Big Light

DRAWING AUCTION FOR CHARITY

2009-07-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Frank,
I’m writing to you because a French friend of mine and I have arranged an auction for Gillian’s OTSK.
We are selling two drawings made by us and the funds we raise will be given entirely to Gillian’s OTSK.
The auction is arranged on a French forum: http://x-filesmemories.actifforum.com/ and you have to register on this forum to bid for the auction (here there is a video made by a friend of mine which explains how to register and bid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_p5_A3l9AI).
The auction goes on til July 5th… It’s really important to me. I’ve spent so much time on this drawing in order to help people... Knowing that I’ve helped children and people in need would be the greatest reward for me… Knowing that your work has done something good is such an awesome feeling... I hope you can help me spread the word and help as many people as we can!
Thank you so much for your time!
Giorgia
Italy

"X-FILES" NOVELS?

2009-07-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hello again,
I know this question has been asked before, by me for one, but I was hoping that this time around you would have a different answer then previously. Have you and Chris Carter spoken about writing any "X-Files" novels in the near future? While we are all hoping for another movie, I know that us "X-Files" fans would love to get our hands on anything new with Mulder and Scully especially stories that could fill in the years between "the truth" and XF2, and with stand alone stories, even enrich the time period throughout the middle of the show much like the recent comics have. I think this would be a great idea, if its a short series of two or three books or even just one anything would be awesome while we pass the time until XF3 (fingers crossed) Us X-Philes know you and Chris are busy men but we just don't want our favorite duo's story to be through just yet!
Vin

The answer hasn't changed, but if it does, I will let you know!

XF3 ARMY GETS A UNIFORM!

2009-07-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

The third phase of the XF3 Army: Believe in the Future Campaign has been unveiled.
What's an Army without an uniform? Wearing the identity of the movement makes you feel part of it, right? Well, its about time the XF3 Army begins to dress to impress!
So that's why we're calling all phile designers to be part of it! For details on how to participate, go to http://kl.am/15Zf, the direct link to the release note or to the XF3 Army Central at http://www.tinyurl.com/xf3army
Avi
www.xfilesnews.com and the rest of the phile world

XF3 ARMY HITS 100 VIDEOS

2009-07-01T12:44:00.001-07:00

Frank,
I thought you would want to know that phase two of the "Believe in the Future" campaign has reached 100 videos on YouTube and is showing no signs of stopping! If you would permit me, I would like to publicly thank all of the vidders for their amazing support of this project and their unwavering dedication and talent.They have truly kept this fandom alive and XFN is very proud of all of their efforts. Phase three will be announced soon so keep those videos coming and keep on believing in the future.
Tiffany
www.xfilesnews.com

DAN SACKHEIM

2009-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

Emmy winner Dan Sackheim is one of the unsung heroes of Ten Thirteen. He produced the "X-Files" pilot and "Fight the Future" and directed numerous episodes of "X-Files," as well as "Millennium" and "Harsh Realm." Later, he directed and produced the "Night Stalker" pilot, produced the series, and directed several episodes as well. You can check out his photography at danielsackheim.com.

CORRECTION: MARK SNOW CONDUCTING

2009-06-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Frank,
I think you got the info about Mark's appearance in Fimucité a little off.
According to the program the innauguration of the festival is on July 20th, and then he appears on a conference on the 23rd and then the concert and a round table on the 24th.
Or maybe you talked to Mark about this lol and the site is not updated LOL
Any way...
HI! Just a month until I move to L.A., this is pretty exciting, I'm having a great time re-watching all of these movies!
Avi

Says Mark: "She's right. I travel on the 18th, arrive on the 19th, it starts on the 20th, my concert is on the 23rd, and it's over on the 25th." Thanks for the correction, Avi!

ALIENS IN "PAPER CLIP"

2009-06-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

Frank,
I've been rewatching my "X-Files" DVDs and most recently saw "Paper Clip", which is my all-time favorite episode. To this day, I have no idea what's happening when Mulder and Scully are in the mountain cave in West Virginia -- the one with the files of individuals born since 1950.
Why was a UFO seemingly there, and more importantly, why were a number of aliens running past Scully in the cave? I've never understood this and would love to solve this long-running mystery of mine.
Thanks,
Brent
Cleveland

I'm so glad to hear that -- I share your enthusiasm for that episode, so I hope you won't be frustrated by my answer. You're not meant to know what the aliens are doing there. At that point in the series, all we wanted to establish was that the aliens were, in fact, connected to the Strughold Mining Company. (And Scully wasn't even meant to be certain of that much.)
I wouldn't attempt to fill in the details about what they were doing there, any more than an artist should tell you what's in the dark shadows of a landscape painting. You're not meant to see into those shadows -- you're meant to imagine and fill in the blanks yourself. Having said that, if you follow the mythology through subsequent episodes (and particularly the first movie), it's not hard to surmise what the little grey guys might have been up to.

MARK SNOW CONDUCTING

2009-06-29T23:14:00.000-07:00

The great Mark Snow will be conducting music from "Millennium" and "The X-Files" on July 18 at Fimucité, a music festival on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Mark's program will feature extended versions of the "Millennium" and "X-Files" themes, as well as music from the episode "The Post-Modern Prometheus" and several pieces from the first and second movies. You can see the program at www.fimucite.com.

THANK YOU FROM A VIDDER

2009-06-29T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hi Frank,
This is the first time that I'm writing to you.
After having seen many beautiful fan videos on YouTube, two months ago I decided to become a vidder. Well, I’m still a beginner vidder, but I try to do my best.
Unfortunately, I’ve already had problems with YT: two of my videos have been deleted due to Fox copyrights. Lately YT complicates vidders’ lives: many videos are taken down or without audio and even get suspended accounts! I don’t understand this thing, I mean we aren’t criminals, we are only people who love a show and demonstrate it by making videos.
However I wrote this letter only to tell you “thank you” because the Big Light network is an “oasis” for the vidders. Here we can upload our vids without the problem of the copyright (Fox, UMG, WMG…).
Of course, I joined the XF3 Army Project cos, as do all X-Philes, I want a third "X-Files" movie!
Silvia (alias XF chemist, http://www.youtube.com/user/XFchemist)
Italy

STRUGHOLD

2009-06-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hi,
I haven't wrote you in some time but I just finished watching the first "X-Files" movie and couldn't help but think about your plans for "X-Files 3." Based on what you have previously stated you and Chris Carter pretty much have an outline for the next movie. I was wondering if your plans include the return of Armin Mueller-Stahl as Strughold. He seems to be the only remaining member of the original syndicate who has not died. Has he been working with the new syndicate or is he in hiding, like CSM in "The Truth?" I know you cannot reveal much about your ideas for another "X-Files." but any hint would be appreciated.
Thanks for your time,
Vince
P.S. Even though William B. Davis' character is dead, can you please include him somehow in XF3, even if just as a ghost?! Smoking Man was a monumental part of "The X-Files" and having him in another movie would just be awesome.

Good question, Vince, but... I can't say.

TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY?

2009-06-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Good day, Frank.
I've always loved watching episodes of E! True Hollywood Stories of E! and other shows of it. I've just wondered if E! have actually tried to feature 'The X-Files' on the True Hollywood Stories because I've seen they've already done: "24," "Friends," "The Women of 'Sex and The City'" and a few other TV shows. I'm really hoping they'd feature TXF soon... or at least GA or DD.
Gale
Manila, Philippines
PS. I watched GA's play in London and it was brilliant! I loved every minute she was acting! It was well done... brilliantly amazingly done and I was just speechless. Worth watching and definitely, not a waste of time to travel at the same time!

As far as I'm aware, E! has not considered featuring "The X-Files."

