American-born Jonathan Legg is an actor and model who has worked on both sides of the Pacific. When he lived in Japan, Mr. Legg appeared in Godzilla: Final Wars (2004) as an Earth Defense Force soldier. In 2007, Mr. Legg shared his memories of the shoot with Brett Homenick. Brett Homenick: How did you get involved … Continue reading DEFENDING THE EARTH! Actor Jonathan Legg Remembers Shooting ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
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WILL ROBINSON ON ULTRAMAN! Sci-Fi Icon Bill Mumy on the Japanese Kaiju Genre!
Bill Mumy’s memorable credits in the science fiction genre include the Lost in Space TV series (as Will Robinson), the “It’s a Good Life” episode of the original Twilight Zone, and (of particular interest to readers of Vantage Point Interviews) Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero. Mr. Mumy, a longtime Godzilla fan, discussed his association with the … Continue reading WILL ROBINSON ON ULTRAMAN! Sci-Fi Icon Bill Mumy on the Japanese Kaiju Genre!
JAPAN AND ITS SPECIAL EFFECTS! Oscar Winner Richard Edlund on His Interest in the Land of the Rising Sun and Godzilla!
Richard Edlund is a four-time Academy Award winner (winning for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Return of the Jedi) who helped revolutionize the area of visual effects in moviemaking. Mr. Edlund's extensive effects credits include such blockbusters as: Poltergeist (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Die Hard (1988), Batman Returns (1992), … Continue reading JAPAN AND ITS SPECIAL EFFECTS! Oscar Winner Richard Edlund on His Interest in the Land of the Rising Sun and Godzilla!
A BURNING LOVE FOR GODZILLA! Kyle Cooper on Designing the Opening Title Sequence for ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
Since the early 1990s, Kyle Cooper has been and remains one of Hollywood’s leading title designers. Mr. Cooper has widely been credited with revitalizing the craft with his main title for the hit movie Se7en in 1995. In the years since then, Mr. Cooper has served as title designer on innumerable motion pictures, such as … Continue reading A BURNING LOVE FOR GODZILLA! Kyle Cooper on Designing the Opening Title Sequence for ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
PRINCESS FROM SPACE! Peggy Lee Brennan on Playing Meia in the Japanese Cult Classic ‘Message from Space’!
Peggy Lee Brennan portrayed the role of Meia in Kinji Fukasaku’s space opera Message from Space (1978) and played it convincingly. She was one of several American actors, including Vic Morrow and Philip Casnoff, to appear in the film, but what hasn’t been known until this time is how that came to be. Born on … Continue reading PRINCESS FROM SPACE! Peggy Lee Brennan on Playing Meia in the Japanese Cult Classic ‘Message from Space’!
CULT CLASSIC MEMORIES! Philip Casnoff Recalls Acting in the Japanese Space Opera ‘Message from Space’!
Philip Casnoff is a versatile talent in the entertainment world. Nominated for a Golden Globe for his uncanny portrayal of Frank Sinatra in 1992’s CBS miniseries Sinatra, Mr. Casnoff first achieved national fame for his role as Elkanah Bent in North and South, a highly-rated Civil War-era miniseries for ABC, which aired in 1985 and … Continue reading CULT CLASSIC MEMORIES! Philip Casnoff Recalls Acting in the Japanese Space Opera ‘Message from Space’!
SAVING THE WORLD FROM THE ‘VIRUS’! Bo Svenson on His Turn in Kinji Fukasaku’s End-of-the-World Thriller!
Bo Svenson is one of the best known actors to appear in a Japanese sci-fi film, having acted in such popular movies as The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), Walking Tall Part II (1975), The Inglorious Bastards (1978), North Dallas Forty (1979), The Delta Force (1986), Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004), and Inglourious Basterds (2009). Mr. Svenson portrayed Major Carter, one … Continue reading SAVING THE WORLD FROM THE ‘VIRUS’! Bo Svenson on His Turn in Kinji Fukasaku’s End-of-the-World Thriller!
BRINGING A KAIJU CLASSIC TO AMERICA! Writer Paul Mason on the Americanization of ‘King Kong vs. Godzilla’!
Paul Mason poses with his old friend Hachi. Photo © Paul Mason. Early in his career, Paul Mason got a break of monstrous proportions. Hired by producer John Beck to Americanize the Toho classic King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) for theatrical release by Universal-International in 1963, Mr. Mason still has many fond memories of the … Continue reading BRINGING A KAIJU CLASSIC TO AMERICA! Writer Paul Mason on the Americanization of ‘King Kong vs. Godzilla’!
BATTLING THE ‘VIRUS’! George Touliatos Recounts His Experiences on Kinji Fukasaku’s Sprawling Sci-Fi Epic!
George Touliatos (1929-2017) is an actor whose film credits include Prom Night (1980), Good Boy! (2003), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), and Cosmopolis (2012), and whose television credits include such mainstream hits as The X-Files and Airwolf. Mr. Touliatos was artistic director and co-founder of one of the first professional resident theaters in the … Continue reading BATTLING THE ‘VIRUS’! George Touliatos Recounts His Experiences on Kinji Fukasaku’s Sprawling Sci-Fi Epic!
FAR EAST STORY! George Chakiris Remembers ‘Flight from Ashiya’!
George Chakiris is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actor whose breakthrough role was that of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks, in West Side Story (1961). After his award-winning performance in West Side Story, Mr. Chakiris went on to star in such films as Two and Two Make Six (1962), Kings of the Sun … Continue reading FAR EAST STORY! George Chakiris Remembers ‘Flight from Ashiya’!
Vantage Point Interviews 