Halloween Week Competition: The Winner

We hark back to Halloween Week now to revisit the sinister subject matter of our holiday competition. In Millennium's "Thirteen Years Later," method actor turned madman Marc Bianco adopts the identities of a half-dozen killers from classic slasher films. Inspired by this entertaining identity crisis as well as the irreverent spirit of the Halloween season, Back to Frank Black asked you: which famous fictional killer from film or television would you most like to be and why?

The responses we received for this competition were astonishingly diverse as well as both thought-provoking and entertaining. The winning entry is that composed by Gregg Wright, who wrote to tell us that he'd choose to be Richard B. Riddick, the "quintessential anti-hero" portrayed by Vin Diesel in Pitch Black (2000) and The Chronicles of Riddick (2004). Gregg explains:

"Riddick is the ultimate human predator and the ultimate hunter of man... No prison can hold Riddick, at least not forever. He will, inevitably, escape... He is, by far, the most dangerous man in the universe and one of the most badass fictional characters ever created. But he retains just enough of his humanity that I can respect him. In such a harsh and unforgiving universe, Riddick can't be blamed for becoming the man that he is. I think that on some level, we can all relate."


With his answer Gregg has won himself a copy of Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue (2009) signed by both Joe Maddrey and Lance Henriksen! Congratulations, Gregg! And a hearty Back to Frank Black thank you goes out to all those who participated in this particular competition. It was a pleasure to share a somewhat chilling glimpse at your own personal dark side.

Halloween Week: Sunday #2 - Trivia Challenge Conclusion

It’s All Hallows Eve, a time when we find ourselves craving both tricks and treats. Back to Frank Black delivers on both counts by presenting the answers to our diabolical “Thirteen Years Later” trivia challenge! Below you will find the promised solutions to all thirteen of our fiendishly tricky riddles. If you’d still like a shot at proving your millennial mastery, cover your eyes now and simply revisit the posted line-up of questions, presented at the start of our Halloween Week extravaganza. The answers to many of these trivia questions have been offered throughout the week in the exclusive interviews, original essays, and video tributes posted to celebrate “Thirteen Years Later.”

Additionally, there’s still time to submit your entry for the Back to Frank Black Halloween competition! If you could become any fictional killer from the annals of both film and television, who would you be? Review the posted competition guidelines and drop us an e-mail. You have until midnight (PST) tonight to enter for a chance to win a copy of Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue (2009) signed by both Joe Maddrey and Lance Henriksen!

And now, Millennium fanatics, the treat to balance out our tricks, the answers you’ve been awaiting...

1. Which classic horror movies are referenced on-screen in “Thirteen Years Later”? 1) The Hitcher (1986) 2) Halloween (1978) 3) Friday the 13th (1980) 4) A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) 5) Psycho (1960) 6) Motel Hell (1980) 7) The Omen (1976)

2. Which of the cited franchises can be tied to the resume of Millennium’s star? Lance Henriksen appears in Damien: Omen II (1978).

3. What cult horror television series also takes place in Trinity, South Carolina? CBS’s American Gothic (1995).

4. What detective movie does Emma Hollis cite as her personal favorite? The Enforcer (1951).

5. What book does Emma take time out to enjoy? Labyrinths (1962) by Jorge Luis Borges.

6. Who are the four founding members of KISS and what cameo roles do they play in this episode? Paul Stanley appears as Lew Carroll, Peter Criss as Nice Cop, Ace Frehley as Sick Cop, and Gene Simmons as Hector Leachman.

7. In addition to “Psycho Circus,” what KISS song is referenced in this episode? “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975).

8. Who is the “Reverend” M. Goodman granted tribute with the episode’s epigraph? Morry Goodman, a Fox network censor.

9. On which big screen horror flick did Thomas J. Wright join more than a half-dozen other Millennium alums? Final Destination (2000).

10. What screen credit connects Millennium stars Lance Henriksen and Terry O’Quinn with guest stars Jeff Yagher and Jon Polito? HBO's Tales from the Crypt (1989).

