Interviews Archives — Geek Girls Universe

April 15, 2024April 15, 2024

S4E18: X-MEN 97 JP Karliak Interview

To me, my X-Men! It’s time for our JP Karliak Interview! Today we are talking with JP Karliak, uber talented voice actor who is currently the voice of Morph in the new series X-Men 97, now streaming on Disney+.

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X-MEN 97 KP Karliak Interview

Relating to Morph

JP: On a very concrete level, Morph is nonbinary, I identify as genderqueer. But also because Morph is somebody that has experienced so much trauma and [pushes] through it with humor. That is something that I definitely identify with and I think a lot of queer people do. I think that’s very much a part of our stories. I think being in a crew of outsiders feeling a little bit like the outsider […] there is sometimes that feeling I think resonates with people, queer or otherwise, of feeling like somebody who’s the odd person out [on] the team.

For me, it is of paramount importance that a queer kid or a queer person would watch that show and feel uplifted to see a positive representation of a queer superhero. In a way, it’s also important to me that a cis or, hetero human watches this and feels some human connection to this character, even though they have an identity that they don’t personally identify with, or they don’t understand, or it’s new to them, or might feel alien in a way. It’s nice to have people have that sort of nice bond with a character that identifies that way.

RELATED: X-Men 97 Review

Wishlist for Morph’s Future in X-Men 97

JP: I love Morph’s dynamic with Wolverine. I actually would love to see their friendship explored more. We’ve all seen [that] people have said, “Oh the shower scene!” I’m like, hold your roll, guys. I think there’s some beauty in celebrating a queer straight friendship. It doesn’t have to be the queer person pining after the straight person. I don’t know if you need that. So I’d love to see that more. But I would love to see Morph maybe have a romantic interest of his own. Who? I don’t know, but that would be great. I’d love to see him just beat the crap out of Mr. Sinister, just a full-on melee. I don’t know if that’s gonna happen, but it’d be fun. Is any of that going to happen? I don’t know. But I hope so.

Listen to the complete interview below!

About X-Men 97

27 years after X-Men: The Animated Series ended, X-Men 97 picks up right where it left off. Picking up some months after Professor X’s death, Cyclops (Ray Chase) has become the default leader in Charles’ absence. But the world still doesn’t trust the mutants, so the team must face organizations bent on destroying them as well as dealing with the unexpected return of Magneto (Matthew Waterson).

*This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

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February 20, 2024February 21, 2024

S4E17: House of Ninjas Director Dave Boyle Interview

House of Ninjas Director Dave Boyle Interview! Today we are talking with Dave Boyle the director and co-writer of the new Netflix series House of Ninjas. This exciting, action-packed show is now streaming on Netflix.

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House of Ninjas Director Dave Boyle Interview

Dave was brought in to direct and write the show bible for House of Ninjas, a project that star Kento Kaku had put together. When Dave was approached with the project, as soon as they mentioned ninjas he was in. And we agreed, how can you say no to a ninja show?

What it was like working with Kento to bring the show to life: “I just got a call out of the blue, I guess, three years ago from my friend who’d worked at Netflix. He just asked me “Hey, you, like ninjas?” And I was like, Yeah. I mean, who doesn’t like ninjas? And he told me that Kento had brought this project to them, this concept, and they were looking for a take on it…I pitched some ideas for it [and] they decided to have me write the show bible. I did that. And then the next thing I knew, they were moving ahead with it. Now, me directing was still sort of an open question…But then it was Kento, who sort of really pushed for [it]…So yeah, I love the guy.”

The season ends with a big reveal. So you know we had to see if we could learn anything about the possibility of a second season. Spoiler alert- if you want it to happen BINGE BINGE BINGE. And then tell your friends to do the same!

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About House of Ninjas

Ninjas existed throughout many pivotal times in Japanese history — but what if they were still secretly undertaking missions in modern society? Set in today’s Japan, this series tells the story of the Tawara family, the last ninja clan who abandoned their roots after a mission gone wrong. Now, an unprecedented crisis beckons the family back into action.

