They Came From Outer Space

Can you call from the afterlife? Andy Towe joins Cameron to discuss this dark episode of the Twilight Zone. 

Released in 1961, "Long Distance Call: was written by Charles Beaumont and Bill Idleson, and directed by James Sheldon that follows a young boy named Billy (played by the 7 year old Bill Mumy) who maintains a connection to his grandmother (Played by Lili Darvas) after her passing on through a wooden phone.  

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Andy Towe is a powerhouse cinematographer, photographer and producer and a recent NYC transplant from LA. He has worked on numerous documentaries and films including anniversary features for the Twilight Zone. His latest endeavor is Andrew Towe Creative, a new firm under his direction which focuses on TV/Film and photography services for TV, Full Feature Films, Documentaries, digital media, and print/promotional projects. 

https://www.andrewtowecreative.com/about

“Script reading is like speed dating, it doesn’t take more than a few minutes or pages to tell if you’re talking to a real person.”

In Part 2 of my interview with script analyst Dan Hoffmann, we dive deep into story, truth and the elements of genre. What makes a great story regardless of genre? The answer is knowing what you are really trying to say.

“You need not to know your deep intention in the first draft, but you need to realize it. Once you do, it will change everything.”

Find out more about Dan and his work here:

https://www.scriptcounseling.com/

“Science Fiction is a genre that elevates the idea in its most pure form, it puts ideas at the center. No other genre really does that.”

Script Counselor and industry veteran Dan Hoffmann takes us through Asimov, Jules Verne, Arthur C. Clarke and a host of modern films like Interstellar, Passengers, Star Wars,  and more, charting what makes an effective entry in the science fiction genre. Dan Hoffmann has 20 years of experience in script doctoring professional screenplays for the European and American film industries,  and shares incredible wisdom on what makes sci fi great, or terrible.

“Science fiction is always about the present...you’re writing about us here and now, it has to be relevant.” - Dan Hoffmann.

Find out more about Dan and his work here: https://www.scriptcounseling.com/

"This is a story about a robot who becomes a girl" - Alex Garland

“Ex Machina”, released in 2014 by Universal and Film 4, shot in Norway and at Pinewood Studios in London, is a sci fi thriller set “10 minutes from now”, written and directed by Alex Garland (who you also wrote 28 days later, sunshine, Dredd and more recently wrote and directed “annihilation”). We follow Caleb, a young lonely coder who wins a week at his employer’s secretive estate. We find that Caleb is not there for a contest, but to be a test administrator for Nathan’s robot AI, a lovely faced automaton named Ava. Caleb quickly falls for her, and what results is a beautiful metaphor for mans inability to control his own machine.

“AI is a serious thing and I don’t think people have really caught up to it...Tesla is working on Neuralink” -George

Tom and Kendra return to TCFOS to crack wise about the HILARIOUS dark house spoof "Dark and Stormy Night" by Larry Blamire, chatting about everything from Gorillas to fast talking journalists to wild set breakdowns,

Cameron is joined by animator and project manager Ese Oteze from the Nigerian animation studio Sporedust and Will Mattimoe, local RVA filmmaker to discuss the 2000 classic Titan AE!

Released in 2000 by Fox Animation Studios, Titan A.E. (Ae meaning After Earth) starts, as one does, with the earth being totally blown to pieces. Co-directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (who also worked on All Dogs go to Heaven and Anastasia), Titan AE follows the space construction worker and son of famous inventor, Cale (voiced by Matt Damon) who is found by the nefarious Kroso (Bill Pullman) and his band of space pirates. Cale is revealed to be the living key to a second possible earth and home for humans, and the band embark on an action packed space adventure pursued by BLue Meanies- the Drej, aliens made of “pure energy”. We follow the scrappy band of humans and lizard-like friends as they maneuver for a showdown to determine the final fate of humankind in the universe.

Renamed in the DVD release as “LIVE, DIE, REPEAT”, “Edge of Tomorrow” is a time-bending Humans Vs Aliens popcorn feature directed by Doug Liman, who you may know as the director of the Bourne Identity. It was released in 2014 for Warner Brothers to only a lukewarm opening weekend. Considered one of the most underrated action films made in the 2010s, the story is based on a Japanese “light novel” (meaning manga) called “All You Need is Kill” written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka in 2004.

“In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray gets to try to become a better person. In this, Tom Cruise gets to kill more aliens."

Listen in to episode 32 recorded live from quarantine with my amazing parents Beth and Cutler Robinson.

"If I wanted a safe life, I wouldn't have married a man who studies rocks."

See Kendra's work: https://www.kendramamula.com/

Episode aired on Thursday May 21st, 2020

Cameron sits down (virtually) with Richmond based photojournalist, documentarian, photographer, and occasional DP, Senon Davis to discuss the action-packed "Equilibrium". Written and Directed by Kurt Wimmer, the story is set in a world following World War 3 where a Facist regime in the land of Libria” keeps the peace by suppressing human emotions through a drug called Prozium. We follow Christian Bale as John Preston, a “grammaton cleric” (highly ranked enforcement officer) charged with killing anyone labeled a “sense offender”.

Check out Senon's website: senondigital.com

Episode aired on WRIR on 5/7/20