Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Today’s show: Fear and Fantasy
September 21, 2016
Today at 5.30pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Fear and Fantasy
Cover of Tarzan on Film, posters for Creature Designers and Rupture
The monthly show about world cinema and cult releases. Electric Sheep Magazine editor Virginie Sélavy talks to Steven Shainberg about his new film Rupture and takes part in a Q and A with director Guillermo del Toro about the documentary Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex, recorded at Fantasia Festival, Montreal. Also, ESM assistant editor Alex Fitch discusses the comprehensive history of ‘Tarzan on Film’ published by Titan Books, with author Scott Tracy Griffin. Plus classic tracks from Carlos Casal Jr, Johnny Burnette, The Deadly Ones and Glenn Reeves!
5.30pm Wednesday 21st September, repeated 6am Sunday 25th September 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Transcript of Virginie’s interview with Steven Shainberg
Info about Titan Books’ Tarzan on Film
Buy Creature Designers – The Frankenstein Complex on DVD from amazon.co.uk
Tomorrow’s show: Recycling Americana
September 6, 2016
Tomorrow at 5.30pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Recycling Americana
Extract from Last Driver by Chris Baker and Shaky Kane / photo of Kane, Fitch and Baker / excerpt from City Strips issue 4 by Stuart Bannock
Alex Fitch talks to a trio of comic book creators who recycle ideas and art from American pop culture to create new stories and comics. In an interview recorded at Safari Festival, Alex talks to Chris Baker and Shaky Kane about their comic The Last Driver from Dead Canary Comics, currently on Kickstarter, which combines 1960s road movies with giant irritated monsters. Kane also discusses his comic Cowboys and Insects which is about to receive a new print edition. Also: Stuart Bannocks discusses about his ‘zine City Strips which collages panels from superhero comics with the hero removed, to create a travelogue of fictional cities such as Batman’s Gotham.
5.30pm Wednesday 7th September, repeated 6am Sunday 11th September 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
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Tomorrow’s show: Summer Shockers
July 19, 2016
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Summer Shockers
Still and Blu-Ray cover of Suture / Frightfest 2016 poster
Electric Sheep Magazine assistant editor Alex Fitch presents a couple of interviews regarding films to chill the soul during the summer heatwave. Suture directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel discuss their classic 90s neo-noir as it sees a new release on Blu-Ray in the UK from Arrow, and FrightFest founder and programmer Alan Jones explores the various examples of international gore screening in this year’s festival at Vue Shepherd’s Bush. Plus classic tracks from Can, Tom Jones and Salsa Picante.
8pm Wednesday 20th July, repeated 9am Thursday 21st July 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Info about Frightfest 2016
Info about the Arrow Blu-Ray release of Suture
Today’s show: Gay Manga
July 12, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Gay Manga
Sketch of the Gay Manga panel by artist Myfanwy Nixon
Alex Fitch talks to Ilya, Inko, Chie Kutsuwada and Emma Vieceli about gay representation in manga and Japanese style comics, including the phenomenon of Yaoi, titles that have inspired them, and LGBT characters in their own work. Recorded at Graphic Brighton 2015, University of Brighton
8pm Tuesday 12th July, repeated 9am Wednesday 13th July 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
Links: Emma Vieceli’s blog
Inko’s blog
Chie Kutsuwada’s blog
Page on Ilya on the British Council website
Tonight’s show: Looking East / Thalma Goldman
June 15, 2016
Tonight at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Looking East / Thalma Goldman
Cover of Thalma, An Artists Life by Richard Hallam and Sylvie Venet-Tupy / posters for Duke Fest, Temple Cinema and EEFF
In this month’s show, Electric Sheep editor Virginie Selavy talks to East End Film Festival programmer Andrew Simpson, Masonic Temple programmer Josh Saco, and to Evrim Ersoy, programmer and presenter of DukeFest the Third. Electric Sheep assistant editor Alex Fitch discusses Israeli-born British artist and animator Thalma Goldman with Richard Hallam and Sylvie Venet-Tupy, authors of Thalma, An Artist’s Life. Plus an extract from a conversation between Austrian filmmaker Peter Tscherkassky and British director Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio, The Duke of Burgundy) recorded at the ICA. With music by The White Stripes and The Sex Pistols.
