This is a transcription of the text inside the INVASION: UFO Press Information Booklet. Scans of this booklet were provided by Branko Vekic, and the transcription into a text file was performed by Deborah Rorabaugh. Please note that parts of this booklet have typographical/factual errors in them, and these errors have been not been corrected below. ---------------------------- CUT HERE --------------------------------- INVASION: UFO -------------- Index ----- Highlights.............................. 1 Synopsis................................ 2 Cast & Credits.......................... 4 Bios - Gerry Anderson....................... 5 Derek Meddings....................... 7 Barry Gray .......................... 9 Feature Story - ED BISHOP, STARRING IN "INVASION: UFO," LEADS INTER- GALACTIC SPACE BATTLE ............... 11 =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 1 INVASION: UFO -------------- Highlight --------- Earth's greatest fear becomes a reality when Unidentified Flying Objects are finally confirmed. A top secret defense organization - code-named SHADO -- is established to protect Earth from this powerful alien threat. The UFOs come from a dying planet millions of light years away, seeking human organs to repair their own decaying bodies. In a raging inter- galactic space-battle, SHADO attempts to save Earth from this alien terror. Academy Award-winning special effects expert DEREK MEDDINGS (Superman The Movie I, and II, and the James Bond films - For Your Eyes Only, Moonraker) directs the fantastic special effects in this science-fiction adventure. Starring: ED BISHOP =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 2 INVASION: UFO -------------- Synopsis -------- Confirmed sightings involving Unidentified Flying Objects have become more frequent. When mutilated human bodies are discovered after a UFO attack, the Earth's governments meet to construct a top secret defense organization, code named SHADO (Supreme Headquarters, Alien Defense Organization). To command this incredible organization, the world leaders choose Commander Ed Straker (ED BISHOP). To accomplish its mission, SHADO has constructed a base on the Moon complete with a fleet of sub- space interceptors, a sophisticated tracking satellite code named SID (Space Intruder Detector), a fleet of powerful sub- marines complete with search and strike aircraft and a base of operations far below the surface of a film studio. Colonel Alec Freeman (GEORGE SEWELL) is sent to escort members of the SHADO SST but is shot down by a SHADO jet. The UFO crashes and a body is recovered. The body of the alien is rushed back to SHADO for examination and Straker makes an astonishing discovery, many of the alien organs are human! -more- =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ INVASION: UFO Page 3 ------------- The UFOs have come to Earth from a dying planet millions of light years away. They are looking for human organs to replace their own decaying organs. When SID reports another sighting, SHADO is ready. The Moonbase interceptors manage to damage the UFO but it makes it through the atmosphere, crash landing somewhere in northern Canada. SHADO land mobiles are sent to investigate and they discover the damaged alien craft in a deeply wooded area. As the SHADO crew investigates the ship, it tries to blast its way out but destroys itself upon take-off. Then an astonishing report comes in from SID: there are 50 UFOs converging for a mass attack outside Earth's atmosphere. Meanwhile, Straker goes out in a Skydiver submarine to investigate an underwater power source. He discovered an underwater dome and when he breaks in, he is astonished to discover exact duplicates of SHADO personnel manning the controls. He realizes that they are androids programmed by the aliens to contact Moonbase and SID. When Straker overhears instructions being given to Moonbase to allow the massed UFOs through the earth's defenses without inter- ception, the truth dawns on him. The aliens have devised a plan to trick Moonbase into believing that instructions are coming from the real SHADO control center. Straker orders the alien base destroyed but it is too late to prevent the UFO attack. As the UFOs stream towards the Moon, and intergalactic battle rages in space. SHADO sends their complete arsenal of war to try and save the Earth from the alien terror. # # # =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 4 INVASION: UFO ------------- Cast & Credits -------------- Starring ED BISHOP Co-Starring GEORGE SEWELL MICHEAL BILLINGTON Director of Special Effects DEREK MEDDINGS Music By: BARRY GRAY Written By: DAVID TOMBLIN, TONY BARWICK, GERRY & SYLVIA ANDERSON Creative Production Coordinator ROBERT MANDELL Produced By: REG HILL Executive Producer: GERRY ANDERSON Directed By: GERRY ANDERSON, DAVE LANE, DAVID TOMBLIN =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 5 Gerry Anderson -------------- (Bio) Gerry Anderson began his career in a photographic portrait studio, but even in those days his ambition was to become a film director. The first steps towards achieving this ambition was when he entered the film industry as an assistant in the cutting rooms. Service in the Royal Air Force halted the progression of his career a few years. He has worked his way from the bottom of the ladder to the top via the editing departments of such studios as Associated- British, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Gainsborough. As a trainee with the Ministry of Information, he learned about projection, cameras, and cutting. Before long, he was assistant editor on such productions as "Caravan" and then "So Long At The Fair." He worked as dubbing editor on "The Clouded Yellow" and as both the assembly cutter and dubbing editor on "Never Take No For An Answer." Next, he was assembly cutter on "South of Algiers," and then moved over to Shepperton Studios as assembly cutter and dubbing editor on "Appointment In London" and "They Who Dare." After working as dubbing editor on "Abdulla The Great" and "Prize Of Gold," he switched to television when he directed two episodes of the "Martin Kane' series before plunging into puppet film making. -more- =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Gerry Anderson Bio Page 6 ------------------ In 1955, Anderson joined forces with Arthur Provis to create A.P. Films, Ltd. The first two puppet series were produced for the now defunct Associated Redifusion TV company. With the money he made off those two series, he produced a pilot for a puppet western which was bought by Granada Television. After producing another pilot entitled "Supercar," Anderson joined Lord Lew Grade and Associated Television for a long and successful partnership. With his programs distributed world wide by ITC Entertainment, Anderson's many puppet projects became world-wide successes and in 1969, Anderson produced his first live-action film for ITC, "UFO." He was asked to produce a 52 episode half-hour adventure series named "The Protectors" for ITC before returning to science-fiction with the spectacular "Space: 1999" TV series, a project which resulted in full-length feature films as well. Anderson is currently involved in pre-production for a number of brand new action/adventure films. He was born in London. * * * =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 7 Derek Meddings -------------- (Academy Award-winner, Visual Effects, 1979, "Superman The Movie") (Bio) With both his parents working at Denham Studios in England, it was only natural that Derek grew up with the film industry in his blood. He had a talent for drawing and found the Denham art department his chance to break into the industry. While working in the art department, Meddings met people who got him involved in modeling, matte painting, and film titles. There, he met Les Bowie, the man responsible for breaking in many other now famous special effects men. When Bowie moved to Anglo-Scottish Pictures in the late 1950's Meddings went with him. Working as a matte artist, Meddings was included in many of the early Hammer films. About that time, Les Bowie was approached to do the special effects for a puppet film series entitled "The Adventures Of Twizzle." Bowie was unavailable and Meddings services were engaged by producer Gerry Anderson. It was the beginning of a long association for both Anderson and Meddings. After completing "UFO," Meddings went freelance and then he began working on the James Bond features. Since "Live and Let Die," Meddings has worked on all the Bond films while filling the time between with assignments on other features. In April, 1979, Meddings received an Academy Award for his work on "Superman." -more- =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Derek Meddings Bio Page 8 ------------------ Derek Meddings also worked on the spectacular James Bond adventure "For Your Eyes Only," as well as "Superman The Movie I and II. Presently, Meddings is involved with "Krull," a sword and scorcery fantasy-adventure film set on another planet. He is also scheduled to work on "Octopussy," the upcoming James Bond film. * * * =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 9 Barry Gray ---------- (Bio) Barry Gray joined forces with producer Gerry Anderson on a children's series for Associated Redifusion. Gray, a former composer for the BBC and an accompanist/arranger, was unaware that this was the beginning of a long partnership with Anderson that would span 20 years. After doing another series for Associated Redifusion, Anderson created and produced a puppet western for Granada television. Barry Gray not only composed a fine western for Granada Television, but the multi-talented music man also wrote the first episode. For the next series, called "Supercar," produced exclusively for ITC Entertainment, Gray used his knowledge of electronic instruments to create many of the fantastic and eerie sound effects. He is one of the few masters of the French electronic instrument, the Ondes Martenot (he studied under the instrument's creator, Maurice Martenot, in Paris). Gray has also scored the sound effects for feature films as well. "Fahrenheit 451" and "Doctor Who and Daleks" are but two of the films Gray supplied the electronic sound for. -more- =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Barry Gray Bio Page 10 -------------- Barry Gray has composed for many Gerry Anderson/ITC projects. In 1979, Gray was one of the guest conductors of the National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert where he conducted some of his music for films. * * * =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ Page 11 ED BISHOP, STARRING IN "INVASION: UFO," LEADS INTER-GALACTIC SPACE BATTLE ------------------- Ed Bishop, as star of "INVASION: UFO," steps into the future and plays the role of Commander Straker at a time when Earth's greatest fear becomes a reality. Unidentified Flying Objects are finally confirmed. A top secret defense organization -- code-named SHADO -- is established to protect Earth from this powerful alien threat. The UFO's come from a dying planet millions of light years away, seeking human organs to repair their own decaying bodies. In a raging inter-galactic space battle, SHADO attempts to save Earth from this alien terror. Bishop, a native American, has worked on both sides of the Atlantic. "I returned to England," he explains. "because I'd either have to do that or take my family over to America and that would have been a big step. I don't think it's fair to trans- plant four kids. The three eldest are well established at school and with friends all around them." He has four children - three girls and a boy - and an English wife. -more- =========================== PAGE BREAK ================================ ED BISHOP Page 12 --------- He hadn't intended remaining in England when he won a Fulbright scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, "But I got a part in an English stage production immediately after my training, then another, then another . . . and marriage to an English girl clinched it!" Although born in New York, he does feel some justification for making England his home. An ancestor from Guildford, England was one of the early English settlers in Guilford, Connecticut, back in 1639. Ed Bishop's children are the first members of his family to have been born in England since then: "I think we must have done quite a lot towards populating America," he comments. "because that ancestor of mine had 13 children. There must have been a lot of descendants!" Son of a banker, Ed first studied drama at Boston University. Since training in England, he has returned to the States numerous times - and made his first Broadway appearance in "The Rehearsal" as an Englishman! "Which," he remarks," is something I rarely play in England. I'm usually American." * * * ---------------------------- CUT HERE ---------------------------------