153 // Interviewing Phillip Kennedy Johnson, the Writer of Marvel's Upcoming Alien Comics

The announcement of Alien leaving Dark Horse for Marvel sent shockwaves through fandom, and for good reason. After more than three decades with the venerable underdog publisher, Alien was going to an entertainment powerhouse.

Many of us felt like this was either very good news or very bad news. Either way, the announcement has had fandom on tenterhooks for the past year. Who would write these stories? What would they have to say? Would Marvel—and, by extension, Disney—understand Alien enough to get this right?

Well, we at Perfect Organism are delighted to bring you this wild, nearly two-hour interview with Phillip Kennedy Johnson, the man writing these comics—an interview that essentially serves as an extended "yes" to the question of whether Marvel knows what it's doing with our beloved franchise.

Phillip is a lifelong Alien nut with an abiding love for the property and a passion to get it right. In this interview, Jaime and Patrick have the opportunity to speak with Phillip about what that means. What Alien is really about. What these comics are going to attempt to express. How to tell stories that feel immediate and relevant in the world we inhabit.

This interview is many things, but perhaps most of all it's a love letter. A love letter to comic books, and a love letter to that moment we get to cherish time and again when we realize how many deeply, beautifully nerdy fans are out there around the world. 

We hope you love it. This is one of our best.

Stay tuned for Building Better World-submitted questions at the end, and stick around after the credits for a sneak peek at a new show we think you'll love!

//iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play:bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

146 // Spaihts, Lindelof, and Two Very Different Scripts (Open Her Eyes: The Journey to Prometheus Part Six)

In this next installment of our ongoing exploration into the origins of Prometheus, Jaime and Patrick (with special guest Dan Ferlito, their cohost on Shoulder of Orion: The Blade Runner Podcast) dive deeply into two very important documents: Jon Spaihts' ALIEN: Engineers and Damon Lindelof's Paradise.

The quick, popularized version of events is that Jon Spaihts, hired by Scott and Fox to write a screenplay based on a compelling pitch, turned in something rough-hewn but interesting. Then Damon Lindelof, hot off the success of Lost, was brought in to give it a little Hollywood magic—and a less overt connection to Alien.

But there's a lot more to it than that. Join us on this deep dive into the early days of Prometheus.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

145 // A Galaxy of Fans: Evolutions and Revolutions in Alien Fandom (Open Her Eyes: The Journey to Prometheus Part Five)

Prometheus premiered at a curious time in Alien fandom. It'd been 15 years since the release of the previous canonical film in the main Alien continuity, and the internet was transitioning rapidly into something a lot more connected—and a lot more intense—than what it'd previously been.

It was an era of tightly guarded secrets, leaked photos, buzzing internet forums, and nascent social media groups. And one of the most active places for fans to engage was (and is) AvPGalaxy (avpgalaxy.net).

On this installment of our ongoing investigation into Prometheus, Jaime and Patrick spend some quality time with their friend Aaron Percival, AvPGalaxy's co-administrator and host of the AvPGalaxy podcast. They discuss where fandom was in the months leading up to Prometheus' premiere—and how various changes in studio marketing, social media, and public discourse came together to create a unique time to be an Alien fan.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

144 // Alien: The Original Screenplay - An Interview with Cristiano Seixas, Writer

A lifetime ago—January 2020, to be exact—Dark Horse issued one of the most exciting press releases in Alien expanded universe history: Dan O'Bannon's original screenplay was getting a comic adaptation.

The creative team tasked with this extraordinary challenge was more than up to it. Writer Cristiano Seixas has been an integral part of the Brazilian comics scene for decades. Active in writing, illustrating, animation, and more, he's also the Creative Director of Ghost Jack Entertainment (a game studio) and the founder of Casa dos Quadrinhos School of Visual Arts in Brazil.

Along with his friend/longtime collaborator, the artist Guilherme Balbi, Seixas brings O'Bannon's script to luminous new life in this five-issue Dark Horse run.

Join Jaime and Patrick as they chat with Cristiano about art, Alien, adaptation, and much more. For more on Cristiano and his work—including Calango, the groundbreaking comic book/mobile app about a girl and her desert lizard—visit cristianoseixas.com.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

141 // You Have My Sympathies: Ash, Artificial Intelligence on Film, and the Legacy of Sir Ian Holm (The Forbidden Planet Part 10)

As fandom continues to process the loss of Sir Ian Holm, Jaime and Patrick return to The Forbidden Planet for an installment dedicated to his immortal portrayal of Ash. The conversation takes some extraordinary turns along the way—inspired in no small part by your comments and insights in Building Better Worlds and live on the air.

