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The groundbreaking science fiction series Battlestar Galactica was quickly hailed by fans and critics as one of the most interesting and entertaining series on television. Battlestar Galacticas visions and well executed themes about war, human rights and terrorism also had an unlikely fan, the United Nations! In March of this year the United Nations co-hosted a much talked about Battlestar Galactica panel at their headquarters. The panel was hosted by UN ambassador and huge Battlestar fan Whoopi Goldberg and the goal was to explore themes which are relevant to both the UN and the series – human rights, terrorism, children and armed conflict, and reconciliation between civilians and faiths. Stars and creators of the show, like Edward J Olmos and Ronald D Moore joined together with UN panelists such as Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict; Craig Mokhiber of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for an interesting discussion before an audience of UN representatives, journalists and high school students. The discussion serves as  the launch of the UNs Creative Community Outreach Initiative, in  which the UN will partner with the international film and television industries to raise awareness of global issues. The UN has already partnered with TV Law and Order and the movie Che! These new collaborations between organizations such as the UN and the entertainment industry to spread messages and understanding through popular culture is an interesting development and goes to show the importance of film and television in our lives today. I am very honored for this interview with Mr. Kiyo Akasaka, UN Under-Secretary-General for Public Information about the Battlestar panel and the role of popular culture in the UNs important work!

Link to UN webcasts and Battlestar panel:

http://www.un.org/webcast/SE2009.html

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Acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and director John Patrick Shanleys new movie Doubt is nominated for 5 Oscars on February 22nd and I am very honored that he took the time to talk to me in the midst of Oscar season craziness!
John Patrick Shanley already won the Oscar for his screenplay Moonstruck in 1987, the romantic comedy about an Italian American family starring Cher. He went on to write and direct the cult favorite Joe Versus the Volcano starring Tom Hanks and wrote the screenplay for the film Alive.
In 2005 Shanley was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award for his play Doubt A Parable. The story is set in a Catholic School in the Bronx and centers on a strict nun, the principal at the school, and the priest she fears is acting inappropriately with a student. Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis are all Oscar nominated for their work in the movie.
In the interview Shanley reflects on the making of the movie, his process and doubt in the age of Obama. For those of you have not seen Doubt, there may be some SPOILERS! Take a look at the movie trailer here;

Trailer: