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Tag: Patrick Read Johnson

Patrick Read Johnson 5-25-77 Interview

Finally, finally, FINALLY, the much-postponed Patrick Read Johnson was our guest last night on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. This time, neither wild horses nor Fios-munching squirrels hindered an hour of absorbing anecdotes about Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and the making of 5-25-77.

We covered a lot of ground, with Johnson talking about the long and winding road to the realization of his autobiographical coming-of-age tale that coalesces around the opening of “Star Wars,” on May 25, 1977. Even so, there’s plenty of material we never touched on. Perhaps at some point there will be a sequel? For now, you can enjoy what we’ve got, here:

Next Friday, Roy’s guest will be Bonnie Moss, who will share stories about her longtime friendship with actor Leonard Nimoy.

Then on Sunday, Roy and I will reconvene on a special night to talk about James Cameron’s first sequel to surpass expectations, “Aliens” (1986). Is it better than Ridley Scott’s creepy original? It certainly is a fresh take, and a thrilling one.

Cameron, of course, would go on to prove it was no accident with the successful sequels “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

We’ll do our best to Alien-ate everyone, on “Roy s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner,” when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., next Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 EST!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

Trailer for Johnson’s “5-25-77”

February 18, 2023
Squirrel Eats Fiber Show Delay

Squirrel chewed into Patrick Read Johnson’s fiber optics! Show postponed until next Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST! Apologies for the inconvenience. Video below! ️

February 11, 2023
5-25-77 Filmmaker on Roy’s Sci-Fi Corner

Filmmaker Patrick Read Johnson (bottom right) will be our guest tonight on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, when we talk about his movie 5-25-77. The opening of “Star Wars” on May 25, 1977, was a watershed moment for Johnson, already a teenager obsessed with “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Jaws,” as evidenced by his own home movie spin-offs.

The compulsion led him to Hollywood, where he actually got to meet special effects legend Douglas Trumbull, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” era Steven Spielberg, and John Dykstra, whose revolutionary effects for “Star Wars,” at the time still being created, would change the industry forever. Johnson became one of the first people outside of Dykstra’s Industrial Light and Magic to be shown a rough cut of the movie.

After that, there was no looking back. Johnson returned to carve out a career for himself as a writer, director, producer, visual effects artist, and sometimes actor. (He plays his own dad in this autobiographical film.)

Unfortunately, he had to reschedule from January because of connectivity issues, but now all systems are “go” for a jump to light speed with Patrick Read Johnson. Any kid who could figure out “2001: A Space Odyssey” could grow up to answer anything. So bring your questions to the comments section, when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Friday evening at 7:30 EST!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

Trailer for Johnson’s “5-25-77”

February 10, 2023
Sci-Fi Corner Postponed Guests Announced

We regret to announce that Patrick Read Johnson (pictured left) has had to postpone his visit on tonight’s Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. The program has been rescheduled for two weeks from today, Friday, February 10, at 7:30 p.m. EST. So mark your calendars. We’ll be talking ‘70s, “Star Wars,” Super-8 filmmaking, and Johnson’s subsequent experiences in Hollywood, including his new film, 18 years in the making, 5-25-77. There are also rumblings that we may get a virtual glimpse into the “Pat Cave.”

Next week, Jeffrey Morris (pictured right), of FutureDude Entertainment, will return to talk about his new project, “The Eagle Has Landed,” a documentary about the iconic “Space: 1999” spacecraft. We’ll also hear more about his upcoming film “Persephone.” That will be next Friday, February 3, also at 7:30 p.m.

And don’t forget: Roy will be joined by Rachel Hasenauer-Thrower, Edwin Thrower, and Stefanie Gangone this Sunday, for a preview of Trek Long Island, a “Star Trek” event scheduled for May 20 & 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge, NY. That conversation will take place on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. EST.

All shows will be livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube, etc.

For tonight, enjoy your “found time.” Have a great evening, and keep on sighing for “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner.”

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

January 27, 2023
Patrick Read Johnson on Roy’s Sci-Fi Corner

Roy and I are thrilled to be able to welcome Patrick Read Johnson as our guest on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Johnson’s own youthful obsession with science fiction propelled him to a career in Hollywood. His pet project, “5-25-77” (2022), reflects his coming-of-age as an aspiring filmmaker in a small Midwestern town around the time of the release of “Star Wars” (on May 25, 1977).

A couple of weeks ago, we used the film as a springboard to discuss our own boyhood fascinations with “2001,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Star Wars,” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and how they informed our parallel experiments in making Super-8 films. Now we’ll have a chance to hear all about Johnson’s career (including his work on the “Dragonheart” franchise) and hopefully plenty of behind-the-scenes nuggets, like the details of his real-life meetings with Douglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, and Steven Spielberg – and what it was like to be one of the first people to be shown a rough cut of “Star Wars” before it was ever distributed to theaters.

Everything was very hands-on, back in the day, when your mom could pick up the phone and get you an appointment in Hollywood, or you could revolutionize the world of special effects by working with models in a hot garage, reeking of burnt coffee.

Listen with rapt attention as Johnson talks about old times and how he strove to recreate that bygone era in his most personal film (18 years in the making!). Ask away in the comments section. We’ll share your questions when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Friday evening at 7:30 EST!

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

January 26, 2023

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