Exclusive: Patti Beninati Talks DMAN, That V Movie, and Hooking Up Brent Spiner and NASA!

Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer Patti Beninati

Recently, I had the great pleasure of talking again with Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer Patti Beninati of Centerboro Productions and Are U Trippin Films about her upcoming Sci-Fi TV pilot called DMAN, and about her many upcoming projects. She has many things on her plate that will definitely make many of you Sci-Fi fans out there squeal with utter happiness, believe me!

Without further ado, I'm letting you read up the interview!

Q: Last time we spoke you were hard at work on many projects but specifically on an upcoming Sci-Fi TV pilot called DMAN. What stage is the project now at?

PB: In the coming weeks a sneak peek of the “DMAN” TV Pilot Trailer will be shown exclusively on Twitter first. We are in talks with a network discussing the TV series and the Pilot itself. That news will be announced sometime in June.

Q: Can you tell the readers a bit more about DMAN?

PB: DMAN (Sci-Fi//Intrigue/Action): A female scientist works with an FBI agent and together they investigate a slew of bizarre crimes and explore unexplained telekinetic phenomena until the arrival of Q7, a telepathic shapeshifting alien from another dimension, who discovers that it all may be part of a larger interdimensional conspiracy. The concept is like The Fugitive meets Fringe meets Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and the genre is Sci-Fi Supernatural Drama.

FX shot of the other Dimension - Q7's homeworld

Q: Will we see any familiar faces when the project gets picked up?

PB: Yes, casting for “DMAN” will have many of the faces that appear in today’s most popular Sci-Fi TV shows. We are very interested in David Richmond Peck who played Georgie on the ABC series ''V'', and we are also interested in  David H. Lawrence, who plays evil so well in NBC's ''Heroes.'' In fact, it will also star an actor from a prime time TV show as well.

Q: Will we get to see some of the finished product soon? Any plans for the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con for example?

PB: We will also be appearing at San Diego Comic-Con unveiling some exciting news and featuring a Trailer on “DMAN” and “KYLE YOUNGBLOOD” which is like a quirky X-Files meets Eureka, TV Pilots.

Q: I know you have more Sci-Fi projects coming up. Anything you can share with us?

PB: We have a sci-fi movie of the week, two TV pilots and two features, that we’re working on right now for 2010.

Q: You have also been tapped to act as producer on the upcoming ‘’V’’ movie. Will the movie be closer to the 1980s TV miniseries and series or is it based on the recent re-invention?

PB: Yes, I have been hired on as a producer by the great Writer Director Kenny Johnson [http://www.kennethjohnson.us/] to assist in securing funding and casting. I’m so excited and honored to help Kenny on the legendary sci-fi story V. It has a global appeal and is loved by fans all over the world. V is not just about an alien invasion, but more about oppression. I will do anything I can to help him tell that story of oppression so well expressed in V. The V TV show now currently airing on ABC, I believe will only help propel more fans to see the upcoming feature.

Q: Can you tell us how you came on board as producer and if that will be a first for you?

PB: I have been a producer on other TV shows, but V is the first feature for me. Looking forward I will be writing, directing, and acting as a producer on other already planned TV and film projects with our new company Centerboro Productions, co-owned with my partner Michael K. Anderson who is also a Writer Director and a Producer.

Q: You have been very much interested and invested in the NASA space program, how has your involvement played up?

PB: Yes, I’m deeply honored to have helped NASA secure Brent Spiner for the new 20th Anniversary Hubble Documentary. Brent Spiner, who is most well-known for his amazing role as Commander Data, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, had a ball doing the narration at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, located in Pasadena California. To have been involved with a Star Trek actor and the NASA space program is mind boggling to me. Currently, I’m in talks with NASA, on helping them with other projects and on a new feature film which is about a NASA Astronaut who saves earth from an imminent alien invasion called THE NEWCOMERS, that I hope they will sponsor. I recently attended the STS-132 Shuttle Launch and NASA Tweetup on May 13-14 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the STS Atlantis shuttle orbiter's last mission. There are only two shuttle launches remaining, due to President Obama's recent controversial decision to kill the moon funding for NASA Constellation, Ares, and Orion space programs. 

Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer at the NASA launch with a NASA Astronaut

[http://www.nasa.gov/ntv http://www.youtube.com/nasatelevision]

To learn more about the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA, visit:

[http://www.nasa.gov/hubble]

[http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/Hubble20]

Also check out on Twitter : @NASATWEETUP, @NASA_ASTRONAUTS, @NASA, @Brentspiner

NASA STS 132 SHUTTLE ATLANTIS ORBITER KSC

Q: Back to you as a writer, can you tell us how difficult it is to write Sci-Fi?

PB: I write all genres, but writing sci-fi for me is a dream come true. My partner Mike and I are working on some horror, fantasy and disaster movies, that are so much fun to write. Lately, I’ve been writing about different dimensions and what if scenarios. My upcoming TV pilot “DMAN” was originally inspired by Dr. Michio Kaku, (http://mkaku.org/home/) a theoretical physicist, best-selling author, and popularizer. In fact, Michio and the Science Channel are now embarking on a second season of his hit show SCI-FI SCIENCE: Physics of the Impossible.

Q: Anything else that you can say to the readers?

PB: I see that many of the new network sci-fi TV shows appear to be securing low ratings and are in danger of not being renewed, while the cable stations like the SyFy Channel shows seem to be soaring. I truly believe it’s because the cable hit shows take more time to develop the characters, which are so compelling to audiences. Additionally, I think the cable stations do a great job in adding in more realistic action and they keep it flowing throughout the episode. That keeps the audience in a nail biting state throughout the whole season. This is what I have done with “DMAN” and all the shows we are currently developing. I want fans to say when they watch our shows WHAT IF that happened?

What if indeed! Though I have no doubt that DMAN will be a complete success. I also agree with Miss Beninati's point that genre shows seem to be having more problems on mainstream TV channels but are doing better on specialty channels such as SyFy.

Thank you Miss Beninati for sharing with us again!

In the meanwhile, make sure to read Miss Beninati's Exclusive article: The New 3D World Order

Exclusive Article by Sci-Fi Writer/Producer/Director Patti Beninati: The New 3D World Order

The Inside Trekker is proud to present an article by Sci-Fi Writer, Producer, Director Patti Beninati of Centerboro Productions LLC. 

The New 3D World Order

3D movies are here to stay, thanks to the first 3D camera, which was invented by Sir William of Bristol.  3D films have existed since 1980, but until 2010 had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion picture industry because of the costs, and the lack of ingenuity regarding a standardized format for all sectors of the entertainment business.

Everybody is talking about 3D technology and Hollywood fully embraces 3D cinemas.  3D films are now a part of cinemas globally.  I'm not going to complain about 3D movies or the 3D movie-ticket prices.  They are slightly higher at the box office, but surely worth it!

Avatar

Many home theater TV manufactures have been making 3D TV’s and the demand is growing.  Manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, and others have launched 3D TV sets with consumers lining up to buy them, and not squawking about the higher prices.

Alice in Wonderland

Stereoscopic 3-D is the new technology being used today, and it takes you on a breathtaking journey and it allows you to view movies in an all immersive way.  As the supersonic mega Writer/Director James Cameron said, “Stereoscopic 3-D is the most exciting evolution in cinema presentation since color and widescreen.”  Last year's Avatar carved the way for 3D blockbuster films, validating the format as a whole with its record breaking box office receipts.  At the Seoul Digital Forum Cameron said, "3D Will Replace 2D As Standard For Movies, TV."  I agree, especially with all the new 3D movies slated for 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Stereoscopic 3-D technique is capable of recording three-dimensional visual information or creating the illusion of depth in an image.

