Red Faction: Origins - Pazsaz: Smith, Vernon, Nankin & Kreisberg Interview

Source: Pazsaz [follow link for complete LENGTHY interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - PAZSAZ: Brian J. Smith, Kate Vernon, Michael Nankin and Andrew Kreisberg Interview

by Pattye Grippo

This is an interview with Brian J. Smith (Jake Mason), Kate Vernon (The Matriarch), Director Michael Nankin, and Writer/Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg on May 31, 2011 about the Original Syfy movie Red Faction Origins.

In the film, twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason led the Martian Colonies to freedom... and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra, and left a broken hero in their wake. Jake Mason, Alec’s last surviving son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them... a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Jake must now battle the relentless regime and somehow reunite a family torn apart by war...


... Question: So would you say that this movie would be just as good if it didn't take place on Mars and this happened on earth in the 1920s or something?

Andrew Kreisberg: "Well it's funny. One of the first conversations I had with Brian was I said to him when we were talking about how to play Jake, I said, "Just substitute the Red Faction militia for the LA police department and play it the exact same way." It really is about a father and a son and parental issues and it's about survivor's guilt. It's about loss and reconnection. I mean all the themes and the problems that people are dealing with, whether it's survivor's guilt or alcoholism, those are the universal themes that play whether it's the 1920s, whether it's the present day or whether it's 300 years in the future on a terra-formed Mars."

Brian J. Smith: "The thing that I always thought about was this is like a Western. This is about as close as I've ever gotten to shooting a Western. And it's funny that we actually talked a lot about the film, The Searchers, while we shot it. So whether it's on Mars or wherever, as long as it's got that humanity in it, it's fantastically awesome to play."

Andrew Kreisberg: "Although it got very annoying when Brian kept asking for a horse."

Kate Vernon: "There are no horses on Mars, dang it."

Andrew Kreisberg: "Over and over, we had to tell him that."

Brian J. Smith: "And all I really wanted was a Snapple..."


Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.

Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.

Red Faction: Origins - Worth Playing: Kate Vernon Interview

Source: Worth Playing [follow link for complete interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - WORTH PLAYING: Kate Vernon Interview

by Adam Pavlacka on June 3, 2011

Half a century after the Red Faction resistance and their Marauder allies freed Mars from the brutal Earth Defense Force, harmony on Mars is again threatened but this time by a lethal force shrouded in mystery.

Produced by the SyFy channel in conjunction with THQ, "Red Faction: Origins" is a made-for-TV movie designed to bridge the narrative gap between the events of 2009's Red Faction: Guerrilla and the upcoming Red Faction: Armageddon. Set halfway between the two games, the film stars Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica, Heroes). We caught up with Vernon last week at a "Red Faction: Origins" premiere event in San Francisco, Calif., and chatted about the production experience and video games...



Kate Vernon from Battlestar Galactica publicity photos

... WP: Production-wise, computer graphics have become much more film-like, but that also means that there's more use of green screen and aftereffects. What's it like as an actor when you're trying to react or interact with things that aren't there while you're filming?

KV: "This is my first time with green screen. Even though I was on "Battlestar," I did not have to work on green screens. We're working on a freezing, sub-zero set, so it was very difficult, trying and challenging circumstances. On top of it, I'm having to re-create in my mind everything that I'm — it was wild. As an actress, I found it really fascinating, and I could see it being a wonderful challenge. It's like, if an actor puts on a mask, it frees you up to do so many things and be whatever. The same thing — when it's just your imagination, it informs you in a really different way. Because we shot so late at night and it was so cold, to be honest, I was on survival mode. I was thinking as I'm shooting, "Wow, it would be nice if this went to series because then I could really get into this green screen thing and nurture this experience." But I didn't have that luxury while we were shooting. (laughs) I find it fascinating, though..."

Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.

Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.

Red Faction: Origins - Show Patrol: Brian J. Smith Interview

Source: Show Patrol [follow link for complete interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - SHOW PATROL: Brian J. Smith: 'Red Faction: Origins' won't suck

By Curt Wagner
April 17, 2011

When Brian J. Smith's agent first approached him with the offer to star in the upcoming Syfy movie, “Red Faction: Origins,” the actor was less than thrilled.

"I immediately was like, 'No, no, no,'" Smith, who play[ed] Lt. Matthew Scott on “Stargate Universe,” told me in February, admitting that he'd seen many a Syfy Saturday B-movie. “They’re fun for what they are, [but] they’re kind of shitastic. Do you know what I mean? Which is awesome. There is a kind of tongue-in-cheek quality about them.”

“Red Faction,” he said, will be a step above Syfy's movies of the week. ("Mega Python vs. Gatoroid" comes to mind.) "It's definitely quality and it has really, really smart minds behind it. … This is not going to be another MOW. It just isn’t...”



Brian J. Smith and Robert Patrick from Red Faction: Origins

... You’ve obviously seen some of those Syfy Saturday movies. … They’re totally critic-proof. You almost have to revel in the badness of them.