11. Which victims uttered those unwitting last words on-screen? A) Sheriff Fritz Neuenschwander B) Lew Carroll C) Sarah Cryer) D) Kenny Neiderman E) Marta Danbury F) Hugo Winston

12. What uncharacteristic action connects “The Beginning and the End,” “Beware of the Dog,” “Roosters,” “TEOTWAWKI,” “Thirteen Years Later,” and “Goodbye to All That”? Frank Black fires a gun.

13. Which Millennium episodes feature nods to the entertainment industry? A) “Jose Chung’s Doomsday Defense” B) “522666” C) “Goodbye to All That” D) “Somehow, Satan Got Behind Me” E) “The Curse of Frank Black”

Halloween Week: Monday #2 - Competition and Trivia Challenge!

In the episode we’re celebrating this week, “Thirteen Years Later,” dark fantasy and reality collide as Frank Black and Emma Hollis struggle to stop a killer whose methods at first follow the script of the movie his victims are making and who then turns to mimicking horror classics that are airing on television in the run-up to Halloween.

In dubious honor of this madcap killing spree and in celebration of the Halloween season, Back to Frank Black has a brand new competition for you! What we would like you to do is search the deepest recesses of your psyche and consider your answer to the following question:

Which famous fictional killer from film or television would you most like to be and why?

All you need to do is send your response to us by e-mail at info@backtofrankblack.com. Make sure your e-mail is titled “Halloween Week Competition” and that you include your full name. Your entry must reach us by midnight on Halloween, October 31st. The Back to Frank Black team will judge the entries on creativity and originality and the winner will receive a DVD copy of Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue--the fantastic, blood-drenched horror documentary written and produced by Joe Maddrey and narrated by Lance Henriksen. This prize will be signed by both Maddrey and Henriksen!

Good luck to all! We look forward to being deeply disturbed by your entries.

As a companion piece to this competition and a means of prolonging our holiday entertainment, we’d also like to torment our faithful readers with thirteen fiendishly difficult trivia questions tied to “Thirteen Years Later.” No prizes will be awarded for this lot, just the guarantee of hair-raising fun as we invite you to examine this unforgettable installment of Millennium. Stay sharp during your annual viewing of “Thirteen Years Later” and search this week’s essays, interviews, and video tributes for clues. We’ll provide the answers to each of the thirteen questions right here on the blog this Sunday--Halloween! Good luck!

1. This Halloween episode acts as an outright celebration of slasher cinema, featuring no less than seven on-screen references to classic horror movies. List them.

2. Lance Henriksen stands as a legendary figure in the history of the horror genre. Which of the horror franchises cited in “Thirteen Years Later” can be tied to the prolific star’s resume?

3. A legend informs us that the events of “Thirteen Years Later” take place in the town of Trinity, South Carolina, linking this episode to what cult horror television series?

4. It’s clear that Frank Black doesn’t much care for horror films; he tells his partner that he prefers detective stories. What detective movie does Emma Hollis, the horror movie buff, cite as her personal favorite?

5. During a quiet moment, the clearly multi-faceted Emma Hollis balances her fangirlish fervor for slasher flicks by relaxing in a bubble bath with a classic work of literature. What book is Emma immersed in?

6. “Thirteen Years Later” features a guest performance by KISS and, notably, includes the band’s members both in and out of their famous stage make-up. Who are the four founding members of KISS and what cameo roles do they play in this episode?

7. KISS provide an energetic performance of the title track from their 1998 album Psycho Circus, a song that reached number one on Billboard’s chart of Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. What other KISS song--like “Psycho Circus,” recorded by the band’s original line-up--is referenced in the episode?

8. Faithful viewers would do well to heed this episode’s cautionary epigraph: “Never believe anything you see on Halloween.” The point is emphasized by the fact that the quote was fabricated for the story by writer Michael R. Perry. Who is the “Reverend” M. Goodman granted tribute with the quotation?

9. This episode allowed director Thomas J. Wright to pay visual homage to a number of classic horror movies and genre motifs. On which big screen horror flick, a veritable modern classic, did Wright join more than a half-dozen other Millennium alums?

10. In spite of Peter Watts’s obvious absence from this episode, what scary screen credit connects Millennium stars Lance Henriksen and Terry O’Quinn with guest star Jeff Yagher? (Need a hint? Add “Omerta” guest star Jon Polito to the mix, too!)