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February 15, 2024February 15, 2024

S4E15: Welcome Home Franklin Interview

Welcome Home Franklin Interview. Today we are talking with director Raymond S. Persi plus co-writers Craig Schulz and Robb Armstrong of the new Peanuts special Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home Franklin.

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Welcome Home Franklin Interview

To us, Franklin has always been a part of the Peanuts crew. It wasn’t until this special that we realized that wasn’t always the case. We also didn’t know Franklin had a namesake, which we feel is such a cool story and something a lot of people don’t know. Can you share a little bit about that?

Robb Armstrong: I met Sparky Schulz when I was very new…we were both with United Feature Syndicate back then. And I thought, this is gonna be great. I’m gonna get to meet, you know, Charles Schulz. So I told my editor…I said, Hey, Sarah, can you introduce me to Charles Schulz, please? She said, What? I said, I want to meet him. He’s my hero.

I sent him one of my first comic strips and I met him about a year and a half later…that comic strip is in a frame in his office above his desk. I thought I was seeing things…He said, Robb, Jumpstart has what Peanuts has– great characters.

One day he called in 1994 and he said, “You busy?..I need a favor. You know that Franklin’s got no last name? {…} How would you feel if I gave him your last name?” You guys that’s if you’re an actor or something, that’s like Spielberg leaning in “How would you feel…”

On the Franklin origin story: “The final product is stunning, it’s exquisite…these guys, Craig and Raymond, Bryan, Schulz’s grandson and Neil Uliano, I’m so humbled to be a part of something this superb and exquisite honestly.”

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Listen to the complete interview below!

About Welcome Home Franklin

The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, Franklin, follows how he approaches making new friends. Franklin’s family is always on the move with his dad’s military job, and everywhere he goes Franklin finds support in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice on friendship. But when Franklin tries his usual strategies with the Peanuts gang, he has trouble fitting in. That’s until he learns about the neighborhood Soap Box Derby race – according to his grandfather, everyone loves a winner! He’s sure that winning the race will also mean winning over some new friends. All he needs is a partner, which he finds in Charlie Brown. Franklin and Charlie Brown work together to build a car and in the process become good buddies. But as the race nears, the pressure mounts – can their car and their newfound friendship make it to the finish line?

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October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

S4E13: Director Raymond Persi Interview

Director Raymond Persi Interview! We recently had the chance to sit down with director, animator, and all-around great person Raymond Persi to learn more about his latest– Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marci. It along with other great Peanuts content is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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Director Raymond Persi Interview

What was it about Marci that made you sign on? Did you relate to her or do you just really love the character?

Raymond: I got really excited when I saw this script. First of all, because she’s such an interesting character. I think it’s easy to think she’s just sort of this quiet little kid that doesn’t say much. But if you look at the strips, she may not say much, but sometimes when she does, it can be kind of biting. So she’s got a little bit of snark to her, which I thought was fun. The other thing I thought was exciting was to write a story and make your main character someone who doesn’t want to be the main character.

You worked with an introvert expert for this special. How did that process work?

Raymond: [Our specialist] pointed out first of all that there’s many different kinds of introverts. Certain traits that we maybe attribute to introverts is not really part of being an introvert, like being afraid of crowds and things like that. He made us also think about the positives of being an introvert. When you’re someone who’s an introvert, it means that you want to take time to think before you act. So you might have a better solution than someone that just wants to jump in. It helped us kind of start to shape the script a little bit more to show how those aspects of Marci are really good things too.

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If Raymond sounds familiar it’s because he is also the voice of everyone’s favorite Sloth. That’s right he is Flash from Zootopia! Naturally, we talked about that DMV scene for a second because after all it lives rent-free in all of our minds.

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About One-of-a-Kind Marci

In “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” fans can see how Marcie, makes a monumental difference from behind the scenes both for her friends and her community. Marcie has many brilliant ideas to help those around her, but she would rather help without any spotlight. When she’s unexpectedly elected class president, sharing those ideas becomes a challenge.

