Feature Category: Interviews

Fighting Fantasy Legends is a new PC & Mobile game inspired by three classic Fighting Fantasy adventure novels. We caught up with the legends behind the Fighting Fantasy books, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, to find out more. We also caught up with the man behind this exciting new game, Carl Jackson.

STARBURST: What is Fighting Fantasy Legends?

Carl Jackson: Fighting Fantasy Legends is a digital card-based RPG set in the world of Titan, on the continent of Allansia. Players assume the role of a hero who has been tasked with saving Allansia from impending doom at the hands of three seriously evil bad guys. The game combines the events of City of Thieves, Citadel of Chaos and The Warlock of Firetop Mountain and adds RPG elements such as player levelling, random encounters and some tough decision making. The game will be available on iOS, Android and PC/Mac via Steam from July 27th.

Legends looks beautiful. How important was the art to Fighting Fantasy’s success? What did you look for in a fantasy artist?

 

Steve Jackson: The quality of Fighting Fantasy artists has always been a prime requirement for the series. In the early days we had White Dwarf and fantasy artists come to us with their portfolios. This put us in touch with Britain’s best fantasy artists, when FF arrived we already had a stable of top quality artists to draw from. This was very important at the time.

 

Ian Livingstone: Art has played a crucial role in the success of Fighting Fantasy. I always looked for artists who were able to draw realistic incredibly detailed fantasy art demonstrating lots of drama and movement. I was lucky enough to convince Iain McCaig to paint the covers of Forest of Doom, City of Thieves, Deathtrap Dungeon and Island of the Lizard King. He is an exceptional artist and it is no surprise that he went on to design Star Wars’ Queen Amidala and Darth Maul. It is with great excitement that I can announce that Iain has painted the cover for the collector’s hardback edition of The Port of Peril, my new Fighting Fantasy book being published by Scholastic.

A digital card game? Isn’t it a rather odd idea?

CJ: Having some of the iconic encounters of the books represented as a deck of cards works really well. It’s a great way to add a random element to the already recognisable books. In the books, you might enter a room within Firetop Mountain and encounter an Orc who is guarding a box which contains a magic potion, but what if you went into that same room and you simply drew a card from the top of a deck and followed the instructions on the card instead? It might still be an Orc to fight, but it could perhaps be a trap that you’ve stumbled into or maybe even a fantastic treasure to take with you. This random element adds a great deal of replayability and keeps players on their toes as they never know what to expect.

Legends only covers of Thieves, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain and Citadel of Chaos. What are your favourite bits of those books?

CJ: It’s very difficult to choose my favourite moments from those books, but I’ll try! With City of Thieves The Spotted Dog Tavern is probably my favourite place in this book. It’s almost like a Wild West saloon, with many different races having a drink in there. There’s quite a lot to do in this one location – get into a brawl, get directions, attempt to settle an argument between some Goblins, gamble, etc. It’s a very rowdy place! It really sets the tone for the rest of the book and you find it quite early on, so it’s very important. Warlock of Firetop Mountain? I’d have to go for the gambling Dwarfs near the maze. Despite the chaos going on all around them, these guys are sat in a room enjoying a good drink and a laugh. They’ll happily let you join in (but are good at spotting a cheat!) and might also give you some directions through the maze. For Citadel of Chaos it’s O’Seamus the Leprechaun! This little blighter tricks the reader in all sorts of imaginative ways but can ultimately give them the best help possible.

What was the most fun Fighting Fantasy book to write?

SJ: Don’t know the most fun FF book to write. Warlock was special as it was the first book. Next I’d say Sorcery was the most challenging book to write.

 

IL: For me, it was writing City of Thieves. I really enjoyed describing Port Blacksand as a foreboding place where nothing good is going to happen to you.

Can we expect to see more development of the world of Allansia in other media?

SJ: We are in discussions with several people who want to take Fighting Fantasy to new areas. Particularly audio. Watch this space!

 

IL: More and more Fighting Fantasy content is being developed for digital platforms which is great to see. Personally I would like to see an extended live-action series filmed for streaming. And I would love to see an epic cinematic-style Fighting Fantasy video game with ultra-realistic graphics.

Any chance of a Fighting Fantasy movie?

SJ: There have been a couple of movie producers who have made enquiries about film rights to FF. In particular one who got to an advanced stage on a movie based on House of Hell. The difficulty is that FF is interactive. How can a movie be interactive? More likely are videogame versions, which can use the interactive format. And that’s what we are seeing with FF Legends and Tin Man’s adventures.

 

IL: Of course it would be a dream come true! A really fantastic screenplay for Deathtrap Dungeon already exists, written by Fighting Fantasy fan Martin Gooch. Martin is an independent film director and has already produced and directed two feature length films. He is endeavouring to get funding for the Deathtrap Dungeon film.

We understand Ian saw John Robertson’s F&F-like stage play The Dark Room recently. Any chance we’ll see Fighting Fantasy on the stage?

IL: That could be a lot of fun, asking the audience to decide the actions of the actors!

 

How has Fighting Fantasy changed your life?

IL: It’s given us a great sense of pride and personal achievement to have created a series of interactive books set in a fantasy world which have given so much pleasure to millions of people. It still amazes me that 20 million books have been sold around the world. And now in its 35th year we have Scholastic, the world’s largest children’s book publisher, re-imagining and re-launching the books to a new generation.

 

SJ: Apart from the nice houses and nice cars, FF has made it possible for us to turn our hobby into a business. As a game player that has meant a most satisfying career.

If you could give the younger, Dungeons and Dragons buying versions of yourselves one piece of advice, what would it be?

IL: Retain ownership of your intellectual property.

What video games are you playing now? What are you finding the most exciting?

 

CJ: I have many games on the go at the moment, which is usually the case. Video games are such huge beasts nowadays that it can take a very long time to get through them. I’m a big fan of open world games and RPGs so The Witcher 3 is my current favourite game, but I’m also playing through Skyrim for about the sixth time. The VR version of Skyrim looks incredible so I might just lose myself in that when it comes out.

 

IL: I’m playing Snake Pass and Fallout 4, but I also play games in development at the studios I advise, eg. Crackdown 3 and Dead Island 2 which are being developed by Sumo Digital, and Erica from a new studio called Flavourworks. That’s pretty exciting.

What board games are you playing now? What are you finding the most exciting?

