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The X-Files: I Want To Believe unveiled its theatrical trailer at New York Comic Con and, no surprise, it gives away absolutely nothing about the film. Total secrecy has been enforced from the word "go" on this project and when series creator and director Chris Carter and writer/producer Frank Spotnitz showed up at the Con to talk about the film, they acted at times like lawyers instead of science-fiction writers, parsing questions delicately, often answering in single sentences and sometimes answering a different question than the one asked in order to keep the mystery going. Still, though, they did do a lot of talking for two guys determined to say nothing and SuicideGirls was there to capture every word, both in the public panel discussion in the main hall and behind the scenes at the roundtables that preceded it. Read the interview and decide for yourself if the truth is out there.


Question: Where in The X-Files mythology does this movie fit?

Frank Spotnitz: It takes place in the present day six years after the series ended. It's not an alien mythology story; it's a stand-alone scary story focusing very much on Mulder and Scully, who they are and where they are with their lives. I'd say it's personal in a way the series rarely could be, because we were doing episodes of a series, not a movie. It's not quite like anything you've seen before, but it takes a lot of the best of the show and moves it into the future.

Question: What was the atmosphere like, with everyone reunited?

Chris Carter: It was a love fest. It really was. It was so hard doing the series for nine years. It was grueling work. So to be able to come and do this movie and not have to worry about episodes that need to be finished in the future was a luxury and I think it took a lot of the pressure off that we all felt during the series.

Question: Do you feel that a shorthand that develops between people that have worked together for nine years? Is it a family atmosphere?

CC: I've known David and Gillian for a quarter of my life, so yeah, there's a shorthand. We're like family. Sometimes dysfunctional, but family.

Question: Is there a possibility of Scully's family reappearing in the series?

CC: I'm gonna go on record here and say that Scully's family does not appear in this movie. That being said, there may be references to Scully's family.

Question: Do you feel like fan interaction has changed with the Internet? It's an outlet that's grown over the series.

CC: Yeah, The X-Files kind of grew up with the Internet and I think the fan presence has always been there and a direct connection to the fans, but because everyone is anonymous on the Internet it's not the same as having somebody come up and shake your hand. I actually have a great story. I've rarely told this story but I was at a Millennium function, during the premiere of Millennium, and a woman came up to me and said, "I want to tell you The X-Files was great and I want to tell you it also made the last year of my dad's life really sweet and he loved the show." And I said, "Who are you?" And she said "My name's Deana Martin, my dad's Dean Martin." It was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I never imagined I'd have a connection to Dean Martin.

Question: Frank, you've said that "The Truth is Out There" applies to finding a connection with another person out there, as opposed to something fantastical. How much does that theme carry over into the new film?

FS: I think that's the theme. For me, personally, that's the theme of The X-Files. That's the truth. It's not about aliens; it's about other people.

Question: There was a different political climate when the show was airing as opposed to now. How does that play in?

FS: Well, this isn't a government conspiracy movie, but I think the climate at the end of the show probably had something to do with the end of the show and times have changed again. While this is not a government conspiracy or a political movie in any way, it feels very much like it's taking place right now. That's kind of the most specific way I can answer it without talking about the story.

CC: I think we're living in pretty scary times right now myself. In a weird way we've come full-circle, back to where The X-Files started. My paranoia, if you will, came from my experience right around the time I graduated high school, with Watergate. If you can believe what you read in the news, we're in a time now when there are similar things to be worried about.

Question: How have Mulder and Scully kept in touch since the end of the series?

CC: They've been texting.

Question: If this was the last movie for The X-Files, would you consider moving it to another medium like a graphic novel?

FS: Actually, DC Comics and Wildstorm are launching a new line of The X-Files comics.

CC: Don't tell anyone!

Question: What do you want the fans to take away from this film?

FS: Hope.

CC: The trash under your seat.

Question: Will we ever find out what Clyde Bruckman meant when he said, "You don't?"

CC: That's an interesting question. I would actually defer to Darren Morgan, but I would have to say it would have to be someone speaking for Clyde Bruckman, because as you know, Peter Boyle died and will never play that character again unless we are clever enough to figure out how to do that. That's one of my favorite episodes and I love that it's left open-ended. It really represents the best of what The X-Files does, which is create wonder.

