Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Clear Spot: Sound and Vectrexians
October 30, 2021
Fell holds a prototype Vecribbon overlay / anticlockwise screen shots from Vecribbon, Raiding Party, Holzer Vectrex generated hand and polyhederon / Derek Holzer at Zagreb Vector Hack Festival 2018
Sound and Vectrexians: In a Clear Spot looking at new uses for the Vectrex games console, an arcade style machine by Milton Bradley from 1983, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of creators who use the machine to generate graphics paired with unique sounds. Programmer ‘Fell’ discusses his titles Raiding Party and 3D Vector Space Cab, plus forthcoming game Vecribbon, as part of the programming team Shattered Screens. Audiovisual artist Derek Holzer explains how he hacks the Vectrex to allow input of frequencies which generate complex images on the screen of the device, and can be manipulated for artistic effect.
Partially broadcast 29th October 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: Shattered Screens website including free demos and Vecribbon preorder
Derek Holzer website including article on Vector synthesis art
Videos by Derek Holzer on Vimeo and youtube
Vectrex fandom website including page on International Play Your Vectrex Day
Vectrex ProGaming Boards pages (more…)
Architecture Culture: From the City to the Suburbs (on film)
June 3, 2021
Posters for I am Ren / Minor Premise / stills from films being shown as part of ‘Return to the city’
From the City to the Suburbs (on film): In advance of the Barbican Cinema’s season ‘Return to the City’, Alex Fitch talks to cinema programmer Alex Davidson about the city-based films they are showing between 8th and 27th June, set in six different urban environments, from five different decades.
Also, in a pair of interviews recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, Alex talks to director Patricia Ryczko and actress Marta Krol about their film I am Ren (Panacea), which depicts an android / housewife who is sent to a mental institution to find out if she is human or machine, and to film-maker Eric Schultz regarding his movie Minor Premise about a neuroscientist who experiments on himself with dangerous results.
Originally broadcast Tuesday 1st June 2021 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org (more…)
Clear Spot: Vectrexians
October 29, 2020
— 4 Comments
Onscreen Vectrex graphics for “Galaxy Wars / Space Launcher” and “Every Day is Halloween” and Glowing Pumpcart Cassette by Binary Star Software + Box cover for “Vextrexians” and graphics with overlay for “Vector Patrol” by Tutsoft, Zara plays Vectrex
Vectrexians: In a Clear Spot looking at the continuing good fortunes of the Vectrex games console, an arcade style machine distributed in the UK by Milton Bradley in 1983, Alex Fitch talks to programmers Chris Malcolm and Kristof Tuts about their new games for the console, and to graphic novelist Zara Slattery about her experiences of playing the Vectrex and teenage years in arcades.
Partially broadcast 29th October 2020 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org
Links: Kristof Tuts’ website
Chris Malcolm’s website and ebay page
Zara Slattery’s website
Vectrex fandom website including page on International Play Your Vectrex Day
Vectrex ProGaming Boards pages on International Play Your Vectrex Day and the week long competition – ‘Vector War X’ (31st Oct – Nov 7th) (more…)
Today’s show: Pop Culture – Alice, Honor and 2000AD
April 10, 2020
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 a repeat of the December 2015 episode of the Electric Sheep Film Show, ESM editor in chief Virginie Sélavy and assistant editor Alex Fitch explore film and pop culture.
To commemorate the recent passing of a great British actress, 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 2015 Alice in Wonderland exhibition at the British Library, and the varying adapations of Alice on screen over the years.