CJ: Tough question, I play so many! My current favourites are Machi Koro, Descent and The Lord of the Rings LCG. When the core mechanics of a great card/board game grip you, it’s a great feeling and seems to wake up a part of the brain that doesn’t get used very often…in me anyway!

Why are we so fascinated with fantasy? What’s caused the revival in all things orcs and dragons?

 

SJ: It’s an interesting question. Why not pirates? Or Gangsters? There is something magical about fantasy (literally!). Imaginary worlds where anything is possible will always be fascinating to us. Pure escapism.

What advice do you have for anyone wanting to be a writer or a games designer?

SJ: You need a new angle. A Unique Selling Point. Something that sets your game/book apart from the rest. In the video games industry we talk about the ‘Elevator Pitch’. Imagine you are in an elevator and you suddenly realise you’re standing next to a senior exec from Electronic Arts; the person who decides which games EA will sign up next. He’s trapped and you can make him listen to your pitch. His room is on the 25th floor. And this is how long you have to get your pitch in and persuade him that your game is brilliant. If he can’t get it before he gets out, you’ve failed the elevator pitch. This is apparently how Peter Molyneux sold Dungeon Keeper to EA. It was a fantasy role-playing game but this time you took on the role of the baddie. You’re not a traditional FRP character as a treasure-hunting hero looking for loot. You are the owner of the loot, just peacefully getting minions to mine gold and treasure. Everything is fine. Until those pesky treasure-hunting heroes arrive. A great idea, or not?

Fighting Fantasy Legends comes out the end of August for PC and Mobile. Fighting Fantasy enjoys it’s 35th Anniversary this year, and celebrations include a Fighting Fantasy Festival in London and re-launch of the books by publisher Scholastic. Find out more at www.fightingfantasy.com

In 2016, The X-Files made an unexpected and very welcome return to our screens. With a further TV season already announced, the comeback continues apace with The X-Files: Cold Cases, a new audio adaptation starring the original cast that fills in the gap between the second movie and the new TV episodes. STARBURST went underground to the immersive media launch event in London’s Post Office Museum railway tunnels, a suitably sinister environment to encounter Nick Pope, the world’s leading expert on UFOs and formerly the UK Government’s senior investigator into all things unknown…

 

STARBURST: How did you come to run the British Government’s UFO project?

Nick Pope: I fell into UFO and paranormal research quite by accident. I’d worked for the Ministry of Defence since 1985 and in 1991 I was due to be re-posted because they move you around every few years. They said to me ‘we have a job for you’, I said ‘what’s the job?’ and they said ‘UFOs’. It turned out that the role had existed since the 1950s so I thought: why not? It changed my life.

 

When you were appointed to the job, did you look into the work already undertaken by Project Blue Book, the official US Government investigation into UFOs?

Project Blue Book had been terminated in 1969 so it was history when I came to the MOD job, but the legacy was still there. The British Government’s UFO investigation was loosely based on Blue Book. Essentially, the mission was the same: research and investigate the UFO phenomenon; find out if there’s a threat to the defence of the realm; find out – if you can – what exactly we are dealing with here? As we used to say in Government: ‘what are the threats and what are the opportunities?’. But having said that, there was surprisingly little international co-operation on this subject.

 

Did the UK Government change any of its policies or systems as a result of your investigation into UFOs?

I think there was a tightening up of the system. Before I had taken the job, some of my predecessors had just been going through the motions. They’d come in with the mindset that this is all nonsense and had not treated the subject with proper investigative rigour. So I tried to shake things up, particularly when the witnesses were our own people. I’m talking military personnel, pilots, radar operators. We took them seriously and listened to them. I’m not saying that we believed them, but we went in with a completely open mind and neutral point of view. We tried to corroborate these stories through things like radar analysis, photographs and videos and subjected that evidence to exactly the same intelligence analysis that you would with an image of a new secret Russian aircraft. 

When corroborating evidence of UFOs, were you able to identify incidences where the same craft appeared to be reported from multiple different sources? 

Yes, there were occasions where we had what you would call a ‘wave’ of sightings. I remember one from 1993 where we had sightings all over the United Kingdom and a number of other European countries. It was really interesting: literally, you would get out a map and you would start drawing crosses. Some of those maps that I drew back then are only now being declassified and they certainly make one wonder…

 

Interesting: 1993 was the year The X-Files started…

Now that raises an interesting question: does something like The X-Files create these UFO reports, as the sceptics say? My answer is no; it means people look more and means if they see something, the popularity of The X-Files makes it more likely they will come forward without fearing the ridicule and the disbelief that they often face.

 

Do we have a plan in the UK for an alien invasion?

I often get asked that and the answer is no, but we should have an alien invasion war plan. We probably need to adapt some sort of counter-terrorism or counter insurgency plan. I think there is more to be done.

What is your favourite unsolved conspiracy?

There are couple. Firstly, obviously, Roswell is still huge. I’ve just come from there, actually, from an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the famous 1947 incident. Something definitely crashed there, that is not disputed by anyone. The real question is: was it an alien spacecraft or top-secret US military experiment? Truth is, we don’t know and will probably never know. Most, if not all of the primary witnesses are now dead. But my very favourite conspiracy theory is what’s called the False Flag Alien Invasion Theory. This postulates that there are no aliens or UFOs, that the whole phenomenon is manufactured by the US Government who intend to fake an alien invasion, staging it through some combination of Hollywood special effects and people like me, because I’m accused of being a dis-information agent by some people in the UFO community. Having faked this invasion, the US Government will then invoke some sort of version of the Patriot Act but on an unimaginable scale. The Illuminati and the New World Order will then sweep into power, nation states will fall and the bad guys will win!

 

Interesting, but are we earthmen really organised enough to perpetrate a conspiracy on that scale?

I disbelieve 99% of all conspiracy theories, but as with the UFO phenomenon, where the believers only have to be right once, some conspiracies are true. Now I don’t think the False Flag Alien Invasion Theory is true, but it is my favourite almost because it’s so far out there and because it kind of flips the standard UFO dynamic 180 degrees. Most people say: ‘UFOs are real and the Government knows about it’. This theory says: ‘the Government made it all up for this other purpose’ and that’s why I like it. It’s fun!

 

Thank you, Nick. Keep watching the skies…

I certainly will do!

