Watch the trailer for Last Resort below
Mulder, Scully, and Skinner in The X-Files
Not many television series have fans who yearly celebrate the premiere of the pilot episode, or characters birthdays, or remain passionate about the series eighteen years after its premiere. The X-Files has the distinction of having long time fans dating back to the beginning of the series, while continuing to draw new fans who are just discovering the intellectual and emotional thrill of the series.
Today is one of those red-letter calendar days for a “Phile,” the term used for fans of The X-Files.” Eighteen years ago today, those who were fortunate to have FOX on their cable systems (it wasn’t until 1993 that FOX had seven nights of programming!) were instantly hooked by the Pilot of the series. This series was FOX’s first one to make it into Nielson’s Top 20.
The X-Files became a pop culture phenomenen, with catch phrases from the show peppering conversations, such as “Trust No One, I Want to Believe, or The Truth is Out There.” Red headed female detectives on future shows are often compared to Scully, as are characters who are hard-headed doubters. Mulder was known someone consumed with a quest for truth at the expense of everything, yet always ready with a quip. The banter between the two characters was an integral part of the show.
And of course, there was the sizzling chemistry between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as Mulder and Scully. Each week millions of viewers watched for a single touch that would indicate undying loyalty and love, while others were labeled as “No-Romo” and were afraid that a romance between the two would cause the down-fall of the show.
The X-Files has episodes considered some of the finest in television history. Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose consistently is listed as one such example. Post-Modern Prometheus, Home, and others can be found on such lists.
The series has the distinction of a long standing ‘myth-arc’ or mythology, yet MOTW (Monster of the Week) episodes were equally outstanding. The comedic episodes, introduced in season two, became fan favorites though fans continued to love the dark drama found in the series. The show spawned a mini-series, The Lone Gunmen, and two movies.
A third movie, dubbed X-Files 3, by fans and journalists is rumored and eagerly anticipated. Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, Frank Spotnitz, and Chris Carter have all referred to such a movie and indicated they are ready for production to be given the greenlight by FOX. With 2012 looming next year, the mythology of the series is perfect fodder for a new movie.
For this year’s anniversary of the premiere of the pilot episode, and also to show desire for a third movie, fans are joining in a Twitter campaign to post their desire for another movie. To join, use #XF3 to text.
To share your favorite memory of The X-Files, go to http://xfilesuniverse.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1867&sid=7d3e71335c36de5d46ba62eb6d11716a and post!
Anyone attending the official opening of David Duchovny’s play The Break of Noon got a special treat: Gillian Anderson came to see David perform (photo from Broadway.com). Showbiz 411 reports that Duchovny actually looked shocked to see Gillian even though she told him that she would be there for opening night.
Tea Leoni and other family members, Ben Stiller, Eric Bogosian, and other stars were in attendance in the small theater, as well as critics and reporters. The play received mixed reviews.
Roger Friedman wrote, “At one point, Amanda Peet’s character–playing John’s ex wife–demands from him, ‘I want the truth.’ It sounded like a line from the X Files. Anderson [said she got] a good laugh when she heard it.” (Photo above from http://www.mitchpileggi.net/)
XFilesNews reports that a Twitter made by a special effects person working at the play tweeted this, “Had a long conversation with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson tonight. Believe…”
Obviously this in in reference to the hoped-for announcement of an XFiles 3 movie. Maybe we wi’ll all get a nice holiday surprise!
Viewers watching CBS’ Blue Bloods are treated to something special: music by Mark Snow. Snow, who composed the distinctive theme and episode scores for The X-Files is now the composer for the new police drama.
Mark Snow is amazingly successful and well-known for his work. He has created music for over 100 different tv shows, video games, and movies. In addition to The X-Files series, he composed music for Millennium, Smallville, Nowhere Man, The Lone Gunmen, Harsh Realm, andThe Ghost Whisperer, just to name a few. He also composed the music for both X-Files movies: Fight the Future and I Want to Believe, which featured the massively popular song “The Surgeon.” To date, he has earned 17 Emmy nominations for his work.