Question: What did you find most challenging and rewarding about making the film?

FS: I found three weeks in the snow the most challenging. I had the fattest fat suit on. It was embarrassing, actually, cause I looked like The Michelin Man while everyone else was dressed normally. I don't like the cold, so that was the most challenging part for me. The fan reaction has been the most rewarding thing, cause we didn't know what the reaction would be. We started working in a vacuum last year and it's been lovely not just to see people's excitement about the film but how much affection there is for the series.

CC: Ditto.

Question: Would it be harder to pitch The X-Files today and would you be interested in picking up the show again on cable?

CC: I don't know. I really don't know about continuing the series. It might not be the same without Mulder and Scully. David's obviously got a job on one of those cable networks and so I don't know what its life is in that format but I think if we're successful here, there certainly will be an opportunity to think about its life after this movie.

Question: Is it true you cut out a love scene in this film?

FS: That's a rumor the love scene that David and Gillian wanted cut from the movie, the steamy sex scene. Did we cut it? Did we film it?

CC: It's in there.

Question: In the last episode, why did Mulder see dead people?

CC: Mulder's really dead.

FS: Thanks, The Sixth Sense.

CC: I think that was a device to say there were things that reminded him of those characters. They weren't literally ghosts, but he was reminded of them. That's how I envisioned it.

Question: Did The X-Files ever scare you?

FS: It doesn't, actually. I have a strange reaction. I laugh when something is scary. I'm delighted when that happens. I think it comes from being desensitized to it after a while. I know something is horrifying if I'm amused by it.

CC: I'll answer that question too. It doesn't scare you because you're so deep inside of it. I have the same reaction as Frank; I get kind of giddy. There's something in the movie that is very, very scary and whenever I see it I find myself laughing and I wonder if people think that I'm strange.

Question: Will Frank Black be in the movie?

CC: I wish I could tell you yes, but I have to tell you no. That being said, I would love to work with Lance again and I talk to him about it all the time.

Question: Would you ever consider making Post-modern Prometheus into a movie? It's like a dream.

CC: No, but thank you for saying so. It's one of my favorite episodes if not my favorite episode of the show. It is like a dream. Maybe that's why I like it so much.

Question: What moment of the show do you think best defines The X-Files and the Mulder/Scully relationship?

CC: When he criticizes her for not reaching the peddles with her tiny little feet.

FS: For me, it's the little gestures of support they would give each other. The looks, the touching of hands, the unsaid things that were scripted but more than that, were things David and Gillian brought to the roles.

Question: Is there an underlying theology to your work?

FS: I don't think there's theology. I don't even think there's religion, per say. There's a sense of the unseen world and values, but Chris and I have very different views on this kind of thing. We find common ground in these stories, but there's meaning in life beyond what we can see. We share that conviction and it's a critical part of The X-Files, actually.

Question: Did you read any Internet fan fiction as inspiration for the love scene?

CC: This is a PG-13 movie. That stuff is way too racy. No, we did not, but I appreciate the fan fiction and the ongoing ... people are living much more hot and racy lives than I am.

Question: Could two real FBI agents get away with the stuff they get away with?

CC: I have friends at the FBI and I never asked them that question. They seem to go for it. They like it when I take them to dinner. It's a good question, I honestly don't know.

Question: Were either of you inspired by the late Arthur C. Clarke?




CC: Yes, I was inspired by his imagination and the uncanny way he actually predicted the future with his writing.

Question: Did you always have the idea for this story in mind or did it come to you after the series ended?

CC: It came to us after the series ended.

Question: What kind of new characters will we see in the new film?

FS: Well, there's Billy Connolly, a wonderful Scottish comedian who is not funny at all in this movie. Amanda Peet and Xzibit play FBI agents.

Question: Will we ever know who is the father of Scully's baby and the fate of Mulder's sister?

FS: There was an episode in season seven where Mulder came to the conclusion that she was dead and that's where we left it. And what was the other question? Oh, it's Mulder.

Question: Is Mitch Pileggi going to be in the movie?

CC: He's in the steamy love scene with Mulder and Scully.

Question: There's a description of the novelization for this film out, which gives a plot description. Can you at least tell us if that's legit?

