Visitors Among Us

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"VISITORS AMONG US" IS MOVING

Visitors Among Us is in the midst of relocating, becoming a part of Earths Mightiest.com with the intention of having a greater audience reach. The content from this blog has already been transferred over and Edward Gross still serves as editor.

7/7/09 UPDATE:.Posted the first part of a detailed synopsis of "V": The Conclusion, Ken Johnson's original take on The Final Battle. Perfect companion piece to the audio re"V"lections we did with Ken a few weeks ago. Also posted some comments from "Watching With Kristin" regarding the new version of "V".

Head over to the new home for "Visitors Among Us" by clicking the image below.

RE"V"LECTIONS WITH MARC SINGER, PART 1

Actor Marc Singer recently spoke to SciFi Wire, expressing his interest in possibly guesting on the new "V". The following interview with Singer, conducted by Edward Gross, is more of a reflection of the original. It was conducted several years ago.

VISITORS AMONG US: Originally Ken Johnson wanted to do a series of two-hour movies as opposed to a weekly show with a limited budget.

MARC SINGER: In those days with a lot of the permutations that television was about to go through with the expansion of the cable market and the video market and things like that, I don't think many people could predict what would be and what wouldn't be a viable way of producing two-hour movies. Now, however, that same idea of his, I believe there are many formats in which that can work. My hope is that the resurgence of interest in this kind of theme brought about by Independence Day wil breathe new life intot he life support system that "V" has been living on for all these years. "V" never really died. I think the fan support over the years has been the lifeblood of the series, but it has been on lifre support. It's been comatose and it's awating revival. One of the nicest things about television is the fact that sometimes you get to participate in shows that are favorites of yours when you were a kid. For example, I got to be a guest star on The Twilight Zone, which is great because I loved the original series. Sooner or later, if you're fortunate enough, one of the programs you've been involved in might turn out to be something that has a life beyond its original generation.

VISITORS AMONG US: Are you a fan of the genre?

MARC SINGER: One of the interesting things about science fiction, especially with the blossoming of the information age, which many of us take for granted, is the fact that science fiction deals with the large issues of mankind's existence in the past, present and, possibly, future, and asks at the same time not only questions about our material existence and whether or not we will continue or in what form we might continue, but what is the nature of our existence? Today, the fact that we know or don't know more or less does not alter the reality of how or what life is. Those are the questions which are so resonant in science fiction; it's as though the universe is this vast, dark cavern and you're able to shout into any direction in that cavern and receive back an echo that your imagination interprets as best it can.

VISITORS AMONG US: Do you think the original miniseries has aged well?

MARC SINGER: The first miniseries had an intellectual dignity to it. The underpinnings to it were far beyond mere science fiction. I don't by any means instend to denigrate science fiction by saying 'mere,' but I mean instead of just being an action adventure, the original miniseries was a veiled reference to The Diary of Anne Frank in that a whole civilization, a whole society, was being subverted by virtual brownshirts. In this case they came from another planet, but what they offered were easy answers, and a dynamic, forceful movement for people to identify with. As this movement grew and grew and grew, society discovered too late that this movement was its own destruction; that we were caught up already and committed to our own destruction.

TO BE CONTINUED

RE"V"LECTIONS WITH DAVID PACKER, PART 2

What follows is the second part of an interview Visitors Among Us Editor Edward Gross conducted with David Packer back in the late 1980s. Packer, of course, played Daniel Bernstein in both "V" and "V": The Final Battle.

VISITORS AMONG US: Originally Ken Johnson wanted to do several "V" TV movies a year.

DAVID PACKER: Right, which would have been a great idea. And it would have been a good idea for us, because we really could have done something with our characters, many of which had originally been interesting. 

VISITORS AMONG US: I've always felt that Daniel was a strong character.

DAVID PACKER: I did, too. But I've got to tell you, I got some real interesting letters. I got a letter from one guy who said, "I don't blame you. I would do the same thing if I had the opportunity." I was on the subway in New York once, and a guy came up to me and said, "They're taking the water, huh?" I thought he was kidding, but he was serious. He said, "I really liked it when you shot that old lady. She deserved it, because she lied."

VISITORS AMONG US: Oh, man.

DAVID PACKER: I asked this guy what he did for a living, and he was a subpoena server in New York. This is a guy who knocks on your door to give you a subpoena, and he thinks this stuff is real. But I thought the character of Daniel was really interesting and it was perfect for me at the time, because growing up in high school I wasn't a very popular kid, because I didn't play sports or anything like that. So it was really easy to get into that victimized frame of mind. The way I saw it was here's this guy whose parents probably had high expectations for him that he never lived up to, and suddenly here's an opportunity to have all this power. I really got involved with the abuse of power theme, and in that way I could justify everything I did. People would actually get into arguments on the set. Michael Ironside was a good one for that when he came on. He likes to tell you what to do, which is good because it would get you into these arguments, and maybe you would question some things and it would affect your approach to the character. 

