#itc entertainment

[chernobog13]

Kermit's climatic showdown with Doc Hopper and his posse from The Muppet Movie (1979).

[vintage1981]

Space: 1999 Stars Barbara Bain & Nick Tate Goes Board Documentary About Sci-Fi Show’s Legendary Spacecraft

Actress Barbara Bain, star of the British sci-fi series Space: 1999, is preparing to board an upcoming documentary about the Eagle, the famed spacecraft at the heart of the show that ran from 1975-1977.

Bain will appear in The Eagle Has Landed as will Nick Tate, her cast mate from Space: 1999. The documentary includes the participation of several other notable figures: Apollo XVI astronaut Charles Duke Jr., Academy Award-winning visual effects artist Bill George (Blade Runner, Star Trek), and Brian Johnson, the VFX artist on Space: 1999 whose work is said to have influenced Star Wars. The film is being directed and produced by Jeffrey Morris, who also hosts the documentary. 

The Eagle Has Landed “explores the cross-generational impact of the iconic vessel” in the series that also starred Martin Landau. According to a press release, the film “showcases never-before-seen archival footage” and will be released in time for the 50th anniversary of Space: 1999’s debut, in 2025.

“Space: 1999 appeared on TV a few short years after the world watched Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the moon,” Morris noted in a statement. “The show’s unforgettable Eagle inspired a generation to envision a future in space and is still doing so decades later. The question we explore is ‘why?’ What is it about this imaginary craft that has captured and held imaginations for nearly 50 years?

Morris’s FutureDude Entertainment is producing the documentary in partnership with Zero Point Zero Production Inc. Anne Marie Gillen is a producer on the project, along with Morris. The film is written by Morris and Fredrick Haugen. Morris is represented by Espada Entertainment.

Space: 1999 ran for a total of 48 episodes, with Bain and Landau in all of them as, respectively, Dr. Helena Russell and Commander John Koenig (the actors were married to each other at the time; they had previously co-starred together in Mission: Impossible).

The show revolved around the denizens of Moonbase Alpha, scientific researchers living on the moon whose existence was threatened by a nuclear explosion, which rocketed the moon out of Earth’s orbit. Tate, an Australian-born actor, played pilot Alan Carter on 42 of the show’s 48 episodes. Originally, his character was to be killed off in the premiere episode, a casualty of the nuclear explosion, but producers Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson liked his work and expanded his role.

“Hovering above the Moon in one of Alpha’s Eagle spacecraft, Alan Carter is an observer to this holocaust, watching helplessly as the Moon spins out into space,” according to a synopsis published by the Catacombs.Space1999.net website. “Sacrificing his only chance to return home, Carter decides to give chase to the runaway Moon, joining his friends on the endless intergalactic journey.”

Tate told the website, “I didn’t have to dig too deeply with this character. Alan Carter was all the things I was as a young man: friendly, happy-go-lucky, someone who loved adventure and accepted a challenge.”

Ian McShane, Joan Collins, and Leo McKern were among actors who appeared in single episodes of Space: 1999.

[vsthepomegranate]

UFO (1970)

by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

[atomic-chronoscaph]

Thunderbird 1 - Thunderbirds (1965)

[tabicfox]

FUN FACT: Dark Crystal Set Production

In the Dark Crystal 1982, the crew had two years to build 32 sets. The crew of Age of Resistance had 6 months and built 89 sets.

First, that is an incredible achievement, especially for how beautiful it all turned out.

Although I would like to further state that Jim Henson and his small company had no support. Many major companies were skeptical of the movie in 1980. They produced it all on their own. Not to mention Jim was building a whole new world.

Still 89 sets in 6 months is amazing. I am not trying undermine this achievement, I am going more in depth of why the original sets took two years.

[galaxiarick]

The Last Unicorn 

O Último Unicórnio

[vintage1981]

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s Space: 1999

50th Anniversary Celebration of SPACE: 1999 to Be Held in London

London, England — Fifty years ago, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's groundbreaking sci-fi series, SPACE: 1999, captivated audiences with its stunning and innovative special effects. Produced at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, this iconic series is often mistaken for an American production due to its lead actors, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain. In commemoration of this milestone, a special event will be held in London this September.

The three-day star-studded conference will begin on Friday, September 13— a date of special significance to the series—with a screening of an extended version of the show's pilot episode, "Breakaway." This version includes previously cut scenes, meticulously restored from Martin Landau's private collection by Warren F. Friedrich, a dedicated fan and preservationist. The rare footage was painstakingly recovered using a specially sourced machine capable of playing the original film recordings.

In attendance will be two of the show's beloved stars: Nick Tate, who portrayed Alan Carter, and Catherine Schell, who played Maya in the second series. Nick Tate, who was warmly received by fans during his appearance in Calgary last April, is excited to reconnect with fans and meet new ones at this momentous event.

"This series has had a profound impact on my life and remains my favorite science fiction television show of all time. The dedication and passion of the SPACE: 1999 fanbase are truly remarkable," says event organizer Warren F. Friedrich. "I am thrilled to see the extended footage and share this experience with fellow fans in London."

The event promises to be a memorable gathering for fans and newcomers alike, celebrating the enduring legacy of SPACE: 1999. Join us in London to honor this landmark in television history and connect with the vibrant community that continues to keep the spirit of the series alive.

Event Details:

Dates: Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15

Location: Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre London Heathrow, London, England

Highlights: Screening of extended "Breakaway" episode, appearances by Nick Tate and Catherine Schell, panels, and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://space199950years.com/

About SPACE: 1999: SPACE: 1999 is a British science fiction television series that aired from 1975 to 1977. Created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the series follows the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha as they navigate the challenges of deep space after a catastrophic explosion propels the Moon out of Earth's orbit.

[vintage1981]

Directing the Thunderbirds Launch Sequences & Vehicles with Alan Pattillo

Alan Pattillo was a big part of the Supermarionation alumni, especially when it came to Thunderbirds. Alan wrote the famous episode "Attack of the Alligators", and directed the pilot episode "Trapped in the Sky".

For those of you new here, we're all about celebrating the amazing universe of Gerry Anderson, the legendary co-creator of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Space: 1999 and so much more. So buckle up and get ready for an interstellar journey! 🌌