THE AMAZING GILLIAN

2009-06-27T07:32:00.001-07:00

Dear Frank,
I don’t want you to be worried for your aspiring adopted daughter, so here I am writing to you. =)
I just got back from London after a great weekend with a few phile buddies: it was absolutely amazing! It’s always nice to see so many "X-Files" fans gathered at the same time in the same place.
The occasion was Gillian’s play, “A Doll’s House," that we all wanted to see. And I can say that it was one of the best things I’ve ever seen in my life! She was so brilliant that we were absolutely speechless at the end of the play! We know that she is a great actress on screen, but on the stage she’s simply unbelievable. You see this tiny little figure off the stage, and she becomes so immense when she’s acting. I deeply suggest you to spend a week of your summer vacation in London to see the play because she was just incredible! All the members of the crew did a great job, but when she’s on the stage her acting “is so intense that sometimes it's blinding” (as Scully said once ;) ) and I saw all the fans unable to stop staring at her. It was the first time my friend Francesca and I saw Gillian in a play, and we could actually see how much she has grown in her career, and I feel very lucky because we had the chance to see her from the very beginning. I just wanted to say that it was a real pleasure to see her and it was a real pleasure to see the general enthusiasm of the fans.
Speaking of enthusiasm, I just wanted to tell you that I assisted to the formulation of a new brilliant interpretation of "I Want to Believe" while I was having a dessert with my American friends. Apparently, according to my friend Karen, IWTB is like a real Italian Tiramisu: there are many different layers that you keep discovering, it has this intense flavor that completely satisfies you but you feel like you need more and more. How can we not agree with that?
Cheers,
Carlotta
P.S. The pictures were taken in front of the "Fight the Future" location in London. Priceless.

TOGETHER AT LAST!

2009-06-27T07:27:00.001-07:00

Dear Frank,
Last Sunday seventeen fans met in Regent’s Park, London, on a gloriously sunny day. They were from all across the UK, from the USA and from Australia. They got to know each other on Facebook last year, in the run up to the release of "I Want to Believe." Many of them met for the first time at the UK premiere of the film, thanks to your generous ticket giveaway. This June, not even a year since the release of IWTB, the entire ‘Inner Circle’ was in the same place, at the same time.
What an amazing day! I spent ten days down in London, making a bit of a holiday of it, and I could not have asked for a better time. We all went to watch Gillian Anderson’s brilliant performance in "A Doll’s House," which for some of us was fulfilling a long-held dream of seeing her perform live and meeting her at the stage door. It was sad to see the behaviour of some fans who waited at stage door –- disrespectful to both actress and other fans -– but it’s reassuring to know that not all of us are like that, and I certainly hope that Ms. Anderson knows it, too! It adds to my awe that anyone involved with bringing a show like "The X-Files" to life manages to put up with us!
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you, to Chris, to everyone involved with making "I Want to Believe" and of course the show. Without you all I would not have got to know my favourite people in the world, people who I will know long after IWTB, after XF3, after alien colonization and whatever else the future has in store for Mulder and Scully. For that I’m truly thankful.
Nia
North Wales

THE SAD NEWS

2009-06-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Frank,
It is always a sad day when we lose another of our extended family and the "Millennium" fan community at TIWWA and all the team at BackToFrankBlack wish to pay our tributes to the wonderful lady that was Lorena Gale.
We, of course, remember her for her wonderful work on "Millennium" 'Sacrament' but we have continued to follow the careers of all those who contributed to "Millennium" and we have enjoyed and admired her work in so many other fine projects and experiemced the great warmth and affection she extended to fans of her work at conventions.
We join with all our brothers and sisters in Ten Thirteen fandom in expressing our sadness and extending our thoughts and prayers to her family at this most difficult of times and we will continue to remember Lorena as a fine actress and finer lady.
Mark

DIFFERENT ANGLE ON THE SAME QUESTION

2009-06-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

I check the blog pretty regularly, and I'll shamelessly admit -- it's pretty much just to see if there's any XF3 news. I know you haven't heard anything, and don't really know anything about the future, but I guess my question is -- is there something they (Fox) are waiting for? I've heard mentions of overseas sales, DVD sales, even the success of the 2012 movie. Is it actually that Fox is waiting to make a decision or that they're just not really thinking about it right now (and hopefully will at a future date)? It's OK to say you don't know, I just thought maybe this would be easier than another e-mail asking if there's any news yet!
-D

I don't know what they're thinking. The fact that the third movie would almost certainly deal with the 2012 prophecy means there's still plenty of time for the studio to decide one way or another.