VISITORS AMONG US: Daniel was an effective example of someone being corrupted by power.

DAVID PACKER: But they never did anything with it.

VISITORS AMONG US: Well, they did in the first miniseries.

DAVID PACKER: Right, but in the second one they didn't when they should have. I thought it was a perfect set up for this real abuse of power thing, because the last time you saw this guy he walked out of the house with his tail tucked between his legs, and then all of a sudden, the next time  you see him, he's pulling up at command headquarters saying bullshit like, "I always knew I wanted to be around people like this."

VISITORS AMONG US: What did you think of Daniel's original death?

DAVID PACKER: Where they say he'll be on a serving platter?

VISITORS AMONG US: No, originally when the ships were leaving earth at the ending, all of the townspeople began approaching Daniel with murder in their eyes.

DAVID PACKER: Are you serious? Now that's cool! I didn't know that. That would have been great, because that falls more in line with Ken's thinking, which is more on the implied side. Kind of, like, "What are the consequences of your actions?" The thinking on the sequel was more towards the horrific things. The thought of all of those people in cocoons is a real chilling thing, rather than in the second one where they had to show you someone in the cocoon. 

VISITORS AMONG US: What would you say were the problems with the sequel?

DAVID PACKER: I wouldn't say everyone hated each other, but they disliked each other. You see, nobody wanted to do the sequel, but when we did the pilot and the numbers came in, we were ecstatic. We thought, "You don't get a fifty plus share and not get picked up," but then we didn't That took it all out of us.

VISITORS AMONG US: But did you think a series would work?

DAVID PACKER: I didn't think so, until we saw the numbers, because we didn't know what the response would be. We thought a series could work in terms of making it a high class espionage thriller, with real stuff going on. We'd get more into the political side of things. But I've started to think that "V" was not destined to go, and I'm surprised that it went on as long as it did. It's kind of like a bad tooth that you never have removed. First you fill the cavity, then you have root canal and finally it rots and you have to have it pulled. If we could have gone straight into series from the miniseries, it would have been great because the energy was terrific. None of us wanted to stop. It would have been nice to do "V" as a series, but only if Kenny was doing it. I have tremendous respect for him and everyone did. For us he was a great playground. In the morning we could go to him and say, "If the Visitors really...", and you could fictionalize an entire story and Kenny would say, "Yeah, but..." It was like the world really existed. We were We were totally involved with it.

VISITORS AMONG US: He made it real for you.

DAVID PACKER: Right, and as a result it was real for the public. You couldn't handle "V" like it was a television show, you had to handle it like it was real life. Then, unfortunately, on the sequel they made it look like a TV show, which, of course, is why it didn't work. But who knows. Maybe one day I'll be 80 ears old and I'll be watching it like I now watch I Love Lucy. I'll be able to call you and say [in an aged voice], "Hey, Ed, it's David, and I think I change my mind. It' snot as bad as I thought. I was much younger then."

JANE BADLER TO APPEAR ON NEW "V"?

Actress Jane Badler, who portrayed Visitor leader Diana in the original incarnation of "V", and who has had a successful singing career in Australia where she lives, could be appearing on the new "V". At least that's the case based on some of her blog entries on her official myspace page. On February 20th, she wrote, "Been a lot going on with all the excitement of the new 'V' pilot. Haven't been locked in to series, but had a great meeting with Jace Hall the exec producer and I know it will be a great pilot. Can't wait to see it."
   If Jane is invited back, should she play some new incarnation of Diana or a completely different character? Share your opinion in the comments section.

RE"V"LECTIONS WITH DAVID PACKER, PART 1

by Edward Gross

In some ways, Daniel Bernstein was one of the most fascinating characters in the original "V". As played by actor David Packer, Daniel was a troubled, aimless youth who found purpose with the Visitors and was among the first to be corrupted by them. And corrupted to the point where he would not only be willing to betray his neighbors, but his family as well.

   This interview with Packer, conducted back in the 1980s, provides his views on Daniel as well as the making of both "V" and "V": The Final Battle.

VISITORS AMONG US: When I spoke to Ken Johnson about his take on "V": The Final Battle, he felt that the filmmakers had lost the edge of what was being attempted in the original miniseries.

DAVID PACKER: Oh, yeah, definitely. In the first one Kenny's idea was to take the story of the Nazis and make it contemporary and see if it could drum up the same kind of human issues. The second one was more like, "Let's see how long people will wait to see what the baby looks like." The second one was bullshit. Everyone involved was just in it for the money, so it didn't have an edge because it didn't have anything going on. I remember they would hand me scenes and I'd say, "Oh my God," because there was nothing to them. One of the neat things about having Ken Johnson as the writer-director-producer was that if you wanted to wander, he would give us more takes. He would have this internal battle going on where the producer would say, "No," and the director would say, "Yes." That was interesting to see. On the second one, if you didn't get it in three, then forget it. The director, Richard Heffron, who is a very nice man, said, "Hey' it's not my show."