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September 19, 2023September 19, 2023

S4E12: José Hernández & Alejandra Márquez Abella Interview

José Hernández & Alejandra Márquez Abella Interview! We recently had the chance to speak with director Alejandra Márquez Abella and NASA flight engineer José Hernández, whose life is the subject of the film A Million Miles Away. A Million Miles Away is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

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We stand with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

José Hernández & Alejandra Márquez Abella Interview

A Million Miles Away

Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives, and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive & determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal.

José Hernández & Alejandra Márquez Abella Interview

I know that your story has been out there for a while and people have tried to make your story but it was just never the right time. So what was it about this time that made you say yes?

José: It was all about the people who wanted to make it. The folks that approached me [were from a] film house called Select Films, run by Mark Ciardi, executive producer of our movie. They had just finished doing McFarland USA, they had done Million Dollar Arm, and Secretariat. So they had a nice pedigree of doing films that were inspirational. That’s when I realized this is the film house where my story can be told the way I wanted it to be told.

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It wouldn’t be a movie about becoming an astronaut without a training montage. Did you also work with NASA? Was that an actual training ground?

Alejandra: No, we built a set. We shot the whole film in Mexico around Mexico City or in Mexico City. We went to this humongous pool in Mexico City and we recreated the whole training. Which was more than challenging because we had to actually have people who could, you know, arrange that stunt and actually do that as they would do in a military facility. [It’s] a very sophisticated piece of training. It was fun, challenging, and long.

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July 26, 2023September 16, 2023

S4E11: Mutant Mayhem Cast Interview

Mutant Mayhem Cast Interview! We recently had the chance to talk with the stars of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film Mutant Mayhem. TMNT Mutant Mayhem is coming to theaters August 2.

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This interview happened prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Mutant Mayhem Cast Interview

We asked Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michaelangelo), Brady Noon (Raphael), and Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo) the important questions. You know like what is their favorite thing about their characters, how familiar were they with the turtles before making the movie… oh and the most important question of all– PIZZA TOPPINGS.

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Which one of the guys likes veggie pizza toppings like Jana? Or mushrooms like Ashley? You’ll have to listen to find out. Being two geeks we could relate to Micah sharing how much he loves Donatello’s nerdy side. An anime fan? Yes please! Plus we may have felt a little old realizing how much they didn’t know about the classic Secret of the Ooze.

About Mutant Mayhem

So they devise a plan to win the hearts of New Yorkers. But soon they must use their ninja skills for something other than making videos. Along with their new friend, April O’Neil, they team up to take on a mysterious crime syndicate. However they are in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed.

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July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

S4E10: Interview Adele Lim Talks Joy Ride

Adele Lim talks Joy Ride! We recently had the chance to talk with the hilarious and amazing Adele Lim about her film Joy Ride. Not only did Adele direct the film but she is also one of the co-writers. Joy Ride is a wickedly naughty road trip adventure that is both genuinely funny while also being heartfelt. Joy Ride is coming July 28^th to Premium Video-On-Demand.

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This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Interview Adele Lim Talks Joy Ride

Joy Ride had both of us in tears from laughing so hard. Naturally that meant one of the questions we had for Adele was how in the world she got through the takes without laughing. Apparently, that may have been the toughest part of the job. In fact, one scene, in particular, was hard to film and did not make it into the movie. Just wait until you hear why!

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About Joy Ride

Growing up as the only Chinese American girls in their town, Audrey and Lolo have been best friends since childhood. Audrey, an adoptee from China, grew up to be an overachiever on her way to becoming a big-shot lawyer. Lolo, a free-spirited artist, is the exact opposite of Audrey. When Audrey is asked to travel to China by her firm to close a deal, Lolo goes to act as her translator, bringing along her cousin Deadeye. Once in China, they meet up with Audrey’s college best friend Kat, a famous actress who pretends to be someone she’s not. Although this is a work trip for Audrey, things go from professional to rowdy in ways none of them could have expected.

