SPREAD IT AROUND!

Twitter is a free social-networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read each others' updates, known as tweets. It is a valuable tool for spreading the word and keeping in contact with your friends and followers, BackToFrankBlack has its own Twitter Account, check it out here and if you aren't already following us, what are you waiting for?

We have now updated o
ur Blog to allow you, our friends, to help us in our quest to spread word of this campaign as far afield as possible. At the end of each post you will see an option to retweet the entry you have just read, which simply means that each post you enjoy will be shared with our followers at Twitter without any effort on your part at all. Impressed with news of Lance's recent award win? Enjoyed an interview you've read or heard? Simply use the retweet button and a message will be sent to all our followers informing them of the Blog entry.

Use it as often as you like and for any post you like, it really couldn't be simpler. Here's hoping you join us in spreading the campaign around like the Marburg virus.

BACKTOFRANKBLACK CONGRATULATES LANCE HENRIKSEN!

BackToFrankBlack is delighted to extend our congratulations to Lance Henriksen who has very recently awarded a Life Career Award at the 35th Annual Saturn Awards, organized by the Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films.

The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honour the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video.


The highlight at the awards ceremony were the special awards presented throughout the evening. Actor Lance Henriksen received the Life Career Award from actor Ed Harris for his strong body of work in film and television.

I am sure you will join with us in congratulating Lance for a very well deserved accolade!

YOU CHANCE TO QUESTION FRANK SPOTNITZ!

From the very beginning, this campaign has been proud to have had the support and encouragement of Ten Thirteen luminary, Frank Spotnitz. Frank was involved in no fewer than forty four episodes of Millennium and is evidently an individual who knows this franchise inside and out. Frank has very generously agreed to give of his time, again, to speak to BackToFrankBlack and we cannot thank him enough for the warmth he has extended to us.

This is the perfect opportunity for you guys to ask Mr. Spotnitz all those burning Millennium questions you have always wanted to know the answers to and in addition find out all the latest news and gossip on the possibility of a return for Frank Black. If you want to be in with a chance of posing a question all you have to do is email your submission to info@backtofrankblack.com and your query could very be well read out during the interview along with your name.

So, get those thinking caps on, strain that grey matter and get those comments and thoughts to us as soon as you can!

BACKTOFRANKBLACK EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PETER OUTERBRIDGE!

Peter Outerbridge portrayed Agent Barry Baldwin in the third season of Millennium before meeting his fate in 'Goodbye To All That' at the hands of the Millennium Group. Since that time, Peter's career has continued to rise to stellar proportions with Regenesis, Fringe and the upcoming genre fave, Saw VI. BackToFrankBlack was delighted when Peter took time from his busy schedule to speak to us.

BACKTOFRANKBLACK: Most of your scenes, as Barry Baldwin, had you interacting with Lance Henriksen, Stephen E. Miller and Klea Scott, all of whom have recounted fond memories of their time on the show and their association with the cast and crew, do you recall the experience of working with these individuals to be a rewarding one?

PETER OUTERBRIDGE: Overall I had a fantastic time on the show. It was a great cast and crew to work with and the material was always interesting.

BTFB: It has been perceived by fans that the early portion of the third season of Millennium found it a little difficult to establish itself after the climatic ending of the second season and that it took time to define the new characters and redefine it's own direction. Was there a palpable sense amongst the cast and crew that things were a little unsure to begin with or did everyone appear to have a clear vision of Millennium, Season Three.

PO
: I think there was a certain hesitant vibe to the beginning of season 3. The problem was the ending of season two where it was suggested, quite certainly, that the end had begun. A massive pandemic was certainly raging out of control in the U.S. so to begin season three with everything not as bad as all that was a bit of a gamble with the fans. Kind of like tossing out a story idea half way through the telling. However, it was suggested to me that a lot of the fans hadn't liked the direction the show had gone in season two so maybe a dramatic overhau
l of the show is what was needed. Hey, I got a job out of it so who am I to say.

BTFB
: I wanted to ask you what your impressions of the character of Barry Baldwin were? Initially, he seemed to occupy a position similar to that of the X-Files’ Krycek - a character that fans would rally around in friendly opposition - but he outgrew that description and became much more rounded and interesting and the season progressed. Were you pleased with the arc of the character and do you think he was used to his full potential?

PO: Barry was always intended as "pressure" in that he was simply supposed to be this guy who was always involved along side Klea's character as her partner but he didn't agree with her thoughts about Frank. Just something else she had to watch her back from. Originally there was this romantic back story between the two...they were an item during training or some such thing...but that was dropped to make Barry more nebulous. I remember getting notes from above to keep Barry more neutral which I found hard to do because he just seemed to have the words 'smarmy asshole" written on his forehead, so I kept trying to sneak a sarcastic humour vibe into the role. I think that's ultimately what got me killed off.

