Has our planet been consumed by an artificial blackhole of our own wreckless creation?  Has lab-grown Dark Matter infected your blood and/or soft tissues?  Is the Higgs boson a wrathful old-Testament God particle bent on punishing humanity?

Keep yourself informed with this handy link, updated every hour: http://hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com

Latest YouTube trend? Really long videos of Asian girls french-kissing. Seriously, there’s like a billion of these.

POLLY FROST, here, thrilled to be interviewing JEREMY LAWRENCE, one of NYC’s finest stage actors and playwrights. If you haven’t seen his Tennessee Williams show, it’s staggering. You will feel as though you’re actually watching Williams. If you haven’t seen his LAVENDAR SONGS, which won the 2008 Bistro Award (directed by Jason Jabobs) then you must absolutely see it the next time Jeremy performs it in NYC!

I first met Jeremy at Cornelia Street Cafe where my husband, Ray Sawhill, and I were performing SEX SCENES. I’d been told about Jeremy’s amazing acting by Robin Hirsch, one of the owners of Cornelia Street Cafe. Robin’s got great taste — still, when I saw Jeremy perform, I was staggered.

Jeremy’s performance as AVERY FERGUSON in THE FOLD is extraordinary.

btw, if I keep using superlatives to describe Jeremy Lawrence, it’s because nothing less than that can begin to describe the admiration, gratitude and depth of inspiration that I — and Matt Lambert and Ray Sawhill — have felt working with him. Ray and I are also lucky that Jeremy recorded two characters for our audio play, SEX SCENES.

And the most amazing thing about Jeremy is that he’s one of the easiest, most modest and wonderful people you could ever hang out with. Visit his website http://www.jeremylawrence.net to find out what he’s doing next.

POLLY FROST: How do you see your character in THE FOLD?

JEREMY LAWRENCE: Dick Cheney. Avery would be quite happy shooting a friend by accident while “hunting”. Although he would be happier if the victim was his own son and the accident was fatal. AFTER the Time Travel Machine had been delivered of course. Yes Avery’s Cheney, all right, with the short temper of McClain and maybe a little Pat Robertson mixed in, although I’m not sure Avery could give a rat’s fuck about that jewboy who died on the cross…

POLLY: What was the experience of working on THE FOLD like?

JEREMY: The script by the dynamic duo Polly Frost and Ray Sawhill (what I could understand of it not being of the virtual reality generation) was genius. From the first time I saw “Sex Scenes” I knew Polly Frost was on to something: subversive erotica. And in THE FOLD Polly and Ray have created a blend of sci fi and erotica to create a story which undermines the encroachments into our lives of the moral majority, the Christian Right or however you want to label it. Both THE FOLD and SEX SCENES explode the “me”, the “X :and whatever generations in their sole - ar systems. Their masturbatory, narcissistic quest for sex with others that they would prefer to be having with themselves. And let me add as a final burst that, Polly’s prose erotica is hot even for a queer guy like me. She sizzles. Ouch!

POLLY: Thank you! It’s a privilege to work with you, Jeremy! What about Matt Lambert?

JEREMY: This soft-spoken young film maker is already a master of his craft. He had every shot outlined and ready for every day. And he got every one of those shots. Even in the sub freeze of the castle, his ability to keep everything together demanded the same from all of us. He got what he wanted by paying attention to the demands of the situation and the need of the people he was working with. My big press conference scene was shot a day after I lost my second mother (step-mother if you will). I told this to Matt — in case I would need to “take a moment” at some point for myself.” He was so grateful to me for showing up. And told me to feel free to take what time I needed. It was a huge shoot with a lot of people and I am not one to make scenes. But his understanding so immediately created a comfort zone for me that the rest of the day proceeded without a hitch. Thanks to Matt I may have turned in one of my best pieces of work on film — to date. Directors who bring the best out of actors and capture it on the celluloid are simply the best.

As for science fiction, the world is science fiction to me. I am a technologically challenged romantic who belongs back in Paris at the turn of the 19th century. I had never heard of Aspergers Syndrome before my audition. I don’t know nothing about birthing virtual reality figures. I do like ATMS and unlike Mr. McCain, I know how to use a computer.

POLLY: What are your current projects?

JEREMY: I am waiting for one to take me by surprise. And since I don’t know what it is, talking about it would only jinx it.

Hi, Polly Frost here — I’m thrilled to interview FOLD STAR, KAREN GRENKE.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with KAREN GRENKE for several years now in a variety of projects. Karen was a regular cast member of SEX SCENES, a spoken-word/theater project that I co-wrote and produced with my husband, Ray Sawhill.

Karen was an inspiration for our writing: she’s a playwright’s dream because she can take the most extreme character you could possibly write and ground them. And believe me, we wrote some wild characters for her to play!

If you’re in NYC, be sure to see Karen in DANSCORES by Ofelia Loret de Mola September 8th - 15th in City Hall Park. Information can be found at http://www.danscores.com.

In THE FOLD, she plays CYNDI GARAWAY with fantastic wit and stunning comic timing — plus, well — Karen’s a hottie on top of being one of the most talented actors you could ever work with.

