How & Why To See Alien Trespass This Weekend [Round Up]

If you've been following All Things Fangirl for a while, then you know we are big fans of the film Alien Trespass. I've seen the film three times now and we've had the pleasure of interviewing and interacting with various cast members as well as R.W. Goodwin during Trespass' publicity tour. I think I just made up a phrase. Publicity tour? That's not a thing. Is it? Anyway.

We all really want this film to succeed both because of how original and lovely the film is and because the people behind the camera, especially Goodwin, are so creative & sweet, they deserve only the best.

You can find our review of Alien Trespass here, and our other AT coverage here.

Below is a video We Are Movie Geeks posted from NY Comic Con that I definitely recommend checking out and if you head over to Io9, you can watch a exclusive clip from the film, featuring Dan Lauria. Here, you can find an interview with R.W. Goodwin from AMC.



Here's a piece the NY Times did on the film this past weekend, (click to enlarge), which you can read in non-scanned form here.


Finally, after the jump, the list of theaters showing Alien Trespass! Hope you guys all get to see it this weekend!

California


BERKELEY
Shattuck Cinemas 10 (Berkeley)

HOLLYWOOD
Mann Chinese 6 (Hollywood)

MONTEREY
Osio Plaza 6 (Monterey)

PALM SPRINGS
Camelot Theatre 3 (Palm Springs)
Cinemas Palme D’Or (Palm Desert)

PALO ALTO
Aquarius 2 (South Peninsula Art)

PASADENA
Playhouse 7 Cinemas (Old Town 1)

SAN DIEGO
Hillcrest Cinemas (Art)

SAN FRANCISCO
Bridge Theatre (Art)
Stonestown Twin (Stonestown)

SANTA CRUZ
Nickelodeon Theatres (Santa Cruz Art)

SANTA MONICA
Monica 4 Plex (Santa Monica Art)

Colorado


DENVER
Mayan Theatre (Boulevard)

Illinois


CHICAGO
Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (Near North)

EVANSTON
CineArts 6 (Evanston)

Massachusetts


CAMBRIDGE
Kendall Square Cinema (Cambridge)

Minnesota


MINNEAPOLIS
Uptown Theatre (Hennepin Ave)

Missouri


UNIVERSITY CITY
Tivoli Theatre (Central Art)

Nevada


LAS VEGAS
Village Square 18 (West)

New Mexico


ALBUQUERQUE
High Ridge Theatre 8 (Four Hills Hiridge)

SANTA FE
De Vargas Mall 6 (Santa Fe)

New York


NEW YORK
Angelika Film Center 6 (Village)
Chelsea Cinema 9 (Chelsea)
Empire 25 Theaters (42nd Street)

Oregon


PORTLAND
Fox Tower 10 (Downtown)

Pennsylvania


PHILADELPHIA
Ritz at the Bourse (Philadelphia)

WARRINGTON
Warrington Crossing 22 (Warrington)

Texas


AUSTIN
Arbor Cinemas at Great Hills (North)
Dobie Theatre (Dobie)

DALLAS
Magnolia Theatre (Art Core)

HOUSTON
Angelika Film Center (Angelika)

PLANO
Angelika Film Center and Cafe (Plano Art)

Virginia


ARLINGTON
Shirlington 7 (Falls Church)

FAIRFAX
Cinema Art Theatre (Fairfax)

Washington


BELLINGHAM
Sehome 3 Cinemas (Bellingham)

SEATTLE
Meridian 16 (Downtown)
Metro Cinemas (U District)

Washington, DC


E Street Cinema (Union Station)

Wisconsin


MADISON
Sundance Cinemas 608 (Madison/Central)

MILWAUKEE
Oriental Theatre (Downtown)

For more information, please visit:
http://www.alientrespass.com

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They Don't Make Movies Like This Anymore...Really, They Don't [Good Movie Alert!]

After the recent re-interest on all things geek be it fantasy, sci fi or superhero, it's about time we got to properly honoring the science fiction film of the 50s in a new, original way. And don't worry, I'm not talking about The Day The Earth Stood Still remake. No, no. I'm talking about a quality movie. Alien Trespass to be exact, a new film from X-Files vet R.W. Goodwin. It's an honest to god throwback to 50s sci-fi that nails the genre from start to finish. Variety called it a "spoof", but I disagree. It has tongue in cheek humor and plays around with anachronisms, but also completely honors the genre its homaging. All the classic archetypes are in place - the goodie goodie teenagers, the friend in a leather jacket, the scientist, the gorgeous woman who helps our alien hero and so on. And these actors play the style to a tee, committing completely.

