Ezekiel Editorial: Make or Break? Make!

Time for an official update. If you follow us on Facebook -- or if you follow Lance on Facebook -- you'll have heard that we had a meeting midweek with Lance Henriksen, Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz on the future of Millennium.

The meeting was amazingly positive. All involved were on the same page, which was very exciting indeed. We will be releasing that podcast on the 4th February, as announced.

However, there was a sacrifice. As with the Christmas podcast featuring Lance, Megan and Brittany, it evolved into something more than we planned. There was, brutally, no need for questions. Chris, Lance and Frank talked about the show's future.

We had many questions asked of us, however, so many that we had to run through three drafts of potential questions just to reduce the questions to a manageable amount. Even then I doubted we'd get through that final set... We didn't even use one.

As such, we're looking at scheduling a special questions session in the future that uses those fan-submitted questions -- so we can get a chance to put your queries directly to the Millennium big names. Again, apologies they couldn't be used in this podcast, but when you've got the three main voices of Millennium naturally communicating without prompting, you want to let that run its own course!

On top of this, we have more good news from other quarters coming soon to this blog! Keep your eyes peels, m'friends!

Ezekiel Editorial: TIWWAAW

This editorial is a little bit of a minefield. Little silver disks in a muddy field with "backslapper" stuck on them. I don't want this to be about backslappage, more about who we are. TIWWAAW to be precise: This Is Who We Are And Why.

The team, as you may have noticed, has expanded - which was a nerve racking thing to do, given if you're used to a certain dynamic, there's always a fear of spoiling that said dynamic. There has been no evidence of such, which is very encouraging.

For the most part of this year (and a hard personal year it has been, I have to say), myself and Troy have worked pretty much alone with the occasional input from some very dear contributors like DiRT, MR Sellars and Alison Nastasi. So this was quite a shake up.

Now we have a team which is working very professionally and I'm rather thrilled about it. One of the most exciting things for me personally is to have both godfathers of Millennium fandom involved in different ways. Millennial Abyss creator Brian Dixon is a great consultant. He has worked hard brainstorming and putting together the poster campaign. Brian is bright, open to ideas and from my experience always very positive in his approach to problem solving. The second godfather, so to speak, is Graham Smith of TIWWA is more of a silent supporter, but his support and contribution should never go unheeded. He supports the website financially and asks for nothing in return, but is never forgotten. If there is a technical issue, he's the first person to turn to and always has an idea to solve any problem. So having these two people who inspired my interest in Millennium helping us is very exciting. You'll see links to their respective sites down the side of this page. Please visit.

We also have Adam Chamberlain from Fourth Horseman Press - Brian's cohort, who has again being working as a direct consultant and helping on the blog. Both have a regular series planned for the blog too. Watch this space. Adam is very British. Calm, well mannered - easy to rib and very easy to talk to. Personally I prefer ribbing him than talking to him. There I go again. Can't stop teasing the chap.

Joselyn Rojas is a very talented video editor who has stunned Lance, Mark Snow and Tom Wright by her work. She's integral to the upcoming projects and the provider of those wonderful Movie Poster videos. A talented and dedicated individual who is enthused and smart. She's bubbly to the point of exploding. If she likes an idea, you'll know straight away.

Currently, while not team members, Avi and Tiffany from X-Files News.com are also major players in the future for BacktoFrankBlack. With such close connections between the shows and their extensive understanding of campaigns, it would be insane for both groups not to have common ground. These two are fun girls but serious when it comes to business. Never to be under-estimated!

And then there's Lance. He'd be upset if I said he's vital to the campaign, but his support cannot go unnoticed. He drives ideas, pushes the team and challenges what would normally be considered impossible. We're all a unique bunch, be we staff or fans, and that's a point he always stresses - that he is no more important than anyone else who cares about Millennium, but he does have a very active role and interest in the campaign, the concept and the fans - as those who have joined his Facebook page will know - and that page truly fascinates him. He loves seeing what the fans think and do. This guy flares up with an idea and then he'll not stop until its realised. It's his gift. It's his cur- well, no, just a gift really.

