Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Panel Borders: From Wonderland with love
May 27, 2010 — 1 Comment
Panel Borders:
From Wonderland with love
Originally broadcast 27/05/10 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM
Extracts from From Wonderland with love by Jacob Ørsted with Søren Mosdal and Simon Bukhave
In the last of this month’s shows about ‘cross-cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to Steffen P. Maarup about the collection of Danish comics he’s edited and translated into English: From Wonderland with love – Danish comics in the third Millennium, an anthology that surveys the current comics scene in Denmark and collects creators from outside the world of comics also, including illustrators and fine artists alongside their sequential art peers. Alex and Steffen also talk about the wider world of Danish comics, including Danes who have found work on American titles and the controversy over the dozen cartoon illustrations printed in the Jyllands-Posten (Jutland Post) which led to death threats for the creators.
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: Steffen’s publishing company – Aben Maler
The Comics Journal message board thread on From Wonderland with love
Info about Komiks.dk – the International Comics festival in Copenhagen
Recommended events:
London ‘zine symposium
Saturday 29th May 2010, The Rag Factory, off Brick Lane, London sees the finest ‘zine, small press comics, art pamplet and radical literature creators convene for this one day festival. Badges, cakes, prints and comix!
The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ / www.londonzinesymposium.org.uk
Spring 2010 MCM Expo
…or heading further East, is this first of this year’s MCM Expos in the London Docklands – cast and crew from SF series Caprica, Fringe and Stargate: Universe rub shoulders with some of the top UK comic creators such as Ben Templesmith, Jock, Paul Cornell, Richard Starkings, Andy Diggle, Paul Duffield, Marc Ellerby, Kieron Gillen, Gary Northfield, Jamie McKelvie, Daniel Merlin Goodbury, Emma Vieceli, Jon Scrivens, Sarah McIntyre, Melody Lee, Gary Erskine, Oliver Lambden, John Aggs, Lizz Lunney, Ilya, Ian Churchill, Simon Spurrier and Kevin Maguire!
Saturday 29th / 30th May, Excel Centre, Docklands, London E16 1XL / www.londonexpo.com
Today’s show: From Wonderland with love
May 27, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
Strip!: From Wonderland with love
Extracts from From Wonderland with love by Jacob Ørsted with Søren Mosdal and Simon Bukhave
In the last of this month’s shows about ‘cross-cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to Steffen P. Maarup about the collection of Danish comics he’s edited and translated into English: From Wonderland with love – Danish comics in the third Millennium, an anthology that surveys the current comics scene in Denmark and collects creators from outside the world of comics also, including illustrators and fine artists alongside their sequential art peers. Alex and Steffen also talk about the wider world of Danish comics, including Danes who have found work on American titles and the controversy over the dozen cartoon illustrations printed in the Jyllands-Posten (Jutland Post) which led to death threats for the creators.
5pm 27/05/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Steffen’s publishing company – Aben Maler
The Comics Journal message board thread on From Wonderland with love
Info about Komiks.dk – the International Comics festival in Copenhagen
Recommended events:
London ‘zine symposium
Saturday 29th May 2010, The Rag Factory, off Brick Lane, London sees the finest ‘zine, small press comics, art pamplet and radical literature creators convene for this one day festival. Badges, cakes, prints and comix!
The Rag Factory, Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ / www.londonzinesymposium.org.uk
Spring 2010 MCM Expo
…or heading further East, is this first of this year’s MCM Expos in the London Docklands – cast and crew from SF series Caprica, Fringe and Stargate: Universe rub shoulders with some of the top UK comic creators such as Ben Templesmith, Jock, Paul Cornell, Richard Starkings, Andy Diggle, Paul Duffield, Marc Ellerby, Kieron Gillen, Gary Northfield, Jamie McKelvie, Daniel Merlin Goodbury, Emma Vieceli, Jon Scrivens, Sarah McIntyre, Melody Lee, Gary Erskine, Oliver Lambden, John Aggs, Lizz Lunney, Ilya, Ian Churchill, Simon Spurrier and Kevin Maguire!