I can see Chris's point though. If I had played him more "grey" the audience would always be wondering whose side I was on. Was I there to keep an eye on Klea or was I there to watch her back? Was I Millennium group or not? In the end Barry turned out to be pretty much just a jerk. And not a very competent G-man.

In that sense I think Barry had a good ride on the show. I know the crew and the rest of the cast liked what I was doing because he sort of became this kind of "Major Burns" kind of thing and it was fun to see how he would wear the egg on his face each time he showed up.

Like I said however, I think that Chris had a much more ambiguous arc in mind for Barry so in that sense Barry probably wasn't used to his full potential. Entirely my fault.

BTFB: We believe that there was still the potential that the show would be picked up for a fourth season when shooting wrapped, did you consider your association with the show over, with regards to Barry's demise, despite the fact that many characters in the various 1013 franchises died and returned on a number of occasions?

PO
: There was never any doubt in my mind that Barry was dead. The script said in the narrative: Baldwin is dead. DEAD. DEAD. DEAD. DEAD.


I thought that was pretty clear. It MAY have had something to do with my agent trying to get more money for me if the show went another season but....nah...couldn't be it. I think Chris just got pissed off with me not playing the neutrality of the character and told the writers to "kill that smarmy jerk. He isn't a threat to anybody but the FBI's reputation." In fact, now that I say it, maybe Chris got a call from the Bureau telling him to get rid of Baldwin just out of respect.

BTFB: One of things that aggrieves the fans is that Millennium never had the opportunity to offer any closure on its own terms, this is a sentiment shared by many of the cast and crew. Do you agree that its cancellation robbed the cast, crew and fans of an opportunity to see the story end in a more pleasing manner and do you support our campaign to offer that closure in a movie adaptation?

PO: I think ending the show on the X-Files was a bit of a cheat. It was a good episode though so I kind of think it should be part of BOTH canons. But yes I do think that every show deserves to end things in their own style so the idea for a Frank Black film is a fantastic one.

BTFB: You've appeared in some superb genre productions including Saw, Sanctuary, Regenesis and so on, how do you compare the experience of being part of the Millennium franchise with the other notable franchises you have been part of?

PO
: Working on a show that has achieved "franchise" status can be both difficult and rewarding from a creative point of view for exactly the same reason. The audience. Franchise audiences have a devotion to their shows that no other audiences share. So on the one hand you've got the greatest audience you could ever wish for but on the other hand you have the must critical audience you could ever fear. It's a very fine line and it keeps everyone on their toes because if you get something wrong, your audience WILL let you know. I've never experienced anything like that on other shows I've worked on. Don't even get me started on SAW VI.


BTFB
: Our thanks, Peter, for taking the time to talk to us!

PO
: Take care guys and good luck!

Frankly, it's fashionable! Avatar unmasked!

We have been delighted with the response to our exclusive line of campaign merchandise and we again give thanks to artist, Barry Renshaw, for his constant support and encouragement for our efforts. We know a number of you have received your goodies and been delighted with the results and we'd like to share with you fellow staff member, Troy Foreman, proudly sporting his Avatar inspired tee and looking dapper in the process.

A lot of time, money and effort goes into making this campaign the success we feel it is and this could not have been achieved without the constant support and encouragement from you guys and purchasing one of the tees is an additional way you can contribute to our efforts and look damn fine in the process.

Each tee purchased makes a very modest profit that can be channelled back into the campaign allowing us to explore other avenues that have this far been closed to us.

To view our merchandise range and make a purchase, go on, you know you want to, visit here!

Don't forget, if you are a proud owner of one of Barry's tees then share pics of yourselves modelling our fine apparel. We Millennium fans are a handsome bunch of people after all.

BACKTOFRANKBLACK - SEND THOSE LETTERS!

We know that you good people are enjoying the efforts of the people behind this campaign and we cannot thank you enough for the kind words you have shared with us. Every comment and every email really brings it home to us how many passionate fans there are around the world who wait, worry and care about the return of Frank Black.


Whilst writing to us is greatly appreciated, and we urge you all to continue, writing to 20th Century Fox is what really, really matters. No amount of blog posts, interviews or general madcap ideas that we come up with with bring Frank back to the screens and that's why we need you all so badly.


Josef, has been an undoubted asset to this campaign, as have you all, and sending a letter or two, as he did, is the single most important thing you can do. It need not be The Gettysburg Address, a few impassioned lines will be enough to get the message across to those that matter. If you're not in the mood for writing, send a Polaroid, a quick, easy and fuss free way to achieve the same end.


If you're wondering why Josef is posing with money, it isn't a bribe to get you good folks to send those letters, he found said money on his way to post his own letters to 20th Century Fox. We can't promise that all letters sent will receive cash back in the same way but who knows? Certainly worth a try eh?