Free podcast with some free James McLean!

Been a while - but here's a new post! Gasp. Another podcast. Gasp. Listen if you like. Gasp.

MILLENNIUM GROUP SESSIONS 12:

Millennium Group Sessions 13
FlashBack

BacktoFrankBlack: The Millennium Group Sessions, hosted by Troy Foreman and co-hosted by Jim McLean is now available for free download via our website AND on ITunes!

With Troy at the Flashback Horror convention in Chicago, giving our flyers and coordinating with Mr Henriksen, this week's podcast is a retrospective affair.

In Millennium Group Sessions #13, Jim and Troy introduce a flashback of their own, back to their first aired podcast together on ThaDarksideVibe, Troy's own podcast. This podcast aired before the Millennium Group Sessions began and was very much the catalyst for the podcast you listen to now.

So because we've not been able to do a full show this week, because it tentatively ties in with the Flashback Weekend convention, and of course, because its just a bit of fun, we offer you this slice.

Can't say I've listened to it myself since it aired, so I can't attest for quality (or whether we've progressed since then), but I hope you enjoy it. It is of course, all about Millennium!

In the meantime, don't forget to check the Back2FrankBlack twitter account for updates from Troy live at the convention!

TO HEAR THIS PODCAST FOR FREE!

Three methods are available:

• Listen to the podcast streamed through the blog audio player below!

• Download the MP3 of the podcast to your computer by right clicking the following link and selecting "save link as": RIGHT CLICK HERE

• Subscribe to ITUNES and have the podcast automatically download to your computer on release! Simply download ITUNES, sign up for an ITUNES account for free and then search for "Millennium Group Sessions" in the ITUNES store. Click "subscribe" to get the free podcast as soon as its available!

Send your letters to FOX!
STEVE ASBELL
Twentieth Century Fox
10201 West Pico Blvd.,
Bldg. 88, Room 132
Los Angeles, CA 90035

Next week: Halloween with style! Jim interviews Kett Turton, the ghost story teller from Curse of Frank Black as part of our Curse of Frank Black week! Tune it - a lot of fun!

James speaks to Lance Henriksen!

More interviews - this time with Lance Henriksen. A great guy - and a great interview. Well worth the time. Excuse my little monologue at the end - beyond the genuine need to rally support, I think half a glass of wine had got my lips flapping somewhat..

If you're reading this, and no doubt you are to be reading it, then please leave a comment on the backtofrankblackblog.


Listen to the Mp3 on the BacktoFrankBlack Stream or download using the links below!


To download from BacktoFrankBlack.com

• For the enhanced image podcast (with some pretty exclusive photos) for Itunes and Ipod lovers: Click here! 21MB 88 mins)

• For a high quality podcast (no images embedded into this one): Right click here and select "save link as.." (approx 81MB 88 mins)

To download from ITUNES

• To subscribe to the Itunes podcast, simply load up the Itunes store on your Itunes application, search for BacktoFrankBlack and wait for the podcast to pop onto the list. Then click "subscribe" - you will need to sign up to a free Itunes account to do this - but Itunes does run a great service for podcasts of all types (including our friends ThaDarkSideVibe and Spooktalkular)

BacktoFrankBlack: Millennium Group Sessions SPECIAL: LANCE HENRIKSEN

In this special episode in the Millennium Group Sessions series, Troy and Jim speak to Frank Black himself, LANCE HENRIKSEN.

In this special and free podcast, Lance speaks about his time on the show, how he sees the future of Millennium, Aliens, Jordan and of course, the man we want back, Frank Black. There is also a cameo guest appearance in the interview! You don't want to miss it!

This free podcast is available on a weekly to fortnightly basis via ITUNES and BacktoFrankBlack.com. We'll naturally update you all on information on the podcast from this blog as well.

With ITUNES, anyone who has an Itunes friendly account will be able to subscribe easily and download the podcasts as they are released. We recommend the ITUNES friendly enhanced podcast because each episode will have its unique set of images to accompany the chatter!

James (and Troy) interview Jon Polito!

A plug for the BacktoFrankBlack interview with Jon Polito that's just been released. A few comments before the press blurb...

I've always been a massive, massive, massive fan of Homicide Life On The Street, particularly it's early seasons where the cast choices made for a very real show. The decision to pull Polito on the basis he wasn't a charismatic character was the first signal of Network pressures damaging the show's integrity.