Before I go on, it's important to note the conceit surrounding the film, just as fun and clever as the film itself. The idea is that in the 50s, producer Louie Q Goldstone made an epic science fiction picture starring Eric McCormack's grandfather, M. Eric McCormack and it was gonna be huge, some saying it featured the best performance of M. Eric's career. Then due to a dispute, the film was shelved, never to be released. Now, years later, the film canister has been unearthed and the movie will be released for the very first time. Complete with archival interview footage and press, a featurette detailing all of this was screened both at New York Comic Con & Wondercon and is now available online.

More after the jump

This idea, that the film is genuinely from the 50s, pervades throughout the entire film and whole audience experience. It feels completely from that era, through only a slightly modern lens. I've heard the phrase "Retro-Vision" tossed around to describe the movie, and I think that's spot on. . Goodwin’s take is that they simply didn’t make enough of these movies back in the 50s, so he decided to make one more. Watching Alien Trespass is like stepping away for 80 minutes into a universe we just don't get enough of nowadays. And don't be surprised if afterwards you find yourself craving a burger and a shake at whatever 50s themed diner you can find. Cause I did. It was an odd sensation actually.

But back to the film. Set in 1957, ALIEN TRESPASS chronicles a fiery object from space that crashes into a mountaintop in the California desert, bringing the threat of disaster to Earth. McCormack plays a scientist, Ted Lewis, whose body gets taken over by Urp, an otherworldly federal marshal, in attempt to capture an escaped alien (the one eyed dildo we’ve heard so much about) and save the Earth. McCormack is spot on in his portrayal of both the staid scientist & the fish out of water with a mission alien and every scene he’s in is a joy to watch. McCormack definitely provides most of the laughs, due to his excellent comic timing & delivery. Jenni Baird, as Tammy, the heroine waitress, is also a highlight. She nails the acting style while staying completely truthful and I think is an actress to watch. Other highlights include Dan Lauria & Robert Patrick, who genuinely seem as though they are having a great time and nail their roles in the process. The only weak spots in the acting come from the trio of teenagers, Penny, Dick & Cody. Luckily for them, the poor acting seems oddly appropriate. For all I know, the three of them are brilliant actors, pretending to be bad actors. Though something tells me that isn’t the case…

Now I wouldn’t call this movie a barrel of laughs, but that’s not what it’s going for. Any film the humor has is “deliberately inadvertent”, as Goodwin’s called it during the various convention panels, mimicking the humor that comes from classic 50s films when we watch them today. The Day the Earth Stood Still is not a comedy. Neither is Alien Trespass. Any humor there is, is supposed to stem from the fact that the film takes itself completely seriously. It doesn’t even focus on the “bad parts” of 50s science fiction. It simply tells the story from the POV of that era. This is what makes the film feel totally unique and ripe for a cult following.

So who would enjoy this movie most? Fans of classic Science Fiction, for sure. This is who the film is truly made for. It’s a faithful homage, through and through. But anyone, especially those who understand what this film is and where it’s coming from, should also have a great time. It really does feel like going back in time, between the music, the old school effects and moments like Lewis’ wife enticing him to bed, only to cut to them asleep, fully clothed, Lewis in head to toe flannel pajamas. Subtle throwaways like that were some of my favorite moments in the film.

Who wouldn’t enjoy this movie? Those looking for a spoof or a parody or those who don’t know what they are stepping into. This movie is not for everyone, that’s for sure. See, Alien Trespass also mimics older movies in the sense that it isn’t full of quick cuts. The pacing is rather slow and while I don’t mind and see it as an element of the time it’s referencing, I can see it being an issue for some.

Overall, I found this film to be unique, fun, sweet, full of sound stage charm and a delightful 80 minutes at the movies. It’s not for everyone, but is definitely worth seeing.

(Plus between all these convention appearances, I’ve totally fallen for the talent behind the scenes and the passion that Goodwin and his actors have for the film. They’ve been a nice contrast to the McG “Enough of my yammering, I’ll let the movie speak for itself, but only after I yammer a little bit more about how I awesome I am” bit that’s also come out of every recent big convention. Those of you who went to New York Comic Con & Wondercon know exactly what I'm talking about.)

For convention coverage: Alien Trespass at Wondercon & New York Comic Con
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A Classic 50s Tale of a Dildo With An Eye and a Man Who Doesn’t Understand His Erection [Wondercon 09]

Alien Trespass, a film that's become a favorite over here, showed up in full force yesterday at Wondercon, this time to the large crowd they deserve. Accompanying New York Comic Con attendees Dan Lauria & R.W. Goodwin were AT leads, Eric McCormack & Jenni Baird.

We got to see this awesome featurette again & then the panel began. Most of the stuff they chatted about we learned at NYCC, but here are some fun new tidbits.