LORENA GALE

2009-06-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Lorena Gale passed away on Sunday after a brief but courageous battle with stomach cancer. Her husband John was by her side. A wonderful actress and a lovely person, Lorena's many credits included the Ten Thirteen productions "The X-Files," "Millennium" and "The X-Files: I Want To Believe." In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Vancouver General Hospital's Palliative Care Unit. She will be greatly missed.

INCREDIBLE GIFT

2009-06-23T08:44:00.001-07:00

Hello, Mr. Spotnitz!
We would like to tell you that a few days ago we have received the most incredible gift that an X-phile can only dream of! It was the best book ever, with the autographs of the most important people of the X-Files world.
First of all we would like to give the BIGGEST thanks to the remarkable X-philes Perla and Avi from XFN -- without them we could never have received this unique gift. And of course we send great thanks to Mr. Carter, Mr.Bowman, Mr. Hurwitz and you for your autographs and marvelous words to some strange Russian names. : )
We were so happy to get your thank you for the tribute to Kim. We hope that it has been OK and pleasing.
The happiest Russian X-philes (on the photo from left to right),
Ksenia, Andrew and Nastya

HEY VAN SUID AFRICA (HI FROM SOUTH AFRICA)

2009-06-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hi Frank,
It is my first time writing, and I just wached the episode "Per Manum" and I love it. I am just wondering did Gillian and David ever do an unscripted kiss for that episode?
Thank you very much from South Africa,
Marni
(Sorry for grammar and spelling mistakes -- English is my second language. And by the way, I loved "I Want To Believe.")
Ke rata x files is Sotho for "I love X-Files"
Ek is baie lief vir x files is Afrikaans for "I love the X-Files a lot"

As best as I can remember, they did not.

THE VAULT

2009-06-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

I just read a post here on the Big Light blog from a fan who brought up the different angles of the various Mulder and Scully kisses over the years of the show, and I had to chime in. It would be completely awesome if we could one day get to see those! I’m sure you have some idea of how many “shippers” there are out there. There should be some sort of DVD released that focuses on the relationship. Kind of like the "Revelations" DVD that was released before "I Want to Believe." This one should focus strictly on the unique relationship between Mulder and Scully, including the various different scenes never showed, angles, storylines, etc. relating to their relationship that the fans never got to see. Even if we don’t get a third movie, at least this DVD will more that satiate the fans! Think about it… isn’t it about time the cat was let out of the proverbial bag? ;)
McKenna
P.S. Upon further reflection, I realize that this message should be put out to the fans. If we want something to happen and Fox holds the keys to the promised land, maybe we should be writing to THEM. ;)

You're probably going to get a deluge of e-mail about "THE VAULT."
Before you do, is there anything of Mitch Pileggi in said vault? He had a rather hot love love scene with Amanda Tapping AND a SCULLY KISS IN THE ELEVATOR. (Yes, I immediately think of the elevator kiss when people mention the "Triangle" kiss. snicker)
There have to be alternates of those, too. I don't need skin per se, just alternate views.
Jennifer, feeling like the smallest orphan in the bunch

I'm sure there are alternate takes of just about everything (as well as countless deleted scenes from the television series), but the studio is unlikely to spend time and money unearthing them unless it's done as part of some future release.

X-FILES AWARDS

2009-06-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hello,
It has been 15 years since "The X-Files" first appeared on European TV screens. On this occasion and to celebrate "The X-Files" all over the world, we have created the X-Files Awards.
Please make sure everyone hears about it! The more people participate, the better we can determine the best episodes of the series.
Voting will be available in five languages and the web address will be posted soon. Categories include Best Episode, Best Myth Arc, Best Mulder Episode and so many others!!
Thanks a lot,
LeMartien
(http://xfilesrefuge.free.fr - http://xfilesultimate.com )