The X-Files: Cold Cases is out there on Audible from July 18th

ANNA STEPHENS is a UK-based writer of grimdark fantasy. Her debut novel, GODBLIND, has caused quite a stir already. We caught up with the exciting new talent to find out more about the book…

STARBURST: Tell us all about Godblind…
Anna Stephens: It’s something I considered to be epic fantasy but everyone tells me it’s grim-dark. Which is fine, I don’t mind either way. It’s a story about people in extraordinary circumstances. It’s based around a religious war – a political war. It’s about the things that people will do for power and the things that people will do for other people.

Why are gods and religion such a common fantasy theme?
I think it’s quite a subject in the real world and there’s a possibility that if you put it in a fantasy setting you can talk about real world events, but it’s got that one step removed. I think the way the world is going there’s a lot of radicalisation in lots of different religions. Godblind, in a way, is a means to explore that and why people do what they do.

Which character was the most fun to write?
My current favourite is probably Tara Carter, who’s a captain in the West Rank. Up until September last year, she was actually a man. I made the decision that I wanted another female character; one who is in a position of authority, no matter how hard-earned that was. So I decided to change her into a woman and as soon as I did that, she absolutely came to life on the page. Her voice was bigger, she was louder, the personality changed and she really leapt off the page at me. She’ll also be featured in the sequels so I get to keep writing her for a little bit longer.

Is genre fiction as diverse and progressive as it thinks it is?
I think there’s an awful lot of good work being done. I think there’s a lot of people who are working hard to break down stigmas and barriers. I don’t think we are as far forward as we could be, but that’s a reflection of society as well. I think we are getting there. Authors like N. K. Jemisin are doing a lot to bring diversity into science fiction and fantasy. There are authors like Kameron Hurley, who’s doing an awful lot for gender equality. I do wonder if we need a bigger name to join in.

How would you describe Godblind to an elderly relative?

It is a novel of the human experience of war. It can be quite bloody. It’s not particularly nice. Most of the characters are in it because they feel it’s their duty or because they strongly believe. It’s a story about faith and hope, and what people are willing to sacrifice for peace.

When you started writing Godblind, you obviously had an idea of how it would turn out. How close was the finished product to the initial vision?
There are a lot of significant differences. The very, very first vision of Godblind, which was more than ten years ago, was utterly different. It followed the story of a young and privileged princess. It was full of clichés. The final version, aside from the names of the characters and place, there’s probably not a lot of the original version in there. It’s gone through so many changes!

If you got to write using another author’s world, what would you pick?
I think I’d want to step out of fantasy altogether. I think the Doctor Who universe, I’d love to do something Doctor Who-ish. Sticking to literature, maybe Scott Lynch, there’s a really playful sense to his writing, even when he’s being quite serious.

What’s next for you?
Godblind is the first of a trilogy. I’m currently drafting a sequel. My deadline is the first of July, so it’s looming a little faster than I would like. I think it’s going well, though we’ll see what my editor says. Once that’s done, I’d like to some other books set in the same world but set later on, maybe 10 to 15 years down the line, with some existing characters and some new characters. I do have a very old space opera on my hard drive, which will certainly be interesting to take a look at again.

What are your recommendations for our fantasy readers?
Currently reading The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor, which is a science fiction fantasy novel. I’ve just finished Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, which was amazing. I also recommend Blackwings by Ed McDonald. Not read all of it yet, but what I have read was amazing.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t take those rejections quite so hard. The first versions of the stories that you wrote, they were not very good and rejection made you a better writer.

If you could preserve one man-made thing for all time, what would it be?
Stonehenge.
GODBLIND is out now and you can read our review here.

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Caledonia is a series of urban fantasy novels (also adapted into a web series) featuring human detective Leah Bishop and her selkie partner Dorian Grey as they investigate supernatural crime on the streets of Glasgow. We caught up with its author Amy Hoff, ahead of the first novel’s republication and the web series’ debut on LGBTQ streaming service REVRY later this month. 

STARBURST: How would you describe Caledonia to someone coming to it fresh?

Amy Hoff: I think it is the story of a hard woman who feels very lost, and finds out that there’s magic still in the world. Leah and Dorian are an odd couple, but her harshness fits well with his stoicism and Victorian outlook. It’s urban fantasy with a Glasgow smile; in both of the ways you can take that. Glasgow was always a place where finding the magic in the mundane made things fun and interesting. Caledonia does not shy away from the darker aspects of living in the city, but shows the humour and fantasy too.

What kind of people would be interested in it?

People who don’t take their urban fantasy too seriously, but who enjoy magical realism. There’s a sense of reality to the stories, as they are meant to describe everyday life in the city. It was also important to showcase the diversity of the metropolitan area, so there are characters of various different backgrounds, including class, race, ethnicity, and sexuality.

What is it about Scottish folklore that appeals to you?

I was a drifter on the American road for over a decade, and I’d always hear monster and ghost stories along the way. Driving down a dark highway at night alone, you get to thinking about all these things. Eventually I studied for a degree in history and folklore. Scotland’s monsters and mythology appealed because the stories are so rich and varied for such a small nation.

How did the series come to shown on REVRY?

A few years back, I met the founders of REVRY at a networking event in Los Angeles. I spoke to them about Caledonia and how I thought the show might be a good fit for their platform. Recently, I got in touch with them again and have been working with Ben Mason at REVRY for the show’s debut alongside the novel release on June 23rd.

Do you feel the series is a good fit with REVRY’s aim of promoting LGBTQ material?

Yes. One of the main characters, Detective Inspector Dorian Grey, is openly bisexual (as are all selkies in Caledonia). The vampire Desdemona is genderfluid, although she herself does not technically have a biological sex designation. Later in the series we meet other characters, such as Lt. Gen. Iain Grey, an asexual aromantic character. The book series is much further along than the shows and film so readers will encounter others as the stories go on. 

Once Burns Night is released, will it also be made available on the site?

I don’t know yet, but it is possible. We are hoping for a theatrical release first, and a trailer to be available within the upcoming month.

With the book’s republication, are you hopeful of a new audience discovering it?

Yes, I am hopeful that the book will find a wider audience this time. I have also been told that many people still prefer a physical book to an e-book so this might be a good opportunity to see whether that is true.

Will Erebus Society also publish the other books in the series?

Yes, we have already spoken about the rest of the series and all of the novels will eventually be available in paperback form through Erebus Society. It is also possible that they may be available in hardcover versions sometime in the future.