Shrek Forever After

New feature films like James Cameron's Avatar, the most successful 3D film ever, and NASA's Hubble, all used Stereoscopic 3-D; and so will many current and upcoming feature films such as: Green Lantern, Men in Black III, Judge Dredd, Saw VII, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Spy Kids 4: Armageddon, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Shrek Forever After, The Newcomers, V, and famed Sci-Fi Writer and Director, M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender.

Imax Hubble 3D

The heavily promoted Shrek Forever After held on to the No. 1 spot and remains on top as the film stayed secured for its second weekend.  Shrek Forever After kicked Sex and the City 2, and the fantasy action-adventure film starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Prince of Persia, at the box office, with Shrek racking in $55.7 million over the Memorial Day weekend.  The 3D movie raised its 10-day domestic total to $145.5 million.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Some films that were converted to 3D in post production are: Clash of the Titans, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and G-Force, and I could certainly tell the difference --- I was not impressed.  That’s why using true Stereoscopic 3-D is ultimately the best decision for film makers.

SyFy's "Stargate: Universe"

It will be rather interesting to see what TV series will be the first to produce in 3D.  Many great TV and cable sci-fi series are ripe for 3D, and with the current use of VFX, the special effects take viewers on an out of this world experience.  With their dazzling and mind blowing special effects, SyFy Channel’s new series “Caprica” and “Stargate Universe” may be good candidates to shoot in 3D.  ABC’s “Chuck” uses innovative fight scenes; big blazing explosions, and surreal “flashes,” that make “Chuck” a leader in the special effects category.  Fox’s “Fringe” and “V” also raise the bar for special effects and these shows are great content for 3D TV.

NBC's "Chuck"

However, some factors will hamper the growth of 3D TV’s including the lack of suitable 3D TV content, high production costs, high cost of 3D TV sets, and the need for 3D TV glasses.  I believe that one idea that might help would be for the cable companies to prepackage 3D glasses in with the monthly bill, and secure advertisers to pay for the costs.  Another glaring issue is that the 3D glasses use different standards and consumers might complain about needing separate pairs of 3D eyewear, one for their TV and one for their computer.

SyFy's "Caprica"

The new Stereoscopic 3-D home standard is not just heading to your TV, it's also making its way to the PC market and 3D will be in laptops and hit the gaming industry!  Can you just imagine - - - playing ''Halo'' and ''God of War'' on 3D TVs!


With all the new thrilling 3D movies and TV content slated for 2010 and beyond, there will be plenty of new movies and shows for the avid movie-goers to dive into --- enjoy the 3 dimensions, I know that I will!

Patti Beninati is a Writer Director Producer and writes editorial entertainment articles online and in print, and can be reached at: Centerboro Productions patti@centerboroproductions.com

San Diego Comic-Con 2010 Here I Come!

Last year, at this time, I was making plans for what would be my first Star Trek Convention ever. To tell the truth, I had gone to one when I was about 19 (oh so many years ago) when a convention was organized in Montreal and Brent Spiner (Data) was the only guest there. But I only went to his panel. Shame on me I know. I think it was a small convention in that big hotel on René Lévesque street though truly I wouldn't know since I didn't look around haha! Star Trek: The Next Generation was still on the air back then... yep, a long time ago.

Still, Star Trek Las Vegas 2009 was my first big convention and almost 9 months later I look back on it with a huge amount of love and affection. Sure, I was dead tired, not used I was to these types of event, having travelled miles in an airplane – which I HATE to take. Plus I suffered from jet lag.

While there, some things went well, some less, and some went a bit wrong. Still I look back on it with fondness. It certainly was an incredible experience for me.

I got to meet Jonathan Frakes (believe me, that man's smile could melt a whole bunch of icebergs), Brent Spiner, Roxann Dawson and more!

I got to interview the wonderful Robert Picardo face to face (which you can read about here, here and here) and I got to spend an hour in the company of Zachary Quinto during a Meet and Greet. It was a fascinating experience.

