Full Transcript for Serlingfest X

couple of minutes. I think 76 00:04:50.230 --> 00:04:51.829 we're all looking forward to that. 77 00:04:55.230 --> 00:04:55.930 Meanwhile, I. 78 00:04:57.629 --> 00:05:01.230 Suppose we can all agree on the primary reason we're here, 79 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:06.279 to recognize the work of an American dramatist who continues 80 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:07.879 to have an impact on the way we look at 81 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:12.980 the world, each other, and ourselves. Rod Serling doesn't linger 82 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:20.009 in our culture out of nostalgia. Through an alchemy of design, fate, ambition, 83 00:05:20.149 --> 00:05:24.290 and talent, Rod Serling's words continue to speak directly to 84 00:05:24.430 --> 00:05:29.250 anyone smart enough to pay attention. But you already know that. 85 00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:36.980 I suppose we could indulge in a little smugness because 86 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:40.800 we have a slight edge over the people outside this building. 87 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:49.089 Out there are untold people. who carry around some fragment, 88 00:05:49.529 --> 00:05:51.110 which is smaller than a fragment. 89 00:05:55.899 --> 00:05:57.379 Weight and volume problem. 90 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:03.779 Yes, it was a long drive here. Out there are 91 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:06.889 untold people who carry around some fragment of Rod Serling, 92 00:06:06.949 --> 00:06:10.850 a story, a line of dialogue, a scene, an image 93 00:06:11.870 --> 00:06:16.100 that attached itself to their memories. Millions and millions of 94 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:22.250 people who don't know the names Rod Serling or Richard Matheson, 95 00:06:23.069 --> 00:06:28.970 Charles Beaumont, George Clayton Johnson, and Earl Hamler Jr. Or 96 00:06:29.009 --> 00:06:31.810 the other writers who wrote plays for the theater Rod 97 00:06:31.829 --> 00:06:35.709 Serling built when he created The Twilight Zone. This is 98 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:38.500 something I really wanted to do. For the record, those 99 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:46.060 writers are Jerry Saul, Montgomery Pittman, Martin Goldsmith, Robert Presnell, E. 100 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:52.199 Jack Newman, William Idelson, John Farah, Richard DeRoy, Jerry McNeely, 101 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:59.439 John Tomarin, Bernard Schoenfield, Robert Enrico, Adele Strassfield, Anthony Wilson, 102 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:04.899 Reginald Rose, and Ray Bradbury. Thank you. 103 00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:09.000 So, of course, I know you were quite taken by 104 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:12.620 Joseph's speech, weren't you? Opening the fest, what did you 105 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:13.220 think of him at? 106 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:16.139 Well, honestly, it was just, he kind of approached it 107 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:20.060 with the same positive attitude and energy that I think 108 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:23.610 Rod Serling would have approached opening an event of this kind. 109 00:07:23.670 --> 00:07:25.930 And I just walked away from it feeling quite good, 110 00:07:26.250 --> 00:07:31.329 feeling inspired, you know, in that rare way that substantial 111 00:07:31.370 --> 00:07:33.529 writers like the two of them can do. And yeah, 112 00:07:33.990 --> 00:07:35.189 I was really happy to meet him. I had never 113 00:07:35.209 --> 00:07:37.949 met him before and always enjoyed hearing him on your podcast, 114 00:07:37.990 --> 00:07:38.310 of course. 115 00:07:38.589 --> 00:07:41.170 It actually was quite emotional. You think after all this time, 116 00:07:41.209 --> 00:07:44.470 there's very little new things to say, very few new 117 00:07:44.529 --> 00:07:46.769 things that you can come up with. We've been talking 118 00:07:46.790 --> 00:07:48.569 about the guy for a long time, but it was, 119 00:07:49.009 --> 00:07:50.589 it was really emotional. It was really poignant. 120 00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:53.850 It was, it was personal. It was, you know, yeah, 121 00:07:53.949 --> 00:07:54.870 it was a great opening. 122 00:07:55.029 --> 00:07:57.269 It really set the scene for the rest of the weekend. 123 00:07:57.600 --> 00:07:57.769 Yeah. 124 00:07:57.980 --> 00:07:58.240 Yeah. 125 00:07:58.250 --> 00:07:58.480 I agree. 126 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:01.079 It was a great tone setter because, uh, he would say, 127 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:03.019 what more can I say about Rod Serling? But he 128 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:04.819 found a, he found a way to say some new 129 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:07.339 things and add some levity to it, but then also 130 00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:10.329 kind of channel the you know, the weight of what 131 00:08:10.350 --> 00:08:11.949 we're talking about here this weekend. So I think it 132 00:08:11.970 --> 00:08:14.250 was a perfect introduction for the whole event. 133 00:08:14.850 --> 00:08:15.750 Yeah, definitely. 134 00:08:16.110 --> 00:08:18.050 So I'll just skim through the schedule. I won't go 135 00:08:18.089 --> 00:08:20.470 through everything, but, you know, one of the most important 136 00:08:20.550 --> 00:08:23.129 ones on that first day was at 2 p.m. we 137 00:08:23.189 --> 00:08:28.379 had the sons of two of the monumental Twilight Zone writers, R.C. 138 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:33.259 Matheson and Chris Beaumont, and they were there virtually, and 139 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.220 they had an interview– I believe it was Mark Olshaker 140 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:38.220 who ran that one, right? 141 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:41.059 Yes, yes. Okay, Zach, you and I sat in on 142 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:42.299 that one. Any thoughts on that? 143 00:08:43.059 --> 00:08:45.330 Yeah, no, I definitely wanted to see that one because 144 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:48.370 the sons of two of the four pillars of the 145 00:08:48.409 --> 00:08:52.509 Twilight Zone writers, right, Matheson and Beaumont, and it's interesting 146 00:08:52.549 --> 00:08:54.950 that I didn't know that they both, I didn't know 147 00:08:54.990 --> 00:08:56.850 the families were so intertwined.

You know, they have sons 148 00:08:56.870 --> 00:08:59.389 who are around the same age and obviously we all 149 00:08:59.429 --> 00:09:03.029 know about Charles Beaumont went to an unfortunate, untimely early death. 150 00:09:04.309 --> 00:09:07.289 And after that, His wife passed away not long after. 151 00:09:07.309 --> 00:09:12.429 And so the Mathesons kind of looked after the Beaumont 152 00:09:12.509 --> 00:09:14.539 kids for a while. And their families really intertwined. And 153 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:17.220 they were kind of like surrogate parental figures to them. 154 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:20.200 And so just hearing that connection to them was very interesting. 155 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.600 And knowing that, you know, they all met. I guess 156 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:26.039 I assume they all met doing the show and all that. 157 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:29.919 Rod Serling and his work brought them together closer than 158 00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:32.720 anything else. Obviously, they'd all been friends. writers doing the 159 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:35.059 sci-fi horror beat for many years, and it all kind 160 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.879 of came together in the Twilight Zone. And that's just 161 00:09:36.899 --> 00:09:38.580 another part of, like, the Rod Serling legacy. If you 162 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:41.039 want to look at it that way, these families intertwining, 163 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:43.379 and there are multiple children and kids of all them, 164 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:46.990 and they all consider themselves like extended family now. And 165 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:49.450 so I didn't know anything about that family history. As 166 00:09:49.929 --> 00:09:51.370 much as I am a fan of their work, it 167 00:09:51.389 --> 00:09:54.090 was interesting to hear that perspective from their side. So 168 00:09:54.350 --> 00:09:55.590 that was an interesting panel. 169 00:09:55.870 --> 00:09:59.570 At 5 p.m., who's this joker? Yeah. 170 00:10:00.230 --> 00:10:02.470 No, we didn't listen to that. We didn't watch that one. 171 00:10:03.049 --> 00:10:06.360 Okay, so picture, if you will, me doing the Twilight 172 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:10.720 Zone podcast live at Sailing Fest. Now, you know, I 173 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:13.899 felt pretty good about it. I had my presentation ready 174 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:18.909 to go, and I had my rod sailing suit on. 175 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:22.419 I went up to deliver the podcast, which you will 176 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.039 hear on this feed. We did record it, and I 177 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:28.379 will put that out in the future. However, when I 178 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:31.100 got to the podium, it was like the first two 179 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:36.289 rows of the audience were all wearing blank white masks. 180 00:10:36.990 --> 00:10:38.809 So I think there was a bit of mischief going 181 00:10:38.929 --> 00:10:41.590 on with a few people there. 182 00:10:42.490 --> 00:10:44.669 So now, time travelers, here we are in the present. 183 00:10:44.950 --> 00:10:47.110 So rest your eyes and listen here. 184 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:50.700 I'm Paul Gallagher, and this is the Twilight Zone podcast. 185 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:02.659 Thank you, Paul. 186 00:11:02.679 --> 00:11:03.759 Can everyone hear me all right? 187 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:05.850 Okay, great. 188 00:11:05.909 --> 00:11:08.889 So as Paul said, my name is Tom Elliott, and 189 00:11:08.909 --> 00:11:11.990 I've been the host of the podcast for about 16 190 00:11:11.990 --> 00:11:15.269 years now. And Generally in an episode of the Twilight 191 00:11:15.289 --> 00:11:17.909 Zone podcast, what I will do is I will talk 192 00:11:17.970 --> 00:11:21.169 through an episode of the Twilight Zone itself. I'll play 193 00:11:21.190 --> 00:11:24.129 some clips, I'll talk some trivia, talk about the actors, 194 00:11:24.169 --> 00:11:27.570 the directors, the writers and so on and give a 195 00:11:27.590 --> 00:11:31.950 little review of the episode. So tonight I decided to 196 00:11:32.029 --> 00:11:36.110 cover the next episode in the podcast run live here 197 00:11:36.269 --> 00:11:44.549 in Binghamton and it goes something like this. I don't 198 00:11:44.590 --> 00:11:48.799 want to mine for comments on this particular presentation, you know, 199 00:11:48.899 --> 00:11:52.799 but I think it went okay. I think we're always 200 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:55.700 kind of critical of ourselves when we're doing something like this. 201 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:58.019 But it felt good, you know, it felt good to 202 00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:02.620 do the podcast proper on stage in front of people. 203 00:12:03.230 --> 00:12:05.490 You know, with hindsight, there's a couple of things I 204 00:12:05.509 --> 00:12:09.529 would change now, but I think it went fine. 205 00:12:09.750 --> 00:12:13.330 Well, as somebody who has considered doing a podcast live, 206 00:12:14.070 --> 00:12:16.909 But never having had the guts to try it, to 207 00:12:16.950 --> 00:12:19.190 see you actually do it and pull it off so 208 00:12:19.470 --> 00:12:22.509 incredibly well, it gave me hope for the future. So 209 00:12:22.590 --> 00:12:26.250 I think everybody there, everybody that watched your presentation was 210 00:12:26.429 --> 00:12:30.509 in total agreement that it was basically perfect and captured 211 00:12:30.529 --> 00:12:33.169 the magic of your podcast exactly how I think you 212 00:12:33.190 --> 00:12:36.289 hoped it would. So I know you're trying to downplay yourself. 213 00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:38.039 But for the rest of us at the table, we 214 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:40.340 can just sing your praises now and tell you it 215 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.039 went great. 216 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:48.379 Truly a Rod Serling follower, Tom, because momentarily adequate, right? 217 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:51.279 Right, right, yeah. Self-deprecating. 218 00:12:51.330 --> 00:12:52.259 Right, self-deprecation. 219

