Nathan Marchand's Blog, page 8

My Toho Screenwriter Panel was Accepted by G-Fest!

It’s been a while, hasn’t
it, True Believers? I know I say this a lot, but please accept my apologies. I
was hard at work finishing my first year as a graduate student. If you’ve been following
me on social media, though, you know that I’ve picked up on writing Hope’s War and editing my novella for Children
of the Wells. That and a secret project will be my primary works this
summer. Stay tuned for more!

Speaking of summer….

A few months ago I wrote
that I would be going to G-Fest XXVI but as a panelist and not a vendor. I’ll
once again be part of “The Art of Kaiju Writing” panel and joining the panel
discussion of the upcoming Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
More importantly, though…

Promotional image for G-Fest XXVI. (Courtesy of www.G-Fan.com).

I’M HOSTING MY OWN PANEL!

I and my friend/fellow
writer Danny DiManna of the Godzilla Novelization
Project will be presenting on Toho screenwriters Shinichi Sekizawa and
Takeshi Kimura, who wrote many of the studio’s tokusatsu films from the 1950s-1970s.
(You probably heard me talking about them a lot on Kaijuvision
Radio). The fandom talks a lot about directors, actors, and composers, and
rightfully so, but almost never about screenwriters, which is a shame. Danny
and I hope to fill in that gap.

Here’s the description of
the panel you’ll see in the convention program:

Most of Toho’s classic tokusatsu films started with scripts penned by the Showa era creative team’s unsung heroes, Shinichi Sekizawa and Takeshi Kimura. Join Nathan Marchand (professional writer and co-creator of Kaijuvision Radio) and Daniel DiManna (creator/author of the Godzilla Novelization Project) as they explain how these polar opposite storytellers revolutionized the kaiju genre.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about doing this. Danny
is a tremendous writer and one of the most infectiously enthusiastic fans I’ve
ever met, so it’ll be a great presentation. Be there or be square!

Here’s my panel schedule:

Friday 12pm (Kennedy Room): Sekizawa and Kimura: A Tale of Two Screenwriters
Saturday 3pm (Ballroom 1): Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Saturday 4pm (Kennedy Room): The Art of Kaiju Writing

Learn more about G-Fest here.

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Cover Art Reveal – THE NEW 42: GOD TERRAFORMS ALL THINGS

The cover for the “sequel” (reboot?) to your favorite nerd/geek devotional! (Artwork by Ruth Pike-Miller).

Reboots. Reboots everywhere.

You spent 42 days finding the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything, and now Nerd Chapel founderEric Anderson and I are proud to unveil the amazing cover art by Ruth Pike-Miller for the next step in your journey: The New 42: God Terraforms All Things.

The one constant in the
universe (besides the fact that everything freezes) is change. Good change, bad
change, and everything in between. Even in our favorite nerd/geek franchises.
DC Comics is (in)famous for hitting the cosmic reset button every few decades.
The movie theatre is full of re-imaginings of nostalgic entertainment. Even
video games aren’t immune to this. But now you may feel like God Himself hit
that reset button on your life. Has it left you lost and confused? Take heart!
God wants to give you a new direction. In these pages you will learn how to
navigate change with the help of a scarred samurai, some heroic robots, and the
world’s most famous kaiju, among many others.

Your next 42-day quest awaits!

The grand book release will be at Muskecon in Muskegon, Michigan, on March 23, 2019. Eric and I will be selling and signing copies. The book will then be available as a paperback and e-book on Amazon.

Be there or be square!

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All the Podcasts I’ve Appeared On (UPDATED Feb. 2019)

It dawned on me that I’ve been on a lot more podcasts since the last time
I indexed them, so I figured I’d update that list for all of you. For most of
these, I appeared as a guest or guest host, discussing everything from
storytelling to video games to Godzilla (no surprise, right? Heck, I’ve kinda
become the “kaiju guy” in most of my circles, and with good reason).