VISITORS AMONG US: In other words, he felt like he was the hired help.

DAVID PACKER: Yeah, and I don't dig that. That's not where I'm at as far as my career goes. Sure I want the money, but the work counts, too. I also remember that I got the worst review in the entire world for "V" II. I was in Chicago and I went downstairs to the gift shop, and I saw People magazine, which said, "Everyone in the cast is extremely professional, with the exception of Packer and Tefkin," or something like that. And I sat there and said, "Okay, I don't see how anyone could be unprofessional in a TV show." It's like they said, "Then in the scene when Packer comes in five hours late and didn't call the A.D....." What do they mean "unprofessional?" Later, when I finally saw the completed show (because I hadn't at that point), I was really embarrassed about it. But I loved the first one.

VISITORS AMONG US: What was the problem?

DAVID PACKER: The first four hours had, like, five years worth of stuff in them while the next six hours covered maybe two weeks worth of stuff. It's like putting a lot of cream cheese on the first group of bagels, but when you get to the last ones, you have to spread it on thinly. And we had the best ideas for the stories. We thought it could be a real espionage show, with people struggling to rise to power, lying, cheating and the whole deal. They went the other way with it, because, ultimately, I don't know if people really cared about Robin's baby. Maybe that's what audiences liked, but from our standpoint, what we wanted to see were people trying to grasp power.

TO BE CONTINUED

"V": THE NEXT CHAPTER - THE "LOST" MINISERIES

Back in the late 1980s, Warner Brothers considered a new "V" miniseries that would potentially have led to a new series -- all in syndication. It was a time when shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation was booming on independent television stations around the country. The studio turned to J. Michael Straczynski (creator of Babylon 5 among many other credits), who penned a four-hour script. In the JMS news archive, the writer addressed rumors that his script had been rejected.
   "It wasn't a script 'proposal,' which is to say a proposal for a script," he wrote. "It was a full four hour miniseries script commissioned by WB, which I wrote and turned in. It wasn't rejected, they loved the script, but in doing the budget for what the series would cost, they ran into the same problems they had with the original 'V', which damn near destroyed WB TV because of cost over-runs. Showing an Earth-based war, with all the pyros, stunts, huge cast and set requirements, location work, all that... was more than they wanted to pay for a syndicated show, which was their intent at the time."

"V" IN THE NEWS: COMIC-CON UPDATE

UPDATE: According to E!, the pilot for "V" will be shown at Comic-Con on Saturday July 25th between 2:45 and 3:45 PM. Word is there will be a panel featuring cast and crew as well.
   The Vancouver Province

did a piece looking at the different genre TV shows shooting in Vancouver this year, and among, them, naturally, was "V". Offers the piece, "The urgent voiceover accompanies images of huge alien spacecraft floating above Vancouver's downtown Bentall Centre. The voice warning that these aliens don't mean well belongs to Vancouver actor David Richmond-Peck, who is among the cast of the new ABC series 'V', set to start filming its first season in Vancouver later this summer. 'They lifted some dialogue from the pilot and used it for the series trailer,' says Richmond-Peck.'... The new show is a remake of the mid-1980s series about seemingly benign aliens who offer their technology to earthlings to hide their nefarious agenda..."

   Meanwhile, Matt Price from Nerdage.com says of the trailer for the series, "It looks like the series has lost a lot of the World War II occupied Europe metaphor, but it could be coming later. It looks interesting, if different from Kenneth Johnson's original... Given the success of reboots like Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek, making a fresh version of a classic series seems to be more popular now than working with previous continuities..."

HIJINKS ENSUE TAKES ON "V"

The online comic strip Hijinks Ensue did their take on "V", imagining Anna's preparation before addressing the people of earth as seen in the promo that ABC has released.

 

A NEW "V' REVIEW

Televisionaryblog.com ran a rave review of the new “V”,  referring to it as “one of  the most eagerly awaited projects of this development season.” Following a detailed plot summary, the review offers praises for most of the cast, in particular Elizabeth Mitchell as Erica Evans and Morena Baccarin as Anna.
   “Coming off of her run as Juliet on Lost, the sensational Elizabeth Mitchell is absolutely captivating here as tough-as-nails Erica Evans, a woman scarred by the breakup of her marriage, emotionally distant towards her son, and driven by her job as a federal agent. It's impossible not to root for Erica as she kicks down doors, solves crimes, and seriously kicks ass.  
   “And I can't say enough wonderful things about Morena Baccarin's glossy performance here. She seems to radiate a Zen-like calm as Anna, the charismatic and polished leader of The Visitors but there's also an insidious reptilian quality to her as well. The way in which she moves her head and body speak to this effect and her rapid blinking is not only apt for the truth of what lies beneath her skin but it also gives Anna an uncharacteristic tell that is utterly appealing. (I was worried about Baccarin cutting her beautiful locks but her shorn hair works really well here, allowing her show off her classical good looks.)
   “While the characters aren't as deeply sketched as they ought to be, Scott Peters manages to set up a remarkable amount of conflict during the forty-odd minutes of this pilot episode and he creates enough characterization to set up the players in this sprawling story effectively enough that you're anxious to see just what happens to them next. (The one exception seems to be Logan Huffman, but I am hoping he can grow into the role of Tyler.)
   “What Peters does do extremely well here is imbue the pilot of ‘V’ with an immense amount of promise and potential…. Ultimately, this reimagining of ‘V’ captures the essence of the original while moving it firmly into our post-9/11 reality and it seeks to answer questions about race, religion, duty, family, compromise, and co-existence. Personally, I can't wait for midseason to find out just what Peters has up his sleeve for these characters and the coming battle.” For the full review, click HERE.