00:12:52.330 --> 00:12:53.419 No, it was okay. 220 00:12:53.470 --> 00:12:56.429 No, it was great. Seeing you do it live, you 221 00:12:56.450 --> 00:13:00.610 had done the Christmas special, as we can call it, 222 00:13:00.669 --> 00:13:03.070 at the last Serling Fest you attended, and that was fun, 223 00:13:03.110 --> 00:13:06.320 but to To see, as you said, do the podcast 224 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:09.179 proper live is a different shade. And that was really 225 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:11.600 fun to do and to hear the first broadcast. And 226 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.960 then to see the clips and the weaving in and 227 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:16.000 out of it and making the points and then walking 228 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:17.870 through the, you know, let's meet the man who played 229 00:13:17.889 --> 00:13:20.370 them or the woman who played them. And seeing all that, 230 00:13:20.570 --> 00:13:22.990 you do it live or just seeing you do it 231 00:13:23.009 --> 00:13:25.629 at all was interesting. And, no, I think the crowd 232 00:13:25.649 --> 00:13:28.289 really responded to it. And you got a big applause 233 00:13:28.330 --> 00:13:29.740 at the end, so you did something right, right? 234 00:13:29.769 --> 00:13:29.879 Yeah. 235 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.559 And I think there's a lot of ways that could 236 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:34.559 have gone wrong. You know, this is when you're doing 237 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:37.259 a podcast, I would imagine it's not just read a 238 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:39.539 script once and then walk away from it and it's 239 00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:42.250 all gone perfectly. So, you know, the fact that there 240 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:44.970 was a lot of moving parts, you had like the presentation, 241 00:13:44.990 --> 00:13:47.549 there was video things that could have happened, there was 242 00:13:47.610 --> 00:13:50.929 audio things that could have happened, but the podcasting gods 243 00:13:50.950 --> 00:13:51.610 were smiling on you. 244 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.960 So, and you were organized, you know, it wasn't just 245 00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.330 a podcast. 246 00:13:54.370 --> 00:13:56.450 I also think the timing was very well with the 247 00:13:56.490 --> 00:13:58.929 masks because it's, you know, it's not in the exact 248 00:13:59.029 --> 00:14:00.830 order of right now where you are, but it's close 249 00:14:00.870 --> 00:14:03.669 enough where this is the heavy hitter to talk about. 250 00:14:03.710 --> 00:14:06.370 It's not like, you know, come wander with me or something. 251 00:14:06.389 --> 00:14:07.929 I don't know. 252 00:14:07.950 --> 00:14:09.460 How dare you? We're going to come back to that. 253 00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:12.460 What a waste that would be to talk about in 254 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:13.620 front of a live studio audience. 255 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:15.879 Well, I'll tell you one observation I made during his, 256 00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:19.289 during your presentation, Tom, is, uh, A lot of these talks, 257 00:14:19.350 --> 00:14:22.309 people are very interested. They're paying attention. They're focused on 258 00:14:22.350 --> 00:14:24.429 the speaker. They're focused on what's going on on stage. 259 00:14:24.990 --> 00:14:28.370 And they have a face on. When I looked around 260 00:14:28.409 --> 00:14:30.950 that room as you were giving your presentation, it was 261 00:14:31.009 --> 00:14:34.610 mostly all smiles. Everyone was just happy to be seeing 262 00:14:34.629 --> 00:14:36.429 you do the podcast. So I think it was just 263 00:14:36.470 --> 00:14:39.960 a very different moment than anything else this weekend. So 264 00:14:40.169 --> 00:14:40.700 I thought it was great. 265 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:42.620 I thought it was great. Thank you. Thank you. 266 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:45.940 I think my hope for the people that were there, 267 00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:49.200 and I said this to several people, at sailing fest 268 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:53.000 is if you go to a, like a, a music concert, 269 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:55.759 a rock concert or something to see a band. And 270 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:58.500 then that band end up putting that show out as 271 00:14:58.539 --> 00:15:02.039 their live album or like their live movie or whatever. 272 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:04.840 And you were there, then I think it's always going 273 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:07.379 to be that little bit more special to you. So 274 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.840 I hope for the people who were there, you know, 275 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:13.139 maybe it's a kind of keepsake for them, but also 276 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.679 a little bit of sailing fest for the people who 277 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:19.580 couldn't go. So it'll, fulfill those two things, hopefully. So 278 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:22.700 we'll see how it all cuts together. But thank you 279 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:26.379 for your comments on that. Now, after that, it's kind 280 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:28.559 of like I'd done my thing. So I was a 281 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:33.279 little bit wired. I couldn't really sit down and watch 282 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:36.950 any of the stuff that came up next. But something 283 00:15:36.970 --> 00:15:39.389 that you and I talked about, Emmy, recently was A 284 00:15:39.429 --> 00:15:41.710 Storm in Summer. And we both liked it, didn't we? 285 00:15:41.730 --> 00:15:46.409 It was a pretty good Rod Serling scripted TV movie. 286 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:48.980 Yeah, it was the adaptation that we watched as well, 287 00:15:49.019 --> 00:15:52.519 because we tried really hard to find the original and 288 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:56.779 came up short. However, the original was shown that. 289 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:59.120 Evening, so we didn't watch it. 290 00:15:59.250 --> 00:16:02.690 It's just because things happened that meant that we couldn't 291 00:16:02.730 --> 00:16:04.429 stay around and watch it. But it was a shame, 292 00:16:04.470 -->

00:16:06.330 because actually we would have quite liked to have seen 293 00:16:06.350 --> 00:16:08.049 it and compared it to the Peter Falk version. I 294 00:16:09.590 --> 00:16:11.330 did speak to a couple of people who stayed and 295 00:16:11.350 --> 00:16:13.190 watched it, said it was really good, said it was 296 00:16:13.230 --> 00:16:16.539 really faithful. You could definitely hear the Serling in it, so... 297 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.299 We still have to source that somehow. 298 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:20.799 Yeah, we'll try and get hold of it. But Gus, 299 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.799 have you seen both now? 300 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:26.220 Yeah, I had seen the Peter Falk version numerous times. 301 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:28.820 And I have been wanting to see this version for, 302 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:32.340 my gosh, I don't know, 25 years. And so I 303 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:34.440 had to stay, even though I was kind of getting 304 00:16:34.460 --> 00:16:37.080 sleepy by that point in the evening. But it was 305 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:41.250 such a great experience because the place was packed. I mean, 306 00:16:41.289 --> 00:16:43.649 most people hung around to watch it. And there's so 307 00:16:43.669 --> 00:16:46.309 much humor there. There's so much dry humor, you know. 308 00:16:47.169 --> 00:16:50.490 in the script, you couldn't even hear for half of 309 00:16:50.549 --> 00:16:53.309 it because people were laughing. People were so taken by 310 00:16:53.350 --> 00:16:57.129 the script. And it is pure Serling. Every minute of 311 00:16:57.169 --> 00:17:00.620 it just feels like Rod Serling. It's just magic. I 312 00:17:00.629 --> 00:17:03.509 don't know. It makes me very sad that it's not 313 00:17:03.549 --> 00:17:06.680 available to see. And I just really hope that the 314 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:09.900 Foundation people or Antioch College, whoever has it, can figure 315 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:12.900 out a way to share it. Because... I want to 316 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:16.220 see it again already. And comparing the two, it's very 317 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:20.279 hard because Peter Falk is amazing. And, oh my God, 318 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.259 I just spaced on his name. 319 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.220 Peter Ustinov? 320 00:17:22.369 --> 00:17:22.680 Yeah. 321 00:17:23.089 --> 00:17:25.589 Peter Ustinov won the Emmy, right, for this role? 322 00:17:25.690 --> 00:17:26.089 He did? 323 00:17:26.150 --> 00:17:26.410 Yeah. 324 00:17:26.450 --> 00:17:26.769 Okay. 325 00:17:27.230 --> 00:17:28.990 He was either nominated or he won. I believe he won. 326 00:17:29.549 --> 00:17:32.690 And he, again, amazing British actor playing a New York 327 00:17:32.869 --> 00:17:37.019 Jewish delicatessen owner. The one comparison I would say that 328 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:39.279 really stuck out was the young boy, I don't want 329 00:17:39.299 --> 00:17:43.069 to be dismissive, but the Peter Falk version, I think 330 00:17:43.089 --> 00:17:45.900 one of the biggest criticisms is the young actor in it. 331 00:17:47.329 --> 00:17:50.950 This kid in this version, amazing. I mean, I thought 332 00:17:50.970 --> 00:17:53.599 he was just great. I thought he was perfect. So 333 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:56.380 I really hope someday the world can see it because 334 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:58.119 it's great. It's magical. It's Rod Serling. 335 00:17:59.180 --> 00:18:01.460 So I would say the remake is worth a watch, 336 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:03.359 isn't it? But you think the original is maybe a 337 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:06.180 cut above? Yeah. 338 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.140 I mean, it just has a different energy. It's hard 339 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:12.150 to explain. It just feels more more like a play. 340 00:18:12.170 --> 00:18:14.390 It feels like you're on stage with them and you're 341 00:18:14.430 --> 00:18:15.369 right there with the actors. 342 00:18:15.450 --> 00:18:16.529 It's very, very neat. 343 00:18:17.130 --> 00:18:17.369 Okay. 344 00:18:17.390 --> 00:18:17.470 Yeah. 345 00:18:18.789 --> 00:18:21.779 So that night we basically hit the town, you know, 346 00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.799 we went for drinks and I'm not sure there's much 347 00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:26.700 to be said about that really. It's just, everyone had 348 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.779 a good time. I think we had a, you know, 349 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:31.059 one of the great things about doing this is the 350 00:18:31.099 --> 00:18:34.359 group that we have now that just sort of slots 351 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:38.440 into place every time that we're together at sailing fest. 352 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:43.049 And yeah, There's new faces and people just kind of 353 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:47.609 join up with the group without any issues. And it's 354 00:18:47.630 --> 00:18:51.430 something that I really am appreciative of with this whole thing. 355 00:18:51.490 --> 00:18:53.609 So I think we had a pretty good. 356 00:18:53.529 --> 00:18:53.990 Night, right? 357 00:18:54.190 --> 00:18:54.529 We did. 358 00:18:54.549 --> 00:18:56.930 The venue was in a slightly different place this year. 359 00:18:57.130 --> 00:18:58.759 I don't know if you've mentioned this. It was in 360 00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:01.380 the Doubletree Hotel rather than the theatre, which is where 361 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:04.519 it normally is. So, you know, but it was still 362 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.940 very much in the same area. So a lot of 363 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:08.319 the places that have kind of become regular haunts for 364 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:10.480 us when we do Serling Fest, we were able to 365 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.240 still go to. 366 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.519 There wasn't a big distance. 367 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.579 Walking distance. 368 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.940 You're so smart. 369 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.299 Thank you. 370 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:19.440 So, yeah, that was really nice as well

