ON TV?

Hi,
I just want to start off by saying I really liked the new "X-Files" movie and thought it was really thought-provoking. I'm just upset that it didn't do better revenue-wise. However, that being said, if a third big theatrical movie was not greenlighted by Fox, would you ever consider doing a TV special movie that would deal with the alien invasion storyline which every "X-Files" fan is dying to see? I, for one, would love to see it and finally have some closure to the great show, whether it be on TV or in the theater. I know it is rather soon to be thinking about a new movie but we only have until 2012! Thanks for your time. Would love to hear back from you.
Vincent
Long Island, New York

Sorry, Vincent, but I think it's extremely unlikely we'd see the storyline continue on television.

IP ADDRESS

Bonjour Frank ! :) Since the first time I saw the movie, I became obsessed with a series of figures that appear on Scully's computer, this series of figures is the IP address of Scully's printer : 943.332.12.2 . But this IP address does not exist in computers. I try to find the meaning of these figures, would you have any idea ?
Excuse me for my bad English.
Gérald
France

The IP address doesn't have any special significance (that I'm aware of). And you're right that the address couldn't really exist -- the studio asks us to do that for legal reasons.

TOOMS FOR XF3

Hi Frank! Thanks for signing my ancient, 13-year-old "X-Files" episode guide! I went to the Premiere the day before and it was the best treat ever when all four of you came into our screen and introduced the new movie.
2012 is too long a wait. Why not fuse "Squeeze" and "Tooms" with a new movie, released in 2010 to bridge the four-year wait? It would satisfy new viewers, older fans, both the mythology and standalone schools of thought, as well as the shippers! Tooms is THE case even casual viewers remember.
He only allegedly died under the escalator -- but surely if anyone could have survived -- it would be Eugene Victor Tooms?
Just to prove that this idea has legs, I started a new Facebook page, entitled "Bring Back Tooms!"...
Christian
London, UK

BETTER THAN BATMAN

Dear Frank,
I personally think that "X-Files: I Want To Believe" was a better film than Batman! I saw the "X-Files" movie twice in Seattle and when I was on vacation I took a friend of mine and introduced her to "X-Files" in Superior, Wisconsin. She loved your movie and especially the superior acting. I also went and saw Batman. How that ever got a PG-13 rating I will never know. It should have been an R rating. There was so much violence in it, non-stop. The story really didn't make any sense. I'm a Batman fan also, and have all of those on DVD, just like I have all of "The X-Files" on DVD. I'm going to write Michael Broidy at 20th Century Fox to give us the next movie in the "X-Files" series. 2012 is coming quicker than I'd like to think. Hopefully lots of "X-Files" fans will write to 20th Century Fox and let them know that we would like the next movie.
Thanks for all you and Chris have done.
Best regards,
Dushan

A REAL LOVE...

To live a great and real love, you have to do some sacrifices (But if is a REAL love, it’s not such a sacrifice)...
You have to watch a movie so many times that you can appreciate the details as much is possible…
You have to notice that same balloon that appears three times, to appreciate a angry look from Scully 4 times at the movie, the ceiling with the pencils… You have to remember of the first "The X–Files" scene when she screams “Jesus, Mulder!”
You have to notice doors that opens almost in a imperceptible way, have to memorize every move, have to count all the eight times that Mulder pass his tongue between his lips, have to memorize everytime Scully arches her eyebrow… You have to keep with you every beat that an EXCER hart feels. You have to laugh of yourself ‘cause sometimes seems don’t make sense that abstinence that wants to knock our doors anytime, something that we had so close, in our hands and now seems that’s going away and leaving a part of us with it.
You have to create incredible plans to not let this feeling to escape, ‘cause I’ts so good and brings whit it the honor of sharing all that whit such special people.
You have to memorize all those popcorns, the candies, the Coke (or the Diet Coke) and the screams saying “Don’t turn off, let the music plays ‘till the end, we have to see the little boat scene and wave back to them!!!!” Or even screams to strangers “Hey, don’t left! There’s something special after the credits…” And see that people looking at you and thinking “Okay, they’re i-n-s-a-n-e!” But you don’t give a damn because you live and dye for our own X-File, OUR series, OUR passion.
The ticket guy who knows you were there yesterday, before yesterday, last week, I don’t know! You know if the storyline was wrong, if their house was too near from the case, if the subtitles was wrong and “left to be desired” in our country, is Scully has two different hair cuts in the movie… All this belongs to a something more, a huge thing! It belongs a feeling that I don’t know how to explain (Actually, I don’t even want to!) but it’s SO good... And it will never end.
Now it’s over. The ticket man looking weird at us, the popcorn, our tears, our movie at the theatre…But we’ll keep everything good that "The X-Files 2" brought to us: Excer passion, a million of references that will make us to wallow the DVD extras like pigs at the mud, the 20 delicious days sensation, incredible friends who came from far away to enjoy this premiere with us, or even they that couldn’t be here but shared everything by e-mails and a thousand reasons to keep talking incessantly about "The X-Files" with or without a third movie. ‘cause if this movie become real, we WILL be there and be happy again, seeing the movie 21 times like Marcília, 20 times like Débora (the writer), 10 to others from our group… Laugh about Nathália (the blond Scully in the photo you posted) and Cinthya begging to the ticket man to give them the "X-Files" official trailer and left the mall screaming and crying with two rolls of the REAL movie to put in a frame! Begging to posters, photos, everything! It’s our passion, it’s our life…
That’s "X-Files"!!! A wonderful reason to us to be happy inside and out the theatre. A wonderful reason to have such brilliant and different people united sharing little boats, Bad Blood, Duanne Barry, Skinner’s Bald, a new years eve kiss, Scully screaming “Mooooldeeeer”, Mulder screaming “Sculeeeeeee”, Skinner’s bald, Scully’s hair (Ok, guys you can share another Scully things…), Mulder’s stubbornness (Ok, girls… We can share another Mulder’s thing, also!), and ride inside a car singing/screaming “Broken” or smile when your cellphone rings and plays the song…
Ivan Lins sings a song that says: Keep it in your eyes! I dare to say: Keep it in your eyes and inside your heart!
ESfiles, it was a honor every little-big moments of "X-Files" with you.
Frank, Carter, Bowman, Gilly and Dave… THANK YOU.
We S2 you forever, and we’ll never forget.
P.S.: We're VERY glad that you posted our photo in your blog, it means EVERYTHING to us. THANK YOU.
Written by Débora
Translated by Nathália (sorry for my bad English!)
ESfiles Group
Vitória, Brazil.

RECOGNITION FOR RUSSIA

I do think Russians fans deserve some credit for being one of the countries were IWTB did well on the box office, even though the bad guys are supposed to be Russians and for noticing the names of the couple of "bad guys" were not common Russian names.
I think it's fair to clarify that although Dr. Vladimir Demikhov was Russian and the first one to perform the infamous dog transplant, it was an American, Dr Robert White, that performed the first primate head transplant and other similarly infamous "experiments." Apparently White admired Demikhov and even managed to visit Russia during the cold-war era.
I do understand making the "bad guys" Russian adds to the suspense, since Russian is not an easy language, few people (outside of Russia that is) understand it. And we humans tend to be pretty scared of what we don't understand.I think you explained before that that is why their conversations were not translated.
Do not believe everything you read on the Internet ;-). But if the fans are asking there are several web addresses where to find info on the two-headed dogs experiments. For instance:
http://www.mymultiplesclerosis.co.uk/stranger-than-fiction/head-transplant.html
http://www.scribd.com/doc/1326/The-Real-Frankensteins/
It's even on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Demikhov
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._White
Some videos can be found on YouTube about White's experiments as well as Demikhovs.
Sincerely,
Maria
The Netherlands

Good point, Maria. In fact, Chris and I flew out to Cleveland, Ohio, last year to meet with Dr. White and he is credited in the film.

LET US SEE

On behalf of the X-Phile who shall remain nameless, I am formally requesting the inclusion of a close of the rowboat scene. And I quote "If you're gonna put Scully in a bikini, let us see it!"
Bellis
Winnipeg, Canada

17 TIMES

I just wanted to personally thank you, Mr.Carter, David, Gillian and everyone involved for making the "X-Files" movie possible. I WANT TO BELIEVE was a hell of a ride both in the scary and in the shipper department. I have seen the movie 17 times! Three times with my 21-year-old son and once with my husband. I also want to say that as much as the critics didn't like it all that matters is that the creators, actors and fans are happy with it, I AM VERY HAPPY WITH IT!!
I hope that fans like me will be able to see our heroes again in the big screen. If it was up to the fans, we would make it happen!
Let us know if there is anything we as fans can do to try to make an XF3 possible!
Sincerely,
Yolanda
Miami, Florida

NO, REALLY, THANK YOU!! =)

As many a fan has done before me in this past month, I wanted to take the opportunity to express to yourself and everyone involved how grateful I am for the film. It has taken me well over a dozen viewings of “I Want To Believe” to even begin to wrap my brain around and process the multiple meanings and implications of this incredibly layered film. I feel as though with each viewing I find something new, another revelation dawns upon me. It's absolutely invigorating and so sadly lacking from the majority of contemporary art. It reminds me of the amazing months my literature class spent immersed in “Hamlet” when I was a teenager, reading and rereading, always to happen upon a new dimension of intent and intensity.
"The X-Files" was and remains one of the most influential, innovative, socially and politically important series ever made. It rose above sci-fi gimmick to create two monumental characters struggling with the often opposing influences of faith, science, love, philosophy and the paranormal. Two characters battling the world and seeking a truth they would eventually learn to find in one another. The second film is ahead of its time, dealing with the thematic elements of love and redemption on a skewered moral compass. "The X-Files" was and is relevant, intellectual, and will always be important and light years ahead of its time. The lessons I learned from the series as a youth have sta yed with me through to adulthood and to my great benefit. “The X-Files: I Want To Believe” is one of the best films I have seen in quite awhile and it most certainly upholds the integrity of the characters and the series as a whole. If the striking themes and messages are being overlooked, that is the fault of a public wrought with bloodthirst and willingly dumbed down by the media, not the result of nor the fault of the film. The cross-editing that opens the film is impeccable, the performances are top-notch [most notably Gillian Anderson, who never ceases to be a revelation with every new project], the cinematography and direction are flawless, the words are stunning. It seems the moral issues plaguing our protagonists are perhaps too relevant for our present societal state. This is one amazing film and I find the fact that its lack of overt sexuality or multiple explosions may be working to its detriment absolutely abhorrent. It is what "The X-Files" always was: vastly intelligent, incredibly motivating, deeply moving. This film holds a mirror up to society and I feel society is perhaps largely not ready to accept that the reflection is not necessarily one-hundred percent positive.
Thank you for making a brave and haunting story that reached so far beyond the surface. Thank you for subtly developing the layered relationship between Scully and Mulder to exactly the place that makes absolute sense for them, given their history and the time that has passed. Together, they always anch ored the incredible and made it believable. “I Want To Believe” continued the tradition of how their personal conflicts carry over into their work, how their own lives are mirrored by those they encounter, how their past choices are constantly reflected back upon them. This, to me, was a dark and moody film concerning one couple's struggle to reconcile within themselves and each other the opposing forces surrounding them and within them. Two people so consumed by a need to save what has already been lost, seeking relief or redemption for a self-perceived crime or sin, that they nearly destroy the very thing that offers them any solace or comfort in the world.
“I Want To Believe" challenges its characters and its audience. One of the most striking aspects of this film, something that perhaps many are not willing to or are afraid to consider, is that the "monsters" were very real, very tangible. These monsters were not garbage men or flukemen. They were, rather, the scariest kind imaginable -- they were human beings. We may fear the unknown darkness and the creatures under the bed, but the creepiest kind of predator is the one next door. The parallels drawn and the connection between the boy and the Russian doctors are terrifically complex. Both cases concern the medical profession going to great and perhaps unethical lengths to save a patient [the young boy, the former alter boy]. As the story unfolds, the uncomfortable questions begin to arise. The Russian doctor was not having women kidnapped and murdered for sport, he was going to extremes to save a patient. This doesn't make his actions excusable or morally acceptable, but do his motives partially negate the horror of his actions? Father Joe violated the innocence of nearly forty young boys, yet castrated himself against his urges and has spent most of his life repenting for his sins. While his crimes are atrocious, does his own disgust at what he's done and the faith he holds so dear help to heal him in society's eyes? Can it in his own? How shall we interpret Father Joe's apparent psychic abilities – a gift from above, a gift from below, or merely the words of a man desperately seeking redemption on earth? His psychic abilities are called into question, most directly by Scully, yet we have [and always have had] the implications of Scully's own possible psychic abilities. A phenomenon she questions in Father Joe and fears within herself; a phenomenon that has quite possibly led her to Mulder and he to her on countless occasions. If God is speaking through Father Joe, is the man forgiven? Must we then follow this example? As one doctor plays Frankenstein in a makeshift facility, another doctor endeavors other extremes to save her own patient. Scully does not take lives to save Christian, yet just as the Russian, she is performing excruciating procedures in order to prolong a life that may already be lost. How far is too far? When does a human being cross the line from righteous to wrong? I found it bold and daring of both Dana Scully and the filmmakers to explore the issues and consequences of a self-professed Catholic doctor performing stem cell therapy in a Catholic hospital – to explore where Scully's faith ends and where her science begins. How those two forces within her intertwine, how they battle. How complex and fascinating Scully is, then, not to mention brave. A woman so determined to save a life that she will stand up to the beliefs of her religion and draw her moral compass not from her faith, but from her medical training and her own determination. Could it be said that this same determination is what eventually led the Russian doctor to condone murder? Are we all susceptible to such a horrific loss of perspective?
Scully and Mulder are struggling to find redemption for the past: she for giving up on their son, he for losing his sister. The ways that our heroes connect to their separate quests is in direct correlation to what haunts them most as people. Mulder searches for the agent with the same renegade and obsessive mentality he searched for his sister with, wanting desperately to believe she was alive. His passion is blinding and he falls so far into the dark abyss of frustration and self-loathing, one fears one day he may not emerge. Mulder sought to proceed based on something intangible: pure and unrelenting hope. Scully, conversely, let a daughter die to save her from pain and gave a son away for the same purpose. She selflessly acts in what she believes to be in the best interest of those she needs to protect, wanting only to save them from pain and in doing so bears more than her own share of sorrow. Scully adamantly fights for and does not give up on her patient not only for his life, but also to save his parents from the eternal questions and doubt she faces regarding her own decisions. Her scene with the Fearons on the steps strikes a chord in me each and every time. Scully stands firm and poses the question: “What if we made the wrong choice?” She is certainly speaking to the situation at hand, but the emotional depth and gravity Ms. Anderson lends to the scene sparks an image of William in my mind, even Emily. Like Mulder, she too is proceeding based on the hope she manages to hold onto, the small glimmer of light they see in the darkness. Though these characters may place their faith in different realms, it is this faith that drives them forward and always has. As these two characters are in ways so vastly different from one another, the hope they have as they fight the world manifests itself in a unique and highly individualized manner. While the protagonists fight to save what has already been lost, they nearly lose each other. The quest that unites all three couples in this film [Scully and Mulder, the Fearons, the lovers] is, to me, the struggle to win the greatest battle: the fight against lost love.
Thank you, so very much, for giving us something beyond vacuous entertainment this summer. Thank you for the intellectual challenge, thank you for making us think. I truly feel that “I Want To Believe” was largely misunderstood and I hope in the near future this is rectified. I liken it to "Bonnie & Clyde" syndrome. It seems to be yet another film that critics and society alike are not quite ready for, yet is in reality a beautiful and moving work of art. Maybe there's hope ...
Cheers,
Caileigh
Los Angeles

I THANK YOU (AGAIN)

Just before the movie opened, I went online to thank all the fans who shared their stories, thoughts and concerns with us this year. Now that "I Want To Believe" is leaving the theaters, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all over again.
The past month has been an incredible roller-coaster ride for all of us. There have been a lot of highs -- and more than a few lows. But while the box-office and critical reception weren't all that we hoped for, the response of fans across the world has been absolutely overwhelming. Your dedication, intelligence, enthusiasm, support and love have been the source of our highest highs (and sustained us during the lowest lows).
I'd like to take special note of three people who have helped out in ways that benefit all "X-Files" fans. Matt Allair, who runs www.x-fileslexicon.com, gave generously of his time to work on special features for the forthcoming DVD release. In addition to being at fan events and an amazing online supporter (at www.xfilesnews.com and elsewhere), Lisa Angelo selflessly gave her time and expertise to "The Complete X-Files" publishing project again and again. And, last but never least, a huge thank-you to Alison Groves, whom I one day hope to meet so I can thank her in person for her kindness and grace in moderating the Big Light social network, which she has singlehandedly turned into a runaway success.
And for those of you who may have been wondering: I am still getting dozens of e-mails every day, reading them all and posting as many as I can. The volume of correspondence will doubtless ebb and flow in the months ahead, but we'll still be here.

XFILETON

My dearest Frank,
Guess what? IWTB was pulled out from Chile too. I managed to watch it just five times, clearly not enough! However, while it lasted on screen, we did here an "Xfiletón," a sort of massive campaign with the aim of bringing as many people as possible to see the film (and thus we could collaborate on improving the box-office for XF3). It was a great success! I myself woke up some former "X-Files" fans from their apathy, and now they're all stressed out looking for the Season's DVDs… (lol)
Agreeing with other devoted fans, despite the things I didn't like about XF2 (even though I must admit that I've happily reconciled with the film), I'm deeply greatful with Chris and you. Thank you so much for this, for keeping our enthusiasm alive, for giving back to us the characters we'll always love and follow. We won't give up on you guys. That's a promise.
Hoping and praying for an XF3, to see Mulder, Scully, Chris and you again, returning in glory,
Fran
Santiago de Chile

21 TIMES

Hi Frank,
I am Brazilian and my English is very bad... sorry. But my love for "The X-Files" makes me try writing to you.
I saw the film 21 times! And I would see it many more times, but lamentably the film is not playing any more in the cinema in my city.
Seeing it 21 times was the way that I found to say thanks to you, Chris Carter, Gillian, David and to all who worked on "The X-Files."
I have wonderful friends because of "The X-Files." Do you have any idea how many people, how many lives, this work has changed?
I give hugs to all of you. Here are pictures of my 21 ticket stubs and our gathering for the movie.
Marcilia
Serra - ES - Brazil

FROM GERMANY

Hey there! Here a picture of the crazy insane german fans from www.xfiles-mania.de.
I know Big Light is getting tons of thank-you mails from everyone, but I have to write something, too. :)
I had some time to think about the things that happened in the last several weeks. I mean the movie opening in Germany, the premiere, the panel and the signing in London and... just everything! It isn't still clear in my head.
Everything means a lot to the German fans. We never had the chance to be part of such a great event or even to join a premiere. You gave us a really big and special present with the tickets and your stay in London.
I got some butterflies in my stomach when you came in at the HMV, pointed us out and said: "The shirts!" We never were sure if you recognized them, but you did and this was one of the most wonderful things. The second time when the butterflies came around was at the signing when you said that you remembered our song for you.
Well, I watched the movie eleven times and I think I found every Easter egg. But I have one question. The last scene with the nuns... is that an homage for the dead Lone Gunman? And I´m always thinking that the nun in the middle is not a woman. I'm always thinking that the nuns from the left to the right are: Margret Scully, The Cigarette Smoking Man and Samantha. I´m sure that it´s complitly different.*haha*
Frank, just thank you for everything!
Annette
Cologne, Germany

I can confirm those nuns were all women, but as for who and what they represent... we leave that for the audience to decide.

SIX TIMES

Just thought I’d add my comment. Thanks for the fantastic movie, I’ve seen it six times, met up with a friend that is as big of a fan as I am and we made quite an event of seeing the movie the first two days of release, I seem to pick new things up every time I watch it. I think it was brilliant, I loved all the themes running throughout the movie that everyone else has elaborated on already so I won’t go into detail. I was very pleased that you chose to stay so true to the direction the story was going in when the series ended. The show started out being about "The X-Files," and then it evolved into a show about how the X-Files affected the lives of its two main characters. I was very glad you didn’t step back in time and make the story too MOTW and less personal to the characters. In short, I loved it.
One small question, I don’t know if anyone else has asked and I’m not weeding through to check. Father Joe’s hospital room and the corridor outside, is that the same room/corridor from the pilot where Billy Miles’ room was?
Anyway, thanks again,
Christine
Kinuso, Alberta

I wasn't there when the pilot was filmed, but I'm fairly certain you're right -- it did indeed feature Riverview, the same hospital location where we filmed much of "I Want To Believe."

FROM ARGENTINA

First of all, I would like to tell you that "I Want To Believe" has received both good and very good reviews in this country, remaining among the most viewed in its premiere week, which makes me very happy, especially after seeing the lousy reviews the film received in the rest of the world.
Honestly, I can't understand the bad reviews the movie got. Personally, I think this film is very good and mature, and even though "Fight the Future" was a feast for the fans, I consider this film to be superior in both depth and development.
I'm a filmmaker myself (a beginner), and I consider "The X-Files" as my first and main referent, both esthetically and conceptually. That's why it inspires me. Because, even though it hasn't been the hit some seemed to expect, it has been what you wanted it to be, a personal movie that brought you back to the characters you've created, and love.
I hope that the year 2012 will bring us together again in the theatres, but if this was the end of the road, I think this movie might have been the perfect closure for a saga that marked my life.
Perhaps, the only thing that I never really liked was the poster that you chose, which I believe doesn't translate the movie's grim tone. But anyway, we're talking about movies, not marketing, right?
Sincerely thankful for the film, and eagerly waiting for “Fencewalker” and whatever it is that you want to tell us next,
Cristian
La Plata, Argentina
P.S. Please excuseme for for my goofy English, but it comes from the movies ;-)

FINALLY IN ITALY

Ciao Frank!
It's Francesca from Italy (I know, I know. Again.)
Only one month ago we were all in London watching, breathless, that terrific movie. I can't still believe it happened. Just. WOW!
Meanwhile, I saw the movie five times (it's not released in Italy yet). I saw it also dubbed in my language during the summer preview, I don't know if you ever heard Mulder and Scully's Italian voices, but let me say that they did a great job, particularly Claudia Catani (the actress who dubs Gillian) and all the fans really liked them.
So, during this period of time, I enjoy myself trying to catch more jokes. My list counts, today, about 50 jokes (by the way, great work, I like very much "joke hunting") but I noticed some things that I can't understand, and I'm pretty sure they are jokes because I know you and Chris ;)
For example, can you explain to me what "The Jeffersons" (or maybe only their theme song?) means when Mulder and Scully go to Father Joe's house with agents Withney and Drummy? Please Frank, it drives me crazy and I'm really curious right now. :)
During that "joke hunting" I ran into an "unexplainable phenomenon." I was checking all the dates and numbers appearing in the movie (catching stuff like 10:13 or 11:21). and I can't find your birth year! How is that possible? Is your birth's year a "real" X-File? Neither Google or IMDB knows when you're born. Is this another of those questions meant to remain unanswered? I don't hope so. :)
Seriously, let me say, once again because I think it's never enough, that most of people who saw the movie really liked it. I went to the summer preview with my sister and my mom (not "X-Files" fans) and they just enjoyed it.
You did a great job. Don't allowe anyone to say the contrary. We know you, all of you, did it especially for the fans and we really really really appreciate that! We love you for that!
I know this is a business and I don't know if XF3 will be ever produced, but I know you, as well as Chris, David and Gillian, WANT to do it. THANKS FOR THIS!
"I Want to Believe" is FINALLY coming to Italy, the 5th of September is approaching and all Italian fans can't wait to see the movie.
Inspired by Chris and his photo camera, we are trying to promote it in a new way. We are now collecting pictures of posters and billboards (or of any other commercial about the movie) that we see around us. You can see here many pictures http://www.beyondthesea.it/billboard.asp (not only from Italy) and of course, all philes around the world can send us their pictures and we'll put them online as soon as possible.
This is just our little way to say "We love you, too."
I told you I wouldn't give up.
Francesca

Ha! Thanks, Francesca. There is no great explanation for "The Jeffersons" theme song -- only that we love it, and thought it was weirdly atmospheric playing in Father Joe's apartment. As for my birthday, it's November 17, 1960 -- no presents please!