Holm's portrayal of Ash was a watershed in how AI was represented on screen. This conversation—which we feel might be one of our best yet—is our tiny way of trying to do some justice to his legacy.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

136 // Small Beginnings: An Interview with Charles de Lauzirika (Open Her Eyes: The Journey to Prometheus Part Two)

Now that Alien Day 2020 is behind us, we’re excited to leap back into our Prometheus series with both feet. And what better way to pick up the story than an extended conversation with our friend Charles de Lauzirika, director of The Furious Gods: Making Prometheus?

Join hosts Jaime and Patrick as Charles takes us through the very earliest days of the Prometheus journey—and stay tuned to the end, as Charles answers questions submitted by members of Building Better Worlds!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

ALIEN DAY 2020: 134 // Feel the Weight: A Perfect Organism Aliens Commentary Track

Next up on our Alien Day 2020: ICC Quarantine Edition schedule is a commentary track for one of the most beloved films not just in the franchise, but in Hollywood history: Aliens. Patrick and Jaime were lucky enough to have returning guest (and Aliens mega-fan) Andie GeekGirl join the party! 

This commentary track is for the 1991 Special Edition. We will walk you through how to make sure the playback lines up, so don't worry: just start the episode, load up that Blu-ray, and make sure you have lots of sentry guns outside the room.

We hope you are enjoying the Alien Day festivities. We're very lucky to share this wonderful fandom with listeners like you.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

ALIEN DAY 2020: Alien vs. Predator (2004) Commentary Track (Shit Show Bonus Episode)

We've finally arrived at Alien Day 2020: ICC Quarantine Edition! What better way to kick things off than with a special episode of Shit Show, our down-and-dirty Patreon podcast? As a reminder, we are making Patreon content available for everyone during this extended period of social distancing and lockdown.

Anyone who has listened to Perfect Organism through the years has likely noticed a strange trend: we've been gradually liking the first AvP film more and more every time we talk about it. On this special presentation, Jaime and Patrick are joined by longtime contributor Mykal McCulloch, frequent guest (and bather of action figures) Mike Denis, and some genuine AvP royalty: our dear friend Aaron Percival, co-owner/administrator of AvP Galaxy.

This commentary track is for the theatrical edition, not the unrated. It's intended to be played alongside the movie, and we'll walk you through how that works after the episode starts. So load your discs, start your downloads, stay the hell away from any ancient underground pyramids, and get ready to have a great time.

We'll be bringing you Alien Day content all day long, so stay tuned to Perfect Organism's social media channels to ensure you don't miss anything. Stay safe, and stay frosty!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

130 // Interview with Scott Sigler, Author of Aliens: Phalanx

When fans first heard about an upcoming Aliens novel set in a world of shields and spears last year, message boards and Facebook groups lit up. What would it read like? Was this a straight-up fantasy novel? Was it just a wacky experiment?

Luckily for us, we were in good hands all along. Scott Sigler's intricate story takes us places unexpected, different, and thrilling—and though it turns out to be (at least in some ways) a "fantasy" novel, it's Aliens through and through.

In this interview, Scott joins Jaime and Patrick for a wide-ranging discussion on inspiration, creativity, story, and much more. He also took time to answer listener questions submitted via Building Better Worlds, so stick around all the way to the end!

iTunes: bit.ly/shoulderoforionitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/shoulderoforiongoogleplay

128 // Taste the Rainbow: A Minisode About Those Psychedelic New Lanard Toys

It's not often we're taken completely by surprise these days. Usually, there's an inkling of something coming. News leaks. A company announces they've acquired rights to use the Alien license on Twitter. Alien's Instagram posts some teasers. You know the drill.

But a few months back, a whole ton of what-the-blessed-hell-is-going-on got dropped on fandom when a toy company many of us had never heard of started releasing some super colorful, super crazy designs reminiscent of the Kenner toys so many of us grew up with.

In this minisode, frequent contributor Dave Gogel (of Xenomorphing) leads Patrick "Gorilla Alien Is My Spirit Animal" Greene and returning guest Mike Denis on a journey to figure out where these things came from and what they're all about. We didn't end up with many answers, but we did end up laughing a hell of a lot. 

Stay tuned for Perfect Organism's fifth anniversary roundtable next week!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

127 // Dark Elegy: The Astonishing Music of Alien 3 (In Defense of Alien 3 Part 7)

In this—perhaps the most ambitious episode we've ever attempted—Jaime and Patrick try to do justice to Elliot Goldenthal's towering achievement: his original score for Alien 3. Using original research and analysis, Goldenthal's own cue sheets, the full orchestral score, Patrick's background as a professional composer, and Jaime's encyclopedic knowledge of film soundtracks, the PO team wades deeply into this complicated, powerful musical statement.

This is also a long-awaited return to the first extended series we ever attempted: In Defense of Alien 3! We hope to continue to periodically revisit all of our extended series in the years to come.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

126 // Special Presentation: Shit Show, Episode 1 (AVP 2004)

We're excited to bring our Patreon supporters another all-new, ongoing series—and we'd like to share this first episode with everyone! We're calling this new program Shit Show: The Lighter Side of Perfect Organism. You know those moments in Perfect Organism episodes where Jaime and Patrick just make fun of each other for five minutes? Shit Show is all about those moments.