Saturday 29th / 30th May, Excel Centre, Docklands, London E16 1XL / www.londonexpo.com
Reality Check: The Arthur C. Clarke Awards 2010
May 26, 2010 — 2 Comments
Reality Check:
The Arthur C. Clarke Awards 2010
Three of the Clarke Award nominees: Spirit by Gwyneth Jones, Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts and The City and The City by China Mieville
In the first of this year’s podcasts recorded at the most recent Sci-Fi London Festival, Graham Sleight and Alex Fitch talk to nominees for this year’s Arthur C. Clarke awards for SF literature and Graham also discusses this year’s short list with critic Niall Harrison. Authors discussing their work include China Miéville, Gwyneth Jones and Adam Roberts…
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: Clarke Awards website
Graham Sleight’s website
Niall Harrison‘s magazine Vector
Adam Roberts’ website
Gwyneth Jones’ website
China Miéville’s author’s page at Pan / MacMillan
2009 / 2008 Clarke Awards podcasts
(more…)
I’m ready for my close-up: Shooting Paradise
May 24, 2010 — 3 Comments
I’m ready for my close-up:
Shooting Paradise
Originally broadcast 21/05/10 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Still from Paradise by Michael Almereyda
Alex Fitch talks to Michael Almereyda about his new film Paradise, which is currently screening at the ICA and shows the director’s typically avant-garde approach to the travelogue film by collating his home movie footage from the last decade into a thematic sequence of vignettes about the modern world. Alex also talks to Michael about working with David Lynch on the belated Dracula sequel Nadja, Wim Wenders on the script for Until the end of the world and making Hamlet with Ethan Hawke…
To download / stream this radio interview in a variety of formats, please visit www.archive.org
Links: Buy tickets for Paradise at the ICA
Michael Almereyda pages on Wikipedia and the IMDb
Recommended events:
Solipsistic Pop 2 at Orbital Comics
Pencil artwork from Solipsistic Pop 2 cover
Contributors: Kristyna Baczynski, Becky Barnicoat, Adam Cadwell, Stephen Collins, Joe Decie, Marc Ellerby, Sally Hancox, Anne Holiday, Tom Humberstone, Philippa Johnson, Daniel Locke, Lizz Lunney, Jack Noel, Mark Oliver, Luke Pearson, Octavia Raitt, Anna Saunders, Julia Scheele, Matthew Sheret, and Matilda Tristram.
Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA
(more…)
Today’s show: Shooting Paradise
May 21, 2010
Today on Resonance FM…
I’m ready for my close-up: Shooting Paradise
Still from Paradise by Michael Almereyda
Alex Fitch talks to Michael Almereyda about his new film Paradise, which is currently screening at the ICA and shows the director’s typically avant-garde approach to the travelogue film by collating his home movie footage from the last decade into a thematic sequence of vignettes about the modern world. Alex also talks to Michael about working with David Lynch on the belated Dracula sequel Nadja, Wim Wenders on the script for Until the end of the world and making Hamlet with Ethan Hawke…
5pm 21/05/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com
Links: Buy tickets for Paradise at the ICA
Michael Almereyda pages on Wikipedia and the IMDb
Recommended events:
City of Abacus at The Book Club
Throughout May at The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.
Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com
Solipsistic Pop 2 at Orbital Comics
Pencil artwork from Solipsistic Pop 2 cover
Contributors: Kristyna Baczynski, Becky Barnicoat, Adam Cadwell, Stephen Collins, Joe Decie, Marc Ellerby, Sally Hancox, Anne Holiday, Tom Humberstone, Philippa Johnson, Daniel Locke, Lizz Lunney, Jack Noel, Mark Oliver, Luke Pearson, Octavia Raitt, Anna Saunders, Julia Scheele, Matthew Sheret, and Matilda Tristram.
There is a private view on the opening night where many artists will be available to talk to and sign books. Prints, comics and original artwork will be on sale from the majority of contributors, plus there will be music and refreshments.
Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA
(more…)
Panel Borders: Manga Jiman 2010
May 20, 2010 — 6 Comments
Panel Borders:
Manga Jiman 2010
Edited version broadcast 20/05/10 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM
Excerpts from Manga Jiman winning entries in 2010 by Yuri Kore, Zarina Liew and David Lander
Continuing ‘cross cultural comics month’ on the show, we’re looking at the winners of last year’s Manga Jiman (Pride in Manga) competiton run by the Japanese Embassy in London to find the best new Japanese style comics made in the UK. Dickon Harris talks to the runners up – Zarina Liew and David Lander - about their entries to the competition and the crossover between British small press and manga styles in their work; while Alex Fitch talks to Yuri Kore about her winning entry “The boy who runs from the sun” and drawing comics again, having moved to Britain from the Manhwa industry in Korea.
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 winners on the Embassy of Japan website
Read an ebook about the winners, including extracts from the ten shortlisted comics
Winners’ websites: Yuri Kore / Zarina Liew / David Lander
Listen to Alex’s interviews with the winners of the 2007 competition
Listen to Dickon’s previous interview with David Lander about his work
Recommended events:
City of Abacus at The Book Club
Throughout May at The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.
Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com
(more…)
Today’s show: Manga Jiman 2010
May 20, 2010
Today on Resonance FM:
Strip! – Manga Jiman 2010
Excerpts from Manga Jiman winning entries in 2010 by Yuri Kore, Zarina Liew and David Lander
Continuing ‘cross cultural comics month’ on the show, we’re looking at the winners of last year’s Manga Jiman (Pride in Manga) competiton run by the Japanese Embassy in London to find the best new Japanese style comics made in the UK. Dickon Harris talks to the runners up – Zarina Liew and David Lander - about their entries to the competition and the crossover between British small press and manga styles in their work; while Alex Fitch talks to Yuri Kore about her winning entry “The boy who runs from the sun” and drawing comics again, having moved to Britain from the Manhwa industry in Korea.
5pm 20/05/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast online tonight…
Links: Info about the winners on the Embassy of Japan website
Read an ebook about the winners, including extracts from the ten shortlisted comics
Winners’ websites: Yuri Kore / Zarina Liew / David Lander
Listen to Alex’s interviews with the winners of the 2007 competition
Listen to Dickon’s previous interview with David Lander about his work
Recommended events:
City of Abacus at The Book Club
Throughout May at The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.
Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com
(more…)
Panel Borders: British bande dessinée
May 13, 2010 — 1 Comment
Panel Borders:
British bande dessinée
Edited version broadcast 13/05/10 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM
Excerpts from Requiem Vampire Knight illustrated by Olivier Ledroit and Inspector Ryan by John Hicklenton, written by Pat Mills
Continuing our month long look at ‘cross-cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to veteran British comic book writer Pat Mills about his forays into the French market over the last 15 years, writing such titles as Sha and Requiem Vampire Knight illustrated by Olivier Ledroit which have only been released in English in the last couple of years. Alex and Pat also talk about the latter’s collaborations with the late artist John Hicklenton which have found a greater and more appreciative audience in Europe, translated into French and other European languages and released as Graphic Albums, than they did in their country of origin.
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 Requiem Vampire Knight, Pat Mills, Olivier Ledroit and John Hicklenton
Pat’s French language comics company: Nickel Editions
Read (the French language version of) Inspector Ryan by Mills and Hicklenton at 2000AD online
Read Pat’s eulogy to John on the Forbidden Planet blog
Listen to Pat’s previous appearances on the show
Recommended events:
City of Abacus at The Book Club
At The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.
Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com
Solipsistic Pop 2 at Orbital Comics
Pencil artwork from Solipsistic Pop 2 cover
Contributors: Kristyna Baczynski, Becky Barnicoat, Adam Cadwell, Stephen Collins, Joe Decie, Marc Ellerby, Sally Hancox, Anne Holiday, Tom Humberstone, Philippa Johnson, Daniel Locke, Lizz Lunney, Jack Noel, Mark Oliver, Luke Pearson, Octavia Raitt, Anna Saunders, Julia Scheele, Matthew Sheret, and Matilda Tristram.
There is a private view on the opening night where many artists will be available to talk to and sign books. Prints, comics and original artwork will be on sale from the majority of contributors, plus there will be music and refreshments.