8pm Wednesday 15th June, repeated 9am Thursday 16th June 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.) (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Words and Pictures
June 13, 2016
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Words and Pictures
Art from The Opportunity, An Android Awakes, Romeo and Juliet by Will Volley / An Android Awakes by Mike French and Karl Brown
Alex Fitch talks to Will Volley about his new noir tinged graphic novel The Opportunity published by Myriad Editions and creating art for adaptions of Romeo and Juliet, and An Inspector Calls for Classical Comics. Also Mike French and Karl Brown discuss their illustrated novel An Android Awakes which mixes short stories and comics to create a hybrid between text and sequential art. (Interviews recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton)
8pm Tuesday 14th June, repeated 9am Wednesday 15th June 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
Links: An Android Awakes website
Info about The Opportunity on Myriad Editions website
Info about Romeo and Juliet and An Inspector Calls on Classical Comics website
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: James Bond – Kill Command
June 10, 2016
Vanessa Kirby and friend in Kill Command / Barry Nelson, Peter Lorre et al. in Casino Royale (1954)
James Bond – Kill Command: The monthly show about cult and world cinema. In this month’s show, Electric Sheep Assistant editor Alex Fitch talks to the director – Steven Gomez – and cinematographer – Simon Dennis – of a excellent new British Sci-Fi thriller, Kill Command, about robots and drones in an army training exercise going on a murderous rampage, in a Q and A recorded at Hackney PictureHouse as part of SCI-FI-LONDON 2016. Also, University of Reading Professor of Television and Film Jonathan Bignell discusses the influences and connections that 1950s television had on the production of the early James Bond films and novels (Recorded at University of Brighton, Film and Screen Seminar, November 2015). Featuring classic tracks by Pink Floyd, Jimmy Lloyd and Dionne Warwick.
Originally broadcast as a ‘Clear Spot’, 17th May 2016 on Resonance 104.4 FM; The Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am, on Resonance FM.
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download. (more…)
Tomorrow’s show – James Bond: Kill Command
May 17, 2016
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show – James Bond: Kill Command
Vanessa Kirby and friend in Kill Command / Barry Nelson, Peter Lorre et al. in Casino Royale (1954)
The monthly show about cult and world cinema. In this month’s show, Electric Sheep Assistant editor Alex Fitch talks to the director – Steven Gomez – and cinematographer – Simon Dennis – of a excellent new British Sci-Fi thriller, Kill Command, about robots and drones in an army training exercise going on a murderous rampage, in a Q and A recorded at Hackney PictureHouse as part of SCI-FI-LONDON 2016. Also, University of Reading Professor of Television and Film Jonathan Bignell discusses the influences and connections that 1950s television had on the production of the early James Bond films and novels (Recorded at University of Brighton, Film and Screen Seminar, November 2015). Featuring classic tracks by Pink Floyd, Jimmy Lloyd and Dionne Warwick.
Kill Command will be showing on Sky Movies, Summer 2016
8pm Wednesday 17th May, repeated 9am Thursday 18th May 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.) (more…)
Today’s show: Exploring Avery Hill
May 10, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Exploring Avery Hill
Avery Hill logo + art by Rachael Smith, Tillie Walden, Matt Swan, Edie OP and Owen Pomery
A special episode looking at the output of Avery Hill Publishing: Alex Fitch talks to various creators and staff at this young British Comic Book company about their varied output. In a round table panel discussion Avery Hill co-publisher Dave White, publicity agent Katriona Chapman, plus artists Edie O.P., Matthew Swan, and Owen Pomery discuss moving from self publishing to having a company to help promote your work.
