In this episode of Byte On, Tony goes deep into the making of Predator: Badlands with stars Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning, alongside director Dan Trachtenberg. What begins as a survival story quickly evolves into a buddy movie with teeth—literally. The trio unpack how character chemistry, predator mythology, and linguistic world-building came together to create a fresh take on the iconic franchise.
With audio supplied by 20th Century Fox, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at how the team reimagined the predator’s language, built emotional stakes into the action, and honored the legacy of the hunt while pushing it into new terrain.
🔗 Bonus Content On Plus
Plus subscribers get access to Behind The Curtain episode with interviews and clips
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Echoes of Middle Earth — A Musical Journey with David Arkenstone
Tony chats with five-time Grammy-nominated composer David Arkenstone to explore the sonic landscapes of Music Inspired by Middle Earth. From the rolling hills of the Shire to the shadowed depths of Mordor, Arkenstone shares how he wove Celtic, orchestral, and ambient textures into a tapestry that evokes Tolkien’s world without directly quoting it. With musical samples threaded throughout the conversation, listeners are invited to experience the emotional resonance and mythic scale of Arkenstone’s compositions.
The blend of styles—Celtic flutes, tribal percussion, sweeping strings—that create a timeless fantasy soundscape
Reflections on the emotional core of Tolkien’s world: longing, courage, and transformation
Behind-the-scenes insights into the recording process and instrumentation choices
Check out my Black Friday Special For Plus
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Behind the Frames with Mac Whiting
In this episode, I chatted with Mac Whiting, Supervising Animation Director at Warner Bros. Animation, for a deep dive into the artistry and precision behind rotoscoping, character performance, and the magic of collaboration. From his work on The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special to his broader philosophy on animation, Mac shares insights that blend technical mastery with creative intuition.
Rotoscoping Realism Mac talks the rotoscoping process used to animate live-action performances, especially in the Guardians Holiday Special.
Working with James Gunn Mac shares what it’s like collaborating with director James Gunn, describing him as “a storyteller who understands animation’s emotional potential.”
Check Out my Black Friday Special
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Paranormal: Special Preview Episode
In this exclusive preview of Paranormal, host Tony takes us deep into the shadows of America’s most infamous haunted sites—where history, trauma, and the unexplained collide. Featuring chilling commentary from top investigators Zak Bagans, Jack Osbourne, Katrina Weidman, and Dave Schrader, this episode sets the stage for a series that explores the emotional and supernatural echoes left behind.
🕯️ Featured Locations
Linda Vista Hospital – A decaying Los Angeles relic with a reputation for intense paranormal activity. Investigators share their encounters with shadow figures and unsettling energies.
Bobby Mackey’s Music World – A honky-tonk with a hellish reputation. From demonic lore to personal experiences, this Kentucky hotspot has left even seasoned investigators shaken.
🎙️ Special Guests
Zak Bagans Ghost Adventures
Jack Osbourne Portals To Hell
Katrina Weidman Portals To Hell
Complete Episode Available at Sci-Fi Talk Plus
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Lauren Ashley Carter: Duality, Identity, and the Alien Within
In this hauntingly intimate conversation, we revisit a standout moment with actor and producer Lauren Ashley Carter as she unpacks the eerie elegance of her film Imitation Girl. A sci-fi parable wrapped in quiet surrealism, the film follows a woman who comes face to face with an exact replica of herself—an alien imitation that forces both versions to confront what it means to be human.
🧬 In This Episode:
Embodied Duality – Carter shares how she approached playing two versions of the same woman: one grounded in the chaos of fame and identity, the other a newly-formed being discovering the world with childlike wonder.
Genre as Mirror – We explore how Imitation Girl uses science fiction not for spectacle, but for introspection—asking what parts of ourselves are performative, and which are truly ours.
Crafting the Alien – Carter reflects on the physical and emotional choices she made to differentiate the imitation from the original, and how silence, stillness, and vulnerability became her tools.
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