because there 371 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.400 is that lovely familiarity of going to the same places, 372 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:24.480 having the same drinks, you know, speaking to the people 373 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:26.160 in the same sort of places. 374 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:29.400 So, yeah, it was lovely on the Friday night. We 375 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:33.589 were obviously really tired. We were really jet lagged. But yeah, 376 00:19:33.609 --> 00:19:34.910 we got over it. We got over it quick. 377 00:19:35.410 --> 00:19:39.200 So the next morning, Saturday, August 22nd, things kicked off 378 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:43.039 at 10am. And that was with Make That Magic Live 379 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:46.940 with Mikaela. And so there's several people covering the Twilight 380 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:50.720 Zone in different ways now, podcasts and so on. And, 381 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.140 you know, what I like about what she's doing is 382 00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:57.779 she's bringing a kind of fun, high energy to it, 383 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:03.339 bringing a bit of humor to things. And it was– 384 00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:07.880 it's a tough slot probably the first day after– Sorry, 385 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:10.539 the second day after the previous day when everyone's probably 386 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:13.640 been out the night before. Maybe people are a bit 387 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:18.049 low energy, but it was probably the perfect spot for 388 00:20:18.109 --> 00:20:21.130 her because, you know, she got that crowd going. So 389 00:20:21.150 --> 00:20:21.950 what did you think of that? 390 00:20:23.079 --> 00:20:27.640 Well, well, well, they gave me a platform, y'all. 391 00:20:28.390 --> 00:20:32.690 This is and this is y'all's 10 a.m. wake up call. OK, 392 00:20:33.049 --> 00:20:35.299 so we're going to have some fun in here again. 393 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.599 For those of you that might not be familiar with me, 394 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:41.079 I'm Mikaela. I'm the voice behind Make That Magic, and 395 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:43.599 I talk about all things, but a lot of you 396 00:20:43.700 --> 00:20:46.619 are here for Twilight Zone, and that is the reason 397 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.279 that I was able to go full time. So I 398 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:52.220 appreciate every person in this room that follows me. And 399 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:54.950 that came out just for me. I've received a couple 400 00:20:54.970 --> 00:20:58.210 of emails, okay? And I have this thing where I 401 00:20:58.250 --> 00:21:00.450 tell people, if you want me to break something down, 402 00:21:01.009 --> 00:21:04.089 I have a request line. As y'all know, the people 403 00:21:04.109 --> 00:21:07.730 who follow me, I really do watch that request line closely, okay? 404 00:21:08.089 --> 00:21:11.099 We're going to have to cue the song because the 405 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:13.660 episode I'm breaking down today is from the request line. 406 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.480 Cue the song, girl. 407 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:18.279 The request line is to make that magic request. 408 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:20.880 And requests, you did. 409 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:24.890 Okay, so I go through my email and I'm like... 410 00:21:25.150 --> 00:21:29.069 I am seeing 16, 17 entries for this one breakdown, 411 00:21:29.109 --> 00:21:31.490 and I'd never seen it before. Ladies and gentlemen, we're 412 00:21:31.509 --> 00:21:32.910 going to break down the invaders today. 413 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.480 I think that what's interesting was because of her target audience, 414 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:42.559 because she's doing it online, you would expect them to 415 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:47.039 be younger. And so I wondered, because obviously the audience 416 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:49.240 that was at Serling Fest is not necessarily who I 417 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.799 would have expected her target one to be. But it 418 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:55.119 landed really well. Like everybody loved it. There was no 419 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.799 kind of awkwardness or anything like that. 420 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.960 It was really funny. Everybody was laughing. 421 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:03.049 And it was just, you're right, it was pure energy. 422 00:22:03.069 --> 00:22:04.869 It was the best thing for first thing in the morning. 423 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.119 And it just started the day off so well. 424 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:11.440 She's so funny. She's so, so funny. And like genuinely funny. 425 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:13.519 Like it was, you know, there was obviously it was like, 426 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:17.390 there's a script involved, but ultimately just, just a really funny, 427 00:22:17.569 --> 00:22:20.450 genuinely joyful person who obviously loves the Twilight Zone. 428 00:22:20.470 --> 00:22:21.259 That's a good way to put it. 429 00:22:21.269 --> 00:22:21.390 Yeah. 430 00:22:21.670 --> 00:22:23.750 No, I had never heard of her before seeing her 431 00:22:23.769 --> 00:22:25.849 on the lineup for Darling Fest. I was like, oh, this, 432 00:22:25.910 --> 00:22:26.730 this will be interesting. 433 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:26.930 Right. 434 00:22:27.430 --> 00:22:30.150 And I enjoyed it. Because it starts out and she has, 435 00:22:30.670 --> 00:22:33.259 she's not as reverent as you are about the material, Tom. 436 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.839 But as you said, that's fine. There's many ways to 437 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:36.839 cover the material. And, you know, we've all enjoyed different 438 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.819 takes on it. And, you know, much like you, like 439 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:42.759 showing some clips, responding to them, doing some commentary. And 440 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:44.660 then really tying it all together at the end. Because, yeah, 441 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:47.779 she's going to high energy, lighthearted about certain things. But 442 00:22:47.799 -->

00:22:50.329 then there's six to landing of, okay, so this is 443 00:22:50.349 --> 00:22:53.230 the message here, people. And I thought it was great. 444 00:22:53.269 --> 00:22:56.410 I really enjoyed it. And I'll be checking out her channel. uh, 445 00:22:56.430 --> 00:22:58.309 for now on it. And, you know, to your point 446 00:22:58.329 --> 00:23:01.809 about the, the age demographics, uh, Amy, I will say like, 447 00:23:01.890 --> 00:23:04.369 we've been here, this is our third time now. And, uh, 448 00:23:04.910 --> 00:23:08.579 I'm encouraged to see the, the age demographics, the gender demographics, 449 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.819 the ethnicity demographics, they're all expanding. 450 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.700 Yeah, for sure. 451 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:13.619 We're divorced here, right? So that's great. And the numbers 452 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:15.299 are growing. This is the biggest Sterling Fest yet. 453 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.400 For sure. Yeah. 454 00:23:16.819 --> 00:23:17.680 Great across the board there. 455 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:21.859 I had only seen a few of her videos and, uh, Again, 456 00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.599 like you guys, I was just blown away by her energy. 457 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:26.279 I mean, I feel like she forced, through sheer force 458 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:29.460 of will, like woke up the entire hotel. It was great. 459 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:31.720 But she's also, I mean, I was a little bit surprised. 460 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.880 I had a conversation with her after the fact. And 461 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:38.190 she's actually, you know, it's not just a routine. She's very, 462 00:23:38.269 --> 00:23:40.170 very interested in these episodes. And she has a very 463 00:23:40.269 --> 00:23:42.690 deep love and understanding of them. I mean, one of 464 00:23:42.710 --> 00:23:44.750 the ones that I had seen her cover was Big 465 00:23:44.769 --> 00:23:46.549 Tall Wish, which is one of my favorite episodes, if 466 00:23:46.609 --> 00:23:50.240 not my favorite episode. And we disagreed, and so we 467 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:53.720 had a little conversation about the young boy. And she 468 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:56.019 kind of criticized his acting a little bit. And I 469 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:58.119 drilled down on her, and I was like, I thought 470 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:01.720 the kid was great. The kid makes me burst into tears. 471 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:04.920 But she was like, wow, there was just some affect 472 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:07.450 to some of his vocal deliveries that she felt might 473 00:24:07.470 --> 00:24:10.789 have been forced upon him because of the ethnic angle 474 00:24:10.849 --> 00:24:14.950 that he was playing. But legitimate. She had a legitimate 475 00:24:15.849 --> 00:24:18.200 criticism about that. I just thought it was very interesting, 476 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:21.059 you know, and it frankly made me, I will look 477 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:24.259 at that episode