FS: All I can tell you is that there's a lot of information on the Internet and that's the latest. There's a lot of speculation, stuff is planted, leaked and for our purposes all that speculation is perfect because we don't want anyone to trust anything they read on the Internet. We don't want the surprise spoiled, so I would say trust no one.

Question: What are the reasons for doing this project?

CC: We're doing this for the hard-core fans and we don't want to insult their intelligence, if that's what you're asking, so I think we walk a fine line. One of the other reasons we're doing this is to introduce the movie to a whole new audience, including kids who were maybe too young for the show. So I think we do both things. I hope to do both things.

Question: How much did you think about reasserting the old issues of the show?

FS: We thought really hard about that. The hard-core fans are important to us -- they're going to be the first ones in line and we wanted to honor their devotion to the show and be true to the characters, even though its not a mythology movie. Mulder and Scully are front and center with who they are and where they are in their lives. Their characters have been through a lot and they're a little older and we're a little older and we could connect pretty deeply to them and what they've been there.

Question: Chris, would you consider yourself a pessimist?

CC: No, I'm not a pessimist at all but I'm a realist.

Question: Which of you two is darker, thematically?

FS: I think The X-Files is hopeful.

CC: Yeah, I don't think it's a dark show, I think it's the opposite of that -- it deals with dark themes, but you can't measure darkness by light.

FS: I think the more in touch you are with the darkness, the more meaningful your hopefulness becomes.

Question: Does this movie give you closure for your universe or do you want to want to revisit it every couple of years?



FS: I went into this thinking this may be the last time we see Mulder and Scully, so let's make this a great movie and a great last ride with them, if that's what it's going to be, hoping it wouldn't be the last time. If it is the last movie then I'll feel really good about having this experience, but I had a great time doing this and I'd love to keep doing more. I think we could. They're great characters and it's a great source of stories.

Question: It must be daunting to consider leaving this world and going to new projects.

CC: Who would have imagined The X-Files would go nine, ten years -- they were ten of the most amazing years of my life. But then ten years have gone and you have to be careful not to devote yourself to something that is all-consuming. You need to balance your life.

FS: I was fortunate enough to appreciate The X-Files while it was going on, to be aware of its freakish success and how lucky I was to be part of that success. Most people never get to have a success like that in their careers in Hollywood. Just to have had one success like that, I count myself a lucky man. Everything I do now, I don't go in expecting The X-Files success. That will never happen again in my career. I just try to do good work and that's my satisfaction. Whether it's a popular or critical success is out of my hands. I just do the best job I can and its exciting, actually. Its fun to try new things and learn new things with new characters, but The X-Files was a singular experience.

Question: How do you keep too many influences from overwhelming you?

CC: I think you've got to be careful not to let too many influences get in the way of your instincts.

FS: We've talked about this before. As a writer, you have to have a big enough ego to think that what you say matters and people should listen to it and then be humble enough to take in what others are saying. There are things other people are telling you that are worth listening to and you'll do a better job if you do, but ultimately you've got to listen to yourself.

Question: Is there a big difference between directing for television and film?

CC: There's not that much of a difference. Different frame size and aspect ratio and the images are larger, but the crew is the same so its not dissimilar. You've got to be mindful that you've got larger images, beautifully lit, but beyond that actually this is one of the misconceptions about differences between TV and movies. It is essentially the same.

FS: I would say that The X-Files was always trying to be cinematic in a way other shows aren't trying. It was always a TV show trying to be a movie.

Question: What does the title signify?

CC: It's about wrestling with your faith, if you will, and your beliefs. It's not like all the sudden one day a light goes on and you suddenly believe something. Mother Teresa said she wrestled her whole life with her faith. It's like that.

Question: What have you learned about yourselves from The X-Files?

FS: It's endless. What I have learned and continue to learn. That's the gift of this show in my life. It's an amazing vehicle for storytelling. These are such smart and gifted actors and characters and they provide a way in. It's endless, the number of ideas and areas of life you can talk about. The thing I like about supernatural storytelling is that if you're going to depart from literal reality, there's got to be a reason for it. There's got to be an idea behind it. It's about ideas. I think that's why all these people are here today.


The X-Files: I Want To Believe opens in theaters everywhere on July 25. For more information, check out the official site.