8pm Friday 10th April, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended podcast (more…)
Architecture Culture: Locating Design in Fantasy Films
October 28, 2019
Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright in THX 1138 and Gattaca / Mackintosh Chair in Blade Runner / Unicorn Tapestry in Harry Potter
Locating Design in Fantasy Films: In a new monthly show looking at how Architecture is represented in Culture, Alex Fitch presents talks by artists, curators, film-makers and writers about unique representations of architecture in different media. This month, in a panel discussion chaired by National Trust Head Curator Sally-Anne Huxtable, Robyne Calvert (Glasgow School of Art), Ersi Ioannidou (Kingston University) and Xavier Dectot (Keeper of Art and Design, National Museums Scotland) discuss how architecture and interior design by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh help suggest science-fiction and fantasy worlds in genre films including Blade Runner, THX 1138, Gattaca and the Harry Potter film saga. Recorded at the Art History Association conference, University of Brighton, April 2019. (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: Star Gazing
July 26, 2019
Alex Fitch talks to Marcel Barion after a screening of The Last Land / posters for Astronaut / Fonotune / After We Leave
Star Gazing: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine podcast, Alex Fitch talks to four directors about their films on rockets and space exploration. Shelagh McLeod discusses Astronaut starring Richard Dreyfuss, Fint talks about his eclectic musical drama Fonotune: An Electric Fairytale, and Aleem Hossain explores his revenge and redemption saga After We Leave. Also director Marcel Barion, production designer Johannes Bade and Assistant director Carolin Utsch discuss surrealistic sci-fi movie The Last Land, in an interview recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON. Plus classic tracks by Iron Horse, Rilo Kiley and Commander Chris Hatfield. Originally broadcast on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB on Weds 17th July at 5.30pm. (more…)
Next week’s show: Star Gazing
July 13, 2019
On Wednesday 17th July at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Star Gazing
Alex Fitch talks to Marcel Barion after a screening of The Last Land / posters for Astronaut / Fonotune / After We Leave
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch talks to four directors about their films on rockets and space exploration. Shelagh McLeod discusses Astronaut starring Richard Dreyfuss, Fint talks about his eclectic musical drama Fonotune: An Electric Fairytale, and Aleem Hossain explores his revenge and redemption saga After We Leave. Also director Marcel Barion, production designer Johannes Bade and Assistant director Carolin Utsch discuss surrealistic sci-fi movie The Last Land, in an interview recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON. Plus classic tracks by Iron Horse, Rilo Kiley and Commander Chris Hatfield.
5.30pm Wednesday 17th July 2019, repeated 2.30am Friday 19th July, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: Innovation in Animation
April 28, 2019
Posters for Francis and Doozy directed by Richard Squires / Fantastic Mr. Fox, Frankenweenie and Isle of Dogs, line produced by Simon Quinn
Innovation in Animation: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of films which revisit old forms of animation in new and innovative ways. Director Richard Squires discusses Doozy, his semi-animated documentary about actor / Hanna-Barbera voice artist Paul Lynde, and short films Francis and Ontologically Anxious Organism, in an interview recorded at Fabrica, Brighton. Animation Line Producer Simon Quinn talks about working on classic British TV animated shows such as the turn of the century revivals of Fireman Sam and The Wombles, and stop-motion features including Frankenweenie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Isle of Dogs. The hour long broadcast of this show will be on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB on Weds 15th May at 5.30pm, repeated Fri 17th May at 2.30am. (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast: Documentary / Art
April 4, 2019
Photo of The Tent as displayed in University of Brighton gallery / stills from promotional video for Frames of Representation at the ICA
Documentary / Art: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast, Alex Fitch looks at the presentation of documentaries in art galleries. Director Kannan Arunasalam discusses his films The Tent, Kerosene and Paper being displayed in the Grand Parade Galleries, University of Brighton and at The Tetley Gallery, Leeds, which depict the effect of the Civil War on everyday life in Sri Lanka in the years that followed; ICA Cinema and Film Programme Manager Nico Marzano talks about this year’s Frames of Representation festival, which focuses on political and aesthetic approaches to documentary film. With music curated by Kieron Gillen, including tracks by Imarhan, La Luz, and Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 20th March 2019, on Resonance 104.4 FM
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Documentary / Art
March 19, 2019
On Wednesday 20th March at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Documentary / Art
Photo of The Tent as displayed in University of Brighton gallery / stills from promotional video for Frames of Representation at the ICA
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch looks at the presentation of documentaries in art galleries. Director Kannan Arunasalam discusses his films The Tent, Kerosene and Paper being displayed in the Grand Parade Galleries, University of Brighton and at The Tetley Gallery, Leeds, which depict the effect of the Civil War on everyday life in Sri Lanka in the years that followed; ICA Cinema and Film Programme Manager Nico Marzano talks about this year’s Frames of Representation festival, which focuses on political and aesthetic approaches to documentary film. With music curated by Kieron Gillen, including tracks by Imarhan, La Luz, and Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks.