11. Killer Marc Bianco is responsible for slaughtering eight victims during the filming of Madman Maniac. Which characters uttered these unwitting last words on-screen before meeting their bloody end at the hands of the episode’s chameleonic killer? A) “That’d be me.” B) “Here’s to us.” C) “This is the movie Frank Black didn’t want you to see.” D) “I don’t need a bunch of hot-head actors thinking that we don’t have the rights to the story here.” E) “Lew?” F) “This movie’s not over!”

12. Frank Black’s behavior is admittedly somewhat… uncharacteristic in this madcap installment. What action connects the following seemingly disparate episodes of Millennium? “The Beginning and the End,” “Beware of the Dog,” “Roosters,” “TEOTWAWKI,” “Thirteen Years Later,” “Goodbye to All That.”

13. In “Thirteen Years Later,” a criminal investigation conducted by Frank Black crosses with the entertainment industry, but not for the first time. Can you name a Millennium episode in which... A) Frank Black visits an office decorated with movie posters B) Frank channel surfs in bed C) Frank peruses a serial killer’s videocassette collection D) Frank visits the set of a television series E) Frank glimpses a television pilot produced by Glen Morgan and James Wong?

Millennium Movie Poster Project: The Winners!

Well, the time is now. We are now extremely excited to reveal the winners of the Millennium Movie Poster Project! We're doing this in style too, as we exclusively bring together judges Lance Henriksen, Klea Scott and Mark Snow for an extra special podcast to discuss their choices. And you can listen to that right here.

Also summing up those deliberations, we have another stylish video from the wonderful Joselyn Rojas, so you can see those winning designs once again. Enjoy!

Congratulations, then, to our worthy overall winners. And yes, as Lance also revealed in the podcast, everyone who entered is a winner with this competition, and that somehow seems apt. We've also updated the Gallery Showcase to credit all the artists too, as promised, so be sure to go back and take another look at their work.

So all that's left is for Brian A. Dixon and I to thank everyone for taking part: from our top three winners to all the other entrants, to Lance, Klea and Mark for taking the time to consider and discuss them, and Lance in particular for also providing such great prizes, to Joselyn for all the snazzy visuals she provided to accompany the project, and of course to James and Troy for co-ordinating people behind the scenes, as always.

It's been huge fun and also a tantalising glimpse into so many incarnations that a Millennium movie could take, and everyone here at Back to Frank Black will be sure to bring you further such exciting projects very, very soon...

Millennium Movie Poster Project: Winners Announcement Coming Soon!

We're planning a very special announcement for the winners of the Millennium Movie Poster Project, in the form of a podcast no less, featuring our judges Lance Henriksen, Klea Scott and Mark Snow revealing their choices. Schedules allowing, that should happen over the next week or so, and we'll post it here just as soon as we can thereafter.

Do rest assured that the results are in, the prizes signed and ready to be shipped and that we're just keeping you in suspense for a little while longer for the sake of what will be an exciting revelation of all the winners. So watch out for that special podcast right here at Back to Frank Black very, very soon.

Millennium Movie Poster Project: Last Call

Just two days to go for the Millennium Movie Poster Project, but there's still time for you to create and submit your entry if you have yet to do so.

As a reminder, this competition asks you to turn your visions of a Millennium movie into reality in the form of a poster design. The composition is entirely up to you, with the only limits being those of your imagination.

Our superb triumvirate of judges - Klea Scott, Mark Snow and Lance Henriksen himself - eagerly await your entries, and there are a fantastic set of signed DVD prizes on offer. The first prize is a copy of the Millennium boxset, Aliens and Near Dark, second prize is the Millennium boxset and Near Dark and third prize receives the Millennium boxset. In addition, the top five entries will all receive a signed photo of Lance Henriksen.

Please submit your entry or entries as either a JPEG or a PDF file(s) by e-mail to info@backtofrankblack.com. Be sure that your subject line reads “Millennium Movie Poster Project” and that the e-mail includes both your name and address.

For the last time, then, we wish you all the very best of luck!

There are 2 days remaining.

