Long time friend of the show Arlen Shumer (Visions from the Twilight Zone, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art) returns to discuss the last endurance of The Twilight Zone, Hollywood's portrayal of the super hero, and Bruce Springstein as Captain America.  Plus, he fills us in on the multimedia lecture he is conducting at the Tribecca Theater in New York on November 11, 2010 at 7pm on the anniversary of one of the best episodes in The Twilight Zone series, "Eye of the Beholder".  Please take a moment to let us know what you thought of this episode by commenting in the forums or by calling our toll-free number 888-866-9010.

For ticket information about Arlen's lecture, follow the link.

ARLEN SCHUMER is one of the leading historians of comic book art—his coffee-table art book The Silver Age of Comic Book Art (Collectors Press) won the Independent Book Publishers award for Best Popular Culture Book of 2003. His other books are Visions From The Twilight Zone (Chronicle Books, 1991)and The Neal Adams Sketchbook (Vanguard, 1999). He has lectured at universities and cultural institutions since 1988.

Contact Arlen: arlen@arlenschumer.com

Learn more at http://www.arlenschumer.com

Our series of interviews from New York Comic Con continues as John interviews author Bob Greenberger on the release of his new Star Trek related project, Star Trek The Complete Unauthorized History.  They discuss the work including Bob's approach to chronicling his own history as editor of the DC Comics Star Trek line.  Plus, Bob talks about his journey to becoming a high school English teacher.  Take a moment to comment on this episode in the forums, or by writing john@chronicrift.com or by calling 888-866-9010.

Robert Greenberger (born July 24, 1958) is a writer and editor.

Greenberger was born in Brooklyn in New York City, the son of Edwin L. Greenberger and Joan Greenberger. A lifelong fan of comic books, comic strips, science fiction and Star Trek, he drifted towards writing and editing, encouraged by his father and inspired by Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent.

While at SUNY-Binghamton, Greenberger wrote and edited for the college newspaper, Pipe Dream, moving from general assignment writer to Arts Editor, Managing Editor and ultimately Editor-in-Chief.  He served an internship at Gannett’s Binghamton Sun-Bulletin as a feature writer and reviewer.

Upon graduation, he worked for Starlog Press as Managing Editor ofFangoria.  He was also an Associate Editor for Starlog and while there, created Comics Scene, the first nationally distributed magazine to focus on comic books, comic strips and animation.  The magazine lasted 11 issues before its first cancellation at which time Greenberger went to work on their sports magazines.

In 1984, he joined DC Comics as an Assistant Editor, working with Len Wein and Marv Wolfman on DC’s Golden Anniversary projects Who’s Who andCrisis on Infinite Earths.  He went on to act as assistant editor to numerous titles for each editor until he was promoted to editor.  During his tenure, his titles included Star Trek, Suicide Squad, Warlord, Doom Patrol, Lois Lane, Action Comics Weekly, Time Masters, Secret Origins, The Hacker Files and others.

By 1990, he had given up editing to become the company’s Editorial Coordinator, helping grow the Editorial Administration department.  When he left the company, he was Manager-Editorial Operations.

In March 2000, he left DC to become a Producer for Gist Communications, television news and listings web site. After ten months there, he learned some new skills and got out before the dotcom bubble burst.

In January 2001, he joined Marvel Comics as Director-Publishing Operations.  During his year with the company, he oversaw editorial schedules, Production, Manufacturing, the Print Library, and other departments.

In January 2002, he left Marvel and rejoined DC in May 2002 as a Senior Editor-Collected Editions.  He helped grow that department, introducing new formats and improving the editions’ editorial content. He also managed DC’sElfQuest publishing program.

He left DC in January 2006, becoming a freelance writer and editor.  His clients included Weekly World News, Platinum Studios, scifi.com, DC and Marvel. By June, he was offered the post of Managing Editor at Weekly World News where he helped transition the newspaper from being produced jointly in Florida and New York to just NYC.

When the paper folded in August 2007, he resumed his freelance career which continues to this date.  Along the way, he helped revitalize Famous Monsters of Filmland and served as News Editor at ComicMix from August through December 2008.

He is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and theInternational Association of Media Tie-In Writers.  He served on the final Nebula Short Fiction Jury.

Greenberger joined Fairfield, CT’s Parking Authority in 1999, serving until June 2006. He resigned from the Authority to join the Cable Advisory Council for Area 2 in Connecticut.  In November 2005, he was elected a Representative to Fairfield, Connecticut’s Representative Town Meeting. In November 2007, after winning re-election, he was voted to preside as its Moderator. After losing the 2009 election, he was appointed to represent Fairfield on the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agnecy.

He was married to Deborah Upton on October 18, 1980.  They are the parents to Kathleen Michelle (March 18, 1986) and Robert Edward Jr. (April 8, 1988-August 14, 2008).

John and Andrea are hooked (addicted) to a new dungeon crawl style iPhone/iPad/iTouch game called 100 Rogues by Dinofarm Games.  In it, you play a Crusader or a Fairy Wizard trying to clear a dungeon of the bandits that infest it while earning treasures and weapons to help in your final confrontation with Satan himself.