REOPEN "THE X-FILES!"

Your portrayal of the Mulder/Scully relationship was the unexpected centerpiece of this film. It was, in a strange way, heartwarming, to see these two, together out there in the unknown, still discovering the truth amidst the shadows, even in their relationship. Gillian Anderson's performance was fantastic.
I'm pretty sure that a mythology film would really bring out the movie goers, if we can give it one more shot!
Thanks,
Stephen
New York, NY

CASTING

I wanted to ask you if I could send you or your casting director my info regarding the upcoming "X-Files" straight to DVD film. I would lik a role if possible. I love "The X-Files" -- almost enough to join the FBI! But, my heart lies more in the theatrical storytelling aspect of the series.
Thanks and great work.
Keyan
Virginia

Sorry, but that rumor was false. There is no casting for any "X-Files" project right now.

A GINORMOUS BELATED THANK YOU

I just wanted to add to the list of THANK YOU's for the amazing events that took place this summer. I feel so blessed and honored to have been a part of the movie premiere in Hollywood. I can't explain to you the simultaneous love and humility, pride and elation that I felt when we were told we were invited inside to see the film. I was able to watch an amazing story on a giant screen in a beautiful place with all the people that I had looked up to and followed since I was a little kid. I started watching "The X-Files" when I was six years old. In many ways it has shaped who I am as a person. My vocabulary greatly consists of quotes from the series. I have grown up with Mulder and Scully just as I have grown up with members of my family. When the show went off the air, it was like losing two close friends. This film meant so much to so many people and I just wanted to be able to send a sincere thank you to everyone who was involved in making it, from the bottom of my heart.
I also wanted to thank Chris and Frank for speaking with fans and taking the time to do signings at Comic Con this year. As if my "X-Files" experience could get any better! My boyfriend and I were there, dressed as Mulder and Scully, feeling like the biggest nerds in the world, but insanely proud to be representing such a wonderful piece of pop culture. I dyed my hair from blonde to red just for the occasion! Thank you for the autographs and for the pictures. Thank you for the film and for the series. Thank you for all your hard work and all the passion and dedication that you have put into this franchise. It does not go unnoticed. I'll be praying consistently for a third movie.
Until then,
Hayley P.
Mesa, AZ

YES, I AM SERIOUS

I can only echo what has been said before me of just how impressive and wonderful "I Want To Believe" was. I had to see it over and over!! It was a long wait and worth it. I "just knew" the movie was going to be excellant. You folks have never let the fans down before and I don't believe you'd start now. Too much talent.
Just to see Mulder and Scully together again was a dream come true. The dynamic between them is something I look forward to every time I rewatch episodes and the first movie. And there it was again!
But you have heard all of this before...so...
Now for my "serious question"
Where can I find the bedcover that Mulder and Scully were cuddling under?
Please?
I have searched and searched, does anyone carry it?? Honestly you must know that if you put that very comforter, or duvet up for auction, for charity, you'd be able to raise a heck of alot of money!! Has this crossed any of your minds yet?? Gillian is wonderful about using some of her "X-Files" collections for her organizations she supports. Thanks to her generosity and us fans she raises lots of money. Go ahead... put it up for offer and see how high it goes!!!
But I want to believe that you are most likely saving it for the "X-Files 3" movie. Surely another "bed scene" will be in that movie too!! So if that is true, then please tell us how we can get one of our own!!
Hugs and Gratitude!!
Kelly
Niagara Falls
Ontario, Canada

I don't know where you can find that bed cover, but if I can get answer for you, I will post it here.

IN PERU

After what it seems to be an eternal vacation of the X world -- not because I wanted it, but because I had no choice -- I can finally write to you.
We did it! We finally saw the movie last week -- a day before of the official release -- at a special screening the Club organised for our members. Over 100 X-philes were together in the same theater. People lined up there starting at 5 p.m. -- the movie started at 8 -- and for many of us it was the first time we met each other. People kept talking about the series, their lives, the movie... everybody was anxious about it. Six years and almost one month waiting to see Mulder and Scully again, and Skinner! Let me tell you he was the surprise of the night.
After that we had a party to celebrate the movie -- we had to have one. It really was an awesome and unforgettable experience. I am including the link to the pictures. I was waiting to have more but I decided to put the ones we have so far.
Cinema http://xfilesfanclubperu.blogspot.com/2008/08/avance-funcin-especial.html
(There are not too many. People forgot they have cameras till the movie was over!)
Party, http://xfilesfanclubperu.blogspot.com/2008/08/avance-funcin-especial.html
(Everybody remembered to bring a camera.)
We have good news.. the movie is NUMBER ONE in Peru, more than 41 thousand people have seen it. Many people form different cities told me that when they went to the cinema the theaters were full and there where good comments about the movie.
There is one more thing that I would like you to know. Our blog is a finalist in "The Best 20 Peruvian Blogs," a contest where people choose their favourites blogs :D by voting. We didn't expect this. It was a huge surprise when we found out.
As you can see, we have a couple of good reasons to be happy and all this wouldn't be possible if you guys didn't do this movie, so thank you for making it possible, and I am pretty sure this is not going to be the last time we will see Mulder and Scully and "The X-Files." People are waiting. You do great work: You made them want more!!!
Regards from Peru,
Gabriela
P.S. Love the smoking skull (Cigarette-Smoking Man?) and all the little details. We are still looking for more.

PER ASPERA AD ASTRA

Hey Frank!
I have a question that popped into my head while watching the movie again today (probably the last time too since school starts next week) and I hope it can be answered as many of us have been wondering about it for a while now.
The basketball in Mulder's room. There's something on that basketball…like a signature. Any idea what that is? Or is it one of those questions that should remain unanswered? I know quite a few people who've been wondering about this and it would be greatly appreciated if it could be answered. :)
And this isn't really that much of a question. I just wanted to say thanks for Big Light. I never met people through the net before. I still wouldn't through any other online social network. I have to say though that this page is displaying a remarkable amount of really talented, smart, funny, amazing people and it's all thanks to you. I met a few people through this page (which was convenient since I just moved to Vancouver to study!). One was going to med-school and is probably THE smartest person I've ever met (and also the coolest!). Another one is studying theatre production and knows something about everything. She's just oozing intelligence. I'm studying astrophysics. We discussed our aspirations and "what we wanted to be when we grow up;" what our inspiration was, etc. In a way it's due to the fact that in one way or another we were all inspired by these characters that Chris, you and many others helped shape and create and develop into what it did. Essentially, as you guys wrote each episode week by week, in many ways you wrote people's lives in some weird abstract way. Isn't that a little overwhelming? By creating role models for us, you created our future. As much as it's due to our natural hunger for knowledge, at least a small part of it was you people telling us that it's possible to reach for the stars and never settle for anything less. For that, many of us are grateful and I hope that's one aspect of the fandom that will always make you proud since you've got a heck of a team behind you.
Much love and support (and hope for XF3: 2012!!),
Annie
Vancouver, B.C.
P.S. I think when school starts, I'll need to go to BigLight Rehab. So addictive.

It's so nice to hear from you, Annie. As for the basketball, I am fairly certain that was signed by the New York Knicks (Mulder's favorite team).

EXPERIMENTS

I have a couple of questions that have been nagging at me for awhile. If Monica Bannon was an FBI agent, why in the world did she grab a garden tool rather than draw her weapon? Also, I read in your blog that animal experimentation similar to that depicted in the movie was actually conducted in Russia in the 1950's. Where did you run across that information?
I would also like to thank you and everyone involved in the making of IWTB. You were right to call it a love story-not only between Mulder and Scully but also between the creators of X-Files and the fans. Don't worry if the studio doesn't want to finance XF3, just come to the fans and we'll take up a collection! Better start soon though, 2012 will be too late.....
Regards,
Donna
TX

Monica didn't have her gun handy, so she used the only defensive weapon she could get. As for the experiments, I don't remember how Chris and I originally found out about them, but search "Demikhov" on youtube if you want to see some disturbing images.

CLOSURE

First I'd like to say thank you for helping create THE best TV show ever made. In the early 1990s right up to the finale I almost never missed an episode! I loved watching the "Revelations" DVD and to finally own my favourite episode, "The Host," which is the sickest thing ever aired on TV, is just awesome! It made me jump out of my seat again!
Second I'd like to tell you that IWTB was one of the average scripts I have watched on the big screen this year. A triple-tiered plot involving a pursuit, love story, and medical drama is something best reserved for TV. Extra elements, like their relationship problems showed a lack of teamwork in the pursuit of the killer/Frankenstein, which slowed the story. In contrast, their love story worked in "Fight the Future" because it was a rescue mission, with Scully as the end prize and part of the truth Mulder was looking for. That said, thank you very much for bringing "The X-Files" back into my life, as I got to watch all these episodes/movies, and connect with fans.
Thirdly, you need to attempt an XF3 to bring final closure to "The X-Files" and all the work you have done! I have the same feelings as when the tv series ended: It would be great to see an alien shadow government. It would be great to see a modified version of the virus from FTF which is more aggressive in its metamorphosis. It would also be great to see Mulder, our hero, transform, and grow up, and become part of it. To intertwine with his demons so to speak! He is the only one that can wrangle with evil and still retain his humanity. Mulder's quest is still in place, whether or not Scully is going to be there, and to some degree he still needs a sister of some kind (even a clone)! I'd like to say thank you again, and please bring us a final closure to "The X-Files" in some (any) format!!
Allan (stealthgear)

AWESOME

I'm sure by now you have received lots of e-mails like this but I would just like to say thanks to you and Chris Carter for making the new "X-Files" movie I loved it. I've read what some of the fans have said and how they were disappointed with the movie and I know what they were expecting "aliens" even though you guys said from the start that it wasn't that type of story so no matter what they say you guys had a great story and an awesome movie and I really hope to see a third one. I finished watching all nine seasons of "The X-Files" a couple months ago and I have to say there's not one episode that I didn't like there's some I like better that others but over all I loved them all.
Aaron
Calhoun,TN

"ONE BREATH"

Do we ever know who, what, where or why Nurse Owens appears and suddenly disappears? How is she related or connected to Scully?
Donald

Sorry, Donald, but that's another one of those questions meant to remain unanswered.

"TRIANGLE"

I noticed you said you'd do your best to release Scully's theme later in the year. Is there any chance of releasing the music from "Triangle," the fight and chase scenes, from Mark Snow, as well?
Fans will be all over that one as well.
Thank you.
Ryan

"PAPER HEARTS"

I know everyone is pulling for "Scully's Theme" on any future Mark Snow CD release, but I hope you guys don't forget his score to "Paper Hearts." I believe that got him an Emmy nomination in 1997. It's a pretty incredible piece of work. And would also throw my two cents in for a dialogue-free release -- it's such a shame about "The Truth And The Light" album.
Winston

FOREVER

“I want to believe in this going on forever…”
During the last 9 months you have most certainly received countless videos from fans showcasing the Mulder/Scully relationship.
Rather than send you another video using your characters, I’d like to send you a video showcasing your fans, many of which took off work and used up their savings to come out with xfilesnews.com to the Los Angeles premiere of “The X-Files: I Want To Believe."
This is a three and a half minute fan retrospective using clips from videos taken by fans as well as clips from “The X-Files” chat widget brought to us by Gia Milinovich.
http://www.xfilesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=861:xfn-exclusive-fan-retrospective-video&catid=38:fandom&Itemid=115
The song is an original composition, with original music and vocals, and is aptly named “I Want To Believe."
Thank you once again Frank for keeping us believing, even after all these years.
Tiffany
Knoxville, TN

HALLOWEEN SECONDED

First of all, I would like to say that "I Want To Believe" was a great film. To see a a movie like this on is one of the reasons I became a writer, and I would have to say I agree with Irene from Bloomington, MN, when I say that it would be a great ideal to re-release the film around halloween. It is a fantastic story that was very well told and I think it should get a second chance to do so. It is great film that I would still like to see over and over again.
Ashley
Paramount, CA

WHO CARES? WE CARE

Frank (and Chris),
OK, first things first: This film is in many ways superior to anything you've ever done before. A mature, subtle script -- a classic, beautiful, simply beautiful film. And clearly made as much from the heart as from your brilliant minds.
One of the many reasons that make it stand out was how much (I think) it owed to MillenniuM. In fact, in I Want to Believe it seemed as if you incorporated the best elements of both shows to create something truly memorable!
Which brings me to...
Our petition! (I guess by now you already know that even a completely satisfied 1013 fan will always ask for more!)
The Bring back MillenniuM/Frank Black petition is at http://www.petitiononline.com/Millfilm/petition.html. It has been signed by 2,940 ardent fans already. We've also started a Facebook group, We want a MillenniuM movie NOW! ;)
So, you know, we're imploring you to make this dream come true!
Thank you once again for all your hard work and inspiring stories,
Diego
Bs As, Argentina.
P.S. PLEASE beg Darin to write at least a scene for X-F3?? He can't say no, he has at least a couple of years to write it, right? So lock him in a room with Annie Wilkes and get the genius to work!

THANK YOU FROM CHILE

I'm a fan from Chile, and I met you at the convention, I can tell you that we had unforgettable moments, you and Chris are beautiful people, thanks for the visit and we expect you to come back for the promotion of the 3rd movie (LOL, it's not a joke xD). About a month ago the expo here closed its doors and in order to remember all those beatiful moments I decided to send you this little video that I made to thank the production team in "The X-Files" Chilean group, I hope you enjoy it and can appreciate all the work and dedication they put into it for all the fans here. They made us live an incredible experience. Thanks to you again too :) .
The link to the video is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JvJ8J_QQjlg.
Greetings and a lot of kisses from the end of the world.
Cecilia "Ciza"
Concepión
Chile
P.S.: Sorry for this question, but I want to know if David and Gillian received the presents we sent them; if they didn't, I would like to know it too, please.

Thank you for the video and for the presents. David and Gillian did receive them at the international press junket and thank you as well!

DUTCH LICORICE

I was wondering. I gave Chris in London two small bags of Dutch licorice. Did he share?
Linda
The Netherlands
P.S. Next time I'll bring him 'dubbelzout.'

It was delicious, thank you. Looking forward to the dubbelzout!

SCULLY'S THEME

Hello Frank!
I watched a few episodes from season eight last night, and "Scully's Theme" was in some of them. I just noticed how beautiful the song is. It perfectly communicates Scully's emotions about Mulder's abduction, and her fears about her pregnancy to the viewers. I just wanted to ask if you, or Mark Snow, or whoever can, can release this song. I know a lot of other people love it.
Thanks,
Kathleen

Already noted. We'll do our best to release it later this year, Kathleen.

KISS POSTER?

Hello, Frank! Is there any way we philes can get our hands on a higher resolution version (or even better, the RAW image file right from the camera! Hehe) of the picture of Mulder and Scully kissing that's on the double autographed trading card? This is the one I'm talking about >> http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5302/kisscardhu5.jpg.
We were discussing the IWTB trading cards on Idealistshaven and several people said they would pay just to have a print of this particular shot from the film. We all think the photo on this card would make a fantastic poster! It's a great angle and it's from a great scene.
Any help from you would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!
Kerry
Massachusetts

I'll find out!

TWO TIMES (SO FAR) IN ARGENTINA

Hello Frank! The movie opened here on Thursday, August 14th, and I've already watched it two times (and will many more!). I think it's a different film than the previous (not better or worse), which has found its own audience after a long time, introducing Mulder and Scully in a more mature and profound relationship. I liked seeing them together but still respecting each other's beliefs, still being basically the same people than they were 10 years ago in the inside.
Some lines in the movie slightly reminded me of "Millennium," i.e., when Scully says she doesn't want the darkness stepping into her home, or when Mulder says "This is who I am" (maybe not the exact words, but that was the idea). Were you trying to pay tribute to MM? Because it was another GREAT show, anticipated to its time, which we still care for!
What some people don't see about this film, is how beautifully it was filmed. Those long shots, the snowy landscapes, looked amaizing on the big screen. I've just heard the commentary track from FTF and one of the things mentioned was that most of the scenes taking part in the snow were CGI, but I you taught us it can look beautiful and eerie even with little special effect, just choosing the right angle and lightning as it is.
It is a film that needs a second (3rd, 4th and so on haha) view for all the separate readings you can make of it, and above it all, I'm pleased that, like in the old times, you make audiences think and not only feel your stories balancing both things at once. That is what made, and still makes The X Files an intelligent show, and is part of the reason why I love it. The other part is, of course, all those elaborated conspiracy theories (alien and not alien) and killer bees!
There were some characters I missed sooo badly! Like the Lone Gunmen (I know they're dead...but still!....can't they be ghosts, dreams, a flashback or an hallucination? hehe), and CSM. I believe CSM's not really dead...but don't tell anyone! Maybe the russian bad guy found his body parts after the explosion in The Truth and joined them all together again). That's a good way of relating XF2 with next movie, you see?
Seriously, thanks for this awsome movie! Waiting for the DVD release....
By the way, I'm part of SAEX, X Files Argentinian Society, and we all want to see a 3rd movie. ;)
http://www.saex.com.ar/ (I translated FTF move script into Arg Spanish back in 2001..when I was 11 lol...)
Regards,
Carla
La Plata, Buenos Aires province
Argentina

HALLOWEEN RE-RELEASE?

Firstly, thank you for such a wonderful, intelligently horrific film! I only wish "The X Files: I Want to Believe" had fared better at the U.S. box office, as it certainly deserved to do so. I was wondering whether the film could be re-released in U.S. cinemas on Halloween, which is a Friday this year. The film might perhaps have pulled in larger audiences if it had been released around the time that other thrillers and horror films are typically released -- and IWTB is far superior than anything else in that genre! A few films do get released a second time, so would that be possible for IWTB?
Best regards,
Irene
Bloomington, MN
(but originally, London, England!)

We will pass your suggestion onto the studio, Irene.

SOME QUESTIONS

Frank,
I have a couple questions for you that I'm hoping you can answer.
The first question is in regards to a sign seen in Nutter's Feed and Animal Supply in "I Want to Believe." The sign says 'Treat Ur-Self'. In the episode "Small Potatoes," Eddie Van Blundht's advice to Mulder was "treat yourself." Was this purely coincidental or one of the many in-jokes?
The second question is in regards to the episodes picked for the Revelations DVD. In "I Want to Believe," Agent Whitney refers to past cases Mulder worked with psychics. She mentions Clyde Bruckman and the episode "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" is on the Revelations DVD. She mentions Luther Lee Boggs who was in the episode "Beyond the Sea" which is also included on the Revelations DVD. The 3rd psychic she mentions is Gerald Schnauz who was in the episode "Unruhe" which was not included in the Revelations DVD. Was "Unruhe" ever on the list of episodes that were considered for the Revelations DVD?
Thanks for everything, Frank.
Leigh
Seattle

Another good catch. "Treat yourself" is, in fact, an in joke. It's something David Nutter used to say (which is why it's posted inside Nutter's Feed). I don't believe "Unruhe" was considered for the DVD collection, which was not really intended to directly tie into the movie, but simply to highlight a variety of the best episodes of the series.

XF3 RUMOR

Frank, have you seen this?
It's true? It's false?
http://movieblogger08.livejournal.com/
X-Files 3 slated for a 2012 Release
Aug. 21st, 2008 at 5:24 PM
From under the table of the FOX executive office, we've heard murmurs of a possible schedule for the third "X-Files" movie that will be focusing on the shows beloved Mytharc. The movie, untitled and currently setting up production dates in early 2012, will be the last for veteran stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny who recently celebrated the mediocre success of the second "X-Files" flick aptly titled "I Want to Believe."
Series creator and part time director Chris Carter has often commented on his desire to take the former cult TV show known as "The X-Files" into a long running movie franchise, but when numbers for "the X-Files: I Want to Believe" started rolling in, the studio hardly batted an eye. With a disappointing opening weekend of only 11 million domestically, many deemed the "X-Files" a beaten horse, but when the international market started producing strong numbers the rumors of possible XF3 production flooded in. With almost 60 million worldwide FOX has taken the dollar signs to mean security in a low budget XF3. MovieBlogger08 takes into consideration that FOX has accepted that the marketing mistake of pitting the long dead "X-Files" against mega hit "Dark Knight" played a role in the lower box office take. All things being considered, XF3 is in fact, on its way and sure to delight fans of the long running alien conspiracy.
- MovieBlogger08 and The Source with Lead Ears
Verónica
Spain

As far as I know, it's not true.

CHRIS CARTER'S MAGIC CAMERA

Ok Frank, X-Philes want to know…what exactly are you people doing with those pictures Chris has been taking?
Care to fess up yet? Or in true CC and FS fashion will we just have to wait and see? (while biting our nails I might add)
XFN is undergoing some major updates and one of our writers, Avi Quijada, recently sat down with Max Allan Collins who did the novelization for IWTB and he had a lot of great things to say about you guys. That article should be posted very soon.
To all the rest of you fans, check your local theatres! It turns out the film is still playing in my city so I am headed out there again tonight!
Tiffany
Knoxville, TN

Only Chris knows the answer to that question, but I can tell you that you will see hundreds of those pictures (taken during production) when the DVD is released.

WHO WAS DISAPPOINTED

I was reading your blog, and came across the DAY 22, AX (AFTER X-FILES) letter from a fan named Carlotta.
I 100% agree that no fan of "The X-Files" was disappointed in the film. The only so-called fans who were disappointed were still asking questions like, “Do you think Mulder and Scully will FINALLY have a physical relationship in this film?”
I’m sorry. . . what was that? Don’t these so-called fans know Mulder and Scully had a baby together? Sure it was a test-tube kid, or possibly the spawn of Scully’s implant, but I can’t imagine they wouldn’t have… you know.
Even the TV Guide article about the movie was asking stupid questions that any fan would know the answer to. First actual kiss. . . "Millennium," season 7, episode 5.
First actual intercourse. . . most likely "all things," but that’s questionable, because the great thing about "The X-Files" was that you implied many times (even earlier than the 7th season) that they might have been in a relationship already.
I think the only people who might have been disappointed were morons who half-watched "The X-Files." And they had incorrect pre-conceived notions about what the movie SHOULD have been. Not what it was,which was TRUE to the show, TRUE to the characters, and true to the creators.
So again, thank you to you and everyone involved. I’m sad that it didn’t make more money, but I’d be happy to purchase any XF: IWTB merchandise that may come out. I collect TV memorabilia, and my biggest collection is "X-Files" stuff, so please. Any chance of a metal lunch-box? I collect those too. J
Mandy X
Bangor, Maine
USA

Sorry, no lunch boxes (for now).