There Are An Extra 7 Days Remaining

Following hard on the announcement of the superb prizes on offer for the winners of the Millennium Movie Poster Project, we are pleased to be able to extend the deadline for entries by a week. In order to offer sufficient time for all interested artists to compose their entries, we will now be accepting poster submissions until September 4^th.

We have an esteemed panel of judges for the competition: Klea Scott, Mark Snow, and Lance Henriksen himself. This really is a unique opportunity to have your art considered by some of the leading talents to have worked on Millennium.

This competition offers you the chance to make your own visions of a Millennium movie into reality in the form of a poster design. The canvas is entirely your own in terms of format and content, so let your imagination run wild!

Please submit your entry or entries as either a JPEG or a PDF file(s) by e-mail to info@backtofrankblack.com. Be sure that your subject line reads “Millennium Movie Poster Project” and that the e-mail includes both your name and address.

There are 13 days remaining.

Thank you Millennium fans - Part II

Well, the latest contest is turning out to be a good one! We are getting a lot of responses and we truly appreciate that. Keep them coming, Millennium fans. Due to the overwhelming response, we will now be selecting two winners, so good luck! The deadline will be this Saturday at 1pm EST. Here is the cool part: the winners will be able to choose the photo of their choice from three different photos. How's that for a nice surprise? Here are the options:

Remember, keep sending in those entries and, again, you have until 1pm EST this Saturday! We will announce the winners this coming Sunday on a brand new episode of the Millennium Group Sessions podcast. We will be interviewing Joseph Maddrey from Nightmares in Red, White & Blue. We also have a special guest drop in to make a very special announcement that I think will make all of the Millennium fans happy! No, it's not a movie announcement, but still very cool!

Also, don't forget to send in those entries for the Millennium Movie Poster Project competition! We have had some great submissions and are looking forward to many more. You have until August 29th to submit as many entries as you'd like!

Millennium Movie Poster Project: The (Other) Judge

It's day two of the Millennium Movie Poster Project, and we're so excited to be able to announce a second judge for the competition. Another huge talent from the Millennium pantheon, it is none other than Ten Thirteen music supremo Mark Snow.

Mark will aid Lance Henriksen in judging the results of the Millennium Movie Poster Project, and we're extremely grateful to them both in taking the time to judge your entries. With this opportunity to present your ideas to two of the artists whose unique vision helped to shape Millennium, the time is now to begin crafting your own poster design! Details on how to enter the competition are as per yesterday's blog post.

There are 34 days remaining.

COMPETITION: THE MILLENNIUM MOVIE POSTER PROJECT

From hypnotic visions of gruesome violence to brightly-colored vistas of heart and home, from stunning scenes of apocalyptic horror to lurid portraits of evil incarnate, Millennium was a television series that delivered some of the most vivid, unique, and memorable imagery ever seen on television. Now, the time has come for you to present your own personal vision of Millennium…

We are pleased and excited to announce a brand new competition from Back to Frank Black. For this, we would like you to look ahead, to imagine what you would like to see in the Millennium feature film, and to represent that by way of a poster design for “your” movie!

The composition of the poster is entirely up to you. You might decide to put your Photoshop skills to full use or you might want to design, draw, or paint an entirely original work of art. You could include a subtitle for the film, a tagline, or credits for cast and crew. The banner could find its focus in a photographic portrait or in an illustration completely abstract. The only limit is your imagination! Show us your vision of Millennium and its future. If you’re struggling for inspiration, feel free to review the archive of advertising material from the TV show’s history here, on the Millennial Abyss.

We ask that you submit your entry or entries--as you are free to submit multiple posters if you have a wealth of ideas--as either a JPEG or a PDF file(s) by e-mail to info@backtofrankblack.com. Be sure that your subject line reads “Millennium Movie Poster Project” and that the e-mail includes both your name and address. As judge of the competition, Lance Henriksen himself will choose the winning poster! The contest’s exclusive prize will be announced shortly. The closing date for entries is August 29th, so start planning your image! There are 35 days remaining.

Good luck! We look forward to seeing your Millennium movie poster designs.

Millennium Movie Poster Project Teaser Trailer

We're getting used to being able to present some superb content from Joselyn Rojas here at Back to Frank Black, and this latest video is no exception. We're absolutely thrilled to premiere this exciting trailer for the upcoming Millennium Movie Poster Project. Huge thanks once again to Joselyn for this all-new composition, exclusively created for this event.