Also Rachael Smith talks about her latest title The Rabbit and drawing back-up strips for Doctor Who comics, and Tillie Walden discusses her work for the company including The City Inside and The End of Summer plus her Eisner Award nominated graphic novella I Love This Part.
8pm Tuesday 10th May, repeated 9am Wednesday 11th May 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.) (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Skolimowski and Kinoteka
April 19, 2016
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Skolimowski and Kinoteka
Stills from the Shout and 11 Minutes by Jerzy Skolimowski / Cosmos by Andrzej Zulawski
The monthly show about cult and world cinema. Celebrating this year’s Polish Film Festival Kinoteka, Alex Fitch talks to Oscar winning producer Jeremy Thomas and director Jerzy Skolimowski about the latter’s work on such films as The Shout, Essential Killing, and his latest movie 11 Minutes. Virginie Selavy talks to writer and filmmaker Daniel Bird about the late director Andrzej Zulawski, and his translation of the director’s Cosmos. With classic tracks by Blondie, Otis Spann, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheel. Kinokteka continues at various London venues until 28th April, with Skolimowski’s autobiographical trilogy screening at Close-up between 22nd and 24th April, and a musical tribute to Zulawski at Rich Mix on the 22nd.
8pm Wednesday 20th April, repeated 9am Thursday 21st April 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Electric Sheep Film Show on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
Links: Kinoteka website
Listen to Alex’s 2010 interview with Andrzej Zulawski (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Children of the Future
April 11, 2016
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM and DAB, Panel Borders: Children of the Future
Cover and interior art from Space Dumplings by Craig Thompson, and The Arab of the Future by Riad Sattouf
Alex Fitch talks to two cartoonists whose comics feature young protagonists and offer hope for the future. Eisner Award winning artist Craig Thompson discusses his first full colour graphic novel Space Dumplings, an uproarious depiction of adventure and galactic travel published by Faber, in which the daughter of an interstellar salvage man goes on a trip of her own meeting aliens, giant robots and space whales.
Also, Charlie Hebdo alumnus Riad Sattouf describes the first volume of his autobiographical strips about growing up in France, and the Middle East published as The Arab of the Future by Two Roads Books. Alex and Riad explore how the book relates to the latter’s experiences as a film-maker and his interest in Victorian serialised entertainment by Dickens and Hergé.
8pm Tuesday 12th April, repeated 9am Wednesday 13th April 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.) (more…)
Today’s show: Ballard and the Seventies
March 16, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Electric Sheep Film Show: Ballard and the Seventies
Still from Crash by Harley Cokeliss / ‘Memory Box: About my Father’ by Fay Ballard / Still from High-Rise
The March episode of the Electric Sheep Film Show is a J.G. Ballard special: ESM editor in chief Virginie Sélavy talks to his daughter, artist Fay Ballard, to director Harley Cokeliss, who made a version of Crash featuring J.G. Ballard for the BBC in 1971, and to director Ben Wheatley about his new adaptation of High-Rise, which is out in cinemas on 18 March. With classic tracks by The Shangri-Las and The Specials. (Edited and introduced by Alex Fitch)
The Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.
8pm Wednesday 16th March, repeated 9am Thursday 17th March 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Fay Ballard’s website
Watch Crash (1971) by Harley Cokeliss
Read Virginie’s 2012 interview with Ben Wheatley
High-Rise official website
Today’s show: Action – The Story of a Violent Comic
March 8, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Panel Borders: Action – The Story of a Violent Comic
The most notorious cover of Action, and the issue never printed / Barker, Mills and McCarthy at Graphic Brighton and Cine-Excess (photo by Lisa Mills) / cover of The Story of a Violent Comic by Martin Barker
Guest presenter Professor Martin Barker (University of Aberystwyth) investigates the story of Britain’s notorious Action comic, which was launched on Valentine’s Day and banned by Halloween in 1976. Professor Barker explores the rise and fall of the comic, what elements of the strips were censored and censured, and how the legacy of Action was continued in “The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic” – 2000AD. Also, in a panel discussion entitled: “Poor, angry white kids”, Barker discusses Action with its writer Pat Mills and 2000AD artist Jim McCarthy. Edited, and recorded at Graphic Brighton / Cine-Excess 2015 by Alex Fitch.