The two got to spend a little time talking about the game with developer and programmer, Keith Burgun and Wes Paugh respectively.  They explained some of the more offbeat creatures you can expect to find in this extremely fun and funny game.  They also announce the contents of a major patch to be released in the next week or so as well as an upcoming sale where the game will be available for one day at 99 cents.

Please take a moment to comment on the episode and on the game if you've played it by visiting the forums here or call us, toll-free, at 888-866-9010.

Keith Burgun

Wes Paugh

Keith discusses the IDW comic series, Kill Shakespeare, with co-creator/co-writer Anthony Del Col.  Make sure you let us know what you think of the episode by stopping by the forums or by calling us at 888-866-9010.

Anthony Del Col has worked in the music, film and television industries, produced two independent feature films and most recently assisted with the management of international pop star Nelly Furtado and her world tour.  He is the co-creator/co-writer of Kill Shakespearefrom IDW Publishing.

John talks with actress Kitsie Duncan about her first major straight to DVD movie, Lethal Obsession.  Make sure you leave your thoughts on the episode in our forum or by calling our toll free number 888-866-9010.

Kitsie Duncan is living her dream as an actress and producer. Her first major film, a straight to DVD release, Lethal Obsession, is now available through Darkrider Productions. In addition, Kitsie has been in numerous commercials and will be appearing in a number of other film projects in the year to come. She recently had the honor of being named a finalist in the Famous Monsters Scream Queen competition and will be featured in the magazine's October issue. Learn even more about Kitsie by following her on Twitter and Facebook and by scanning her resume here.

Kitsie Duncan
317.362.5631
kitsie@kitsieduncan.com
www.kitsieduncan.com

Personal Statistics:
Height: 5 ft 8in
Bust:34 D
Weight:130
Waist:28
Hair Color:Red
Hips:38
Eye Color:Green
Dress Size:6
Ethnicity:White
Shoe Size:8.5

I have only been pursuing my acting career for a very short time. The following are some of the projects I have had the pleasure of being a part of. I am willing to bring 125% to any project I am involved in.

Lethal Obsession/Darkrider Filmworks/Elizabeth Waters

Good Night/Mad Chann Films/Stacy Spooky

Brucey/SB Productions/Episode 1 Bound Girl/Episode 2 Dead Girl

She-Bang/Deathblow Productions/Leader of the Tupper B Wares

Edge of Society/Filmwave Imaging/Kelly

LoveSick Radio Music Video/Darkrider Filmworks/Limo Driver

Skull Full of Kisses trailer/Darkrider Productions/Female Lead (the skull)

Corey L Scott Commercial/Filmwave Imaging/Wife

Parody Rap Music Video/SeanieMic/Cannibal

Horror Convention Massacre/Old School Sinema/Aspiring Actress

GoDaddy Commercial/Bryon DeVolder/Superheroine GoDaddy Girl

Reverie/Schadenfreude Entertainment/The Phantasm

Cthulhu Key: Legacy/Primal FX Studios/Judi Nance

No Recourse/Triple B and Darkrider Studios/Crystal

Joseph Music Video/Allied Productions/Rich Girl

Model for Don Stuck/X103 Bikini and Promotions Model

Voice Over Work Various Internet Radio Stations

John has a chat with musician Steve Horowitz where they discuss music from Super Size Me to Spongebob Squarepants to The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Make sure you leave your thoughts on the episode in our forum or by calling our toll free number 888-866-9010.  In addition, make sure you rate the episode at the end of the listing.  

Steve Horowitz is a creator of odd but highly accessible sounds and a diverse and prolific musician. Steve's 30-year career integrates his experiences as a band leader with his explorations as a multi faceted composer. Horowitz has a large catalog of music for traditional and unusual ensembles such as: string quartet, woodwind quartet, orchestra, Disklavier, solo contrabass flute, large electro-acoustic chamber ensemble and his band the Code International.

Horowitz studied at the California Institute of the Arts with Mel Powell, Morton Subotnick , Micheal Jon Fink and Stephen "Lucky" Mosko. He lectures at various schools including New York University, California Institute of the Arts, and Berklee College of Music in Boston and has received performance underwriting as well as commissions from: Meet the Composer Fund (1992 at the Lab SF, & 2005 at the Kitchen NYC); Amsterdam Fund for the Arts NL (2000 for ensemble tour); Fund for the Interactive Sound Arts Netherlands (1997, Graphic scores Mousetrap Quartet); Gravy Train Dance Company (1984 Choreographer Jo Ann Nerenberg); The Alternate Currents Ensemble (1994 Ribbon of Extremes); Music at the Anthology (MATA, executive producer Phillip Glass 2003 "Vertical Field Horizontal Field" for String Orchestra and Piano performed by SONYC, featuring soloist Joel Wizansky on piano); and The Astoria Symphony (Mix Re-Mix, World Premire).

Touring projects in the US and the Netherlands have helped to form Horowitz's unique perspective and voice. Horowitz and his music have appeared at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, The Bimhuis in Amsterdam, and The Miller Theater and The Kitchen in NYC. He frequently collaborates with other artists - joining forces with an eclectic variety of musicians such as electric guitar wizards Elliott Sharp and Henry Kaiser, saxophone greats Lenny Pickett and Ralph Carney, The Clubfoot Orchestra, Glen Spearman, acoustic bassist Tatsu Aoki, and the Balkan music ensemble Zhaba.