Admittedly, there are few not listed here. I recorded a podcast with
Zachery Oliver for “Theology Gaming” that was lost when he had computer
problems. The same thing happened with “The Bestselling Fiction Podcast” hosted
by Dan Dynneson.

Titles with an asterisk (*) were on the original list.

Happy listening!

Kaijuvision Radio

This is a podcast I co-created with Brian
Scherschell on “the appreciation of giant monster movies and the discovery of
their historical and cultural value.” I was the co-host for season one
(episodes 1-36 plus two interviews), but sadly I had to step down before season
two. I’m proud of the work I did on the show, so I obviously I’d love it if all
of you listened to the show. Even if you’re not into kaiju but enjoy learning
about Japan, it’s a great podcast to listen to. Here’s the website.

Geek Devotions

(NEW!) This is a ministry headed by Dallas and Celeste Mora—“a pair of devoted geeks devoted to letting people know they are loved”—that uses nerd culture as outreach. They have a podcast, Comm Talk, a YouTube channel, and a website. Dallas was one of KVR’s first fans and promoters, so he invited us onto the YouTube channel for an interview as part of King of the Monsters Month in October 2017.

–Extra
Tuesday – Interview with Kaijuvision Radio

Derailed Trains of Thought*
A show on storytelling and creativity hosted by my friends Nick Hayden and Tim Deal.
–Episode 3: From Boredom to Book – They interview me when I published by first book, Pandora’s Box.
–Sidetrack 2: Peeking Inside the Box – I’m not in this, but an excerpt of my novel is read by Nick’s wife, Natasha.
–Episode 17: Magic, Muggles, and Morals – I read an excerpt from Destroyer.
–Episode 20: Everything But the Kitchen Sink – I’m one of multiple guests who returns briefly for the show’s first anniversary. I announce I’m writing new books.
–Sidetrack 6: Children of the Wells Round Table – I and my collaborators talk about working on our ongoing post-apocalyptic contemporary fantasy series Children of the Wells.
–Episode 50: Guest Starring…Everybody! – In this anniversary episode, I’m one of several returning guests who “audition” in multiple segments to be a third co-host.
–Episode 61: Shut Up and Buy My Book – I return to DToT to discuss how writers can promote their books. In this day and age, writers must also do their own PR.

The Weekly Hijack*
A “spin-off” podcast from “Derailed Trains of Thought” that discusses TV shows.
-Episode 27: Doctor Who – The Magician’s Apprentice – I discuss the season nine premiere of Doctor Who with Nick Hayden, Tim Deal, and several others. (Scroll through the episode listing to find it).

Strangers and Aliens 
A show about faith, fantasy, and science fiction co-hosted by my buddy Ben Avery, who’s a comic writer

–Episode 127: GODZILLA (Summer Movie Series)* – I review the new Godzilla film with host Ben Avery.
-(NEW!) Episode 255: COLOSSAL Feat. Nathan Marchand – I return to review another kaiju movie with Ben: the unique indie film Colossal that stars Anne Hathaway.

Theology Gaming University*
A show about Christianity and video games.

–Podcast #58 – Video Games Inspiring Other Media – Theology Gaming – My friend Eric Anderson and I discuss video game adaptations to other media with host Zachery Oliver.
–Podcast #62 – I discuss why gamers replay video games they’ve already played with host Zachery Oliver and TGU regular Bryan Hall.
–TG Sessions #9 – Cheapness (I.e., You’re Not Special) – Zachery Oliver and I discuss what makes certain things “cheap” in both single-player and multiplayer video games.
–TG Sessions #10 – Batman’s Fifty Shades of White Privilege – Remember when this video made me a troll magnet? I also incurred the wrath of trolls about an essay I wrote for TGU. Zachery Oliver and I discuss all of this.
–Podcast #72 – One in a Mijinion – I join Zachery Oliver and Roberto Iraheta 20 minutes in, and in our ramblings we set out to solve a very important mystery: What the heck is an Infinity Mijinion? (In case you don’t know, that’s a Mega Man boss).

