Bud Robertson poses with Ultraman Powered. Photo © Todd Gilbert. The early 1990s saw Tsuburaya Productions, the creators of the long-running Ultraman franchise, bring the hero from M78 all the way to California for his Hollywood makeover. In the process, an aspiring screenwriter named Bud Robertson was tapped to help update Ultraman for a new … Continue reading CRAFTING THE ULTIMATE SCRIPT! Bud Robertson on Writing Multiple Episodes of Tsuburaya’s ‘Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero’!
Author: Brett Homenick
LAND OF THE RISING STARR! Actor Mike Starr on Making ‘The Bushido Blade’ in Japan!
Mike Starr in April 2025. Photo © Brett Homenick. Rankin/Bass Productions made several live-action films with Japanese director Tsugunobu "Tom" Kotani during the 1970s, and The Bushido Blade (1981) tends to be the most obscure of these productions. Filmed in 1978, The Bushido Blade predates the production of Shogun (1980) but only saw release in … Continue reading LAND OF THE RISING STARR! Actor Mike Starr on Making ‘The Bushido Blade’ in Japan!
A BROAD RANGE OF VOICES! Hong Kong Dubber Simon Broad on Working with Godfrey Ho and Godzilla!
Photo © Simon Broad. Simon Broad has been a staple of the entertainment world in Hong Kong for decades, and dubbing has played a big role in his career. Having given voice (in the English-language versions) to Seigo Okouchi, Demon Kogure, Abdul Zalman, and Osamu Amezawa in Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), Kenji Ando in Godzilla … Continue reading A BROAD RANGE OF VOICES! Hong Kong Dubber Simon Broad on Working with Godfrey Ho and Godzilla!
DANCING INTO SUPERSTARDOM! Actress Kaoru Yumi on Her Enchanting Early Career and Standout Toho Tokusatsu Roles!
Kaoru Yumi in March 2023. Photo © Brett Homenick. One of Japan's most enduring media stars, Kaoru Yumi began her entertainment career in 1966 as a singer, dancer, and film actress. In the 1970s, Ms. Yumi began appearing in numerous tokusatsu productions for Toho, which include her playing Mariko Nishiyama in The Last Days of … Continue reading DANCING INTO SUPERSTARDOM! Actress Kaoru Yumi on Her Enchanting Early Career and Standout Toho Tokusatsu Roles!
I HEREBY DUB THEE! Darren Pleavin Reminisces About Dubbing Toho Kaiju Movies in Hong Kong!
Darren Pleavin. Photo © Darren Pleavin. The history of Hong Kong dubbing, especially with respect to the Godzilla series, remained largely a mystery for decades. The various dubbing companies, and the actors they employed, went essentially nameless and faceless during that time, and it took the efforts of several Internet sleuths to begin putting names … Continue reading I HEREBY DUB THEE! Darren Pleavin Reminisces About Dubbing Toho Kaiju Movies in Hong Kong!
A VOICE ACTRESS’ JOURNEY TO THE EAST! Sharon Szmidt Remembers Dubbing Godzilla Movies in Hong Kong!
Sharon Szmidt. Photo © Sharon Szmidt. The late 1990s saw a bevy of Heisei-era Godzilla and Mothra films become available on home video in the West for the first time. These VHS releases featured dubbing recorded in Hong Kong by Omni Productions, which was headed by prolific voice actor Rik Thomas, and American Sharon Szmidt … Continue reading A VOICE ACTRESS’ JOURNEY TO THE EAST! Sharon Szmidt Remembers Dubbing Godzilla Movies in Hong Kong!
CREATING THE KING OF THE MONSTERS! Yoshio Suzuki on Building the Original Godzilla Suit in 1954!
Yoshio Suzuki in March 2024. Photo © Brett Homenick. While a privileged few, such as Ishiro Honda and Eiji Tsuburaya, usually receive credit as being the authentic creators of Godzilla, it's literally true in the case of Yoshio Suzuki. Hired on a part-time basis to help build the original Godzilla suit in 1954, Mr. Suzuki … Continue reading CREATING THE KING OF THE MONSTERS! Yoshio Suzuki on Building the Original Godzilla Suit in 1954!
GODZILLA GOES ONLINE! Mark Meloon on the Creation and Legacy of Mark’s Godzilla Page!
Mark Meloon in September 2024. Photo © Mark Meloon. The Internet went mainstream in American homes in the mid-1990s, and so did Mark Godzilla's Page. The brainchild of Caltech graduate student Mark Meloon, Mark's Godzilla Page, which stomped across the World Wide Web from 1993 until 1997, is recognized today as the first major website … Continue reading GODZILLA GOES ONLINE! Mark Meloon on the Creation and Legacy of Mark’s Godzilla Page!
A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF COMPOSITING KAIJU! Takeshi Miyanishi Goes Behind the Scenes on Toho’s Special Optical-Photography Techniques!
Takeshi Miyanishi in May 2022. Photo © Brett Homenick. Takeshi Miyanishi was born in Tokyo in 1942 to a filmmaking family and began his career in movies with the Toho production Gorath (1962) as an assistant cameraman. He continued in that capacity on Toho kaiju films until 1968 with that year’s release of Destroy All Monsters. Afterward, Mr. … Continue reading A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF COMPOSITING KAIJU! Takeshi Miyanishi Goes Behind the Scenes on Toho’s Special Optical-Photography Techniques!
RACING TOWARD SEATOPIA! Yutaka Hayashi Recalls His Acting Career in Mysteries, Thrillers, and Godzilla!
Yutaka Hayashi in February 2024. Photo © Brett Homenick. Around the world, Yutaka Hayashi is best known for his acting career, especially for playing the role of race car driver Hiroshi Jinkawa in Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), but his work in entertainment encompasses not just film as an actor but a variety of bands as … Continue reading RACING TOWARD SEATOPIA! Yutaka Hayashi Recalls His Acting Career in Mysteries, Thrillers, and Godzilla!
Vantage Point Interviews 