So Farscape : The Peacekeeper Wars is turning 17 today. It was an act of love from the producers, cast and crew for the fans who were cheated out of a season 5 by the shows cancellation. Scapers around the world rallied starting in September 2002 to save the show. We were lucky to have an mIrc chat room to meet and plan and commiserate in general. Most fan bulletin boards were involved. In May of 2004 it was announced that a four hour mini-series would be released later in the year. At San Diego Comic Con in July 2004 a teaser was shown to a hall full of fans! The energy was high!! In early October another Scaper called to tell me she had a copy of PKW that the studio had sent out to various places for publicity though the effects hadn’t been added. She came down a couple of days later and we watched with big grins on our faces!! A few weeks later we had a CaScaper watch party for the finished product. There were obvious issues resulting in the haste of filming and the tighter budget ( rumor of a generous donation by a fan persists to this day and we are all grateful!!) such as make-up/ prosthetic differences. Rebecca Riggs’ real life pregnancy fit well into the series posing the question that is still discussed today —- is the baby John’s?! In 2019 Rebecca Riggs answered this at Dragon Con by saying that Grayza is all about power, so if she were to choose to have a child it would be John’s as a means of increasing her power.
So I had asked Ben if he had any thoughts to share and he responded :
Dear Farscape folks,
October 17th and 18th 2004… I was an assistant youth football coach, preparing for a BIG game on Saturday. Truly, when ANYTHING comes on TV that I am a part of… I hide. It’s a little weird to be on TV. And while very happy that we could reach a respectable “end of chapter” for the crew of Moya… In my imagination, the story continues.
I am humbled that audiences old and new are watching Farscape to this day. I am grateful. That’s how I feel today. I like to imagine that I felt that way 19 years ago. But in the hazy recollections that flitter through my noggin… I’m thinking… “Damn, did THAT happen?!?… Cool.”
With great affection to you all,
Ben
I asked a few fellow campaigners their thoughts as they think back. All were front line in the campaign to save the show!
BritAngie who also ran BenBrowder.co.uk, had this to say : I think for me utter joy that you could all get you see it after such hard work and a long wait and that all the love that went into making that mini series was finally shown. That the cast, crew and the fans had won. And we got to see some closure after *that * cliffhanger! It’s nice to make a difference in the world and to enjoy the outcome so wonderfully.
Karl, part of the Karl’s Web team : exciting and knowing we were all going to not be left hanging. There is a sense of being rushed and the look of the sets, locations and Moya seemed slapped no at times. Sad seeing the puppetry not to same level of emotion almost a slow reaction at times. The two saddest points of the PKwars was the loss of hot flesh for Wayne’s make up and switched to latex. The rubber face just didn’t work. Seeing the publicity shots of Scorpius leading into PK Wars was soo sad compared to the transparent majesty of that characters make up. And the sadness of killing off Dargo the corner stone of the family and major character for all the wrong reasons. This is what happens when the production team that produced the show is replaced as they ramp up with PK wars as compared to S2, S3 and S4. Granted as you know there were a lot of issues at the end of S1 and changes from the move to Fox for Star Wars. ok its a bit sad of a piece but its a truth and its what I see again and again missing from what it could have been.
Gravastar (Bob P) :
After I first saw it my reaction was one of great sadness not due the content but because the struggle to get some form of closure or continuation was over. It signified the end of an era.
If you remember I owe a lot to Farscape. I had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and was looking after my severely disabled mother who needed 24hr care, Farscape and it’s on line community offered some light relief and solace. Farscape was something to look forward to every week and something to fight for. That’s when I became involved in fund raising. I’ve found those involved in Farscape form life ling friendships, something to be cherished. I can remember sitting next to Anthony Simcoe with friends in a London pub when he was very down and despondent about the future of Farscape. Some of us knew about PKW but couldn’t tell him, I’ll never forget that, we really wanted to help him. All this seems so long ago now.
Dani Moure of farscapeworld.com : I would just say it was such a great effort seeing the fans come together, everyone really positive and upbeat that we could all make something happen. To see the fruits of all the hard work come through and everyone getting to enjoy a proper conclusion to the series was amazing and unprecedented at the time. It felt so good when I got to watch it, I had goosebumps and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. To do it in the early days of the internet as well, before social media, was incredible
Mary Wood of farscapeworld.com : I was going through a lot of suck in my life at the time, which made the success of PKW all the more poignant. Good SciFi/Fantasy is, for so many of us, not only blessed escape, but a way to look at life through a different lens; See one’s own dilemmas, decisions, self-care, worldview, with the creative center of our brain freshly charged. A bit of dialogue hits home. The B-story mirrors something I’m going through. The intense online debate over Twinning vs. Cloning teaches me new ways to debate and improves upon my worldview. …So to get an actual ending for a series is treat enough for us mega fans. But to get one as a result of the fans saving the show?!? It gave me hope that the genre can only get better!