Forever Classic Podcast

(NEW!) This is a show
that “seeks enlightenment through video games” started by my former colleague
Alex McCumbers (from my GigaGeek Magazine
days). Here’s their main website.

–Episode 11: Kaiju Games With Nathan Marchand –
Remember what I said about being the kaiju guy? Anyway, Alex invited me on to
talk about two of my favorite things: giant monsters and video games. We
discuss existing kaiju games—past and present—and what we think would make for
a great kaiju game.

Redeemed Otaku
(NEW!) A podcast created and hosted by Bex Smith that seeks to “redeem your love for anime by turning to the truth found only in God’s Word.” Follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.

–42 – My co-author Eric Anderson and I are interviewed about our nerd/geek devotional, 42: Discovering Faith through Fandom.
–Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters – Bex has me on to discuss/review part one of the Godzilla anime trilogy. Being that its kaiju and anime, it was the perfect crossover.
–Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle – I return to Redeemed Otaku—this time joined by my fellow Godzilla fan Eric Anderson—to discuss/review part two of the Godzilla anime trilogy (that has a title weirdly similar to a class Star Trek episode).
–Godzilla: The Planet Eater – In one of the best English-language analyses of the entire Godzilla anime trilogy, Bex, Eric, and I breakdown part three and put the other films into perspective. It truly is the best episode of Redeemed Otaku yet! (Don’t take my word for it—that’s what Bex said!)

This makes me miss having my own
podcast.

Do you have a podcast? What’s it
about? Would you be interested in having me on?

The post All the Podcasts I’ve Appeared On (UPDATED Feb. 2019) appeared first on The Worlds of Nathan Marchand.

My Upcoming Appearances for 2019 (so far)

I
haven’t blogged in several months. Wow. Grad school (and other things) ate up
that much of my time. This shall be remedied!

I’m keeping it simple
today, but this is something I’ve been meaning to mention for a while. I have
several appearances scheduled for this spring and summer that I wanted to make
sure you knew about, True Believers. Keep in mind, though: This list is subject
to change. I could easily add (or subtract) more as the year progresses.

Regardless…

MuskeCon 3.0

A small and relatively
new comic and toy convention held in Muskegon, Michigan. I’ll be tabling there
next door to my friend/co-author Eric
Anderson. It’ll be a big deal because we plan to unveil our second
nerd/geek devotional, The New 42: God
Terraforms All Things, at the show. (More details to follow). The show will
be held March 23, 2019, from 10AM-6PM at
the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor.

You can learn more about
the show on its Facebook
page.

G-Fest XXVI

I plan to make my third trip to America’s premiere Godzilla and kaiju convention, which will be held July-12-14, 2019, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. I won’t be tabling there, but I’ll be part of several panels, and I’ve applied to host my own (again, more details to follow). I’ll have books with me to sell, though, in case anyone wants to buy some.

Learn more about the show
on its website.
(Early bird pricing ends February 28!)

Gen-Con 52

It wouldn’t be summer
without a trip to Gen-Con! I make my eighth straight appearance to “the Four
Best Days in Gaming” Aug. 1-4, 2019, at
the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. I’ll be tabling in
their Authors Avenue, selling and signing books, as usual, but I’ll be making
the rounds to some events throughout the weekend, too. Hopefully, Eric Anderson
and many of my other friends/writers will be joining me.

For more info, check out
the show’s website.

Will you be at any of these shows?
Which one(s)? Are you interested in hosting a book signing for me? Where?

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2018: Looking Back and Looking Forward

It’s been a wild year.

Happy New Year 2019 with colorful fireworks

2018 wasn’t always a good year, but it was an eventful one. One filled with changes and new ventures and adventures. Here are a few highlights:

-Bought a new car after being in an accidents

-Started a new job.

-Finished the first season of my podcast, Kaijuvision Radio.

-Attended
several conventions, where I met some great people and made some excellent
connections.

-Started
grad school.

-Moved
to Fort Wayne, Indiana, like I’ve wanted to for a long time.

-Competed in The Winter Solstice, my first real ballroom dancing competition.

