SciFiAndTvTalk

Sam Huntington & Meaghan Rath Talk Being Human (Syfy US)

It’s the first day of shooting for season three of Being Human and in the clip below it looks like cast members Sam Huntington and Meaghan Rath are ready to go.

Merlin Season Five - Arthur's Bane, Part 1 (Syfy US)

(L-R) Merlin's Gaius (Richard Wilson), King Arthur (Bradley James), Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Guinevere (Angel Coulby). Photo copyright of Shine Ltd. & FremantleMedia Enterprises.

For three years, Camelot has known peace and prosperity with Arthur as its benevolent king and Guinevere as his beloved queen.  But even the advice and counsel of their trusted adviser Merlin cannot prevent what is about to happen.

The destiny of a kingdom is at stake as the fifth and final season of Merlin begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Jan. 4, only on Syfy, with new episodes of the globally popular series scheduled to air every Friday.

In Arthur’s Bane, Part 1, the first part of a two-part season premiere, Morgana has reappeared after a mysterious disappearance – as Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table learn very quickly.

King Arthur (Bradley James) stands at the ready to defend Camelot against any threat! Photo copyright of Shine Ltd. and FremantleMedia Enterprises.

“Camelot is under threat once again,” explains Angel Coulby, whose portrayal of Queen Guinevere is one of the most startling changes immediately apparent in this first episode.  “Gwen has been left to look after the kingdom while Arthur goes away. Everything that has happened to Gwen has been working up to this point.”

Adds Katie McGrath, who plays Morgana, “In Season Five, Gwen is now the Guinevere of legend” – and, as for Morgana herself: “The period between Seasons Four and Five is the most important character-defining time for Morgana.  Everything she has feared about being magical has come to pass – she has been discovered, she has been locked in a dungeon, and the fact that it did has helped push her down the road to her own destiny. This has given her the extra push to be even more malevolent.”

Arthur’s Bane, Part 1 finds Morgana in wintry exile, obsessed with finding a mysterious object known only as “The Diamair,” or the key to all knowledge.  To aid her relentless search, Morgana has taken prisoners from throughout the kingdom – including Sir Gwaine (Eoin Makan) and Sir Perceval (Tom Hopper), who toil in the depths of Morgana’s lair while plotting their escape.

Morgana (Katie McGrath) ends up in rather inhospitable surroundings at the start of Merlin's fifth and final season. Photo copyright of Shine Ltd. and FremantleMedia Enterprises.

Merlin (Colin Morgan) and Arthur join the effort to find the Knights, but it’s only a matter of time until they are captured themselves – but not before discovering that an old acquaintance is also back in Camelot, a mysterious Druid named Mordred (Alexander Vlahos).

Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham co-stars in Arthur’s Bane, Part 1 as Ruadan, whose hatred of Camelot makes him a perfect match for the evil Morgana.

Arthur’s Bane, Part 1, an all-new episode of Merlin, airs at 10 p.m. ET/PT Friday, Jan. 4, only on Syfy.  All four previous seasons of Merlin are now available on DVD, on iTunes and on Netflix. Be sure to follow the latest news on Merlin at the show's official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/merlinsyfy?ref=ts&fref=ts&__req=e

As noted above, photos copyright of Shine Ltd. and FremantleMedia Enterprises, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Amy Aquino Talks Being Human (Syfy US)

A new addition to season three of Syfy's Being Human, actress Amy Aquino talks about her character of Donna in the clip below.

Sam Huntington Talks Being Human (Syfy US)

In the clip below, Being Human's Sam Huntington shares his feelings about working with the cast again for the show's third season.

Gerry Anderson (April 14th, 1929 - December 26th, 2012)

Gerry Anderson crossed the pond back in the 70s to appear as a guest at one of the early U.S. Space:1999 conventions.

London-born producer, writer and director Gerry Anderson has passed away at the age of 83. Known by his many fans around the world for his numerous TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy productions (many of which were made using the "Supermarionation" process and modified marionettes), his first small screen outing was the 1957 Roberta Leigh children's series The Adventures of Twizzle. That was followed by the first season of Torchy the Battery Boy (1960), Four Feather Falls (1960), Supercar (1961-1962), Fireball XL5 (1962-1963) and Stingray (1964-1965).

In 1965, Anderson along with his then-wife Sylvia created the hugely successful Thunderbirds TV series, which marked the debut of the aforementioned Supermarionation process. Airing from 1965-1966, it followed the adventures of the International Rescue organization and the brave men and women who helped save the Earth along with the human race from all manner of dangers.

Hot on the heels of Thunderbirds came Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967-1968), Joe 90 (1968-1969) and The Secret Service (1969). The Seventies saw Gerry's and Sylvia's first venture into live-action Sci-Fi drama with U.F.O. (1970-1971). Their next project was more down-to-Earth (no pun intended); The Protectors (1972-1974) starred Robert Vaughn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), Nyree Dawn Porter (The Forsyth Saga) and Tony Anholt (Space: 1999) as a team of jet-setting international crime-fighting spies.

