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’!
WOMAN FROM THE 23RD CENTURY! Anna Nakagawa on Starring in ‘Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah’!
In 1991, Anna Nakagawa (1965-2014) was a rising actress in Japan. That year, she was asked by Toho Co., Ltd., to star in the studio’s next G-film, Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991). Playing the part of Futurian Emmy Kano, Ms. Nakagawa became one of the most popular leading ladies in Western Godzilla fandom. While she … Continue reading WOMAN FROM THE 23RD CENTURY! Anna Nakagawa on Starring in ‘Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah’!
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET FIGHTER! Shinichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba Recalls His Japanese Sci-Fi Roles!
Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba is truly an actor who needs no introduction. This worldwide superstar has appeared in innumerable action films in both Japan and America, including Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003), Kinji Fukasaku’s The Yagyu Conspiracy (1978), and Shigehiro Ozawa’s The Street Fighter (1974). Mr. Chiba is also internationally recognized for his myriad … Continue reading THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET FIGHTER! Shinichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba Recalls His Japanese Sci-Fi Roles!
ON DIRECTING GODZILLA AND GAMERA! Shusuke Kaneko on Filmmaking the Kaiju Way!
Shusuke Kaneko is an acclaimed Japanese director who rose to prominence internationally in 1995 with the release of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, a landmark kaiju film that still enjoys tremendous popularity around the world. Mr. Kaneko built on that worldwide success with Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion (1996) and Gamera 3: Revenge of … Continue reading ON DIRECTING GODZILLA AND GAMERA! Shusuke Kaneko on Filmmaking the Kaiju Way!