Finally, Troy, who never runs out of juice. Always there to join up the dots and push the envelope. But you all know that by now. Essentially he is the anti-me. And that works somehow. Easily amused, rarely tired and always, unswervingly a believer.

But that's the people involved right now. Brian, Adam, Lance, Joselyn, Troy and myself - with Avi and Tiffany throwing in some exciting ideas and Graham there holding us up so we can do this stuff. Our regular contributors are there too - DiRT, Murv, Alison.. all in the wings. All working in different ways but all working together.

Each year comes and I wonder how we'll top the previous year. I think we're topping like we've never topped before. Was this backslappage? I hope not. I'd like to think I can tell you what we're currently about, who we are about and why without it turning into a "aren't we great!!" post. We are all just fans - and I like to think by occasionally letting you guys know how we're working gives you an insight into what's happening and perhaps humanises the campaign somewhat, gives you an idea of who these people are.

And who am I? Well just like Zaphod Beeblebrox, I'm just some guy, you know?

Ezekiel Editorial: Summer Millennium Lovin'

After three weeks of wearing a digital blindfold, I'm back to the fold, to help shepherd more Millennium wonders taped to some very frightened sheep into the pen of Millennium fans. The wonky metaphors are back, as is the wish to be less sober. Back to the grind.

This editorial is to serve two purposes, first and foremost to give you a round-up of what's going down in the 'hood, so to speak, and second to offer a thanks and a sticky badge labelled "kudos" to my colleague Troy Foreman.

Troy has worked flat out these past three weeks on his lonesome, keeping the blog uptodate, Facebook running, scheduling interviews and planning future events. On top of that, he's kept me informed on what's up to virtually every single day. While he never looks for thanks - and as a preference, I prefer to avoid giving any where possible as it makes me feel awkward, his hard work needs a shout out, so here be the shout out.

On more interesting news than Troy L Foreman (the L stands for "Fanboy", I haven't the heart to tell him he's got the wrong initial in his name), here's what you really want to know: what's coming up this summer.

Well those who have been watching the blog or following the Facebook or tapping into our phonecalls (yeah we know (this is) who you are), will have seen we just did a block interview day with both Director/Producer Tom Wright and Writer/Producer James Wong. Those interviews - in my opinion - went down a treat, so look forward to those. Both gents needed no persuasion to come talk to us, having heard how interested you guys were in their work. For James, I think finding out about the campaign and how interested people still are in Millennium has given him an opportunity to enjoyably revisit the work he'd long put behind him. For Tom, well, he just loves Millennium. So I think you'll all find both interviews very fascinating indeed.

On top of that, the charity work contines as we plead for material from our contacts. Yes, this now half a year past when we projected to do the event, but we had no idea of the scope and the logistics - it's a learning game and we're only human. The task has been bigger than we anticipated and we'd rather do a good job with the best array of items to auction than just bang it out for the sake of it. The charity, Children of the Night - to help get kids out of prostitution - is possibly one of the best causes I could imagine working for, so I want this done the best we can. So yes, we're still pushing to get that ready. That's still very much on the cards.

We have another three interviews scheduled (in my off-the-cuff-should-have-written-them-down brain) and we'll be throwing word out on those shortly. So summer will be one for interviews again. We've got another "event week" planned as well, more on that next week.

Speaking of Millennium Group Sessions - we have another panel discussion in the works, a couple perhaps. So stay tuned for those.

On top of that, the work we whispered to you back in Feb with Lance continues. Just so you know we're not yanking your chain or putting teasers out unnecessarily. Yes, again this is another example as with the charity of timing proving more difficult than anticipated - but the bigger the plan, the harder it is to place the pieces, so there is occasionally some drift. That's life - but the intentions are still there. Our hope had been to announce at BIFFF but unfortunately logistics meant we had to step back and reassess how we were to do this particular project. So again, its still ongoing.

Media wise, we're still pushing the boat. Troy is looking at more radio promotions, we are now looking at FOX more closely and seeing what can be done that side.

On top of this, we have of course the usual regular material. We'll have a Seven and One tomorrow, DiRT is still delivering his "Here's My Thing", and we'll be keeping you up to date with all the announcements and events that work around the world of Millennium.