MORENA BACCARIN IN "OUR HOUSE"

While the creative elements of "V" are being pulled together, Morena (Anna) is starring Off-Broadway in New York in Playwright Horizons' Our House, a satire of the current reality TV phenomenon. Below is a clip the production posted to youtube, in which Morena shows up several times. Be warned, though, that there is some...shall we say, "colorful" lanaguage.

   Additionally, New York Times Style Magazine has launched an online episodic series called T Takes, in which actors improvise for the camera. Episode two features Morena.

"V": WHERE WERE YOU?

This may seem like a pointless post, but it's a quiet news day anyway in the world of "V". In the latest episode of The Jace Hall Show (see below), there are a few "V" connections. For starters, in an early bit we're in executive producer Jace Hall's office, behind him, though partially out of frame, is a poster where you can see part of a green letter "V," with the words "Where were you?", basically tying the arrival of the Visitors into the collective public memory in the same way that Pearl Harbor, the assassination of President Kennedy and 9/11 has. Additionally, "V" star Morris Chestnut guest stars in a humorous performance, and, in a "six degrees" moment from "V", actor Gary Graham appears. Graham portrayed officer Matt Sikes in "V" creator Kenneth Johnson's TV version of Alien Nation.

From Crackle: Morris Chestnut & Chadam

THE NEW "V" FINDS ITS SHOWRUNNER: JEFFREY BELL

As “V” ramps up for production as a weekly series, executive producers Scott Peters (who wrote the pilot) and Jace Hall have found their showrunner in Jeffrey Bell, whose most recent credit is CBS’ Harpers Island, but who had previously produced Alias, Daybreak and Angel, where he served as executive producer in season five. Obviously the man knows a thing or two about serialized dramas.
   “Like many people,” Bell told Variety, “I have fond memories of watching the original miniseries. And to see how they did it now, it’s epic. Scott Peters did a fantastic job relaunching it. It seems like there are so many ways that you could go with this story.”
   In that same article, he pointed out that the new “V” will tackle subjects such as government, devotion, race and faith in much the same way that Ken Johnson’s original miniseries served as an allegory of the Holocaust.
   “Especially when you look at our current times, with the economy, wars and social strife, it’s the perfect time for a force like this to come along,” said Bell. “In many ways, this is a very American show, about the individual vs. society. It’s about how America can appreciate and question things that seem to be too good to be true. 
   “I’ve been on a bunch of serialized shows now,” he added in reference to the fact that each season of “V” may vary between 13 and 22 episodes, telling a story over four seasons that will have a definite beginning, middle and end, “and it helps the audience to know that this is what you’re in for, and this is how and when it’s going to end. We’ve been talking about it in terms of installments, either by chapters or seasons. We’ll build this first season to a big conclusion that is hopefully awesome, with a cliffhanger that launches you into the second season.”
   “V”, of course, will launch as a midseason series on ABC.

KEN JOHNSON'S AUDIO RE"V"LECTIONS: THE UNFILMED "V" THE FINAL BATTLE, PART 3

by Edward Gross

In the final part of this 25-year-old interview with Ken Johnson, he discusses his confusion over certain approaches taken with the filmed version of "V": The Final Battle, and reveals how he had intended to end the miniseries in such a way that it most definitely laid out a third chapter.

Click To Play

KEN JOHNSON'S AUDIO RE"V"LECTIONS: THE UNFILMED THE FINAL BATTLE, PART 2

by Edward Gross

As my interview with Ken Johnson from 25 years ago (man, do I feel old) continues, we discuss some of the fundamental differences in character approach between his take on "V": The Final Battle (then called "V": The Conclusion) and the version that ended up production. In particular, we discuss Diana and her relationship with Father Andrew, and the original incarnation of Ham Tyler.

