Space 2099

Filmed from November of 1973 to December of 1976, Space 1999 was a space fiction television series filmed in Great Britain. It starred American actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain who at the time were real life husband and wife. The show focused on a group of humans on a starbase on the Earth's Moon called Alpha. A tragic nuclear explosion causes the moon to leave it's orbit with Earth and plunge into the vastness of space.. Space 1999 featured excellent special effects for it's time as well interesting story lines. Unfortunately, the show could never get a deal with a major television network in the United States. It was shown in syndication throughout the Untied States and the rest of Europe. But after three years, the show was eventually cancelled .

Eric Bernard is a fan of the show and along with a team of professionals has re-editted episodes of the show to make it appealing to new, potential fans that were born decades after the show stopped filming. So far, he has been able to bring in many new fans that had never heard of the show. Bernard has made several changes, the most notable being the title. He calls his production, Space 2099. Below are several questions that I asked Bernard about his project and what he hopes to do with Space 2099.

1) When did you first see the Television series Space 1999 and when did embark on your project Space 2099?

I was around 6 years old. I saw it in English and French and it only took a few seconds for me to become attached to this show and it has been part of my life ever since. At this age, it was the look and the special effects that captivated me of course. The show was later rebroadcast in French in the eighties and I was still watching every episode. At the time, I didn't know that its philosophical stories were also a big influence. It's only when I bought the laserdisc in 1994 that I've realized that the show was very adult in its story and acting. Today, if the episode were all like some of the more childish ones of Season Two I would not be doing Space: 2099 and for me it would simply be an old sci-fi show of my childhood. In 1996, I had an Avid editing room for myself and decided to practice using an episode of Space: 1999 from the laserdisc. I wanted to solve some error in the special effects and then it evolved with changing the pace in the editing. In fact I simply wanted Space: 1999 not to get old. I finally showed my work at the Main Mission Convention in 2000 and the response from the fans was amazing. I still have kept copies of the hundreds of email I got after that; the whole experience was a real pleasure. Since then a LOT of ideas were moving around in my head. I started to work again on the series with the new Network DVD's. My friend Richard Bendell, whom I met at Main Mission, has brainstormed with me since 2000. At one point, I realized that if I wanted to keep the show as fresh as possible I had to change the title. Thus, I then started to look at every episode where there were time references and found solutions on how to change it to fit with 2099. I believe that the year 2099 was the best choice. First it sounds almost as good as 1999. Second, if we would have a Moon base the size of Moon base Alpha on the moon, I don't think it will be in my lifetime. But to achieve all these ideas I had in my head, I knew I couldn't do it all by myself. As I had met a few people at Main Mission I decided to contact them. Then I wrote on a few forums about Space and got replies from some of them that had the experience and love of the show I was looking for. The fact that I was already known from Main Mission really helped! I can't say enough how lucky I was to get the assistance of those talented people. It has been a fantastic experience and they all have been very generous with their time, talent and energy for 2099.

2) How has the reception been from the Company that owns the rights to

the show? Have any actors or other people affiliated with the show

contacted you about the work you have done?

Well, we finally made contact with the owners of the rights of the series. This project is done with love, passion and professionalism, but for the owners, it's simply business. And, like many business, it is complicated, frustrating and a very long process. So, as weird as it may sound, it is hard to tell what they think of Space 2099. If they thought it was a fast and easy way to make a ton of money, we would be in production. So, instead of working on the show itself, my effort is put on promoting this concept and finding the right persons/producer to support it. That way, I believe 2099 may have a chance. I was lucky to get in contact with a few cast and crew member of the series. They are all impress by the work I've done and wish the best for the project. So, I know that if the project would get a greenlight, they all would love to participate in the making of 2099.

3) What have been some of the major changes done to make Space 1999 into

Space 2099?

Some will say its the special effects. Yes, the special effect have been enhanced. Not necessary replaced, but enhanced with new technology. That's the big difference with the Star trek re-mastered episode. I am using most of the original shooting, but adding some element in the picture to make it more impressive. I compare the work that has been done to the one they did for the movie "MOON" recently. It is a mixture of two technology (CGI and Models) For me the biggest change are in the chronology of the show, trying to make it like it was a serial with previously sequences, changing the order of the episodes so that both the stories and the characters development works better. The second big thing was to adapt the dialog with the new timeline of 2099. Meaning that every reference as to fit with the new date the action is taking place. And with a lot of work of screening, I was able to make every reference fit. The show now has a new timeline in a new future. We also had to change a few technology so that the future doest look out of date. New computer, flying camera, old screen and colorized screen. Plus much more.

4) The show only lasted a few seasons. What do you plan on doing with

the new project? Will it go on cable television or be sold on DVD?

I wish it would do both. I think that television station that shows classic television series would be interested in purchasing an old series who has a new look. and I think that sci-fi lovers would love to see this and show it to friends on DVD and Blu Ray. I know, I'm receiving demands almost every week!

5) As a fan of the show, what made Space 1999 so appealing to it's fans

and how have they reacted to the changes you've made?

Most comments I get from the fans are very positive. Even the hard core fans who are purist have found interest of watching 2099. The changes I've made are often things that were criticized by them at first. The look and feel of the show must remain. I'm just giving it a little push. A more contemporary pacing (little faster) but mostly removing continuity errors, bad dialog and bad effect. And trying to give more logic explanation in a few stories, so that we can focus only on the positive aspect of the series instead of pointing out its flaws. It's still a TV show, with flaws, like every TV show that has been made. But at least, we can now enjoy it as I think it was meant to be.

6) There are several episodes of the show which still permeate through

the minds of the occasional fan of the show. Dragon's Domain, Black Sun

and War Games are some of the more popular ones. Do you have any favorite

episodes?

Yes, I do. Of course Dragon's Domain is a fantastic episode. This is the one everyone remember as it traumatized almost every children...including myself  It is hard to just name one episode, my heart balance between Testament of Arkadia, Black Sun, Breakaway, Death's other Dominion. I think that every episode have great moments...even some of season two.

7) If you could tell people reading this interview that have never

watched Space 1999 why they should view Space 2099 what would it be?

Space: 1999 has many qualities that are worth talking about and admiring. It's as visually stunning as 2001. The models designs are unique and memorable. No other sci-fi series look like Space 1999. The sets are impressive and the cast believable in their roles. The stories are often dark, or very dark but with a philosophical aspect and humanity to it. It is the first LOST in space type of show that takes a serious look at the survival of human kind. For me the Alphans had a mystery behind their destiny like LOST, but unfortunately their destiny was never allowed to become fully developed. Space: 2099 not only enhances the visual content and the pacing to make it more contemporary, but it also significantly reveals the mystery that as brought the Alphans in these out of this world stories . If the original series is allowed to be represented into the Space: 2099 format, it would make it the perfect platform for a continuation of their stories some 35 years later. Bringing another genre of sci-fi back on television!

To watch some episodes go to www.space2099.tv or visit their youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/WOLFSPACE