Orbital Comics, 8 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JA
Today’s show: British bande dessinée
May 13, 2010
Today on Resonance FM:
Strip! – British bande dessinée
Excerpts from Requiem Vampire Knight illustrated by Olivier Ledroit and Inspector Ryan by John Hicklenton, written by Pat Mills
Continuing our month long look at ‘cross-cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to veteran British comic book writer Pat Mills about his forays into the French market over the last 15 years, writing such titles as Sha and Requiem Vampire Knight illustrated by Olivier Ledroit which have only been released in English in the last couple of years. Alex and Pat also talk about the latter’s collaborations with the late artist John Hicklenton which have found a greater and more appreciative audience in Europe, translated into French and other European language and released as Graphic Albums than they did in their country of origin.
5pm 13/05/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast online tonight…
Links: Wikipedia pages on Requiem Vampire Knight, Pat Mills, Olivier Ledroit and John Hicklenton
Pat’s French language comics company: Nickel Editions
Read (the French language version of) Inspector Ryan by Mills and Hicklenton at 2000AD online
Read Pat’s eulogy to John on the Forbidden Planet blog
Listen to Pat’s previous appearances on the show
Recommended events:
City of Abacus at The Book Club
At The Book Club cafe and bar in Hoxton, London there is a month long exhibtion of the art from The City of Abacus by VV Brown and David Allain, illustrated by Emma Price and Lee O’Connor.
Opening hours: 8am-late Mon-Fri, 10am-late Sat/Sun
100 Leonard Street, London EC2 4RH
More info at www.wearetbc.com
Electric Sheep podcast: Until the end of the world
May 12, 2010 — 2 Comments
Electric Sheep podcast:
Until the end of the world
Takeshi Kitano lays down the law in Battle Royale / John Hillcoat directs Viggo Mortensen in The Road
In the latest Electric Sheep podcast, we’re looking at apocalyptic movies: Virginie Sélavy talks to John Hillcoat, director of the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road in an interview recorded at last year’s London Film Festival, plus Alex Fitch talks to Helen McCarthy, a British expert on manga, anime and Japanese visual culture, in a Q and A recorded before a screening of the film Battle Royale…
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 The Road, Battle Royale and Helen McCarthy
Helen’s website
More info on Electric Sheep screenings
The latest online issue of Electric Sheep Magazine is available now and features Alex Fitch’s review of Cube, Mark Stafford’s review of Lebanon, Matthew Sheret’s review of The Temptation of St Tony, this month’s competition winning review of Battle Royale and Chris Doherty‘s comic strip review of The Card Player:
Excerpt from a comic strip review of The Card Player by Chris Doherty
electricsheepmagazine.co.uk avoids industry chit-chat and cheap abuse. The writing is confident and well-informed and the scope encompasses everywhere from Spain to South Korea. It writes about film for people who like film: a classic approach.
New Statesman 01/03/10
Today’s screening: Midnight Cowboy (1969)
May 12, 2010
Electric Sheep Film Club: Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Centring on the love story between two drifters, one a naive ‘cowboy’ from Texas turned gigolo (John Voight), the other a diseased conman (Dustin Hoffman), John Schlesinger’s Midnight Cowboy is a landmark of American 60s cinema.
Orginal American poster for Midnight Cowboy
Remarkable for its powerful, improvisatory performances, its honest depiction of urban squalor and isolation and its obligatory 60s formal flourishes, it is one of the most memorable of the hippie-era films that so poignantly convey the period’s disillusion over America’s broken dreams.
Certificate: 18
Dir: John Schlesinger, USA, 1969, 113 min
Guest speaker: Emma Smart, programmer for the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, will talk about cowboys and gay representation in cinema in an onstage Q&A with Electric Sheep assistant editor Alex Fitch after the film.
FILM WRITING COMPETITION:
Film students and aspiring film writers are invited to enter our film writing competition: write a 200-word review of Midnight Cowboy and send it to ladyvengeance [at] electricsheepmagazine.com, marked ‘Film writing competition’ in the subject line. Time Out film critic Tom Huddleston will select the best review. Deadline: Thursday 27 May. The selected review will be published on the Electric Sheep website in May.