Check back on Monday for more information and details on how to enter the competition!

"COMING SOON..."

The yellow house. The iconic symbolism of a bronzed ouroboros. A blur of bloody mayhem seen as through the eyes of a killer. The terrifying silhouette of a devil looming atop a darkened staircase. The stark red of a Jeep Cherokee as it winds its way towards a golden sunset.

These are just a few snapshots from the stunning visual canvas of Millennium. As Chris Carter described in a recent interview with John Kenneth Muir, the very idea of Frank Black’s yellow house emerged from “the bigger concept of a guy who was trying to paint away the darkness”. And now it is your opportunity to envisage the world of Millennium and to paint it afresh.

COMING SOON...

Lara Means Week: Competition results!

LARA MEANS WEEK COMPETITION

Competition winners for the signed season two box set and the signed photo are as follows:

The signed photo goes to Jack O'Neall, Evanston, IL
The signed season two boxed set goes to TV Miller, Yonkers, New York

Congratulations to you both! Your prizes will be sent out shortly!

MORGAN AND WONG WEEK: DAY 4 - DEAD LETTERS

In case anyone has lost count, or was thrown in part by yesterday's second part to our third part of our part Morgan, part Wong week, this is day four.

Today we make a welcome return to the ouroborus and the Millennium, having drifted into some of M&W's other rather excellent circles. To take us on our ever circular trip, we welcome the return of our favourite-reviewer-in-a-mask, DiRT! Today, DiRT will be talking to us for ten on the exciting world that is Millennium, on an episode from season one that was touched by the penship of Morgan and Wong... Dead Letters!

So without further ado, let's do the flashy player thing, and press play! And watch out for the blooper! Nice come back DiRT! :)

A reminder that our competitions are open until Sunday. To win a copy of the X-Files Season 4 Boxset, or Space: Above and Beyond boxset, simply put your name and address on an email to info@backtofrankblack.com - with "X-Files Competition" in the header for the X-Files competition, or "Space: Above and Beyond" in the header for the Space: Above and Beyond Competition (please send separate emails for both competition entries).

Please note, with humble apologies we've discovered we've been having a few problems with our emails for the first part of this week - if you've sent us a comment or competition issue entry on Monday-Wednesday night, could you PLEASE resend so we're sure all entries and comments have got to us for that period. Apologies again.

Finally, thank you to Steven Trotter for the base design that I used to flash up our Morgan and Wong week header. He's been using a similar one he created to promote the Morgan and Wong week on his Millennium Facebook Group. I think both looks great, don't you?

MORGAN AND WONG WEEK: DAY 3 - SPACE ABOVE AND BEYOND PART 2

A bonus for Morgan And Wong Week Day 3: Space: Above and Beyond. Horror writer and Millennium fan John Kenneth Muir has found one of his older articles on the subject and has posted it on his blog. An excerpt follows:

"Imagine a "gritty, gutsy" (per TV Guide...) futuristic war drama colored in hues of mood battleship gray. It takes place in deep space following a devastating sneak attack on humanity by an unfathomable and merciless enemy.


Our protagonists in the war effort (which we are "losing badly") are young, attractive (but headstrong and angsty...) pilots. Much of the action occurs inside the cockpits of cramped space fighters and in military briefing rooms. The universe depicted by the series is one of murky morality and hard truths which shift in the troublesome and ambiguous sands of wartime. For instance, the specter of torture (here termed "re-education") is brought up in one installment.

You don't think I'm talking about the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, do you?

Instead, the first paragraph of this review describes the Glen Morgan/James Wong sci-fi war drama, Space: Above and Beyond, a mid-nineties-era TV endeavor that aired on the Fox Network for one season (and twenty-three hour-long episodes), and which concerned a squadron of rookie - but committed - soldiers serving in the United States Marine Corps Space Aviator Cavalry aboard a mobile space headquarters; not the Galactica, but the Saratoga."

For more, follow the link to his blog! Well worth a visit!

And don't forget to enter our Region 1 boxset competition for Space: Above and Beyond! Send an email to info@backtofrankblack.com with your name and address. Lucky winner gets the boxset!