These days as we are trying for a continuation of Farscape I think back to that campaign. It was easier since it was “fresh” to rally fans with the various websites as team leaders and a savefarscape site to post and co-ordinate ideas. It should be easier today than then but I am not sure it is. One thing I do know is WHEN it happens hopefully as series on Prime or other streaming service, I will be watching with the same dopey grin I get each time I watch Peacekeeper Wars!
September 2002 brought news via the SciFi Channel’s mIrc chat room of the end of Farscape. Fans around the world were galvanized into action that Friday night. Plans being hatched, groups forming — it was fan solidarity at it’s best. A Scaper friend (Avenging Angel on UltimateFarscape.com) , a studio exec was coming over for dinner the next night and we discussed what would be the most likely plea to reach the “right” ears. We knew we need to strike while the iron was hot. The final scenes were being filmed across the globe in Sydney. She suggested a print ad in The Hollywood Reporter, a go to for the industry makers and shakers of the day. Her expertise was marketing and this is what she came up with — an open letter published September 12, 2002 :
Monday morning on my break at work I called The Hollywood Reporter and spoke to the ad department. A wonderful lady named Miriam took the challenge! They had not worked with a fan group before and were so nice! I wish it was as simple these days to attract the attention of the “right” eyes. Scapers were committed. The internet was still fairly new and many Scapers had never actively participated in fandom as such but were willing to give it a try. It was amazing the creativity of all the groups and individuals — sending tapes/dvds to libraries, military bases, tables at community events and genre conventions handing out buttons or bookmarks. People called and faxed the SciFi Channel’s New York headquarters all weekend eventually crashing both the voicemail and fax inbox! If only we had had social media in those days!! I wish all of the fans today (most who have discovered the series AFTER it ended!) and we old ones who want to see more adventures had this enthusiasm.
Many of you attended the Farscape convention in New York City the weekend before 9/11. Ben Browder and his family were still there as was Claudia Black. In 2016 I asked Ben if he wanted to share his thoughts looking back :
Angie,
My most enduring moments from 9/11 are ones of compassion and hope. Horrible things happen and we are witness to the great wrongs that people can commit. In the aftermath, there was so much good and caring.
I saw the buildings come down, staring down the avenues of New York.
I watched people stream North out of the city,rubble and dust covered, their eyes glazed in shock.
I walked through an eerie and silent Times Square the evening of 9/11.
But what sticks in my soul was watching strangers and acquaintances caring for their fellows.
For every terror there is a balm in beauty.
Peace
Ben
More from the post from 2016 :
Special thanks to Dani from Farscape.world who found the post!!!!!!!!!! I think I knew the coffee from Ben’s email to me—-
Ben, Claudia, David, and company safe in NYC by Mary Wood – Wednesday, September 12th 2001
Claudia Black just posted to the scifi.com bulletin board:
The purpose of this message is two-fold. Firstly, thank you for a successful and very enjoyable convention tour. Secondly we would like to send out our best wishes to everyone in New York. We walked into town and lit a candle on the steps of a closed church last night. What else is there to do but try and give blood and pray for everyone.
We are here in town until the planes start running and are being taken care of by a large and caring group of collegues from the Henson Group. So lucky to have members of our work family with us at this time.
As much as I have wondered how Aeryn would be dealing with this the very human me has been a little teary, a lot scared and very grateful to be alive.
Ben has plying me with chocolate and has firmly established himself as a real life hero.
Chick with gun and black tee signing out for now somewhere in nyc…..
On that fateful morning of September 11th, Ben and his family as well as Claudia Black were at their hotel in the city, all planning travel to the United Kingdom. Claudia posted later in the week on the Scifi Channel Farscape board (under her handle chickwithagun) that she was fine and Ben had brought her coffee and chocolate.
I have spoken of The Companion site before and their in depth look at aspects of genre shows. Luckily they love Farscape and Ben has been interviewed. Today they released the first article he has provided input to on Crichton and trauma. The piece very much delves into an issue fans have obscessed over for 22 years! One point made by James, Ben and a quote from Ricky Manning was one of the driving directives of the show : THINGS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Those of us who attended the early Farscape cons can hear David Kemper saying that as they read the words. The consequences were real and not episodic plot points. All characters felt them either directly or indirectly. I always felt we were lucky that Ben and the others embraced this as actors. The way we got glimpses when we were not necessarily expecting it was just another thing that set the show apart. Read the article here.