-The only non 50s story element in the film is that a woman saves the day
-When asked why he returns to Sci-fi in some form time and time again (Free Enterprise, The Andromeda Strain), Eric McCormack explained "My wife is a huge sci-fi fan" and because sci-fi brings with it "the most dedicated fans of any genre" and you know because of that, the film will find its audience
-The movie will open in 24 markets and will expand to more if it does well!
-Eric Mccormack would be down to do a Free Enterprise sequel, but suspects he would get killed off in the opening scene

After the delightful panel, we moved into the press room.

Interviews, sound clips & more photos after the jump!


The round table interviews didn’t just go smoothly- We were in fact met by very enthusiastic people well versed in every aspect of the movie they’d just made. Jenni Baird, who plays feisty outsider and diner waitress Tammy, said she hadn’t been a fan of the genre or had any knowledge of 50s scifi flicks until she’d been given them to watch as research. Stylistically, she performed on film as she would have on stage to achieve the heightened sense of human behavior featured in the films of the time. Since working on the 4400 and, now, Alien Trespass, Baird says she’s now a fan.





Dan Lauria, aside from being an absolute bad ass of a man with enough gravitas to pull comets from their orbits, was obviously passionate about the project’s commitment to authenticity, from cheesy special effects right down to long takes that require actors to learn their lines. He made it absolutely clear that “We are not spoofing fifties movies, we are recreating one.” He also spoke briefly about his work in The Spirit, and the importance of Frank Miller’s illustrated-film technique, saying, “The Spirit is going to be one of those movies where even though it didn’t do well… our business is better for it.”



He also described the monster in perhaps the most colorful terms yet, when asked about the build up to a scene in which he, as Chief Dawson, has a major freaking meltdown at a diner full of confused customers.



The dashing dual protagonist Eric McCormack was- aside from being dashing, warm, charming, funny, dashing, handsome and charming, especially when he kissed my cheek at the end of the interview and no, I probably won’t be washing that side of my face ever again, but it’s fine, because the searing heat of his adorable scruffiness will act as a sterilizing agent for all possible germs or bacteria, natch- forthcoming to the point of sweet, sweet obscenity about the key aspects of his characters’ journeys through the film.



He also admitted to being responsible for the “I had a pipe” line, which, for those of you who don’t know slash are not Jewish, is a derivative of the following joke:


A grandmother brings her grandson to the beach. While he’s playing, he gets swept out to sea by a great wave. The grandmother prays, “Oh, God, please bring my grandson back! I’ll do anything, anything! Just please give him back to me alive and in one piece, please!” Suddenly, the tide turns and a great wave brings the grandson back onto the sand, alive and well. The grandmother looks back up to the sky and says, “He had a hat.”


I love Eric McCormack.


He touched on how he was not a sci fi fan, how the summer of Star Wars was, for him, the summer of Annie Hall, and that his own son knows this well enough to display skepticism at the slightest geek reference.




R.W. Goodwin was as ever a gentleman and an all around cool guy. His feelings on the film are largely covered by our previous stuff- he felt they hadn’t made enough of these charming, earnest films that were equal parts unintentional hilarity and actual scares, and set out to do one himself. If there is one person who understands the importance of a fan base and the power of the internet, it’s R.W.


“We’re a little movie,” he said. “The only way we’re going to make it is if people tell people, that’s the key.”

Well, we’re telling you. Go see the movie. Take in a matinee. Bring your own Sanka. Or a Tang. But go see Alien Trespass, and bring your dad, because he’ll probably effing love it. I know mine will.

P.S. Click here to head to the AT website & become an official fan! And for more photos from the panel click here.
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Alien Trespass Featurette from NYCC '09!

Straight from the NYCC and posted on SciFi, the featurette everyone's been talking about. Enjoy!!!



For more on Alien Trespass, check out my Friday coverage of NYCC. See full post

New York Comic Con Wrap Up - Friday

What a weekend!

The whole All Things Fangirl staff attended the New York Comic Con this past weekend and had a fantastic time. As we were constantly going to panels, walking the floor and drinking hanging out with guests of the con in the after hours, none of us had time to update - apologies!

By now we've been scooped by all the blogs I read, but we Fangirls (and boys) still have our opinions, videos and pictures - so let the wrap up begin with Friday's events!


Alien Trespass



From the studio,

In 1957, a fiery object from space crashes into a mountaintop in the California desert, bringing the threat of disaster to Earth. From the flying saucer escapes a murderous creature - the Ghota - which is bent on destroying all life forms on the planet. A benevolent alien from the spaceship, Urp, inhabits the body of Ted Lewis - a local astronomer - and with the help of Tammy, a waitress from the local diner, sets out to save mankind. An homage to 1950's alien invasion movies with a visual style that masterfully revives the bright, Technicolor look of the era.

