| Chris Brancato, Producer of First Wave, on the Sci Fi Channel |
Chat Date: June 15, 1999 |
Chris Brancato
Producer of Sci Fi's First Wave
Moderator: Okay!
Moderator: Show time once again -- thanks for your patience.
ChrisBrancato: Can you see us?
Moderator: Yes, I can! And now I'm going to introduce you!!
Moderator: Hi everyone and thanks for joining us here tonight where we will be chatting with Chris Brancato the
creative force behind the Sci-Fi Channel's new series, FIRST WAVE. Chris has already honed his sci-fi skills on
such television series as The OUTER LIMITS and THE X-FILES.
Moderator: You can catch the show on Fridays at 10 PM or 2 AM ET and then again on Saturdays at 4 PM ET. FIRST
WAVE also has a website: http://www.scifi.com/firstwave/.
Moderator: Quick note
Moderator: Quick note about the drill: this is a moderated chat. If you have a question for Chris, please send
it to me, Moderator, as a private message.
Moderator: Chris, tell us a little about FIRST WAVE.
Moderator: How'd you come up with the idea?
ChrisBrancato: First Wave
ChrisBrancato: Uhhh...simply put
ChrisBrancato: in 1564
ChrisBrancato: Nostrodomus pedicted that aliens would lays the groundwork
ChrisBrancato: for an invasion around the Millennnium
ChrisBrancato: The First Wave is here!
ChrisBrancato: They're experimenting on us to see if we can be defeated
ChrisBrancato: One man knows about this
ChrisBrancato: Cade Foster...Our hero
ChrisBrancato: The experim,ent that Cade was a part
ChrisBrancato: of deteremined how humans handle adversity
ChrisBrancato: They kill his wife
ChrisBrancato: drain his bank account
ChrisBrancato: and he escapes
ChrisBrancato: Armed with his knowledge he's alerting the world
ChrisBrancato: But he isn't always believed!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <SirMoro> : I know this may be a clichéd question, but what was your inspiration for the
show?
Moderator: I guess what he means is -- why Nostradamus?
ChrisBrancato: It's a good question
Moderator: as opposed, say, to The Four Horsemen of the Appocalypse?
ChrisBrancato: I've always been fascinated by shows that explore the human condition
ChrisBrancato: The Twilight Zone, for example
ChrisBrancato: This was a chance to explore humans through the eyes of alien intelligence
ChrisBrancato: Cade is forced to look at us as well
ChrisBrancato: I'm inspired by the chance to explore the human condition
ChrisBrancato: It's a premise for a series to do that.
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <GrandLady>: So, that began the groundwork for First wave? How do you envision future episodes
going beyond or with Nostradamus?
ChrisBrancato: Nostradamus has always been a compelling historic figure
ChrisBrancato: bastardized by the tabloids
ChrisBrancato: I thought it would interesting to use the a prophet from the past to guide a hero in the present.
Like channelling Obi-Wan
ChrisBrancato: .
ChrisBrancato: I'll try to use the Horsemen another time!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <digritz>: I was curious why Brancato made his protangonist a thief?
ChrisBrancato: Another good question
ChrisBrancato: I iuntially thought of Cade as an "everyman"
ChrisBrancato: Unfortunately an "everyman" has no skills to fight aliens
ChrisBrancato: I gave Cade a set of skills that would work for this challange
ChrisBrancato: Making him a thief was also important because his wife had changed him... so her loss is all the
more painful
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Katie> to <Moderator>: Do you believe in all of this alien stuff or do just have an amazing
immagination?
ChrisBrancato: I would have to say that like the rest of us, I'm waiting for evidence
ChrisBrancato: Hard evidence
ChrisBrancato: I believe that somewhere it does
ChrisBrancato: For the purposes of the show
ChrisBrancato: aliens are a useful enemy
ChrisBrancato: because they're studing us
ChrisBrancato: It allows me as a writer to comment on the human condition
ChrisBrancato: And we're exploring the problems the aliens the have had
ChrisBrancato: The logistics
ChrisBrancato: Their genetic husks
ChrisBrancato: Their addiction to salt
ChrisBrancato: etc
ChrisBrancato: How often have we seen sf where the aliens are little green men
ChrisBrancato: without character development?