Thankfully the scenes Polito's character Det. Steve Crosetti had in the first two seasons were strong and worthy of both the show and the real-life police man Terry McLarney whom Polito's character was based on (at least from what I read of McLarney in the show creator's original study of the Baltimore police department).

So it was a thrill to interview Jon for his work in Homicide AND his GREAT work in Millennium. Certainly the most endearing guest character in the show and a real boon to the episode Omerta. A cold blooded killer, come anti-hero, come genuine hero - Eddie Scarpino is a delight to watch and I'm so glad that the man behind the character was as charming and captivating to interview as he was to watch.

Enjoy.

Press Blurb!

BacktoFrankBlack: The Millennium Group Sessions, hosted by Troy Foreman and co-hosted by Jim McLean is now available for free download via our website AND on ITunes!

Please download our free podcast to support the campaign and the guests who have graciously contributed their time to the campaign!

To download from BacktoFrankBlack.com

• For the enhanced image podcast (with some pretty exclusive photos) for Itunes and Ipod lovers: Click here! 20MB 80 mins)

• For a high quality podcast (no images embedded into this one): Right click here and select "save link as.." (approx 73MB 80 mins)

To download from ITUNES

• To subscribe to the Itunes podcast, simply load up the Itunes store on your Itunes application, search for BacktoFrankBlack and wait for the podcast to pop onto the list. Then click "subscribe" - you will need to sign up to a free Itunes account to do this - but Itunes does run a great service for podcasts of all types (including our friends ThaDarkSideVibe and Spooktalkular)

BacktoFrankBlack: Millennium Group Sessions 07 - Omerta Pt 2

In the seventh episode in the Millennium Group Sessions series, Troy and Jim speak to Omerta guest star Jon Polito (Homicide: Life On The Street, Miller's Crossing, The Big Nothing) and talk about his prolific career and his love for Millennium. It's a fun, informative and charming interview. Expect an abridged version on the blog in the future along with a great hi-res image of Jon on set.

Also, Millennium Group Sessions #7 has more news, updates and informal chat with your hosts Troy Foreman and Jim McLean.

This free podcast is available on a fortnightly basis via ITUNES and BacktoFrankBlack.com. We'll naturally update you all on information on the podcast from this blog as well.

With ITUNES, anyone who has an Itunes friendly account will be able to subscribe easily and download the podcasts as they are released. We recommend the ITUNES friendly enhanced podcast because each episode will have its unique set of images to accompany the chatter!

James (and Troy) interview Klea Scott!

This was a great interview. The wonderful, talented and oh-so-charming Klea Scott, chatted to Troy and myself for nearly an hour and a half. Time shot by. She really does take the reins for this interview and imparts lots of juicy, fun and candid information about her career, Millennium and of course, Lance Henriksen (whom she worked with closely on Millennium for those silly people not in the know).

Monday brings another big interview. Along with Troy we'll be interview X-Files and Millennium writer/producer/legend, Frank Spotnitz. A little bit excited about that.

A couple of reviews will be blogged during the week that I did for Toon Zone. Need to add some variety to La Blog methinks.

La Plug:

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to inform you of a very special edition of our Millennium Group Sessions Podcast to be released on Sunday 21st June. Klea Scott, Emma Hollis herself, spoke exclusively to BackToFrankBlack about her recollection of her time on Millennium for the first time since she provided the Season Three DVD commentary almost a decade ago.
We, as fans, owe a debt of gratitude to the sheer exuberance Klea still has for Millennium and for the way in which she has rallied to support this campaign and here's where you can help. Use your Blogs, Twitter accounts, Myspace pages and more to tell all you know about this very exclusive scoop. Let everyone know, Klea Scott is in the house!

To download from BacktoFrankBlack.com

• For the enhanced image complimented podcast for Itunes and Ipod lovers: Click here! (19MB 75 mins)

• For a high quality podcast (no images embedded into this one): Right click here and select "save link as.." (approx 69.5MB 75mins)

To download from ITUNES

• To subscribe to the Itunes podcast, simply load up the Itunes store on your Itunes application, search for BacktoFrankBlack and wait for the podcast to pop onto the list. Then click "subscribe" - you will need to sign up to a free Itunes account to do this - but Itunes does run a great service for podcasts of all types (including our friends ThaDarkSideVibe and Spooktalkular)

BacktoFrankBlack: Millennium Group Sessions - PODCAST #3!