slightly different now because of her commentary. 478 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:26.700 So I thought that was great. I mean, it's exactly 479 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:29.440 what you want from someone commentating on the show. 480 00:24:29.789 --> 00:24:33.630 Yeah, yeah, definitely. Really, really great start to the day. 481 00:24:34.549 --> 00:24:36.849 So this year at Sailing Fest, we actually had a 482 00:24:37.130 --> 00:24:43.650 genuine Twilight Zone actor signing autographs, doing an interview on 483 00:24:43.710 --> 00:24:46.119 stage and so on. And you actually... Spent a bit 484 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:48.119 of time talking with her, didn't you, Gus? This is 485 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:50.920 Mary Badham, who was in the final episode of The 486 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.690 Twilight Zone, W. 487 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.900 Hitchinpool. 488 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.180 Right. 489 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:56.680 And also famously in To Kill a Mockingbird, where she 490 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:59.309 played Scout and was nominated for an Academy Award for that. 491 00:24:59.430 --> 00:24:59.730 Wow. 492 00:24:59.809 --> 00:25:01.490 Am I wrong about that? I think that's right. 493 00:25:01.509 --> 00:25:01.750 I don't know. 494 00:25:02.109 --> 00:25:02.309 Yeah. 495 00:25:02.869 --> 00:25:03.630 We'll take your word for it. 496 00:25:03.670 --> 00:25:03.930 Okay. 497 00:25:04.730 --> 00:25:07.490 But we talked mainly about that because I was just 498 00:25:07.509 --> 00:25:09.390 very curious, you know, did you keep in touch with 499 00:25:09.470 --> 00:25:12.019 the folks from To Kill a Mockingbird over the years? 500 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:14.539 And she said, Gregory Peck and I remained close until 501 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.400 the day he died. She's like, I was at his 502 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:19.579 house two days before he passed. She stayed close with 503 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:22.200 the family and everything. So, I mean, she's just, I mean, 504 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:24.730 she's a lifelong veteran of the industry. And I'll tell 505 00:25:24.750 --> 00:25:28.230 you what's funny about that is that I'm a filmmaker 506 00:25:28.250 --> 00:25:31.049 in a small way. And when I let her know that, 507 00:25:31.509 --> 00:25:33.150 she said, write your name and number down for me. 508 00:25:34.309 --> 00:25:35.910 I'm going to text you if you have any roles. 509 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.140 Give me a call. 510 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:38.420 And I was like, she's working. 511 00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.880 It even now. 512 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:39.880 That's very cool. 513 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.680 I like that. 514 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:42.799 It was pretty neat. How cool. How cool. 515 00:25:43.630 --> 00:25:45.730 Now, one of the great things about Sailing Fest is 516 00:25:45.789 --> 00:25:49.950 how present the sailing family is. And there was a 517 00:25:50.049 --> 00:25:55.880 number of presentations where the sailing family were interviewed. They 518 00:25:55.920 --> 00:26:00.440 were pretty much always in the vendor room at a table. 519 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.400 You could go and approach them and speak to them. 520 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:05.619 So I think maybe we'll just talk generally about that 521 00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:10.470 instead of going through presentation by presentation because... I think 522 00:26:10.569 --> 00:26:12.849 one of the things that I've always been so grateful 523 00:26:12.910 --> 00:26:17.230 for is that they have been so gracious about what 524 00:26:17.329 --> 00:26:20.490 I do. Now that started off with Anne many, many 525 00:26:20.529 --> 00:26:22.990 years ago. She was one of the first guests that 526 00:26:23.009 --> 00:26:26.069 I had on the podcast, but every time I go, 527 00:26:26.289 --> 00:26:29.470 she remembers who I am. You know, she's says she's 528 00:26:29.490 --> 00:26:31.880 happy to see me and so on. And last time 529 00:26:31.890 --> 00:26:34.720 I was here, even though I was really sick, I'm 530 00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:36.019 not sure whether I mentioned that. 531 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.380 Were you? 532 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:41.720 Um, You know, I struck up a good relationship with 533 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:44.019 Jodie as well. I've spoken to her on the phone 534 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:46.390 and so on, and she was very present at this one. 535 00:26:46.970 --> 00:26:51.009 It was some great recollections about her dad. But also 536 00:26:51.769 --> 00:26:57.710 Jeff Serling, who is Rod Serling's nephew, Robert Serling's son, 537 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:01.680 has become a real kind of part of making this 538 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:05.299 thing happen and really kind of pushing it and making 539 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:08.930 it grow. And, you know, I had some great conversations 540 00:27:08.950 --> 00:27:11.650 with Jeff as well. Really, really cool to see him 541 00:27:11.690 --> 00:27:14.920 around and, you know, just check in with him every 542 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:17.440 now and again. So how about you guys? You know, 543 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:20.039 any kind of interactions you had with the sailings while 544 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.539 you were there? 545 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:23.220 I didn't speak to any of them directly, but I 546 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:26.420 totally agree with you. They're so generous with their time 547 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:29.380 for all of this stuff, you know. And it isn't 548 00:27:29.529 --> 00:27:32.369 just sort of from a distance saying, oh, I will 549 00:27:32.410 --> 00:27:33.849 allow you to do this and I will allow you 550 00:27:33.890 --> 00:27:34.289 to do that. 551 00:27:34.769 --> 00:27:39.289 They talk so lovingly. about Rod Serling and it shows. 552 00:27:39.569 --> 00:27:42.029 And it kind of comes back to what I mentioned 553 00:27:42.069 --> 00:27:44.589 about the opening speech as well. There's always something new 554 00:27:44.910 --> 00:27:49.130

to say. It could very easily become the same old 555 00:27:49.210 --> 00:27:52.910 rehashed stories every single time and it doesn't. They're very 556 00:27:52.970 --> 00:27:56.190 genuine in their affection and so they're always coming up 557 00:27:56.380 --> 00:27:58.440 with lovely new things to tell us and we're always 558 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:01.339 learning new things about him. And that's my favourite part 559 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:03.980 of them attending and really being involved in Serling Fest 560 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:06.009 because That's what we want to know. You know, we 561 00:28:06.029 --> 00:28:08.309 want to know all these nice things that made him 562 00:28:08.329 --> 00:28:08.750 who he was. 563 00:28:09.609 --> 00:28:12.450 Yeah, I met Anne back in 2019 when we came 564 00:28:12.490 --> 00:28:14.190 the first time and got a picture with her and 565 00:28:14.490 --> 00:28:17.170 very gracious. And I think I briefly talked to Jody 566 00:28:17.190 --> 00:28:19.250 last time when you did, Tom. I'm always like hanging 567 00:28:19.269 --> 00:28:23.200 around Tom and writing off his coattails and stuff. But actually, 568 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:25.279 I met Jeff this year for the first time. And 569 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:28.940 I actually bought one of the facsimiles of the statue, 570 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:32.029 the Roger Ling statue, because I had wanted to buy one. 571 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:35.390 a version of the statue uh last time but they 572 00:28:35.410 --> 00:28:38.349 only had the very large one which was just just 573 00:28:38.410 --> 00:28:40.690 too big for i have way too much collectible stuff 574 00:28:40.710 --> 00:28:42.130 in my office as it is and i was like 575 00:28:42.210 --> 00:28:43.230 oh i was kind of hoping they have like a 576 00:28:43.329 --> 00:28:45.500 smaller one uh and they did this year so i 577 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:47.119 got one and talked to jeff we talked about he's 578 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.779 like hey okay showed you how to put it together 579 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:50.619 and all that stuff so yeah just a real nice 580 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:52.720 guy and i hadn't interacted with him until now and 581 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:55.009 it's just a great impression there and and then yeah 582 00:28:55.069 --> 00:28:57.250 in in the course of the panels because they were 583 00:28:57.269 --> 00:29:00.220 all on on different panels I really enjoyed the, really 584 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:02.759 just the slice of life, you know, snapshot of their 585 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:04.640 family life back in the day, like pictures and then 586 00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.700 especially the home movies. 587 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.079 Yeah. 588 00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:08.940 I'm a big Disneyland fan, so there's a lot of 589 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:11.089 footage of them from like a, I don't know, a 590 00:29:11.089 --> 00:29:13.130 16 millimeter camera of them at Disneyland on like the 591 00:29:13.170 --> 00:29:13.730 Jungle Cruise. 592 00:29:13.750 --> 00:29:13.829 Yeah. 593 00:29:13.849 --> 00:29:15.390 And so I'm like, is it Rod Serling and his 594 00:29:15.430 --> 00:29:18.049 kids on the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland? So just stuff 595 00:29:18.069 --> 00:29:20.690 you never really consider or think you see and. And 596 00:29:20.710 --> 00:29:23.450 they always make sure they mention, hey, look, I know 597 00:29:23.490 --> 00:29:25.799 in the Twilight Zone our dad's like a serious guy. 598 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:28.559 But he was a jokester and he had a sense 599 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:31.900 of humor. And that comes through when he's on camera 600 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.569 but he's offstage, so to speak, in these family movies. 601 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:37.910 And that's always just precious stuff to see. So I 602 00:29:37.950 --> 00:29:38.809 appreciate them sharing that. 603 00:29:38.849 --> 00:29:40.819 Totally agree with you on that. I thought the videos 604 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:43.750 were I mean, Jody and Anne have been to I 605 00:29:44.069 --> 00:29:46.089 don't know how many Serling Fest, but I've only been 606 00:29:46.130 --> 00:29:48.289 to the two. I was here at the unveiling of 607 00:29:48.329 --> 00:29:50.289 the statue two years ago, and this is my second one. 608 00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:53.009 But I've been to a lot of these kinds of things. 609 00:29:53.089 --> 00:29:56.250 And when people like that attend a lot, you feel 610 00:29:56.269 --> 00:29:58.490 like they're going to run out of stories. Somehow they 611 00:29:58.529 --> 00:30:01.049 haven't run out of stories. And seeing all these videos 612 00:30:01.069 --> 00:30:02.569 that they brought this time, I was like, I was 613 00:30:02.890 --> 00:30:04.730 blown away. I mean, that Disneyland video, I got my 614 00:30:04.769 --> 00:30:06.329 phone out and I'm like, I know I'm not supposed to, 615 00:30:06.349 --> 00:30:09.599 but I'm recording this. This is really cool. And yeah. 616 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:12.140 And frankly, so here's something I really wanted to ask them. 617 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:14.859 I never got a chance to is what was Rod's 618 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:18.559 workout routine? Because he is like ripped. He had his 619 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:21.450 shirt off in almost all these videos. And he just 620 00:30:21.470 --> 00:30:24.279 looked like a male model. Absolutely. It was incredible. 621 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.839 I mean, if you look like him, you wouldn't wear 622 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.299 a shirt either. 623 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.339 I know. I know. 624 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.099 It's my goal. 625 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.460 My goal is to look like Rod. 626 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:31.400 Yeah. 627 00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:35.819 So grateful for all of the presence there. And both 628 00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:40.259 times I've done this now, where I've presented a couple 629 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:43.299 of years

ago at the theater, and then this time 630 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:47.769 at the hotel, the first person to come over and 631 00:30:47.829 --> 00:30:51.339 speak to me after each presentation has been Jody sailing, 632 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:54.259 you know? So the fact that she takes the time 633 00:30:54.279 --> 00:30:57.079 to do that, I think I can't really place a 634 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.839 value on that. 635 00:30:57.920 --> 00:30:59.339 So I appreciate that. 636 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:01.259 Well, and I have to interject and let you know 637 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:03.960 that I was rolling a little camera when she came 638 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.819 and said hello to you. 639 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.400 Oh really? 640 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:07.769 And you still had your mic on and I could 641 00:31:07.829 --> 00:31:11.910 hear the genuine appreciation and love that she had when 642 00:31:11.930 --> 00:31:13.490 she said hello to you. It wasn't like she was 643 00:31:13.509 --> 00:31:17.049 just being nice. She was really, really taken by your presentation. 644 00:31:17.549 --> 00:31:19.990 So I thought it was neat, and I'm glad the 645 00:31:20.009 --> 00:31:22.099 camera was rolling. So you'll have to watch that soon. 646 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:22.880 Oh, my. 647 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:26.339 I had no idea about that. How cool is that? 648 00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.720 We'll cut to that here shortly. 649 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:34.130 We may do. We may do. Wow. That's made my day. 650 00:31:34.170 --> 00:31:37.150 Thank you, Gus. Thank you, man. Thank you. 651 00:31:37.630 --> 00:31:38.990 Jodie. How are you? 652 00:31:39.769 --> 00:31:41.970 What a great podcast. 653 00:31:42.190 --> 00:31:42.529 Thank you. 654 00:31:42.589 --> 00:31:44.319 I have the original mask at home. 655 00:31:44.730 --> 00:31:45.319 No way. 656 00:31:45.410 --> 00:31:45.730 I do. 657 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:47.119 This is my cousin Jen. 658 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.279 Hi, how are you doing? 659 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:50.059 Nice to meet you. 660 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.200 That was terrific. 661 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.559 Thank you. 662 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:53.920 Isn't his voice perfect for him? 663 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:56.819 Beautiful voice. Oh, thank you, Jodie. I need someone to 664 00:31:56.859 --> 00:31:57.720 get a picture of us. 665 00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:59.680 Oh, yeah, I have that other one we took. 666 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.740 Yeah. 667 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:03.259 Gus, would you mind getting a picture of me and Jodie? Okay, 668 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:07.500 so let's move on to this documentary, Sailing. I think 669 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:11.420 they presented maybe the trailer or something last year. It's 670 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:14.789 made by Jonah Tulis. And this time he actually came 671 00:32:14.809 --> 00:32:18.869 with the first five minutes of the thing. And also 672 00:32:18.910 --> 00:32:22.680 a few clips later