What other projects have you got in the works?

I have several other books and scripts I am working on, some of which will also be published by the same company. The Connoisseur, my other previously published novel, will be released through Erebus too. I am also working on a new book based on my road experiences called American Drifter, which should be available by the end of the year.

Caledonia (the novel) and Caledonia (the series) will both be available on June 23rd.

James Bennett is a British writer raised in Sussex and South Africa. His debut novel ‘Chasing Embers’ has been compared to the likes of Ben Aaronvitch’s Rivers of London and Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere.  His new book, Raising Fire, is out in August. We caught up with him to find out more.

STARBURST: What can you tell us about Raising Fire?

James Bennett: Raising Fire takes place roughly 9 months after the events of Chasing Embers. Those events have shaken the Remnant world to its foundations and some are looking to take advantage of the fact. Of course, that’s bad news for Ben Garston, who isn’t in the best shape, emotionally speaking. He lost the love of his life. He starts to get a sneaky suspicion that he’s being played. And there’s a major power struggle at work, the results of which may well have disastrous consequences for all concerned.

How does it compare to Chasing Embers?

If Chasing Embers was the sparking fuse, then Raising Fire is the explosion. This one goes straight to the heart of the matter: The Long Sleep. Raising Fire seeks to explore that – while blowing everything up for kicks. Ben is still hopping around the globe. I’m still drawing on world mythology and history. I focused on China this time around. A couple of years ago, I went travelling across the country and the place has always fascinated me. I read a ton of books and spoke to people there about how our cultures relate. I came up with a story about mirrors and reflections.

We get to meet Ben’s eastern counterpart. It’s a darker story. A more complex story. It’s a slicker story too, I think. At heart, it’s about the corrosive nature of lies – those we tell and those we desperately want to believe – and the devastating power of the truth.

Is Red Ben based on anyone you know? Where do the characters come from?

The red hair and cynicism arose from a close friend of mine, who is quite the character! The physique is pretty much wish fulfilment, in terms of eye candy. In dragon form, Ben is a Larry Elmore painting come to life, a happy memory of my teens. In his veins runs the blood of Indiana Jones, that kind of hapless, just-about-survives action hero. The other characters step out of a hundred myths, all seen through a lens of what they might be like now if they really existed. You can have a lot of fun with that.

How would you pitch it to an elderly relative?

It’s dragons, but with sex and swearing. Shall we see what’s on telly, Gran?

Is it easy to write violence?

Not always. It depends which character it’s happening to and why. I do worry about what you can get away with sometimes. I try to avoid gratuitous violence. Fictional violence should serve a purpose, but part of being a writer is you want to make readers feel something. Sometimes, you don’t want them to feel particularly comfortable. In this book, the threat to humans looms much larger. It’s more immediate, visceral and people get hurt. That wasn’t easy. But then again, I didn’t want to write a story where these fabulous beasts impact on the ‘real world’ and everyone walks away brushing themselves off, you know? When I’m writing, it usually comes down to whether I’ve run out of coffee or not, to be honest. Ben gets a rough time, I know, but Ben is a Promethean character. And I’m the eagle, pecking at his liver.

Why is fantasy so huge now?

Fantasy has come into its own, hasn’t it? As a lifelong fan, I reckon that the quality – or rather the impression of the quality – has vastly improved in the mainstream. Shows like The Lord of the Rings, True Blood and Game of Thrones have shown a wider audience what fantasy can do and the diversity angle has pushed things forward too, making the genre more accessible, more relatable. It’d be hard for anyone to mount a reasonable argument that downplays the impact of myth on our collective consciousness these days. Perhaps we’re moving away from the idea of escapism. We live in dark times. People want hope. They want to see the big epic myth cycles reinvented for our times. I know I do, anyway.

After you’ve stopped torturing Ben, what other books do you have planned?

I know. I’m mean. But that’s a good question. I’m currently working on the third instalment and I guess things depend on whether readers want more of Ben Garston after that. It certainly feels like the end of this particular arc, but I don’t feel exhausted by him or his world yet. I think he wants me to go away and give him a break though. Beyond dragons, I have a fledgeling idea for another series, perhaps set in a secondary world. There’s a standalone historical/horror thriller I’d love to write too. I literally have a file packed with ideas, so you never know. Chasing Embers started life as a satirical short story, for instance.

Is there a particular franchise that you’d like to write for?

Batman. If I ever get to write a Batman comic, I’ll die a happy man. I’d write a Robin origin story like no other.

Is the fantasy/sci-fi/horror literature world as accepting as it thinks it is?
Yes and no. On the one hand, I’ve personally felt accepted by these genres pretty much from day one. There are a lot of great people around. On the other hand, I don’t think we’re quite there yet in a wider sense. In recent years, the genre has faced and, for the most part, accepted the fact that it has a diversity problem. I’m proud to write in an era that’s seen some minority voices win the big prizes in the book world. The criticism of that has been so vile, it’s become a bad joke, albeit one that we should always challenge. But we can’t solve the problem by proxy. Personally, I’d like to see more minorities and marginalised people get to represent themselves across these genres. I think change is slow, but we’re moving in the right direction. I hope.

Chasing Embers by James Bennett is out now. It’s a fun, fiery tale of adventure and modern-day mythology that will appeal to fans of Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher. The follow-up Raising Fire is out on August 24th, 2017.

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SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW OR ON TWITTER @STARBURST_MAG

Find your local STARBURST stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. For our digital edition (available to read on your iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows 8, Samsung and/or Huawei device – all for just £1.99), visit MAGZTER DIGITAL NEWSSTAND.

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We regularly cover cosplayers in STARBURST, but as there’s only so much space in the print edition, we just had to share the fabulous story of Shannon, a great costumer who goes by the name HyperShadow Cosplay and specialises in dressing as Marty McFly…

STARBURST: How did you get started with cosplaying?

Shannon: I started cosplaying in 2005. A childhood friend of mine was over at my house, and she asked me if I had ever heard of it. I had no idea! At the time, cosplay wasn’t nearly as massive or mainstream as it is now, it was kinda this niche hobby. I remember instantly being taken with the concept of it; I’ve always loved Halloween, costumes, and being creative. Needless to say, when I learned about cosplay, everything clicked wonderfully. The idea of getting to be my favourite characters for a day was revolutionary to me, and it’s that exciting idea that keeps the hobby fresh and fun in my mind years later.