Wednesday 12 May, 8.30pm, Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, WC2
More info at www.princecharlescinema.com
Links: Midnight Cowboy pages on wikipedia and the IMDb
Listen to Alex’s other interviews with Emma Smart
electricsheepmagazine.co.uk avoids industry chit-chat and cheap abuse. The writing is confident and well-informed and the scope encompasses everywhere from Spain to South Korea. It writes about film for people who like film: a classic approach.
New Statesman 01/03/10
Panel Borders: Lingua Franca
May 6, 2010
Panel Borders:
Lingua Franca: English language comics in Europe
Edited version broadcast 06/05/10 as an episode of Strip! on Resonance 104.4 FM
Display from the Jack Kirby exhibtion in Lucerne + extract from the cover of B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S. by Francesca Cassavetti
Commencing our yearly month long look at ‘Cross Cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to Paul Gravett about co-curating a gallery show on Jack Kirby in Lucerne, Switzerland and the film adaptation of the bande dessinée Largo Winch which was shot mainly in English, even though the film is a French / Belgium co-production. Alex also talks to Francesca Cassavetti, Dan Lester, Sean Azzopardi and Oliver Lambden about their anthology B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S. which was created as a survey of the best small press creators in London for dissemination at the Angoulême comics festival in France at the beginning of the year.
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:
B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S.blog
Reviews at Midnight Fiction and Forbidden Planet International
Review of Francesca’s comic book on Angoulême
Kirby at Fumetto website
More info on Dan Nadel’s blog and comicsbeat.com
Paul’s guide to the Kirby exhibition
Largo Winch at Ciné lumière – screening times
Buy the English language graphic novels from Cinebooks
Trailer at Daily Motion
(more…)
Today’s show: Lingua Franca
May 6, 2010
Today on Resonance FM:
Strip! – Lingua Franca: English language comics in Europe
Display from the Jack Kirby exhibtion in Lucerne + extract from the cover of B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S. by Francesca Cassavetti
Commencing our yearly month long look at ‘Cross Cultural comics’, Alex Fitch talks to Paul Gravett about co-curating a gallery show on Jack Kirby in Lucerne, Switzerland and the film adaptation of the bande dessinée Largo Winch which was shot mainly in English, even though the film is a French / Belgium co-production. Alex also talks to Francesca Cassavetti, Dan Lester, Sean Azzopardi and Oliver Lambden about their anthology B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S. which was created as a survey of the best small press creators in London for dissemination at the Angoulême comics festival in France at the beginning of the year.
5pm 06/05/10, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast online tonight…
Links:
B.A.S.T.A.R.D.S.blog
Reviews at Midnight Fiction and Forbidden Planet International
Kirby at Fumetto website
More info on Dan Nadel’s blog and comicsbeat.com
Largo Winch at Ciné lumière – screening times
Buy the English language graphic novels from Cinebooks
Trailer at Daily Motion
I’m ready for my close-up: A lifetime of Cult films by Joe Dante
May 1, 2010 — 3 Comments
I’m ready for my close-up:
A lifetime of Cult films by Joe Dante
Director Joe Dante and his most famous creation
Coinciding with veteran genre film maker Joe Dante receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Cine-Excess Cult film festival in London, Alex Fitch talks to the director about his career so far, concentrating on his new / old film The Movie Orgy (1968) which premièred last night at the festival. The Movie Orgy was initially a 5 hour film made of found footage spliced together by the director in the 1960s as a calling card for editing work in the industry. It succeeded in this aim, leading to a job under Roger Corman and Dante has just finished a new 90 min cut of the film for 21st Century audiences. Alex and Joe also talk about his shift from ‘adult’ horror films such as The Howling and Piranha (screening May 1st at Cine-Excess) in the 1970s to subversive family fare such as Gremlins in the 80s and the possibility of that film receiving a belated second sequel.
To download / stream this radio interview in a variety of formats, please visit www.archive.org
Links: Cine Excess website
More info about the cult film archive and MA course at Brunel University
Wikipedia and IMDb pages on Joe Dante
(more…)