GROUNDBREAKING

Dear Mr. Spotnitz:
Hi, long, long time fan of the show here.
Anyway, I was wondering do you think 20th Century Fox would say, show "I Want to Believe" on their network, just once in a massively hyped up two-hour airing (cough*commercial*cough) to promote/encourage strong DVD & Blu-Ray sales? I've never seen anything like this done before and I think it could be in keeping with the ground-breaking nature of the show. That, and, as mentioned earlier, a huge promotion for the movie. You know, a way to really get the word out there and put some of the focus back on this franchise which has unfairly had its fame snatched away from it in the past six years. I caught IWTB in theaters, but I guess some other folks didn't...
Or is this, due to the advent of DVD recorders and the staying power of the VCR plus some sort of political, business... financial... something, idea stupid?
I've thought that "The X-Files" is awesome since I was five! -- yeah, I know who was (not) monitoring my television viewing habits, right? But, I remain a fan none the less.
Thanks,
Sunny
Midwestern USA

DAY 22, AX (AFTER X-FILES)

Hello there!
I haven't written in a while and now I'm definitly in the mood for that, especially because I'm listening to the amazing soundtrack crated by that genius named Mark Snow.
Twenty-two days are passed from the first time I saw the movie and I've seen it five times so far (and it hasn't been released in my country yet). I just love it. It's a love that I can't control, it's a kind of obsession, and thank God it's summer because I can't focus on anything but "X-Files"!! I'm not going to talk about every single thing I liked in the movie because I already sent you an email about that. You worked really hard on this movie for months, allowing us to speculate on improbable plots, to talk about M&S relationship's development, to meet new philes, to meet you, Chris, David, and Gillian. A lot of people say that the wait for an event is even better than the event itself, and I have to admit that the preparation for this movie release was just awesome. But now it's not over, no way. We're still promoting the movie in our way (writing to magazines, taking pics of the billboars, convincing people to go and see the movie at the theater) and we're fighting against unwarranted reviews that don't understand the deepness of this movie. We argue when the press says that there was no promotion: that's true, but we're glad because we didn't know the plot before the release. We argue when the reviews are based just on the money used to make the movie: a high budget doesn't necessarily mean that the quality is good. We argue when people say that the movie doesn't evoke the old "X-Files" atmosphere: are we sure that we've seen the same movie?! I heard that what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. And we all are stronger now and ready to fight for the third movie.
But there's something that I read and really hurted me. Apparentely, journalists are saying that the fans are disappointed by the movie. This is the main reason that pushed me to write to you. I just wanted to tell you that it's a HUGE lie! 'Trust No One' and keep reading all the emails that you receive because they're the only way that we have to tell you how much we love "X-Files" and that we'll do everything we can for the third movie!!
David used a word during the Los Angeles premiere, 'loyalty', and you can bet that the X-philes are loyal!!
Thanks again for everything!!
Carlotta
(Italy, saving money for a desperately wanted third premiere in LA..)

CLEVERLY DONE

Hi Frank!
I know this thank you mail is only one out of thousands, but anyways it is important to me to express my feelings about the new "X-Files" movie.
The first time I saw the movie, I was so obsessed with the thought of me watching the movie ("I am really doing this, this is for real, OMG there they are on the big screen" etc.) that I barely got any "real" movie experience from it, except from the delight it was once again to be welcomed into the "X-Files" universe. All I could focus on was the breathtaking scenery and Gillian's, David's and Connolly's skillful and moving performances.
The second time I watched the movie, though, I got more into the story-line and could appreciate the movie on another level. I absolutely love the way you have intertwined the case with the relationship of Mulder and Scully. What I came to love the most about the series (and the list is very long so it's hard to beat it even to top 5), is that it started to be one man's quest to find the truth, then two people's quest to find the truth, and then two people's quest not only to find the truth out there, but within one another too. The two quests become one, entangled and unseperable, like Mulder and Scully themselves. And this new movie is no exception of that. Cleverly done.
So thank you for bringing Mulder and Scully back to the world, we've all missed them like crazy!
Rikke
Denmark

WITHOUT A ROAD TRIP

Would you and Chris consider releasing the DVD and Blu-Ray editions of "The X-Files: I Want To Believe" sometime tomorrow? I am overdue for another viewing, and theaters in my region are making it increasingly difficult to see the film without taking a road trip. In the meantime, I'm attaching a photo of my current movie ticket collection. Thanks again for all the fun and the intense discussion these past three weeks.
By the way, what is your opinion of a large vs. small (or less large) movie budget in terms of the creative potential it affords? My impression from IWTB is that a modest budget might have contributed to creativity. Did you all find it challenging or too constraining? Thanks.
Marlene
Atlanta, GA

We welcomed the idea of making this movie more intimate and personal, which the budget demanded.

PRESENTS?

Hi, Frank!
I watched the classic episode, "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas," last night. Since I go on "X-Files" message boards every day I know that I lot of X-Philes wonder what Mulder and Scully gave each other at the end of the episode. I know this has nothing to do with "The X-Files: I Want To Believe," but I'd like to ask if you can put our minds to rest.
Thank You,
Kathleen

Sorry, but we think some questions are better left unanswered!

CHRIS CAMEO?

I watched the new movie three times and I was wondering if I did indeed see Chris Carter in a scene. I was watching a scene with Gillian Anderson (obviously Scully) walking down the hallway in the hospital and I am pretty sure that I saw Chris Carter sitting on the left hand side of the screen in the hallway.

That's him, alright.

VIDDING

Just wanted to give you my own personal primer on this phenomenon known as vidding. I believe it is one of the secret ingredients to a healthy appetite for any "X-Files" fan especially during the 5 1/2 to 6 year hiatus. It is the kind of work that literally has made many fans laugh & cry. It is an artistic expression of the kind of truth Mulder & Scully attempt to decipher in the course of their work. The kind of truth that is at some times unexplainable. The kind that some would like to keep secret.
I have created a playlist of some of the most unique and amazing ones out there by some of the most talented who have managed to capture some amazing video evidence of this truth in all its forms This is a short list that will save you randomly searching to find the very best out there. Subscribe to this at youtube.com/xcircles as I will continue to add to it. Even though this is a list based on personal opinion it is rooted in many hours of viewing and general consensus that is being updated all the time.
The following is a video playlist which means a click on the play button plays all the videos consecutively. You can also play videos individually and come back to it later.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F93F2BC840C6D6A2
Hope you enjoy. The truth is out there.
XCircles

RUSSIAN OR NOT RUSSIAN

Greetings from Russia!
There are two IWTB showings left in our city and of course me and my X-phile friends are gonna watch the movie again! We watched it many times (some of my friends watched it more than 20 times) and as you can know it resulted in #1 places for 2 weeks in Russia (thank God there was no "Dark Knight" on our screens at that time). I think it is a proof that despite of poor promotion IWTB could perform so much better if it wasn't for "Dark Knight"'s shadow and hysteria. But let's not think about bad things. IWTB was absolutely fantastic and, needless to say, we all love the movie and we discuss it every time we leave the theatre. There are so many things (like questions of faith and moral aspects) in this multi-layered movie that I'm sure we are gonna discuss it until XF3 comes out (hopefully).
But there's only one thing that is really bugging Russian fans and I hope you can clarify it. In the movie some characters speak Russian and in the official novelization it is stated that two abductors -- Janke Dacyshyn and Franz Tomczeszyn -- are indeed Russians. But the problem is -- Janke and Franz are not Russian names at all! We just don't have these names. And their last names (Dacyshyn and Tomczeszyn) don't sound very Russian as well. In fact, their names and last names sound more Polish or Eastern European.
In the "X-Files" TV series you were always accurate with other nations' names (including Russian names) so it was quite surprising for us to see such strange "Russian" names for supposedly Russian characters. We hope you can clarify this enigma.
SPASIBO for the movie! ;)
Juri
St. Petersburg, Russia

You are of course right about the names -- they came from friends and colleagues, not from research, which is why they're not authentically Russian. As for why the bad guys in the movie were Russian, it's because experiments like the ones we depict in the film actually were performed on dogs in the Soviet Union in the 1950s.

WEREWOLF ACCOMPLICE

Firstly, I would like to say how much I enjoyed "I Want to Believe."
Secondly, I'm nosy and I wonder if I'm right to think that I spotted Fred Baron with Chris Carter in the notorious 'werewolf' photo which appeared online during filming?
Best wishes,
Jennifer
United Kingdom

That is indeed Fred Baron, a production executive at 20th Century Fox, who was visiting the set that night.

BLU-RAY BOX SET?

First of all, thank you for giving us a new movie after all these years. It was great to see Mulder and Scully again, and I truly hope we get at least one more movie in this legendary franchise.
I realize that the Ultimate Collection (DVD) was released late last year, however do you know if there has been any discussion of releasing all the seasons in a Blu-Ray format? That would truly be the ultimate "X-Files" collection. For what’s its worth, it would be great if any new boxset release would include the infamous gag reels as well. There is a ton of footage on YouTube that I recently discovered.
Great stuff!
Thanks again!
Jason

The idea has certainly been discussed, but as yet there are no plans to release the television series in the Blu-Ray format.

WHY THE RING?

hi frank! first of all, i know you are being thanked to death for the movie but i would just like to offer one more. i thought this was the most intelligent and best told story i have seen in a long time. it was thrilling, yet a beautiful love story and i am sorry that people just aren't getting it and how perfectly lovely it is. mulder and scully are right where i had imagined and hoped they would be so it was amazing to see that dream come true.
secondly, watching the movie (6 times) inspired me to go back and rewatch the series and it brought back a question that has been bugging me for years...why in the flashback episodes (unusual suspects and travelers) is mulder wearing a wedding ring?!? this used to plague me and i had forgotten about it until now. will this ever be addressed when (and yes, i say WHEN on purpose) the next movie comes out? please help me figure this out!
thank you so much for everything you do!
carrie

David wanted to wear his wedding band. Although we considered weaving it into the narrative of the series, we never did (!).

NUMBER 8, NUMBER 8...

Watching the movie four times (yes, I’m a geek I admit it ^^) I was delighted by the intelligence of the story, and all the subplots and narratives developed in it… Ideas of God’s mercy, of forgiveness even when it comes with matters that are humanly defined as being absolute evil, the ability of mankind to forgive and forget the sins of some of their kind, forgiving the self and the errors or decisions taken in harsh moments (talking about Scully giving away her son, for instance)… Well fellows, you gave me back what I really missed while watching a movie or a show these last years: thinking! You didn’t give us the solution right under our noses like it’s usually done in other features/shows, but followed the "X-Files" inimitable style, as it was six years ago… the cleverness in the storytelling was there, and there’s no mistake in that, it’s so there (as Father Joe could say ^^). Even though I have to tell you one truth: you hurt a noromo fan with that kiss, but well, the majority of the crowd had to win, only a few of us still wanted it to be unresolved, even if we all know that they belong together… (Well let’s not go on that subject, too much has been said already!).
Enough with the chitchat, let’s move on to the real purpose of this e-mail: there were a few 8's scattered in the movie: first on Monica Bannan’s badge (held by Mulder in the car in their first ride with Father Joe), then as the hour for the hospital staff meeting scene, then at the end in Nutter’s feed, on some number plates on the wall behind the counter. The obsession began after watching it the second time, as I got sure the number wasn’t there randomly… So with some of my friends on our French board we began to speculate about the nature of these numbers: symbols, clues, dates, episodes…. Well, every theory that could be plausible was explored for days (damn you for messing with our minds that much) and I guess that we finally find what it could refer to.
The whole plotline deals with religion and belief, about words of God and God’s work through a human being. Passages of the Bible were quoted in the movie, and so we thought, what if it was a passage of the Bible? And we have among many others, an assumption about what could be the right interpretation of these mysterious numbers.
(following the passage of the Bible quoted in the movie )
Proverbs 8:8
All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them.
I won’t quote the whole proverb, but from 8:1 to 8:20, all could be related to the plot of the movie. A reference maybe to Father’s Joe‘s vision, being the words of God through his mouth speaking to save those women and expiate his faults.
8 is also the number of infinite, and in Christianity, what is beyond 7 is what is beyond time (because the number 7 refers to the days of the week which repeat themselves, and the days God needed to create earth). Mainly it refers to anything beyond reality, beyond explanation, well any abnormal or paranormal thing (as Father Joe ‘s vision), the infinite being God itself.
It is also in Christianity the number of “Beatitudes," those blessed by God and who are destined to the Kingdom of heaven (I sustain that theory as 8 was on the victim’s badge). The Beatitudes imply also that people not normally considered blessed on Earth are in fact blessed by God and will experience the Kingdom of Heaven (maybe the ultimate fate of Father Joe’s soul being finally forgiven and destined to heaven and not hell as one should presume given his deeds as a priest).
Well, I guess that I won’t go into details any further, it’s already too much and well, the more you push the possibilities, the more you find, and others comes in between…
So are we right ? Are we anything close in debunking those mysterious numbers? Does it have anything to do with the bible or is it something else?
I guess that I have shown how much I enjoyed analyzing IWTB, how much we discussed about it, and to be honest, I really loved the inside jokes spread through the film. Clearly you made the movie for us, as there are plenty of things that the crowd didn’t understand… A woman during Skinner/Mulder’s scene clearly asked me why I was laughing!! (btw, that moment was absolutely precious!)!
For that I’ll be extremely grateful!
Asma, Paris
P.S. I was asked by the noromos and th UST french fans (lvei) to tell you that even though that boat scene and that kiss were very painful for us, we really love you all (the cast the crew, every single person who worked on IWTB and XF) and that all is forgiven ^^. This is silly, but I’m doing it anyway!

Fascinating post. You're not wrong, but I can't tell you that you're right, either. As far as I know, the uses of the number 8 in the film were not conscious.

FOX AND DANA vs. MULDER AND SCULLY

Thanks so much for everything you do -- including having this blog -- where questions I have always wondered about are sometimes answered-- for example: why did you and Chris have Mulder call Scully "Dana" in his email to her in the episode "Trust No 1?" I was so relieved that they still called each other Mulder and Scully in IWTB. And that they'll still be M&S in XF3 (I completely believe).
Braeden
Los Angeles

We have no rule. All I can say is that we have had them use their first names when it felt right. The idea of having them call each other Fox and Dana was suggested in "I Want To Believe" -- either in the locker room scene or in the hallway after the final scene with Father Joe -- but ultimately rejected.

AND MORE THANKS FROM BRAZIL!

Hi, dear Frank!
Here I am again! But now my brain is better and I can talk what I want.. .Now I'm no longer crazy about the movie X FILES-IWTB( Ok...it's a big fat lie, because I'm so... so happy that I could die... just die... I just loved it so much!!! Thank you again!!!)...
My friends from Brazil sent you a message, but I'd like to send it again, edited... it's so big that I don't remember everything... sorry!
"We, Brazilian fans from the community “Arquivo X – Brasil” (“The X-Files – Brazil), a community, with more than 24,000 members, in Orkut (a ‘relationship’ site) wanted to say we loved this movie.
The movie is a very good thriller, MARKED BY A MYSTERIOUS ATMOSPHERE THAT WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE SERIES and it preserves all the characteristics of "The X-Files," as the conflicts between a believer Mulder and a skeptical Scully, the inconclusive end (after all, will Scully cure or not Christian?), unexplained phenomena, the soundtrack was amazing and beautiful. Finally, this movie has everything that we always love in our favorite series."
And once and again I really want to THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT JOB!!!
"Thanks Chris Carter, Frank, Gillian, David, Mitch, Mark Snow for this amazing movie.And all people that make this come true... We believe in a third movie, fourth, fifth…. It makes us hungrier for more 'X-Files' movies."
Thank you Gillian Anderson for make the perfect role that we love so much:Your perfect DANA SCULLY!
Thank you David Duchovny for your amazing work as FOX MULDER!
Thanks Chris Carter and Frank for EVERYTHING! Thanks so much!
And Frank,you are my hero... because you make my shippers dreams come true... THANK YOU!!!
"P.S. We loved the scene after the credits. It was amazing and funny. It was not a goodbye, just a “see you soon.'"
From Brazil:Yayá, Marcos, Tassia, Bruna, Kaline, Josi, Star, Lu, Nay, Iandra, Vivis, Ariana, Bruno Raphael, Tessa, Raphaela, Rafaelly, Cleide, Andréa, Luan, Jade, A. Paula, Cancer Man, Djanira, Adriana, Daniela, Joyce, Mariana, Fabi On Eves, Isabela, Layani, Scanyr, Juliana, etc...
And the people from the community "ADEGA(Amigos de Gillian Anderson/Gillian Anderson's Friends)" - It's a lovely community about Gillian Anderson. They loved the movie as much as I did.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!
Yayá Reis
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

THANKS FROM BRAZIL

We, Brazilian fans from the community “Arquivo X – Brasil” (“The X-Files – Brazil), a community, with more than 24,000 members, in Orkut (a ‘relationship’ site) want to say we loved this movie.
The movie is a very good thriller, marked by a mysterious atmosphere that was alway part of the series and it preserves all the characteristics of "The X-Files," as the conflicts between a believer Mulder and a skeptical Scully, the inconclusive end (after all, will Scully cure or not Christian?), unexplained phenomena, the soundtrack was amazing and beautiful. Finally, this movie has everything that we always love in our favorite series.
Besides, the movie deals with current issues (like organs transplant and stem cell research). David and Gillian played the characters very well. They were amazing.
There are also the "Easter eggs" in the movie, like Chris Carter's appearance, the actress who played Samantha when she was a teenager, Bowman, Shiban, Gilligan and Manners’ names appearing in different moments of the movie. All of that shows that the movie was made for us, "X-Files" fans, and we are very grateful for that.
We’ve also seen that our heroes, Mulder and Scully, are still alive and operating, even after all the bad things that happened to them in the last season of the series (Mulder dismissed from the FBI, judged and condemned to the death, running away and hiding not to be imprisoned; Scully saddened for the absence of William and doing everything to protect and to support Mulder).
It’s pretty obvious how Mulder and Scully still love each other. It’s a beautiful relationship, they respect each other, besides their differences and conflicts. And the movie shows this relationship in a smart and sensible way, using an unique and smart humor.
Moreover, the script of the film makes, clearly, references to the current quandaries and anxieties that mark the Humanity, where we feel the necessity to believe something again, therefore the problems that we face (the global heating, the terrorism, the epidemics, crime) demand that we believe such problems can be resolved, but this demand an active participation of all of us so the solutions for these problems can be found.
And the film gives a great prominence, exactly, to the Faith and the Belief of the protagonists (and this seems to be, clearly, the main subject of the film), in its necessity and will believe in something. Mulder reaffirms HIS belief in the paranormal phenomena, and “even gets in conflict” with Scully for the fact that he desires, more than never, to investigate them again.
Father Joe wants to believe that his sins can be forgiven by God and acts firmly to reach such objective. scully, though, wants to believe that it is possible to save christian, in which, clearly, she projects the image of william, the beloved son who was given for adoption, and the uncertain destiny leaves her sad end unhappy.
Even the villains of the film believe they’re doing the right thing, because they want to save lives of people whom they love. Being that way, even the outlaws believe in something and they fight to obtain what they desire, even though they use of illegal, violent and criminal methods.
And that is what Humanity needs the most in the current days: to believe again, to believe in something. And that is what `X-Files - IWTB' is: Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz saying that we must believe again that it is possible to transform the reality of where we live and to build a better world for everybody.
THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT `X-FILES-IWTB' IS A CURRENT MOVIE, MORE THAN EVER.
Thanks Chris Carter, Frank, Gillian, David, Mitch, Mark Snow for this amazing movie. We believe in a third movie, fourth, fifth…. It makes us hungrier for more "X-Files" movies.
Marcos, Tassia, Bruna, Kaline, Josi, Star, Lu, Nay, Iandra, Vivis, Ariana, Bruno Raphael, Tessa, Raphaela, Yayá, Rafaelly, Cleide, Andréa, Luan, Jade, A. Paula, Cancer Man, Djanira, Adriana, Daniela, Joyce, Mariana, Fabi On Eves, Isabela.
P.S. We loved the scene after the credits. It was amazing and funny. It was not a goodbye, just a “see you soon."

WHAT DO YOU WATCH?

Hey, Frank,
Thanks for making IWTB! I saw it three times in theatres, and loved it every time. The people in front of me in the theatre actually waved back at Mulder and Scully at the end! But onto my question. What TV shows do you watch in your free time? Is there anything out there that you're a mega-fan of?
Marcus
Los Angeles

I'm loving "Breaking Bad" on AMC, which was created by my friend and "X-Files" colleague Vince Gilligan.

ONCE AND ALWAYS

Back in March I purchased the complete collection with the idea of having a marathon of shows up until the new movie came out. Well that didn't happen. At the beginning of Season 4, I stopped for some reason, but I continued watching again after seeing the new movie. When the show premiered I was 13 years old and into aliens and conspiracies. I would sit home and watch "The X-Files" every single Sunday at 8 p.m. In the fall of 1998 I went to college to study broadcasting and had a lot of lab work to do and missed a lot of the shows from Season 6 on. I want to thank you and Chris for releasing the complete series, so I could catch up. Right now I'm starting on Season 7 and since I've never seen a lot of these shows, so they are new to me. Once an X-Phille always an X-Phille.
Thanks for a wonderful show that will last forever.
Mike
Elyria, OH

SCULLY'S LAST TEMPTATION

Hi Frank,
I posted my movie analysis at the Haven Board and some X-philes told me to let you know it. So here I am.
GREAT MOVIE
That's how I saw it. For me... This movie is about the most unsolved and mysterious of "The X-Files:" not the case itself, who’s capturing girls, chopping them and why. No.
The X-File here is LOVE.
Viewed in different ways: the love that saves, the one that destroys, the love that forgives and the love that makes you NEVER GIVE UP.
SCULLY'S LAST TEMPTATION
This movie is also about normal life on earth, the very last temptation for Scully. To live a life with Mulder. To have a life. Almost a normal one. At the end of "Fight the Future," Mulder tells Scully to go away. “Go! be a doctor.” He doesn’t want to see her dying ‘cause of him.
Scully really aspires to normality. And Mulder really want to give her that gift. She wanted a baby, Mulder tried and helped her in this. Now she wanted to settle down and Mulder did it.
THE LOVE THAT DESTROYS
Love is not always a good thing. Most of all not when is something of possessive and egoistic.
The most destroying love is the lust of Father Joe: he abused children (abuse is one way love?), a thing that Scully can never forgive.
From that evil, the devil creates other evils… one of the abused child is the ‘cause of the girls murders.
Negative love is also the one of the Russian man that wanted to save his partner life killing people. But negative is also Scully’s love for Mulder. It’s something egoistic and possessive, too.
I said that she wanted to settle down. So Mulder stopped to run and most of all stopped to live.
To give her a life, he stopped to live his. He stays confined. Isolated. Scully is happy? No. She sensed that so Mulder was not living and forces him out of the situation. The egoistic circle is broken. Mulder is out, starts living again and knows that doing so, he can loose her. So he always wants her by his side. He really can’t live without her. This Scully is an egoistc person (I'm a doctor now, but Mulder what is he? ) and a possessive one, she can kills with a look, when the young FBI agent tries to touch Mulder’s face. And when she lets him leave, lets him go, than the love that destroys starts to be something positive. Before, Scully is full of fears: to lose him, of the darkness, to not to be able to save that boy. When Father Joe told her not to give up, she was shocked, ‘cause she had given up at that point. She had given up even Mulder.
THE LOVE THAT FORGIVES
The real force of love is to forgive. Forgive the sins, forgive the errors that were made. When Scully’s start to accept Father Joe for what he is or he’s not, she has to accept the idea that maybe God can forgive even a children abuser, if he’s looking for redemption.
And that’s the key, She has to accept things for what they are. Mulder for what he is, not changing him, sorrow for what it is, (the hospital name is Mother of sorrows), even the illness. At that point the walls start falling down. Scully tells Mulder that she had fallen in love for what he was (and not for what he has became for her sake).
To accept Mulder's obsession is something that she has to do. Stopping to be egoistic. Stopping trying to possess Mulder.
THE COLD, THE NIGHT AND THE ICE
Everything here is cold, ice and night. And the background reflects the souls. Souls in the storm. Mulder and Scully as one, most of all. They’re entrapped in ice. They love each other, they are together but miles adrift. Sometimes Scully is really cold with him, and just when she melted down at the end, there’s light and the snow is gone away. And than there’s place for the sun.
THE LOVE THAT SAVES AND CURES
Loving Mulder is to let him go and then running after him to save him. Again and again. Scully’s back, where she didn’t want to go. But when she has to forgive Mulder for what he is. Her loves becomes salvation. Of Mulder’s life, and maybe of the child’s, too.
Mulder is once again ready to die for her, if she wants him to, they can go away, he seems ready to not live again for her life. For her love. This time is Scully that has to give up. She has to give up her desire for a normal life. To love Mulder. She will abandon her last temptation: normality. His love will save her. Will save them. And the child, too.
I HOPE FOR XF3
Babbacop
Italy

XF3

Frank already knows all of this but I know that everyone else is worried that there wont be an XF3 – but I am certain that there will be and here is why:
1. The studio has already made a profit and with it still in theaters around the world that number will continue to go up. Once you factor in the DVD release, I will bet that they will make a higher profit from IWTB than off of any other $30 million movie they have made recently. When you compare it in those terms to other smaller budget films, it is a huge success. FOX wins.
2. The marketing potential for a 2012 release of a big budget alien action movie with a built in audience is incredible. The studio gets back what it puts into this franchise. I think the budget for FTF was double that of IWTB and it grossed $180 million worldwide. If they give Frank and Chris the resources, XF3 will deliver. Also, December 21, 2012 is Friday! They release the film ON THAT DAY with an intense marketing campaign that starts well before release. This is the potential apocalypse we're talking about – you want anticipation, you got it! They get the huge Christmas audience as well. FOX wins again.
3. The third film will bring back anyone that feels jaded either by the last few seasons of the show or IWTB (clearly these people have some part of their soul missing as well as a large chunk of their brain – but that's not the point here). The plot of XF3 will give them the impression of getting some questions finally answered as well as return to what most people who don't care to think too hard see as being the foundation of the show – aliens. Not to mention, and I'm sure Frank won't comment on it – but XF3 HAS TO include William. He will be 11 then and not including him would be like not including Skinner in IWTB. It just doesn't work. All 10 times I saw IWTB in the theater Skinner got the biggest applause line of all. Imagine a lanky 11-year-old boy with red hair popping up? People will go back again and again to see that play out. FOX still winning.
My final piece of evidence – Chris, Frank, David, and Gillian: DON'T GIVE UP. Chris was signing merchandise with that phrase for a while to tease us all, but I believe – rather, I want to believe – that it was also about how much they love these characters as well as understand how much they mean to all of us. They won't give up. They will do whatever it takes to give them back to us again and I don't doubt them for a second.
Thank you, Frank, for never giving up. Thank you for trusting that we will always be out there doing whatever we can to keep these characters alive. If you need us to march on 20th Century Fox's studio to show them that we aren't going anywhere – we will be there. You bet there's hope.
Andrea
Washington, DC

INSPIRATION

After six years, I have to admit that I never believed I would see this film come true.
I have written to you once before, saying thank you for all you and the X team have given to the world, and what is most important, to that "global culture," to the people, no matter what country we are from or what language we speak.
I also explained to you the reasons why I loved the series immediately and why I still love it, so many years after it ended.
This last month was different. The film was due to be realeased in Argentina the 24th of July. I had planed everything for that date. Unfortunately, the date was changed... but... after waiting for sooooo long, What's the difference? Some more days...
Anyway, those days inspired me in so many ways you can't imagine. I could say I'm an artist, that my art are words and paint, but no.
The real art in me are the things that inspire me.
Yes, at this point it's no news that I found in "The X-Files" one of the greatests forms of inspiration.
Once again, here I go with my brushes and paint...
I made that painting before I saw the film.
And I saw it just yesterday, 14th of August. Perhaps I will never know why, ten years after the first movie I react like that little girl at the cinema, but my heart will always remember how you guys played with it so smartly!
I love when you do that, when I don't know what to expect, when I know the obvious, when I just relax and wait.
Now I feel I can understand (a day after!) what you did, you really brought back the essence of the show, you made me chill and lough, and THINK.
"The X-Files" kept me thinking during the last... During the last eighteen years -- that's a life, guys. My life in particular.
So, in a way the painting that is attached tries to show you how grateful I am for this movie no matter the date release ¬¬, no matter the things I did not like, I'm grateful.
Perfection is impossible, but you gave us "X-Files."
Thanks A LOT.
Florencia
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
P.S. I just LOVED Skinner! It was SO funny and curiously thrilling at the same time!