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"G" The Comic - Part 1 On Video (You Don't Even Have To Click to Turn the Page)

"G" follows the events that occur when the Guests arrive, pretending to be our friends, but with ulterior motives that no one suspects -- no one but Media Geek, the pop culture savant who recognizes the sci-fi cliches and is desperate to expose them to the world. But this is made more difficult when the Guests proclaim that "geeks" represent a conspiracy that will derail their good intentions. Undeterred, and recognizing that there would be no comic strip if he didn't take action, Media Geek rallies a team to fight back, among them are Fleischer, the self-proclaimed superhero (in actuality, kind of a dolt), who got his powers when he came across a genie's lamp at a movie memorabila show and makes a wish to "I dunno...sort of, kind of....maybe be....Superman, or somethin' like that"); Roddy, the surfing dude who nobody seems to notice has a simian look, which figures perfectly into his plan to subjugate humanity, if he can stop playing video games long enough to actually formulate that plan; Timmy Tribble, who for many years has been living the Tribble lifestyle of eating, sleeping and reproducing (well, as is often pointed out to him, two out of three ain't bad); Gratuitous Babe, who...well, is a gratuitous babe that doesn't say much, but is easy on the eyes; Eileen, Media Geek's girlfriend who indulges his geekiness, but doesn't hesitate to put him in his place. Then, of course, there's MG himself.

   Media Geek comes from a lifetime of pop culture obsessions which have made him the person he is today -- for good or for bad.It isthese obsessions, combined with an uncanny ability to interact with pop culture figures as well as off-kilter versions of film and TV characters, that may be humanity's only hope. In a society where Paris Hilton and Octomom are considered celebrities, we need all the help we can get!

 

 

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KEN JOHNSON'S AUDIO RE"V"LECTIONS: THE UNFILMED THE FINAL BATTLE, PART 1

Nearly 25 years ago Visitors Among Us editor Edward Gross spoke to writer/director Kenneth Johnson about his intentions for "V": The Final Battle. For the first of this three part interview, we've dug into the archives for this interview, which suggests a very different version of the six-hour miniseries that "V" fans know so well.

Click To Play

FINDING CONNECTIONS: EARTH -- FINAL CONFLICT?

While watching the promo for the new "V", one of the more intriguing elements in it that separates this version from the earlier incarnation is the notion that there is a religious connection that humanity makes with the Visitors. Some of the populace begin to look at them as deities of sorts and, accompanied by a reference to "Visitor healing centers," it seems that the aliens will take root on earth via one of our most base levels. As Elizabeth Mitchell's Erica Evans note, "They're arming themselves with the most powerful weapon we can give them. Our devotion."
   All of this triggered memories of the syndicated television series Earth: Final Conflict (created on some level by the late Gene Roddenberry), which also dealt with aliens arriving on earth, claiming to be our friends but with their own secret agenda. Take a look at the opening credits for season one of that show, and you may sense that the series has had a bit of influence on the new "V".

MORE SUPPORT FOR "V"

Support for "V" continues to grow, with the international market apparently getting hooked on the new show. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, "Seductively insidious visitors from another planet and seductively intense vampires wowed the 400 foreign program buyers who trekked to the Warner Bros. lot Monday morning for a first look at the studio's upcoming slate of fall shows. Of the dozen series screened for clients throughout the day, it was 'V', a cross between Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Star Trek, that got the most upbeat comments from buyers, several of whom termed it 'highly cinematic' and 'full of interesting characters.'" The vampires referenced above had to do with Vampire Diaries, described as Gossip Girl meets Twilight.

   Based on this report -- and the footage seen so far - this new "V" is actually starting to feel very promising. 

"V"- CAST #1: Official Video Podcast of Visitors Among Us.com

Welcome to the first video podcast of Visitors Among Us, in which we look back at recent news events in the world of "V", and include an audio excerpt from our interview with Laura Vandervoort.

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HDFILMS' RESPONSE TO THE "V" PICK UP

Over at HDFilms.com, you can absolutely feel the sense of joy everyone involved must be experiencing now that "V" has been officially picked up by ABC as a midseason series. On their site they posted the following message: "After over two years of development, we finally get to experience the moment when a prime time network decides to believe us that the world is ready for 'V' again. We weathered a crippling writer's strike, a non-television background, the absence of Ken Johnson and an expectation that this had to be event television to stand up against the power of Lost and Heroes in order to even be considered by prime time television. Luckily Warner Bros. took a chance on us to bring something fresh to the project and did not let up on their support of the project through the 2007/2008 writer's strike. Additionally, we continue, to this day, our conversations with Ken to see how we can cross paths again on this much loved property. And let's face it, how can you revisit 'V' without making it an event? It's predisposed to be huge! 

   "For any of you that have never experienced the pilot process, let us just tell you that it is one of the most grueling experiences! We had three months to address notes on the script, cast, shoot and post. For a VFX heavy show, this is a monumental task. It was made possible by installing some key people to really push hard, a studio that wanted to knock it out of the park and a network that wants to dominate one-hour dramas!"

   From there, the site provides clips and photos while promising to share more with the fans throughout the process. 

REPOST: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MORRIS CHESTNUT ON "V"

At the end of March, Visitors Among Us conducted an exclusive interview with actor Morris Chestnut on his film Not Easily Broken (now available on DVD) and "V". What follows is a reposting of the "V" portion of the conversation.

VISITORS AMONG US: How did you get involved with “V”?