And where else can you go have breakfast and have Jeffrey Combs and Casey Biggs eating only a few feet away from you in the morning! I tell you it's completely surreal!

Also, last year in June, I started this blog. This blog that changed my life a bit. I had never thought I would ever do something like this and it has been a strange and wonderful journey. I got to interview the lovely Sinead Keenan, the luminous Dawn Olivieri, the wonderful Wendi Lynn Allison and Patti Beninati – a woman I love as a friend and I admire deeply.

This year though, I'm not returning to the Las Vegas Star Trek Convention (though part of me really wish I would). This year, I'm going after another beast. The San Diego Comic-Con Event that will be held in July.

San Diego Comic Con will be the place where I will meet many of the friends I made on twitter and this is one of the things that I'm most looking forward to. I've made such good friends online that I cannot wait to finally meet them face to face.

This is where I also hope to meet many of the celebrities that entertain me and that I get to see weekly on my small screen and like most everyone, I have hopes and expectations concerning the many panels that SDCC will have this year.

I'm really hoping for another Heroes panel and I really want to assist to a Chuck panel. Maybe Jeffster will be there? NBC better renew both of my shows. I hope to see Zachary Quinto again and would love to meet both Zachary Levi and Joshua Gomez who play Chuck and his BFF Morgan respectively on the NBC spy comedy.

I also hope that the wonderful cast of the BBC British production of Being Human will be attending (they were SDCC in 2009) so I can shake their hands and thank them for the wonderful work they do for us the viewers. That's one thing that has me really excited about SDCC. It's the opportunity to tell these artists thank you for entertaining us week after week.

And would it be too much for a girl to ask for a glimpse for David Tennant and John Barrowman? I hope to have enough time to be in the presence of my favourite actors.

Sadly, I wont be tweeting, but I will try to update my blog about my experiences when I get home. Many of my friends on twitter will probably report live on the subject so I invite you to stay tuned. When I know who will be tweeting away, I will give out their twitter info.

Sci-Fi TV Pilot DMAN Exclusive Pictures!!!

Writer/Director Patti Beninati with actress Jena Maenius who plays the telekinetic Miley. Miss Beninati is BLOCKING, which means they are setting up the shot before shooting the scene.

*This is a repost of the story originally published on the 16th of October

DMAN is an upcoming Sci-Fi TV pilot and is the baby of Writer/Director/Producer Patti Beninati of Are U Trippin Films and Centerboro Productions. There are not many female directors on TV or in the movies, so it is incredibly exciting to have her at the helm of this fantastic Sci-Fi venture. Miss Beninati previously gave an exclusive interview to The Inside Trekker which you can see here.

Currently in Post-Production, DMAN will be among only a few TV series to be shot extensively on green screen using extraordinary visual effects and virtual sets, much like SyFy's Sanctuary series. DMAN the pilot & series is shot with the RED camera- a digital system that captures images at four times the resolution of a high definition camera, resulting in a look that is unmatched on television. The production is getting ready to go to the networks and is sure to generate great Buzz in the Sci-Fi domain. Here are some exclusive pics from the set, graciously provided by Miss Beninati herself.

Enjoy!!!!

The actors in action

Blocking the shot again, Patti is making sure Miley can't escape from her position Haha!

A view of the lab set

Amanda, Boom Operator taking the sound!

Hot DMAN Actors into their roles ...back Matt Brucato Front Anthony Ordonez

Canadian Actor Brock Duke (aka Q7) being prepped for greenscreen filming

Canadian Actor Brock Duke who plays Q7, a telepathic being from another dimension being touched up before his scene

Exclusive Patti Beninati 2009 SDCC Article: BBC Being Human Panel and Doctor Who's 6th Doctor - Colin Baker

Pictures 1-3: The Being Human Panel with Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Writer/Creator Toby Whithouse

While at SDCC, Patti Beninati attended many panels, amongst which was the BBC Being Human Panel. She also took the opportunity to interview Being Human up and coming actors Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner and Russell Tovey, as well as Writer/Creator Toby Whihouse.