-Was interviewed for the first time on the radio.

So, on the last day of
2018, I’ve decided to look ahead to 2019 with a few important goals. I took
some much-needed big steps forward in 2018, and I want to keep that momentum
going. My creative goals include:

-Getting
one or two new books in print (the publishing industry could only be slower if
it was run by sloths).

-Write
a stand-alone novel…

-,,,to
get a literary agent (apologies to my readers who want those promised sequels
soon).

-Finish
my second and third semesters of grad school.

-Host a panel at G-Fest XXVI.

-Hold
3-5 book signings (including at least one at a convention).

-Get
published in 2-3 anthologies.

-Compete
again at The Winter Solstice.

-A
SECRET GOAL I’LL REVEAL LATER THIS YEAR IF IT COMES TO PASS!

Bring it on, 2019! Let’s
do this!

What are your goals for the New Year?

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Digression 18: Farewell, Stan Lee

“Digression 18: Farewell, Stan Lee”
Hosted by Nathan Marchand

It’s been over a month since comic book legend Stanley Lieber (aka Stan Lee) died. I recorded this video the week of his death, but I was unable to edit and post it until now. It’s appropriate since today would’ve been his 96th birthday. I share my memories of his many stories and characters, my experience of meeting him, and why he inspires me as a writer.

What are your memories of Stan? Leave them in the comments below.

A Moonlighting Ninjas Media Production

(c) 2018 Nathan Marchand

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The Mythic-ness of Holidays

After a harrowing last
few weeks at grad school, what with final papers, grading, and other drama, I’ve
finally reached Christmas break (or as I like to call it: my two weeks’ paid
vacation). I suddenly have more time on my hands than I’ve been used to for a
few months. Hence why I’m able to post a blog for you all.

Listen to Me on the Radio December 21!

If you’ve been following me on social media (and why not?), you heard that I’ve been invited to appear on a local radio show. In this case, it’s “SPEAK NOW with GENA” on WELT 95.7 RadioActive. I’ll be one of several local authors being interviewed on the segment “Jamming with Jazz” December 21, 2018. The show airs 4pm-6pm EST, but the interview will be around 5pm.

According to the show’s Facebook page,

My passion is embracing the narrative of VISION through fireside chats and sharing the narratives of LIVING WELLNESS.

And…

Providing a culture of globally sharing, connecting community globally.

While the details are being worked out, my understanding is we’ll be discussing things like the creative process and advice for other writers. It could go anywhere, though—it’s live!

As said on the station’s website,

WELT-LP is a non-commercial, listener-sponsored, member-controlled community radio station licensed by the FCC to broadcast within Allen County. From the studios at the downtown branch of the Allen County Public Library, WELT-LP’s volunteers and staff promote communication, education, entertainment, and understanding by providing quality programming and services to the Fort Wayne community. By providing a forum for both the discussion of public issues and the expansion of musical and cultural experiences, WELT-LP facilitates community expression by giving Allen County access to the airwaves for the purpose of sharing music, culture, news, and information.

Be sure to check out Gena’s YouTube channel and give the show a listen. She’ll be interviewing local authors the next three Fridays (December 7, 14, and 21).

 

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My Next Book Signing: The ACPL Local Author Book Sale

(Yeah, an announcement blog hardly seems substantial, but I do need to start promoting this).

I’m happy to announce that for my next book signing, I’ll be returning to the Allen County Public Library for their Local Author Book Sale. This event is replacing the annual author fair they’ve been holding for the past several years. I’ll be joined by my friend/collaborator Nick Hayden, although I expect I’ll know a lot of the authors who will be present.

According to the ACPL’s event page,

Previously called the ACPL Author Fair, the Local Author Book Sale will take place on Saturday, December 15 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm in the Great Hall of the Main Library during ACPL’s Winter Book Sale.  Local authors will be selling their work and signing copies of their books.  Come and browse unique books by local authors!

This will be part of the library’s Winter Book Sale, which takes place December 13-15. You can buy thousands of books for no more than $1 each! All the proceeds from the Winter Book Sale “will be donated to the Friends of the Allen County Public Library to support programs and outreach in our communities,” says the website.