Should be fun. Stay with us.

Ezekiel Editorial: Campaign Mandates

Hello birdies.

It saddens me when I have to make editorials that are less than "happy-happy-joy-joy" in their full content, but sometimes it has to be done. Though while the initial outlook to this editorial is gloomy, the sun does burst through at the end showering us all with Millennium wonder.

We keep getting one persistent troll who keeps bringing up the same point in as many not-too-dissimilar ways and with as many different unverified handles as he can imaginatively conjure. We could mock him as he attempts to mock/demean what we do here, but that's not my style - neither is it Troy's. We are fans of Millennium, ergo we are Millennium fans, but neither of us have time for silly attacks and waging pointless wars. The drive of the silly message is always the same, "this place isn't as good as it used to be" with a hint of "wow, is this the Lance Henriksen fan page now?" added in of late. So I've done this editorial to address this point in three sections sensibly.

1. This place isn't as good as it used to be.
Well that depends on your context - and context isn't always clear. What defines BacktoFrankBlack? Is it the podcasts? The written interviews? Is it the video blogs? The themed weeks? Is it the fun graphics? The interaction with campaign and fans?

Well they are all part and parcel of BacktoFrankBlack, but they aren't what defines it. This is what we're about - This Is Who We Are:

We're here to bring the show back and we're in a better position right here, right now than we were before. Ever before.

So by that criteria, we are FAR better than we have ever been. Pure and simple. If one looks at us and says "are we as fan interactive or filled with fan debates as other places?", then no, we're less about that now as the campaign has a more serious slant. Clock's ticking and myself and Troy would rather have the campaign focus on the industry than on too much, too be rude, padding.

Bottomline, this is a campaign. We do offer interactive stuff and themes because we know followers love Millennium, it's interesting - and we love doing it, but this year we're balancing that out with the serious drive to get Millennium back. So we're doing more media promotions, more interviews and working closer with the industry - all of which doesn't always make for a fun Millennium fan page, but that is not who we are. For that, we heartily recommend our big brother Graham Smith's wonderful, Millennium: This Is Who We Are and the This Is Who We Are forums. Or even join one of the Millennium Facebook Groups such as this one by campaign supporter Steve Trotter. They are great spots for Millennium fans!

2. There's a lot of Lance Henriksen these days, is this like the Lance Henriksen Fan Page?
I shouldn't really need to explain this one. Millennium fans by nature are bright, so apologies if this is something which stands to reason.

Currently what we're working on can't always be mentioned in public, simply because deals aren't finalised, we're waiting on the go to announce stuff or we feel we'd like to hold back news until specific dates. That's part of promotions in a campaign unfortunately. So we can't always bring you campaign news. Rather than fill the blog up with reviews, debate or stuff best handled by a fan forum like This Is Who We Are, we look to find you news you won't find elsewhere, that is pertinent to the campaign in some broader way. What the cast and crew do is very much a part of that and after EVERY podcast we offer the actors and crew we interview the option to promote themselves through us. We get free interviews, these people spend their time valuable time with us, imparting their memories and hopes for Millennium with no reward, so the least we can do is support them as they support us, and given I think 90% of fans are interested in what Millennium cast and crew do, I think it works well. So yes, we will give details from cast and crew when we get them.

With Lance, he is involved in this campaign as much as myself and Troy these days so we do get inside scoops a lot. I'm willing to bet no one reading this in our position would ignore them given we have so many Lance Henriksen fans reading this, its publicity for the campaign and it keeps us current.

If you have objective concerns and rational feedback, let us know - but really I'm disappointed I've had to make this post as I would like to have imagined, as a silly idealist, that ALL fans would be behind a campaign that has the lead icon actually working on it! How often do you get a campaign in which the lead guy is actually working on the campaign to bring it back? And fans criticise us for having such close connections with him? Crazy?

So bottomline, yes we will update the blog with any exciting news from cast and crew from Millennium, yes we'll have quiet periods with such details help us keep the blog updated while we work behind the scenes, and yes the campaigns close association with the lead actor and the fact so many, many people reading this adore Lance as much as the show, means we will have Lance Henriksen articles.