Miss Beninati kindly gave the Inside Trekker permission to reproduce exclusively for this site part of her article and interview on Being Human.

About the SDCC itself she said that :

Comic Con West topped itself this year, as the biggest and most exciting popular culture convention in the world

And that :

Many fans flocked to the show, and flowed seamlessly into the event over that weekend. According to event organizers, attendance was even higher then last year, issuing over 180,000 passes

About the BBC and Being Human panel she reported:

BBC America hosted a robust panel, and a busy booth, this year at SDCC. They introduced yet another cutting edge Sci-Fi import TV series, the much anticipated new vampire show, "Being Human". Creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, actors Russell Tovey, who plays George, reprises his role as the lovable and predatory werewolf, Aidan Turner plays Mitchell the blood-sucking vampire good-looking and laid-back character, and completing the flat-share trio is Annie, played by Lenora Crichlow, a talkative ghost. The comedy drama series features three young characters sharing a house in Bristol UK, trying to live a normal social human lifestyle, despite being a ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire, struggling to keep their secret double-lives. Who ever thought teaming up ghost, vampire, and a werewolf could be good premises for a TV show? Toby Whithouse did! “The show is refracted thru their humanity, each one in their own want to reclaim and refine their own humanity…the humanity they lost. They all struggle, and for them, humanity is the monster and they are the angles”, said Toby Whithouse. “My influences are the legendary Alan Moore who’s well-know for Warrior, a British comic’s anthology and, Neil Gaiman, of the top writers in modern comics”, said Whithouse. Hot actor Aidan Turner said playing a vampire is cool, “It’s not a mater of inspiration, but more like it’s my first gig and thank God I got the part”. “It’s different then the current vampire shows in that the characters want to desperately be human and the difference between the shows Moonlight & Twilight is he lives in a flat in Bristol,” said Turner.

While there Patti Beninati also got to interview Doctor Who's 6th Doctor, British actor Colin Baker from the BBC series Doctor Who

Colin Baker was in rare form, “it’s entirely a new experience for me because most conventions I go to are all Science Fiction TV, so I’m here because most people who are interested in Sci-Fi are interested in comics, said Baker”. He mentioned that, he was having a great time meeting all of the fans. “It’s so nice being in an environment where they like you,” said Baker. He also crashed a Doctor Who set, and surprised the entire cast and the current "Dr. Who", David Tennant, “They shouted…there’s The Doctor, Baker yelled…“No… there’s The Doctor”, said Baker. Baker said that, “It would be fantastic for Doctor Who to be a woman or to have an older guy again”. Baker may be the sixth version of Doctor Who, but he was a highlight of the convention --- he is a refreshing and extraordinary talented actor.

The full article will be published in the coming week in a New York-New Jersey newspaper.

Exclusive Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer Patti Beninati Interview

Picture 1: Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer Patti Beninati

Pictures 2 and 3: On the set of DMAN, directed by Patti Beninati

Patti Beninati is one of those rare breeds of women - a Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer with a vision and drive that completely awes me. She’s also a generous and warm human being, as well as a great friend.

Armed with a BA in journalism, Patti Beninati has made a career in the music world by creating a music and artist entertainment management firm called PB Entertainment Company in 2000. She would later sell it, and in 2006, Are U Trippin Films was born when she teamed up with fellow Writer/Director Michael K. Anderson.

Beninati has produced/directed many TV shows, live concerts, and events that featured today’s' biggest rock stars, and currently still manages several rock bands. She was a principal host/writer/producer/director for the first online Webcasting live event music channel on Broadcast.com, and then later on Yahoo! called Virtually Giggin It. In the past, she worked as a freelance TV Producer for Cablevision and a TV Segment Producer on the syndicated Fox TV show, The Music Scoupe, hosted by actress Kelly Ripa.