Before the blurb, may I say this was a great podcast to do. Had a lot of fun with Murv (author MR Sellars), who was a wonderful and insightful guest - with lots of insight into the real life process of criminal behaviour.

Some great interviews to come. Recording Klea Scott (Emma Hollis from season three), in her first audio interview since the DVD set this weekend, we have two more interviews in the can (with two fantastic interviews!) and Keegan Tracey (Ometra and more recently Battlestar Galactica) lined up next week! Very exciting, a lot of fun! Please download and throw us your feedback!

***
BacktoFrankBlack: The Millennium Group Sessions, hosted by Troy Foreman and co-hosted by Jim McLean is now available for free download via our website AND on ITunes!

To download from BacktoFrankBlack.com

• For the enhanced image podcast (with some pretty exclusive photos) for Itunes and Ipod lovers: Click here! (22MB 90 mins)

• For a high quality podcast (no images embedded into this one): Right click here and select "save link as.." (approx 89MB 90 mins)

To download from ITUNES

• To subscribe to the Itunes podcast, simply load up the Itunes store on your Itunes application, search for BacktoFrankBlack and wait for the podcast to pop onto the list. Then click "subscribe" - you will need to sign up to a free Itunes account to do this - but Itunes does run a great service for podcasts of all types (including our friends ThaDarkSideVibe and Spooktalkular)

BacktoFrankBlack: Millennium Group Sessions 03 - The Gift

In this third episode, Troy Foreman and Jim McLean give you, the potential very dear listeners, podcast glimmering with Frank and Jordan's special gift! We have paranormal thriller writer (and self-confessed Millennium fan AND BacktoFrankBlack supporter) MR Sellars in for a chat, a chance to win the Jordan's gift inspired Millennium homage DVD, Millennium Apocalypse (region 1) and of course, news updates on the campaign and the cast/crew of Millennium. (90 mins)

This free podcast is available on a fortnightly basis via ITUNES and BacktoFrankBlack.com. We'll naturally update you all on information on the podcast from this blog as well.

With ITUNES, anyone who has an Itunes friendly account will be able to subscribe easily and download the podcasts as they are released. We recommend the ITUNES friendly enhanced podcast because each episode will have its unique set of images to accompany the chatter!

James and Troy Foreman interviews Marshall Bell for BacktoFrankBlack

For BacktoFrankBlack, myself and Millennium Group Sessions host Troy Foreman got together to interview Marshall Bell - who you may recall as "the guy with the repellent mutant attached to his stomach" in Total Recall, or "the general who screams and whines before being jellified by a passing bug in Starship Troopers", or simply from many of his onscreen TV and film roles ranging from "House MD", to "Stand By Me".

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we have a few technical problems during the interview, but Marshall was wonderful. He patiently helped us through these unforeseen problems and was an absolute joy. Big soccer fan too - spent the seventies living in London. I warmed to the gent very quickly.

Anyhow, the relevant promo spiel is as follows:

BacktoFrankBlack: The Millennium Group Sessions, hosted by Troy Foreman and co-hosted by Jim McLean is now available for free download via our website AND on ITunes!

To download from BacktoFrankBlack.com

• For the enhanced image podcast (with some pretty exclusive photos) for Itunes and Ipod lovers: Click here! (24MB 97 mins)

• For a high quality podcast (no images embedded into this one): Right click here and select "save link as.." (approx 87MB 97 mins)

To download from ITUNES

• To subscribe to the Itunes podcast, simply load up the Itunes store on your Itunes application, search for BacktoFrankBlack and wait for the podcast to pop onto the list. Then click "subscribe" - you will need to sign up to a free Itunes account to do this - but Itunes does run a great service for podcasts of all types (including our friends ThaDarkSideVibe and Spooktalkular)

BacktoFrankBlack: Millennium Group Sessions 02 - Legion

In this second episode, Troy Foreman and Jim McLean give you, the potential very dear listeners, podcast brimming with Millennium's Legion! We have Legion himself, The Judge - actor Marshall Bell in an exclusive BacktoFrankBlack Interview, a chance to win a signed photo of Legion incarnate, Lucy Butler, AKA Sarah Jane Redmond, an informal discussion about Legion in season one by Jim and Troy and of course, news updates on the campaign and the cast/crew of Millennium. (97 mins)

This free podcast is available on a fortnightly basis via ITUNES and BacktoFrankBlack.com. We'll naturally update you all on information on the podcast from this blog as well.