MORRIS CHESTNUT: They sent the script to my agent. I haven’t done a TV show in a while, but this seemed like something different. I remember everyone talking about the old mini-series, but that was the ‘80s. Technology is a lot more advanced now, a lot different. The producers told me that they wanted this to be an epic large-scale production. Everything they told me got me excited and I said, “I’m in.”

VISITORS AMONG US: What’s your feeling about your character, Ryan, who The Hollywood Reporter revealed was actually a Visitor?

MORRIS CHESTNUT: Without me giving too much away, Ryan is going to be doing a lot of different things and wearing a lot of different hats, so to speak, which is what got me excited about him. I think there are a lot of possibilities in terms of what can be done with him.

VISITORS AMONG US: Once you were cast, did you go back and watch the original miniseries?

MORRIS CHESTNUT: Yes I did. It was very powerful. I think the hard part of watching it now is that technology has advanced so far since then. But it was still very engaging, because it made you open up your mind to the different possibilities. Who knows what’s out there in the universe?

VISITORS AMONG US: The original dealt with World War II and the Holocaust, which is obviously that much further removed from today’s generation. I guess tying it into terrorism is a smart way to go with this new version.

MORRIS CHESTNUT: Exactly, it a way to tie it all a little bit closer to where we are now. I think a lot of the strength of this is going to be in the execution of it. A lot of green screen, a lot of special effects are going to be involved, combined with strong scripts and interesting characters. Hopefully we can pull it off.

VISITORS AMONG US: I know you said there are all kinds of possibilities, but the fact that Ryan’s torn between what he really is and the life he’s trying to build on earth, as an actor I would imagine that gives you a lot of opportunity.

MORRIS CHESTNUT: Without giving away too much, there are going to be a lot of challenges from what the producers and writers have told me. That was one of the things that drew me to it. This show is not a straight down the middle show, it’s not a procedural show. It’s not a cop drama or a lawyer drama. There are a lot of things that we’re going to be able to do with this show, and my role in particular, some of the challenges I’m going to be presented with as an actor, is something I’m really looking forward to. This is my first true science fiction project. I keep using words like exciting and intriguing and challenging, but it really is. Like I was down there on the set last week, and you see all these half space ships and you’re shooting against green screen and there’s nothing behind you and you’re wearing a space outfit – like I said, it’s all very exciting!

VISITORS AMONG US: Is it tough as an actor to work with the green screen; to deal with things that aren’t there?

MORRIS CHESTNUT: It’s very challenging, because you really have to draw on your acting when there’s nothing else there. You’re used to feeding off of the other actors, or even your environment. Here I’m running down the street and there’s supposed to be this huge spaceship that’s not there.

VISITORS AMONG US: When you’re shooting, what’s missing?

MORRIS CHESTNUT: In that particular scene, we’re actually there on the street. The buildings and everything are there, but the ship is missing. There are some people there, but I’m sure there will be much more when they’re done with the visual effects.

VISITORS AMONG US: I would imagine when everything has been added, you’re going to be as amazed as everyone else when you finally see it.

MORRIS CHESTNUT: That’s the fun and exciting part about it. And it takes some getting used to. You do what you do on the actual day, and then you have to see it in the context of the visual effects and everything. That may change the way I do certain things in the future; there are so many different and intriguing things about doing this as a TV series.

VISITORS AMONG US: Hey, if this takes off are you ready to become part of a cult following?

MORRIS CHESTNUT: [laughs] I don’t really go out too much. I’m pretty much a homebody, so I don’t think I’ll have to worry about it.

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ABC'S "V" VIDEO PROMO — 2nd VIDEO ADDED

REPOSTED: OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH LAURA VANDERVOORT ON "V"

Back in April, actress Laura Vandervoort sat down for an exclusive interview with Visitors Among Us about her new DVD Into the Blue 2 and her role as the Visitor Lisa in "V". Now that we have photos of Laura in character, we thought it appropriate to reprint the "V"-centric parts of the interview.

VISITORS AMONG US: How did you come to be involved with "V"?

LAURA VANDERVOORT: I got a phone call. They were shooting in Vancouver and I've played an alien similar to the one in "V" before and they wanted to know if I wanted to be a part of it. I jumped and said, "Yeah!" It was just two days of shooting for me, because it's an introduction of my character in the pilot. [In a series] hopefully the character will evolve. It was great. I've never seen the original, but I've heard amazing things about it. There are a lot of good rumors on set that this is going to be big. They have a good cast, and I play the enticing young teenage alien trying to enroll the teen humans on the ship with her looks.

VISITORS AMONG US: I know you only played her for two days, but in your mind who is your character of Lisa?

LAURA VANDERVOORT: From what I felt when I was playing her and from what I read, there are hundreds of thousands of Visitors on the ship. She's your typical clean-cut, cookie-cutter young girl, but she's actually higher in rank than anyone expects. She's a lot smarter than she plays it off to be, and like many girls she uses her looks to get what she wants. But she's more calculating and, as you can expect, she's not there for good.

