To help people learn more about Sheldon Whittaker and his team, Xenite.Org will be conducting interviews over the next few weeks. The first interview is with Sheldon himself. Be warned. We cannot really promise spoilers or much inside information as they are still at a sensitive stage in project development.
Xenite.Org: We’d like to know a little about your professional background. What’s your education, projects, etc.?
Sheldon Whittaker: Well education-wise I left school early — left home and started work at the tender age of seventeen, then over the following ten years, and spurred on by Babylon 5, I re-skilled myself in 3d animation.
I have been working in the broadcast television industry as a 3-D Animator / Technical director for the past seven years now. In that time I have met and made contacts with many cool 3-D people, writers, producers and directors.
Xenite.Org: What influenced your decision to develop a television show?
Sheldon Whittaker: Since I started out in the animation industry all I have really wanted to do is work on a scifi show like Star Trek or Stargate or Babylon 5.
But being in N(ew) Z(ealand) that kind of job has never come my way. So I decided to try and come up with an original show concept of my own and see how far I can push it through towards getting it produced. Two years on and many scrapped ideas later we have Barrier.
Also I have gotten a little tired with shows over the past few years where they always go military — the galactic war where a small group of people takes on the evil empire or crooked alliance. I understand it’s exciting to see war and military type shows, and Barrier does have an element of that, but the main premise isn’t set in military conflict.
Even though I love these shows I always wanted to see a show set in and around a small group of non-military people trying to make their way in the world, that’s not hampered by the evil government, that’s instead being pulled from all directions by rivals, bureaucrats, family, financial concerns.
Not that the Barrier universe is completely at peace; there is a concept in the works for a Barrier spin off after season five of the series that is military set, but I can’t say much more than that.
Xenite.Org: Which SF television and movie franchises do you enjoy most?
Sheldon Whittaker: Firefly — Mal and Jane really crack me up. I also love the series’s subject matter and direction; it has a real earthy, down-to-real-life feel.
Star Trek: TOS — I grew up with Kirk and his crew and I really enjoy this old show; I think they really nailed the look and feel of crew of a Navy Patrol ship.
Xenite.Org: If you were asked to create a show for children, what would you want to do?
Sheldon Whittaker: It would have to be Scifi of course. Given the option I would probably want to develop a TV series based on the 1985 film “Explorers”, about a group of children that build their own spaceship from technical designs they receive in their dreams.
Xenite.Org: If you were going to develop a cooking show, what would you want to do?
Sheldon Whittaker: Hmm, not sure. Something with chocolate, definitely chocolate. Maybe a show set in a bakery instead of a restaurant.
Xenite.Org: What do you do to unwind? What’s the most bizarre leisure activity you’ve engaged in (jumping out of airplanes, throwing yourself off bridges, exploring underwater worlds, etc.)?
Sheldon Whittaker: Well to unwind I love to cook. I love creating nice food that makes people feel good. In fact when I was a little boy all I ever wanted to do was become a chef, but as I grew up I changed or lost focus as most teenagers usually do.
The most bizarre leisure activity? Funny enough, even though I come from the land of adventure activities, I don’t really go for jumping out of planes or jumping off bridges, but I do enjoy Go-Karting, and Martial Arts Training when I get the chance.
Xenite.Org: If there is a memory from your childhood that you think may influence “Barrier”, can you describe it?
Sheldon Whittaker: Hanging out with my Father while he rebuilt his V8 dream car. I was just so impressed that he knew what he was doing with mechanics. Then when it was running he would let me steer it while we drove around a level paddock. I also loved it when he drove fast, but don’t tell my mother, LOL.
Follow Sheldon Whittaker on Twitter.