8pm Tuesday 8th March, repeated 9am Wednesday 9th March 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) (more…)
Today’s show: Frankenstein revived / Superman Lives
February 17, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Electric Sheep Film Show: Frankenstein revived / Superman Lives
Blu-Ray cover for Frankenstein (2015) / Asia House Film Festival flyer / Jon Schnepp interviewed by Alex Fitch at BFI Southbank / The Death of Superman Lives poster
In the February episode of the Electric Sheep Film Show, Electric Sheep Magazine editor assistant editor Alex Fitch talks to Jasper Sharp, artistic director of the Asia House Film Festival, which runs from 22 February, to actor Tony Todd about Bernard Rose’s new adaptation of Frankenstein, and to the director (Jon Schnepp) and producers (Holly Payne, Robert Pierce) of the documentary The Death of Superman Lives. With classic tracks by The Clique, Klark Kentt and The Crystals.
The Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.
8pm Wednesday 17th February, repeated 9am Thursday 18th February 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) (more…)
Today’s show: Comix Creatrix
February 9, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Panel Borders: Comix Creatrix
Clockwise from top left: Interior art and cover of The Inflatable Woman by Rachael Ball, covers of The Black Feather Falls and Undertow by Ellen Lindner, photo of some Comix Creatrix by Paul Grover, covers of Vision #2 and Supreme: Blue Rose #1 by Tula Lotay
Alex Fitch talks to three comic book creators featured in the all female exhibition Comix Creatrix, on display at House of Illustration, Granary Square, London which includes work by 100 artists from the Eighteenth Century to the present day. Ellen Lindner discusses her latest graphic novel, the Edwardian Murder Mystery The Black Feather Falls published by Soaring Penguin Press, in a Q and A recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, in Brew Brothers Tea Shop, Kendal, and Rachael Ball talks about her return to comics with the epic magical realist tome The Inflatable Woman published by Bloomsbury, as well as her previous history working in the medium in Deadline Magazine, recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton. Also, Tula Lotay (a.k.a. Lisa Wood) explores her work in serialised comics such as Image Comics’ Elephantmen and Supreme: Blue Rose, her stewardship of the Leeds comics festival, Thought Bubble, and her thoughts on the importance of the Comix Creatrix Exhibition. (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
8pm Tuesday 9th February, repeated 9am Wednesday 10th February 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) (more…)
Today’s show: Brain Pickings and Cigarette Burns
January 20, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Electric Sheep Film Show: Brain Pickings and Cigarette Burns
Rich Pickings logo, Who Killed Teddy Bear poster, Erika Lust photo
In the January episode of the Electric Sheep Film Show, Electric Sheep Magazine editor in chief Virginie Sélavy and assistant editor Alex Fitch talk to Rich Pickings director Carla MacKinnon, about their new series of science and art events titled Inside Out, which explore the human experience through film and discussion. They also talk to Josh Saco, head of celluloid promotion outfit Cigarette Burns, about their Twisted Valentine screening of 1965 seedy gem Who Killed Teddy Bear at the Barbican. Plus an interview with female-centred erotic film maker Erika Lust.
The Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.
8pm Wednesday 20th January, repeated 9am Thursday 21st January 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Today’s show: Drawn from life
January 12, 2016
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Panel Borders: Drawn from life
Excerpts from Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua, Behind the Curtain by Klimowski and Schejbal, Just so happens by Fumio Obata, plus Fitch and Obata at Cartoon County (photo by Corinne Pearlman)
In the first Panel Borders of 2016, Alex Fitch talks to four cartoonists who work in biography and autobiography. Andrzej Klimowski and Danusia Schejbal discuss their memoir about life in 1970s communist Warsaw – Behind the Curtain – and Sydney Padua explores her fictionalised account of the birth of computing – The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage – in a panel discussion recorded at Stoke Newington Literary Festival, 2015.