VISITORS AMONG US: She's manipulating these guys, basically, ultimately to turn them against humans.

LAURA VANDERVOORT: She's manipulating the young ones, the naive ones or the ones who are rebellious and hate their parents. She's using any of them who have problems with being on earth to really turn them against the human race.

VISITORS AMONG US: I think it's like Hitler's youth groups.

LAURA VANDERVOORT: Yes, she's going after those who are lonely, that ought to know better and just want to be liked or a part of something.

VISITORS AMONG US: What was the atmosphere on the set like?

LAURA VANDERVOORT: The first day I was there was literally the first day of shooting. People were still trying to figure everything out, but the attitude on everybody's part was really positive. Yves, the director, is really great. When I went back a week later thinking it would tell me how things were going, everybody was even more excited with how great the pilot is looking. The producers are expecting big things. Logan Huffman, one of the male leads, says he can't wait. He's not new to the business, but he's new enough where he can't believe he's on set. He's enjoying every minute of it and soaking it in. He's even there when he's not working. So everybody's really positive and hoping the show will do well. That happens on a lot of pilot, but I really think that this one is something special.

VISITORS AMONG US: There's an opportunity to explore what power does to people.

LAURA VANDERVOORT: In the script, it's almost like Beatlemania. Everyone's a little unsure initially when they arrive, but as soon as one person is on the bandwagon, everyone's on the bandwagon and pro the Visitors. That's what's appealing in this, everyone is celebrating these strange people that come to earth.

VISITORS AMONG US: Logan is Tyler Evans, but his friend, Jesse Wheeler as Brandon, is the one that Lisa can manipulate more easily, right?

LAURA VANDERVOORT: That's true. He's the sidekick best friend who's kin of in awe of everything and wants to believe it and falls for the girl immediately. He's a little easier to take over. But she has to work on Tyler more. I think she sees him more as a leader, so she wants him and really has to work her magic on him. But she's got the Brandon character under her thumb. He did such a good job while we were shooting; the looks he was giving were hilarious.

VISITORS AMONG US: Where would you personally like to see Lisa go?

LAURA VANDERVOORT: I don't even know what they're planning or if my character will return. Obviously I want to do some kick-butt stuff, but I'd also like her to turn good and have a relationship with Tyler and realize that what her race is doing isn't right. Of course, I have no idea; I would just be happy to be a part of it. 

"V": THE ANNOUNCEMENT

At ABC'S Upfronts today, network president Steve McPherson discussed "V", which is planned to serve as "event" programming that will potentially be spread out over four seasons. "At this point," he explains, "we believe the show will be four parts, with each consisting of anywhere from 13 to 22 episodes. We want to craft a whole series. It will have a beginning, middle and end."

   In this photo and the clip below, Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) and her son, Tyler (Logan Huffman), are among those who witness first contact with the Visitors. Whereas the original had the alien leader John addressing the world via a global television broadcast, in this take on the material Anna projects herself as a holographic image in the sky. In all, it's a pretty effective introduction (though one does wonder what all the applause is about at the end of the clip).

The following clip highlights the moment when television journalist Chad Decker (Scott Wolf) pretty much sells his soul to the devil by giving in to Anna and the Visitors' demands that they be presented in the best possible light. This he does because he believes it will further his career.

"V": THE FIRST PROMO IMAGE

ABC has released -- while confirming the show for midseason -- the first promo image of the new "V", featuring the ensemble of actors with a Visitor Mothership hovering above them. Obviously not wanting to give much away, the image even has Morena Baccarin (Anna) dressed in regular clothes rather than a Visitor uniform. It should also be noted that Elizabeth Mitchell is center stage, driving home the point that despite prior claims to the contrary, her days with Lost are over.

"V" GOING BACK TO ITS ROOTS? -- 3RD UPDATE

3RD UPDATE: Although we're still waiting for the official word on Tuesday, all indications that ABC has commited to a 13-episode "event" series for "V", and now what we're waiting to find out whether or not it will air in mid-season or sooner.
2ND UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter is noting that negotiations between ABC and Warner Bros. has continued to the point where it's likely that "V" will get a 13-episode mid-season commitment, which one assumes is enough to satisfy the studio. After all, speaking from a strictly commercial point of view, should the series not go beyond 13 episodes, it would be enough to give them a DVD box set.