MORGAN AND WONG WEEK: DAY 3 - SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND, OVERVIEW AND COMPETITION!

It's Wednesday and we're back for day 3 of Morgan & Wong week. We've looked at Millennium (which we will be returning to tomorrow), we've looked at The X-Files - so what's next? Well indulge me please as I ramble on a little about the show which to me, was more Morgan & Wong than them all: Space Above and Beyond.


If you take the time to listen to our Glen Morgan interview this coming Sunday, you'll no doubt be utterly unsurprised at the levels of personal affection he has for this show. This was Glen and James' baby - written, produced and conceived by the duo. It was quite a wonderful series that flew high, only to be shot down on its maiden season by the network.

Space: Above and Beyond came to air in 1995. It lasted 24 episodes and was nominated for both Emmy and Saturn awards. The story carried echos of many war tales and seemingly a small homage of Heinlein's Starship Troopers. The year is 2063. The world is at war, a space war with an enemy known as the "Chigs". Suffering severe losses against this alien foe, humanity grows more and more desperate to hold the line and their forces fill with untried, inexperienced and untrained units... Space: Above and Beyond tells the story of one of those units. In particular the show's heroes belong to the 58th "Wildcards" unit. and we follow the adventures of this group as they bond and grow from fresh meat to veterans in the field of War.

From the synopsis it should immediately become apparent what an ambitious project this was. Not just a future tale, but a bleak, epic future tale. Even with CGI helping cut costs on what inevitably would be a high special effects budget, it was clear the studio would be watching this project closely for any signs of weakness..

The main cast of Space: Above and Beyond

Like so many shows with unique potential, Space: Above and Beyond was a concept that inevitably faced enemies far mightier than the Chigs. To start, this future is bleak and colourless. There is no utopia of Star Trek, or even the snug comfort of a commercial space station like Babylon 5. Space: Above and Beyond put you in the seat of the trooper - you aren't Captain Kirk or Captain Sheridan; a leader whose decisions could bring victory - or even the hope of victory. You are a grunt. You are one of the expendables wondering if your next mission would leave you drifting cold in space or dead on some forgotten planet. Space: Above and Beyond was a dark show.

Furthermore, the show wasn't set too far into our future, less than a 100 years. This creates three further obstacles for a show to gather a sizeable audience.

First, stories set in the far future can be wonderous fantasy worlds filled with teleporters, silver cities, crazy aliens and lots of glitter - if we are to invest in a "near future" storyline, there has to be roots in what we experience or conceive to be contemporary - so it becomes less escapist.

Secondly, rooting it in the near future makes the events more intimate than the far future; we empathise with the plight against the alien Shadows in Babylon 5 - we see the parallels to our military wars, but it's more conceptual and removed. "Near future" wars look for close parallels - and those who look to do it realistically like Space: Above and Beyond will attempt to draw intimate parallels with our contemporary understandings of war. As intended, this can again make an audience uncomfortable - it's the future, but it's the near future. It COULD happen to you - and the vision reflects that.

Third, when something is meant to feel near the age we live in, we tend to be more critical. We expect a certain truth that far future can side-step. Audiences can be highly critical as how believably "near" a "near future" can be.


But this isn't a criticism, it's something to applaud, as any drama worth its salt will create some form of response, and the sheer overwhelming struggle of a seemingly impossible war is a treasure trove of drama. Morgan and Wong did indeed take the show Beyond - beyond what many would dare try, and while the show didn't have length, there is no doubt it had quality.

Before I go any further, I have to say it's been a long time since I've seen Space: Above and Beyond - too long in fact. I've been waiting for a decent content filled DVD boxset (as has Glen!) for a while and I'm feeling I'll have to capitulate to the current Region 1 release (pretty barebones). So in a way, this overview is more about the memories - the lasting impact of the show, than the detail.