on. So anyone with some thoughts 673 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:25.220 on what they saw of the documentary? 674 00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:30.559 Well, as a filmmaker, I've been waiting for this for 675 00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:33.279 years now. And I was very excited to see the footage. 676 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:35.539 I thought it looked great. I mean, I don't know 677 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:37.700 if we're spoiling anything to talk about what we saw. 678 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:39.180 Is that okay to do? I'm not sure. 679 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.740 Yeah. 680 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:42.240 I mean, you know, we can talk about it for sure. 681 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:42.460 Okay. 682 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:46.160 Well, I think the way they've approached this is to 683 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:49.240 kind of have an actor in place of Rod Serling, 684 00:32:49.289 --> 00:32:52.210 but not to shoot his face at all. So creative, 685 00:32:52.589 --> 00:32:55.890 you know, artistic angles from behind, a lot of cigarette smoke, obviously. 686 00:32:55.910 --> 00:32:56.529 Focus. 687 00:32:56.849 --> 00:33:01.210 Yeah, soft focuses and things like that. So it was 688 00:33:01.230 --> 00:33:03.470 very stylistic. And I was frankly happy to see that. 689 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:05.779 And obviously it's all black and white. So that's the 690 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:09.109 right choice. But everything we saw looked like it's going 691 00:33:09.130 --> 00:33:12.339 to be, it's very promising. You know, I'm just so excited. 692 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:14.779 My only, like, regret, frankly, was when he said how 693 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:16.880 long it was, which is like, I forgot what he. 694 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:18.119 Said, 90 minutes? 100 minutes, maybe? 695 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:19.799 Yeah, I think it was 100 minutes. I was like, 696 00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:21.299 I want this to be four hours. 697 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:24.380 Yeah. 698 00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:26.869 I like what he said about those scenes as well. 699 00:33:26.890 --> 00:33:31.150 He's not recreating things that happened before. It's more of 700 00:33:31.190 --> 00:33:33.869 a tone thing, isn't it? It's more to just give 701 00:33:33.910 --> 00:33:36.670 you a bit of a sense of what was going 702 00:33:36.809 --> 00:33:40.210 on rather than saying, look, we're recreating this exactly. 703 00:33:40.349 --> 00:33:42.630 More like a fly on the wall. And we should 704 00:33:42.650 --> 00:33:44.650 probably also say that the thing that's going to make 705 00:33:44.690 --> 00:33:47.619 this documentary stand out and frankly unique in the annals 706 00:33:47.670 --> 00:33:50.220 of I think any documentary of this kind is that 707 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:52.299 he was able to get access to all of his 708 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:55.920 Dictabelt tapes. And so the entire movie is told with 709 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:59.640 Rod Serling's voice, which I mean, even if we've all 710 00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:01.859 heard all the stories before, even if we all know 711 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:04.779 everything that's ever happened in Rod's life, it's going to 712 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:07.079 be a unique experience hearing it from his own point 713 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:09.030 of view. So I'm really looking forward to it. 714 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.480 Yeah. 715 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:11.320 I'm very excited for it. I think that's a, such 716 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:13.889 a unique situation where you have so much of him 717 00:34:14.230 --> 00:34:16.489 in his own voice, as you said, like narrating everything 718 00:34:16.550 --> 00:34:18.849 instead of a, and you know, a traditional documentary would 719 00:34:18.869 --> 00:34:20.610 be like, you know, a talking head, an expert here, 720 00:34:20.650 --> 00:34:21.989 an expert there. And that would be, I would watch 721 00:34:22.010 --> 00:34:22.329 that too. 722 00:34:22.489 --> 00:34:22.670 Sure. 723 00:34:22.889 --> 00:34:23.010 Right. 724 00:34:23.110 --> 00:34:25.369 But it's just so unique that he's recorded, you know, 725 00:34:25.389 --> 00:34:27.219 he used that dictaphone, that famous dictaphone. We have so 726 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:29.150 much of his voice and, It reminds me of, you know, 727 00:34:29.170 --> 00:34:33.579 recently that documentary Super Slash Man by Christopher Reeve. And 728 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:37.039 they used the audio book that he did about his autobiography, 729 00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:39.400 Still Me. They used the audio of him. So there's 730 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:42.570 just an extra layer to that, like a powerful emotional 731 00:34:42.590 --> 00:34:45.869 layer of hearing the person talk about their life themselves there. 732 00:34:46.030 --> 00:34:47.510 Always the right choice if you can do it. 733 00:34:47.530 --> 00:34:49.929 If you can, yeah. And I totally agree about the 734 00:34:50.010 --> 00:34:53.010 actor choice, too. Like, because, you know, there's audio only. Like, 735 00:34:53.030 --> 00:34:54.590 what are you going to show, right? What are you 736 00:34:54.610 --> 00:34:55.010 going to show? 737 00:34:55.030 --> 00:34:55.179 Mm-hmm. 738 00:34:55.610 --> 00:34:58.050 And just showing these, like a guy behind a typewriter 739 00:34:58.070 --> 00:35:01.989 or a guy in a smoky set somewhere, or, you know, uh, 740 00:35:02.489 --> 00:35:05.190 that's a real good choice. And to their point, he's 741 00:35:05.210 --> 00:35:07.510 such a recognizable face. Like it would kind of take 742 00:35:07.550 --> 00:35:09.230 you out of it to hear his real voice and 743 00:35:09.269 --> 00:35:12.070 see someone else up there. So like, you know, it's creatively, I'm, 744 00:35:12.210 --> 00:35:14.510 I'm very impressed with their approach and I'm, I'm really 745 00:35:14.530 --> 00:35:15.849 looking forward to seeing the whole documentary. 746 00:35:16.070 --> 00:35:16.250 Yeah. 747 00:35:16.409 --> 00:35:16.670 Agreed. 748 00:35:16.690 --> 00:35:18.929 And I think

that using the dictaphone stuff means that 749 00:35:19.070 --> 00:35:21.449 it feels like he's taking us through it. Like it 750 00:35:21.570 --> 00:35:24.369 absolutely feels like he is taking, taking us through that journey. 751 00:35:24.989 --> 00:35:27.269 And that's what I wanted to see. I mean, you're right. 752 00:35:27.329 --> 00:35:29.409 I would have watched Talking Heads and things as well. 753 00:35:29.730 --> 00:35:32.650 But ultimately, you want to watch something that feels like 754 00:35:32.869 --> 00:35:34.590 sort of an episode. You don't want it to be 755 00:35:34.630 --> 00:35:36.980 constantly taking you in and out by having different people 756 00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:38.579 speaking and their names at the bottom of the screen 757 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:41.039 and all this sort of thing. Ultimately, what you want 758 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:43.539 is a little sneak peek into his life and how 759 00:35:43.579 --> 00:35:46.889 he did his work and how he was creative. And 760 00:35:46.969 --> 00:35:48.929 from what we saw, it's going to cover all those things. 761 00:35:49.090 --> 00:35:51.429 You know, it is not just Twilight Zone. It is 762 00:35:51.449 --> 00:35:53.380 going to be a lot of... And it blows my 763 00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:54.559 mind that it's taken this long. 764 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:57.340 To get this. Movies take a long time. But he 765 00:35:57.360 --> 00:35:59.199 played some snippets for us, which I don't... I wasn't... 766 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.530 I can't remember if he said they were going to 767 00:36:00.570 --> 00:36:01.929 make it into the movie or they were. 768 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:04.260 Those outtakes of the Indy, I wouldn't mention that. 769 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:07.199 There was an outtake where he was dictating a complaint 770 00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:08.219 to his auto mechanic. 771 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:09.780 That was amazing. 772 00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.820 Just jammed. 773 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:12.579 Just absolutely beautiful. 774 00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:14.280 To have that. It's him just writing a complaint to 775 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:16.909 a car that doesn't work, but he's so eloquent. 776 00:36:17.010 --> 00:36:18.829 He doesn't hit his voice, for sure. 777 00:36:18.849 --> 00:36:22.969 He's like, the operative word is not moving. He's insulting 778 00:36:23.010 --> 00:36:25.230 this guy in such an elegant way. I could listen 779 00:36:25.250 --> 00:36:26.190 to hours and. 780 00:36:26.389 --> 00:36:27.260 Hours of that. 781 00:36:27.889 --> 00:36:32.300 Yeah, I mean, those Dictabelt tapes... just a gold mine, 782 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:35.059 what I wouldn't give to be able to hear those things. 783 00:36:35.719 --> 00:36:38.320 But I think as well, because, you know, I think 784 00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:41.139 all of us here are pretty well-versed in sailing now. 785 00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:43.539 You know, you and I, Emmy, have watched a lot 786 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:47.239 of the non-Twilight Zone stuff over the years. 787 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.320 Over on Patreon. 788 00:36:48.389 --> 00:36:51.429 Gus, I know you're a big guy for anything sailing 789 00:36:51.449 --> 00:36:54.630 you can get your hands on. So I think we've 790 00:36:54.809 --> 00:36:59.630 probably seen most of what is out there. So, The 791 00:36:59.670 --> 00:37:02.570 opportunity to hear his voice say things you haven't heard 792 00:37:02.610 --> 00:37:06.659 them say is just gold, isn't it? I would love 793 00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:09.139 to hear them all, but I will settle for what 794 00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:10.219 I can get in this thing. 795 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:13.280 I'm hopeful that someday they'll release that stuff. I mean, 796 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:16.420 he was talking about the fact that because he wasn't 797 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:18.880 sure why, whether they taped over these things or whether 798 00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:21.619 they just were lost. What exists is more from the 799 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:24.079 later period, more Night Gallery, more Loner related. 800 00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:24.420 Yeah. 801 00:37:25.050 --> 00:37:26.840 I'm a huge fan of night gallery and loner. I 802 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:28.579 would love to hear that stuff. You know what I mean? 803 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:30.219 Although I feel like it was kind of dismissed. I 804 00:37:30.579 --> 00:37:32.460 feel like night gallery doesn't get enough love at the 805 00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:36.099 Rod Serling, uh, Serling fest. Uh, sometimes it does, but 806 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:39.119 this time it was all, it was all twilight zone. Um, but, but, 807 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:40.900 but man, what I would love to, I would love 808 00:37:40.920 --> 00:37:41.579 to hear those tapes. 809 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:44.159 Well, and they're also going to, as I understand, incorporate, 810 00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:46.079 you know, interviews that he did over the years. So 811 00:37:46.099 --> 00:37:47.679 there's some on, there is going to be on camera, 812 00:37:47.699 --> 00:37:51.300 Rod Serling interviews to him, not an actor, just him 813 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:53.659 on a talk show here or an interview there. And so, 814 00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:56.579 interspersing all that stuff. And again, that's why it's such 815 00:37:56.599 --> 00:37:59.239 a great choice to keep all the non-authentic stuff kind 816 00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:00.719 of hidden in light and shadow. 817 00:38:00.739 --> 00:38:03.460 Yeah, and one likes to believe that everything's out there 818 00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:05.980 on the internet now, but even two years ago when 819 00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:08.440 I was here, they showed some interviews with Rod Serling 820 00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:11.519 that I had never seen. So that's why I love coming, 821 00:38:11.699 --> 00:38:13.530 is because there's going to be something I haven't seen, 822 00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:15.690 and I feel like I've

