I'm also proud to have been the very first person thanked at the beginning of the book, which is quite an honor for me. I'd like to take this opportunity to Bradford Grant Boyle for his friendship and support of my efforts with Vantage Point Interviews, which is greatly appreciated. Now let's support Bradford's work and order a copy of his new book today!
Monday, May 13, 2024
REVISITING GODZILLA FANZINES FROM THE SEVENTIES! A New 'Japanese Giants' Compilation Promises to Bring Your Blood to a Boyle!
Sunday, May 12, 2024
New 'Megalon' Q&A on Vantage Point Interviews!
Yutaka Hayashi in February 2024. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Monday, May 6, 2024
Benign Svengoolie
"It's comiiiiiing!" Svengoolie seems to be saying to the cameraman in 2012. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Ever since my return to the U.S., I've been catching up with Svengoolie on MeTV. I'd never seen the show prior to my return, though I'd seen clips here and there. Overall, I'd say it's fun stuff. It's also refreshing to see that Svengoolie refrains from making overly cynical comments about the movies he shows, which you can't always say about the various horror hosts out there.
The line waiting to meet Svengoolie. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Svengoolie poses with a fan. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
In the documentary, written by the late Mark Carducci, the narrator describes Wood as being a "benign Svengali" to his stock company of actors, such as Conrad Brooks. I thought that was a rather interesting expression, but also figured that a documentary featuring Forrest J Ackerman among its participants might want to make things even more monsterrific by likening Wood to a "benign Svengoolie."
Svengoolie signs autographs. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Well, I thought it was amusing, anyway. But all this did remind me of the (very brief) time I met Svengoolie. It all happened in July 2012 at a convention in the Chicagoland area. Svengoolie was not an official part of this particular show, but he had a table set up there from which he signed autographs and posed for photos. I knew very little about "Sven" at the time but was rather impressed by the crowd he drew. (See the picture elsewhere in this blog post.)
I did get Svengoolie to pose for the photo at the top of the post, even though I wasn't even waiting in line. I thought that was quite cool of him, and, while it may seem like a small gesture, you'd be surprised how many convention guests won't even give you the time of day unless you put a fifty-dollar bill on their table.
While I can't say that I'll post a review of every Svengoolie show (that seems like a task more suitable for Agent X7), I certainly plan to watch as many shows of his as I can. I look forward to it!
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Classical Pianist Fujiko Hemming Passes Away at Age 92
Fujiko Hemming in June 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
The older sister of prolific tokusatsu actor Ulf Otsuki, Fujiko Hemming was born on December 5, 1931, in Berlin and achieved fame and success not just in Japan but also in Europe and the United States. While she had been performing as a pianist since the 1950s, it wasn't until a February 1999 NHK documentary on her life and career called Fujiko: The Trajectory of a Pianist was broadcast that she became famous in Japan, which led to the release of her hit classical-music album La Campanella in August of that year. She became so well known that she even performed at Carnegie Hall in June 2001.
Fujiko Hemming in June 2017. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
With Fujiko Hemming and actress Kikuko Nishikawa (left). |
With Fujiko Hemming in June 2017. |
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Hong Kong Voice Actor Q&A Added to Vantage Point Interviews!
Saul Lockhart. |
Vantage Point Interviews continues to prove that it is the place where content is king!
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Notes on the New 'Gunhed Completion' Compendium by Hobby Japan!
The day before I left Japan, my friend Yasushi gave me a copy of the updated edition of the Gunhed Completion book released by Hobby Japan that had literally just been published, just in time for the movie's 35th anniversary. My 2005 interview with the film's female lead Brenda Bakke was translated into Japanese by Yasushi and included in the book. Suffice it to say, this one's a keeper!
Naturally, I received credit as one of the book's staff members. Not too shabby! Of course, you have to be able to read katakana in order to see the credit, but, if that's not something you're able to do, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.
Friday, April 12, 2024
'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' (2024)
A Godzilla x Kong poster on display at the theater. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
A random King Kong (1933) poster on display at the theater. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
See You Later, Japan!