My favorite smaller panel of the Con, it's a shame more people didn't know about it, but the crowd that was there absolutely loved what they saw. The panel began with a hilarious featurette on the story behind the making of Alien Trespass. The idea is that this 1957 film, starring the grandparents of modern day actors Eric McCormack, Robert Patrick & Dan Lauria, which was set to be the greatest Sci Fi epic of its day, got the kabosh put on its release after a contract dispute. Now, 50 someought years later, it's been unearthed and will be released in theaters for the very first time this Spring! Most of the featurette, which had snippets of interviews with the "original actors", news footage from the 50s and clips covering the discovery of the film and what it means, can be viewed in segments on the Alien Trespass website. I definitely recommend heading over there and checking them out.


On hand to discuss Alien Trespass were director, R.W. Goodwin, of X Files fame, and Dan Lauria, one of the leads in the film. Here some tidbits they shared:

-The 3 50s sci fi films that Alien Trespass was most inspired by are The Day the Earth Stood Still, It Came from Outer Space, and The War of the Worlds.
-The monster in the film, The Ghota, looks like a 7 foot long penis with an eye in the middle. Woot!
-For the most part, Goodwin only used FX techniques that existed in the 50s. There is one CGI shot that Goodwin challenges us to find.
-The movie is not intended to be a spoof or "laugh riot", but rather a genuine recreation of a 1950s sci fi film. Any humor in the film is the kind of humor we see when we watch those kinds of movies today - totally inadvertent. Goodwin refers to his approach as "intentionally, inadvertently funny".
-The movie was shot over 18 days in Canada (because most of Goodwin's contacts & favorite people to work with are stationed there, due to his time on X-Files, NOT because the film is Canadian. Cause it's not Canadian, Variety.) and the cast had a fantastic time, to quote Lauria, they had "more fun than is legal."
-Dan Lauria appreciated the dedication & talent of the actors, who had no problem shooting scenes in one take, something common in the 50s, but a frightening notion to today's actors. Lauria recalls working on a project where he and a younger actor were asked to perform a 3 page scene all the way through, and when the younger actor freaked out about the length, Lauria assured him that 3 pages isn't long - Richard III is long. I thought that was BRILLIANT. Goodwin specifically sought out actors who had been trained in theater so he knew they could handle the lack of quick cuts.
-The film makes you feel like you are traveling "back to the 50s for 2 hours". But fear not, those with an aversion to long movies! It it runs only 88 minutes.

Below is one of my favorite clips on the making of Alien Trespass - it cracks me up - followed by a trailer. Enjoy!

P.S. If you're going to Wondercon in a couple weeks, Eric McCormack & Robert Patrick will be on the Alien Trespass panel, along with Goodwin. Can't wait!!

MTV Biggest Movie Badasses



This panel was pretty fun. Commenting on the choices were Method Man, James Toback, Judah Friedlander, and Chuck Nice. Odd. But it worked!

You can watch the full panel here, thanks to MTV, or, if you don't have time for such things, just check out the top ten list below.

10. Rambo
9. Boba Fett
8, Khan
7. Pike Bishop
6. Sarah Connor
5. Walker
4. Mad Max
3. John McClane
2. Ellen Ripley
1. See Below

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Interesting list, no? I'm ashamed that I've only seen four of these characters in action cause I've only seen Star Wars, the Terminator films, some Die Hard films & some Alien films. Oops. The crowd seemed a little confused at times since I'm pretty sure it was made up of mostly youngins. But I commend MTV for actually trying to pick the REAL movie badasses instead of just dishing out a list filled with Han Solos & Wolverines...though to me, Han Solo will always be the ultimate Badass. Mmm, sexy Han Solo badass. ... What was I talking about?

All in all a pretty fun panel, glad I went. Brought Friday's 30 Rock cast member spotting total to two. Scott Adsit was hanging out with his friend, artist Mark Brooks, and we chatted with them for a while, cause, how could you not?

As for the rest of the day, EruditeChick and I chatted it up with genius Peter David, I picked up book five of Scott Pilgrim and I finally scored one of those sweet as hell Bat Signal pens from the DC Universe booth (see right). I also tried out the Godfather Part Two game and wished I had any idea what I was doing cause it seems like it could be pretty fun if you have a grasp on any of it. Grand Theft Auto type engine + one of my favorite movies of all time = how could I not like it? Now I just need a video game console...

Stay tuned for write-ups on Saturday & Sunday of the con, featuring photos & video from the Warner's Panel (Watchmen, Terminator), Dollhouse & Fringe and some footage of EruditeChick winning the Marvel Debates at the Ultimate Alliance 2 booth! See full post