My very first event I cosplayed at with my first costume was a festival at an Asian market. I had MacGyvered a King Dedede costume from the Kirby video game franchise, where I donned a silk faux-fur trimmed robe, a decimated Santa hat, and yellow rubber kitchen gloves.

It was at some point while parading around the market aisles looking like the bootleg version of a beloved holiday figure as confused customers looked on with concern and unease that I figured I could keep doing this. Nearly twelve years later, here I am!

I started out attending anime conventions and putting costumes together of anime and video game characters. About seven years in, I realised my interests and my costumes didn’t really align with anime conventions or events anymore. It was then that I made the switch to comic cons, and haven’t looked back since. I find the atmosphere at comic cons to be much more in tune with what I enjoy and the content I want to see and experience. A key part in keeping the thrill alive in the hobby is being willing to adapt as your interests shift over the years. If you have a specific area of interest, don’t be afraid to look into the community and see what meet-ups or events might be happening. Fandom is a powerful and exciting thing, it unites us and creates friendships that last a lifetime.

Probably the best advice I can give to fellow cosplayers and those who may be looking to get into the hobby is this: cosplay for yourself. Cosplay as characters that YOU love, from movies and content that YOU enjoy, and don’t get caught up in being an accessory to somebody else. When a costume starts feeling like an obligation, that’s when it’s time to mix things up and start something new. I went through that exact situation with one of my cosplays, where it got to the point that I felt like I HAD to wear it for conventions due to my cosplay group at the time. I was craving a change, and then one day I watched a movie called Back to the Future.

So tell us about your fascination with Marty McFly and BTTF…

Right off the bat, I need to come clean: I wasn’t fortunate enough to grow up with Back to the Future. I wasn’t even alive when the movie came out, I was born in 1990! My parents had the soundtrack, which I would always see as I flipped through their CD collection, but I had no idea what this movie was. Or how much it would be a part of my life many years later!

I’ve met BTTF fans who have told me how they’ve loved these movies since childhood or saw the movie on opening day in 1985. I love hearing these stories and am always honoured when fellow fans open up to me and share their BTTF origin story, the moment they feel in love with the movies. I so greatly envy the fans who have had Doc and Marty in their lives since they were young. As someone who didn’t get to experience that and have that nostalgia factor, it’s amazing to me.

My encounter happened when I was visiting some very close friends of mine. I was going through a bit of a rough time, and it was suggested that we all sit down and enjoy a movie together. After flipping through our options, one of my friends suggested Back to the Future. When I replied that I had never seen it, I was rightfully met with looks of horror, disbelief, bewilderment, and shame. “It has a cool car in it, you’ll like it”, they said.

And just like that, something clicked. Not a quiet sound, but a prominent echo that resonated in my very soul.

When I got home, I immediately jumped into researching the movie, and it didn’t take me long to reach the conclusion that I needed to put together a Marty McFly cosplay.

I love the character of Marty McFly simply because of how REAL he is. Marty spends the entire movie in over his head while wearing a look of complete bewilderment. He’s extremely expressive in both gestures and emotion, and that’s something that really caught my attention. He isn’t this larger than life character that seems completely out of a fantasy: he’s simply a kid who was unwillingly thrown head-first into this grand adventure where he has absolutely no clue what he’s doing. He’s a fish out of temporal water.

I’ve always been extremely fascinated with history and times that I was never a part of. My parents always referred to me as an ‘old soul’. I’ve always been more interested in the past than the future. A big reason why Back to the Future really resonated with me was the premise of going back in time and the possibility of time travel. To experience history first-hand and take in the culture of a time period you were never meant to experience. This movie had all the components to completely captivate me. As someone who’s been fascinated with classic cars since they were very young, I remember staring wide-eyed as the DeLorean backed out of Doc’s truck for the first time. I was utterly taken with its design and gullwing doors. Never has there been such a perfect blend of the past and future than in the design of the DeLorean time machine.

What’s the best experience you’ve had as Marty?

I consider myself extremely fortunate that multiple memories spring to mind. I’ll go through them chronologically. Watch for the changes, and try to keep up!

I met my first time machine on January 24th, 2014. I had just gotten my Marty cosplay together, and Wizard World Portland was going to be my first comic con with it. When I had heard that the DeLorean was going to be there, simply saying I was thrilled wouldn’t even come close. I had never thought I’d get to see one, let alone get a photo in one!

I’ll never forget how I felt the first time I saw it. I timidly approached the booth, was instantly greeted with an excited, “Marty! You made it!” I was on cloud nine. The owners of this DeLorean time machine were Oliver and Terry Holler of ToTheFuture.org, who travel the world in their time machine they built themselves, raising funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation through Team Fox. I could not have asked for a better first time machine encounter. I was instantly taken by the Hollers and their warm and genuine personalities. I’ll never forget Oliver asking me what my birthday was, and inputting it into the time circuits. Oliver and Terry gave me the confidence to keep going as Marty.

I remember quietly sitting against the back wall to the side of the booth so I could still see a glimpse of the car without bothering them, eating my lunch and wishing more than anything that one day I could volunteer with them to help raise funds for the Foundation. That if I could do that with my costume, it would be mean everything to me. A couple years later at the same convention, I got that chance.

In 2015, it was announced that an immense Back to the Future celebration would be taking place in October to commemorate a date of great importance in Back to the Future history: October 21st, 2015. Future Day, the date that Doc and Marty travel to in Back to the Future Part II. 2015, in general, was a huge year for fans of the movies, but this celebration was going to be the biggest event happening in the world. The biggest Back to the Future event ever! It was called We’re Going Back, and this would be the second time the event has ever taken place, the first being in 2010 for the 25th anniversary of the movie.

I wasn’t in the community for the 2010 event, but once I found out about it I poured over photos and watched as many videos from the event as I could. I wished I could have been a part of it, because it looked like something out of a dream! Needless to say, when the 2015 event was announced, I was ecstatic!

But as the months passed by, reality set in. I was saving, but the combined costs of the trip were going to be too much. I tried to stay positive, but I knew I couldn’t make it happen. Regardless, I checked the website every day, hoping that it wasn’t too late.

