Small hope for "Farscape" fans.

[Neville]

Just read this at Ain't it cool news, I'm quoting:

"Word from Gigi Edgley (Chiana) and Claudia Black (Aeryn Sun), among others, at the official Farscape convention in New York on the 29th and 30th of this past month is that there is a strong possibility of a Farscape motion picture, and/or a four-parter. Black joked that in a film, it would probably be Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts playing John and Aeryn, to which the audience booed. Also in attendance were Wayne Pygram (Scorpius), Anthony Simcoe (D'Argo) and Virginia Hey (Zhaan). Black also said that exec. producer David Kemper says he found a way to "finish" Farscape with what was shot without actually "ending" it, hinting that it leaves room to finish the story later on...to which the audience cheered. If you decide to post this, just call me...

Captain Bialar Crais"

[J.R.]

<>

The budget for any prospective Farscape film wouldn't pay for their Q-Tips.

It would be cool though. Imagine another big-screen, non-Muppet Henson studios film. I grew up with Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, so that would be all right.

What does the sci-fi channel have against puppets, anyway?

[John Morgan]

Last night I rented MIB 2 and watched a featurette on the Worm Alien puppets.  The director said it was had to convince the studio that he needed real puppeteers to handle the Worm Alien "actors" because the studio saw the puppets as SPECIAL EFFECTS and NOT ACTORS.  They felt that a person who handled effects shots could work the Worm Aliens.

It seems studios do not understand the work that is involved in puppeteering.  As a puppeteer myself, I understand the need for skill, timing, strength, and stamina that goes along with puppetry as well as skill in making the puppet believable as a character.  A true puppeteer can make you believe that a sock puppet was alive by just how he handles the thing.  A bad puppeteer can make even the best and most animated puppet on the planet look bad.  I guess once studios learn that puppets are actors, then we will see more shows involve them.

(If you don't think strength and stamina is involved in puppetry, try this.  Most puppets weight more than the average size phone book.  Hold a phone book over your head with 1 hand and wave "bye-bye" with it for about 3 minutes, (the time length of most songs).  You will start to feel the pain of puppetry real soon.)

[J.R.]

I was a puppeteer in school, and it was surprisingly difficult. Learning to control buth of the puppet's hands with the rods was especially tough. I used to laugh when I saw the rods on the muppets, but now I know better.

[Fearless Freep]

I thought the muppets were a two person job....  With one person  controlling the head and one arm and the other person controlling the other arm?

[John Morgan]

Some of them are,  Some aren't.  Some take 4 or 5 people to operate.

[JohnL]

>What does the sci-fi channel have against puppets, anyway?

Nothing, they're just all idiots who have no clue how to run a channel.

Have you seen the ads for the latest new show, The Dream Team? A whole show based on people recounting their dreams.

[John Morgan]

They do seem to be putting on a bunch of mindless drivel.  They are filling up the airwaves with "cheap to make or purchase" shows.

Their latest promo push shows a buch of cuts from various movies and TV shows, including Farscape.  But I can't get over that they show scenes from APOLLO 13!  What?  Is that Science FICTION NOW?!?!?!

[Fearless Freep]

Again, the people who program for Sci-Fi channel have no idea what sci-fi is

[J.R.]

They also show that John Edwards show and psychic phone line commercials. I think it's nice of them to have a logo at the bottom reminding you that this is fiction.