One last look at the old neighborhood. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Of course, I still plan to update the blog whenever I have something relevant to share, but suffice it to say that content will be noticeably different going forward. (I mean, it's not like I can do any more firsthand reporting from Japan.) I'm also guessing that I won't be posting nearly as often as I did in the Land of the Rising Sun, but that remains to be seen.
However, I do believe some cool things will be in store, so stay tuned for that. In any case, it was an incredible run, and, if you followed the blog during those years, I'd like to thank you for your attention. Glad I could share the fun times with an audience.
As for Japan, don't worry, folks. I'll come back ... someday!
Before I Forget...
March was a very busy month for me -- so busy, in fact, that I missed several details and had very little time to stop and smell the flowers. Without saying too much else, here are some cool photos I just had to share before moving on to new things. I think you can tell just how hectic things were that these items got left out! In some cases, calling a celeb someone who needs no introduction rings quite true, and these cases are no exception. Enjoy!
Viewing the Cherry Blossoms Along Meguro River!
In between Kyoko Ifukube (right) and her friend Akiyo. |
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Joining a Tsuburaya Pro Legend for Dinner!
Akihide Tsuzawa. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
Tonight (Wednesday, March 27), I enjoyed the company of former child actor Akihide Tsuzawa with whom I ate dinner at a Jonathan's family restaurant near his home. Tsuzawa-san played Hoshino in the original Ultraman (1966-67) TV series, which makes me wish we could have met at a Hoshino Coffee instead!
I was surprised to find that Tsuzawa-san had another present for me. It was a pamphlet-size photobook of pictures his mother took on location during the shooting of Ultra Q (1966) and Ultraman. Apparently, this book will be on offer at an upcoming event in Japan, but I'm certainly privileged to have been given my own copy.
Akihide Tsuzawa. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
There are a mixture of color and black-and-white photos in the booklet. Some of the photos were originally taken in color, while others were colorized for the pamphlet.
We hung out for just under two hours and talked about many things, including Tsuzawa-san's interest in Japanese MLB players throughout the years (especially Otani and Nomo), my reaction to Godzilla Minus One (2023), which Tsuzawa-san hasn't seen, his recent trip to Lake Okutama (which I pointed out was a location in 1961's Mothra, which he didn't know), his busy professional life that left him little time to stop and smell the flowers, and many other things.
Tsuzawa-san told me that his favorite director to work with on Ultraman was Toshihiro Iijima. He also drew a map on a napkin of where Toho was in relation to Tsuburaya Productions. I asked Tsuzawa-san if he watched any of the tokusatsu scenes being shot, but he said he didn't due to how hectic the drama side's shooting schedule was. While shooting took place at Tsuburaya Productions, the dubbing apparently took place at Toho.
Tsuzawa-san also talked about his nostalgia for old American TV shows like Lassie, Rawhide, and Superman. In fact, he wanted to see a photo of the Superman he grew up with, but, when I showed him a photo of George Reeves in costume, he said that wasn't it. So I thought maybe he was thinking of Kirk Alyn, but no dice. It wasn't until I showed him a photo of Reeves with Noel Neill as Lois Lane that it finally clicked.
Of course, we also touched on real-life issues, such as careers, relationships, the cost of health insurance, and other things like that. When it was all said and done, I paid for both our meals. Hey, it was the least I could do!
I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to hang out with Tsuzawa-san so soon after our last meeting in January. During the evening, Tsuzawa-san remembered the first time we met in 2016. All these years later, I'd say that's a tremendous feat. When I pulled out my phone to take Tsuzawa-san's photo, he beat me to the bunch by taking my picture first on his camera. (I won't remind you about what I always say about VIPs and guests who take photos of you.)
What a fun evening! Many thanks to Tsuzawa-san for his kind hospitality!
A Night at the Flicks Takes Us Back to the '80s!
Stand by Me (1986) at the Shin Bungeiza. Photo by Brett Homenick. |
St. Elmo's Fire (1985) at the Shin Bungeiza. Photo by Brett Homenick |
Monday, March 25, 2024
Revisiting an Okamoto Classic with a Classic Screenwriter!
Hiroshi Kashiwabara. Photo by Brett Homenick. |