If you’re looking to buy books as Christmas gifts for the readers in your life, stop by! You can get signed copies from me!

So, once again, that’s December 15, 2018, from 12pm-4pm at the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Be there or be square!

 

 

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My Top 10 Favorite Horror Films (Redux)

Happy Halloween, True Believers!

In the spirit of the holiday, I figured my blog this week should be a top five or top ten list for my favorite horror films. I put a list together—and remembered I’d done this in 2014. My list has changed a bit since then, but all five of those films are still on it in a different order. So, the entries with asterisks after the title were copied from the previous blog. Regardless, enjoy the new ones! Admittedly, it was hard to rank many of these, since they’re all great films. They’d make excellent additions to your Halloween festivities. Enjoy!

#10: The Exorcist (1973)

It might surprise you that I have this low on my list. It’s usually regarded as one of the scariest films ever made. (AFI would say that). My appreciation, though, has more to do with its place in history than anything else. I wasn’t allowed to see it growing up because it so terrified my mother as a teen that she forbade her kids to see it. When I finally did watch it, I saw why it’s become an icon of not only horror films but cinema. This is tale of a Catholic priest struggling with his faith while trying to save a little girl (Linda Blair) possessed by a demon. It’s simple, profound, and terrifying. Younger viewers spoiled on CGI laugh at the special effects, which is a disappointment because I think they hold up. It doesn’t help that the film has been parodied to the point that its potency is reduced on the younger crowd. For those who believe the spiritual warfare dramatized in this film is real, or those who have any sort of empathy, this is one of the greatest horror films in movie history.

#9: Suspiria (1977)

Amongst fans of Italian horror films, the name Dario Argento ranks as one of the greatest in the genre. The visionary auteur creates unique, mesmerizing horror movies, and Suspiria is considered to be his masterpiece. This story of an American dancer who joins a German ballet school that seems to be a front for a sinister force after a series of heinous murders is high on style. Argento’s cinematography and incredible use of color creates an unnerving atmosphere and a rich visual language full of symbolism. One of Argento’s trademarks is the use of creepy rock music created by the band Goblin, which makes the film like a commercial haunted house. If you’d like to see a film that feels like an Edger Allan Poe story, check this out!

#8: 28 Days Later (2002)

I had to include this since it was an influence on my first novel, Pandora’s Box. It’s still one of the most unique zombie films ever made. Although, I’d argue that it almost doesn’t count as a zombie flick, at least in the traditional sense. This follows a young man (Cillian Murphy) who wakes up after a 28-day coma to find London empty—except for vicious people infected with a virus that’s essentially rabies on steroids. (For those who’ve read my novel, you’ll understand why I felt like the filmmakers beat me to one of my ideas in the novel). Well before the Infected appear, the film plays on the fear of isolation with an empty city. The characters are the film’s greatest strength, something often lacking in horror movies. Interestingly, three endings were filmed and one considered in the scripting phase. Two of them were shown theatrically. The one used originally in the film is best, I think, since it’s the happiest. (Tragic endings are a bit overused in the genre). Check it out if you’re looking for a taste of British horror.

#7: Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)*

Wes Craven’s classic is a variation of the then popular (and overused) slasher movie: a killer who attacks victims in their dreams. Freddy Krueger became an icon with his trademark sweater, hat, claws, and dark wit. The film has an otherworldly quality to it thanks to the dream sequences. Plus, in a rare treat, it features a strong heroine who refuses to become Freddy’s next victim. Interesting bit of trivia: this is Johnny Depp’s first movie. He plays the heroine’s boyfriend.

#6: Dawn of the Dead (1978)

George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead was a game-changer in 1968, but it’s remembered more for its place in history than anything else. Romero’s first sequel is a classic because it’s a great film. Set in the early years of the zombie apocalypse, a group of survivors take refuge in a mall—until the zombies manage to get in. The characters and world-building would become the template all other zombie apocalypse movies would copy, but they lacked this film’s potent social satire on consumerism. Tom Savini’s gore effects get a lot of attention, but they serve the larger whole. The Italian version put together by Romero’s friend Dario Argento has a score by Goblin (the original film had no soundtrack), which actually complements the film well. A must-see classic for any horror/zombie fan!