Then in 2009, a new Production Company called Centerboro Productions was also created alongside Are U Trippin Films. The new company hopes to produce at least 10 projects over the next 3 years, some of them featuring well-known Sci-Fi stars and icons. They are currently working on 2 new pilots called DMAN and Kyle Youngblood, as well as on several movies of the week, one of which is titled The Newcomers.

Just recently, Beninati attended the 2009 San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) - also called The Con. She related her experience in an exclusive article soon to be published in a New York/New Jersey newspaper. I had the chance to interview her about it, and part of this article will be reproduced exclusively here for this blog in the following blogpost.

As a Sci-Fi Writer/Director/Producer, why do you think Comic-Con is such an important spring-board for genre shows and films?
Over 140, 000 people converged on SDCC. It’s fascinating how fans and industry folks can all intermingle --- no barriers, and all in one place! That’s why I truly love the event. I can meet anyone, from a celebrity to a studio executive. As a Sci-Fi writer and director it gave me the ability to consolidate all of my meetings with actors, studios, and productions companies all in one location. I also got a change to see the hottest movies, TV shows, and comic books coming up. I can’t wait for next years Comic Con!

Was this past Comic-Con your first event of the kind ever?
No, I recently attended NYC’s Comic Con, which is a smaller version of the SDCC event.

What aspect of the Con did you personally find most fascinating?
Seeing the fans in meet and greet sessions and watching the sheer joy on their faces, as they got up close to their favorite stars to get an autograph or just simply stop by a booth to chat with them.

Can you tell us about some of the upcoming projects you and your production company, Are U Trippin Films, are currently working on?
Yes, this really an exciting time for me, and my partner Michael K. Anderson. We recently opened another production company, called Centerboro Productions, that will be the home of 2 new intriguing Sci-Fi TV series, DMAN & KYLE YOUNGBLOOD. I had the honor of writing and directing the DMAN TV series pilot, and it was a blast! The premise of DMAN is about Q7, a dangerous telepathic being from another dimension, finds himself lost and alone on modern-day Earth, but his violent nature changes after he meets Miley, a telepath, who teaches him about humanity and love, as they are pursued by a shadowy government agency. KYLE YOUNGBLOOD is about eccentric scientist Kyle Youngblood who heads up an underfunded team of misfits whose mission is to investigate paranormal and extraterrestrial activity in the rural Midwest. We just finished shooting the unique pilots, and they are both in post production, soon to be presented to the networks. Our TV pilots will feature a few actors, who are currently in a hit Sci-Fi TV series. Many people are surprised at the buzz on them now, with Twitter helping to spread the word, and turn up the hype, we’ve received many inquires from executives, who can’t wait to see them. Additionally, we are going to co-produce 2 MOW’s with another production company that will have some of the most famous TV Sci-Fi stars of today. I’m so numb that my feature film, entitled, THE NEWCOMERS which is a chilling blend of Signs meets Independence Day meets Transformers meets District 9 will soon be in the hands of a big Producer, who will help us get it all going. I get the sense that 2010 is gong to be a big year for me! People ask me… why do I like to write Sci-Fi? and I reply… Ha! I’ am SCI-FI! I want people who see my films to be left with WHAT IF…?

Why do you still like to write articles?
Well, I have a Journalism Degree and a minor in film & TV, and have written many published articles. I like to read and write entertainment editorials, and music reviews, for newspapers, to stay current using my writing skills --- it helps me when I write my scripts. I took the opportunity at THE CON to interview several actors, and writers, including creator and writer, Toby Whithouse of “Being Human”, and his actors in the series, and some people from the “Dr. Who” cast. They all were so wonderful to me, including PR maven, Amy Mulcair, and some folks of BBC America, who arranged the interviews.

My Thanks to Patti Beninati for taking time to answer these questions and for her kind permission to use her article and personal pictures.