Then one day, my friend Brady who leads the cosplay volunteer group I’m a part of, the Portland Superheroes Coalition, messaged me asking if I could meet up to record a special birthday message as Marty for a young Back to the Future fan. Absolutely! We worked out a time and place, and I showed up excited to be doing this for a fellow fan. Brady handed me what appeared to be a script, and he simply asked me to read from it while our friend Hank recorded the message. It seemed odd that it started out with, “Hi Shannon, this is a surprise message to you, from your friends…” It continued. “We didn’t do a Kickstarter or GoFundMe.” What was going on? “But we did sneak behind your back a little with a secret/private Facebook event called ‘Send Shannon Back to the Future!’ Thanks to the OVERWHELMING RESPONSE from people who (apparently) love you, we have now received ALMOST $2,000 IN PLEDGES, which means…” I flipped the page and immediately broke down in tears. “YOU ARE GOING TO LOS ANGELES IN OCTOBER FOR THE GIANT FIVE-DAY BACK TO THE FUTURE CELEBRATION!”

I was in disbelief. I was shaking. There was no way. But right there, in big bold letters was the truth. I was going to We’re Going Back. I was going because my friends were sending me Back! Because they knew how much this meant to me. I’ll never forget that day as long as I live.

Time travelling forward to October 17th, 2015, the day I left for We’re Going Back, we took a DeLorean convoy to LA from my home in Oregon. I rode in my friend Andrew’s DeLorean, while we followed Oliver and Terry Holler in their time machine. We fitted the cars with CB radios so we could keep in contact, and we ended up spending the night camping in the Redwood forest in California after a day of driving and looking for Sasquatch. The next day, we made it to LA safely for the event.

Andrew and I decided to head out to Puente Hills Mall (filming location for Twin Pines Mall) before the event. This was the first filming location I ever visited, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Earlier in the day, by some weird coincidence it has rained, so that night the mall pavement was wet just like it was in the film. Andrew wanted me to have my own special experience, so he dropped me off around the corner in the DeLorean, and I was to walk in by myself. JVC in hand, I rounded the corner after taking a moment and walked. I saw the Twin Pines Mall sign that was placed right where it should be in honour of We’re Going Back, and started crying. I stood next to the sign and saw Doc’s truck. Right where it should be. It was incredible. It was the movie. Andrew had parked his DeLorean right behind the truck, where he was talking to a group of people who had gathered. Upon seeing me up by the sign, he waved to me and announced to the group that it was my first time visiting the mall. The group applauded, I wiped my tears as quick as I could, and I made my way down to the van. We stayed in the parking lot until about 3:30 am.

October 21st, 2015 was the first day of We’re Going Back. It was also a red-letter date in Back to the Future history! The atmosphere was full of excitement at Universal Studios in Hollywood where we were all gathered. We hopped on the trams and took the backlot tour with a very special stop. We rounded a corner and suddenly we were in Hill Valley. We got off the trams and had time to walk around the lot, taking everything in. Looking up at the clock tower for the first time on October 21st was one of my absolute favourite experiences. Unforgettable. I was standing in Hill Valley, California on October 21, 2015, at the world’s largest Back to the Future event ever. I felt like I was dreaming! It was so surreal to be in the real location, and knowing your way around simply from watching the movie. There’s nowhere else I would have rather been on that day.

On Day Two, we spent the day in Fillmore, California, which had been transformed into our own Hill Valley. DeLorean, Marty’s 4×4, and even a 2015 police cruiser lined the streets. Oliver and Terry had their time machine on the train tracks that ran through town, a replica clock was mounted above City Hall, the band was playing, and there were cosplayers everywhere. It was like seeing a real functional Hill Valley! We were free to roam the entire day. Cranes were even set up to give people hoverboard rides, using the same method they used during filming! The day concluded with an outdoor showing of Back to the Future Part III.

On Day Three, we did a locations tour, and the craziest thing I’ve ever done as Marty took place on that day. While we were on Bushnell Avenue, the street where George, Lorraine, and Biff’s Grandmother’s house is located (Along with the Peeping Tom tree!), I sneaked off with Oliver and Terry around the corner in the DeLorean. When we were ready, I got the hoverboard and hung onto the side of the car. The sea of hundreds of Back to the Future fans parted as I hoverboarded down Bushnell Avenue for real, while hanging onto the side of a time machine. I think it’s safe to say that was a first!

We ended Day Three with the best block party to ever take place: on the McFly block. The Lyon Estate signs were set up at the front of the street, and Marty’s Toyota 4×4 was parked in the McFly house driveway for attendees to take photos with. It was incredible. It was a great night to meet back up with friends, as well as make new ones. I brought my Valterra skateboard that day and recreated the scene at the beginning of the movie where Marty skates through the Lyon Estate signs on his way home. After the party had officially ended, my friend and I stayed behind to help clean up. It was then that the neighbour next door to the McFly house brought me over to the picnic table she had set up on her lawn and gave me snacks and a cool print out of her photos she took during filming. She was so sweet. A little later the owner of the McFly house, Mary, came out and shared some of her time with us. I immensely thanked her for sharing her home with all of us, expressed how much it means to the fans that she did this for us. She was very kind and granted me permission to take a photo on the front porch.

Another favourite experience at We’re Going Back was being at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance on Day 4. The dance was an incredible replica that took place in the exact same location used in the movie. I felt like I was sent back in time to 1955! The decorations were perfect, Marvin Berry and the Starlighters were performing, and it was so beautifully surreal. I ended up helping at the Team Fox booth located just outside, between being inside the dance fanning everyone. Just like during filming, the church location had no air conditioning and it was HOT. I always kinda wondered what my role at the dance would have been if I was there, but I never thought it would be fanning the attendees and celebrities! It was a truly unforgettable night.

The last day of We’re Going Back took place at Puente Hills Mall on October 26th, the anniversary of the world’s successful temporal experiment. During the day, we sat in on talks and presentations given by those who worked on the films and the ride. We learned about designing the DeLorean time machine, saw concept art from the films, got to see some of the SFX work that went into the movies, and more! Outside fans could mingle and take photos with Doc’s truck and the Twin Pines Mall sign. The final night of the event began with a Skype call with Christopher Lloyd himself, followed by a showing of the first movie in the exact same parking lot Doc and Marty were at. Coinciding with what was happening in the movie, the chase scene at the mall was re-enacted in real time! The event concluded with an auction and the rest, as they say, is history.