seen it all. So that's 823 00:38:15.710 --> 00:38:17.369 what I love coming here. 824 00:38:17.730 --> 00:38:21.809 So Bill Mooney, Twilight Zone royalty, been on the show before. 825 00:38:22.460 --> 00:38:25.239 What else can we say? But Zach, you checked out 826 00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:26.659 that interview with Bill. 827 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:31.099 Yeah, and I don't know if he called in, because 828 00:38:31.119 --> 00:38:33.409 he was a remote guest in 2019. I can't recall 829 00:38:33.449 --> 00:38:34.769 if he was a remote guest in 2024. I don't 830 00:38:34.809 --> 00:38:37.730 think he was. 831 00:38:38.150 --> 00:38:38.530 Okay, great. 832 00:38:38.550 --> 00:38:40.489 So I'd seen him remote that time and then remote 833 00:38:40.510 --> 00:38:42.409 this time. He just has a great energy about him. 834 00:38:42.429 --> 00:38:45.539 He totally embraces that. He is this pop culture sci-fi icon. 835 00:38:45.960 --> 00:38:47.219 And he's like, oh, I'm having a good day, a 836 00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:50.409 real good day. You know when celebrities, they say, like, 837 00:38:50.510 --> 00:38:53.750 say the thing, Bart, or whatever. They say the catchphrase. 838 00:38:53.769 --> 00:38:55.730 You're like, no, he is like, it's off the top 839 00:38:55.769 --> 00:38:58.329 of his head. He's weaving it in. Like, he just 840 00:38:58.389 --> 00:39:01.730 relishes this part. He knows that he's an iconic part. 841 00:39:01.789 --> 00:39:04.710 And he's a fan himself of this genre. And I 842 00:39:04.730 --> 00:39:06.150 think that goes a long way. And just, you know, 843 00:39:06.170 --> 00:39:08.130 having him answer questions. I'm sure he's answered a lot 844 00:39:08.150 --> 00:39:09.869 of these questions many times before. But he's such a 845 00:39:09.889 --> 00:39:11.969 pro about it every time. And he's just a delight. 846 00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:14.909 I've found myself in his orbit a couple of times 847 00:39:14.969 --> 00:39:17.130 over the years, and I will say this. He actually 848 00:39:17.190 --> 00:39:19.230 says that kind of stuff even when it's not a 849 00:39:19.250 --> 00:39:20.469 Twilight Zone event. 850 00:39:20.989 --> 00:39:21.510 I love that. 851 00:39:21.210 --> 00:39:22.849 If you ask him a question, he'd be like, it'll 852 00:39:22.869 --> 00:39:23.210 be good. 853 00:39:23.329 --> 00:39:24.050 It'll be real good. 854 00:39:24.130 --> 00:39:27.010 I think it's just in his DNA at this point. 855 00:39:27.050 --> 00:39:29.920 I actually, once upon a time, I, I got him 856 00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:33.079 to sign a toy telephone for me. Oh, I bought 857 00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:35.679 the replica phone. That is the same exact one from 858 00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:37.360 the show. And I got him to sign it. And 859 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:39.119 he was like, my God, it's so small. And I 860 00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:40.880 was like, well, you were a lot smaller than seven 861 00:39:40.920 --> 00:39:41.320 years old. 862 00:39:41.360 --> 00:39:42.619 Yeah. 863 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:43.519 Bill Mooney is the best. 864 00:39:43.639 --> 00:39:43.860 Yep. 865 00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:45.820 Yep. Yeah. Good. Good. 866 00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:50.670 So then to cap things off, um, I'll read it 867 00:39:50.690 --> 00:39:52.989 off the schedule. It's called A Panel, Ten Years in 868 00:39:53.010 --> 00:39:56.989 the Making, A Decade of Sailing Fest, Why Does Rod 869 00:39:57.050 --> 00:40:02.079 Sailing Matter? Now, I was outside with you guys just talking. 870 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:06.280 I'll just mention that I did have a table there. 871 00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:09.039 I wasn't selling anything. I was just giving away a few, 872 00:40:09.590 --> 00:40:12.170 you know, prints and things of the Twilight Zone podcast. 873 00:40:12.650 --> 00:40:14.329 And I thought, great, we'll go in in a few 874 00:40:14.369 --> 00:40:17.070 minutes and we'll all sit and watch this panel. And 875 00:40:17.090 --> 00:40:19.769 then all of a sudden, Gail, one of the Rod 876 00:40:19.789 --> 00:40:24.489 Serling Memorial Foundation board members comes out and says, Tom, 877 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:25.800 you need to be on this panel. 878 00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:29.559 So I go in there. You've got a row of. 879 00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:35.099 All the guests, Chris Alexander, Joseph Doherty, Frank Spotnitz, and 880 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:37.780 so on. And so I go up and sit on 881 00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:41.610 the end. And they kind of sprung it. I don't 882 00:40:41.650 --> 00:40:45.250 know whether they had prior warning because some people seem 883 00:40:45.269 --> 00:40:48.250 to be a little bit prepared. But it's like, okay, 884 00:40:48.349 --> 00:40:53.199 everyone's got to say, for two minutes, why rod sailing matters. 885 00:40:54.219 --> 00:40:58.070 And I was like, great. Some warning would have been nice. But, 886 00:40:58.090 --> 00:40:59.969 you know, I'll do my best. I'll do my best. 887 00:41:00.090 --> 00:41:05.710 So I will put that audio of my answer here. 888 00:41:08.389 --> 00:41:10.639 Hi, I'm Tom Elliott. I'm the host of the Twilight 889 00:41:10.659 --> 00:41:11.639 Zone podcast. 890 00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:19.860 When I ask myself why Rod Serling matters, I think 891 00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:22.880 I only need to look around this room and think 892 00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:25.889 of the experience that we've all had for the last 893 00:41:25.949 --> 00:41:27.090 couple of days because. 894 00:41:28.780 --> 00:41:30.969 You know, in a world where it seems like everything 895 00:41:31.050 --> 00:41:34.130 is just designed to push us apart and divide us 896 00:41:34.170 --> 00:41:36.849 at the moment, I think we all need this. We 897 00:41:36.909 --> 00:41:42.269 all need to be reminded that it doesn't have to 898 00:41:42.289 --> 00:41:45.769 be that way, you know? And I think, as I 899 00:41:45.809 --> 00:41:49.730 said in my presentation yesterday, if there's ever a question 900 00:41:49.750