BACK TO FRANK BLACK INTERVIEW WITH KLEA SCOTT

2009-06-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Frank,
I hope you will allow me to take this opportunity to inform your readers of a very special edition of our Millennium Group Sessions Podcast that was released on Sunday, June 21. Klea Scott, Emma Hollis herself, spoke exclusively to BackToFrankBlack about her recollection of her time on "Millennium" for the first time since she provided the Season Three DVD commentary almost a decade ago.
We are indebted to Klea for the kindness, enthusiasm and support that she has shown us as well as the evident love she retains for the character that she helped to create and the show she was in. In light of the amazing interview she gave us, this podcast release is devoted entirely to her and her words. To hear what she recalls of her time on the show, of her warm relationship with Lance Henriksen, her fondness for Chris Carter and your good self (she sends a lovely greeting your way also) and her reaction to "Harsh Realm," plus a very exclusive competition, then the podcast is well worth checking out.
We, as fans, owe a debt of gratitude to the sheer exuberance Klea still has for "Millennium" and for the way in which she has rallied to support this campaign and here's where you can help. Use your Blogs, Twitter accounts, Myspace pages and more to tell all you know about this very exclusive scoop. Let everyone know, Klea Scott is in the house!
To download the podcast, check out more about the campaign and enjoy the most vibrant "Millennium" website on the web, visit here http://backtofrankblack.com/
Our very best wishes to you and your team as always! This is who we are!
Mark

COUNTDOWN TO IWTB WEEK

2009-06-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

The XF3 Army is going strong with over 80 videos so far submitted to the "Believe in the Future" campaign. XFN has pledged to deliver every single video, along with the campaign postcards, to 20th Century Fox at the close of the campaign in November.
XFN would also like to remind everyone that the countdown to "IWTB Week" has begun!
Join us this summer as we kick the "Believe in the Future" campaign up a notch.
From July 18th through July 25th, XFN is challenging fans to go out and purchase a single disk copy of IWTB on DVD or from iTunes and e-mail us a copy of your receipt!
XFN will be organizing a donation of DVDs to several charities for those of you who already have the film and would prefer to donate your extra copy.
Help us send a message to Fox.
We will track all sales associated with this campaign and we urge you to follow our progress online.
The Skype Files are also hosting a viewing of IWTB during that week so be sure to check out their schedule on XFN!
As always, thank you for your continued support as we work together to ensure "The X-Files" remains a viable option for a third feature film release and keep those XF3 Army campaign videos coming! All videos will be delivered to Fox. And for those who haven't yet joined the campaign? There's still time to make an impact.
Are you a believer?
The XFN Team
www.xfilesnews.com

GOTTA TELL YA...

2009-06-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hi, Frank!
I’ve gotta tell ya –- I’m watching the television premiere of IWTB on HBO right now (naturally) and I’m feelin’ it all over again. Not that I haven’t watched so often on Blu-Ray, but watching it on TV, regular television, like when the show aired, just brings all the emotions home again, back to that first Friday night. I am all a-flutter still and, at the risk of sounding trite, needed to high-five you & Chris & everyone, everyone once more. What a beautiful, wonderful, thrilling gift you gave us all. Thank you.
DawnMarie
Los Angeles

MAGIC FINGERS INVENTOR DIES

2009-06-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hey Frank!!! How are you??
Did you see the news? The inventor of the "Magic Fingers" bed, John Joseph Houghtaling, died at the age of 92. I am sure you remember this invention, for it was part of one of the iconic episodes, "Bad Blood!" This was mentioned in the Daily Finance article! And I quote, "As one obituary noted, the vibrating bed caused a beer bottle to explode in the movie 'Trains, Planes and Automobiles' and made an appearance on 'The X-Files.'"
Just thought you'd like to know!. Here is the link:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/06/19/john-houghtaling-inventor-of-the-magic-fingers-bed-dies-at-92/
I hope you have been seeing the progress (aka the videos)... or at least have heard of the progress of the XF3 campaign!
Hugs from Joselyn & Roi
XF3 Army!

"NIGHT STALKER" REVIVAL?

2009-06-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

I was just watching some episodes of the 2005's "Night Stalker" -- and I still think ABC made a huge mistake taking it off the air so quickly. I was wondering: Is there any possibility of reviving "Night Stalker?" I was a fan of the original, but I really thought the 2005 version was inspired. I can watch those 10 episodes many times and they are still fresh and have a creative bent in their execution. Great cast, good chemistry, good writing. Or is there any thought of a Sci-Fi Channel-type movie of the series. Just wondering.
Jim

The chances are pretty remote, unfortunately. But I'd love to do it.