So the bright stuff I mentioned at the beginning? Still got magazine articles to come, more websites have signed up to the campaign, looking at more radio interviews to spread the word, we have more podcasts being prepared, charity event is being reworked after talks with Lance as how to make the most of it.. yes the writers idea we teased you with is still in the works, we just need to time it right and sort out the details.. plus we've got a themed week being put together slowly. On top of that, we're hoping to announce another major campaign step shortly. Plus the usual video blogs, fan surveys and of course, cast and crew updates.

BacktoFrankBlack is doing what its meant to do. So is it as good as it was? It's better. Believe it.

Ezekiel Editorial: What's going on in March?

And after a few days break to let Morgan and Wong week sink in, we're back!

So what's new?

First off, again thanks for all the great emails and comments that made the feedback for Morgan and Wong week - not only were they complimentary, but more importantly, they were really interesting reads. To have such insightful and full replies made the week really special.

If you follow us on our Facebook (and eagle eyed followers might have noticed that large slab of white that now adorns the right of this very page), you'll know we're in the process of putting a panel together for a chat on "Somehow Satan Got Behind Me", a keen fan favourite by the quirky and smart pen of Darin Morgan. Keep up to date with the BacktoFrankBlack community at our Facebook page. Email us at info@backtofrankblack.com for more information on this.

Second, myself and Troy will be doing a little live morning radio in Philadelphia a week from today. Point of topic? What else? Promoting the campaign. More details on that as soon as possible!

Third, we'll be interviewing the wonderful Mike Zelniker, the unforgettable Galen Calloway from Kingdom Come this weekend. We'll keep you up to date on a release for that interview. We spoke to Mike a couple of weeks back - fascinating and friendly is the best way to sum him up - and very curious about the campaign. I hope you guys and gals will be equally curious to hear what he has to say in return!

You want more? We have DiRT working on a special video article at our request, we've got another Seven and One this weekend. We'll have a special video archive added to the site this month and plans for another Millennium Week are under way.

Of course, we like to play our hand as open as possible, as much as we've got confirmed, some stuff remains in the air. It's the nature of the game when you're juggling schedules with other people's time. Our elusive writing tease is still in the works, we're still trying to sort out the nitty-gritty of the idea. We're still working on some media promotions we spoke of recently, but again, the nature of the industry is nothing easily goes to plan. But we're working. We're pushing. We'll keep you posted!

Ezekiel Editorial: What the hell is BacktoFrankBlack?

Very recently I had a long discourse with a couple of group managers about the nature of BacktoFrankBlack. Not a vitriolic issue, but the conversation highlighted to me a BIG question that faces such a campaign - a question which I felt should be addressed as a general issue.

How is BacktoFrankBlack different from the rest of Millennium fandom? How should it be treated by fans and what should expect from it?

It's a difficult balance for this campaign. On the one hand, we're not another fan group; we're not a cosy den to chat about Millennium - per se. We're here to orchestrate polite but firm pressure on the industry to listen to those who wish to see a return of a product. At the same time, when the sparkle/novelty of such a campaign vanishes, how do we remain interesting to keep fans interest as much as hopes?

This is always a balance that has concerned myself and Troy - and Mark when he was on board. Keeping it fan interesting but not being about the fans, again 'per se'. We are a conduit or platform for the fans, not a fan group.

This can cause issues for those running fan groups. You will get people, casual fans, or perhaps fans who aren't interested in a campaign that much, or fans who just like chatting about their fav old show - finding the updates and campaign drive frustrating - or even invasive to their corner/niche of Millennium fandom. What do such runners do? They are put in the same position as we are - looking for a balance between the simple interest in Millennium and the chance too bring it back.

We certainly don't want to - and can't - force people to embrace the campaign, but at the same time if you're a fan of the show, we ask people to respect the fact that for those fans who want it back, slightly invasive posts will occur.