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May 26, 2023May 26, 2023

S4E9: Across The Spider-Verse Interview With The Stars

Ashley recently had the chance to talk all things Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse with the stars and filmmakers. You read that right. She was joined by Hailee Steinfeld, Shameik Moore, Lord & Miller, Issa Rae, and Daniel Kaluuya for one epic Spider-Verse interview.

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Across The Spider-Verse Interview With The Stars

Just when he reunited with his friend, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse. There he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. However, when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders. He must soon redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is in for another mind-blowing experience.

Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse is EVERYTHING. We weren’t sure how they could touch let alone top the original but they did it. This very talented group have come together to make one of the best CBM ever.

Daniel and Issa are new to this world and shared a little bit about their characters. Hailee and Shameik are as thrilled as we are to be back in this world. The icons Lord & Miller shared some non spoilery fun facts to keep in mind when watching the film.

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Who is your favorite Spider-Person in Spider-Verse?

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May 26, 2023May 26, 2023

S4E7: Dungeons and Dragons Interview- Directors & Producer

We recently had the chance to sit down for another Dungeons and Dragons interview, this time with directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley as well as producer Jeremy Latcham. Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is available now on Premium Video-On-Demand and Digital HD.

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Dungeons and Dragons Interview

Honor Among Thieves picks up two years after Edgin (Chris Pine), an ex-Harper turned thief and his best friend Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), a barbarian, have been imprisoned for attempting to steal gold and a magical artifact. The two successfully escape and make their way back to Edgin’s daughter Kira (Chloe Coleman). However, she isn’t happy to see him, since his old friend Forge (Hugh Grant) has filled her head with the lie that Edgin values wealth over her. Edgin and Holga recruit old and new friends–the sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), druid Doric (Sophia Lillis), and paladin Xenk (Regé-Jean Page) to help them retrieve an artifact that will save Kira and everyone else in Neverwinter from Sofina (Daisy Head), a Red Wizard of Thay.

Whether you are a fan of the game or not, this film is an epic adventure that is sure to entertain. It was fun to geek out with Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, and Jeremy Latcham over all the nerdy things in this film. Can you guess who has never played D&D out of the three? Also one of us hasn’t played it either!

Now that Honor Among Thieves is available to watch at home, there are a ton of bonus features available. We talked about their favorites, while Jeremy shared his love/hate with deleted scenes. It wouldn’t be us if we didn’t ask about easter eggs, because there were so many! And since we both really enjoyed it, we had to know if a sequel is possible.

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April 21, 2023April 22, 2023

S4E6: Interview With Director Leah Wolchok

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you know the author Judy Blume. Now streaming on Amazon Prime is Judy Blume Forever, a documentary that takes readers inside the life of Blume and her incredible works. We had the chance to sit down for an interview with director Leah Wolchok to learn more about the documentary and Judy Blume herself.

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Interview With Director Leah Wolchok

We both grew up reading Judy Blume’s books. Jana even shared a story about her own Blume moment that is sure to make Judy proud. So it was a pleasure to speak with one of the directors who set out to bring Judy’s incredible story to life.

We asked about what it was like working with the legendary author and if anything was surprising about her story. Spoiler, the surprising thing happens to be one of the most emotional aspects of the documentary.

And as crazy as it seems, book banning is once again making its rounds. Judy Blume has been there and done that. Fortunately, she has the wisdom to share with us all. Wolchock spoke on the timeliness of this documentary and what is happening to authors today.

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About Judy Blume Forever

Author Judy Blume changed the way millions of readers understood themselves, their sexuality, and what it meant to grow up. But her honesty led her to critical battles against book banning and censorship as many tried to silence her voice.

With humor, sensitivity, and a healthy dose of adolescent cringe, Judy Blume Forever tells the story of the woman whose trail-blazing books changed the way millions of readers understand themselves, their sexuality, and what it means to grow up.

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