5.30pm Wednesday 20th March 2019, repeated 2.30am Friday 22nd March, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Info about The Tent at the University of Brighton and Tetley Gallery
Info about Frames of Representation and Morag Keil’s solo exhibition at the ICA (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast: Dystopias and Parallel Worlds
January 18, 2019
Posters for Hidden Reserves, Nothing Really Happens and Alpha Gateway
Dystopias and Parallel Worlds: In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch looks at dystopias and parallel worlds on film in three interviews recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the London International Science Fiction and Fantastic Film Festival. On stage, Alex talks to directors Valentin Hitz and John V. Soto about their films Hidden Reserves (Stille Reserven) and Alpha Gateway which depict worlds where corporations have subjugated humanity and travel between parallels is possible, and in a chat with actor / producer Joseph Graham, the latter discusses the surrealist suburban comedy Nothing Really Happens and his webcomic Monomania. With music selected by Kieron Gillen (The Wicked and the Divine) including future classics by Madge, Hayley Heynderickx, Sylan Esso and Jonathan Bree.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 16th January 2019, on Resonance 104.4 FM (more…)
Next week’s show: Dystopias and Parallel Worlds
January 12, 2019
On Wednesday 16th January at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Dystopias and Parallel Worlds
Posters for Hidden Reserves, Nothing Really Happens and Alpha Gateway
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch looks at dystopias and parallel worlds on film in three interviews recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the London International Science Fiction and Fantastic Film Festival. On stage, Alex talks to directors Valentin Hitz and John V. Soto about their films Hidden Reserves (Stille Reserven) and Alpha Gateway which depict worlds where corporations have subjugated humanity and travel between parallels is possible, and in a chat with actor / producer Joseph Graham, the latter discusses the surrealist suburban comedy Nothing Really Happens and his webcomic Monomania. With music selected by Kieron Gillen (The Wicked and the Divine) including future classics by Madge, Hayley Heynderickx, Sylan Esso and Jonathan Bree.
5.30pm Wednesday 16th January 2019, repeated 2.30am Friday 18th January, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast: Shirkers House
November 26, 2018
Posters for Shirkers and The House of the Long Shadows
Shirkers House: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine podcast, Alex Fitch looks at appropriation and appreciation of films from the past. Director Sandi Tan talks about rediscovering and restoring the surviving footage from her student film Shirkers, a magical realist look at 1990s Singapore, which was stolen by the film’s producer upon completion, and in an interview recorded at Cine-Excess, Birmingham, cult horror director Pete Walker talks about making British B-Movies in the 1970s and 1980s, such as House of Whipcord, House of Mortal Sin and House of the Long Shadows. Plus classic tracks from Joan Baez, Postmodern Jukebox ft. Wayne Brady and Wiesh.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 21st November 2018, on Resonance 104.4 FM (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Shirkers and the House of Walker
November 20, 2018
Tomorrow at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Shirkers and the House of Walker
Posters for Shirkers and The House of the Long Shadows
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch looks at appropriation and appreciation of films from the past. Director Sandi Tan talks about rediscovering and restoring the surviving footage from her student film Shirkers, a magical realist look at 1990s Singapore, which was stolen by the film’s producer upon completion, and in an interview recorded at Cine-Excess, Birmingham, cult horror director Pete Walker talks about making British B-Movies in the 1970s and 1980s, such as House of Whipcord, House of Mortal Sin and House of the Long Shadows.
5.30pm Wednesday 20th November 2018, repeated 2.30am Friday 22nd November, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
Links: Wikipedia pages on Pete Walker and Shirkers
Netflix page on Shirkers
Info about Cine-Excess XII, where the interview with Pete was recorded
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: Unspoken Cultures
October 1, 2018
Posters for Forget Winnetou!, The Island and Precognition
Unspoken Cultures: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine podcast, Alex Fitch looks at films which reveal aspects of culture that are rarely discussed or wilfully ignored by society. Steven Eastwood discusses his documentary The Island which shows the end of life experience of four people in a hospice on the Island of Wight, and Red Hairclow converses about his film Forget Winnetou! which explores the experience of Native Americans living in Germany, and screens at the Native Spirit Festival, London in October.
Also in a Q and A recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, Luke Tedder talks about his film Precognition, a ‘Black Mirror’ style thriller which imagines a scenario where people avoid experience of the world they live in via augmented reality, originally crowdfunded as the movie App for Life. Plus classic tracks by Talking Heads, The Langley Schools Music Project, Nena and Tori Amos. (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Unspoken Cultures
September 18, 2018
— 3 Comments
Tomorrow at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Unspoken Cultures
Posters for Forget Winnetou!, The Island and Precognition
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch looks at films which reveal aspects of culture that are rarely discussed or wilfully ignored by society. Steven Eastwood discusses his documentary The Island which shows the end of life experience of four people in a hospice on the Island of Wight, and Red Hairclow converses about his film Forget Winnetou! which explores the experience of Native Americans living in Germany, and screens at the Native Spirit Festival, London in October.