PULLED TOO SOON

Hey, Frank- I only got to see the movie 4 times. I was going to go the 5th time on Friday with my sister and brother-in-law because they are just now able to afford to go -- but the movie has been pulled. I know it's not new news but I found it depressing that it's already gone and there are movies that came out weeks before IWTB (that are not nearly as good) that are still playing.
Thanks to you, Chris, David, and Gillian for the movie! And also to everyone else involved -- I loved it! There has been some questions raised on the boards about if the DVD was going to be released any earlier than November since it was only in theaters for a short amount of time. If you've already been hounded about that -- sorry -- I haven't read all the posts lately.
As for XF3 -- I'm praying for it! My cousin -- who is a non-phile, that I dragged with me to the theater -- said that an alien invasion storyline would be really good. She liked IWTB but really wants to see another mythology based movie like FTF. She asked me if she could borrow one of my FTF DVD's (yeah!!!) Thank you for everything!!!
Amy
California

I was very dissapointed when I went to the theatre thinking the movie was still playing and found out it had been dropped. Not only that I checked the paper afterwards and no sign of x files in any theatres here in Colorado! Well I am very glad that I noticed you mentioned in another blog that worldwide "X-Files" made $53.3 million. Way past the spending costs. Good Job!!!!! I WANT TO BELIEVE there will be another movie. Anyway I guess I will wait for the special dvd we will be getting :) and buy one for everyone I know. lol
Sheena
Denver, Colorado

DOUBLE-EDGED

Because I love these characters and the way in which the series *still* satisfies my deep need for touching the unknown and the mystery, I've seen the latest installment three times, the first time at 12:01 on 7/25 with my boyfriend (who came willingly and enjoyed it) and the next two times on my own at a matinee so I could more fully absorb the characters of Mulder and Scully and the themes. I really think it was a beautiful film, and it is not just my "obsession" with the relationship between these characters that was captivating for me. Like many are saying, I enjoyed it more and understood it more each time. I have to say that I was expecting a lot and definitely found myself a bit surprised and maybe a little disappointed by the "slowness" of the movie the first time around (but mainly because I knew many viewers were not going to be patient or thoughtful enough). In reality, I was captured the whole time and there was never a moment when I didn't want to be watching. Slowness and emphasis on character as a way to get at deeper meaning is not at all a bad thing, and even a necessary counterpoint to, and reprieve from, the majority of cinema as well as world in which we live. So, while I agree with *some* of the thoughtful and considered criticisms of the film, in the end, I think it was impossible to satisfy everyone or live up to the hype. There were so many different components to the show, which is why it was so popular with so many different kinds of audiences. The fans who really liked the alien mythology are of course going to be disappointed with a "monster of the week" movie, and so forth. I really liked that the movie took a risk by actually narrowing its scope. And given that a lot of movies these days aren't asking me to look at my own values and morals, I really respected that I was pushed out of my personal comfort zone to believe in and even feel compassion for a pedafile priest. As a therapist, I know that we are complicated beings who can learn to correct our dark urges, and I appreciated that the priest was portrayed as a complex human seeking his redemption.
Which brings me to perhaps the real reason that I felt compelled to post on this blog after a few weeks of reading the comments here and all the reviews online: if only the critics and "fans" could become aware of their own dark urges to rip a piece of work to shreds! When people don't get exactly what they wanted the urge seems to lash out or settle into apathy ("don't bother to see it because I bored myself by not paying attention"). The double-edged nature of such a strong fan base is that many of them become angry and even hateful. Non-fans who never really got into the series seem to want to be equally dismissive. This is the worst part about reading negative reviews -- not the opinion, but the urge to attack or to show apathetic disinterest. People seem to be so willing to *not* appreciate something, it's astonishing! It is so clear to me that this movie was made with much thought and heart. There really seemed to be a genuine interest in making the fans happy, but also just making a movie that would re-introduce the characters and keep an amazing TV and now movie phenomena alive. Many critics and reviewers seem to have a hard time taking the movie for what it is, as one piece of effort within a much larger, more whole effort. And I want to say that I for one appreciate the movie very much for what it is (and I know there are more of you out there who do, too.)
A dedicated fan
San Francisco

AROUND THE WORLD (UPDATED)

110 tickets, from 22 countries, 22 states, and the District of Columbia.
Dr. Jennifer
Chicago

HEY NOSTRADAMUS!

Hi Frank,
Just a quick question: I was wondering about a Post-it note in Mulder's office in the movie -- It says "Hey Nostradamus!" Is this a nod to Douglas Coupland? He wrote a book with the same name, but he also wrote "Girlfriend in a Coma," and I think that in that book he references "The X-Files" being filmed in Vancouver. Is this a nod back to the author? If not, I like that it's there for people to make their own personal conclusions. Sometimes subconcious works in great ways and gets you thinking of many things...
Yours, in anticipation of more films,
Stella
Brighton, U.K.

It is indeed a nod to Douglas Coupland. (The Post-It note is actually affixed to a piece of his artwork.)

UNEXPLAINABLE

Dear Frank, Chris, David, and Gillian,
Thank you so much for making this beautiful movie. There is something very special about "The X-Files" and the characters Mulder and Scully. I don't even know what it is. It's something unexplainable. I have always been a huge fan of the show and have always loved the chemistry between David and Gillian as these two characters we came to love so much. To see them on the big screen in a movie that highlighted their relationship and brought it to the forefront was a beautiful thing. I felt that the movie was very well made and the performances were excellent. I loved the story and the philosophical questions it addressed. I truly felt it was brilliant. I even went to see it twice, which for the X-Philes out there may not seem like a big deal, but it was a very big deal to me. I NEVER do that. Not even if I go see a movie that becomes one of my favorites. I just had to see it twice and I must say I think I loved it even more the second time around. I know the performance at the box office has not been as good as we all had hoped, but I am praying there is still hope of a third movie. I feel that it would be a tragedy and a real heartbreaker for me if this were the last time we got to see Mulder and Scully on the big screen.
I really think this movie IS going to make a lot of money when you consider the budget, the DVD sales that will no doubt be very good, the merchandise etc. I know that I have actually purchased 3 of the seasons so far since seeing the movie and plan to purchase all the other ones and the first movie (and this one when it comes out!). This movie has really reignited my love of "The X-Files" and I know it has done the same for many others. In fact my mother went to see the movie with me and she was an extremely casual fan of the show and since seeing the movie has become a HUGE fan. She insists on watching all the episodes with me and is officially under the spell.
I know you have heard this a million and one times but THANK you. Thank you so much for bringing these characters back into our lives and I am am praying there will be more to come. I just don't see how a story like this can end here. There is still so much to tell. "DON'T GIVE UP!" and don't let Fox give up on us! We love these stories and these characters so much that we spend hours discussing the movie and the show. There has never been a show or a movie that has touched me the way "The X-Files" has and I thank you all so much for that. You are all very special to me! Here's to XF3!!!!
Love,
Jenna
Redondo Beach, CA

FIVE TIMES

Greetings from Mexico! First of all I want to thank you, Chris, Gillian, David and all the crew for putting up this wonderful movie.
I watched this movie 5 times already and I can't stop finding new things in each of my viewings, the complexity of the plot
was wonderfully developed, I can't wait for the DVD. Not only me but Mexico in general has loved the movie, the movie theaters
have been full and newspapers and magazines are giving the movie great reviews, so I hope we can contribute as much as needed in order to produce an XF3 movie! Keep it up!
Wendy

MY THOUGHTS IN A POEM

I know I sent my review with mixed feelings after seeing the movie at the London premiere? Well after seeing it a few times more I definately had a change of heart. Thought I'd sum it all up in a poem, which is going to be posted along with my poems and artwork for the rest of the Fab Four (Chris, David and Gillian) as part of a Thank You compilation from fans at XFU. Just thought I'd share yours with you here as well. :-)
Thanks,
Penny xx

Dear Frank

As co-writer you shared the dream
With Carter and The X Files team
To bring us 'I Want To Believe'
A tale of darkness and intrigue
Of twisted faith and redemption
And science fact to sick to mention!
But underneath I failed to see
At first, that 'love' was the real key
It came in so many disguises
Some light and some dark surprises!
The second time I saw it clear
Just what you guys were doing here
But critics found it complicated
Which was why it was so underrated?
I don't think they were being fair
It's like they didn't really care?
Just how hard you all worked and strived
To bring the vision back to life.
That law suit didn't help at all
It put your backs against the wall
Then Fox gave you the green light
At last it was all going so right
Then for you came another blow
Filming in freezing Canadian snow!
I heard from a certain fan
That you looked like a Michelin Man!
But you persevered the weather
And I think you put together
A movie of intricate parts
That touched our very hearts
Now we'd really love you to delve
Into a story about 2012
So with fingers already 'X'd
I'd like to hope for the best!

CHRIS' DOG

Sorry to bother, but is that CC's dog in the hospital corridor?
When Scully is exiting Christian's room to talk with Father Ybarra ( I mistrusted him more than Father Joe), there's a black dog crossing the corridor, seems like a therapy dog, but it's gone too fast to identify the breed, hairy tail though...is it?
Thank you,
Maria
The Netherlands

Yes, that is indeed Chris' dog, a standard poodle by the name of Larry.

BOXWELL

I was just watching the season 8 episode, "Per Manum" and saw that the name on the VHS tape that Scully finds in the VCR is "Nancy Boxwell." Boxwell is what was on the licence plate of the Subaru that the second victim was driving in IWTB when she was taken. Who is Nancy Boxwell or what does the name mean?
Thanks so much FRANK!!!!
Andrea
Washington, D.C.

Good catch! Nancy is a friend of Chris'.

3rd X?

The movie premiered last Thursday here and in my fourth viewing I noticed that in one of the last scenes, where Ybarra and Christian's parents are standing in the hallway and Scully passes them by, we can briefly see a light blue door that has in white a big "3rd" and below it we can see an "X". Was that some kind of hoping for a third movie or just coincidence that propably the x-rays (I guess that's what the X is standing there for) were on the 3rd floor?
By the way, I really expect we get another movie, please keep us up to date on the subject.
Thanks,
Juan Manuel
Argentina

I never noticed that. (But that doesn't mean Chris or someone in the Art Department wasn't thinking ahead...)

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

Hey Frank, hello ;)
Only one thing.
"The X-Files" has been nominated for "Most memorable TV moments" in the drama category.
The scene nominated is "Existence" kiss.
The winners will be announced during the Emmys. The link:
http://abc.go.com/specials/emmys/index?pn=dramavoting_2008_mostmemorablemoments_dv2k8mmm
If you can (and if you want), put this link in your blog. We must win!!!
"X-Files" forever.
One kiss.
(P.S. Sorry my awful English.)
Verónica
Spain

STRAIGHT TO DVD RUMOR (DEBUNKED)

I just heard a rumor about a possible 3rd "X-Files" movie that is supposed to be released straight to DVD. Please tell me this is just a rumor? Don’t get me wrong, I love "The X-Files" and I loved the 2nd movie but do you really have the intention to create a 3rd low-budget movie that will probably be ignored because straight to DVD-releases are in general regarded as lower-class movies? I’d hate to see my favorite show ever to go down this route. It deserves more, and if Fox isn’t willed to produce a 3rd movie for the cinema, I would at least hope to see a very good made-for-television movie or a miniseries. Because to see "The X-Files" released straight to DVD would just hurt my heart.
Lots of greetings
Marion,
Germany

Don't worry, Marion -- the rumor is false. The Internet report you read is completely made up.

PULLED FROM OUR THEATRES!

Not good news, no. But I know you'll sympathize!
I live in the South Bend, IN (University of Notre Dame) area and I have this group of friends (grad students, mostly physics, which is interesting to say the least...) with whom I get together every Thursday night for buffalo wings and "X-Files." This week, we thought we'd go see the movie, but when I checked for showtimes it wasn't listed any more.
I called the theater and was told "It wasn't doing any business so we had to pull it." Flipping morons, nothing did any business the first few weeks that Batman was out.
And now, if I want to see this movie, I'd have to drive an hour east to Goshen, IN. And I don't have a car.
Suffice to say, I had a few choice words for the theater people. Yeah, I'll do you some business, Mr. Supervisor Guy.
I'm frustrated, Frank. I so badly want to see these characters again. I can't stand worrying that that will never happen. Especially in the big-budget form that so many people hope it will -- i.e. a big-budget, epic return of the mythology 2012 style.
On the other hand, I know there were plenty of epic epsisodes that were done on an itty bitty budget, and could probably hold their own on the big screen. But I just know that the "X-Files" crew is one that deserves the kind of creative freedom that a big budget would allow, and moreover could really make the most of that sort of budget. (Whereas so many big budget movies just end up being giant heaps of crap).
I hope I am worrying too much. On the Haven boards, people are saying it's not doing fantastic compared to a big budget film but being small budget, it's making its money back. They're saying it's consistent, like the little movie that could, and that Fox probably expects to get a large chunk of revenue from merchandise and DVD sales. In short, it sounds like it will be a long wait before we know for sure if we will see a franchise and in what form it will take.
For now, I'm sort of sad because I've seen it twice and I'd like to see it again. I'm not ready to give it up yet, so to speak. I had a rough time following it the first time around and it has really grown on me. I gave the soundtrack a good listen for the first time today during my run (amazing...the soundtrack, that is. not the run.), and it really got me in the mood to see it. I think this is a really beautiful movie, and I think now I am going to see if I can do a special day trip to Chicago and see it in an IMAX, if they still have it.
...Again, I hope that what happened here is not reflective of what is going on around the country. I mean, maybe South Bend just sucks. Well, not maybe, it does. I'll be the first to tell you that!
Anyway, thanks for making such a beautiful flick. I really enjoyed it while it lasted! lol.
Bridget

SPIELBERG

I have an idea for "X-Files 3." How about you guys get Steven Spielberg to direct it? It'll be an alien movie, right? Who's the most prolific director of alien movies ever? He is! I'm sure the movie would be a box office hit if he directed. What do you think? :)
Donna

A CRITIC WHO GOT IT

Firstly I am so grateful for this movie - what a beautiful thing you have created! I feel like people have been blinded by expectations and that the critics haven't taken the time to really see what the movie was about. There was one critic who did, however and to him - applause!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/aug/04/xfiles.faith
So that was gratifying to read.
I would loooooooove to see an XF3, as would 1,700 plus signees of the XF3 petition (www.iwanttobelievexf3.blogspot.com) so I do hope that Fox sees their way to making one. I'm curious about how it works. The movie has grossed 51 million dollars worldwide - How does that translate to earnings for Fox? IE how much does the movie need to gross before IWTB is making a profit?
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
Anita

I can't answer those questions, either. But when I have a clear sense whether there will be another movie (or not), I will share it here.

AH, "MONDAY"...

I can’t help but write again and tell you (and Chris) how genius I think you are!! To be happy about “Monday” on a Friday seems counter-intuitive for one of so many in America’s work force, but I’m watching “Monday” on TNT at this moment and was compelled to write.
This is one of my favorite episodes -- though not the one that I usually blurt out when asked ("Bad Blood"!!). Why? I don’t know. It is a subtle masterpiece. The writing, directing and production of such a well-played concept comes across fresh and entertaining and innovative in your hands. Just like IWTB, it takes the human condition and breathes bigger-than-life ideas into the small, “what-if” scenario that many people, regardless of social or economic status, consider often. “I want to go home, go back to bed, and start this day all over again” is a mantra I’m sure each of us has uttered on a bad morning more than once in their day-to-day lives… ah, but to what end??
It is this clear, funny, ironic, and simply, perfectly expressed vision of the human condition that makes "The X-Files" -- past, present, and future {hope, hope!} -- such a brilliant show!!!
It is my sincere hope that, in spite of whatever the box office may say, you remain extremely proud and pleased of the cinematic history you have created and the pleasure you have brought (and continue to bring) to so many. You continue to give all of us at the water cooler on “Monday” mornings something to talk about..!
Gushing again,
DawnMarie
Los Angeles
P.S. Was listening to Mark’s soundtrack in the car tonight on the way home from “the job”. His music is so emotionally charged that at one point I literally had to stop the car, get out & check the trunk to make sure there were no MOTW hiding inside! He’s a genius and I thank him, too!!

TOO SOON

I've just returned home from my 14th, and most probably last, viewing of the film on the big screen. It seems like many of the major cinema chains here in the U.K. are already pulling the film from their schedules -- hardly two weeks after release! This seems so unfair -- to fans, and to people who haven't had the chance to experience it yet!
Tonight, standing there watching the credits roll and that little boat get closer, waving to Mulder and Scully really felt like saying goodbye... at least until the DVD release. And XF3 (fingers crossed)! It's testament to a brilliant film that even after 14 times, it's not boring and the emotion at the end of it all is as raw as it was the first time round. Even 6 times in 4 days doesn't dull its effect. I'm sure you're already more than proud of the film, but there's a little something to make you prouder still.
So, although I was waving goodbye, I like to think that they were waving hello.
Thanks, as ever.
Nia
P.S. I love your response to a previous post regarding a certain SAC Fossa. Your reply made me very happy -- I had just been thinking that day that seeing her again in a potential XF3 could be VERY interesting indeed!
:D

TOO SUBLIMINAL?

For those who may have missed it, the "subliminal" part of the photo montage in the "Subliminal Advertising?" post were the "bunny ears" formed by the crossed shadows of Mulder and Scully in the movie poster -- they invariably seemed to be coming from behind Gillian's head.

THE BUZZ

Hello, I just finished the new movie and we all at the movies were excited to see Mulder finally kiss Scully. In the lobby the buzz was: Will there be any more "X-File" movies? Please say that there will be!!
Thank you for all the "X-File" fans and the one you have now resurrected!
David
Erwin, NC

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE?

Great movie. Saw it twice. How’s the box office overseas? I know it’s around $20 mill domestically (at this writing) and was curious if the foreign B.O. was enough to ensure consideration for XF3?
Thanks for all the great entertainment. You guys rock.
Alex

Worldwide box office is at $53.3 million so far. The question of whether there will be another film remains open.

CONSPIRACY?

I've noticed that, as of late, you have been getting many questions concerning the inside-jokes or Easter eggs hidden in IWTB. So, I hope you don't mind one more. There has been an ongoing theory on XFU, and I'm sure other X-Philes have thought of this as well, that whenever a woman other than Scully calls Mulder 'Fox'... well she dies. Any truth to this conspiracy theory?
Thank you for all you have done for us, the fans. Your connection with this devoted fan base will never cease to amaze me. LOVED the movie! Here is to XF3!
Allison
New York

I'm not sure every woman who calls Mulder by his first name meets an untimely demise, but it does indeed seem to increase one's chances...

ACTION FIGURES?

Hey there, I was just curious to know why there are no action figures for this film? I know it's not the big flashy film like FTF, but we Philes are a bunch of nerds who collect stuff like that, and were anticipating some figures for this film too.
BTW, I loved every moment of the film, and the book. So wonderful having "The X-Files" back again! Sure have missed it! Thank you for bringing it back to the screen.
Duck
Tulsa, OK

Given the nature of this film, the studio didn't think it was appropriate to make action figures this time around.