Space: Above and Beyond was a show I was initially sceptical about. By the mid nineties we couch potatoes were in a very conflicted situation; we were coming out of the 80's trend of pretty, young, dashing heroes finding them to difficult to relate to, but still an audience demanding pretty, young, dashing heroes to grace our screens. I was no exception to this shallow rule, and seeing a cast line up, my gut was "uh oh, pretty boy show" - which it was, so far as the cast were far from unattractive; Weisser, Cloke, Rowland - and even the mature unflappable dignity of James Morrison - gave me the feeling of a too pretty cast in a very unpretty world. But once I got into that world, I learned the folly of such presumptions, and perhaps in such a dark world you needed some aesthetics that gave you comfort. It did matter what the characters looked like, what carried you through was the circumstance and while the characters lived in hope, as a viewer, the oppressive threat of the enemy drove home the bleak futility of a soldier's war. The Chigs felt unstoppable, but as a pilot or a trooper, you just had to fight on regardless and hope for the best. Whenever I think back to Space: Above and Beyond that feeling is what I always remember - a feeling of uncertainty - not just whether the war could be won, but whether the next day would be the day it was all over... the day humanity ended.


For me, Space Above and Beyond was a show that fought to string together many dark layers rather than fixating on the obvious one. It sought to texture its universe with more than guns and dogfights; to really make you believe it isn't just about the common enemy, but about a wealth of forces that weave around the battle with the enemy. Space: Above and Beyond had conflicts within the genetic underclass (the in viteros and the silicates), conspiracies within their own military and governments, and deep frustrated personal struggles between the unit. What impressed me was the frailty it added to the human soldier. I remember one of the lead character's, Wong, actually breaks in the face of capture - which in most shows is considered reprehensible and disgraceful, but in Space: Above and Beyond, you are encouraged to feel what could make a good man fail his friends, his country and himself. I remember that moment profoundly. I recall wondering at the time (unaware the show was cancelled) what potential Space: Above and Beyond had if it was willing to sacrifice the usual good guys/bad guys approach to war that most shows enjoyed.



For me, the show's peak - in fact one of the best stories I've seen in TV sci-fi - was a tale called "Who Monitors the Birds?". The episode had the in vitero Hawke stranded alone and injured on a hostile planet. It's a powerful episode replete with physical struggle and personal demons, that relies as much on what's not said than what is. The boxset is worth picking up for that one tale. It certainly showed me the potential in the show's future, a future it sadly never got to play out.

A Chig meets Frank Black in a cameo in The Curse of Frank Black

For me Space: Above and Beyond was a show that was looking to slowly grow into its own shoes, and hoped the viewers would enjoy experiencing that growth - unfortunately I think many viewers either expected something more immediate or were hoping for something else all together. Perhaps it was born before its time. Battlestar Galactica managed to complete its four season trek carrying with it a very dark world, filled with tragedy, gloom and only the faint whispers of hope - a little like Space: Above and Beyond. Sadly, we'll never know - we are left with our memories, our DVD box-set and the knowledge that while it was not on the air long, it was on long enough to be remembered. And if this article helps jog that memory and sustain it even further, then I think Day 3 of Morgan and Wong week has done its job.

COMPETITION:

To celebrate Morgan and Wong's proud achievements, we are offering the FULL series of Space: Above and Beyond on REGION1 DVD to a lucky winner! Simply send us an email with your name and address to info@backtofrankblack.com and we'll draw a lucky winner on Sunday. Unlike the war against the Chigs, this is an easy win!

WE HAVE A WINNER: THE MILLENNIUM MUSIC VIDEO COMPILATION SIGNED BY LANCE HENRIKSEN!

Back during The Curse Of Frank Black Week we unveiled a fantastic competition that would allow one of you lucky people to get your hands on a wonderful piece of campaign memorabilia. Josef compiled all the music montages he had created up until that point and created a stunning DVD compilation complete with menus, covers and all the good things you would expect from someone as talented as he is. When Josef and Troy ventured to Chicago for the Flashback Horror Convention they were lucky enough to have Lance Henriksen sign the DVD so that we could give it away to one of you good people.

So, here's the moment you've all been waiting for. Congratulations to our lucky winner and thanks to all those who took the time to enter. No doubt there will be more competitions to look forward to in the near future but till then. Let's find out who the winner is shall we?

Mark

THE CURSE OF FRANK BLACK WEEK DAY FIVE: WIN CAMPAIGN MEMORABILIA SIGNED BY LANCE HERNIKSEN!

