Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Reality Check: Patrick Tatopoulos – Into the Unknown
August 22, 2017
Original designs by Patrick Tatopoulos for Batman v Superman – Dawn of Justice, Independence Day, Riddick
Patrick Tatopoulos – Into the Unknown Alex Fitch talks to production designer Patrick Tatopoulos about his work on such films as Godzilla (1998), Justice League, Alien vs. Predator, the Riddick saga and many more. Patrick also discusses his contributions to the “Into the Unknown – A Journey through Science Fiction” exhibition at the Barbican in the City of London, which includes props and recreations of his work on Stargate and I, Robot.
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: Patrick Tatopoulos’ Instagram site
More info about Into The Unknown: A Journey Through Science Fiction at The Barbican (until September 1st 2017)
(more…)
Reality Check: Interactive Literature and Rural Horror
March 27, 2017
— 1 Comment
The Kraken Wakes website / The Eyes of My Mother poster
Interactive Literature and Rural Horror Alex Fitch talks to director Nicholas Pesce about his monochrome rural horror film The Eyes of My Mother and Guy Gadney discusses the forthcoming interactive game of John Wyndham’s The Kraken Wakes.
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: More info about The Eyes of My Mother at www.parkcircus.com
The Kraken Wakes website
Reality Check: Building a better High Rise
March 30, 2016
Alex Fitch talks to Dan Martin, Odile Dicks-Mireaux and Mark Tildesley on stage at the British Library after a screening of High Rise
Reality Check: Building a better High Rise
Following a screening of High Rise as part of the symposium ‘J.G. Ballard in the Seventies’, Alex Fitch talks to three members of the production team behind Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s High Rise. Dan Martin discusses arranging the special effects for the movie and creating realistic gore for Wheatley’s films, Mark Tildesley talks about dressing the set cost effectively and how this compared to working with Michael Winterbottom on Code 46, and Odile Dicks-Mireaux discusses making science-fictional clothes for the cast, including a James Bond style suit for Tom Hiddleston.
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 (more…)
Reality Check: Darth Vader and the Girls from Goldfinger
December 30, 2015
Shirley Eaton and Tania Mallet (photo by Mark Mawston) / Dave Prowse and friend (photo by Getty Images)
Darth Vader and the Goldfinger Girls: In Q and As recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON and the London Film Museum, Alex Fitch talks to Dave Prowse, Shirley Eaton and Tania Mallet about appearing in (Saving) Star Wars and Goldfinger respectively. Shirley and Tania discuss being cast as Bond Girls: the Masterson sisters in the third 007 film, and Dave talks about turning down the role of Chewbacca for a more sinister position in George Lucas’ classic movies.
Sixth of the 12 Podcasts of Christmas. 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 (more…)
Reality Check: The Ersatz Doctors part 2
December 27, 2015
— 1 Comment
Cover of The Third Doctor Adventures / Sylvester McCoy and Tim Treloar / Cover of Doctor Omega / Behind the scenes and cover of Doctor Who: Planet of Giants
The Ersatz Doctors part 2: Alex Fitch continues his exploration of the actors who have been hired to play incarnations of Doctor Who after the original actors have passed on.
Alex talks 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 Pertwee is no longer with us.
Third of the 12 Podcasts of Christmas (Originally broadcast 21st December 2015 as part of a Clear Spot on Resonance FM, recorded at ‘The Day of the Doctors 2’ convention, with thanks to Big Finish Productions) (more…)
Reality Check: The Ersatz Doctors part 1
December 25, 2015
— 4 Comments
David Troughton / Jon Culshaw / Covers of Survivors from Space and the Ark in Space
The Ersatz Doctors part 1: 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
First of the 12 Podcasts of Christmas (Originally broadcast 21st December 2015 as part of a Clear Spot on Resonance FM, with thanks to BBC Audio) (more…)
Reality Check: Space Odysseys
December 2, 2014
Cover of They by Kay Dick / Foredown Tower, Portslade / Still from 2001 / Keir Dullea at the BFI
Space Odysseys: Celebrating Sci-Fi programming at the BFI and Brighton’s Cine-City festival, Alex Fitch talks to writer / actor Graham Duff (Nebulous) about the Cine-City performance of ‘They – A sequence of unease’ adapted from a surrealist novel by author Kay Dick. Alex also chats to broadcaster and author Matthew Sweet about the new BFI print of 2001 – A Space Odyssey, with an extract from his recent Q and A about the film, featuring Keir Dullea, broadcast 2nd December 2014 on BBC Radio 3. (With thanks to BBC Arts)
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: BBC Arts and Free Thinking websites
Info about the BFI Fear and Wonder season / the They performance at Cine-City (more…)
Reality Check: Vampire Academy comic Breaks
July 3, 2014
— 1 Comment
Cover of Dragon Age / interior art from Vampire Academy and Breaks, illustrated by Emma Vieceli
Vampire Academy comic Breaks: Continuing a Q and A recorded at Gosh! Comics, as part of SCI-FI-LONDON 14, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Emma Vieceli about illustrating the comic book adaptations of the first three Vampire Academy books by Richelle Mead. Emma also discusses her new webcomic Breaks and forthcoming work on the Alex Rider graphic novel range.