SNOW IS WHERE THE HEART IS

So we over at XFN have been hard at work doing some updates and new articles after taking a small sabbatical because well, most of us actually have real lives and jobs in addition to our “X-Files” obsession and were forced to go back to work for a few weeks following the Los Angeles Premiere. I wanted to pass this along to you to see if you could perhaps pass it along to Mark Snow. His soundtrack is a huge success among fan circles and while XFN did a small preview of the new album when the 30 second clips were up on Amazon, we now have a complete review which includes some quotes from fans about what the soundtrack means to them. If you have a chance, take a look, and we are all still rooting for you in the Box Office!
http://www.xfilesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=845:snow-is-where-the-heart-is&catid=83:reviews&Itemid=100084
Here are some excerpts from the article:
It begins with “Moonrise.”
The faint beat of a drum, an echo in the distance, wind picking up as the sounds surrounding it crescendo into another drum beat, this one slicing through the cold. It’s old “X-Files” and yet frightfully new. Eerily deep and downright chilling, the music builds then fades and builds again. It’s the kind of music you’re afraid to listen to in the dark. The drums come faster until they erupt into a full blown chase. You suddenly realize that this is “The X-Files” and even asong with a title as innocuous as “Moonrise” can become terrifying.
“Home Again”- Truth, Love, Courage and Hope all rolled into one. “The X-Files” comes full circle once again with this simply beautiful song written for perhaps one of the best scenes ever filmed for the series. Let there be light.
“X-Files (UNKLE Variation On a Theme Surrender Sounds Session #10)”- Old School meets New School and New School’s telling Old School how it is.
“Broken”- If you like Pina Colladas, and getting caught in the rain…
“Dying 2 Live”- The man says Truth, CIA, JFK and power of X in one song, come on now…admit you dance to it when no one is looking…
If there is one thing fans have learned with “The X-Files” it is that everything comes full circle and while “Moonrise” is terrifying in its dark and chilling mood, the track “Home Again” is a beautifully hopeful reminder that even in the darkest hours, there is a way home. “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” motion picture soundtrack is just one more reminder that not giving up is worth something and X-Philes know a lot about not giving up.
Tiffany
Knoxville, TN

IN MADRID

Hi Frank!
Sorry for my English. I’m a Spanish fan of "The X-Files" and I’m writing you because I want to thank you, Chris, David and Gillian for this wonderful movie. I think that you have created a great movie. I saw "I Want To Believe" five times and every time I see the film I like it more.
Really, I love this movie!
Also I'm writing to you to tell you that on July 26, some members of "The X-Files" forum called Fin Alternativo (www.finalternativo.com) did a meet-up in Madrid (in Madrid we saw lots and lots of posters of the movie) with the purpose of watching the film together. It's been wonderful watching the movie with other X-philes! We were approximately 30 fans and also at the meet-up was Lorenzo Beteta, the voice of Fox Mulder in the Spanish version.
We enjoyed the movie so much, but I fear the other people there couldn't since each time the movie alluded to the series, we shouted, applauded and commented everything that came to our minds. At the ending of the film we waited till the credits and some people were surprised of seeing us there staying in our seats and they waited for us in the corridor because they wanted to know what were we doing.
For the occasion, we did a few shirts with the image of the first poster of the movie. The shirts had printed the following sentence: “I want to believe Mulder and Scully will snog (at light).”
To give publicity to the movie, we went through Madrid with the shirts, even entered a disco wearing them and it was very funny because in the front window there was a X!
Then we went to a McDonald's near the cinema where we occupied a whole floor and while we were having dinner we couldn't stop talking about the series, the movie... we were so excited!
Finally the night ended singing "Mulder and Scully" by Catatonia, and "Walking in Memphis" through Madrid's streets at 3 a.m.
Thank you for this movie, Frank! Thank you!
María José
Spain
P.S. In the cinema, we bought box of pop corns, which has an image of the film.

IN ITALY

Hi there!
Yesterday in Italy there was a special preview of "I Want To Believe." We took a picture of a big poster near the cinema.
Fran& Silv
Rome
Italy

LONE GUNMEN IN IWTB?

Hi Frank,
Rumors are rumbling around the message boards about this, but are any of the Lone Gunmen in the film? Some are saying they saw them in the background as agents right before we cut to Mulder saying, "I'm trying to ignore you" to Scully? Maybe we just miss TLG too much and we're seeing things...
Thanks!
Maria
L.A.

No. We had considered a nod to the Gunmen, but ultimately didn't film it. (Chris and I did manage to grab dinner with Bruce Harwood, Dean Haglund and Tom Braidwood at a Vancouver restaurant shortly before filming began, however!)

SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING?

I was looking through photos of the the L.A. premiere of IWTB and noticed a curious trend. Can you see what I'm talking about?
No other actor (with the exception of David Duchovny) is photographed like this.
Is this a nod to the line "What's up Doc?"
Are Easter Eggs to be found OUTSIDE the movie?
The universe is acknowledging that yes, the rabbit died while Gillian Anderson was filming the movie in Vancouver?
Is this an X-File?????
Dr. Jennifer
Chicago

LOVING IT ALL OVER AGAIN

I used to be a big fan of the series but I have to sheepishly admit that my interest tailed off a bit around season 8/9.... sorry! I guess a combination of losing David Duchovny and the feeling that questions were piling up and were never going be answered... plus, as a shipper, I thought I'd never see my dream episode and that was a bit depressing. Over the last few years, I'd forgotten how much I used to love the show.
Well, it seems that my "X-Files" obsession has just been lying dormant until seeing "I Want To Believe." I'm now obsessed all over again! I couldn't have been happier with what you made. It was the episode that I was waiting for all those years. I just loved the fact that everything about it was more mature than what we'd seen in the series and I really got the impression from watching it that it was made for the fans and I can't tell you how much I appreciate that.
I've seen it twice now and plan to go again and I'm telling anyone who'll listen that they have to see it too. I've introduced my boyfriend to it too as he never watched it before and he's really getting into the series now. I'm going back and watching all the episodes I missed in the last two seasons which is a treat! I really hope there will be at least one more film... these are the two best fictional characters ever and we need to see more! And let's get more work for Mitch Pileggi... people in the cinema cheered when he turned up!
My only problem with the film is regarding its summer release. My question is, how much input did you have into its release date? Everything about it goes against it being a summer film and it would be interesting to know why that date was chosen.
Thanks for listening and thanks for getting Mulder and Scully together at last!
Vanessa
London

The studios determined the release date. In fairness, whether or not it was a good idea to release the movie in the summer, I don't think anyone anticipated the historic box-office "The Dark Knight" is enjoying.

SIMPLY AMAZING

Hi Frank!
IWTB was purely amazing! It is definitely a superb spooky X-File. I loved how this one encouraged the viewer to think and make up their own choices about the controversial storyline topics. The acting was fantastic -- Gillian and Billy should earn Oscar nods for their work. It is quite nice to see a film that isn't all glitzy in-your-face-blow-this-and-that-up ridiculous like some recent films. IWTB had a genuine story and message to it, definitely staying true to its title. Scully and Mulder's relationship in the movie was spot on to where we'd figure they'd be after all these years yet it wasn't over the top oozing with corny sex scenes -- thanks for the great discretion there. :)
There are tons of little fan nods throughout the movie. But I do have a question about one scene: who is the youngish-looking brown-haired girl who pauses at the top of the stairs (in the hospital) in the background? It seems she was in the scene quite a while -- is there any significance to that?
Thanks for allowing us to speak to you -- you're awesome!
Ann
USA

Sorry, but I missed the brown-haired girl myself. Chris may have intended something with her placement, though.

THANK YOU FROM ITALY

Hi Frank,
This is the X-Files Italian Fansite's gang who was in London for the premiere.
We just want to thank you again for this remarkable and unique experience any of us will never forget!
We still can't believe what happened back there, we met you all and watched the movie together with all those fans and this was stunning!
Thank you for this opportunity, thank you and Chris for the day at the Forbidden Planet, thank you for shaking our hands, and spending your times with us!
Who could have ever imagined 16 years ago that we actually would have the chance to talk to you!
And the movie... oh gosh, it was incredible, all the things you created, all the recalls to the series, to the crew of "The X-Files," the topics of "I Want to Believe," the opposites: good and evil, hope and darkness, pure faith and the wish to believe.
Love and hope above all the darkness in the world is what the movie brings to life!
Thank you for all this and thank you for the last scene after the credits and the meaning of it for all the fans. We so hope that was not the last goodbye but in any case you couldn't create anything better than that. It's just perfect!
Gillian and David are amazing, how can you stop watching them acting together?
Mark Snow is a genius!
Here in Italy there will be a preview of the movie on August 13 here in some theatres, the movie will be released on September 5 and we're already planning to see it again all together, also with the people who couldn't be in U.K., but they were with us with their hearts and wanted to thank you for what you did!
Done one, done two, make the 3rd!
We'll never forget your smiles!
Love,
Adry
Alessandra
Annissa
Azzurra
Chiara
Chiara the 2nd
Chiara the 3rd
Cristiana
Davide
Eleonora
Federica
Francy
Giulia
Giusi
Luca
Rachele
Roberto
Sara
Silvia
Simone
Ste
from Italy :)

http://www.xfilesitalianfansite.net/

POP-UP EDITION?

Hi Frank!
First, I feel like I must start by saying "thanks" again! I just saw the movie for the fifth time this weekend and it was just as awesome, if not more so, than the first time. One of the things that has made seeing the movie over and over so fun is looking for all the hidden "extras" you and Chris put into the movie just for us philes! (As if just getting to see Mulder and Scully for two hours wasn't enough!) We've had a very fun thread goin on over at XFu trying to find all these little jokes. Care to add one or two we might have missed? http://www.xfilesultimate.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4475
Also, somewhere in there it is suggested that it would be very fun to have a "special feature" on the DVD which points out all the jokes while you watch the movie. (Like the old MTV pop-up videos!) Any chance of that happening? It certainly would be a phile-favorite! And would catch up anyone who wasn't already in on the jokes... just in time for XF3! ;)
Thanks again!
Rachel
Chicago

Great idea, but we've already packed the DVD and Blu-Ray releases with as many extra features as they will hold.

FROM THE PHILIPPINES

I'm Lily Grace Chao, co-founder of The Pinoy X-Philes, Fans from the Philippines and we would like to tell you that we have joined your Social Network:
http://network.biglight.com/profile/pinoyxphiles
The purpose of this is introducing ourselves to the world that we are exist. Our group has a drama behind it, how we formed. I have written a short blog there, and photos uploaded what we have done so far.
We have been loyal ever since the show started until it finish and up to the new movie. We are still here behind you.
Kindly express our regards to Chris Carter and pass our profile to him, David and Gillian as well.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM BEHALF OF THE PINOY X-PHILES!
Sincerely yours,
Lily Grace Chao
Co-Founder of The Pinoy X-Philes
http://www.pinoy-xphiles.org

TV SPECIALS

First let me say that the movie was a masterpiece for the fans. Some critics may have expected an epic movie like "Fight the Future," but this was more true to the series, and phenomenal. After the initial giddiness of seeing Mulder and Scully again, I seriously forgot where I was, and felt that I was at home in front of the TV like in the old days. Thank you, completely.
I know everyone's wondering if there will be a third movie, but I was wondering if you guys had considered doing made for TV specials or serialized DVD releases once a year? Has anyone expressed interest in doing non-theatrical releases every now and then?
Thanks!
Jeremy
Maysville, Kentucky

I think it's unlikely we'd be able to get everybody together again to do something for television, Jeremy.

THE NETWORK ROCKS!

Hi Frank and Jana and everyone at Big Light,
I already wrote awhile back to say how much I enjoyed "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" but I neglected to give you a huge thank you for the Big Light social network. What a cool idea! I have had so much fun meeting other fans and discussing the movie. Big thanks to Alison for keeping us all updated on movie events and release dates and latest info. Dare I say it, your site blew the official movie site out of the water. This has got to be the future of movie marketing!
I hope you keep the site and network going. I'm looking forward to keeping updated on all of your future projects.
Thanks again!
Sarah
Hazlet, NJ

THE LAST TIME

First, I just want to say how much I appreciated the new film, the original film, and all nine seasons of the best show in the history of television. My wife and I went to IWTB opening night, and both thought it was a great, thought-provoking film that reminded me why this is (was) the best show on television. Except for a few episodes here and there, my wife has really only seen the mythology episodes of "The X-Files," and she came out saying that if this was a stand-alone episode, it would far and away be her favorite. Considering my self to be a huge fan, I of course, have seen them all, many, many times.
I first got into "The X-Files" after the release of "Fight the Future." Until this film, I will say, that I hated this show. I wouldn't even give it a chance, being 17 years old and thinking television is nothing to films, and I really had no interest in seeing a theatrical version of a TV show. But, reluctantly I went with some friends (after they begged and begged) opening week. I came out of that movie telling people that was one of the coolest and most wicked movies I had ever seen. Within 6 months, I was completely caught up with the series (it remained the only TV show I ever watched until "24" and "The Shield" premiered -- of which neither are as good as "The X-Files"). I watched the eps. so many times on VHS and then DVDs, that if someone talks about a particular scene in any episode, I can name the episode along with the production number!! ( Yes, I'm a geek but, hey, you helped create that).
Regarding the films, "Fight the Future" was better in a large scale, but "I Want To Believe" had a better story and one the best messages I've seen in a film in a long time. (I'm one of those nerds who doesn't look for special effects or explosions to tell a good movie, but, unfortunately, most people do. That's why I feel most people just plain did not understand what you guys were trying to get across, but I read it right away. I look for a message, or messages the film provides.) Believe and never give up. IWTB was so thought-provoking about believing in anything in general, that it gets you thinking, how Scully wants to believe that Father Joe should be punished, then maybe she wants to believe that he has been saved. She wants to believe her FAITH in her science would save her patient (which to me was really interesting b/c the show seemed to always be about science vs.. faith), Mulder wants to believe he can get back to his "normal" life again, believing he can find the missing women. When he was about to be chopped up at the end, you could see it in his eyes, he wants to believe that he will be saved, just like he believes he will one day find his sister, even though she is dead.
I also enjoyed the messages to the fans, like Mulder's phone- his index had "Gilligan," "Bowman," and a few others -- all part of the "X-Files" team, right? And the feed store, "Nutters" -- David Nutter, correct? Nice Easter eggs for those of us who were looking.
And just like the series finale (which I still regard as one of the better episodes), another message was to not give up. Mulder would not give up on the search for the women, Scully wouldn't give up on her patient. Out of the darkness comes light, and at the end of the film, it seemed that the snow had melted, the sun was out, and like Mulder said in the closing lines of the series finale, "maybe there's hope." I got a sense of hope during those final moments. Maybe just believing can stop the upcoming invasion in 2012. That being said, I just wanted to say that if this is the last time will ever see Mulder and Scully and the world of "The X-Files" again, I'm completely 100% satisfied with the conclusion. There has never been any two characters in the history of television or film, that have touched me like Mulder and Scully. All you guys, from Chris (duh) to David and Gillian, all the actors from William B. Davis to Mitch to Nic Lea (I thought Krycek was a bad ass), to the writers like Howard Gordon, Vince Gilligan, to Mark Snow and to of course, yourself, you guys should all be extremely proud that you touched so many people across the world, because I'm proud just to be a fan. And box office scores TELL NOTHING about how good a movie is. And in conclusion, I want to tell you that my daughter in is just over 18 months old, and the other night I was asking my wife, ..."how old do you want her to be when I get her into 'The X-Files?'"
Thank you for giving me the best viewing experience I've ever had.
Robert

X-PHILES MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

I'm well aware of the fact that you've been thanked to death by now. Yet, I have to join the people thanking you. First of all for the Big Light Network. I'm in Berkeley for 6 weeks and through the network I was able to get in touch with people in the Bay Area who, in turn, seem to know people all over California. Yup, it's the crazy bunch you've aleady met a few times by now. I got to meet up with them too on Saturday and it was so much fun. I want to use this opportunity to also thank Erica, the X-Philes goddess for being exactly that and, of course, Carina for making this posible. What an amazing apartment she has. You should see it. It's full of "X-Files" stuff and, yet, it doesn't look like a teenager's bedroom. Haha, I love it. Anyway, secondly, thanks for the movie. We also went to see it yet again. It is so much more fun seeing it with a bunch of fans. We were loud, we yelled, we laughed, we cried... and we were asked about it afterwards. Asked about it! Nobody complained. I believe that for other people in theaters, as well, it is more fun when there's an X-Philes crowd around.
Isabel
Temporarily in Berkeley, CA

TEN TIMES

Went to my 10th viewing tonight, the girl at the box office recognises me now!! She was like... "So I assume your here again for the X-Files 4.30 show!" I wish away the hours for that time! Thanks for making me one damn happy phile! I am training to be a manager and have incorporated "The X-Files" into my training regime such is my dedication! Short but sweet with all the love of Emma Hamilton and the inner circle!
Roll on XF3!!!
XX

BROMANCE AND THE HOLY TRINITY

In that order because, there are people who are actually emailing me that I haven't messed with you in a while ;)
Dr. Jennifer
Chicago

THREE TIMES

Finally I've got to see the movie for the second time when it opened here in The Netherlands last Thursday. And I am going today for the third screening.
I saw it for the first time in Belgium since it opened there a week before here. My partner (a non believer in "The X-Files," and believe me I am trying to make him see the truth and not giving up on him!) drove me for two hours to go see the film to the nearest Belgian city where we found tickets for opening night, and then of course, 2 more hours back. It was worth it!!! and he enjoyed the film as well.
I've got to admit that I liked the movie more this second time around. Just like "The Sixth Sense" movie, it made better sense this time around. And I was able to concentrate better,the emotional rush of I can't believe it is finally here, I am watching M&S again!!! passed.
The science behind the movie is done right and I really appreciate that, so thank you for doing your homework so thoroughly in this respect.
The stem cell research mentioned is cutting edge and indeed the specific type of steam cell treatment is mentioned:interstitial. Since these cells are usually taken from marrow (can also be taken from the navel string, I believe) this treatment should not be in contra-position with the Catholic Church prohibition to use embryonic stem cells.
So congratulations to you, cast and crew for developing and bringing to us a good movie. One that makes you think, reflect your beliefs, and appreciate the person that accompanies you on the journey ;-).
Thank you.
Maria
The Netherlands
P.S. Really, no follow-up book on the science behind "The X-Files?"

NINE TIMES

Thanks to You, Chris, David, Gillian, Mitch, and Everyone else who brought us this wonderful Gift of 'I Want to Believe' :)
Multiple viewings of the movie are perfect for spotting lots of treats--such as numerous "X-Files" actors who were also on the TV series :)
(I've even heard that Piper Maru Anderson--Gillian's daughter-- also had some cameos in the Movie, is that true? :) )
It's such an amazing movie, I can't wait to see it again for the 10th time :)
AvaBelle
Canada

Thanks, but no, Piper wasn't in the film.

FROM A FULFILLED FAN

Let me start off with the biggest of apologies. I beg for your forgiveness, for I thought you wouldn't pull off another movie. I was so afraid you would shoot yourself in the foot, and I didn't want that for you, for the show's history, and for its characters. I'm so glad I was wrong.
I think it was beautifully written (despite some minor flaws). I loved how the story revolved around Mulder and Scully's relationship, like the realisation was made that after all this time, that's what "The X-Files" is about now. I loved how it was like 3 stories in one : 1- Mulder, his quest for the truth and the missing women. 2- Scully, the questionning of her faith and Christian's case. 3- The personal life and relationship of Mulder and Scully.
Now, maybe I make connections that were not intended, but I seem to be the only one who noticed it straight away... Sarah-Jane Redmond (who have played Karin Matthews in Schizogeny, season 5) had 2 roles in this movie. I saw her has a doctor at Scully's hospital. We see her on the board of doctors twice, and in the finale scene in the hallway. She's also an FBI agent investigating the missing women's case. Scully's world, and Mulder's world. I think she's meant to be seen as their guardian angel. I love that idea. Not to mention she also played Lucy Butler in "Millennium:" the anti-Christ. A wonderful antithesis with the gardian angel idea. Brilliant, just brilliant. Intended or not.
And I have to say, I love the fact that Mulder and Scully on a romantic getaway on a tropical island is now canon. Who would've thought! I don't even WANT to read post-movie fanfiction. I don't need to. I've gotten my closure. And this time, so did Mulder and Scully. They lived happily ever after.
Thank you.
Justine, aka Mulderist
Montreal, Canada
(Come visit us!)

Thanks, Justine, but one small correction: that wasn't Sarah-Jane in the hospital, but another actress named Christina D'Alimonte.

FOURTEEN TIMES

It's 8 days after the London premiere and I just can't realize what happened.
It was so amazing. First the panel with you and Chris and then the premiere.
Unfortunately my friends and I couldn't get autographs from you or David Duchovny, Chris Carter and Gillian Anderson.
We were standing in the front line opposite from the cinema entrance.
But at some time we had to leave our position at the red carpet to get in the cinema. And that was the time when the interviews were taken. But when you, CC, DD and GA were standing in the front in the cinema I couldn't believe it. Nothing with "I want to believe" *lol*. At this time it was so overwhelming and I didn't know what I should do at first. Take pictures, singing with the other fans or listen to what you was talking about.
Meanwhile I have watched the movie fourteen times. Fortunately I can watch the movie in the original language. It's so much better than the translation. To hear the real voices from Duchovny and Anderson. The emotions in their voices are so intense. I LOVE it to hear their voices.
Everytime when I watch the movie I see new little things. And on the other site there are lot of scenes in the movie I love to watch. Especially the scene with Mulder when he is back on the crime scene. When he is standing in front of the barn. The music is great. And the lighting for the scene is so amazing. My friends love that scene, too.
As I've seen the movie fourteen times there is one thing that confuses me. Why is there no translation about what the Russian doctors are telling? Is it the idea from you and Chris to put more tension in the scenes or is there another explanation?
The fans around the world are speaking about the many easter eggs that were put in the movie from you and Chris. First of all I want to know if you have also a cameo appearance like Chris? Every time when I see the scene with Skinner and Mulder at the end of the movie I think that this is not Mulder which is lying in the arms of Skinner.
Oh please can you tell me if I'm right that Darin Morgan is also seen in the movie?
What's with the mysterious woman which we can see when Scully is speaking with Agent Drummy because she is looking for Mulder?
In the hope of a third "X-Files" movie. Please give Mulder and Scully their guns back. It's so odd to see Mulder with a pipe pliers.
At the end I want to thank you for what you, CC, DD and GA have done for the fans. I've waited so long for this movie and you haven't disappointed me. You've put the right mixture of romance between Mulder and Scully and the right mixture for the horror part in the movie.
Maybe my prayers will be heard and the fans will get a third movie. Or in the words of Mulder: "Never give up on a miracle" or in the words of the second movie "Don't give up".
Thank you for taking your precious time to read this mail.
byebye and many greetings from Berlin, Germany
Manuela (aka spookydogstar)

Chris and I thought it was scarier if the audience couldn't understand what the Russians were saying, which is why their dialogue wasn't subtitled. And no, neither I nor Darin Morgan makes a cameo appearance in the film. As for the mysterious woman, if there is a third "X-Files" movie, we just might be able to answer that question...

A POEM

Dear Frank, dear fellow X-Philes,
I am an X-Phile since 1995. In these 13 years I have tried to express what TXF are to me and how incredibly much it impacted on my life. I would like to share this one poem with you. It's very precious to me. Maybe some of you can even find theirselves in these words.