As you may know, podcast host Troy Foreman and campaign supporter, Josef Gunnarsson recently returned from a successful jaunt to Flashback Horror Convention 2009 in Chicago. Whilst they were there, Josef had the opportunity to present Lance Henriksen with a few campaign gifts he had taken out with him and you can see this momentous meeting in the following video. If you're wondering who's filming the video then that's Troy, swapping his podcaster's hat for his cinematographer's for a while.

Now here's your opportunity to get your hands on something incredibly cool and the only thing about this that isn't incredibly cool is the fact that I can't enter the competition myself.

Josef has created a DVD compilation of all his Millennium Music Videos to date. It's a fantastic package, with DVD menus, music videos and a few little extras to boot. He has designed a DVD cover for this unique piece of campaign memorabilia and what's more, Lance Henriksen has signed a copy for you to get your hands on. That's right, it's one of a kind. Here to tell you how one lucky reader out there could find themselves with a copy of this is Josef. Take it away....

Please note this competition is now closed. We thank Lance Henriksen for taking the time to sign our DVD and Josef for making it all possible. Congratulations to our lucky winner and our thanks to all those who took the time to enter. Keep your eyes peeled for more exclusive competitions in the future.

Lucy Butler Week - Day Six: Competition News and Postcard Push Pt II

Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of the week to announce the winner of our Lights Camera Caption Competition and to be honest it was far too hard to judge. The level of entries I received for this were outstanding so the only option left was to choose an entry at random and I am delighted to announce that Laila Kurlak is the lucky winner with the entry you will see below.

Thanks to each and every one of you for supporting this week and this campaign and, more importantly, congratulations Laila, I hope you enjoy your autographed photograph which will be winging it's way to you shortly.

Now here's my thing. You will see below one more retro postcard, this time taking the form of an conceptual lobby poster and I hope each and every one of you will send one more postcard to 20th Century Fox, let's have one last push in honour of Lucy Butler Week.

The original file for this image was designed A1 size and for every individual who takes a photograph of their completed postcard before mailing it I will send you the original file to print as a poster as I have received a number of enquiries about the possibility of turning the designs into posters. It's my way of saying thank you to you all.


Send your postcards to the following address with a cordial request for a Millennium Movie:

MICHAEL BROIDY
20th Century Fox
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Bldg. 88, Room 344
Los Angeles, CA 90035
USA

And don't forget to take a picture of the completed postcard and mail it to info@backtofrankblack.com to receive your A1 version of the postcard,

Please keep pushing!

Mark x


To listen to love is blue as you peruse our Blog this week use the 'Love Is Blue' cassette links that will feature on every 'Lucy Week' blog post. Just click the link and a new window will open which will play the tune. Oh, and keep looking over your shoulder in the

Lights, camera, caption: LUCY BUTLER!

Here at BackToFrankBlack we are pleased announce that a week of devilry dedicated to the one and only Lucy Butler will soon unleashed upon the unsuspecting masses (you!) To get the ball rolling we are giving away a fantastic signed photograph of Sarah-Jane Redmond as Lucy Butler that she has very kindly donated to the cause. To be in with a chance to win this Millennium goodie, all you have to do is create a caption to fit a scene from A Room With No View and the funniest entry from those we receive will win!

PLEASE NOT THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL OUR ENTRANTS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER!

Mark x

PLEASE NOTE:

• The Editors reserve the right to change the rules applicable to the competition at any time and for any reason.

• There is no cash alternative to the prize offered.

• BacktoFRANKBLACK can offer no guarantee on the delivery of prizes. There is no compensatory offer for any prize that fails to be delivered by the delivery services.

• This competition is non-profit making.

• No email addresses or postal details sent to BacktoFRANKBLACK will be given out to third parties.

• Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in the disqualification of the entry. Editors reserve the right to disqualify any entry at their absolute discretion.

• By emailing us your competition entry, you accept the terms and conditions of this competition.

• Editors' decisions are final in all matters concerning a competition. It is a condition of entry to any competition that the entrant agrees to be bound by these rules whether they be published in the relevant online blog or not, and that the decisions of Editors and judges on any matter whatsoever arising out of or connected with the competition are final.