by Daniel Andrade
After a successful inaugural year, SkySoft Fest (SSF) returned this year, once again virtually. The convention was compressed into one day instead of two this time around, but that didn’t mean it was any less exciting or full of excellent interviews and showcases. So what did you miss? Let’s discuss.
Much like last year, SSF opened with a greeting by some familiar faces from SkySoft. It was nice to see them and hear their voices again, and they made sure the event kicked off with good energy. Additionally, we were shown sneak peeks of some of SkySoft’s big upcoming projects, including Sherwood, Beast, Mayari, and American Malice. It was an exciting reminder that SkySoft still has many exciting things to offer for the future!
The first panel interview of the Fest was hosted by Monroe Hayden and focused on the women of SkySoft. Monroe talked with fellow SkySoft actresses Jade Vourkari, Sheana Turner, and Jorgie Mason. They talked so easily and smoothly with each other, and it was fun to see the wonderful rapport they shared with each other. They covered a lot of important topics, like how to balance work and life and how to deal with prejudice or bias. But they also had fun talking about favorite actresses and memories from on set. What was most exciting for me, as a viewer, was seeing a few faces we haven’t seen in quite a while, particularly Sheana and Jorgie, who had never worked together and were essentially meeting each other for the first time! But they fit into the panel and into the conversation so easily, it was like all the women had never spent any time apart.
This panel was followed by the other side of the coin in essence, with Daniel Andrade chatting with some of the men of SkySoft, Bryon Allen and Terrell Cooper. Much like in the previous panel, Bryon and Terrell also had no experience acting together, so this was their first meeting. However, they even mentioned that they may have known each other in a previous life because they chatted with great ease and chemistry. The men talked about what Hollywood could learn from a small film company like SkySoft, why it’s important to tell culturally diverse stories, and what lessons they learned from working with SkySoft. It was a fun panel full of enlightening moments that made me excited to see more of Bryon and Terrell in the future.
After that, the SkySoft Fest Podcast, which has audio versions of all the panels from both last year’s interviews and (by July 3rd) this year’s panels, released a special episode in which they talked to Barry Fitzgerald about the upcoming show American Malice. Barry introduced himself, talked about how he got started with SkySoft, the challenges of writing his first screenplay, and what it was like working with Monroe. He also talked about what inspired him to create the story of American Malice and why it’s important that the main character is asexual. It was a jam-packed conversation and served as a great preview of what to expect from Barry and from American Malice.
Meanwhile, back on the SSF website, we were treated once again to the sneak peek of Sherwood from last year’s Fest. For those that missed it, or who wanted to see it again, it was an excellent inside look into what kind of show Sherwood will be: one full of action, comedy, memorable characters, and a stunning location.
After that, we had one final panel, and it was a full one: we got to see a conversation with some of the cast of Beast! It was full of interesting insights into the story of Beast, the characters in the series and the diverse cast portraying them all, the real-life inspirations behind everything, and so much more. While we got some early information about Beast during the last Fest from both Bryon and Monroe, this was the first time we got to see the more of the cast, which now includes Terrell and Jorgie. Based on how they talked about the show and interacted with each other, it’s safe to say that this show will be unlike any other SkySoft has done so far!
Finally, the Fest concluded with a unique musical light show, Sky’s The Limit. It was a wonderful tribute to all the stories and characters that have brought joy and entertainment to us over the past five years and that we’ll get to know better in the near future! Each show was highlighted, and every character was spotlighted. This was done with all the soaring epic music you know and love from SkySoft, accented by a colorful light show that made each scene pop. What made it even more exciting was that it was screened by a live Zoom audience, so there were moments of applause and cheering that made some moments that much more thrilling. It was a wonderful retrospective and preview that really made me appreciate all that SkySoft has done and will continue to do. The wonderful 28-minute score is now available on the Music page of the SkySoft website, so make sure to listen to it!
All in all, SkySoft once again provided fans with a full day of exciting, memorable, and notable moments. If I had to pick a favorite, I would say mine was Sky’s The Limit due to the fantastic music and awesome lights. The good news is that, although you may not be able to see the panels again, thanks to the SkySoft Fest Podcast and the music page on the website, you can at least listen to everything from this year’s fest! Make sure you subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get ready to experience SSF all over again!
Comments