A poem

You have walked into my world
Connecting me to heaven
Made of both - ocean and harbor
And although we’re not under the same sky
You’re between me and the ground

You look at me from the inside
Writing me a poem
Made of both - stillness and storm
And by shielding my truth from the mists

You make me strong before I need to be
~~~~

Frank, thank you so much for London. I feel blessed because I met you and Chris - even though all I was able to do was thank you and cry (while smiling broadly!).
All the very best to you,
Pi
Germany

A REQUEST

When more of Mark Snow's music is released, could you PLEASE make sure that "Scully's Theme" is on it? It is SO beautiful and I have heard that so many people are looking out for it too. Thank you.
GJ

EVERYTHING ABOUT IT

Today I watched IWTB for the third time and I will definitely go and see it again and again this week. There are so many things I'd like to say about it, but there is only one sentence that can sum it all up: I love it!!! Everything about it!
I loved seeing Mulder and Scully back on screen, their chemistry is still there and they have aged so well through the years. I don't just mean by their looks (although they're still as handsome as ever before ;)), but as human beings they have grown and that was a wonderful thing to see. I am a shipper so I can't thank you enough for the shipper-parts in the movie, they made me fall in love with them all over again. But it's not just Mulder and Scully, it's the whole storyline that fascinated me. It was creepy and dark and brought me back to the good old days when the "X-Files" was still on television. I loved the aspects of love, fate, trust, science and religion that were visible through the whole movie. The way Scully was connected to Christian because he reminded her of William, the way Mulder was connected with the missing women because of his lost sister. Scully's ongoing struggle with her believing in God, her faith. It reminded me so much of my favorite poem written by William Blake, called 'Tiger Tiger.' The sentence 'Did he who made the lamb make thee?' was actually the first thing coming to my mind after seeing the movie for the first time. It represents good and evil and how those two things can be brought together with just a thine line. An innocent child battling a disease, two men committing murder because of their love for each other in order to save one of them, a priest who molested 37 boys but who gets visions from God now.
I think this movie is good quality work and very "X-Files"-like. I want to thank you and all others for making this movie happen en making so many dreams come true. And even though I loved the ending with Mulder and Scully rowing away with eachother, as far away from the darkness as possible, I keep on hoping there will be an XF3!
Again, thank you, I wish I could express my gratefullness through words, but no words would be enough.
Love,
Rachelle
The Netherlands

THE BOOK

I was wondering why there is no hardcover edition or audiobook of the new "X-Files" film. Thank you.
JG

Interesting question. According to the studio, more books are going straight to paperback, as hardcover has become more expensive, not only to buy but to produce. Retailers usually give movie tie-ins only a short window, so it makes most sense to try to reach as many consumers as possible when a movie first opens, which means going directly to paperback. The studio says that if we'd started with a hardcover edition, the paperback edition wouldn't have followed for about a year, at which point it would have been difficult to get retailers to stock it.

FINALLY GOT TO SEE IT IN MEXICO!

Here again from Mexico, finally I have seen "X-Files 2" -- two times this weekend. Although we did not have a red carpet here, I must tell you that I went to the first showing on Friday night at 8. The second time I went yesterday, the theatre was almost full, and the people reacted great to the funny parts and the scary moments. I felt like I was at a fan screening, it was so great. Excellent movie, Mulder and Scully rock! And gave us the great chemistry and lovely intimate moments.
Gillian Anderson is amazing as always, protective and maternal with Mulder. THANKS FRANK, and thanks to all the cast and crew, for an amazing film. The Canadian winter is almost sepulchral and spectacular, and in keeping with the creepy side of this "X-Files" mystery. And the post-credits scene is fantastic, a dream, a gift for fans, and a lovely ending for Mulder and Scully. It's GREAT to know that their lives remain together and so in love.
My final description for this movie and "X-Files" history: "FOLIE A DEUX BECAME IN AN ISLAND FOR TWO"
Thanks Frankie and Chris.
BY THE WAY, I'M HAPPY, BECAUSE OF THIS NEWS: '20th Century Fox International's "The X-Files: I Want To Believe" grossed an estimated $5.7 million from 4,000 screens in 48 markets, elevating its overseas cume to $31.4 million. The latest feature version of the TV series grabbed the No. 2 spot in Mexico with a debut tally of $1.2 million from 432 situations.'
source:http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i1e343e9ca0d6f68bcab1997949a29fa7
CC, GA and DD, and you have to come to Mexico, where there is a strong fan base for "X-Files." That's not a belief -- I know it. :-))
And I almost forgot -- I wrote my review of the movie, which is very positive :-) and supportive. I love the movie, and my mom (who is not a fan) loves it. The review is in Spanish, and the link is: http://tono418.hi5.com/friend/profile/displayJournalDetail.do?ownerId=41303351&journalId=68530288.
I hope you like it. :-)
Marco

SOME GOOD NEWS

I just returned from my fifth viewing of IWTB. I always go to matinees since I can't bear to put down $10 for a ticket. $7.50 is plenty. Anyway, I was expecting maybe me and four other people. But instead I was so pleasantly surprised. There were thirty-eight in the seats. This stunned me because two weeks ago I went to the same multiplex and only about twenty were there (and in the other two theaters I've patronized, there were less than six each time). I hope this upturn in ticket sales this weekend didn't occur only in my California town, but I will say I think one of the reasons more saw IWTB locally this weekend was that our country fair (which began on July 22) ended earlier this week. On a broader note, perhaps folks who had gone to see Batman once, twice, or more in the last few weeks are finally ready to move on to something different. With those numbers, I think IWTB may continue running in that multiplex for at least another week. It's so good to see people continuing to go. Maybe if we keep talking up the movie and going ourselves, the movie won't disappear from theater schedules in the U. S. as quickly as some industry experts have forecast.
Mary

COMIC REVIEW AND THANK YOU

I debated whether or not to send this to you as it's only mostly positive, but I tried to be honest and thoughtful, so I decided I want to share what I thought about your first foray into comics. I reviewed "X-Files" #0 as a guest reviewer on my boyfriend's comics blog: http://wrightopinion.com/2008/07/29/review-x-files-0/
And while I'm writing anyway, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your work on "The X-Files." I actually met you once before at the LA/Tustin X-Files Expo in 1998 -- I was 15 at the time (couldn't believe my good fortune that the Expo was so close to my then-home in Irvine) and when I went up to get your autograph, I was so delighted you remembered me from the earlier Q&A (I asked something about your on-line presence) that I don't think I properly said, "Thank you so much for The X-Files. It's a wonderful show." I started watching during the third season and instantly became a huge fan, and the ninth season was my freshman year of college, so I truly grew up with the show and it was a large part of my adolescence. And when I was a film school student at USC, I took every opportunity I could to use "X-Files" in my academics, including a presentation in my editing class on the hearing scene in "Redux II" and a 15-page term paper in sound theory.
Thank you!
Akiyo
Portland, Oregon (and not the way Mulder pronounced it in the Pilot episode)

GRATEFUL BEYOND BELIEF

Thank you so much for the movie. I absolutely loved it. Seeing Mulder and Scully together again made my heart ache for my appointment TV on Sundays years ago. It was quintessentially classic "X-Files"... so cerebral and thrilling. I'm so looking forward to the Blu-ray release and your commentary. I hope that the same treatment will also be made for the entire 9-season run with more bells and whistles.
OGV
Washington

THANK YOU FROM BRAZIL!

My dear Mister Frank Spotnitz...
Hi! I am from Brazil and I just want to say a few things:
-I want to thank you so much for the movie X FILES 2-IWTB... It is amazing... I just loved it!
-The way you and Chris Carter decided to work Mulder and Scully's relationship was the greatest and perfect things that I ever imagined...
-I also want to thank you for make all my shippers dreams come true...THANK YOU!!!
-Please,don't be sad or something like that just because this bunch of critics don't understand the plot or the essence of X-FILES... They are just stupid enough for this.... they don't have brain to understand this...
-Well, I have so much more to speak,but the only thing that appears right now in my brain is:
THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING MOVIE!!!!
All my friends from Brazil, from COMUNIDADE ARQUIVO-X BRASIL(Orkut)/X FILES BRAZIL COMMUNITY, just loved IWTB, as much as I did...
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING... FOR THE SHOW, FOR THE MOVIE, FOR THE AMAZING WORK!!!
THANK YOU!!!
Yayá
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

HOW MUCH HAS IT MADE?

Hello. I was wondering if you knew what the movie has made in both the U.S. and overseas so far.
I'm hoping we exceed the $30M mark so you guys can make another one.
Thank you.
Ryan
Porter, IN

I believe the movie has made just over $51 million worldwide so far.

FOR EVERYTHING

Firstly, let me thank you once again for the premiere tickets; I was one of the lucky winners in the blog competition and it was the highlight of an incredible week.
Now that I'm home and trying to get my head around everything, I realise that there is one thing above all that I really want to thank you for. Meeting you and Chris, seeing the movie, attending all of the events in London... it was all indescribable and I will never forget it. However, what really means the most to me are the friends I have made through "The X-Files."
At one point, when all of us got together for a screening, there were 27 of us from 9 different countries! I wish that I could adequately describe the impression that "The X-Files" has made upon my life, but please believe me when I say that you, Chris and everyone involved have not only created a wonderful television show that still brings me happiness to this day, but you have literally shaped my world.
Most of the people nearest and dearest to me are those that I have met, in one way or another, as a result of watching the show. They mean absolutely everything to me, and spending a week with all of them only reinforced that. We have gone through so much together, and the show has been a constant backdrop to our lives.
I often wonder whether - with all of our excitement over the movie and the events themselves - we actually manage to convey to you exactly what a difference you have made to the everyday existence of each and every one of us; that "The X-Files" is so much more than just a show. When I met you at the signing, despite putting a lot of thought into it; a simple "Thank you!" was still the best that I could come up with. This is just my small attempt to add some of the necessary detail...
So, thank you.
For everything.
Mary,
Ireland

THE GREATEST

Hi Frank, firstly I want to thank you all for bringing back the BEST characters on TV !!! I started watching "The X-Files" when it first aired in U.K. when I was 13 and I loved every minute of it! I'm now 27 and regularly watch my DVDs! I was at the London Premiere and was waiting all day! I ended up with one side of my face burnt! I have seen that the takings for the film have been quite low but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring them back for a third movie! You have to complete the story! You gave us the truth about 2012 and I know I am speaking for lots of fans who want to see that!
I currently work for a Post Production company in London and I know that watching such a high quality how such as "The X-Files" motivated me into working in the industry. I am looking into becoming a camera man and I hopefully will make my fourth short film soon.
Thank you and everyone else who worked on "The X-Files!" It really is the GREATEST show!!!
Gary

NEW GENERATION

This is not a question... more along the lines of feedback which, I'm sure, will make you, Chris, David, Gillian and the rest of the "X-Files" team very happy!
My hubby and I followed "The X-Files" very keenly back in the '90s, up to about Season 5, before work, babies/kids and all that jazz made it difficult for us to keep up with the show (plus there was less of DD to see,eventually... never quite bought into Doggett and Reyes...).
Thanks to IWTB, tho', our interest has been reignited; we've bought the DVD boxed sets and am now enjoying this TERRIFIC show all over again AND sharing it with our three sons, who are now of an age to appreciate it with us! (They're 15, 12 and 10)
I can see them falling under the spell of Mulder/Scully and the wonderful storytelling that were the key elements which till now, keeps captivating audiences.
We have a new generation of X-Philes in the making!! :)
I thoroughly enjoyed IWTB and I really Want To Believe that there will be another "X-Files" movie...keeping fingers and toes crossed!
Don't Give Up!
Janelene

WILL THERE BE ANOTHER MOVIE?

"I Want to Believe" seems to be well on the way to making a profit. I was wondering if you had any idea on when Fox will make a decision as to whether or not this was successful enough to warrant a 3rd "X-Files" feature film?
Thank you for any information you could provide and thank you for bringing Mulder and Scully back.
Leigh
Seattle

That's the question everyone is asking. You're right, Leigh: the movie will no doubt turn a profit, but we have to wait for the studio to decide whether they feel it's been profitable enough to talk about making another. As we've said all along, we would love to come back, but we made this movie knowing it could be the last time we'll see Mulder and Scully. We'll see.

NOVELIZATIONS

First of all, thank you for the great movie! I watched it together with a friend in a small town near Toronto, where we have been on vacation. This friend of mine has never been such a huge X-Phile as I have been since the pilot and now again with the second movie. But she found it great, too!
But let me allow a question about the book to the movie. On amazon.de here in Germany there are two books on sale. The first one is called "IWTB - Movie-Tie-In" and has 256 pages (it's the one I bought in the USA). The second one is called "IWTB - Movie Novelisation" with 384 pages. What is the difference between those two books?
Greetings again from a crazy German fan :-)
Moni
alias Fox_W_Mulder from www.xfiles-mania.de

They are the same book. One is the HarperCollins edition, and the other is the U.K. edition of that book, published by the U.K. publisher Titan. The U.K. edition is a slightly different size than the U.S., and they have more back ads, etc, which accounts for the difference in page count.

"I WANT TO BELIEVE" IN THAILAND

I'm e-mailing you this out of desperation!
Initially, the release date for "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" in Thailand was July 31, then it was postponed to September 18, so that "Mummy 3" could be released at the same time as in America. I almost went crazy, knowing that I have to wait for almost two months and also that these months were going to be really, really hard trying to stay spoiler-free.
Since Friday, there's been messages posting on many web boards saying that Fox/Warner Thailand had decided to take "I Want to Believe" (and "Meet Dave") out of the programme!!! It was a total shock!!! And I find this very hard to believe because they were just messages without a reliable source, and the reason given (the movie wasn't well-received by critics) was just, well, unreasonable!
I have no idea how idea how or what I can do to know for sure if this isn't just a rumour. I called many major cinemas, and the answers were both yes, no, and perhaps. Unfortunately, I can't find any means to contact the film distributor or anyone who could deny or confirm this. So, please, please, Frank, if you know, could you please put my mind to rest -- will there be, or won't be "I Want to Believe" in Thailand?
Lastly, I want to thank you, Chris and others for not giving up and make this movie possible.
Thank you,
Puen
Bangkok, Thailand

I'm sorry to say the rumor is true. According to the studio, it's very challenging to release movies profitably in Thailand and it was ultimately decided not to distribute "The X-Files" there. The studio says they will instead release the DVD much earlier (no date has been set yet). We -- and the studio -- apologize for disappointing all our "X-Files" fans in Thailand.

REVIEWING IWTB

As a devoted fan from the U.K., I am delighted to be finally able to join in with fellow fans in talking about "I Want to Believe" following our opening weekend. It's only been an extra week, but it has felt like an eternity. At last I can log in to fan sites without fear of spoilers, consume all the media reviews, and share my thoughts with fellow Philes in fervent discussion just like the days when the TV show was on the air.
I very much enjoyed the movie, but rather than bore you with all my thoughts and hijack your blog, I've created a webpage to host my review and give you the option of reading/commenting at your leisure. Feel free to pass it on to the rest of the team, if at all interested. Here is the URL:
http://triplefive.choseit.com/
Thank you so much for making this movie. I'll be going again (and likely again) to see it on the big screen, and can't wait for the DVD release - especially if the rumours of an extended and unrated cut are true! I dearly hope the possibility of another motion picture in the "X-Files" canon will come to fruition.
Jamie
United Kingdom

"I WANT TO BELIEVE" IN MEXICO

"X-Files" 2 opens in Mexico this Friday. I still Want to Believe. I took this picture of the big poster on the wall of the movie theatre. It's a huge billboard.
Marco
Tuxtla
Mexico

CONGRATULATIONS

Hi Frank!
I'm a Spanish fan of "The X-Files." I just wanted to congratulate you, Crhis, David and Gillian, and the rest of the crew for making this great movie. I love it and I can't stop watching it!
There are critics that are treating the movie very bad, and I can't stand it. We, the fans, are being hurt by this kind of commentaries, but we are trying not to read them.
Anyway, you have to know that we have loved the movie here in Spain, at least, and that we are very thankful for this movie that we consider a gift.
Kisses from Spain!
Virginia

SOUND OF SNOW

Firstly, "I Want To Believe" is a fantastic film. I was in heavan watching Mulder & Scully back on the big screen. It was exactly what I wanted to see in an X-Files movie. One of the things I was looking forward to most of all was the score by Mark Snow. I loved his work in the show, and I have all the "X-Files" albums and both "X-Files" singles that have been released. I didn't really pay much attention to the music when I saw the film though, which I was disappointed about when I left the cinema. I searched every shop for a copy of the soundtrack, but everywhere had sold out (do you know how difficult it has been for me to track down a copy of the album and the novelisation??). I finally got my copy online, and listened to it all the way through first thing in the morning. My mouth dropped. It was amazing, beatiful infact. It sound so unlike anything that we have heard in the series, but it has the hauting undertones that you would expect from Mark Snow. I really think he has surpassed himself with his composition. I had a massive grin when track 3 came on, "The Trip To DC," as there was a large portion of that score taken from the first "X-Files" film's score. It truly is a masterpiece and cannot wait to hear what he has in store for us if a 3rd film is made. I remember reading on here before that there may be a Mark Snow boxset containing all of his scores from all 9 season of "The X-Files" and possibly other 1013 shows. Is this still in development? I really hope so, as it would be an essential purchase. Thank you for your time Frank and for the new movie. Hope we get another one in 2012.
Paul
Walsall, United Kingdom

We expect to release more classic Mark Snow music later this year, but the details haven't been worked out yet. As usual, we'll post the information here as soon as we have it.

IN LOVE

Hi =)
So... first of all I want to say Hello Mr. Frank =)
Any who
I'm 16 and in love with "The X-Files" and am writing to you because of it. My cousins are older then me and are big fans of "The X-Files" and that's how I got into them. It's a witty show in which you must pay attention from start to finish. I loved it because it challenged one's way of thinking and was very realistic... in a sense where what you normally wouldn't believe you end up wondering if you do. It's a great show, and I have all its seasons.
That's what I am writing about. You see I got into "The X-Files" a little more then a year ago. So much so that I collected all the seasons the moment I could. Back then, before the movie was announced to come out this year, the slim box set coasted about $23-28 at Target.com and now they cost $39.99. In other words people are still buying the seasons that's why the price went up. People that have never seen the show now want to because of the movie. Granted, money wise, the movie didn't do so good but people are still interested. Prices went up because Target they know that people want to buy. Also, it is possible to reach a younger generation because me and my friends love the show. It's very possible =).
So anyway, what I'm saying is, pleassssssssssssse keep the movies coming because Chris, Yourself, David and Gillian, and all those who helped out with the show in any way, are simply brillient together.
Hope to Someday Meet You all,
Ark
California

STEM CELL RESEARCH

The movie was flippin' awesome!
Now that we have that established, I just wanted to tell you how excited I was when Scully mentioned stem cell research. I am myself a stem cell researcher and a student at the University of Missouri, and I was more than thrilled to see Scully in all her doctor glory (that's my girl!) performing cutting edge medical procedures involving stem cells. I loved explaining to all my friends the possibilities and probabilities of how this procedure could work. I was a little apprehensive that Scully could "google" the operation, but hey, she managed to do a Southern blot in 6 hours (Redux), and she absolutely [insert high pitched voice] nailed it!
I love science!
Jessa
St. Louis, MO

VIRGINIA vs. WEST VIRGINIA

I'm about to go see the movie for the 9th time, but there's one thing I've been wondering that I wanted to ask you about! In the novelization of the movie, it seems that everything takes place in Virginia (I think). Even Somerset is in Virginia instead of West Virginia. I also noticed that both victims' cars in the movie have Virginia license plates. So, why West Virginia? Was that a last minute change? Did you guys realize that it NEVER snows that much anywhere in Virginia?? ;) Thanks!
Kelly
Blacksburg, VA

Good catch! Late in the post-production process, we decided to change several locations in the film to West Virginia for the very reason you suggest.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

... to you, Chris, Gillian and David for making XF2 happen! Being a fan since day 1, I have been looking forward to it! And although the wait was long and frustrating, it was well worth it.
I loved the movie, to me it is a great balance between suspense and love.
I found Gillian's performance particularly strong and moving;
and David playing a Mulder, still true to his beliefs, but more open and showing his feelings (if I may say, I prefer Mulder with a 2-day beard :-D, although this one made a lot of people laugh);
I was of course delighted with the ending, and the after-the-credits scene (I suppose you didn't go to Hawaii to film that one?).
This means some more moments of happiness to come for Mulder & Scully, they so deserve it!
Meeting with other philes of different ages, on the opening day here- and on different internet forums- made me realise that the X-FILES mean a lot to all of us in so many ways, and that we're like a big family. All this fandom, after so many years just prove how the X-Files has been able to evolve and that it is just the best series ever, both intelligent and emotional.
I'll go see the movie again and again until all theatres in Paris stop showing it.
And I am not giving up hope for a third movie (please don't wait six years to do it! :D - you know philes are very demanding too). Because we still need answers to all questions left unanswered, and also to close this wonderful chapter that are the X-FILES. Although I'd never want it to end...
take care, and thanks again
Virginie
France

JOY TO THE WORLD FROM BERLIN

My name is Marina (aka Tilomas at XFM and also be known as XShipper) and I’m from Berlin, Germany!
Can you send a “HI” to Chris, David and Gillian?
Now I've seen the movie for the 13th time and I think it's a cool number! But I'm willing to go far more often. I need to, I have to!
Frank, I'm writing here to you because I have to say a special THANK YOU from me and if they don’t mind I’m sure from all the members of the German community www.xfiles-mania.de, too. Those who were there had wonderful days in London and it was so overwhelming and amazing for us to see you live!
At the Q&A panel we were standing there in the first row in the middle and on the other side with our greenish X-shirts and with our flags. Do you remember? Chris took a photo, take a look at his Apple iPhone! :D Just kidding! But maybe and hopefully you DO remember. Because it was quite a shocking moment for us when ... Chris and then you pointed at us and you said THE SHIRTS!
A few days before the U.K. premiere we had mailed you if you could ask Gillian if she knows something about a package we've send her. Your answer got around like SQUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEE at the community! We all freaked out!
So, we were so happy back then during the panel.
I just wanna let you know that we WERE there at the red carpet, too. That we waited for you, Chris, Gillian and David to come by! We were standing right in front of the EMPIRE entrance, we had our X-shirts, flags, crazy X hair-styles, especially Spooky06 (green punky X) and me too (X on the back head), and a cool XFM banner! We gave a lot of interviews! Wohoooo!
But then everything went wrong FOR US! I mean not really everything but ... you know. We were running out of time and just David appeared on our side right in time and the rest of you were elsewhere. We had to leave our spot because we all had tickets for the premiere – damn damn damn! (Wow, I walked by Chris Carter! I just saw his bright hair! :D)
The tragedy behind everything is that right in the next few minutes after all XFM members were gone YOU ONE AFTER ANOTHER came to ... ah, yeah, not us! We were not there anymore. We had no chance to see you live right in front of us, almost touchable, and to be able to say hello and whatever.
We were sitting down in the theatre and mostly every XFM member yelled in shock OH GOD NO, THAT COULD HAVE BEEN US!!! Something like that. Tragic! I also think a lot Philes out there can say that, too!
My personal disaster and a meaning tragedy for the german community was the lost of our XFM banner we had to leave behind when we left the red carpet. STUPID!!! It was impossible for us to get it completely loose from the barrier and the security guy said NO for any help from the other side. It was crooked hanging there and we saw it on the big screen. I for myself cried a lot since that moment! I'm looking around for it in different communities right now but I think XFM will have no chance to get it back. It's a cool and nice one, it was expensive because it's a professional banner! But, well, our community online address is on it. HELLO??!!
The whole heartbreak is that we have missed our chance but on the other hand we have seen you inside the theatre. We sang along JOY TO THE WORLD for you with all the other excited fans, we were standing there in different rows with our flags up in the high! And we yelled GERMANY, GERMANY, GERMANY! Funny!
I'm just so damn happy that I've given away one of my last flags to one of our XFM members, Foxtrot, because this very flag has now Chris Carter. OH MY HOLY GOD!!! Some XFM members had the chance to appear at the Signing (I was already on my way home to Berlin, Germany *cry cry cry*) and I'm so in high spirits for them! They have gotten the chance to see you and to say "HI" to you! On that day you were in contact (huuuuhuu) with the german community www.xfiles-mania.de and I'm a very proud member of! :D Gosh!!!
So my question is: Did YOU see us at the red carpet (maybe with your own eyes, on photos, on videos), did you know we were there?
I could squueee around because that was especially my personal and inner thought and the meaning idea of XFM what the UK-premiere should have been because of the fact to let you know you have very cool organized and absolutely crazy german fans out there. But I'm so damn sad because I don’t know if I in person will ever have the chance for myself again to really see and meet you (god, please, I hope so).
