Perfect Organism: The Alien Saga Podcast

Join us as we continue our Prometheus series with this lively community roundtable! Jaime and Patrick are joined by listeners Chase Cupo and Gene McDonald for a trip through many facets of this fascinating film. We were joined by dozens of listeners connecting to the live stream, as well—thank you for participating, you lovely people. * Please excuse the audio issues; we are still hammering out the kinks with live roundtables. But we're getting there! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why does the story of Luke Skywalker and the Rebellion resonate with us? Why do we flock to stories of resistance and uprising in films and books? What speaks to us about these particular fables? Join Jaime, Dan, Patrick, and special guest, Dr. Robin Bunce as we dive into this topic amidst a backdrop of an American and global uprising. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's been a flurry of news surrounding Marvel's acquisition of the Alien IP from Dark Horse Comics. Patrick, Jaime, and special guest Paul Hermann sit down to discuss what this first step could mean for the franchise. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1980, David Lynch, widely known for his avant-garde cinema aesthetic, briefly changed course and released one of the best pictures of the 20th Century. The Elephant Man, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir John Hurt, and Anne Bancroft took critics and audiences by storm with its depiction of John Merrick, a real man that lived in breathed in turn of the century England. Jaime, and special guest Mark Deckard dive into The Elephant Man, and all of the questions surrounding his story. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jaime, and Patrick passionately discuss the news of a 50 page treatment for an Alien 5 and whether or not Ripley should return to the Alien franchise. Is the franchise viable without her? Will the next Alien film be made by committee? Patrick and Jaime tackle all of this and more in this lively and fiery entry. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jaime and Patrick discuss Ridley Scott as a director in the context of Prometheus. Failure or triumph, Patrick, and Jaime walk through the minefield attempting to break down Scott in context of Prometheus. We hope you enjoy. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of our Patreon exclusive show, Jaime, and Patrick discuss David Lynch's divisive yet visually arresting film, Dune. Dune, released in 1984, was the culmination of years of struggle to bring Frank Herberts seminal novel to the big screen. Notable attempts include the now storied Jodorowsky version which fell apart during pre-production. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this roundtable discussion, Patrick and Jaime and a panel of guests discuss the future of the Alien franchise and what it could mean for fandom. Join us! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode, Jaime & Patrick are joined by a myriad of guests and listeners for a live Alien Day ICC Quarantine Episode via our Zoom account. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Just a heads up: there is a little chunk of audio missing around ten minutes into the commentary—we had some internet issues. Don't worry, we come right back again during the interrogation sequence! We hope you are enjoying the Alien Day festivities. We're very lucky to share this wonderful fandom with listeners like you. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FRAME RATE: There Will Be Blood (2007) Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood (2007) was the rare film that immediately established itself as a classic upon its initial theatrical release. Anchored by an Oscar-winning performance from Daniel Day-Lewis, an experimentally riveting score by Jonny Greenwood, and Robert Elswit’s jaw-dropping cinematography, There Will Be Blood set a new standard in what 21st-century Hollywood was capable of producing. In this episode of Frame Rate, the guys discuss this darkly wonderful film’s place in cinema history—and its place in their hearts, as well. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this second part of our discussion on Dystopia, hosts Dan, Patrick, Jaime, and special guest Dr. Robin Bunce continue their exploration into the message of dystopia found in film and media. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode, your hosts Jaime, and Patrick are joined by Dan Ferlito of Shoulder of Orion, and special guest Dr. Robin Bunce, a historian based at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. Why are we drawn to stories of dystopia? Are storytellers and filmmakers prophets? We pose these questions to you in part one of our two part discussion. Join us. iTunes: bit.ly/shoulderoforionitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/shoulderoforiongoogleplay // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Perfect Organism and Shoulder of Orion are making our ongoing Patreon releases free for all listeners during this extraordinary time. We are thinking of you all. FRAME RATE: Inception (2010) In Christopher Nolan's 2010 blockbuster, Inception, themes we are familiar with from science fiction are explored in a unique and visually-stunning way. Winner of four Oscars, with a star-studded cast and incredible performances, as well as one of Hanz Zimmer's best scores (in Dan's opinion), this film asks of us the BIG questions: what is the nature of our reality? Can what we dream be real? If you had unlimited time with your loved ones, what would you build? What would you explore? Wildly-successful, this film has something for everyone; but while it's easy to watch it as a heist/Bond sci-fi-action movie, that's just scratching the surface. Join Dan, Patrick, and Jaime as they take a deep dive into one of their favorite films. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FRAME RATE: The Invisible Man (2020) Perfect Organism and Shoulder of Orion are making our ongoing Patreon releases free for all listeners during this extraordinary time. We are thinking of you all. With a stunning performance by Elisabeth Moss and brilliantly nuanced direction and writing by Leigh Whannell, The Invisible Man was one of 2020’s first breakout hits—even though its box office was severely impacted by the evolving coronavirus pandemic. In this installment of Frame Rate, Jaime and Patrick discuss The Invisible Man's themes, ideas, techniques, and context within contemporary horror/thriller filmmaking. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jaime and Patrick turn on their video cameras and launch their first episode in their new series covering Ridley Scott's return to science fiction, Prometheus. We know that everyone is in the same boat right now. We live in so much uncertainty. We wanted to share what's in our minds and on our hearts. Be well. Stay safe. We are here. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this very special episode, founder and co-host Jaime Prater, along with partner and co-host Patrick Greene reunite with former contributors and friends to discuss and celebrate five years of Perfect Organism Podcast. From the first images released by Neil Blomkamp, up through the release of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the gang discusses their best memories of the show, listener feedback and the road ahead. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. - // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this second-to-last entry into our Forbidden Planet series, Patrick and Jaime welcome special guests AndieGeekGirl and Patrick's partner Micah Greene to discuss the character of Ellen Ripley. In this surprisingly sobering and philosophical discussion, we break down Ripley as an iconic character. She defied all expectations and gender norms; there is no one like Ellen Ripley, and there will likely never be again. Join us as we send off this sacred and indelible character in the 40th year of her existence in science fiction. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special bonus episode, Jaime and his writing partner, film director Eric Wallace, sit down to discuss their vision for what the Alien franchise could be. In this in-depth episode, friends and filmmakers discuss how they met as late-teens/early twenty-somethings, forging a friendship that's resulted in a partnership in what they hope could be a bold new vision for the Alien franchise. // iTunes: bit.ly/shoulderoforionitunes // Google Play: bit.ly/shoulderoforiongoogleplay // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, our contributor, and lead admin of Building Better Worlds, Conar Murdoch, sits down with Stevie J Douglas, the director of Alien 3: The Unfilmed Script. From his first experiences with the Alien series, to how he reimagined a stage play based off Vincent Ward's unused script, Conar and Stevie host what is a brilliant and hilarious episode, casting light on the base story for what would become the film we know as Alien 3. We hope you enjoy. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Patrick and Jaime are joined by Xenomorphing founder and editor Dave Gogel to further discuss Ridley Scott, and his now iconic brand of filmmaking. This was a fun episode that veers off into many many tangents. We hope you enjoy! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's impossible to overstate just how revolutionary—and how brilliant—HR Giger's work on Alien was. But why? Why does his work continue to enthrall and haunt us? Why has it gone on to define the look of "horror in space" for the past four decades? On this next installment into our Forbidden Planet series, hosts JM Prater and Patrick Greene welcome a special guest: Majid Shanaa, longtime listener and eloquent xeno-fan. Join the guys as they explore Giger's life, art, and his endlessly fascinating influence on us all. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Jaime and Patrick are joined by special guests Aaron Percival of AvP Galaxy, MUTHUR9000, and Perfect Organism team members Conar and Sean to discuss how Alien: Covenant is sitting with all of us two years after its release. This was a wonderful hour-and-a-half discussion diving back into a film that continues to be controversial with the fan base. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join us in this love-fest of a roundtable as JM, Patrick, MUTHUR9000, Dave, Sean, Shaun, and Conar look back on all the things that made the fourth annual Alien Day such a rousing success. From the North Bergen High School play to the Tongal short films, there was a ton to unpack. After a year of huge uncertainty—about the future of 20th Century Fox and the future of the franchise—we've emerged revivified and looking toward the future. So let's celebrate! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Host JM Prater was pleased and delighted to sit down with Alien 40th Anniversary short film director Ben Howdeshell to discuss his film Alien: Harvest, which releases today via IGN and YouTube. From his first story proposal, to how he lit his sets, Ben goes in-depth on the process that brought his brilliant short film to life. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Patrick and Jaime were delighted to sit down with Diane O'Bannon—wife of Dan O'Bannon, the original writer and screenwriter on Alien. In this interview, Diane speaks about the origins of Alien, her meeting Dan, his dreams and hopes, and the legacy he's left behind. Alien would not be possible without Dan O'Bannon. Let’s pay tribute to the man who discovered our Forbidden Planet forty years ago. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Forbidden Planet—our long-awaited full series on Alien! On this kickoff episode, hosts Jaime and Patrick unpack Alien's importance in film history, in their lives, and in global popular culture. Why does it still haunt us? Why does it still inspire us? How does it fit in the continuum of science fiction—and how did it alter that continuum forever? We're celebrating the fortieth anniversary of this landmark film with a year full of interviews, research pieces, roundtables, debates, video segments, and more. Strap into those pressure suits. Let's get out there. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At last, we've reached a stopping point on our journey down 40 Miles of Bad Road. But don't worry! We'll be revisiting the series from time to time in the years to come. As we sit here and reflect on the road we've traveled—the stories we've heard, the reflections we've shared, the people we've met along the way—we thought it would be a nice moment to open the conversation up a bit. On this enormous roundtable, Jaime and Patrick are joined by regulars Mykal McCulloch, MUTHUR9000 (yutani.blog), Dave Gogel (xenomorphing.com), and Conar Murdoch, as well as some new voices: Sean Sumner (part of our Building Better Worlds team) and Dusty Tweedhope (longtime listener and friend of the show). This show covers the full gamut of what we hope to achieve with this roundtable format: hilarity, genuine introspection, fellowship, ribald banter, and so much more. We celebrate the past and look to the future, and we have a wonderful time along the way. Thank you all for traveling this road with us. Our Forbidden Planet series is just around the corner! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Part eight of our series on ALIENS, Jaime and Patrick discuss whether or not the film is overrated and overhyped. This is an intriguing conversation that led to a few other topics surrounding how originals movies are allowed to be these days. This was a great discourse and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we loved talking about it. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jaime and Patrick step away from 40 Miles of Bad Road to address the recent swirl of rumors making their way through fandom. The hosts continue on to discuss their recent meetup at USC in Los Angeles to enjoy the 40th Anniversary Alien exhibit. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What makes the characters in Aliens so unforgettable? Join hosts Jaime and Patrick as they team up with special guests Dave (of Xenomorphing.com) and Dan (of Shoulder of Orion: The Blade Runner Podcast) to uncover some of the reasons these characters live on so strongly in our hearts and in our memories. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join hosts Jaime and Patrick on this extended look at Alien: Blackout, the brand-new Amanda Ripley-centric mobile game! Patrick's been playing it for nearly two weeks, and offers some extensive thoughts on the design, gameplay, replayability, and more. For an even deeper review, be sure to check out our website! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode—a brief break from our ongoing 40 Miles of Bad Road series—hosts Jaime and Patrick sit down with Johnnie Christmas, the writer and artist behind the groundbreaking new Dark Horse series based on the second draft of William Gibson’s unproduced screenplay for Alien 3. Stay tuned at the end for listener questions, and check out more from Johnnie at johnniechristmas.com! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In part two of our Alien Queen discussion, Patrick and Jaime are joined by contributors and guests MUTHUR9000 (yutani.blog), Conar (Building Better Worlds), Shaun (Perfect Organism Video Lead), Dave (Xenomorphing), Mykal, and special guest Bryant Dillon of Fanbase Press. This diverse roundtable further dissects the role of the queen questioning if she’s still useful, divisive, or profound. This was a crazy fun episode with a surprise discussion at the end. We hope you enjoy it. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Patrick and Jaime convene in this special video epsiode to celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast, the road traveled and the road ahead. The hosts go on to discuss some of the happenings going on in fandom, and what's to expect (or hope for) in 2019. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In another entry in our Fandom Spotlight series, Jaime chats to MUTHUR9000 of Studio Yutani. From the state of fandom during the post-release of Alien: Covenant, to Studio Yutani and her hopes and dreams for the future, join us in a riveting and lovely conversation about all things Alien. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.