His most recently released music is for Night Sins, which features music that has a “somber, elegiac, almost medieval sound for the religious overtones of the story, mixed with a lot of scary, dark atmosphere” (quote from buysoundtrax.com). And, as XFiles Universe reported in August, the The Lone Gunmen/Harsh Realm soundtrack is now available for purchase at LaLaLand Records.
Recently Snow agreed to create the music for an American Film Institute student project by XFNews’ Avi Quijada. Donations for that project are still being accepted. Click here for details.
Blue Bloods airs on CBS and stars Tom Selleck as the patriarch of a family of police officers.
Are you an aspiring artist? Have you crafted the perfect “shipper” song and put it to a catchy tune on your guitar? Have you sat at the keyboard and played something that you thought might just work perfectly for a certain scene in the X-Files? If so, boy, do we have an awesome opportunity for you! The very talented ’Tracie Morgan Mac Maghnuis is seeking musical contributions for a CD focused on X Files themes made by X-Philes!
According to Tracie, who is the producer, “Everything from the music to the art on the album cover is expected to be created by X-Files fans.” This is your opportunity to make a difference, Philes! This CD is being produced to not only pay tribute to The X-Files, but also to benefit animals in need. All sales from the proceeds will go to support the pet charities supported by David Duchovnyand Gillian Anderson, and also to the Animal Rescue Site. So-If you have something to share, your X Files music will go to support animals in need. Plus, the rest of us will benefit by having some cool tunes to listen to while we’re in the car, so why not send in your musical creation?
Tracy is not new to creating fan-based CDs. In fact, she recently produced a CD with a bunch of Coldplay fans to support another charity. Visit this link to see her previous charitable collaboration: www.myspace.com/howweseetheworld
“(This CD) is purely for charity,” Tracie emphasizes. ”The easiest way to sell them is through cafepress.com. That way there are no manufacturing costs,” she said. When there are more details on the distribution, XFilesUniverse will let you know.
Now for the all-important information: How do you submit something for the project?
• People can send an mp3 or WAV file. WAV is preferable for its sound quality. You can email the file to tracie.morgan@gmail.com or friend her on FB.
• Any style of music is appropriate, but the flavor of the music should be X-Files related, or at least deal with the mysterious in some way or other, but if people just want to submit a song about the birds and the bees, that’s fine too…especially THAT bee, lol.
• Original music or music that is in the public domain is welcome. Nothing protected by copyright will be allowed on the CD, unless used with permission.
So, what do you have to share? You can make this project a success! We are looking forward to hearing from you… again and again on the car CD player!
Myspace
David Duchovny makes the list in People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue. This is no big surprise to XFiles fans, who always recognize his appeal.
Interestingly, another XFiles alum is featured in the magazine as well. Ryan Reynolds is named as the “Sexiest man Alive” and made a brief appearance in the popular “Syzygy” episode. The article is found here.
Friday night’s episode of the ever-popular Supernatural is honoring XFiles by doing something a little unusual: doing an opening sequence XFiles style. What is so odd about that? Supernatural usually does not even have an one. There is also Mark Snow type music.
In Friday night’s episode, Sam and Dean investigate an apparent UFO sighting. The episode is named “Clap Your Hands If You Believe” and is the latest XFiles tribute to air. This week, Castle also featured numerous referances to XFiles.
Here is a peak at the opening sequence for Supernatural 6×09 (from TVSquad).
Beloved X-Files writer and director Frank Spotnitz turns a half a century old today. Yes, Uncle Frank is 50!
To celebrate Frank Spotnitz’s birthday, XFilesUniverse.com is holding a party! Come help us blow out all 50 candles tonight in the chatroom! We will watch “Our Town,” an episode written by the birthday boy himself. The party starts at 9 pm US Eastern time. Bring your party hats and cake, and meet at www.xfilesuniverse.com/chat.
