Page Created: 09/25/10. Last Updated: 10/27/10. Last Google Group Page Update: 06/04/08.
JOE NAZZARO
Books:
Blake's 7: The Inside Story (with Sheelagh Wells)
The Creatures of Farscape: Inside Jim Henson's Creature Shop
The Making of Red Dwarf
Star Trek: Inside the Next Generation Makeup FX Journal (with Michael Westmore)
Writing for Science Fiction and Fantasy Television
MEETING SUMMARY:
Meeting Date: June 11, 2005.
Meeting Site: Borders Books & Music, Paramus, New Jersey.
Official Attendance: 25.
Meeting Program: Talk by non fiction media writer.
Notes:
Meeting Memories:
Newsletter Account:
The following account is reprinted with permission from THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Copyright 2005 Philip J De Parto:
The June 11, 2005 meeting of the Science Fiction Association was held at Borders Books & Music in the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. Journalist/author Joe Nazzaro was the guest speaker.
Vincent Carlucci led a lively gathering of the Final Frontier at 7:00 PM. The topic was a look back at the life and death of the STAR TREK franchise.
Journalist and author Joseph Nazzaro was the evening's speaker. Mr Nazzaro is the author or co-author of STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION MAKEUP FX JOURNAL;THE MAKING OF RED DWARF; BLAKE'S 7: THE INSIDE STORY; WRITING FOR SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY TELEVISION and THE CREATURES OF FARSCAPE: BEHIND THE SCENES AT JIM HENSON'S CREATURE SHOP. He has also written for a wide variety of genre media publications in the US and UK including FANGORIA, STARLOG, and many others.
Mr Nazzaro is a Bergen County native who got his start in science fiction by joining a now defunct New Jersey science fiction club devoted to the show DOCTOR WHO, The Jersey Jagaroth. In 1985 he suggested that the club newsletter run interviews with visiting celebrities. "Good idea," he was told, "Go do it!"
His first interview was with the producer of DOCTOR WHO. This was the perfect assignment as the producer not only gave a strong interview, but he also opened many doors for Mr Nazzaro in the coming years.
Our guest honed his interviewing technique by doing fan interviews for a number of years. Eventually he lost his mundane job. At that point his then girlfriend (later wife) suggested that Joe attempt to make a living as a media writer. She offered to support him for a couple of years while he tried to break into the business as a pro. The offer of financial assistance proved unnecessary as years of making contacts paid off. His first paying assignment was an interview with DOCTOR WHO / BLAKE'S 7 writer/director Terry Nation for a British DOCTOR WHO magazine.
Mr Nazzaro believes that two of the most important elements in conducting a successful interview are familiarity with the subject and in depth preparation. He keeps detailed notes from his past interviews and other sources. He is also a quick read and once read 15 books in a three week span as preparation for an interview with Terry Pratchett. Mr Nazzaro cringes at the lack of professionalism and preparation he has witnessed by many interviewers, especially those in the broadcast media.
Joe Nazzaro has lost track of how many interviews he has conducted over the years. He stopped counting after 1000. He has interviewed actors, artists, authors, composers, costumers, directors, fx technicians, producers, production people and more from books, comics, film, television and other media.
His resume lists interviews with members of over fifty shows, from ANGEL and BABYLON 5 to XENA and THE X-FILES. He has many warm memories of the cast and company of BABYLON 5 and considers them the most accommodating, gracious, and nicest of any series he visited.
Mr Nazzaro was warm and friendly, as well as being immensely informative. He divides his time between Bergen County and London, where his wife works as a television make up artist.