The deadCenter 2021 film festival has always had a knack for finding the most memorable and emotionally satisfying documentaries of each year. In 2021, the festival played the heartwarming We Are Thousand, a story about amateur musicians gathering together in an Italian village to pay tribute to the Foo Fighters, and also Questlove’s upcoming documentary, Summer of Soul, which immortalizes 1969’s Harlem Cultural Festival, among many others. Today’s featured documentary is no exception because, in virtual space, nobody can hear you laugh.

Today’s exclusive deadCenter 2021 Film Festival Conversation conversation dives into one of the festival’s most exciting documentaries for any self-respecting cinephile, Alien on Stage. I’m joined by the storytellers who followed the amateur production of Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien, Danielle Kummer, and Lucy Harvey, to learn more about what inspired the troupe to adapt the classic sci-fi horror for the stage. The film is playing as part of the deadCenter 2021 virtual film festival until Sunday, June 20th at 11:45 PM CST.

More information about Alien on Stage can be found on the website, alienonstagedoc.com.

Special Guests

Danielle Kummer, director/editor of Alien on Stage

Follow Danielle on Twitter @daniellekummer

Lucy Harvey, director/producer of Alien on Stage

The official deadCenter 2021 synopsis describes Alien on Stage as:

This is a story about a unique crew of Dorset Bus Drivers whose amateur dramatics group decides to ditch doing another pantomime and try something different.Having never done anything like it before, they spent a year creating a serious adaptation of the sci-fi, horror film, Alien; finding ingenious solutions to pay homemade, homage to the original film.The show is a crushing flop but fate gives them a second chance to find their audience. Whilst still adjusting to the idea that their serious show is actually a comedy, the group find out they’re suddenly being whisked from their village hall to a London West End theatre to perform this accidental masterpiece for one night only.With wobbly sets, awkward acting, and special effects requiring ‘more luck than judgment’, will their West End debut be alright on the night? This bus driving crew is our space heroes. Their bus station is our space station. Dorset is outer-space and where is the Alien? It’s behind you!

When and Where to Watch Alien on Stage

Available now as part of the deadCenter 2021 Virtual Cinema until June 20th at 11:45 PM CST

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