Ed Bishop, who died 6 years ago and only three days before his 73rd birthday, belonged to a small group of expatriate actors from the USA and Canada working and living in the United Kingdom. During his prolific career spanning almost 50 years he appeared in movies, on television and on stage, as well as working on radio, as a narrator and voice-actor. Though never achieving star status, directors regularly…
By: James Killian (author) I have been a fan of Gabrielle Drake since I first saw her in UFO in 1972 when I was recovering from problems with my Diabetes. To be honest, I had a bit of a schoolboy crush on her and I was old enough to start college. Such is the effect of the woman who is without a doubt one of the most beautiful in the…
By: Angelo Finamore (photographer), Spyderwritings (author), Spyderwritings (photographer) The first time I met Ed Bishop was in 1988 at the Uforia convention in London. The convention was on the 18th June and I was due in hospital the next day for an operation. As I live in Merseyside this was something of a squeeze but no way was I missing it especially since the guests were Ed, George Sewell, Tony…
During the Fanderson “Century 21” convention, Ed Bishop & Gabrielle Drake were interviewed by Fanderson chairman Chris Bentley in a packed main hall. Here is a transcripion of the interview by Lorraine Bopp-Meyer, which is based on videos made by Paulo Malaguti, Ronald Kroon, Simon Wickes, and Theo de Klerk. Ed Bishop & Gabrielle Drake Interview at “Century 21” Ed and Gabrielle enter the room and have a seat on…
Settings and Situations A serious look at places and people, and how lack of research can lead to some ‘painful’ situations! So, you have your ingredients, all properly weighed and measured, now you need to prepare them. Get out the chopping boards and the sharp knives! (and you might just want to check that your first-aid kit is handy!) What has that to do with Fanfic you might ask? Well,…
By: Catherine Rain I’m tired of hearing that fanfic is easier to write than original fiction. It’s not a training ground for beginners. It’s not a kit with all the parts pre-cut. Well-done fanfic is harder to write than original fiction in a handful of ways, which I am going to rant about. 1) The boundaries of what you can decide to do are less flexible. Any story…
The acting and directing choices and abilities of the artists bringing UFO to us and how they influence the characters we get to see are quite intriguing. Especially when you compare them to what the very same actors do in other movies. Having just now a discussion about what is in character, what the actors put there and what we – as writers – ought to at least notice, quite…
One of the joys of writing fan-fiction is that we are presented with a series of ready-made characters, backgrounds and scenarios that, if combined with care, will result in a very appetising end product. Remove outer packaging, pierce film and place in a pre-heated oven (Gas Mk 5) for 40 minutes. Ensure contents are piping hot before serving. We have the ingredients prepared and ready for us to use. All…
I’ve never been to a convention before. Ever. And at one stage I wasn’t going to go to the TV21 one either. But I was persuaded to change my mind, and found myself on the Friday morning waiting at the railway station for the Glasgow to Bristol train, loaded with suitcases and some trepidation. At least it was a day off work! I arrived at Bristol on time, and found…
By: Ian Fryer (writer) A Fanderson Convention seems a strange affair without the presence of the late, great Ed Bishop. Although the man himself isn’t available, we can still dedicate part of our convention book to him with a look at an aspect of the endlessly fascinating character he created along with the producers and writers of UFO. Ian Fryer examines Ed Straker’s complex and revealing relationships with women. Over…