Frank Spotnitz wrote over 40 X-Files episodes, many of them associated with the X-Files mythology. He co-wrote and co-produced Fight the Future, and co-wrote and produced for I Want to Believe. He was co-executive producer of Millennium and executive producer of Harsh Realm and The Lone Gunmen.
Frank continues to capture the hearts of philes everywhere with the encouraging messages of hope for the production of an X-Files 3 movie via his mailbag at Biglight.com. Frank’s continued support and communication with philes truly makes him a beloved figure in the fandom, even if some of his messages are on the cryptic side… but I suppose we philes are used to cryptic messages by now. Recently, after Frank Spotnitz responded with the message, “I’m afraid I can neither confirm nor deny. I wish I could say more, but all I can say is what I’ve said all along: Don’t give up!” in response to whether a script was actually being written for XFiles 3.
Happy Birthday, Frank Spotnitz!
XFiles Universe is a supporter of the XFiles Fanbook Project. Started by XFilesUniverse.com member “Lish31,” the XFiles Fanbook Project is gathering essays from fans to showcase their passion for the series and to act as an expression of thanks to the creators of The XFiles.
Anyone visiting the site will see a video called “XFiles Song X.” It is written and performed by XFiles Universe member Joan Crow. Crow said, “Song X was really my love song for the show. It’s sung from Scully’s perspective. The sexual tension was so delicious. They seemed like two flawed characters who could not come to grips with their feelings. Scully’s was her frigidity post abduction and Mulder’s was his fear of performance thus his interest in porn. ”
Singer, songwriter, bass player, writer, artist — you name it and Joan Crow does it all. “I am a painter,” said Crow. ”I spent twenty five years painting sets for stage productions.” XFiles made its way into the sets. ”I used to put XFiles things in the sets I painted. I once put Mulder’s face in a tree for an enchanted forest.”
After years working in set design, Crow left the field. “I left my job because my back could not take it anymore. There was hope I could make a go it in fine art and writing. My web site shows some of my paintings, mostly landscapes (www.crowproductions.com), but selling art is not lucrative.”
She writes a blog focusing on XFiles 3, and has submitted her first novel to a publiser. ”I have always loved writing. My novel is called “Miner’s Pass,” about a widower who finds love again. If it was a movie it would be romantic comedy, old style.”
Crow also indulges in writing XFiles fanfiction. “I only recently even knew about fan fiction,” said Crow. She goes on to explain that curiosity about William prompted her fanfiction writing. ”That is what William Story is. If I were making the film (XFiles 3) it would start out with William Story. After I wrote that, I got to thinking what happens next. No Place On Earth is how I think the next 40 minutes of the film should proceed. It sets up the beginning of the ongoing invasion and where Mulder and Scully are when they realize the trouble is coming back in full.” Readers will find these fanfic and more at www.xfilesuniverse.com/fanfic.
Her passion for The X-Files developed through love of Millennium. “I became an enthusiast for Frank Black. One day they showed an XFiles episode instead of Millennium. I became very interested. It was already the fifth season. [Then] FX started showing XFiles from the beginning. Every night we were hooked into watching.”
Be sure to check out Joan Crow’s projects, and become inspired to write an essay for the XFiles Fanbook Project. You can read entries already submitted for the project at http://txffanbook.weebly.com/entries.html
Lance Henriksen continues to delight fans and will star in tomorrow´s Castle 3×09 episode. Phile’s will love the anticipated X-Files plugs and the alien context. For instance, Castle intends to whistle the XFiles theme. XFiles fans will immediately know him as Frank Black from Millennium series and the XFiles episode of Millennium. Henriksen has a massive body of work, including favorite such as Terminator and Aliens. A resurgence in Frank Black fans has fostered a campaign to bring a Frank Black movie to the big screen.