I just wanna say THANK YOU SO MUCH for everything you, Chris and Gillian and David have done for US – for the fans! The movie is wonderful and lovely. The spooning-scene is sooo unique and shippy (shipp shipp hurraaay). The whole plot is genius, scary, awful actual/real and deep. More and more critics are now re-thinking about the movie and describing it as “The new X-Files spin-off isn't just a failed attempt to revive a dated franchise. It's a brilliant and compelling tract for our time”! Nailed it!
AND I WANT A THIRD ONE! DAMMIT!
But like a lot of XFM members and other Philes out there I have missed my very big chance (hopefully not for the very last time) and I have lost the legendary XFM community banner by my own responsibility which has a lot of history of and for us and which I've paid it all by myself. I should have never left it behind. I really thought I could collect autographs on it.
So … I wanna hug you so much but I can't, consequently I can only write you this e-mail!
I’m sorry that I’m writing you so late but I was quite in shock after the premiere! Now I calmed down a little and can form my inner thoughts into english words. Excuse me for my eventually misspelling here and there!
Again let me THANK YOU! I love "The X-Files," the new movie and I love you all so much!
Damn tears, ahrg!
PS: Come on, tell us the truth: ARE YOU THE GUY IN SKINNERS ARMS?
PS²: Don't you wanna come and visit Germany? :D The german fan base would love to embrace you!!!
PS³: Is everything all right with David? He seemed so … sleepless, cranky and suddenly so thin … I don’t know! He was so cute together with the lovely Gillian, but on the other hand very nervous about almost everything.
Bye bye
your lil Mari
Greetings from Berlin by
spookydogstar
spooky06
spooky-nicci
Shepolino
berlinshorty
TTTXF
Traumcave
Fightthefuture82
Tilomas (moi)
and from www.xfiles-mania.de
And here some funny vids from SmallPotato
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=azWtUoNmYHw
http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=7m-hS6MjIRI

We saw you, and immediately knew you were the amazing fans from Germany.

MOST WONDERFUL THREE DAYS

I've just awoken after returning from London late last night, and I wanted to take a few minutes to just say thank you. I'd never been to any fan-events before and did not know what to expect flying in by myself, but I've had the most wonderful three days.
Myself and my fellow TwoPers had an amazing time, and we met a whole lot of great people to enrich our experience further.
In our group of four, 2 had won tickets to the premiere beforehand. So just imagine our shared joy when I got picked at the Q&A event at the HMV on tuesday (I was the one with the William question). There was a lot of squealing to be had from fully grown women.
I have seen the pilot on german TV when it aired in 1994. I was nine years old then. "The X-Files" was very important to me throughout my childhood and teenage years, and I slipped back in two years ago by purchasing the DVD boxes.
This new movie was an amazing gift, and the events in London gave me an opportunity to come "full circle" with "The X-Files" 14 years down the road (which does not mean I'm not holding out an insane amount of hope for a 2012 movie), and I cannot thank you enough for that.
I think I speak for all the lovely people that I've met on the London trip when I say that the Q&A, signing and of course the premiere were received with much joy and gratitude. "Joy to the World" is surprisingly touching when sung by a screening room stuffed with overjoyed fans, isn't it?
So, once again: Thank you. For giving us the oportunity to see the movie in the premiere cinema, for taking the time to come in and welcome us to the already amazing event, and for getting in close contact with us during the Q&A and signing.
Jools
Germany

CAN'T TELL YOU

Thank you so much frank!
i want to say i went to the london premiere from the competition on your blog and I can't tell you how much it meant to me. Having Been to young to originally see the show on its first broadcast, To see new "x-files" was a big event for me and when i received the E-Mail detailing that i'd won i was overjoyed!!!
The whole thing was great, the atmosphere was amazing - this was the first time id had a chance to be amongst fellow philes - and hearing the whole cinema say the line "that's why they put the I in FBI" along with mulder was intense. and then you , chris, gillian and david came in and wow!!! i was so pleased you came to introduce the film and took hundreds of pictures, though not many came out..
and as for the film; I Loved It. every second, you and chris have really out done yourself with it!!
anyway all in all, thank you Mr.Spotnitz for the amazing day.
Callum
North Wales

WON'T FORGET

Hi Frank!
I bet you get these days more messages than usually :-)
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for the whole Maybe-there-is-hope competition. I won, I was in London and it was an experience
that I won't forget. Seeing you four on red carpet, then in the cinema introducing the movie, it was amazing. The next day I went to Forbidden Planet. I knew what I would like to tell you and Chris, but when the guy at door waved at me, that I can come inside,
suddenly my whole body start shaking and I forgot everything that I wanted to say. But you were so nice!! I was really glad to see
that you enjoy the contact with fans, I appreciate it so much, we all do! So again, big thank you for all you have done for us,
including the new movie, which is amazing by the way :-)
Good luck,
Dana
Slovakia
P.S. You said, you'll remember me, because of my name, do you?:-DDD
P.S.2 By the way, we saw the movie in Empire cinema and the next day we went to Islington to midnight premiere :-D

I do remember you!

eXcellent!

As a journalist, film critic and President of the Greater Community eXcer of Latin America series of The X-Files: The X-File Brazil (www.arquivoxbrasil.org.br), with more than 24,000 Brazilian members around the planet, I want to thank you for the achievement "The X-Files: I Want To Believe." It's an eXcellent film with a big "X!" :-) Sorry you did not come to Brazil before the premiere, but hopefully before "The X-Files 3," it will happen. "We Believe We Want" that to happen next!
Carlos
São Paulo, Brazil

FOUR TIMES

Just saw the movie for the fourth time. It is just that incredible and I catch something new everytime. It is a great movie that I will continue to watch over and over again until I am banned from the movie theater. My question is, do you know (this early on) if you, chris, Gillian and David are all going to do a commentary for the DVD? There are many parts of the movie that I would LOVE to hear about from you all (and of course see the gag reel & deleted scenes).
Thanks
Gabrielle

Only Chris and I are doing a commentary, but there will be loads of extras featuring David and Gillian, including a very funny gag reel.

MULDER/SCULLY OR DAVID/GILLIAN?

There's a video on Youtube with Mulder and Scully talking about things they miss about each other (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmLlnfJr9hI). Was it just another something to misdirect us? Or was it really Gillian and David? Or something I didn't even think of?
Btw, I loved the movie! It was very thought-provoking.
Thanks!
Rosie

Those were promo spots David and Gillian ad-libbed in character as Mulder and Scully during camera and wardrobe tests for the movie last November.

ROLLERCOASTER

I would just like to express my deepest gratitude to you and the whole "X-Files" team. The entire "X-Files: I Want To Believe" experience has been a rollercoaster ride. I got into "The X-Files" only last year after studying an episode in english. I am only 16 so i am too young to remember the show when it was on TV and although it does present its advantages such as only having to wait a few months for the movie compared to the original fans wait of 6 yrs. i still could not help but feel saddened by the thought of missing all those years of excitement during the peak of the franchise. I thought I would never be able to match the excitement of the anticipation of each new episode and the constant knowledge of getting to see a new Mulder and Scully adventure every week. However you have given me the opportunity to experience this excitment which has mounted over the past 6 months. i have met so many new friends who share my passion and for bringing us together i thank you. Finally, i saw the "X-Files" movie on opening night in Australia with my mum and absolutely loved it and was a perfect end to this experience. As I sat waiting anxiously in the cinema i thought back to when the countdown on my computer read 210 days and couldn't believe how fast it had gone. I have seen it twice so far and loved it every bit as much the second time. As soon as my exams are over i plan on taking everyone in my family to see it once and my entire swimming club. I want to belive in XF3. Thanks again.
Keeley
Sydney, Australia

BUMPER STICKERS

My friend Melanie designed a set of fun bumper stickers for people that want to promote IWTB. I wrote a post about this in the social discussion section, but I thought a blog post might help, too. I think this is such a tremendous film, so restrained and brave, and I know a lot of people that support you, Chris, Gillian, and David (and all others that made the movie) want to see it reach the people that will find value in it and keep it going to more people.
We have available three bumper stickers and one window decal for anyone and everyone to download and print at will. Staples (and probably any other office supply store) has sticker paper that is inexpensive. Four bumper stickers (at 2.5 X 8.5 inches each) can print on one sheet. If you prefer the window decal, you can get transparent sticker stuff and print on that, too. The images are in the album "X-Files Bumper Stickers." It's album #64953. Get the full-size image and then right-click to save the image, or just print it from your browser if that's possible. If you think info or a link could go on the main page, that would be great. I think Melanie is going to try to post the images to an external site so that people that aren't on Big Light can access them, too, if they want. Let me know if you have any ideas on other ways to distribute these. Let's get going with more of this grass-roots promotion. Thanks!
Marlene

IWTB STUFF?

I'd like to say a HUGE thank-you for this movie. "The X-Files" has been a big part of my life. I was a very young age when I started watching the show, it used to give me nightmares but I loved it.
Ten years ago I was 12 when "Fight The Future" was released, but wasn't old enough to go and see it at the cinema. However, being the rebel I am I did manage to go and see it at the cinema and enjoyed every bit.
Now 22, I have seen "I Want To Believe" five times already and plan on going and seeing it again. I hope there will be another "X-Files" movie sometime in the near future. Will we expect to see any exciting merchandise released soon apart from the book/soundtrack/comic book?
J
UK

All the current licensed "X-Files" merchandise that's out there can be found at www.foxshop.com and www.xfilesfanclub.com.

DVD IDEA

First, congratulations on "I Want To Believe." I've seen it nine times now so I think it's safe to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the new maturity the Mulder/Scully relationship took on in the 6 years since we last saw them. I think you got that aspect of the film just right.
TheDeadbolt.com just published an interview they did with David and Gillian that had a number if interesting revelations. One of them was a brief discussion about the filming of the "easter egg" at the end of the film's credits.
(http://www.thedeadbolt.com/news/104818/xfiles_interview.php)
*Please* make sure the shooting of that scene ends up on the DVD and Blu-Ray release! Come to think of it, I'd love to see all the various takes from the movie's key Mulder/Scully scenes. Other than that, a tour of their unremarkable house and a joint commentary track featuring David and Gillian would be fantastic.
Best of luck,
Konrad

NEW GENERATION

My 16-year-old daughter went with me to see the movie last week, and she wants me to take her to see it again today! She's never watched the show, but she loved the movie as much as I did.
I just don't get the reviewers who criticized it. What exactly IS the criterion that they use thse days? Body count? Explosive tonnage? Percentage of hearing loss?
We sat through at least five trailers for horribly violent, pointless movies ("Deathrace"?! For Christ's sake!) before "The X-Files" rolled. I don't understand how anyon can weigh that mindless noise and carnage against a quiet gem of a file like "X-Files" and not see what a beautiful movie you've made.
Rachel

I DON'T GIVE UP

FRANK!!! How are you?! Finally, we met in London. It's still unbelievable to me. First of all, I'd like to thank you for your kindness at Forbidden Planet, the queue out of the shop was so huge, but you and Chris waited till the end.
I have to admit that I was really overwhelmed in front of you (also a little time before entering the shop!) and I think I lost some minutes of my life there! (Like Mulder and Scully in the Pilot!) I don't remember very well what I said, I think I told you "thank you" so many times, maybe too much, just to be sure you understood me! :)
I saw the movie at the London premiere (by the way, bad joke putting us all in the same theatre without knowing your big surprise, thanks for coming in that theatre!) and I tried to tell you at the signings, but I was really "out of mind" in that moment so I'd like to say it again now. THE MOVIE IS TERRIFIC.
Finally, I understand Chris's words "You'll see Mulder and Scully in a whole new way" and yours "The movie is very much about both Mulder and Scully."
That's so true. Mulder and Scully are still the same, they are still OUR Mulder and Scully. but they've changed and I liked the way they changed. I think it's right. After six years, I think the best way to be back again with these characters is like this.
REALLY THANKS for the bed scene, the "bright" finale and the after credits! (so Chris is really a shipper now ;))
I really enjoyed all the jokes in the movie, (I tried to write them all the third time I saw the movie in London!) and I hope to see you, Frank, in a cameo in the third movie! ;)
I think this movie deserves much more than it has achieved from the beginning to today. I think you, Chris, David and Gillian deserve much more than that.
I don't give up. I don't want to give up. I want to believe.
I'll let open our promoting campaign about the movie, We Want to Believe (http://www.beyondthesea.it/we_want_to_believe.asp), so people can read and write as well WHY they should go to see it. The X-Philes rock, you remember, don't you? ;) In Italy, the movie will be released September 5th, but many summer previews are scheduled for next week. I hope Italian philes will do their work. I know they'll do it.
The funniest thing happened in London. A dozen Italian guys, who never met before in person but only on a website, traveled to London to see the movie. They met in front of the Empire Cinema the morning before the premiere. They've really so much fun, they shared all the emotions, they enjoyed this strange and weird trip. I think now they have become friends.
This happened thanks to "X-Files."
Thanks Frank, and again, I love you!!
Francesca
Italy
P.S. In this video (http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=YanWqgZnV3Y) you can hear me and my friend Carlotta yelling to you and Chris at the Forbidden Planet! ;)

BEAUTY

"I Want to Believe" was not the film I wanted. I wanted a grand film that reminded me why I used to be such a big fan of the show. What I got, was a remembarence of why I keep carrying on through the darkness known as this world. In a world that is increasingly difficult to believe in, just having a film with the word "Believe" helps me. I have always suffered from fairly bad bouts of depression, ever since I was a teenager, but "The X-Files" was always there. I had skateboarding too, but growing up in a small town in Massachusetts, it was nice to have something to tune into that I could be amazed by week after a week, and it was nice to have a show that asked me to question the world around me.
Now that I am older, and hopefully wiser, I know that being an "X-Files" fan wasn't so much because I was into the monsters, so much as I was into searching for an answer to why the world is the way that it is. I feel that only by holding a mirror up to the rest of the world can we truly ever know ourselves. Only by understanding every culture can we truly know why we have grown into the people that we are.
Likewise, I want to Believe that there will be a kick ass movie opening some time in 2012 for the third "X-Files" movie, and that the world needs to see the planet overrun by aliens. The world needs to see the apocalypse in order for it to understand the beauty that we are capable of as humans when we stop firing guns at each other, and just start talking to one another, whether through speech or through visual mediums, such as a television show.
I hear other people on horror movie websites downplaying "The X-Files" for things like the new "Saw"" franchise. Likewise, I recently discovered that Rhyeo Kitamura's film midnight "Meat Train" got f***ed in its promotion. I have studied enough about film to know when a studio system is scared. As well they should be, because horror filmmakers have discovered the secret. I for one know that I plan to make a film some day, and I don't care if only 3 people see it in a dollar theatre in 2 states, I will still feel vindicated in being a writer and a film maker. The strength of shows like "The X-Files" were on there timelessness. I still watch the show and feel a shiver run up my spine, the same way it does when I pick up a new Stephen King or Clive Barker or Neil Gaiman, or hell even Nate Kenyon book, and know that I will be sucked into a nightmare. "The X-Files" had that power, to suck me in at first to watch the horror, and then to keep me there to see how these characters Mulder and Scully related to one another, and how there relationship grew. Likewise, it let me see different cultures, but through a lens so it didn't feel like knowledge shoved down my throat into my guts. Perhaps I am just a hopeless romantic, but I would like to think that perhaps there is more to life than "American Idol" and Hot Dogs and Football and a president that no one is proud of. A president that rednecks love because of how stupid he is, and a president the privileged white big business types love because he is keeping more money going to them, and less going to where it should be going like the poorer neighborhoods through out this great country.
Read these words, and know that somewhere out there was a lonely little scrawny irish kid from the woods of Massachusetts, who found a friend through good writing, and most importantly, through good philosophical perspectives.
I guess what I'm trying to get at in a long winded sort of way is that I love "The X-Files," and if there is no deal for a movie for 2012, then maybe you guys should just go make one anyway. I don't know much about business, but I now what I like. So, if you and Chris don't make the film, I will make it for you.
Hope is a powerful thing, and it is more powerful then big business and ignorance can ever be, and this is not so much what I took from this movie, but what I took from this powerhouse of a neverending story known as the "X-Files" mythology.
I have severe ADD, and growing up I think a lot of teachers just gave up on me because I learn in a different way. But, what I've come to realize is that it is this different perspective that is why I'm here, that it is this perspective that is why I don't give up and do something stupid like give in to a society in which stupidity is not only rewarded, but is aplauded. I'm all for fun and games, but I for one don't know when it stopped being in fashion to take life and death seriously. I love horror movies, and "The X-Files," solely because it allows me to realize just how cruel people can be. But, more then all of this, I love the show and all the movies' and even the books,(I read a few like whirlwind when I was really young, like 11 I think) because they showed me that anyone can rise from a nobody into a hero. They showed me that perhaps I should not dwell on percieved sadness due to isolation and self inflicted mental torture, and that there is a light out there, even for an athiest. Beauty is what I am living for, and perhaps only by seeing the ugliness around us it is the only way that we can apreciate beauty anymore. Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Sean

AROUND THE WORLD (PART 2)

I had an overwhelming request to include more tickets after the first collage. Here is the result.
Dr. Jennifer
Chicago

WE WANT MORE!

Greetings Frank, Chris, David, and Gillian:
We loved this movie, non-fans and fans alike. It was simply refreshing to not just see yet also participate in a movie that provoked actual thought as opposed to just spoon-feeding us the usual 'in your face' type of "entertainment." The movie dealt with current hot controversies as well as the classic good versus evil concept. I do believe, you have just taken us to the next level.
The acting was superb; Gillian should receive an oscar nod for her work in this! The storyline and direction was fantastic! Seeing Chris hold an urn at such a critical turning point of ala a 'to be or not to be'/the possible death of something beautiful was pure genius! The other fan nods keep filling up the message boards. We loved it all!
And, for these reasons, we want more "X-Files" movies!!!!!!!!!!! We all want to know if there are plans for more. We well know it has been said that it depends on the success of "IWTB"--how exactly are you measuring that success and when will we have an answer?
Thank you all you have given us! Please make more!
A big "We love you" from all the fans at IMDB,
Melanie

FROM SWEDEN

Hi again Frank!
Just a quick note to say THANK YOU for everything!
IWTB is seriously amazing, and keeps getting better! I went to my fourth screening yesterday and the theatre was absolutely packed. The viewers laughed, jumped out of their seats and aaaw:d where they should – and it made me feel so proud to be a Phile. You should know that even though some critics don’t get the film, we still believe, in IWTB and XF3.
I also had a wonderful time at the London premiere. Here’s my little recap with pics: http://laurapetrie.blogspot.com (Oh, and I might be a bit in love with you too.)
Hugs =)
Emma
Sweden

FROM THE FRENCH FANS

The big day has finally arrived in France, too. And here is our review for the French gathering in Paris! Hope you'll enjoy it !
First of all, the French fans would like to thank you for the amazing video you and Chris made for us. We are really honored and touched. It was the best gift we received after the movie! Thank you for spending time just for us. To answer Frank: of course it was worth the wait!! And we really hope next time you could come to Paris :) We will all be there just as always.
So we began our meeting at 9 a.m. and then we watched the movie for the first time of the day. It was quite early in the morning to go to the movie, but the good point, we were mostly between friends, fans and fans who became friends ! We applaused the movie, and the names of the actors credited and we also screamed out loud : Nailed It !! as David asked for!
We were interviewed by a French internet-T broadcast: http://www.excessif.com/video/index.php?flashvideo=cvsquiledites10.flv and we kept on having fun ...
Then we went to a park near the movie theatre to spend time together, having lunch, chatting, playing quizz, and of course talking about the movie, before going back to the movie again!
Then began our evening in a room we rented to spend time all together. We did some more quizzes, watched clips, created a huge X with candles, celebrated one of our friend's birthday... everything was AMAZING till we saw the first bees arriving in our room. We first thought it was a joke... most of us were shippers so the bees joke was something really funny but it wasn't just one or two but many ones so we had to leave the room and go back to friends' places where we tried to have some rest, we were 17 in a very small room ! It's a GREAT souvenir in every mind! And it was SO "X-Files!"
Our gathering ended with great memories and the feeling that we've met great friends during a movie we saw with a lot of pleasure.
Thank you and "au revoir."
The French fans

COLOURS OF SPRING

Just wanted to send my loving thanks to all of you who made the XF2 movie (it premiered here in FInland last night). I'm so glad that it wasn't just some easy piece of Friday night's entertainment. It might be so that those who didn't like it could only see the surface, all the things of cold and dark. But we who did like it could see all the layers, including the light and colours of spring to come.
Love,
Maria
Finland

BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE

I've just had the two best days of my life. What a bizarre and great week! I can't imagine how it must have been for you! First of all I would like to say a big thank you (this is all I could manage to say to you and Chris at the Forbidden Planet signing). Thank you for getting Fox to send me some tickets and thank you for this movie. The show means so much to me and many other people all around the world (as I'm sure you're now aware). I've watched the x-files since I was 8 when the first season was showing on the BBC (which I agree was very strange). I think why the show meant (and means) so much to me was that it was a constant. It's very personal but I really just want to share just how much you've helped touch people's lives. My parents were divorcing when I first starting watching the show (which is probably why I was allowed to watch it when I was so young). I had a pretty tough childhood (as a lot of people do) and moved homes and between parents all my life, feeling very alone. We didn't have much money and I wasn't very self confident. But I think this is why the x-files struck me (even at such a young age). Here was Mulder, a loner, passionate and full of drive -and Scully, a strong, intelligent role-model and she had red-hair - like I did. I honestly believe the x-files educated and gave me a reassurance that I too could use my knowledge to push forward and make a life for myself rather be another statistic, another single-parent family. No-body gets there alone - and with the x-files I didn't feel that I was.
I've now graduated with a first class degree in Experimental Psychology from a top university and I honestly put a lot of it down to the show. I've managed to support myself (when I never felt settled and so many times almost went into care) and make some amazing friends when I was told I wouldn't amount to anything. Thank you Frank! Celebrating my degree was great and meant a lot to me. A great day. But when I came home I checked Biglight and realised I had missed the competition to win tickets to the premiere. I was gutted. I emailed to thank you and explained I missed the competition as I had my graduation. I didn't expect a reply. I didn't expect anything. But then a few days later Fox emailed. They informed me that you had passed on my email and would like to invite me. Frank Spotnitz. the man, the legend invited me! I was at work when it happened and my colleagues just stared on as I was gaping at my computer screen. I couldn't believe it. In fact I didn't. I wanted to (no pun intended). The tickets were posted and when I got them I screamed in delight. The day was fantastic - meeting other philes from all walks of life and being on the red carpet with you David Gillian and Chris. I met Chris and managed to thank him (captured on screen to my delight and horror), I was interviewed by Gia and got to see you introduce the film and the see film itself.
The film was fantastic! I couldn't have asked for more. Scully and Mulder's maturity, relationship, the conflict of emotions and the morality in the story all played out beautifully. Thank you Frank. The next day I got to shake your hand at Forbidden Planet and wanted to choke out how much it all meant. What you and Chris created. I'm the last person to feel starstruck, with the exception of this show. Meeting you was amazing and I have these interactions caught on camera (lots of thanks to Gia for that!). I really hope another film will get made but right now I'm just thankful we have this one. Also you are a lovely, lovely, person. I've heard a few friends complain when they meet rolemodels and are often disappointed but you and Chris were so lovely and have done so much for the fans it just gave me a whole new level of respect for you.
I'm really sad this is all over but seeing the film a few dozen times will help I'm sure.
Here are the videos if you have time to look.
http://qik.com/3gpp/ea2288a505bf4f7ba727b7c9928dc05c.1.3gp (me shaking your hand and talking to you briefly).
Being interviewed talking about your invitation and then meeting CC on the redcarpet and you being interviewed (all in a one minute segment piece).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVWx3N2A5dE
At the moment I'm finding myself and trying out new things but hoping to go into production and media and one day maybe I too can make an impact like you have with me (and thousands of philes everywhere). Thanks Franks, it was a pleasure meeting you.
Hayley

EVEN BETTER

I just saw the movie for the second time, and I have to agree with other fans: it's damn good--even better with a repeated viewing.
I have reviewed it on my blog. The review has been picked up by several other sites.
By my calculations, it appears the movie will make a profit, so I won't give up on production of XF3.
One thing: I read that David thought the Bush joke (which I thought was pretty funny) was a "cheap laugh." Wasn't it his idea to have Mulder pee on the "Independence Day" poster in "Fight the Future"? That could be construed as a cheap laugh, couldn't it? Heh.