It has been awhile!! Ben is weathering the end of the pandemic and is vaccinated and ready to get back to work! As most of you are aware the London Film and Comic Con has been moved to November and he is planning to attend! You can check out The Companion site for a couple of recent interviews with him. Some articles/interviews are for members and the price is the cost of a copy of a scifi magazine (or less!) per month.
Today is the 20th anniversary of GEM or Green Eyed Monster, the first of the two episodes Ben wrote for the show. A favorite episode of shippers and others as well!! At the 2001 Farscape convention there was a live viewing with commentary by Ben, Claudia Black, Lani Tupu, David Kemper and director Tony Tilse. It was fantastic! Great story of how Claudia distracted Lani’s wife and daughter (now a film maker herself!) when they visited while he was filming the scene with “Aeryn” as well Tony telling how he added the twinkle star in post that Ben was unaware of!
It has been awhile but good news for Ben’s Farscape fans. An app spin-off of the magazine Scifi Now (many of you may remember it from back in the day) has done an interview with Ben. Writer James Hoare had a 3 hour Zoom with Ben (imagine!) and then asked for Ben’s comments on the article. All of us that have been to a con can imagine this;) So The Companion has a 7 day free trial as well as a free feed. The bigger articles/interviews are part of the Member’s Feed. The price is $6.99/mo USD which is about what the old magazine used to be. I signed up recently and if you are a genre fan it is worth it if you used to buy the magazine. The article deals with trauma and my only criticism is that while it is a well handled examination of John’s experience with Scorpius,the Chair and Harvey, it doesn’t touch on the arrival of Grayza who is actually a greater threat in many ways to John’s sanity and Talyn!John’s death/Aeryn’s withdrawal. Enjoy it! The Companion has some writers devoted to the show so hopefully more to come!
So I asked Ben if he would answer a few questions for a birthday interview. He did and I hinted I would use a SWAT screenshot with it. Today this photo arrived with the following statement “In the land of selfies and self haircuts. Happy Christmas 2020!”
Preface to all answers: I’m an actor, not a health official or scientist, not a TV critic, not a politician, not a social commentator, and not a reliable news source
1) How are you staying mentally fit during these strange times?
My mental fitness, such as it is, has good days and bad. When I am ebbing my goto method for better days is to eat less, eliminate alcohol entirely, and get outside and move(preferably in the sunshine and ocean). I also find that taking a multiple day sabbatical from screen usage reorients my mood and mind.Fasting occasionally from toxins like the internet, news, and sugar do good things for my state of mind.
2) Favorite show binged during lockdown?
Besides binging on college football …. hmmm….Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy was really solid. Utopia (the American version) was a lotta fun.Season 1 of Legion is a trip worth retaking.
3) After filming under health protocols do feel it makes actors less likely to play scenes they would like or is it just accepted?
Filming under protocols is an adjustment. Masks and social distancing and a ton of testing makes for a different kind of play environment. Not sure I’m qualified to judge how other actors feel about the protocols and their process. My feelings are, I’m grateful to be working and it’s a challenge worth conquering.
4) Farscape question (thanks Laura) and something fans are arguing —- when more episodes happen ( we are being positive!) would you like Crichton to have a beard?
Be positive …. If Crichton is alone and marooned … or quarantined … he’s growing a beard. Otherwise, he is likely to be clean shaven.
5) Thoughts on how the pandemic has impacted how we will view films in the future —- good or bad?
If I understand the question, “how” meaning by what technology?” Will we return to movie theaters? I don’t know for sure. The pandemic has accelerated digital trends …. like remote work and streaming services and internet everything. But spectacle and human gatherings are important.The communion of people is a strong force. People yearn to be amongst each other. Theatre has revived time and time again over thousands of years through countless plagues. Parades and marches and mosh pits and scrums and gatherings of all sorts call to us. In the short term, the pandemic is a dark shadow. When the gramophone entered the market, John Philip Sousa decried the new technology as a ” mechanical menace which would end people making music together. He didn’t live long enough to see the Beatles or the Grateful Dead. I like to think we are at a new beginning…. I wish I was younger, so I could see what happens the next 100 years. We have amazing technologies on hand and on the way that could isolate us. But as humans, we are bound shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, cheek by jowl.
Ben was on the CBS drama SWAT last night. If you have cut the cord it is available on CBS.com and Amazon (for purchase) today. Ben’s birthday tomorrow! Wish him a happy one on Twitter or where ever you hang out as he does lurk sometimes 😉