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 (more…)
Book List: Novelizing Doctor Who
December 12, 2013
— 6 Comments
Covers of Doctor Who novels by Terrance Dicks, Mark Platt, Paul Cornell, Jenny Colgan and Tommy Donbavand
Novelizing Doctor Who: In an hour long show looking at the long tradition of Doctor Who novelizations and original novels, Alex Fitch talks to five novelists who have written books and monologues based on all eras of the show: Jenny Colgan, Paul Cornell, Tommy Donbavand, Marc Platt, and script editor (1970-1974) Terrance Dicks. Recorded in front of a live audience at SCI-FI-LONDON, Spring 2013.
(Originally broadcast 12/12/13 on Resonance FM)
For more info about this podcast and a variety of other formats you can download / stream, please visit the home of this episode at www.archive.org (more…)
Reality Check: Vanishing Brightness
October 12, 2013
Stills from Piercing Brightness and Vanishing Waves
Vanishing Brightness: To coincide with SCI-FI-LONDON Oktoberfest, we have a pair of QandAs from the Spring festival, in which Alex Fitch talks to the directors of a couple of the more cerebral SF films that screened at the Stratford Picturehouse. Kristina Buozyte discusses her erotic techno thriller Vanishing Waves in which a scientist travels into the mind of a coma patient to try and revive her consciousness. Also Shezad Dawood talks about his feature film Piercing Brightness where cultures and alien encounters collide in an elliptical film shot on the streets of Preston, Lancashire.
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: Piercing Brightness tumblr
Vanishing Waves website
Listen to Alex’s previous interview with Shezad Dawood
Listen to Virgine Selavy (Electric Sheep Magazine) interview Kristina Buozyte (more…)
Reality Check: Robbie Morrison – Taking Dante DrownTown
August 21, 2013
— 1 Comment
Covers of comics written by Robbie Morrison – Nikolai Dante, 2000AD featuring Shakara, DrownTown
Robbie Morrison – Taking Dante DrownTown: In advance of his appearance at Edinburgh BookFest’s Stripped (graphic novels) weekend, Alex Fitch talks to Robbie Morrison about his career in comics so far, from his fifteen year tenure as the writer of Nikolai Dante in 2000AD, working with artists such as Simon Fraser and John Burns, to his new graphic novel DrownTown, published by Jonathan Cape.
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 (more…)
Reality Check: Living in Byzantium
May 27, 2013
Still from Byzantium by Neil Jordan
Living in Byzantium: In a panel discussion recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, Alex Fitch talks to producer Stephen Woolley, writer Moira Buffini and star Daniel Mays about the new British vampire movie Byzantium, directed by Neil Jordan, which depicts the back story and current lives of a pair of female vampires living in modern day Hastings. (Byzantium is released in the UK on 31st May). (Originally broadcast 24th May 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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: Official film website
Info about the screening at SCI-FI-LONDON (more…)
Reality Check: Apocalypse Miao
May 4, 2013
Posters for Birdemic II and Best Friends Forever
Apocalypse Miao: In a pair of Q and As recorded at the London Science-Fiction Film Festival (SCI-FI-LONDON), Alex Fitch talks to the creators of two new low budget portrayals of the apocalypse on screen. Stars Alan Bagh and Thomas Favaloro, writer / director James Nguyen and producer Jeff Gross discuss the B movie spoof Birdemic II: The Resurrection and co-writer / star Vera Miao talks about her excellent mid-apocalyptic road movie Best Friends Forever. (Originally broadcast 3rd May 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
This year’s SCI-FI-LONDON festival takes place at various venues around London from 30th April – more info at www.sci-fi-london.com
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
Websites: www.bestfriendsforeverfilm.com / www.birdemic.com
Reality Check: the True Love of Arthur Sleep
April 26, 2013
Stills from Arthur Sleep and True Love
the True Love of Arthur Sleep: Alex Fitch talks to graphic designer turned film-maker Sam Harris about his short silent film Arthur Sleep, a half hour Stygian odyssey that mixes elements of The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and Eraserhead, as a trip on the London Underground takes a traveller into more mysterious destinations than he envisioned. Also, in a Q and A recorded at last year’s SCI-FI-LONDON, Alex talks to the writers and producer of True Love, an SF thriller that tests a couple’s devotion to each other as a set of innocuous questions in a surrealist prison turn to torture. (Originally broadcast 26th April 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
Arthur Sleep is premiering at Deptford Old Town Hall, New Cross, London SE14 6AF on 28 April at 4pm with a live score performed by members of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and London art-rock bands – more info at
www.freefilmfestivals.org / True Love is released in Japanese cinemas on 27th April and this year’s SCI-FI-LONDON festival takes place at various venues around London from 30th April – more info at www.sci-fi-london.com
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 (more…)
Reality Check: The chances of anything coming from Mars…
April 1, 2013
— 3 Comments
Liam Neeson in the music video for Forever Autumn / photo of The War of the Worlds concert by Ken Harrison
The chances of anything coming from Mars…: Alex Fitch talks to a musician and composer, whose recent concerts of a classic SF concept album will be shown on the big screen over the next few weeks. Jeff Wayne discusses The War of the Worlds – The New Generation, how he reworked the music over the last 35 years and oversaw animation to accompany the score in video games and live tours plus his hopes for the cinema release of the concert. Includes an extract from The Eve of the War (2012) featuring Liam Neeson. (Partially broadcast 29th March 2013 on Resonance 104.4 FM).