Thanks for the many years of excellent entertainment. You guys made the best show in he history of television. Don't ever forget that.
Alex G.
Kansas City
http://soonerthought.blogspot.com/2008/07/quick-review-x-files-i-want-to-believe.html

BETTER WHEN SHARED

I'm sure you heard it enough times in your time in London but I'm going to repeat it anyway - thank you. To you, to Chris, to Gillian and to David; for making such a beautiful, beautiful film.
What's truly wonderful is that with this film I have made so many life-long friends and made stronger bonds with best friends I already had. I think that "The X-Files" teaches us that a quest, a passion is better when shared, and this entire film experience has completely exemplified that.
I'm so happy to have shared the experience of the London premiere with a wonderful group of people - even including yourselves! - and that I can say that I'm part of that community.
Saying it once more doesn't seem like over-kill: thank you.
Nia
North Wales, U.K.

MORE PROMOTION?

Dear Frank :)
A Big ThanXXX to You, Chris, David, Gillian, and Everyone else who was involved in bringing us this wonderful gift of 'XFiles: I Want to Believe' :)
After enjoying the promotion of 'IWTB' at WonderCon, Los Angeles, Chile, London, etc...I was just wondering if You & the XFiles Gang will be doing more Promotion as well?? :)
I get the feeling that numerous Countries would Love you guys to drop by for a visit :D
X-Smiles,
AE from Canada :)
"I Also Believe in XF3, XF4, XF5..."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chris and I are planning to go to Japan in October, but that's all the promotion we have planned at the moment.

DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

Thank you for the movie - my wife and I loved it. We are longtime fans, and you did not disappoint!
Instead of repeating myself here, I've included a review from my blog: http://figaro-pravda.blogspot.com/2008/07/so-ive-been-fishing-around-on.html
Thank you again!
David (and Kira)

SUPPORTING IWTB

First, I want to say THANK YOU for such a beautiful, moving, and intricate film in "The X Files: I Want To Believe." As both a long-time fan of the show and a lover of intelligent movies in general, I thought this was a rich and multilayered story, engaging throughout, and absolutely 100% true to everything that made "The X-Files" the best show on TV. I actually have a lot more to say about how much I loved this film - how smart and multi-layered I think it is, how it stayed with me long after the credits finished rolling, how I think a person could see it three or four or five times and still pull away something new and interesting to ruminate over (I could probably go on and on, but I'll leave that for another e-mail...)
In any case, I felt compelled to share with you something cool I found on the web, something that hopefully demonstrates how we fans (just like the truth, we ARE still out there!) are doing everything we can to defend and SUPPORT this completely superior movie. Please see below for the link and article (the fantastic movie review itself can also be accessed at this link.) And once again, thank you for bringing back Mulder and Scully, thank you for pressing forward, thank you for "not giving up." As a devoted "X-Phile," I have to tell you, I couldn't be happier with this effort; you can bet I'll be talking this movie up to my friends, family, and anyone else willing to listen. Thank you!!
Jaime
New York, NY

X Marked The Blog
John Kenneth Muir
http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/

Wow!
It's been a roller-coaster here for the last thirty-six hours as thousands (and I mean thousands...) of readers "found" my review of "X-Files: I Want to Believe" and linked to it across the Internet in forums, on blogs and so forth. At one point late yesterday afternoon, I feared this site (particularly comments section) was going to crash from all the activity. Watching my statistics counter in real time was unreal: clusters of readers were all hitting at once. Amazing!
From the bottom of my heart, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on my review; and also the dozens of X-Philes who private e-mailed me to share their thoughts on the review. Judging from how polite, decent, thoughtful and organized this bunch is, I'd wager "The X-Files" has a lot of life left in it.
In fact, there was only one comment I had to reject in the whole vast slew -- and it came from a hater of the film (and the franchise) who used unnecessary and inappropriate language. Even the "X-Files" fan who didn't like the movie (which is his or her right, naturally...) spoke eloquently and respectfully here.
Regarding the movie, I stand behind my review fully, and will add this additional thought: once international box office figures are tallied, DVD purchases and rentals are factored in, and a cable TV sale is made...there's little doubt this film will have been judged a financial success. History shows us that even when an franchise entry doesn't become an "instant hit," that doesn't mean the franchise is over. Back in 1997, things looked pretty grim for a hero named Batman, didn't they? Look where that franchise is today.
In terms of this blog, I'm back to work today, and I hope that some of the thousands of visitors who came here for the purpose of reading the "X-Files" review will stick around, explore the archives. and become regular readers. X-Philes might want to start with my retrospective of the classic episode "Home."
Again, my appreciation.
John K. Muir

INSPIRATIONAL

I was too little to watch "The X-Files" when it was on television, but two years ago I started watching it on TV and fell in love with it! I ended up buying all of the DVDs and watching them all in a matter of months. I was so thrilled when the movie was announced. I was excited to finally be a part of the phenomenon! The movie was beautiful and I've seen it twice already (I hope to go a third...). I have hopes of becoming a filmmaker after college and I just hope that one day I can be part of something as inspirational as "The X-Files" has been for me and so many other fans!
Thank you so so much!
Katie
Atlanta, GA

GETS BETTER EACH TIME

Thanks so much for the movie. After watching it at midnight I had mixed feelings because I was expecting something more like "Fight the Future" and was surprised by the lack of paranormal activity. Now I realize those are some of the reasons that make "I Want To Believe" so unique. I cried when I watched it (in a crowded theatre!) on Monday for the second time. During that subsequent viewing, no longer impeded by fangirl giddiness and anxiety over the plot, I was able to garner much more from the film. It is a compassionate character driven mystery that rewards the fans. Beautifully weaving the themes of redemption, faith, and perseverance into a story about the compelling world of Mulder and Scully, the film is truly intellectually stimulating. If the viewer engages in the film they get a chance to examine their own beliefs because the film tackles motifs and topics that mainstream media shies away from. Though the movie actively delves into its central themes, it never is overt with them, allowing the viewer to draw their own conclusion. Very unconventional (but absolutely "X-Files"), the ambiguity surrounding the fates of Father Joe and Christian provide a refreshing opportunity for an open interpretation of the film's meaning. I was impressed by how well the the movie stayed true to the characterization of our heroes while also letting them mature. The closure for the Mulder and Scully relationship at the end of the movie is so heartwarming that it brought me to tears. One of my favorite parts of the whole movie was the snow melting in the final scene right before the infamous kiss, echoing the message of never giving up and the ability of Mulder and Scully's love for each other to dissolve the darkness of their lives. Thank you for opting for a movie that inspires thought rather than attempting to make the next Saw or Grudge. Thank you for letting us see Mulder and Scully's true characters again, I'm so glad to add this on to the series. I will tell everyone I know to see this film, X-phile or not. If any X philes had doubts about the movie I strongly urge them to see it to appreciate it. Also please Don't. Give. Up. on "X-Files 3." Now that Mulder and Scully's characters are reestablished, they can kick some alien booty before 2012.
Thanks again.
Jill K.
Fort Collins

DEVOTION

I've been an obsessed X-Phile for 15 years now and my dedication to the show hasn't wavered one bit, it actually just gets stronger. My devotion to "The X-Files" prompts me to do things like: purchase the entire series on DVD (3 times over because each time it's released in cooler packaging with different extras), ponder a fourth "X-File"-themed tattoo (and no, none of them involve an image or likeness of any character or actor's face. I may be crazy but I'm not creepy), travel to New York to meet you and Chris at Comic Con (surreal yet amazing) and fly out to L.A. just to hang out with other X-Philes and watch the red carpet fan events (who new the first 500 in line would also get to attend the premiere, I think I was number 99) and see the movie 6 times (since it opened one week ago).
I work in neuroscience research at Georgetown University and yes, Scully most definitely had an effect on the career path I've chosen. For my sixth viewing of the movie I was accompanied by two undergrads that work in my lab. When Dr.Scully first appeared on screen one of them turned to me and asked "Was she in the show?". By the end of the movie he was asking me "How many seasons were there?" and "Did they release them all on DVD?" He's currently borrowing season 1 from me.
It's like crack, he'll be back for more.
This latest installment of "The X-Files" has been such an amazing gift. Not only is it a love letter to the fans, it's a classic "X File." It contains all the reasons I began this love affair in the first place and it has only left me wanting more. What I also find remarkable and a delightful surprise is the appreciation we the fans are receiving from you, Chris, Gillian and David. All four of you have made it abundantly clear that we are just as important to you as you are to us. I have been lucky enough to thank three of you in person but you thank all of us in literally every appearance, interview and / or article you're involved in. I'm more than happy to be a part of this mutual admiration society.
While I'm proud to be an X-Phile, I don't think my "X-File" fanaticism is particularly special, not any more actually. Within the past eight months I've come to realize, thanks in part to Big Light's social network, that there are a lot of X-Philes just like me. We are loyal fans, lovingly obsessed with Mulder and Scully's journey, who have nothing but respect and admiration for the entire cast and crew of "The X-Files." What you all have given us can only be acknowledge with countless, endless amounts of "thank you" and our unwavering devotion and support.
Love and Gratitude,
Nicole
Washington, D.C.
P.S. Do you know how I can contact Paul Rabwin? In my state of "this can not be happening" at the L.A. premiere I noticed him and walked past him but was reluctant to approach him to say "Hello and thank you". I'd like to send him a "thanks for everything you've done to make the X Files happen" e-mail or you could just high five him for me the next time you see him.

High five (and e-mail) delivered to Paul, Nicole.

TEARS IN HOLLAND

Just got back home from London and I now start to realise what happened. The whole experience with the fans, to see you, David, Gillian and Chris, to have all four autographs, the four interviews I gave for the British television, walking the red carpet myself... I'm speechless, this I didn't expect at all. It is more than a dream coming true. David in front of me, then Gillian. To face you and Chris. Thank you so much for that. I want thank you to mean more at this time.
On the way back home, when the plane took off it hit me. Tears rolled down my face, happy tears though. I still need to recover from it, but I do realise I'm one of the happiest persons on earth right now!
I hope you enjoy the Dutch waffels!
Btw, my Dutch flag seems to be famous. It was also on the Dutch news yesterday, very funny.
Lots of love,
Nicole
Holland

I WANT TO KEEP BELIEVING

No question - only a comment or two:
I saw "I Want To Believe" on opening night. Couldn't wait to get out of work and get there! I've been anxiously awaiting this for six months....
I was thrilled and delighted. This film was every bit "The X-Files" I remembered from the series. All the chemistry, the plot, the intrigue and of course the famous "omg what exactly happened here" ending. Awesome!
Thank you Chris Carter for holding out for what's right and for not giving up on a dream. We, your fans, are still dreaming along with you.
I check box office takes at least every couple of days hoping the film is bringing in enough revenue for a third to be produced. As I understand it, the third film will deal with material related to "fight the future" and the continuing theme of the series. I've simply got to know how this ends - or continues - as envisioned by it's creator. I'm not much of a pray-er but am putting forth all my best thoughts for the success of "I Want To Believe."
Cheers to your continued success!
Reen
Galveston, Texas
P.S. On a side note, David Duchovny is as handsome as ever and Gillian Anderson looks phenomenal!

eXXXXXXcellent MOVIE...NAIL IT SOME MORE!

I just wanted to write, for whatever it's worth, to tell you that I have had "XFILES2" license plates on my truck here in Tucson, AZ for 10 years now, and I have NEVER been so excited and proud to display something - aside from all my XF memorabilia and props that reside in one whole room of my house! I watched the show from episode ONE in '92 and I even took to writing fanfiction...The Skinner Sanctum...jvantheterrible - I'm certain you all aren't into such things, but it's been WAYYYY amusing watching the interviews at Comic Con w/Chris and Frank and what we all write about (exciting fantasy lives indeed). I swear to God, I still have goosebumps imagining the WAY TOO SHORT scene with Mulder and Skinner in the snow outside near the end. OMG... one of my most excellent fantasies came TRUE! TODAY! WHOO HOO!!! I know, it's sick, but some of us are just THAT twisted. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! And Scully too...but in MY XF universe, Skinner and Mulder are...well, more th an just Special Agent and Assistant Director. I swear, Chris Carter HAD to have included that scene (snippet) just for those of us who write Sk/M... and there are MANY!!!
I've been waiting YEARS to see Mulder and Scully again and this is so perfect. All of it. I loved it that Mulder and Scully weren't married, either. They would NEVER do that. But shag? You bet, baby! The thing that is MOST refreshing about this film is EXACTLY why the critics are hating it...there's
nothing that makes it "Batman-like", and it IS exactly like an episode of the show - one of the BEST EVER! I don't know if any of you will actually get this, but I just wanted to write and tell SOMEONE that might matter in the 20th Century Fox realm that I LOVED THIS MOVIE AND I WANT A BUNCH MORE!!!!!! BRING IT!!!! NAIL IT SOME MORE, PLEASE!!!
Thank you, THANK YOU so much for making this film! I love Californication, and of course Kalifornia is one of my most favorite films, along with Playing God (which everyone also hated) and Gun Shy (duly despised), House of D (more like House of DD...freaking brilliant) and Stargate Atlantis is worth it purely for Mitch. However... there is NOTHING that has come along, before or since "The X-Files," that has managed to so fully captivate and enamor me to its characters. I abhor reality TV of any and all kinds, and I am really thrilled to have the entire Chris Carter collection - including "Millennium" - on DVD for those nights when there's nothing on. Basically, any given night... but I digress.
I hope that despite the critics (who don't really matter anyway), Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz and DD and GA and MP will continue the XF saga...it would be a terrible thing if we didn't have any new stories to look forward to from this brilliant team. Thank you for giving us so many years of enjoyment and fabulous entertainment, due to intelligent writing and incredible acting. My only regret? That the Lone Gunmen had to die before they could be in any more movies...I loved those guys!
Ever So Sincerely and With Much Love and Continued Adoration,
Jacqueline V. (X-Phile for Life)
"jvantheterrible"
Tucson, AZ

MOST AMAZING 3 DAYS OF MY LIFE

Jo and I have just returned from the midnight showing in the UK and wanted to wish you a 'Happy UK X-Files Day'!
I also wanted to pass on my massive thanks for making this all possible for us. I said this to you (in person!) at the signing today, but we have had the most incredibly emotional 2 days so far!
There have been more and more exciting happenings each day, but my highlights have had to include:
- Being part of the most amazing atmosphere a fan could wish for by the red carpet on Wednesday day.
- Being one of the winners of your incredibly thoughtful competition and feeling so accepted and included in all that was going on.
- Being in the same room as you and the cast in Screen 2 - a dream come true since I became a dedicated fangirl when I was 11!
- Meeting you today. I didnt think it was possible to be more excited than I was when you introduced at the premiere but I was actually shaking to meet you today! You rock our fan world!
- Most importantly, meeting up with some of the best friends I could ask for. Through the amazing creation for which you and Chris and the cast can proudly take credit, over the last 9 months we have formed a very tight, welcoming, hilarious community and it is all thanks to you! So 'the inner circle' philes thank you Frank and Chris for this opportunity.
Congratulations on the movie event of the decade - this week will go down in the annals of Phile history forever!
Elli
Stoke-on-Trent, U.K.

BLOWS ME AWAY

Hello Frank!
I really don't know what to say to express what I'm feeling right now. I'm back at home in Paris and those past 3 days in London have been just amazing, amazing, seriously. I'm beginning to realize what really happened and it just blows me away.
First of all I just wanted to thank you again for giving us the opportunity to attend the premiere, to see the movie and to be there for us.
I just LOVED the movie. I just saw it once so far but I just have to see it more many times. You've obviously made the movie for us, it was a gift. During this first viewing I was so overwhelmed that I haven't had time to assess it as it must be. It was a very wonderful romantic smart triller. It was just awesome and beautiful. Gillian and David were awesome. I won't elaborate on Gillian's performance because I suppose I'm not the only one to be fascinated by her talent. Mark Snow's music is so amazing, I have no words to express the feeling I have while listening to it. I just bought the soundtrack and I just can't listen to anything else right now.
I am really so proud to be a fan of the show since the very beginning because I would have never dreamed to be able just to have this kind of "link" with you. You have been and still are so available for the fans of the show and it's quite unique and beautiful.
To have the chance to meet all the others fans from different ages, from different countries, has been just fantastic.
Yes maybe at first we were kind of disappointed to have waited 8 hours to be told at the end to go quickly to the theater before your arrivals but then you all came to introduce the movie and it was....amazing, remarkable ,amazing just amazing. I would never forget this moment.
Thanks to all the fans who were there at the Screen 2 because the mood and atmosphere in this room were just unbelievable, it was so great for me to see the movie for the first time with all of you.
I really hope you all enjoyed your time in London and feel free to come back in Europe at any time.:D
Thank you again Frank, Chris, Gillian and David for all those emotions!
Marie
Paris, France

NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING

I've started this e-mail so many times, simply because I don't know if I can put into words what I want to say. Simply, and above everything else, it's thank you. Thank you, Chris, Gillian and David for working so hard, asking us to believe (though really we never stopped) and turning TXF: IWTB into a film that the fans have been waiting for for so long.
I was lucky enough to see the film at the London premiere and I absolutely loved it. After so long off the air, seeing Mulder and Scully back on screen was just...indescribable. Their relationship has grown so much and in this film it really has surpassed what I thought it could be. I've never been a shipper but I think as Mulder and Scully, and I, have grown, it's easier to see that these two really do belong together. That their relationship is at the heart of "The X-Files" and it's what keeps us coming back for more. Maybe the film isn't as exciting as some critics would like, but if they looked beyond that at the relationship, at the bond that Mulder and Scully have, the sacrifices they make, they would see something much better than your average summer film. They would see what the fans see.
The last three days have been among the best I've ever had. I've met you and Chris, even though I was only able to repeat the words thank you, thank you (and in case you were wondering about the spoon with the X - it's a Welsh lovespoon. I thought it would be something different as a thank you). I've met Gillian. I've met people who I've known only on internet forums - in some cases for only days - and have made some life long friends. All through our love for the show. I've been on an amazing high, and have bawled my eyes out (at the end of the film, at the singing of Joy To The World outside Forbidden Planet, at reading the novelisation...at pretty much everything really). And it's something I wouldn't change for the world.
So, redundant as these words might be - thank you again, so much.
Bethan
Aberdare, South Wales

AMAZING

I just want to say thank you for this amazing movie. I really loved it. I've watched it seven times so far, and I'm planning to go to the theatre more days. I loved the way you and Chris depicted Mulder and Scully's relationship. It was very beautiful, honest and deep. The movie was very intense, the photography was beatiful and the narrative was perfect, too.
Some crtics didn't understand the movie, so they talked a lot of crap. But I don't care what they say. They don't understand the "X-Files" world. Unfortunately, not everybody is smart enough to understand it. But anyway, it is an amazing movie and makes me hungrier for more "X-Files" movies. And I have some friends that never watched the series and liked the movie, in fact, they want my DVDs!
When the series ended in 2002, I was asking to myself what would happened to Mulder and Scully. I'm so glad thay you guys answered my question. I watched "The X-Files" during all nine years and it was the best show ever. I'm very happy with this movie and I can't wait to buy the DVD and I hope you can make more "X-Files" movies.
Tassia
Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

LOVED IT!!

Chris, Frank, David, Gillian...
I LOVED the movie!! I was in high school when I first discovered the series, I believe "Redux II" was the first episode I saw, and I've been hooked ever since. The stories were wonderful and the dynamic between Mulder and Scully was, and remains, just awesome. I sincerely hope there will be a 3rd movie... you can't leave us hanging on the 2012!! I want to say thank you for this movie. We've waited a long time for this, and it was well worth it, at least to me and from what I've been reading, other fans as well. I am extremely pleased. I'll be going back a 3rd time, somehow I missed after the credits, stupid me!!!! Each time I see the movie I notice something I missed before, so I'll keep going back! My husband came with me the 1st time, and not being as big of a fan as I am, he thought the movie was great as well. I've even got him watching old episodes with me now! I know you said it's too soon to tell if there will be a 3rd movie, however if there won't be, have you considered possibly doing something for tv like a 2 hour special, or mini-series, etc? Again, thank you and here's another happy fan!!
R. Elizabeth
Menominee, Michigan

THANK YOU, 20th CENTURY FOX

Just saw the movie for a second time and I continue to love it!
Before going back to the theatre, I re-watched the final episode of the series and on my second viewing on the movie I realized how perfectly the film complemented it. In the final moments of the series, Scully tells Mulder not to accept defeat... how perfect that 6 years later the message of not giving up is brought back to the forefront. That theme has always been an important part of "The X-Files," important to Scully and Mulder, and important to me.
Thank you again for making a suspenseful yet intimate thriller. Thank you for showing a grown-up relationship on screen, a true partnership. And, as for the story, while not as exciting as some of the best mythology episodes, it is reminiscent of episodes from the early seasons of the show and has the perfect mix of paranormal, science, and faith. Thanks!
P.S. Who can we write to at Fox to express our support? While I can be happy if this is it, I won't really be satisfied until we get our "End Game" movie. :)
R
NYC

I have written before to tell you how much I LOVED this movie and loved seeing what has been happening with Mulder and Scully. Now I really want to write to FOX and let them know how much we all want XF3. I can't stand to wait another 6 years for our dynamic duo to grace our screens. Is there a contact you can give us to ensure we are contacting the right people over at Fox? E-mail or address? I will beat down their office doors or knock down some cubicle panels if necessary (I am not above embarassing myself) ha ha
Thanks for any help you can give!!!!!
Delaney
Virginia

Just saying that I will be seeing the film for a 2nd time this upcoming weekend. And am proud that two of the most respected critics---Richard Roeper and Roger Ebert both enjoyed the film (Ebert gave it an A-). But more importantly, your fans really enjoyed this film.
I was wondering if you can provide a mailing address or email address for Fox Studios. I'd like the send them a letter thanking them for giving you all the green light on this production. And for the future, the more extras on the DVD the better! =)
Brian
Mira Loma, California

You can write to Michael Broidy, 20th Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Bldg. 88, Room 344, Los Angeles, CA 90035, USA.

SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS?

I recently read a blog-style review (http://entil2001.com/series/x-files/iwtb/myth.html), which makes some connections between X-Files: I Want to Believe and the series' mythology. The connections deal mostly with the involvement of angelic forces in the quest of Mulder and Scully to defeat the demonic forces of darkness, namely alien colonization. God re-entered Scully's life through religion in "Revelations" and more prominently after her cancer in "Redux II." These spiritual forces were even finally acknowledged by Mulder in "Closure," "Existence" and "The Truth." In "I Want to Believe," these same spiritual forces seem to lead Mulder back to his quest and direct Scully to follow him. They even remind Scully of William and will perhaps lead her back to him and his potential role in resisting colonization.
The reviewer ends with the statement that he believes these connections were not likely to have been intentional. I was wondering how much was actually intended?
Thanks.
Jason
Lexington, Kentucky

They are only intentional in that, in each instance, they reflect Scully's character and -- especially in "I Want To Believe" -- serve as a counterpoint to Mulder's beliefs.

STILL IN SHOCK

A group of fellow Philes from around the country and I made it to L.A. last week for all the XF related fun, including seeing Gillian at Leno and Kimmel. But the best time was, of course, the premiere. We were something like 9th in line starting at 5am. All we expected was to see the red carpet stuff and the Q & A. When suddenly there was a stampede in the bleachers. You were letting us in to see the movie! Once on the otherside of the road (I'm sure you don't remember) but I noticed you kinda looking off into the distance. I got your attention and you came over to me and signed my painting! Thanks for that! I was able to meet everyone else too! How amazing! I honestly don't remember seeing the movie since I was in shock from being there at all! I had to see it 2 more times for it to sink it!
Now for my question! Is the L.A. premiere Q & A going to be included on the DVD as an extra? I got to ask a question ("How did you make this movie so fast") and I'm sure I speak for hundreds of fans when I say it would be incredible to be on the DVD!!
Second! Is that a grown Samantha Mulder I see walking the halls of the FBI 1/2 way through the movie?!?! What other cameos am I missing?!
Thank you for the most amazing day of my life!
Sara
Florida

We already have more extras we'd like to include on the DVD than will fit! If there's some way to squeeze that in, too, we'll let you know.

THANK YOU FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The past few weeks we've been trying to think of a way to say "thank you" for all that you, Chris Carter, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have done for the fans. Over at the Haven site we came up with something which involved philes from all around the world. We hope you like it!
In gratitude,
Marci
Monrovia, CA