Also in a Q and A recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, Luke Tedder talks about his film Precognition, a ‘Black Mirror’ style thriller which imagines a scenario where people avoid experience of the world they live in via augmented reality, originally crowdfunded as the movie App for Life.
Please note: the interview with Steven Eastwood includes discussion of the filming of the death of one of his subjects on screen, so may not be suitable for all listeners.
5.30pm Wednesday 19th September 2018, repeated 2.30am Friday 21st September, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
(more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: Haunted by the Past
August 29, 2018
Advert for Third Window Films Animerama Blu-Rays / Comparison of stills from restored Nosferatu / Poster for The Endless
Haunted by the Past: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine podcast, we look at the restoration of old films, and movies haunted by the past. In an extract from a lecture at the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, Mark Rance discusses his 2012 restoration of the classic German horror film Nosferatu, and ahead of its UK cinema release, Virginie Sélavy interviews Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, directors of the new Sci-Fi / horror movie The Endless about a pair of brothers returning to a cult.
Also, Alex Fitch talks to film critic Simon Abrams about the Blu-Ray release of Osama Tezuka’s Cleopatra and 1,001 Nights.
Plus: classic tracks by Saxophonetics, Valérie Litalien and Orkestra Obsolete. Originally broadcast 16th June 2018 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Haunted by the Past
June 19, 2018
Tomorrow at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Haunted by the Past
Advert for Third Window Films Animerama Blu-Rays / Comparison of stills from restored Nosferatu / Poster for The Endless
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, we look at the restoration of old films, and movies haunted by the past. In an extract from a lecture at the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, Mark Rance discusses his 2012 restoration of the classic German horror film Nosferatu, and ahead of its UK cinema release, Virginie Sélavy interviews Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, directors of the new Sci-Fi / horror movie The Endless about a pair of brothers returning to a cult.
Also, Alex Fitch talks to film critic Simon Abrams about the Blu-Ray release of Osama Tezuka’s Cleopatra and 1,001 Nights.
Plus: classic tracks by Saxophonetics, Valérie Litalien and Orkestra Obsolete.
5.30pm Wednesday 20th June 2018, repeated 7am Tuesday 26th June, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
(more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast: Uncanny Locations
April 26, 2018
Posters for Brasilia: Life after design / Caught / I Kill Giants
Uncanny Locations: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast, Alex Fitch looks at films set in uncanny locations. Alex talks to director Bart Simpson about his documentary film Brasília: Life After Design, which is screening at this year’s East End Film Festival, plus his producing role on Moebius Redux and The Corporation.
Also, Graphic novelist turned director Anders Winter explores his adaptation of cult American comic book I Kill Giants which is released on VOD on May 4th, and in a Q and A recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the cast and crew of Caught discuss this new SF thriller, which mixes a classic British cottage under siege film with a John Wyndham style alien invasion.
Plus: classic tracks by David Byrne and Marisa Monte, Dhruva Aliman, and Ivo Meirelles with Funk ‘n Lata. Originally broadcast 18th April 2018 on Resonance 104.4 FM
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download of the extended 80 min podcast. To hear the 59 min broadcast version, you can listen to the stream via mixcloud… (more…)
Tomorrow’s show: Uncanny Locations
April 17, 2018
Tomorrow at 5.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB, Electric Sheep Film Show: Uncanny Locations
Posters for Brasilia: Life after design / Caught / I Kill Giants
In this month’s Electric Sheep Film Show, Alex Fitch looks at films set in uncanny locations. Alex talks to director Bart Simpson about his documentary film Brasília: Life After Design, which is screening at this year’s East End Film Festival, plus his producing role on Moebius Redux and The Corporation.
Also, Graphic novelist turned director Anders Winter explores his adaptation of cult American comic book I Kill Giants which is released on VOD on May 4th, and in a Q and A recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the cast and crew of Caught discuss this new SF thriller, which mixes a classic British cottage under siege film with a John Wyndham style alien invasion.
Plus: classic tracks by David Byrne and Marisa Monte, Dhruva Aliman, and Ivo Meirelles with Funk ‘n Lata
5.30pm Wednesday 18th April 2018, repeated 7am Tuesday 24th April, Resonance 104.4 FM and DAB (London) / broadcast streamed at www.resonancefm.com / Resonance Replay stream on mixcloud.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com
More info: Brasília: Life After Design screening at East End Film Festival
I Kill Giants at Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment website
Info about Caught at Jump Start Productions (more…)
Panel Borders and other podcasts 
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