Also, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, Alex talks to Fumio Obata about his graphic novel Just so happens, which fictionalises his experiences of working as an artist in England and Japan, and his web comics about the Fukushima disaster. (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
8pm Tuesday 12th January, repeated 9am Wednesday 13th January 2016, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: The Ersatz Doctors
December 20, 2015
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM, Clear Spot: The Ersatz Doctors
Sylvester McCoy with Tim Treloar / Carole Ann Ford with John Guilor / David Troughton / Jon Culshaw
In the last Clear Spot of 2015, Alex Fitch looks at the actors who have been hired to play incarnations of Doctor Who after the original actors have passed on or retired. While the programme has a built in fiction for the constant recasting of the lead role, fans have had a desire to still see and hear new adventures for the 1960s and 70s versions of Doctor Who, and these have begun to be made and licenced by the BBC for broadcast on digital radio, television and download.
Alex talks to impressionist Jon Culshaw about playing Tom Baker – otherwise known as the Fourth Doctor – in Dead Ringers, and audiobooks such as The Ark in Space; to actor David Troughton about channeling his father Patrick as an ersatz Second Doctor on BBC Radio 4extra; to John Guilor about providing a new voice for William Hartnell’s First Doctor in reconstructed ‘missing’ scenes for BBC DVDs; and to Tim Treloar about continuing the adventures of the Third Doctor in Big Finish audio plays, now that Jon Petwee is no longer with us.
8pm Monday 21st December 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com (more…)
Today’s show: Pop Culture
December 16, 2015
Today at 8pm on Resonance FM, Electric Sheep Film Show: Pop Culture
Poster for Alice in Wonderland at the British Library, publicity still for The Avengers with Patrick MacNee and Honor Blackman, poster for Future Shock
In the December episode of the Electric Sheep Film Show, ESM editor in chief Virginie Sélavy and assistant editor Alex Fitch explore film and pop culture.
Celebrating her recent 90th birthday, in an interview recorded at the London Film Museum, Alex talks to legendary British actress Honor Blackman about Goldfinger, Doctor Who and the cult 1960s TV series The Avengers, plus producer Sean Hogan discusses Future Shock: The Story of 2000AD, a documentary that charts the development of the seminal British comic.
Also, Virginie chats to curator Helen Melody about the Alice in Wonderland exhibition at the British Library, and the varying adapations of Alice on screen over the years.
The Electric Sheep Film Show continues on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.
8pm Wednesday 16th December, repeated 9am Thursday 17th November 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Comics for all ages
December 7, 2015
Tomorrow at 8pm on Resonance FM, Panel Borders: Comics for all ages
Star Wars comics by Jeffrey Brown / Ratz by Emerson and Howell + Little Plum by Hunt Emerson from the Beano
In a seasonal edition of Panel Borders, looking at comics that might be enjoyed by readers of all ages over the Christmas period, this month’s show includes interviews with creators who have worked on periodicals and graphic novels aimed at children and adults. Alex Fitch talks to writers / artists Laura Howell and Hunt Emerson who have contributed a number of strips to The Beano since 2002, including Little Plum, Ratz, Minnie the Minx and more, in an interview recorded at Caption comics festival, Coventry.
Also, guest presenter (and cartoonist) Marc Ellerby talks to American graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown whose work varies from self-depricating autobiographical titles to a variety of Star Wars illustrated books for kids including Jedi Academy and Vader’s Little Princess, in a Q and A recorded at Gosh! Comics, London. (Panel Borders continues on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 8pm, repeated the following day at 9am.)
8pm Tuesday 8th December, repeated 9am Wednesday 9th October 2015, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) (more…)
