Description
CHECK OUT OUR MERCH: https://www.redbubble.com/people/blinky500/shop?asc=u
In the distant future, in the outer reaches of space, an alien pod from an ancient civilization crash lands on the mysterious world known only as Planet-X. Desperate to return home, this strange visitor enlists the help of the Robot Queen's most loyal servant, the Space Ranger, to guide her out of the perilous forests of Sector Six.
A WORD FROM CHRIS
In 2023 I released ROBOT PRINCESS FROM PLANET-X, an ode to the atomic era of sci-fi cinema, and I absolutely fell in love with the concept, so much so, I ended up writing a full feature script, which I will hopefully one day make. However, since I do not have the patience to wait for that fateful day when I am showered with budget money, I decided to make a short follow up story to satiate my need to revisit Planet-X.
I wanted to further develop the canon I had already established from the first film, so naturally, the Robot Princess has now become Queen, and her rule over Planet-X is definitely different than her father's. As for the story, I decided to put the focus on a human falling to Planet-X, rather than the Robot Queen, since her arc was already completed in the first film. I felt centering around a human crashing to Planet-X and being viewed as an alien just seemed more interesting to me. The first film dealt with politics and clashing ideologies, so for the sequel, I wanted to have a little more action and classic peril.
I set the story in the forest as it would once again be the cheapest way to film without sacrificing quality. So long as there was a narratively good reason for the Space Ranger to be out there, it would work. I ended up writing in a new Space Ranger since I regrettably fell out of touch with my previous one, which is fine considering the emotional state the character was in at the end of the first film, it'd make sense if he retired in between stories. I felt that not having an existential crisis and just being content with his role in society was a good way to distinguish the new Space Ranger from his predecessor. For Dr. Judith Richards, I wanted to recapture that classic sass leading women of the silver screen use to have. It was fun writing that mid 20th century Americana charm for the character.
If you're a fan of classic sci-fi then you definitely picked up on my inspiration for the Robeasts. I knew I could not make this movie without them. I needed a monstrous threat and the Robeasts were exactly what the story called for. Something about that helmet mounted atop a ridiculous gorilla costume just screams peak 1950's sci-fi. As for Immodius, he was my ode to the classic sci-fi villain, the evil genius who is consumed by their own hubris. I just wanted that guy to be as over the top as possible.
Production lasted a day and half. One full day of filming on location in Griffith Park, and a couple of hours here and there in my studio for the bookend scenes with the Robot Queen. Just as I did with the first film, my goal was to make everything feel like it was made back then, which is no small task. Refraining from using my modern filming and editing styles is a real task, but the payoff is totally worth it. What I love most about these Planet-X stories is that they are pure fantasy, not meant to for overthinking. They are just fantastical stories meant to entertain, even if they don't make any sense.