Campaigns aren't like fandom groups. We can't sit on our blogs or our facebook group. We're not there to do that. We have to fight to be recognized - hell, we have to fight to be remembered - even with our fans. Because its human nature to get used to something, used to BacktoFrankBlack being their in the background until for some it might seem like an annoying buzzing fly. But that's the nature of a campaign - it HAS to buzz, it HAS to pest, it HAS to push into every corner. THIS is who we are.

We're not here to provide a little nesthole for fans to chat about Frank returning (I recommend TIWWA or some of the Facebook fangroups for that!), we're here to MAKE Frank return. To do that we can't sit on this blog and simply enjoy the wonders of DiRT's reviews or Josef's videos or Seven and One (even though we do enjoy them and they do help keep us interesting to fans as I mentioned in the previous paragraph). We need to also push out and get into people's ear. For one person we may annoy, we may touch another two people who hadn't considered the campaign, or wandered into the Facebook profile of a journalist who loved the show or a film industry spokesman. These co-incidences DO happen (they've happened to us already), but the ONLY happy if you push every corner.

So what can I say? All I can ask if for those who support us, don't personally supporters, be you a fan of any creed, publicly support us. Defend what we're doing, because we need your defensive to keep going - we need people to turn and stand up for us when we loose our novelty factor and say "hey, these guys may be annoying but they are doing good work".

Remember, we have made changes. It's BacktoFrankBlack that has been encouraging the lead actor and the creator to bring it back (and both want it back). It's BacktoFrankBlack that has brought on industry names like Brett Hart and John Kenneth Muir. It's BacktoFrankBlack that has helped those who has brought the likes of Klea Scott and Glen Morgan into the fandom. We've got Millennium back into people's minds, not just through magazines and radio with the likes of Fangoria, Rue Morgue and Sci-Fi Now, but through the viral message of its possible return through the net itself (that was very rewarding!).

My point is not 'trumpet blowing' but to say we're WORTH supporting. Not idolising - I'm not asking you to even like myself or Troy, I'm asking you to like and support the campaign - and you all do by reading this.

All I'm saying is, to steal another awareness campaign's slogan, shout it "loud and proud!". We all would love to see Frank return, you, me, Frank, Chris - so don't be afraid to believe in us (and to steal another slogan, "we WANT to believe!")

After all, This, is who we are.

Ezekiel Editorial: Updates updates updates!

Welcome to the first in an "editorial" segment to the BacktoFrankBlack campaign. Rather than tagging news onto a podcast and making them longer, or dragging Troy out of bed to do a newscast on an audio stream, this seemed a good way to connect and answer a few questions.

Thanks for the Seven and One's - keep them coming in. We will add all of them to the blog in due course and perhaps throw up a new questionnaire in the near future. Thanks for the emails and messages of support that have come through Facebook and email. Always appreciated. Troy spoke to Lance the other day who offers his best wishes to all who support the campaign. He hasn't given up - he's still after Millennium. And remember Chris has said the same. If the will is there to make it (by will, we mean "money") he will make it. So it's about showing the people who could help make it that the money will be there; that your wallets are open to the idea! Lance may have investors willing to support the venture, and Chris maybe open to doing a Millennium project, but there are other people in the legal quagmire of Hollywood that need to see Millennium is a worth while project. We need your help in proving that!

So send those postcards like the one below, for instance!


We have John Kenneth Muir's interview coming up this week - part one will be up in a day or so, and then part two in the week. Muir is a man who knows his Millennium and has interviewed Chris and Lance. In fact there is little he doesn't know in the cult genres! Worth a listen! We have an interview with Pablo Coffey from Wide Open (season one) that we'll be conducting this weekend for future release, and the Glen Morgan is waiting as we put together the components for Morgan and Wong week this year. So we have some great guests lined up with more on the way!

The website is in prep for an update, so watch out for this, following the slight tonal shift in the blog. Myspace will also be updated.

So keep contacting us, throw us any news stories you find relating to Millennium and its cast and crew, let us know what you think. Check the blog for updates - we update most days and your support is vital. Lance is still working hard to push Millennium forward, we hope we can all honour that enthusiasm by help supporting this campaign in any small way we can!

Next editorial will be shorter. Promise.

Jim