Brian J. Smith: "Yeah, exactly. So [when I was aproached] I thought, “I don’t know” and “I'm sure it’s fun, but it doesn’t sound like the kind of fun to be having right now.” … I read and it was really freaking good, like really, really good. I called and said, “Who is directing this?” It was Michael Nankin and I kind of spun that name around my head, because I know I’d seen it many, many times somewhere and then it finally hit me: He has directed some of my favorite “Battlestar [Galactica]” episodes, like “Scar” and I think “Rise of the Phoenix.” I knew with that script and with a director that had that kind of sensibility and came from that “Battlestar” world that something pretty cool could come out of it. Plus, it was the first time I had played a lead; it was a big, meaty, huge role to play with a lot going on and it just seemed like a really cool thing to do.

And it was amazing. ... It was hard. It was very cold. I mean it was like –12 Celsius at certain points, and we were outside quite a bit..."

Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.

Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.

Red Faction: Origins - Entertainmentopia: Danielle Nicolet Interview

Source: Entertainmentopia [follow link for complete interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - ENTERTAINMENTOPIA: Danielle Nicolet Interview

June 2nd, 2011 by Erich Becker

Red Faction premieres this Saturday on SyFy, and to gear up for the movie we’ve sat down with one of the stars of the movie, Danielle Nicolet, whom you might remember from “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Family Matters,” “Stargate SG-1″ and “Heartland” amongst many other projects. Danielle plays Tess DeLaVega, sidekick to Robert Patrick’s character.

Can Red Faction overcome the curse of being based on a video game AND being a SyFy movie (Alien Apocalypse anyone?). How true does the movie stay to the video game series? Hit the jump for our exclusive interview to find out...



Danielle Nicolet and Brian J. Smith from Red Faction: Origins

... Entopia: How faithful does the movie stay to the video game’s universe?

Danielle: The film really uses the video game as a framework and makes it’s own world. The game is much more about the battles to save Mars. The movie really focuses on the backstory and the lives and relationships of the characters. You find out who Alec Mason really is, and why he fought. In my opinion it really rounds out the whole gaming experience for the fans, but is a true stand alone story for anyone who hasn’t played the games...

Red Faction: Origins - Blogcritics: Interview with the Cast and Crew

Source: Blogcritics [follow link for complete interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - BLOGCRITICS: Interview with the Cast and Crew

by Joseph Timmons
Jun 01, 2011

Syfy Network's highly anticipated “Saturday Original Movies” begin with the premiere of Red Faction: Origins on Saturday, June 4, at 9PM (ET/PT)...



... The show’s star Brian J. Smith said about his involvement with the film, “this is not a retelling of the game’s story line, but a story based in the Red Faction’s world. It is a fantastic story direction, I had a great time portraying the character and felt connected to his story."

Robert Patrick said, ”This is not just an outer space “shoot-em up,” there are amazing special effects, but the strength of the story is the real life issues that come up, like father and son connections, survivor’s guilt, just trying to make sense of a world gone mad. There are some amazing twists and turns making this a story the viewer can connect with on many levels...”

Source: Syfy You Tube channel - Red Faction: Origins Movie Trailer



Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) and Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) star in Red Faction: Origins, based on the hugely successful Red Faction video game franchise. Twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason (Patrick) led the Martian Colonies to freedom and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra (Tamzin Merchant), and left a broken hero in their wake. Jake Mason (Smith), Alec's only son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them -- a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Vernon portrays The Matriarch, leader of the tribal Marauders sect.

Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.

Red Faction: Origins - Syfy Video: Director & Cast Video Interview

Source: Syfy



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - SYFY VIDEO: Director & Cast Video Interview

The cast and director of the Syfy Original Movie "Red Faction: Origins" talk about the movie and what it was like working with each other.

Interview includes Director Michael Nankin [Caprica, Battlestar Galactica]; actors Brian J. Smith, Devon Graye, Robert Patrick and Danielle Nicolet.

Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.



Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) and Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) star in Red Faction: Origins, based on the hugely successful Red Faction video game franchise. Twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason (Patrick) led the Martian Colonies to freedom and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra (Tamzin Merchant), and left a broken hero in their wake. Jake Mason (Smith), Alec's only son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them -- a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Vernon portrays The Matriarch, leader of the tribal Marauders sect.

Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.

Stargate Universe - Urban Rush: Julia Benson Video Interview

Source: Urban Rush (Canada) You Tube channel



STARGATE UNIVERSE - URBAN RUSH: Julia Benson Video Interview

From October 30, 2009, a video interview with Stargate Universe's Julia Benson (Lt. Vanessa James) on Urban Rush, a Canadian talk show.

Red Faction: Origins - Syfy Video: Brian J. Smith Interview

Source: Syfy



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - SYFY VIDEO: Brian J. Smith Interview

Brian J. Smith, star of the Syfy Original Movie "Red Faction: Origins" answers fan questions.

Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.



Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), Brian J. Smith (Stargate Universe) and Kate Vernon (Battlestar Galactica) star in Red Faction: Origins, based on the hugely successful Red Faction video game franchise. Twenty-five years have passed since Alec Mason (Patrick) led the Martian Colonies to freedom and 12 years since vengeful enemies killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter Lyra (Tamzin Merchant), and left a broken hero in their wake. Jake Mason (Smith), Alec's only son and an officer in the Red Faction Militia, has his world turned inside out when he discovers that now, 12 years after her kidnapping, his sister is still alive. As a powerful new enemy swarms across the planet, Jake goes out to find her, only to learn that his lost sister is one of them -- a cold-blooded soldier sworn to destroy the Red Faction. Vernon portrays The Matriarch, leader of the tribal Marauders sect.

Cast includes Robert Patrick, Brian J. Smith, Tamzin Merchant, Kate Vernon, Devon Graye, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Gordon Kennedy.

Red Faction: Origins - Mother Nature Network: Stars of 'Red Faction: Origins' are green on and off set

Source: Mother Nature Network [follow link for complete interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - MOTHER NATURE NETWORK: Stars of 'Red Faction: Origins' are green on and off set

Brian J. Smith and Kate Vernon topline Syfy movie.

by Gerri Miller
Wed, Jun 01 2011

Brian J. Smith, star of the Syfy movie "Red Faction: Origins," says that efforts were made to reduce waste on the set. "Instead of using paper plates at lunch, they had china," he says. Set on Mars in the future, the movie, based on the "Red Faction" video game series, was shot in Bulgaria, utilizing a rusted-out Soviet-era steel mill for some of the settings. "You don't have to know the video game to enjoy the story or get into it," says Smith, who's best known for the sci-fi series "Stargate Universe." He finds his "Origins" character very different. "He's much more self confident, much more grounded as far as his emotional life, and he doesn't have girl problems. He's much more proactive than Scott was. Scott was a paper pusher. This character is a doer." In the story, his mother has been killed, his sister is kidnapped, and he has "survivor's guilt, that he should have done more to save his sister. He's trying to redeem himself in his father's eyes..."

Red Faction: Origins premieres on Syfy Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C.

Camelot - MSN TV: Tonight's Picks Jun 3 '11 - Starz 10/9C

Source: MSN TV [follow link for complete column]



MSN TV: Tonight's Picks Friday, June 3, 2011

... Camelot

10:00 PM, STARZ

When Bardon Pass is attacked, Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) and his knights ride to its defense, but his men are starting to lose faith in him. Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) discovers that he has been seduced by Morgan (Eva Green), who has been in the castle all along and shape-shifting. Claire Forlani and Philip Winchester also star in the new episode "The Battle of Bardon Pass."

Red Faction: Origins - IGN TV: What to Expect

Source: IGN TV [follow link for complete interview]



RED FACTION: ORIGINS - IGN TV: What to Expect

The writer of the new Red Faction TV-Movie tells IGN how Origins fits into the storyline

June 2, 2011
by Eric Goldman

Debuting on Syfy this Saturday night, the TV-Movie Red Faction: Origins picks up 25 years after the events of Red Faction: Guerrilla, in a story involving Guerrilla's main character, Alec Mason (here played by Terminator 2's Robert Patrick) and his children, Jake (Stargate Universe's Brian J. Smith) and Lyra (The Tudors' Tamzin Merchant).

Red Faction: Origins is written by Andrew Kreisberg, a TV veteran with a resume that includes stints writing for Fringe and The Vampire Diaries, not to mention his current gig with Warehouse 13. On top of that, Kreisberg wrote one the best episodes so far of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Brain Invaders."

I spoke to Kreisberg about Red Faction: Origins, what Red Faction fans can expect from the TV-Movie and whether the story could continue on TV...



... IGN: I attended a press event recently where Syfy's president, Mark Stern, said he'd be interested in potentially continuing Red Faction as an ongoing series . Is that something you'd like to be involved with, should it come to pass?

Kreisberg: Yeah. Making Red Faction: The Series would truly be a dream come true. And I've really come to fall in love with these characters and these actors, who are amazing. Brian J. Smith, Robert Patrick, Tamzin Merchant, Gareth David-Lloyd, Danielle Nicolet and Kate Vernon, Devon Graye and Gordon Kennedy... Everyone so brought their A-game on this. It was a very difficult shoot, but everybody kept their spirits up and their performances are truly amazing. So the thought of getting to work with those actors and getting to work with [director] Michael Nankin and seeing where these characters can go from there would be exciting. But we will have to see what the future holds...

Red Faction: Origins airs Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 9/8C on Syfy.

Fringe - FOX Video Featurette: Fans Ask Blair Brown

Source: FOX Broadcasting You Tube channel



FRINGE - FOX VIDEO FEATURETTE: ans Ask Blair Brown

All-new episodes of Fringe return this fall to FOX.