With ITUNES, anyone who has an Itunes friendly account will be able to subscribe easily and download the podcasts as they are released. We recommend the ITUNES friendly enhanced podcast because each episode will have its unique set of images to accompany the chatter!

Jim and BacktoFrankBlack go all Podcasty!

BacktoFrankBlack: The Millennium Group Sessions, hosted by Troy Foreman and co-hosted by myself, good old Jim McLean, is now available for free download via BacktoFrankBlack.com AND on ITunes!

To download from BacktoFrankBlack.com

• For the enhanced image podcast (with some pretty exclusive photos) for Itunes and Ipod lovers (sound and images also works on apple quicktime - this version will also play as a simple audio recording): Click here! (15MB 60 mins)

• For a high quality podcast (no images embedded into this one): Right click here and select "save link as.." (60MB 60 mins)

To download from ITUNES

• To subscribe to the Itunes podcast, simply load up the Itunes store on your Itunes application, search for BacktoFrankBlack and wait for the podcast to pop onto the list. Then click "subscribe" - you will need to sign up to a free Itunes account to do this - but Itunes does run a great service for podcasts of all types (including our friends ThaDarkSideVibe and Spooktalkular)

BacktoFrankBlack: Millennium Group Sessions 01 - Pilot/Pilot

In the pilot episode, Troy Foreman and Jim McLean give you, the potential very dear listeners, information about the campaign's background, news updates on the campaign and the cast/crew of Millennium and a frank, informal chat about the pilot episode of our favourite TV show. (60mins)

This free podcast is available on a fortnightly basis via ITUNES. We'll naturally update you all on information on the podcast from this blog as well.

With ITUNES, anyone who has an Itunes friendly account will be able to subscribe easily and download the podcasts as they are released. We recommend the ITUNES friendly enhanced podcast because each episode will have its unique set of images to accompany the chatter!

***

In related news, I've just finished recording a podcast with the wonderful Spooktalkular team that will be released later this week. It was a great little session between myself, Troy Foreman (of BacktoFrankBlack/ThaDarkSideVibe) and Spooktalkular hosts Frank and Laura. Watch for further updates - it really was a lovely chatty session. Informal and a lot of fun!

Podcast Interview with Moi

I took part in a rather enjoyable informal chat with the host of ThaDarksideVibe podcast, Troy Foreman to chat about Millennium and BacktFrankBlack. It was an Easter Monday affair and I must confess to not being on the ball as I should. Naturally I'll blame my infamous dodgy memory (as those who know me can attest to), and my recent drug addled recuperation from my wisdom tooth extraction (which those who know me will attest I stopped taking the pills earlier this weekend and expose this bogus excuse).

Either way, we myself and Troy have a good 45 minute natter across the seas on the subject of Millennium. We're looking at the possibility of working with Troy again on a podcast dedicated to BacktoFrankBlack - time will tell whether that idea comes to fruition.

I'm talking to horror magazine Rue Morgue on doing a small feature on the campaign along with Lance Henriksen. Again, early stages - for those who wanted to hear what I think without actually having to hear me. I understand such a perspective totally - you have my sympathy! In the meantime, support Troy's podcast and suffer my dulcet tones on the following direct MP3 link!

Download the podcast directly (MP3)
Visit ThaDarksideVibe

BacktoFrankBlack offering an X-Files book prize!

BacktoFrankBlack is giving away "The Complete X-Files: A guide to the Myth and the Movies"
by Matt Hurwitz and endorsed by Millennium creator Chris Carter to TWO lucky winners who can offer a humorous caption to the following picture:

Email BacktoFrankBlack.com your suggestion before the end of Friday, (update: they've announced their winner - check their blog!) to win a hardback copy of this fantastic X-Files book! Third place will get a copy of the indie movie Millennium Apocalypse (region 1).

Worth a try, n'est pas?

Click here for BacktoFrankBlack.com's entry terms and conditions

Interview with Lance Henriksen: Part Three

Been a night of rushing out some plugs, and the final stop is my own blog. Imagine that: selfishly using my own domesticated word space to promote something I've done. Disgusting.

This is another Millennium/BacktoFrankBlack.com which for those who have just stopped by (fingers proving a little less than nibble in regards to clicking the correct google link, eh?) BacktoFrankBlack is a campaign to return Millennium and its hero Frank Black to our screens.