It's about taking ourselves (and our franchise) a little less seriously. Exploring corners of the franchise we might not otherwise touch on, and taking time to explore some hidden gems—or turds—in science fiction and genre filmmaking more broadly.

If you'd like so sign up for our Patreon, go to perfectorganism.com/support or search "Perfect Organism" at patreon.com. For just $2 per month, you'll have instant access to every episode of Shit Show and our other ongoing Patreon series, Frame Rate.

We'll be back with regular programming in two weeks! In the meantime, consider supporting the show by joining our crew at perfectorganism.com/support.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

125 // Looking Back on an Unforgettable Year in Fandom

As we close 2019, we wanted to take a moment to appreciate how much fun we've had this year. With this show, with each other, with our podcast family, and with all of you listening out there, wherever you are.

Thank you for making 2019—Alien's 40th anniversary—completely unforgettable.

We'll see you in the new year after a short break!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

122 // Finding Ellen Ripley: Part 1 (The Forbidden Planet Part 8)

In this heartfelt, free-ranging episode, Jaime and Patrick discuss one of the most important film characters in their lives: Ellen Ripley. Anchoring the conversation to Ripley's role in Alien, they branch into a larger conversation on gender, class, race, and representation in this classic film—and how Sigourney Weaver's performance broke every mold imaginable. 

Join us as we enter the final month of Alien's fortieth anniversary year recognizing the woman who's been with us since the very beginning: our Space Mom, Ellen Ripley.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

120 // Open the Door: Alien and the Cinema of the 1970s (The Forbidden Planet Part 7)

The 1970s was a decade of astounding creative leaps in Hollywood. In this special episode, Jaime and Patrick welcome first-time guest Mike Denis to talk about this unique period in the history of film—and how Alien, that dark masterpiece we love so dearly, might just be the decade's crowning achievement.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

119 // Perfect Organism Reviews Memory: The Origins of Alien

In this special review episode, Jaime and Patrick review Alexandre O. Philippe's recently released (and long-awaited) documentary on Alien. It's an in-depth discussion, so we recommend you watch the film before listening to this episode.

Do you agree with our thoughts? Did you see the film differently? Let us know over on Building Better Worlds!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

118 // Nuke the Site From Orbit: Unpopular Alien Saga Opinions

In this wild, hilarious roundtable discussion, Jaime and Patrick are joined by frequent guest Dave (xenomorphing.com) and returning guest Michael (michaelscudieri.com) as the gang discusses unpopular Alien Saga opinions—their own, and some of the dozens (hundreds?) shared on a recent Building Better Worlds thread.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

117 // The Music of Our Fear: Jerry Goldsmith and the Impossible Score (The Forbidden Planet Part 6)

Jerry Goldsmith's remarkable score for Alien is an achievement for the ages—but why? What makes it so beautifully suited to this film? Why was Goldsmith—who wasn't Scott's first choice—the only composer who could've pulled this masterpiece off?

In this extraordinarily deep dive, Jaime and Patrick look at Goldsmith's life, career, and musical style. And using Patrick's background as a professional composer—and Jaime's encyclopedic knowledge of film scores—they analyze the score on a deeply technical level, too.

This was one of the most enjoyable recording sessions to date. We hope you enjoy the ride as much as we did!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

116 // A Nightmare, Revisted: Signs of Life

Join us as we take a brief hiatus from our Forbidden Planet series to talk current events! A recent short film, which you can see here, has given us another glimpse into David's lab—and presented some fascinating implications for Alien canon. In this catch-up episode, Jaime and Patrick are joined by the always wonderful MUTHUR9000 (yutani.studio) to talk about this short film, current events in the Expanded Universe, and much more!

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay

114 // I Don't Ever Blink: Ridley Scott and the Nature of Genius (The Forbidden Planet: Part 4)

As we continue our year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of Alien, we've finally arrived at the man behind the camera: Sir Ridley Scott.

To say Scott was a bizarre choice to helm Alien would be putting it mildly. Virtually unknown outside of commercials and television—with just one feature film (an epic about Napoleonic War-era swordplay) to his name—Scott ended up being an almost impossibly good pick to direct this groundbreaking movie.

Jaime and Patrick explore Scott's roots—his youth in northern England, his years coming out of art school, his work for the BBC—and discuss how those life experiences helped shape him into the perfect director for one of the great films ever made. They also talk about the shoot itself, and how Scott's idiosyncrasies worked in his favor as he overcame the limitations of the studio system to craft a blockbuster that felt like an art film.

iTunes: bit.ly/perfectorganismitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/perfectorganismgoogleplay