In 1974, the Andersons headed back into the cosmos with the first season of the big-budgeted Sci-Fi saga Space:1999 starring Martin Landau (as Commander John Koenig) and Barbara Bain (as Dr. Helena Russell) of Mission: Impossible fame and The Fugitive's Barry Morse. The show returned for a "bigger, better, more exciting" second year and saw some cast changes, including the "disappearance" of several characters, chief of which was Barry Morse's Professor Victor Bergman, as well as the addition of Catherine Schell as Maya, a beautiful shapeshifting alien from the planet Psychon, and Tony Anholt as Moonbase Alpha's Chief of Security Tony Verdeschi.

The one-off 1976 special The Day After Tomorrow (a.k.a. Into Infinity),Terrahawks (1983-1984 & 1986), Dick Spanner, P.I. (1987), Space Precinct (1994-1995), Lavender Castle (1999-2000), Firestorm (2003) and Gerry Anderson's New Captain Scarlet (2005) are Anderson's other TV ventures. His big screen credits include Crossroad to Crime (1960), Thunderbirds Are Go (1966), Thunderbird 6 (1968) and 1969's Doppleganger (a.k.a. Journey to the Far Side of the Sun).

Please take a moment to check out the following link and the BBC News' official announcement of Gerry Anderson's passing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-20845407

Royal Mail To Release New Doctor Who Stamp Set in March 2013

The late Jon Pertwee as The Third Doctor.

The UK's Royal Mail has announced the release in March 2013 of a new First Class stamp set featuring all 11 Doctors from the long-running British Sci-Fi series Doctor Who and celebrating the program's 50th anniversary. A set of Second Class stamps featuring four of the Doctor's most infamous foes, including the Daleks and the Cybermen, will also be released. Full details can be found at the following link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20838728

Tom Ward Talks Doctor Who: The Snowmen

Tom Ward as Captain Latimer in Doctor Who: The Snowmen. Photo copyright of the BBC.

Star of Silent Witness for over 10 years, Doctor Who presents a departure for Tom Ward from the modern day to the world of Sci-Fi.  In this fifth and final BBC America press interview, the actor  explains what we can expect from his character in Doctor Who: The Snowmen (airing Tuesday, December 25th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America) and whether he will be watching on Christmas Day.

"He hasn’t been used to dealing with his children," explains Ward as he reveals a small insight in to his character of Captain Latimer. "He wants to love them, but he is an old naval captain that has struggled to build a relationship."

The actor plays an archetypal Victorian gent, complete with a rather good beard, "Yes it is," he says with a laugh, confirming the beard is real. "You often get the obligatory moustache in a Victorian drama, but I wanted to go further and the beard seemed appropriate."

Having spent 10 years in a drama not necessarily accessible to his children, Ward reveals he is excited to have done something they can watch, "My children are very excited that I am in Doctor Who and I am glad they have something that they can finally watch!  My oldest child is 10, so this will give him bragging rights at school and hopefully me a little bit of school gate currency."  

So what drew him to the role?  "It was one of the best scripts I had read in a long time and the thought of doing a period Sci-Fi was really fun."

With the actor admitting that his favorite Doctor is Tom Baker, he expresses admiration for current Doctor, Matt Smith. "He is brilliant. Matt kept the set feeling happy and is full of energy," says Ward, "He has a great relationship with the crew." As well as co-starring Ward, the Christmas episode will also feature Richard E Grant. "I had one scene with him," explains Ward, "and he was a legend.  An absolute delight."

In this episode, we also meet the Doctor's new travelling companion Clara, played by Jenna-Louise Coleman, for the first time, "She is a brilliant actress," says Ward, "full of life and energy, so funny and has a great rapport with Matt." 

With the actor confirming that his children are fans, will he be watching on Christmas day?  "We have just moved in to the country, so it will be the family round and the fire blazing.  I don’t normally like to watch myself on TV, but this time I think I will make an exception…"

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthrozied copying or duplcating of any kind. Thanks!

Richard E. Grant Talks Doctor Who: The Snowmen

Dr. Simeon (Richard E. Grant) in Doctor Who: The Snowmen. Photo copyright of the BBC.

Having previously played the Doctor in the 2003 online animated series Scream of the Shalka and during a Comic Relief spoof some years ago, Richard E Grant returns to Doctor Who, but this time as the villainous Doctor Simeon. In this, the fourth of five BBC America press interviews, the actor talks about his role in the Christmas special, Doctor Who: The Snowmen, airing Tuesday, December 25th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

"I have been told that on pain of death I am not allowed to reveal anything about my role in the Christmas Special," teases Grant, "other than that this character has never been in Doctor Who before…."

Returning to Doctor Who for the third time, the actor explains, "I have had two 'brushes' with the Who phenomenon before, playing the Doctor in the cartoon digital version and the Comic Relief spoof some years ago, before the franchise was re-booted with Christopher Eccleston [the Ninth Doctor]."