The War of the Worlds – The New Generation is screening at UK cinemas from 11th April – more info at www.thewaroftheworldscinema.com
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 (more…)
Reality Check: Time and relative Dimensions in the Search for Simon
March 21, 2013
— 2 Comments
Posters for Dimensions and The Search for Simon
Time and relative Dimensions in the Search for Simon: Alex Fitch talks to the cast and crew of two new low budget British SF movies: director Sloane U’Ren, editor Adam Garstone and members of the cast of Dimensions discuss their ‘Merchant Ivory’ style time travel film which mixes a love triangle with a time loop that joins their pasts with their futures. Also, on the set of new alien abductee comedy drama The Search for Simon, director Martin Gooch and one of the stars – Doctor Who alumnus Sophie Aldred – talk about this crowd funded feature that mixes elements of travelogue with the X-Files.
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 (more…)
Reality Check: Animating the City
March 4, 2013
— 1 Comment
Still from Babledom and poster for Cycle
Animating the City: Alex Fitch talks to the directors of two new cutting-edge animated films which mix animation and live action footage to beguiling effect. In a Q and A recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON, the London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film, Zoltan Sostai discusses his film Cycle, a spiritual successor to Tron and The Matrix, which sees a nameless astronaut trying to escape a bleak urban landscape which twists and loops back on itself, creating an endless maze he can’t find the exit from.
Also, British animator Paul Bush talks about his first feature film Babledom which looks into the layers of history and potential future that are unearthed by explorers of the modern city. Mixing a dialogue between two residents of a dystopian city in the style of Chris Marker’s La Jetée, with visuals that recall the architecture of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Babledom is an evocative look at mankind’s varied relationships with the crowded spaces we inhabit. (more…)
Reality Check: The life electric
February 5, 2013
Stills from Death and Zero One
The life electric: In a show looking at the possible consequences of computer technology and Artificial Intelligence on humanity, Alex Fitch talks to the directors of two new films that address these themes and how it might impact on peoples lives and after-lives. Kareem Gray discusses his movie Zero One, a cross between Knight Rider and The Terminator in which a couple of hackers discover a sentient intelligence on the internet with the power to download itself into robots and other machines; Martin Gooch and members of the cast of Death discuss this new British fantasy film starring Leslie Philips in which a pair of siblings return to their family manse after the death of their father and discover he had been working on a computer programme that allows people to converse with the dead…
(Expanded podcast of an episode of I’m ready for my close-up, broadcast 01/02/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)
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 (more…)
Reality Check: The Scarifyers
January 30, 2013
— 2 Comments
Promo material for The Thirteen Hallows, David Warner and Terry Molloy, cover of The Scarifyers comic no.1
The Scarifyers: As we enter Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary year, Reality Check investigates a radio drama series tangentally connected to the franchise. The Scarifyers is a horror / black comedy series, with new installments broadcast each year on BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly BBC 7) and released on CD and concern the adventures of an elderly horror writer and his retired police sidekick as they investigate supernatural crimes and occurances in 1950s Britain. Alex Fitch talks to series writer and producer Simon Barnard and CD cover artist Garen Ewing about the genre crossing narrative (more…)
Reality Check: Manhwa and Metamorphosis
November 9, 2012
Poster for Priest 3D, art from Priest and Ghostface by Min-Woo Hyung, poster for Metamorphosis, cover of Ghostwatch
Manhwa and Metamorphosis: Two events taking place this weekend are ideal places for fans of fantasy and science fiction to visit – SCI-FI-LONDON: EAST and Manhwa: Korean Story and Painting – each in venues not known for exploring those genres. Alex Fitch talks to director Chris Swanton about his adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, screening Sunday 11th November at Stratford Picturehouse and to comic book creator Min-Woo Hyung regarding the art he’s exhibiting at the Korean Creative Content Agency, 1-3 The Strand. Alex and Chris discuss why the director chose a hard to translate novel by Kafka as his directorial debut, following a career as an editor on such projects as the BBC’s Ghostwatch, and Min-Woo talks about his career as a Manhwa creator from his debut Chronicle of a Hot-blooded Judo King to his latest project Ghostface and his most famous series Priest, which was adapted as a Sci-Fi blockbuster in 2011. (more…)
Panel Borders and other podcasts 
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