I did an long phone interview with the lead actor, Lance Henriksen - famous for Bishop in the Alien franchise, and this is the final part in which he discusses politics, art, films and fans! Great guy and a fundamental success to the Millennium show's long lasting reputation.

Read it HERE
Read part one: HERE
Read part two: HERE

A good bit of Fan Montage - Millennium style!

Millennium fan video (RodimusBen)

Well worth watching. I must confess to being quite a fan of, erm, fan montages. Few get it right - the above is a rare exception.

Yes, what a backseat critic I am of this fan genre and I'm about to eulogise. I've made this point before on the net, but hell, I'm going to do so again. I'm not going to attempt to justify my 'right' to offer opinion in an area I don't really pratically venture personally - especially given everyone in this country, nay - world, enjoys the same right of stepping onto a soapbox and explaining how a film/government/society/local park should be run - with no practical experience to back it up.

Either way, I'll leave it to you good people to judge whether I'm being informative or an Arse. Or both, if you prefer. I'll happily accept "neither" as a conclusion to your findings.

Anyhow, injected with syringe full of opinion opiate, here's what I feel hinders many music montages.

1. Many fan montage makers lazily sit their masterpiece in linear edits with clips simply pulled out of the episode in order. Sometimes it would almost be worth just putting the chosen song onto an Ipod and watching the show ourselves. Jazz it up.
2. Don't let clips over-run. Another classic mistake. Clips that run on too long lose their punch.
3. Another grievous error is to spend more effort in matching lyrics to visuals than ensuring the video's edit is tight. It's nice to see some lines synchronize with the visuals, but it's more important the video is interesting, vibrant and well put together.
4. Using cuts with characters involved in dialogue tends to damage the flow of your visuals. The audience should skim like a skipping stone from clip to clip with the music as their wave. As soon as chosen clip has a character - or worse - two characters chatting, you lose the pace. Again, this relates to point 2 - if you've got time to see two people chatting, chances are the clip is too long.
5. Please, please, please, don't let your work be weakened by a predictable choice of music unless your clip has something new to prove with that piece. Avoid Linkin Park, Green Day, Avril Lavine and the wonderful Requiem For A Dream unless you have something new to 'say'! Be inventive.

Certainly this will create more hard work. I hope its as much feedback as it is snippy criticism. Anyone who willingly puts days into a piece of work I respect regardless of the result. This is a generic attack on generic mistakes, nothing personal whatsoever.

I think RodimusBen's raw 5 minute wonder is a fine example of finding a balance between diversity and relevance of clips place superbly to a well chosen piece of music. I hope you enjoy it more than you have this Blog opinion - or "Blop" as it were hereafter be known (and why I did not christen it until the very last sentence.

Happy New Year from James

Hope Christmas was enjoyable and New Year proves eventful in a positive manner. Of course it brings up that ugly, ugly question of New Years Resolutions. Personally, my humbug Christmas attitude extends to New Years. I don't like going out on New Year (it's too much hassle to sort out and ultimately a let down) and I don't like trying to make character changes on the basis of, well, social tradition. I like my character evolution to be a little more flexible thanks.

That being said, I need to make sure I follow through with a few strict codes. First and foremost, sort out that bloody tax return. Second, sort out some sample illustrations I've been promising a potential client. Good lord, I've been putting that one off, simply through workload. Well, not just workload, work-style. Over the past few months, aside from a couple of commissions, I've been largely computer based in my art work - working on in-game material. When you get into that mode of working, going back to the pencil is hard. Really hard. One of those commissions I did while working on the video games wasn't a hard project in theory - I'd even worked for the people in question before doing the same stuff, but after time away from a drawing board, boy was it hard to do. So yeah, call it a "new years resolution" or a prompt "kick up the arse", but there is one piece of work I have to get started otherwise the client will look elsewhere and my bank account will suffer. Third, I need to finish the reviews for Toon Zone. A book review and a DVD review, both of which I've been back-burnering the last few months. Simply because I've been too tired between the illustration, art department and of course BacktoFrankBlack. But I will do it. This week.

Reflectively, I think New Year Resolutions are a great way to give yourself a posterior bat back into gear on specific jobs, but as anything that's meant to last the year - best get a shrink dear boy.

To finish off, a video montage of one of my favourite franchises - Final Fantasy 7 - to one of my favourite songs, Evil by Interpol.

Happy New Year.