Grant is tasked with playing this year’s villain, the mysterious Doctor Simeon who, with a vendetta to settle from childhood, recruits an army of evil and hungry snowmen to bring together his plan. So how did he enjoy playing the villain?  "When you're born with a ten foot long face, you don't get hero roles, but I'm not complaining as I have hugely enjoyed the wide variety of parts I've got to play."

Growing up in Swaziland, the actor has had to devote time to catching up on the British institution. "Having grown up in a country without TV, I missed seeing Doctor Who through my childhood, but I have since made up for lost time with box sets [of the series]."  

As the Doctor battles to defeat Doctor Simeon and his army, Grantshared many scenes with Matt Smith (the Doctor), so what did he make of working with Smith? "I have really admired Matt from when I first saw him in a play called That Face at the Royal Court Theatre some years ago," says the actor, "and have keenly followed his career progress. He is the perfect fit for Doctor Who. His interpretation is very kinetic and fast talking. 

So will the actor be watching this Christmas?  "I love Christmas and everything about it. I will be at home and watching TV after lunch, hoping I can stay awake after the feast!"

As noted above, the photo is copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Jenna-Louise Coleman Talks Doctor Who: The Snowmen

Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara in Doctor Who: The Snowmen. Photo copyright of the BBC.

Having made a surprise appearance this past September in the season seven Doctor Who opener Asylum of the Daleks, fans have already met The Doctor's new companion….or have they?  In the third of five BBC America press interviews, actress Jenna-Louise Coleman gives a little bit of insight in to the character she plays in the show's festive episode and what we can expect from Clara. Doctor Who: The Snowmen airs Tuesday, December 25th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

"She is from the Victorian era and a mysterious one," reveals Coleman.  "Clara is very down to earth, but feisty and curious too with numerous jobs."

Set in Victorian England we first catch a glimpse of Clara as a barmaid in the ‘Rose and Crown’ pub, but after meeting the intriguing Doctor (Matt Smith) she soon sets about following him, because as Coleman explains, "He has the answers to her questions." With his self-imposed solitude the Doctor appears uninterested, but eventually gets drawn in as an army of evil snowmen cover London and it becomes apparent that Christmas and the world are at risk.

With Matt Smith revealing that, "She is a very different to Amy Pond [Karen Gillan]," how does the actress explain the dynamic of the relationship between the Doctor and Clara, following the loss of Amy and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) in the epic mid-season finale The Angels Take Manhattan? "My character isn’t intimidated by the Doctor," says Coleman, "but, instead, she finds him amazing and ridiculous.  Clara is, however, on her own mission and lives by her own means She is also very resourceful."

As well as a barmaid, Clara adopts the role of governess to two children in Darkover House where something sinister is lurking in their garden and whose last governess hasn’t yet left the premises…

After being selected for the coveted role of companion, Colemanstarted filming in BBC Cymru Wales’ Roath Lock studios earlier this year and made her first appearance in season seven opener Asylum of the Daleks.  So how has she found the job so far?  "Every day is really surprising," says the actress. "For the last two years I have mainly been doing period dramas, so to be thrown into this world with loads of CGI (computer-generated image) is very different.  Whole new sets are built in the space of a couple of weeks.  For this episode we had snow machines and it does make you feel like a big kid!" she enthuses.

Stepping in to Karen Gillan’s shoes, who played Amy Pond, did the actress receive any advice?  "Karen has been great," says Coleman. "She has texted me advice on Cardiff like where to eat.  And Matt always has an ear out for me."

Unlike the Doctor in this festive episode, Coleman isn’t a Christmas grump. "I love Christmas and will probably be sitting down with the family to watch this adventure on Christmas Day," she says. "It is one of the shows that can do Christmas properly and this is a proper Christmas treat."

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Life Tracker - A Sneak Peek

In the near future, a new device has emerged to detect the time of death of every man’s life through DNA analysis. A modern day palm reading, the device has ignited fear and paranoia throughout the world. The independent Sci-Fi drama Life Tracker follows an aspiring filmmaker, Dillon (Barry Finnegan), who chronicles the hysteria and stumbles upon the mystery behind "Life Tracker Limited," the company behind the device.  With the help of his friends, Scott (Matt Dallas) and Bell (Rebecca Marshall), they embark on a journey to find the real story behind the science, testing their friendship and faith along the way.  Are the predictions true?  Is a person’s lifespan ingrained in one’s DNA?  The race is on to uncover the truth.

 

Life Tracker  stars Matt Dallas (ABC's Kyle XY, The First Ride With Wyatt Earp), Rebecca Marshall (Saw 3D, Jack and Jill) and Barry Finnegan (How to Make A David Lynch Film) and written and directed by Joe McClean (How to Make A David Lynch Film). The film is produced by Sarju Patel and Debbie Vandermeulen and executive produced by Baron Davis and Rebecca Marshall. Check out the following link for a look at the trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I661kEXjAKs