ChrisBrancato: We want multidimensional aliens!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Robzilla> to <Moderator>: Will we see Colnel Grace in Season 2?
ChrisBrancato: With all due respect, it was decided early in the season that the Grace character didn't work for
the show
ChrisBrancato: It was a pursuit character who could never catch Cade
ChrisBrancato: She's on the shelf for awhile
ChrisBrancato: We're looking at more compelling storylines
ChrisBrancato: We may look at her organization, The Illuminati later
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Station identification: we're talking to Chris Brancato, the creator of the new Sci-Fi Channel series,
FIRST WAVE. Gotta question for Chris? Shoot it to me, Moderator, as a private message.
Moderator: <Truffles>: Will the series provide details about all three waves?
ChrisBrancato: Absolutely
ChrisBrancato: As the series progresses Cade will learn more about the scope of the waves and the intentions of
the aliens for future waves
ChrisBrancato: The 3rd Wave is the total destruction of Earth
ChrisBrancato: W hope not to god there
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Robzilla> to <Moderator>: How did you come up with the idea for the Genetech clones?
ChrisBrancato: The aliens needed to be in human form. I hate aliens in rubber suits on TV
ChrisBrancato: The question becomes how do aliens tranport themselves
ChrisBrancato: We choose a digital form sent by a wormhole and downloaded in a husk -- mostly human, but with alien
DNA
ChrisBrancato: The sum total of who they are is in the human brain
ChrisBrancato: We thought it was a cool idea in a digital age
ChrisBrancato: Of course some sort of alien had to arrive first to lay the groundwork
ChrisBrancato: And we can speculate on when that happened
ChrisBrancato: It wasn't Roswell.
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Bastet> : What was some of the research material used for the show about witchcraft?
ChrisBrancato: That story was written by Danial Cerone who has written a num,ber of episode
ChrisBrancato: He's a former journalist. He used the 'net to research the guidebook for Wicca.
ChrisBrancato: It's a nic e episode
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <kdny1>: Chris -is it true you worked on "Tales From The Darkside"?
ChrisBrancato: Yes...I must admit that it's true
ChrisBrancato: My job was to clean the toilets in the studio in Long Island City
ChrisBrancato: It was my first job in the business. I've been infected ever since.
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Truffles>: What kind of experience did you have working on the X-Files?
ChrisBrancato: Overall a very good one
ChrisBrancato: I happend to sit next to Chris before the show aired
ChrisBrancato: He told me to come in and pitch ideas
ChrisBrancato: I threw ten his way
ChrisBrancato: he liked "Eve" best. I worked with Ken Biller on the script, with Wong and MOrgan
ChrisBrancato: People still talk to me about the episode
ChrisBrancato: Needless to say, Chris is brilliant
ChrisBrancato: He's changed the face of scifi tv
ChrisBrancato: I ow him!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Someone's gonna talk to you about that episode right now...
Moderator: Station identification: we're talking to Chris Brancato, the creator of the new Sci-Fi Channel series,
FIRST WAVE. Gotta question for Chris? Shoot it to me, Moderator, as a private message.
Moderator: <Katie>: How did you think up the episode "EVE" for the X-files? It was a very intriguing
concept.
ChrisBrancato: Hey! I thought this was about 1st Wave!
Moderator: Weeel -- ity's about YOU.
ChrisBrancato: I've always been fascinated with genetics
ChrisBrancato: and cloning
Moderator: And also FIRST WAVE,.
ChrisBrancato: Ken and I were inspired by Levins Boys from Brazil
ChrisBrancato: We twisted thje concept to fit the X-Files
ChrisBrancato: It's a scary little episode
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <GrandLady>: So, Chris began as a Nostrdaumus fan? How did you ever get hold of all the 'accurate'
quatrains?