The original Japanese poster and the U.S. DVD cover.

#5: Matango (1963)

As the co-creator and season one co-host of Kaijuvision Radio, I almost feel obligated to include this Japanese classic. (My collaborator, Brian Scherschel, will be covering it in the podcast’s current season). Crafted by the creative team behind Toho’s original Godzilla series, this trippy film was made in the tradition of 1930s Universal horror movies. I can best describe it as a story that begins like Gilligan’s Island (though it predates that show), turns into Lost, and ends like The Twilight Zone. Inspired by the short story “A Voice in the Night” by William H. Hodgson (though it’s equal parts Lord of the Flies), it follows a group of shipwrecked rich people on a bizarre island who are beset by mushroom creatures. The film was released on American TV under the unfortunate title Attack of the Mushroom People, which undoubtedly gave a bad impression. The creature effects might be considered quaint by today’s standards, but the real horrors are the characters who slowly turn on each other as the film progresses, giving into whatever vices they suffer from. The ending leaves the viewer with a gut punch of a social commentary. It’s a bit hard to find, but well worth seeing!

#4: John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)*

This terrifying remake of a ‘50s B-movie is one of the smartest horror films I’ve ever seen. It has none of the stereotypical idiot characters. While it does have gross gore and freakish creatures, the real terror comes from the isolated Antarctic location and the paranoia that rips a tightly-knit science team apart as a shapeshifting alien organism takes over each of them.

#3: Fright Night (1985)*

A horror/comedy that is both genuinely funny and scary, it is a film with a perfectly simple concept: a teenage boy thinks his new next-door neighbor is a vampire, but no one believes him, so he desperately seeks help from a washed-up horror movie actor. The best characters aren’t the teenage hero, but the old actor–played by Roddy McDowall of Planet of the Apes fame—and the vampire (played by Chris Sarandon). The former is a cynical yet likable fellow with sharp, sarcastic wit (who’s not afraid to take jabs at the current horror movie trends), while the latter is a man whose often mesmerizing charm masks a powerful evil. Add in a cat-and-mouse game being played by the desperate teenage boy and his undead nemesis, and you have a fun (and frightening) night out.

#2: Jaws*

The movie that launched director Steven Spielberg’s career, created the summer blockbuster, and arguably inspired Sharknado. While based on the novel by Peter Benchley, it’s one of the rare times, I’d say, that the movie is better than the book (the novel was padded with an unnecessary subplot where Brody’s wife has an affair with Hooper). My favorite character is Quint, played by the scene-stealing Robert Shaw, a grizzled sailor with a Captain Ahab complex. He might be mad, but you can’t help but like his gruff attitude. Spielberg famously kept the anomatronic shark’s screen time to a minimum because he thought it looked fake. By doing so, he increased the film’s tension and gave the monster a stronger presence. Throw in classic lines like, “We need a bigger boat!” and you have an instant classic.

#1: Alien*

“In space, no one can hear you scream.” (One of the best taglines ever!)

If I had to choose a film that would be the blueprint for crafting the perfect horror movie, it would be Ridley Scott’s classic tale of gothic science fiction. It has powerful atmosphere, a terrifying and unique monster, and strong characters (including a countercultural heroine). The set design is incredible. The Nostromo feels both safe and claustrophobic. It plays upon multiple types and levels of fear, including, shadows, the unknown, and even rape. And it includes only one truly gory scene, but it both shocks the audience and adds to the story. It’s too bad that only one of its sequels, James Cameron’s Aliens, even comes close to equaling it.

Honorable Mentions: The Universal Horror Series (too many to include or choose), Night of the Living Dead (1968), Halloween (1978)

What are some of your favorite horror movies/stories/authors?

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