’s interview with Bill Moseley’s Army of Darkness co-star, Bruce Campbell

Electric Sheep podcast: The films of Vincenzo Natali

Electric Sheep podcast: The films of Vincenzo Natali

Partially broadcast 23/07/10 as part of an episode of I’m ready for my close-up on Resonance 104.4 FM

To coincide with the release of the new Sci-Fi thriller Splice, in which scientists Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley create a dangerous half human hybrid via genetic manipulation, Alex Fitch talks to director Vincenzo Natali about the film and the other three movies he’s collaborated on with actor David Hewlett: Cypher, Nothing , the cult classic Cube and his forthcoming adaptation of William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer…

Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody being directed by Vincenzo Natali on the set of Splice

Sarah Polley and Adrien Brody being directed by Vincenzo Natali on the set of Splice

More for more information and a variety of formats you can stream / download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org

Links: Wikipedia pages on Splice, Vincenzo Natali and David Hewlett
Official Splice website
Splice trailers at apple.com

Read Alex’s reviews of Splice and Cube

Listen to Alex’s interview with David Hewlett about working with Vincenzo Natali

Reality Check: David Hewlett from Cube to Splice

Reality Check: David Hewlett from Cube to Splice

Partially broadcast 23/07/10 as part of an episode of I’m ready for my close-up on Resonance 104.4 FM

Alex Fitch talks to actor David Hewlett about the four films he’s made with director Vincenzo Natali – Cypher, Nothing, the cult classic Cube and their new film Splice, which is in cinemas now. David also talks about his interest in William Gibson’s Neuromancer and his directorial debut A Dog’s Breakfast…

The cast of Splice by Vincenzo Natali - Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Simona Maicanescu and David Hewlett

The cast of Splice by Vincenzo Natali - Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Simona Maicanescu and David Hewlett

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other episodes you can download, please visit the home of this episode at www.sci-fi-london.com

Links: Wikipedia pages on Splice, Vincenzo Natali and David Hewlett
Official Splice website
Splice trailers at apple.com
David Hewlett’s website – www.dgeek.com
Read Alex’s reviews of Splice and Cube
Read an interview with Vincenzo Natali about Splice at www.sci-fi-london.com
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Reality Check: Whedonesque

Reality Check: Whedonesque

Alex Fitch talks to a couple of actors who initially found fame working in TV productions created by Joss Whedon – Morena Baccarin, in an extract from a Q and A recorded at the Apple store in London to celebrate the arrival of the first season of the remake of V becoming available on iTunes – and, in a Q and A recorded after a screening of the new SF comedy Drones at this year’s Spring Sci-Fi London festival, Jonathan Woodward talks about what it’s like playing a human in an office full of aliens.

Morena Baccarin becomes a US citizen in V while Jonathan Woodward works in an office full of Drones

Morena Baccarin becomes a US citizen in V while Jonathan Woodward works in an office full of Drones

For more info about this podcast and a variety of other episodes you can download, please visit the home of this episode at www.sci-fi-london.com

Links: Wikipedia pages on V, Morena Baccarin and Jonathan Woodward

To download the hour long version of the V Q and A, also featuring Elizabeth Mitchell and Scott Wolf, please visit the iTunes store, where you can also buy the entire first season

Morena Baccarin’s website

For more infomation about Drones, please visit the offical homepage: www.dronesmovie.com

Jonathan Woodward’s website

For more info about all things Joss Whedon related, please visit www.whedonesque.com
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Panel Borders: The art of Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon

Panel Borders: The art of Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon

In the second of two episodes looking at Latin American comics, Alex Fitch is talking to Brazilian comic book artists Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon about their work from titles such as the horror graphic novel Pixu to the surreal superhero comic The Umbrella Academy written by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way…

Excerpts from The Umbrella Academy by Gabriel Ba & Gerard Way and De:tales by Ba and Fabio Moon

Excerpts from The Umbrella Academy by Gabriel Ba & Gerard Way and De:tales by Ba and Fabio Moon

For more info about this podcast and a variety of formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org

Links: Bá and Moon’s blog
Wikipedia pages on Gabriel Bá, Fábio Moon and The Umbrella Academy
Read
the first 9 pages of Daytripper by Bá and Moon and The Umbrella Academy: Safe and Sound by Gabriel Bá and Gerard Way
Read an an interview with Bá and Moon from The Comics Journal

Recommended events:

Comics at The London Literature Festival

The London Literature Festival runs from July 1st – 18th at The South Bank Centre in London and features a multitude of talks, panels and presentations on the world of books. Comics are represented at the festival in a couple of events including:

Martin Rowson talks about adapting the ‘anti-novel: The Life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, gentleman into graphic novel format – Saturday 3 July 2010 – 4 pm

Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá talk about their careers so far as Brazilian comic creators who have found critical acclaim producing work for the US market – hosted by Jamie McKelvieMonday 5 July 2010 – 7pm

‘Wallstrip’: Moon and Bá, in collaboration with local young people and artists, are creating a wall-sized comic strip on the ramp alongside Queen Elizabeth Hall, reflecting the stories and characters they meet throughout the festival.
Friday 9 July – from 9am (on display until Monday 30 August)

More info at www.londonlitfest.com
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