Exploring Humanity Through Sci-Fi

In this episode, Tony sits down with Chris MacLean, the Overall Visual Effects Supervisor for Foundation, for a sweeping conversation about how the show’s visual language continues to evolve in scale, sophistication, and emotional depth. From hybrid location/virtual sequences to metaphysical constructs like the Tree of Time, Chris breaks down how the VFX team expands the universe each season while keeping the story’s humanity at the center.

Chris MacLean — Overall Visual Effects Supervisor, Foundation A guiding force behind the series’ most ambitious visuals, Chris oversees the expanding workload across studios, continents, and timelines. His insights reveal how the show’s VFX pipeline blends cutting‑edge technology with grounded storytelling.

Covered Are:

The Photobike Sequence

Holograms & The Tree of Time

Clarion Station

Cloning Facility Destruction

The Sacrifice of Demerzel

The Mule’s Eye Power

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A conversation with writer/director/star Britt Bankhead & star Grace Patterson

In this episode, Tony zooms with Britt Bankhead — the writer, director, and lead actor of The Town That Takes — along with co‑star Grace Patterson, to explore the chilling mystery at the heart of their new film.

The story begins with a father whose son vanishes in a remote town. As he teams up with two detectives, the trio must confront the terrifying legend of CROATOAN before another child disappears. What unfolds is a collision of Native American mythology, supernatural dread, and action.

🪶 Croatoan & Native American Mythology

Croatoan legend as the film’s spine — how Britt researched the myth and why it still resonates

The team’s approach to weaving Native American folklore into a modern thriller

How ancient stories of disappearance and spirits shaped the film’s tone and world‑building

🎬 Behind the Film: Crafting Fear & Momentum

Britt’s triple role as writer, director, and star — and how that shaped the emotional core

Grace Patterson on grounding the supernatural with human vulnerability

Building tension through action sequences, practical effects, and atmospheric visuals

The film’s special effects: blending realism with mythic horror

A tight, demanding shooting schedule that pushed the cast and crew to innovate

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Widow’s Bay: Crafting Worlds with Emmy Nominees Steve Arnold & Jennifer Engel

In this behind‑the‑scenes deep dive, Tony sits down over Zoom with Steve Arnold, Emmy‑nominated Production Designer, and Jennifer Engel, Emmy‑nominated Set Decorator for Widow’s Bay. Together, they unpack the creative engineering behind one of television’s most atmospheric series — from designing entire environments across multiple soundstages to sourcing the unusual, character‑defining props that give the show its eerie, lived‑in texture.

They also share candid reflections on receiving Emmy nominations, what recognition means at this stage in their careers, and how the collaborative spirit of Widow’s Bay shaped every frame.

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Emily Hampshire interview is always electric — she’s one of those performers whose mind moves as fast as her characters. As Jennifer Goines on 12 Monkeys, she delivered one of the most unpredictable, heartbreaking, and darkly hilarious performances in modern sci‑fi. And now, with a slate of recent projects ranging from horror‑thrillers to sharp indie dramas, she’s in one of the most creatively exciting phases of her career.

This conversation explores how she built Jennifer’s fractured psyche, why she loves characters who “don’t care about being liked,” and how her career has expanded into bold new territory.

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From the red‑carpet special, Tony spoke with the U.S. cast of Syfy’s Being Human at the Paley Center in New York. during the run of the series — starring Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, and Sarah Allen — reimagined the supernatural roommate concept with surprising emotional depth. Running from 2011 to 2014, the show became a breakout hit, marking Syfy’s strongest winter scripted launch in nearly a decade.

Alongside the cast, Tony also interviews Mark Stern, then President of Original Programming at Syfy, who reflects on why Being Human resonated so powerfully with audiences.

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