Brenda Bakke is an American actress who landed one of her first starring roles in Japan. Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Ms. Bakke grew up in Beaverton, located in the outskirts of Portland. When she reached the age of 18, Ms. Bakke moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of acting. Because she wanted … Continue reading ‘GUNHED’ MEMORIES! Brenda Bakke on Her Starring Role in Toho’s Futuristic Actioner!
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DEFENDING THE EARTH! Actor Jonathan Legg Remembers Shooting ‘Godzilla: Final Wars’!
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’!
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’!
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’!
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’!
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!
FLY ME TO THE MOON! Actress Elise Richter Recalls Toho’s ‘Battle in Outer Space’!
Philadelphia native Elise Richter moved to Japan in the 1950s with her family, but she could not have guessed that the experience would have led to a career in the movies. While she appeared in numerous films for various studios, Ms. Richter’s best remembered role is that of Sylvia in Battle in Outer Space … Continue reading FLY ME TO THE MOON! Actress Elise Richter Recalls Toho’s ‘Battle in Outer Space’!
REDESIGNING A LEGEND! William Stout on the Godzilla That Never Was!
William Stout, one of the world’s leading dinosaur and wildlife artists, was tapped in the early 1980s by director Steve Miner to storyboard his proposed film "Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 3-D." His credits in the sci-fi/fantasy genre include Conan the Barbarian (1982), Invaders from Mars (1986), Men in Black (1997), and Disney’s Dinosaur … Continue reading REDESIGNING A LEGEND! William Stout on the Godzilla That Never Was!
BIOMAJOR’S BEST! Derrick Michael Holmes on ‘Godzilla vs. Biollante’!
Derrick Michael Holmes (1958-2012) is known to Godzilla fans around the world as Biomajor spy Michael Low in Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989). But before he ever appeared in a Godzilla film, Mr. Holmes came to Japan in 1979 and worked as a dancer and DJ and later as a model. Mr. Holmes’ acting career began … Continue reading BIOMAJOR’S BEST! Derrick Michael Holmes on ‘Godzilla vs. Biollante’!
GODZILLA GETS TENURE! Actor Ronald Hoerr on His Professorial Roles in the Heisei Series!
Ronald Hoerr came to Japan in the 1960s with no ambition to become an actor, but he found himself working full-time as a TV and movie performer by the late 1980s and early '90s. Following his transition into the entertainment industry, Mr. Hoerr appeared in Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) as Professor Alexander Mammilov and Godzilla … Continue reading GODZILLA GETS TENURE! Actor Ronald Hoerr on His Professorial Roles in the Heisei Series!
Vantage Point Interviews 