UPDATE: According to Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily, while ABC has indeed given the go-ahead for six hours of "V", the studio behind the show, Warner Bros., has reportedly "balked" and refused to accept the order. This sounds like something that isn't done very often, but it could very well be because Warner believes that they have something special with the pilot and that its potential will not be fully realized with such a small order. What this could also mean is that they'll shop the show elsewhere, hoping for a full season or at least a 13 episode committment. If ABC doesn't increase the order, it wouldn't be surprising for the studio to go to the SciFi Channel, FX or any number of other possible outlets. All things should be known soon enough.
ORIGINAL REPORT: There are lots of rumors making the rounds about the networks' new schedules in the days leading to the up fronts, and the latest on "V" comes from Variety, which is suggesting that the pilot may actually become the basis of a six-hour miniseries for mid-season. In some ways, this might actually make more sense than rolling the dice and hoping that an audience will stick around for 22 episodes (at a minimum). Actually, Kenneth Johnson thought a variation of this was the way to go in the aftermath of the airing of the original 1983 miniseries.
   "After that success," Johnson tells Visitors Among Us, "NBC was very hot to do something and I said to [then NBC President] Brandon Tartikoff, 'You cannot afford to do this show on an episodic basis. Let me tell you how we should do it. Give me two hours on Sunday night once a month or every six weeks, and I will give you a continuing two-hour saga that we could do four or five times over a year.' He said, 'Oh, no, no, mumble, mumble.' I said, 'Brandon, I'm telling you, this is the way to make it work. We could put more money into it, Warners could get more marketing out of it, you'll have a good thing going for you and it'll fly.'"
   More of an "event" approach could be the way to go to keep an audience with an ever-shrinking attention span tuned in and actually looking forward to future installments of the saga.

DAVID RICHMOND-PECK TWEETS ON NEW "V"

David Richmond-Peck, who plays George in the new "V", has launched a page on Twitter, where he's made several entries on the pilot itself: "Very happy with status of new 'V': The Series [referencing Visitors Among Us; April 26th]; "Up early, had my oatmeal, on my way to do ADR on 'V': The Series. Excited to see it" [April 29th]; "'V' has screening Monday to wrap pilot screenings at ABC. Sending good vibes" [May 9th]; "Nailed audition today. Also hearing great reviews of 'V' pilot" [May 12th]; "I did not see the whole thing nor can I comment on what happens. I can say that what I did see looked absolutely amazing!" [May 14th]

THE "V" PILOT IN REVIEW

A poster named M.Bison wrote to Aintitcool.com, claiming to have seen the "V" pilot. In part the review read: "Overall the show has a good production value. The special effects were not the best, but at the same time they did not detract from the show. It certainly feels like the original 'V' complete with their arrival as the large saucer ships show up over all the major cities of the world. It kind of had the feel of really wanting to be serious which I think was done well. The Sci-Fi is kept to a minimum other than the Visitors’ tech and it firmly kept itself grounded in reality as much as a show with this kind of premise could. If the show can keep up the pace that the pilot set, it could be a very good show. It certainly has a JJ Abrams feel to it in the way it was shot. There is plenty of opportunity for sub-plots as well as all of the characters appear to have a certain depth written into them that is only very briefly touched upon in the pilot." For the full review, click HERE.
   "Troy" from the "V and V: The Second Generation" Facebook group adds, "I'd rate it an 8/10.. Excellent production quality and acting.. Now that they've wet my whistle I'm chomping at the bit to see another episode..The ships have been updated.. The mother ships look pretty cool.. Very thin in profile as compared the diameter.. Its hard to explain the shape.. I'd say the closest would be a delta type shape with a blunt nose.. They did a good job with the mother ship design of balancing between menacing and friendly.. Which makes you think a bit more about the friend or foe aspect at first.. They do reveal that the ' V ' are not the good guys in the pilot.. So the friend or foe question doesn't last long...The shuttles were a bit cheesy.. Not sure if it was the video quality or the special effects.. They were actually the only thing that came across that way.. All the other effects were top notch.. They look a bit like dark silver school busses with jets on the back... The uniforms are along the lines of the original.. Cross a Star Trek: The Next Generation uniform with a ' V ' one and thats about where it's at.. Only the rank and file V's wear the uniforms so far.. The high ranking ones are dressed in what I would describe as business chic.. We haven't seen any battle gear yet.. Can't say what the guns or helmets will look like..
   "Anna ( Morena Baccarin ) has the super short hair.. She plays the role almost to well.. Its so good its kind of uncomfortable to watch.. It's like she's looking right at you smiling as she stabs you... The mother ship had a large corridor that ran the perimeter.. The front had 20 or so stories of large rooms.. The interior was set up like an open air city you'd see in a discovery channel show about the year 2050.. Little ships flying around, gardens, lots of grassy terraces...
   "This is definitely written with both the women and men demographics in mind.. It's a solid mix of sci - fi, action and romance / relationship drama.. Very much along the lines of Lost in that regard." For the complete review, click, HERE.

UPDATED: "V" POSSIBLY PICKING UP HEAT - FOR MIDSEASON?

UPDATE: According to Variety, "V" is not likely to make ABC's fall schedule, but is still in contention for mid-season. Over the next few days we should start getting a better indication if this is true.

The buzz surrounding "V" has definitely been a veritable roller coaster ride, and while Visitors Among Us had decided to take a step back and not reported on every rise and fall of the "word" about its chances, it seemed like a good time to update. As TVGuide.com just noted about ABC, "In the running are The Unknown (a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced look at amateur crime fighters) and the 'V' remake (which, despite initially eliciting mixed reviews, is gaining buzz)."