--> 00:41:52.469 in your head about whether something is right or whether 901 00:41:52.789 --> 00:41:55.829 something is wrong, all you need to really think is, 902 00:41:55.869 --> 00:41:57.260 what would Rod Serling say? 903 00:41:58.469 --> 00:42:00.780 And that is where everything becomes clear. 904 00:42:00.880 --> 00:42:06.699 He cuts through that fog of argument and division every time. 905 00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:10.559 It never fails, so that's why I think Rod matters. 906 00:42:13.570 --> 00:42:16.550 Okay, so there was some really nice stuff coming from 907 00:42:16.570 --> 00:42:19.909 the panel members and the audience as well. Any highlights 908 00:42:19.969 --> 00:42:20.650 for you guys? 909 00:42:21.530 --> 00:42:23.710 I think what struck me most is that there was like, 910 00:42:23.730 --> 00:42:24.710 what did you say, 12 of you? 911 00:42:24.730 --> 00:42:26.269 I think so, yeah. 912 00:42:26.570 --> 00:42:30.360 And to be honest, it's kind of like an icebreaker, right, 913 00:42:30.389 --> 00:42:33.139 when somebody does this. And it's quite easy to just 914 00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:35.760 repeat what everybody else has said, you know, that sort 915 00:42:35.800 --> 00:42:39.949 of thing. 12 fresh answers, you know, where they're all 916 00:42:39.989 --> 00:42:40.789 totally relevant. 917 00:42:40.869 --> 00:42:42.130 They're all totally meaningful. 918 00:42:42.269 --> 00:42:45.170 You've seen people in the audience nodding along as people 919 00:42:45.210 --> 00:42:48.360 were saying, you know, that's quite special, you know, at 920 00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:50.579 the end. And it's, it's, I guess it's easier done 921 00:42:50.599 --> 00:42:52.780 at the end because we've all spent two days thinking 922 00:42:52.840 --> 00:42:55.360 about why Rod Serling is still relevant. 923 00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:56.300 Yeah. 924 00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:59.349 Um, But yeah, to get such amazing answers and, you know, 925 00:42:59.530 --> 00:43:01.590 everybody disagreed with everything that everybody. 926 00:43:01.300 --> 00:43:01.719 Was saying there. 927 00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:05.099 I think that reflects on the quality of the speakers, frankly, overall. 928 00:43:05.139 --> 00:43:07.769 I mean, they were very, very good speakers, all of 929 00:43:07.809 --> 00:43:10.530 them well chosen. It was a great event and they 930 00:43:10.550 --> 00:43:12.889 all had good answers. I know Tom was a little 931 00:43:12.909 --> 00:43:15.030 bit afraid that maybe everyone was, Rod Serling was so 932 00:43:15.050 --> 00:43:15.730 ahead of his time. 933 00:43:18.030 --> 00:43:19.650 I saw you pondering on their time, like, oh man, 934 00:43:19.670 --> 00:43:21.349 I'm like 12, I'm going to run out of stuff. 935 00:43:21.630 --> 00:43:22.849 Yeah, that's it. 936 00:43:22.869 --> 00:43:24.780 Everyone's talking away and there's me with a look of 937 00:43:24.840 --> 00:43:28.679 terror on the end of the row. Yeah, yeah. 938 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:31.059 But no, that was a great way to cap it 939 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:32.320 off because that's why we're all here. 940 00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:33.929 Yeah, that's it. 941 00:43:33.960 --> 00:43:37.179 And some good contributions from audience members as well afterwards 942 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:42.000 to really close things off. So, Today, we're recording this 943 00:43:42.059 --> 00:43:45.750 on Sunday, August 23rd. You know, we went out and 944 00:43:45.789 --> 00:43:46.929 had more drinks and things. 945 00:43:46.949 --> 00:43:47.630 As we do. 946 00:43:47.630 --> 00:43:47.829 Did we? 947 00:43:47.909 --> 00:43:48.969 It was great. 948 00:43:49.030 --> 00:43:49.650 It was fun. 949 00:43:50.030 --> 00:43:51.760 It was a great turnout. I wanted to just shout 950 00:43:51.800 --> 00:43:54.300 out to everybody who came to the breakfasts and the 951 00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:57.000 lunches and the dinners and the hangouts. And, like, we've 952 00:43:57.480 --> 00:43:59.019 seen it grow over the years, Tom. Now we've gone 953 00:43:59.039 --> 00:44:01.750 three years now together. And then you guys, Emily and Tom. 954 00:44:02.179 --> 00:44:04.190 Gus have been on two in a row now, or 955 00:44:04.349 --> 00:44:05.829 in a row as far as Tom. I always count 956 00:44:05.869 --> 00:44:07.380 them as when Tom is there in a row. 957 00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:09.840 The rest of them don't matter, man. The rest of 958 00:44:09.860 --> 00:44:10.300 them don't matter. 959 00:44:10.320 --> 00:44:12.250 To me, last year was whenever Tom was here last, right? 960 00:44:12.559 --> 00:44:15.159 But we've seen not just Sterling Fest grow, but our 961 00:44:15.179 --> 00:44:17.340 group grow. We all kind of click and connect. We 962 00:44:17.360 --> 00:44:20.610 absorb other people along the way. And that's just been 963 00:44:20.630 --> 00:44:23.250 great because we're taking over whole restaurants now. We show 964 00:44:23.289 --> 00:44:25.710 up and it's great. So just so much camaraderie there 965 00:44:25.750 --> 00:44:28.550 that builds. And that's why we look forward to this 966 00:44:28.590 --> 00:44:31.610 for that as well. That fellowship and friendship and camaraderie 967 00:44:31.659 --> 00:44:33.900 outside of just the program for the festival. 968 00:44:34.300 --> 00:44:36.239 I actually heard from a number of people. I said, 969 00:44:36.260 --> 00:44:37.960 are you going to come next year? And they're like, well, 970 00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:40.599 we're going to have to see. But even if Tom 971 00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:42.920 doesn't come... we're going to come hang out with each other. 972 00:44:42.940 --> 00:44:45.360 So I think you've built a community, Tom. I think 973 00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:47.570 you deserve some credit for that. It's pretty neat. 974 00:44:47.869 --> 00:44:48.489 Thank you, man. 975 00:44:48.750 --> 00:44:50.809 I think when we were at the restaurant last night 976 00:44:51.389 --> 00:44:54.090 and we just sort of commandeered the whole of

the 977 00:44:54.150 --> 00:45:00.550 front of the restaurant, I did take a moment to 978 00:45:00.610 --> 00:45:03.619 kind of sit and reflect on that and just look 979 00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:06.159 at all the stuff that was going on, all the 980 00:45:06.219 --> 00:45:09.119 conversations that people were having, people who hadn't met before. 981 00:45:09.690 --> 00:45:12.690 people who, you know, I'm good friends with now because 982 00:45:12.730 --> 00:45:15.829 of this. And it was just all happening. And, you know, 983 00:45:17.010 --> 00:45:18.889 so I didn't shed a tear or anything, but I 984 00:45:18.949 --> 00:45:21.860 must admit to feeling just very kind of warm about 985 00:45:21.900 --> 00:45:24.639 the whole thing. And it was really nice to see. 986 00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:30.139 You know, I don't make any kind of apologies for 987 00:45:30.179 --> 00:45:34.650 saying this. I mean, today we went to a recreation park, 988 00:45:35.070 --> 00:45:37.820 there was some stuff going on around the statue. I 989 00:45:37.900 --> 00:45:41.420 nipped out yesterday morning, I think, early on to just 990 00:45:41.460 --> 00:45:44.920 go to the statue because we're staying quite close by. 991 00:45:44.940 --> 00:45:48.659 And I've got to say, whenever I go and see 992 00:45:48.699 --> 00:45:52.710 that thing for the first time, I do get just 993 00:45:53.909 --> 00:46:00.210 a little verklempt. I think there's a power to that. 994 00:46:00.389 --> 00:46:03.929 And because we were there when it was unveiled and everything, 995 00:46:04.289 --> 00:46:08.409 approaching it again two years later, I thought it was 996 00:46:08.449 --> 00:46:09.570 quite a special moment. 997 00:46:09.610 --> 00:46:10.570 How do you guys feel? 998 00:46:11.349 --> 00:46:11.570 Agreed. 999 00:46:11.610 --> 00:46:14.550 I mean, we've seen photos from people very kindly send 1000 00:46:14.650 --> 00:46:17.469 us photos when they have been and then they tag 1001 00:46:17.489 --> 00:46:18.969 you in it and that sort of thing. So we 1002 00:46:19.010 --> 00:46:21.639 have seen it again over the years. But yes, there's 1003 00:46:21.679 --> 00:46:24.860 something about being next to it, touching it, you know, 1004 00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:28.760 physically being there that is just really special. And like 1005 00:46:28.800 --> 00:46:31.300 you say, because we were there for the unveiling as well, 1006 00:46:31.420 --> 00:46:33.219 kind of feels like we're growing with it too. 1007 00:46:33.239 --> 00:46:33.320 Yeah. 1008 00:46:34.719 --> 00:46:39.440 Do I remember correctly that the inscribed stones were not 1009 00:46:39.619 --> 00:46:42.320 there on the unveiling, but they are now? 1010 00:46:42.739 --> 00:46:43.219 Yeah. 1011 00:46:43.300 --> 00:46:45.159 That was cool. It was nice to see our stones. 1012 00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:49.320 Yeah, because either Tom's or other individual stones that our 1013 00:46:49.360 --> 00:46:52.099 friends have and just seeing all them there,

it's fun 1014 00:46:52.119 --> 00:46:54.179 to go, oh, look, there's the brick for so-and-so. There's 1015 00:46:54.219 --> 00:46:57.340 the brick for so-and-so. We are the Twilight Zone listeners 1016 00:46:57.900 --> 00:46:59.519 and family, whatever you call it, in your stone. So 1017 00:46:59.539 --> 00:47:01.960 we're included in the brick, too. Everyone listening to this 1018 00:47:02.019 --> 00:47:03.659 is included in that brick, Tom's brick. 1019 00:47:04.039 --> 00:47:04.219 Yeah. 1020 00:47:04.690 --> 00:47:09.210 So today, you know, there was people talking. Some of 1021 00:47:09.230 --> 00:47:12.130 the foundation said a few things. It was very loose 1022 00:47:12.190 --> 00:47:17.269 kind of informal end to things and just mingling and 1023 00:47:17.289 --> 00:47:19.760 getting to say goodbye. So it was, you know, just 1024 00:47:19.800 --> 00:47:22.000 a really nice way to cap things off. So I 1025 00:47:22.059 --> 00:47:24.480 think how we should cap things off is we'll just 1026 00:47:24.500 --> 00:47:27.920 go around the table and everyone, you know, it's hard 1027 00:47:27.960 --> 00:47:31.179 to say favorites, but a standout moment for you at 1028 00:47:31.219 --> 00:47:31.980 Sailing Fest. 1029 00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:35.079 Honestly, I'm going to be really boring when I say 1030 00:47:35.119 --> 00:47:37.440 it was about us getting together. You know, the Serling 1031 00:47:37.480 --> 00:47:39.300 Fest thing, the panels were wonderful. 1032 00:47:39.320 --> 00:47:40.019 They always are. 1033 00:47:40.079 --> 00:47:42.469 They always come up with fresh ideas for things, for 1034 00:47:42.489 --> 00:47:44.690 the panels, for questions and people that they're going to 1035 00:47:44.730 --> 00:47:47.409 bring in here. And for a show that is as 1036 00:47:47.489 --> 00:47:50.110 old as the Twilight Zone is, you would expect that 1037 00:47:50.130 --> 00:47:51.769 to be tough, right? You would expect it to be 1038 00:47:51.789 --> 00:47:54.150 really difficult to still get people who, A, want to 1039 00:47:54.219 --> 00:47:56.300 talk about it or happy to go and do a panel. 1040 00:47:57.059 --> 00:47:59.210 And they still manage to do that every year. So 1041 00:47:59.230 --> 00:48:02.909 the panels are incredible. But us getting together, you know, 1042 00:48:03.710 --> 00:48:05.730 such a testament to what a lovely group of people 1043 00:48:05.750 --> 00:48:08.750 the podcast has created. You know, people bring their spouses 1044 00:48:08.829 --> 00:48:11.369 now and don't even think anything of it. And they 1045 00:48:11.389 --> 00:48:15.320 just get brought into the fold of friends that we've made. So, yeah, 1046 00:48:15.820 --> 00:48:18.679 us all getting together is definitely the highlight, I think, 1047 00:48:18.719 --> 00:48:19.019 for me. 1048 00:48:20.400 --> 00:48:23.320 No, I second and co-sign everything you said there. I mean, 1049 00:48:23.360 --> 00:48:26.869 that is the intangibility of these. of these of these