We’re Going Back was the best time I’ve ever had as Marty. The best five days of my life, and favourite trip I’ve ever experienced. I was in costume all five days of the event from start to finish, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was the most immersive adventure I could have ever hoped for. It was made all the more memorable because my friends had sent me. As long as I live I’ll never forget that.

In 2016, I was able to achieve everything I wasn’t able to at We’re Going Back: meeting Michael J. Fox. That was the craziest bucket list item I had, and one that I never imagined I’d actually achieve. Michael attending conventions is extremely rare, so it seemed like an unbelievable longshot to meet him. So I was absolutely shocked to see him announced along with Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson for the first Silicon Valley Comic Con in San Jose. I knew that had to be my chance. I saved up like crazy and ended up making it happen. I brought my favourite model DeLorean for both Michael and Chris to sign. I was trying so hard to keep my nerves calm as I inched closer and closer to my moment. When the time finally came I looked at Michael, introduced myself, and told him a heartfelt “thank you” for inspiring me and for being at the convention with all of us. He spoke softly but sincerely as he said my name, and I’ll never forget the kindness and compassion I saw looking into the man’s eyes. He signed my DeLorean, and said “heavy” without even being prompted to! He never remarked on the costume, but I’ll never forget how he seemed to regard me.

My next moment was for our photo, and when I walked through the curtain Michael said, “Nice to see you again”. I’ll never know if he truly remembered me or if he was being wonderfully polite, but I’d really like to believe he happened to remember me. When I picked up my photo, I was moved near tears at the wonderful smile he flashed, and it will be a memento I will always treasure.

At Silicon Valley, I also met Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson. My other goal for this convention, and another item off my bucket list was having a moment being Marty McFly with the Doc himself. I was volunteering at the Team Fox booth with the DeLorean all weekend. One of the photos you could purchase was with Christopher Lloyd and the DeLorean. When the time came we all prepared the booth for the photo session, and just like that, Christopher Lloyd walks into the booth and I’m suddenly standing five feet away from the Doc himself. I jump in line with everyone else, and when my turn comes, Chris doesn’t hesitate to meet my handshake and pull me in close for the photo. Being able to stand with Christopher Lloyd next to the DeLorean truly was a dream come true! Later on, he signed the same model DeLorean and I thanked him for everything he’s done for the fans, for sharing his time with us, and how much I enjoy the character of Doc Brown.

Meeting Lea Thompson was nothing short of an absolute joy. After getting Christopher Lloyd’s autograph, I hopped on over next door to her line, and I chose an adorable photo of Lorraine from her photo selections for her to sign. I greeted her, expressed how much I appreciated her being at the convention, and how I thoroughly enjoyed her performance as Lorraine. She was so personable, genuine, and utterly kind. At no point did I feel rushed to move along, and she truly took the time to connect with me. Lea’s sister was sitting next to her, and when she told Lea while signing my photo, “Look at her costume!” Lea looked up and with a bright smile gasped and complimented my costume. It was so completely unexpected! I showed her my AIWA cassette player with the ‘Edward Van Halen’ tape in it and she got such a kick out of it. It was clear that she was a fan of the trilogy herself, and truly embraced the fans with a bright, welcoming, and cheerful demeanour that puts most to shame. After a shared photo with Lea and two of my friends, she called me “son”.

While back at the booth, we get a call that Lea is interested in doing a surprise photo session to help raise funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Soon, in walks Lea and her sister and we prepare for everyone to start lining up for the photo session. Once everyone in line has gotten their photo, we each take turns posing with Lea before she has to leave. I’ll never forget how Lea pulled me in for a warm embrace for our photo. When all was said and done, $3,120 was raised in 20 minutes. 100% of it went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

They say never meet your heroes, but I can confidently say that the cast of Back to the Future are just as wonderful as you imagine they are.

The last cast member encounter I need to mention is the original DeLorean time machine, the ‘A’ Car. I flew out to LA in July of 2016 for a special screening of the ‘A’ Car restoration documentary called OUTATIME: Saving the DeLorean Time Machine. I knew I had to be there to show my support for my friend Joe Walser, who led the Time Machine Restoration Team, Steve Concotelli who directed the documentary, as well as my friend Andrew Wells who worked on the SFX for the car. It would also be my first time experiencing the ‘A’ Car.

The day of the screening at the Petersen Automotive Museum, which is now home to the ‘A’ Car, a group of friends decided to head down early to get a more personal experience with the car before the big night. The Petersen had moved the car downstairs to their largest room, where the screening would take place. I was adamant about shielding my eyes from view of the car until the time was right. Led by one of my friends while covering my eyes, I opened them only to be face-to-face with the real time machine in all of its fully restored and pristine glory. It was akin to a religious experience. The time circuits were beautifully reflected in the glass of the flux capacitor. In a rare experience, the car was available for a full 360 degree walk-around. I never imagined I’d be able to get so close to it. It was surreal knowing that this was the same car that I had watched back out of Doc’s truck the first time I watched the movie. Here it was. It was real. The DeLorean definitely has a presence to it. It’s not something that I can describe, only something that can be experienced. If you find yourself in LA, definitely make the journey to the Petersen Automotive Museum to visit the car. I promise it’s something you won’t regret!

What was the most difficult part of the cosplay?

Finding clothes and props that are at least 32 years old! You either get lucky and find the real deal, settle with close enough, or end up having to make something yourself. Not to mention these clothes and props are hard to come by BECAUSE of their connection to Back to the Future. It’s crazy. You’ll spend YEARS scouring the Internet waiting for a correct piece to pop up. When I decided I was going to put together a Marty cosplay I remember thinking ‘oh yeah, that’ll be easy enough’. I didn’t realise exactly how deep that rabbit hole went until I tripped and fell right into it. It’s the same as any other costume though: over the years you just replace certain things when you find something more suitable or accurate, and it evolves from there.

Clothing-wise, I think the most difficult piece to find is the denim jacket. It’s a Guess Georges Marciano brand (there are people out there who will disagree with me on that), and finding the right version of it makes finding a unicorn look like a walk in the park. The correct vest is a Class-5, a brand that doesn’t even exist anymore. They’ll pop up from time to time, but you’re lucky if one actually graces your eBay search results in your size.