A culmination of years of investigation, The Code Ensemble explores Horowitz's persistent musical themes: the intertwining of electric and acoustic instruments, new forms, extended techniques, interactivity, music for picture, theater and live performance. Drawing on a finely honed sense of humor, Horowitz looks deeply into the sociological filter and re-examines pop culture's presentation of "truth" as entertainment. Founded in 1992, The Code has developed a cutting-edge repertory with instrumentation that combines traditional acoustic and contemporary electronic instruments.

In addition to his work in chamber and concert music, Horowitz writes music for dance, film, television, cartoons, and interactive media (video games). Steve wrote the score to the award winning film Super Size Me and served as music supervisor and lead composer for the television show I Bet You Will (MTV). Horowitz's audio expertise was honored in 1996 with a Grammy award for his engineering work on the compact disc "True Life Blues, the Songs of Bill Monroe", winner of the best Bluegrass album 1996, and in 2003 with a Webby for his work with Nickelodeon Digital. Horowitz has been featured in Bass Player magazine (May, 2007) and books The Art of Digital Music and The Guerilla Guide to the Music Business. Steve can be found working and touring with his various projects, and has released 15 compact discs to date. His latest album "stations of the Breath" for solo piano, was released this month. For more info and music clips please see http://www.thecodeinternational.com/

Recently, we conducted a poll on our Facebook page, asking our listeners to tell us their favorite TSR role playing games.  In this Spotlight episode, we reveal the results.  Joining John in discussing these games are Chronic Rift website guru David Finnerty and Chronic Rift game reviewer Anthony Racano.  Among the topics of discussion are choosing the right name for your spy, poor dice rolls, and how one chooses the games they choose.  Please comment on this episode through our discussion at the bottom of this listing, writing john@chronicrift.com, or calling 888-866-9010.  Also make a point to rate the episode at the end of this listing.

Even though there are no longer TSR Games, most of them are still available in new editions and can be purchased through our Amazon store.  In doing so, you not only get Amazon's great low prices, but you also support the Rift.  Thank you.

First time young adult author Marianne Modica talks with John about her book, The R Word.  Please take a moment to comment on the episode by visiting the forums, writing john@chronicrift.com, or calling 888-866-9010.

You can purchase a copy of The R Word through our Amazon store.  In doing so, you not only get a great book and support a cool author, but you help out The Rift as well.  Thanks.

Check out our special offer through Petmeds.com by clicking on the link.

Podcast Promos: Dead Kitchen Radio, Dirty Boxers Podcast The Weekly Podioplex

Marianne Modica is an assistant professor of Early Childhood Education at Valley Forge Christian College, in Phoenixville, PA, where she has been training future educators since 1996. One of her favorite courses to teach is Multicultural Education, which fosters productive dialogue about race, religion, gender, social class, and other important topics. Marianne and her husband have four children. She is currently a PhD student in Childhood Studies at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ, where her research interest is the construction of race by students studying multicultural literature in secondary classrooms.

Marianne wrote The R Word because she wanted to explore contemporary attitudes about race in a supposedly "post racial" culture. The novel is aimed at youth 12 and above, or at adults like Marianne who love young adult fiction. While her primary goal was to tell a good story, The R Word is also intended for classroom use, where Marianne hopes it will stimulate discussion about present-day racial inequity on an individual and structural level.

Dennis Sullivan, (Chris Gorham) an average NYC accountant is assigned to work with a wealthy young widow and her son, Jake - A boy obsessed with the televised superhero 'Man America'. Dennis sees how Jake uses the TV hero to fill the void left by his deceased father. Moved by the boy's loss, Dennis heads for the 'Imagination Superstore' in search of the beloved costume. Once inside the dressing room, Dennis listens as the shop falls prey to a knife-wielding robber. Now in costume, Dennis springs into action to boot the thug from the store with security cameras capturing all. Once the footage hits the airwaves, a media frenzy erupts, leaving an entire city longing for more Man America. Now Dennis must choose between the safety of obscurity or providing his costumed hope to others.

Darin is the writer and director of the feature film Somebody’s Hero starring Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs, Ugly Betty). The movie was produced in New York and is slated for a 2011 release.

Beckstead is also the creator of “Courage & Stupidity,” a reimagining of Spielberg’s troubled experiences while making Jaws. The flick was hailed “a fascinating short film” by Ain’t it Cool News, won the Remi Award for Best Original Comedy and became the first short to secure a standalone distribution deal with Netflix.

View C&S Trailer: http://www.courageandstupidity.com.

Guillermo Suescum – Producer

Guillermo is fairly new to the film business. He was bitten by the film bug while producing his first short film about 6 years ago. It was on this first film that he met Darin Beckstead and they collaborated to make "Courage & Stupidity." The success of that film made Guillermo decide to quit his corporate job so that he could try to make a feature. Two years later he and Darin, finished their first feature Somebody's Hero. He lives in NYC.