ChrisBrancato: The accurate quatrains are readily available in bookstoes
ChrisBrancato: We've modified them abit
ChrisBrancato: I'm not a big fan of Nostradamus Simply he's a compelling figure
ChrisBrancato: He makes an ainteresting spirtitual mentor
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <DianeDumas> : Chris, is that FBI agent an "alien"? It was eluded she was (careful who
you trust) and then it was said she's human. DD~
Moderator:
ChrisBrancato: You never know, do you?
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Chris, how involved are you in the day-to-day operations of FIRST WAVE?
ChrisBrancato: It's a 24/7 job
ChrisBrancato: I'm responsible for delivering all 22 scripts
ChrisBrancato: I'm involved in prepping every episode
ChrisBrancato: casting
ChrisBrancato: location
ChrisBrancato: props
ChrisBrancato: and production and last minute rewrites
ChrisBrancato: set problesm
ChrisBrancato: how the show is shot
ChrisBrancato: and finally the post production, editing, sound, music
ChrisBrancato: It's grueling
ChrisBrancato: never ending
ChrisBrancato: and I love it
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Robzilla>: So the third season could lead to the destruction of earth?
ChrisBrancato: One of the things that I promise the fans of this show is taht it will evolve
ChrisBrancato: So as to what happens later
ChrisBrancato: I wouldn't rule out the possibility -- although if Cade succeeds he may prevent it
ChrisBrancato: What you will see is a growing band of his followers
ChrisBrancato: and attention from humans as to the threat
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Kimmer>: Chris...we love the show and we were wondering what the plans are for next season? Will
this show continue on this path or maybe get picked up by a network like FOX?
ChrisBrancato: Thank you!
ChrisBrancato: I read the posts on the bbs on scifi and I'm always interested in feedback
ChrisBrancato: As for a pickup
ChrisBrancato: the show if committed to SciFi for 66 episodes
ChrisBrancato: We couldn't be happier!
ChrisBrancato: The SciFi Channel bel;ieved in this show!
ChrisBrancato: A network wouldn't do that
ChrisBrancato: For all the fans out there, we won't get cancelled on scifi!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Is it too far ahead to think "FIRST WAVE: The Movie??"
ChrisBrancato: From your lips to God's ears!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Station identification: we're talking to Chris Brancato, the creator of the new Sci-Fi Channel series,
FIRST WAVE. Gotta question for Chris? Shoot it to me, Moderator, as a private message.
Moderator: <Truffles>: It must be so heartening to have a three-season commitment from SFC ... have you already
mapped out what will happen in season 3?
Moderator:
ChrisBrancato: Just a sec
ChrisBrancato: Season Three...Good quaetion..
ChrisBrancato: A three year order provides wonderful security
ChrisBrancato: Lots of character arcs and story lines
ChrisBrancato: but it's dangerous to get too far ahead
ChrisBrancato: You might get stuck with a bad idea
ChrisBrancato: I'm leaving myself open for inspiration
ChrisBrancato: fan comments
ChrisBrancato: and bright ideas!
ChrisBrancato: Ga
Moderator: <customyo>: will we ever see what the aliens will look like?
ChrisBrancato: Tune in and find out
ChrisBrancato: They sure as hell ain't pretty
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <khc>: Mr. Brancato, I have not yet had the opportunity to watch your new show. What one aspect
of it do you feel is the strongest -- storyline, individual episode plots, character development, sci fi technology,
etc.?
Moderator:
ChrisBrancato: That's a tough one
ChrisBrancato: If I can be so bold
ChrisBrancato: I'll say the writing
ChrisBrancato: I think each story functions as a parable
ChrisBrancato: Our hero is played beautifully and learns more
ChrisBrancato: each step of the journey
ChrisBrancato: Hopefull the viewer does as well
ChrisBrancato: We want to illuminate their lives too.
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Chris, you've had a lot of sci fi writing experience -- The XFiles, The Outer Limits, Beverly Hills
90210... Were you a big sci fi fan growing up??
ChrisBrancato: I was not an insane fan growing up
ChrisBrancato: I read some of the masterpieces
ChrisBrancato: but I'd be hard pressed to say I was more than a layman
ChrisBrancato: The shopw that influenced me as a kid was the Twilight Zone
ChrisBrancato: 'The Zone functions as a parable
ChrisBrancato: I like to think if you strip away teh aliens
ChrisBrancato: First Wave does too
ChrisBrancato: A good story, well told, about human beings
ChrisBrancato: That said
ChrisBrancato: I can offer hard evidence
ChrisBrancato: that Brenda on 90210 was an alien!