The most difficult prop/accessory to find is Marty’s AIWA cassette player, most famously seen in the ‘Darth Vader from Planet Vulcan’ scene. The model is an AIWA HS-P02 MkII, and you won’t score one of those without parting with a right arm and your first born child. I was stupidly lucky and was gifted mine from a dear friend of mine, and I usually always have it on me as part of the costume (yes – complete with Edward Van Halen tape!). Music is a huge part of Marty’s life, so I feel it’s important to carry it with me in costume. While I won’t try and melt your brain with it (unless you want me to), I will be more than happy to share it with a fellow fan!

Also, have you ever realised how many layers of clothing Marty McFly wears? A down vest, denim jacket, checkered shirt, and a red shirt. That’s four layers of clothing. This kid lives in California, I don’t get it! So there’s another difficulty to the costume: staying conscious. The closest call I ever had was on the second day of We’re Going Back. We spent the day in Fillmore, California, and it was the hottest day of the week. Insisting on being in full costume, I kept everything on and nearly lost consciousness when the heat finally caught up to me in the afternoon. I spend nearly two hours upstairs in the Fillmore Theater with my legs propped up against a wall with a cold compress to my wrists. Since that incident, I try to be more aware of what my limits are and make it a point to stay hydrated.

A difficulty I personally face at times is people being close-minded. I’m a female portraying a male character, and for a select few, that doesn’t fly. No matter what I say or do, nothing will change that. Nearly everybody I’ve been fortunate enough to meet at conventions and events have been wonderful. The positives far outweigh the select negatives I’ve experienced. You’ll experience negative people no matter what you do or who you are, it’s simply a fact of life. I love Back to the Future, and my Marty is an expression of that love. I might not look like Michael J. Fox, but as Huey Lewis might say, I’ve got a lot of heart and soul. I think that counts for something. Also trying to figure out Marty McFly’s hair keeps me up at night.

What shows are you looking forward to going ‘Back to (in) the Future’?

I’m looking forward to seeing where the BTTF community takes me. I was fortunate enough to make friends from all over the world at We’re Going Back. There’s a lot of possibilities there! You never know what the future holds. I’d love to attend a convention or event in Europe someday if I ever get the chance. Of course, any opportunity to help out and volunteer for Team Fox, I’ll go for it!

I do think I’m destined to be in California at the end of October for the next several years of my life, which I’m perfectly fine with: celebrating the anniversary of We’re Going Back, and something tells me that on October 26th, I’ll find myself dressed as Marty McFly standing in the parking lot at Puente Hills Mall at some ungodly hour of the morning. Call it density if you will.

Find out more about Shannon at facebook.com/hypershadowcosplay, and the charity work she does at facebook.com/PortlandSuperheroesCoalition. Please consider donating to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at fundraise.michaeljfox.org. If you want to appear in STARBURST’s Cosplay Catwalk in the print magazine, email [email protected].

At last year’s STARBURST International Film Festival, we awarded the first-time director Naqqash Khalid the Young Filmmaker Award. Several months on, we caught up with the Manchester-based artist to find out more about the film and what he’s up to now…

STARBURST: What inspired you to write and direct Parts?

Naqqash Khalid: I was interested in exploring how emerging actors can be treated, the dehumanisation and objectification of certain casting rooms and casting calls. The film looks at the industry through a nightmarish and outsider gaze. When I was casting I talked to a lot of working actors about their experiences of auditioning which informed my approach. For me, Parts is a modern fairy tale and a visual and narrative exploration of anxiety, specifically the anxiety of a young actor starting out.

It was a very ambitious production for a first film – how did you finance it?

Financing any film is difficult. Considering this was my first, and not the easiest sell, I decided to save up, self-finance, and figure it out for myself. I saved for a year and worked three jobs to make it. In the end, I was able to shoot for 1-day, which covered access to equipment and principal cast and crew. I had 12 hours of production to shoot the entire script. It was a tight shoot – I had one or two takes to get each scene. Prior to shooting, I had a three-day rehearsal period that allowed me to build a short-hand with the actors – they knew exactly what I wanted and I was able to build the characters with them which was important to me.

At times it feels impossible being a working-class director, from trying to get your film made to the inflated festival submission fees, there is no denying that film has become an elitist form, but the solution isn’t to complain, it’s all about seeing your obstacles as creative challenges. I appreciated every hour I had on set, every minute I had with the actors and crew. You learn so much when you’re under that pressure, it informs your process. You have to be over-prepared.

How did the film go down at festivals?

Watching people watch the film is fascinating. The film is ambiguous and everyone has their own interpretation of it, so it’s been amazing to hear what people think, to get that immediate feedback, and to interact with audiences at screenings.

Where can people see Parts now it’s done its festival run?

It will be online this summer. I’m finishing some minor edits at the moment. It’s difficult to know when to stop sometimes. I have just released a clip that encapsulates the tone of the film, the audition scene, that’s viewable online . That particular scene also forms the basis for my next project.

You won the Young Filmmaker Award at the 2016 STARBURST Film Festival – and much deserved – we like to think it’s been helpful for you – was it?

STARBURST was the first festival I screened at and my first audience – so the award feels very special. The entire team was so supportive, even after the festival, it really means a lot to have that. It’s different from other festivals, there is a sense that the people programming and volunteering love what they do and are driven by their passion – there is no division between the audience and those who run the festival.

With shorts, there’s a lot of noise, there are so many fighting for attention, the award and festival provided me with a platform for people to see the work, and it garnered a lot of attention for the project.

Tell us about your latest project…

I’m making a no-budget feature film. It’s about a graduate who moves back home after University and struggles to find his place. It’s a hyperreal exploration of the struggles of your early 20s in the digital age. The film is set in the present, the now, this moment we’re living in, in the age of Brexit and Trump. There’s a constant feeling of threat, and everyone, at some level, is feeling it. What’s going on in the world on a macro scale, I’m interested in exploring that on a micro scale, through character. The film is improvised. I’ve written a scene-by-scene outline, but I’m not writing any fixed dialogue. Everyone has their own grammar, everyone uses language in a very specific way, I want to capture that for this project – I want to keep the fluidity of how people talk. The acting style is naturalistic and documentary-like in a film that is far from that. There’s an in-built juxtaposition between two contrasting styles which I’m excited about. It’s exploring the tone I set in Parts, but on a larger scale, beyond 5 minutes.

I’m casting and crewing now and hoping to shoot in late August. The film is designed to be shot in eight days with a skeleton crew; it’s part of the production style. It’s very contained.

Check out the audition scene from Parts and read our review here:

You can connect with Naqqash by heading over to his website or following on Twitter.