1050 00:48:26.929 --> 00:48:29.829 festivals and conferences just all everything that exists outside the 1051 00:48:29.869 --> 00:48:32.570 margins it's great but look i'm gonna be uh i'm 1052 00:48:32.590 --> 00:48:34.650 gonna be complimentary to you tom whenever you do the 1053 00:48:34.670 --> 00:48:36.800 panel man that's my favorite thing because i know because 1054 00:48:36.840 --> 00:48:38.280 i see the journey of you like you're working hard 1055 00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:40.300 to do it you know and so much so much 1056 00:48:40.360 --> 00:48:41.760 effort you put into this and then you're up on 1057 00:48:41.820 --> 00:48:45.079 stage and you know i've done podcasts too and it's 1058 00:48:45.119 --> 00:48:46.480 like i know how much work it takes and to 1059 00:48:46.500 --> 00:48:48.599 be in the hot seat there where it's live like 1060 00:48:48.619 --> 00:48:50.639 you're you're doing yeah you have notes and things you're 1061 00:48:50.659 --> 00:48:53.019 referencing but there's you know 100 people or plus whatever 1062 00:48:53.039 --> 00:48:54.780 watching you and you know you got to keep moving 1063 00:48:54.820 --> 00:48:56.679 and And, you know, you did great, and it was 1064 00:48:56.760 --> 00:49:00.800 very smooth, as always, as is your brand. But then 1065 00:49:00.820 --> 00:49:03.510 to hear the crowd reaction and everything and, you know, 1066 00:49:03.530 --> 00:49:06.210 the applause and to people just, you know, you had 1067 00:49:06.250 --> 00:49:08.289 a slight Q & A afterward and had some fun 1068 00:49:08.309 --> 00:49:10.429 back and forth with people. And it was one guy's– 1069 00:49:10.429 --> 00:49:13.679 his favorite episode was The Mass, and he didn't even 1070 00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:16.199 know that was– I mean, wow what a lucky uh 1071 00:49:16.380 --> 00:49:18.760 synchronicity for that guy right uh so anyway that that 1072 00:49:18.780 --> 00:49:20.619 was just great to see and and to have listened 1073 00:49:20.639 --> 00:49:22.079 to the podcast for so long and to see you 1074 00:49:22.099 --> 00:49:24.059 just do it live and it was very rewarding so 1075 00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:25.300 i'm gonna i'm gonna go with that i know it's 1076 00:49:25.320 --> 00:49:26.679 an easy answer here that i'm on the podcast with 1077 00:49:26.699 --> 00:49:28.369 you but that's gonna be my answer thank you man 1078 00:49:28.409 --> 00:49:28.969 so good luck. 1079 00:49:28.849 --> 00:49:32.190 Guys following well i'll agree with what everybody's saying but 1080 00:49:32.230 --> 00:49:34.530 i mean uh it's funny i was having a conversation 1081 00:49:34.590 --> 00:49:36.610 with my wife after one of the days telling her 1082 00:49:36.630 --> 00:49:39.610 about all the interactions i'd had with people and swapping 1083 00:49:39.650 --> 00:49:42.969 stories and, you know, sharing favorite things. And she's like, well, Gus, 1084 00:49:43.050 --> 00:49:45.789 you found your people. And I was like, that's great. 1085 00:49:45.809 --> 00:49:50.079 I can see them once every two years. But honestly, 1086 00:49:50.360 --> 00:49:52.340 I had a really nice moment just this morning. I 1087 00:49:52.460 --> 00:49:54.960 woke up, left the hotel, went to the park and 1088 00:49:54.980 --> 00:50:00.000 just kind of walked through alone, quiet, you know, cold, cool, nice, 1089 00:50:00.039 --> 00:50:04.019 cool air. It wasn't quite raining, but strolled up to 1090 00:50:04.059 --> 00:50:07.150 the carousel, got to see that there. And then to 1091 00:50:07.170 --> 00:50:09.130 the statue. And it was just like, just being here, 1092 00:50:09.170 --> 00:50:14.070 just being where Rod came from. And just being around 1093 00:50:14.090 --> 00:50:17.369 so many like-minded people is just wonderful. I feel like 1094 00:50:17.409 --> 00:50:21.570 the whole thing was just a really nice respite and 1095 00:50:21.590 --> 00:50:23.190 a wonderful event. I had a great time. 1096 00:50:23.469 --> 00:50:24.130 Yeah, yeah. 1097 00:50:25.260 --> 00:50:27.539 I'm not sure I can say anything massively different from 1098 00:50:27.599 --> 00:50:28.579 what anyone has said. 1099 00:50:28.599 --> 00:50:33.860 But why is Rod Sterling so relevant? Tell us. But 1100 00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:35.559 I kind of. 1101 00:50:37.079 --> 00:50:41.380 It's sort of bittersweet in a way because there's, I mean, 1102 00:50:41.519 --> 00:50:44.119 I'm sat around the table with three of them here 1103 00:50:44.280 --> 00:50:48.449 and we also have an observer over in the corner 1104 00:50:48.760 --> 00:50:51.670 who are people that if it were not for geography, 1105 00:50:51.769 --> 00:50:53.769 I would spend a lot more time with, you know? 1106 00:50:54.909 --> 00:50:57.170 So it's lovely to get to do it. It's kind 1107 00:50:57.210 --> 00:51:02.969 of bittersweet to leave. But I think from the perspective 1108 00:51:03.329 --> 00:51:06.739 of my last one being such a disaster, like I 1109 00:51:06.780 --> 00:51:10.739 said at the beginning of the episode, this one was 1110 00:51:10.780 --> 00:51:14.000 just about hanging out and talking with people. For me, 1111 00:51:14.559 --> 00:51:16.480 there might be times when I'll come back and be 1112 00:51:16.519 --> 00:51:19.780 like hustling for the interviews and things like that, but 1113 00:51:19.820 --> 00:51:23.239 I just wanted to enjoy being around people. And for 1114 00:51:23.300 --> 00:51:27.219 every person who came over and said, I listened to 1115 00:51:27.260 --> 00:51:30.889 the podcast or I'm going to listen to the podcast 1116 00:51:31.510 --> 00:51:34.320 from you being here. I just want to say, I, I, 1117 00:51:35.030 --> 00:51:37.510 truly appreciate that because you know that's what I do 1118 00:51:37.590 --> 00:51:41.590 it for if I have ever made someone's day better 1119 00:51:42.150 --> 00:51:44.389 from them just being able to listen to me for 1120 00:51:44.389 --> 00:51:48.590 45 minutes then what better gift to get that feedback 1121

00:51:48.630 --> 00:51:52.070 from people and for the foundation to kind of put 1122 00:51:52.110 --> 00:51:55.639 that framework in place for us all to get together 1123 00:51:55.679 --> 00:51:59.940 in this way pretty amazing so the highlight was really 1124 00:51:59.980 --> 00:52:03.829 just talking to people whether it's you guys or the 1125 00:52:03.869 --> 00:52:08.010 other friends that I've made through doing it or new friends, uh, 1126 00:52:08.050 --> 00:52:11.130 who have met, it was a great event. And, um, 1127 00:52:12.230 --> 00:52:13.869 and I'm so glad I came this year and I'm 1128 00:52:13.889 --> 00:52:15.719 glad you were all here for it as well. 1129 00:52:15.800 --> 00:52:16.099 Absolutely. 1130 00:52:16.119 --> 00:52:17.860 No, I can follow up on that as far as you, 1131 00:52:17.940 --> 00:52:20.559 you just talking to people, right? I mean, the, uh, the, 1132 00:52:20.659 --> 00:52:22.519 as we said, the venue is a little bit different, right? 1133 00:52:22.539 --> 00:52:24.440 So the double tree. So that, so the vendor room 1134 00:52:25.019 --> 00:52:27.119 was just a quantum leap of improvement from where they 1135 00:52:27.139 --> 00:52:31.369 were before. It's a theater. It's a beautiful theater. And it's, it's, uh, 1136 00:52:31.690 --> 00:52:33.530 It's a beautiful building, and we love the auditorium there, 1137 00:52:33.889 --> 00:52:36.739 but the vendor room there, it's no windows, it's small, 1138 00:52:36.760 --> 00:52:38.599 so it's not a lot of place that people wanted 1139 00:52:38.619 --> 00:52:40.320 to hang out and talk. Like, oh, okay, let me 1140 00:52:40.679 --> 00:52:42.159 check out the merch, and okay, let me talk to 1141 00:52:42.179 --> 00:52:43.469 so-and-so for a minute. Okay, then I'm going to go 1142 00:52:43.860 --> 00:52:47.340 This vendor room, right? It's five times as big. There's windows. 1143 00:52:47.400 --> 00:52:49.099 It's well lit. There's plenty of space for everyone to 1144 00:52:49.119 --> 00:52:49.599 come and congregate. 1145 00:52:49.659 --> 00:52:52.260 It's right next to the door to the event, to 1146 00:52:52.280 --> 00:52:52.679 the speakers. 1147 00:52:52.699 --> 00:52:54.380 So that is a massive improvement. I think that led 1148 00:52:54.420 --> 00:52:56.460 to a lot of the conversations. And I know for 1149 00:52:56.519 --> 00:52:58.280 all of us, it's very fulfilling to see Tom there 1150 00:52:58.300 --> 00:53:00.139 and everybody kind of swarming around him and talking, I 1151 00:53:00.159 --> 00:53:01.480 love your show and all the things you were describing. 1152 00:53:01.739 --> 00:53:03.480 That's very fulfilling for us to see because we know 1153 00:53:03.519 --> 00:53:05.099 how hard you work behind the scenes on it and 1154 00:53:05.500 --> 00:53:09.260 getting that gratification. So that's a great thing. So Sterling 1155 00:53:09.300 --> 00:53:12.940 Fest has continued to expand, improve. it's the biggest one 1156 00:53:12.960 --> 00:53:15.400 they've had yet, and hopefully greater things to come in 1157 00:53:15.420 --> 00:53:15.949 the future for it. 1158 00:53:16.119 --> 00:53:18.190 Yeah. Great. Okay. 1159 00:53:18.329 --> 00:53:21.550 Well, I think I will leave it there. And there 1160 00:53:21.570 --> 00:53:24.230 may be more Sailing Fest content coming up. I just 1161 00:53:24.269 --> 00:53:26.269 need to check whether I can use a couple of things. 1162 00:53:26.329 --> 00:53:29.250 But watch this space. We will see. We will see. 1163 00:53:29.329 --> 00:53:33.989 But in the meantime, thank you to everybody who organized 1164 00:53:34.010 --> 00:53:39.739 Sailing Fest, the Rod Sailing Memorial Foundation, the president, Nick Parisi, 1165 00:53:40.739 --> 00:53:44.809 Jeff Serling, a major driving force behind it now. And 1166 00:53:44.989 --> 00:53:46.929 everyone who had a hand in it, thank you so much. 1167 00:53:47.829 --> 00:53:49.590 And we will speak to you soon. 1168 00:53:49.969 --> 00:53:50.429 Bye for now. 1169 00:53:50.429 --> 00:54:08.780 © transcript Emily Beynon