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <DianeDumas>: Chris, some of the scenes in the "fountain of youth" episode were kinda
risky, did you have any problems with censors?
ChrisBrancato: For the most part we do not suffer from censorship problems
ChrisBrancato: However all broadcasters have standards and practices
ChrisBrancato: In the case of Elixer there was a shot where a dres rode to high
ChrisBrancato: her underwear was fleshtone
ChrisBrancato: it gave the impression of mooning
ChrisBrancato: it did not please standards and practices
ChrisBrancato: They edit when that happenms
ChrisBrancato: and things get choppy
Moderator: We call that "The Ashley Judd Effect."
ChrisBrancato: I'm sorry about the edit of footage that was 2 HOT
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Kimmer>: Chris...are you planning on releasing the episodes onto video tapes sometime soon? We
would love to share your show with family that dont get the station. :)
ChrisBrancato: Thanks very much
ChrisBrancato: WE're currently discussing the realease on video
ChrisBrancato: I expect it'll be release sometime in the next year...maybe even the special eruro-"blue"
episodes, too hot for the US
ChrisBrancato: There are 5 or 6 of them
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Robzilla>: How did you get involved with Francis Ford Copolla?
ChrisBrancato: Francis had decided to enter the series tv biz
ChrisBrancato: I went to him with a couple ideas
ChrisBrancato: They loved First Wave
ChrisBrancato: Later as the show became a reality he became a real inspiration
ChrisBrancato: He loves Sci Fi
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <johny>: are the aliens sexless or is there a gender difference? and will Cade have any romantic
interests - female or male or alien?
ChrisBrancato: The aliens aren't sexless, but on their planet sex is only for procreation. It's painful. Now that
they're in human form, sex is pleasurable
ChrisBrancato: They're having problems with sexual addicts now
ChrisBrancato: Sex between aliens is strictly forbidden
ChrisBrancato: We'll see the results of that later
ChrisBrancato: Cade still carries a torch for Hannah
ChrisBrancato: But in the future, may not. Cade won't so aliens
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <shel>: Do you or someone associated w/ the show read the bboards here at scifi.com? Ever considering
am occasional post to the fans? If any fanfiction develops, would you consider it a source of input for ideas for
the show? On the last question, I've heard that some scifi shows like Star Trek: Voyager are willing to do this.
ChrisBrancato: I read the boards
ChrisBrancato: I would consider posting, but I don't have time
ChrisBrancato: For legal reasons I can't solicit specific ideas
ChrisBrancato: But what our viewers like and don't like weighs heavily
ChrisBrancato: The 'net is a powerful tool to connect producers
ChrisBrancato: to viewers
ChrisBrancato: Do write to us.
ChrisBrancato: Post on the boards
ChrisBrancato: We listen
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: <Morn64>: I have heard that Sable from WWF will be appearing in an upcoming First Wave episode
as a love interest for Joshua, is this true? and if so, will she be making more appearances as the show progresses?
ChrisBrancato: Sable will appear in the season two premeire
ChrisBrancato: We'll learn about a pats relationship with Josh. As for more details...WEatch the episode
ChrisBrancato: GA
Moderator: Final question for the night -- and Chris, thanks for joining us here this evening!
Moderator: <SirMoro>: ***question*** What are your plans for the future? Are you planning any other series?
ChrisBrancato: Right now First Wave has me really busy. With your continued interest it'll keep me busy even longer.
ChrisBrancato: I am developing idea in crime fiction
ChrisBrancato: Once again, thanks for taking the time to come here, and for your interest in the show
ChrisBrancato: It makes it worth working on
ChrisBrancato: If you feel inbclined...Tell SciFi you enjoy the show
Moderator: Thanks for joining us for this chat, Chris. Please come back again soon.
ChrisBrancato: They want to hear that.
ChrisBrancato: !
ChrisBrancato: Good night!