POLLY FROST: How do you see your character in THE FOLD?

KAREN GRENKE: I am so very fortunate to have worked with Polly & Ray for many years. They always write me the best (and craziest) characters. Cyndi is no exception. In fact, she’s probably the most well adjusted character of the lot. Cyndi could easily be seen as a cliched desperate housewife, but I think in Matt and Polly and Ray’s hands, she’s actually much more of an everywoman. She’s funny, angry, insecure, and looking for love and reassurance. Are love and reassurance the same thing for Cyndi? Maybe. Is it too much of a spoiler to say that I love love love that we get to see sassy, sexy future-Cyndi too? What a hoot.

POLLY: What was the experience of working on THE FOLD like?

KAREN: Matt runs a super set. I was so impressed with how confident and calm Matt is as a director. The whole team was great - especially Paul Busetti who is unflaggingly positive and supportive. I did a couple of nutty things in this film and I had such a good time doing them. Did that sound dirty?

POLLY: What are your current projects?

KAREN: My company Cagey Productions is in development on the theatre piece “The Curse of the Smart Kid”, the almost-true story of an overeducated underachiever. I also just finished Women’s Project’s last show (I got to hula hoop! In gold sequins!) and I’m working on a new show “Nancy Drew, Where Are You?”. Check out www.cageyproductions.com for the details.

STEPHANIE SELLARS plays FBI agent, KIM ZIEGLER, in THE FOLD. She also plays one of the ’70’s style Swedish Erotica Babes who deliciously enters JEF GARAWAY‘S New Jersey hot tub.

Red-haired with a beauty that’s reminiscent of 30’s Hollywood heroines, Stephanie is a writer and film director as well as an actress, known for her New York Press sex column and for her NYC evenings of Dorothy Parker. POLLY FROST interviewed Stephanie about acting in THE FOLD.

POLLY FROST: How do you see your character in THE FOLD?

STEPHANIE SELLARS: Agent Kim Ziegler is a bit like Bette in The L Word…super femme, yet masculine in her professional demeanor. A true kink beneath the slick dark suit. And she has a terrible weakness for hot sexy babes, a weakness that often gets in the way of “doing the right thing.” Although sometimes, she is loathe to admit…the right thing involves a strap-on.

POLLY: What was the experience of working on THE FOLD like?

STEPHANIE: Since I had worked with Polly and Ray on Sex Scenes, and with Matt on one of my own film projects (Julie and the Clown), I had no fear jumping into The Fold. Not only was everyone talented and professional, we all had a tremendous amount of fun, even when I nearly got frostbite from doing an outdoor masturbation scene in ten degree weather. I was really impressed with the smartness of the story, the social commentary, and the boldness of the erotic elements. All that and it’s hilariously entertaining. I also enjoyed playing two contrasting roles…going from a ditzy Swedish babe moaning in a suburban hot tub to super serious Agent Ziegler was a thrill for me as an actress.

POLLY: What are your current projects?

STEPHANIE: I just did an artist residency at Yaddo where I worked on a screenplay and some other writing. I write an erotic blog called Lust Life based on my experiences in the New York alternative sex world. As an actress, I’ve been performing in readings such as The Potable Dorothy Parker (which I also produce) and Forbidden Kiss, an erotic series at Stage Left Studio. In the fall, I will be starting a new life as a graduate film student at Columbia University.

I look forward to watching The Fold sweep across the nation. May The Fold be with you all.

Multi-talented writer/actress and blogger, ANGELA LOVELL, plays Gaming Babes reporter, RACHEL CAMPANIELLO. Gorgeous, smart and hilarious — we loved working with her on THE FOLD!

POLLY FROST caught up with ANGELA to ask her a few questions about working on THE FOLD:

POLLY FROST: How do you see your character in THE FOLD?

ANGELA LOVELL: The thing I really love about Rachel is that she’s a true “dame.” She’s not another soggy princess character wiling away over a mate. She makes things happen and she’s smart as hell. I get really sick of women being discouraged from being “too sexy” but Rachel wields her sexuality like it’s a semi-automatic! I don’t buy into the myth that we’re objectified based on how we talk and dress, and that we lose Smart Points for showing too much skin. It was a lot of fun to play a woman so completely upfront and raw, free to show all of herself and readily able to harness her power. The world needs more Rachels.

POLLY: What was the experience of working on THE FOLD like?

ANGELA: Working on The Fold was such a wonderful experience! I made a short film with Matt a few weeks prior to shooting The Fold and I love the way his mind works. I truly loved this cast and crew too. The night we shot the infamous hot tub scenes I thought I’d pass out from the cold (I wasn’t lucky enough to be IN the hot tub.) But that scene was so much fun to shoot, despite the arctic temperature. None of this project felt like “work” - just play time (even when my hands were frozen.) Sci-Fi and sex are two realms that know no boundaries - combining them with some warped humor made for a very good time

POLLY: What are your current projects?

ANGELA: These days I’m working on my first novel and doing workshops of an all-gal play I wrote which is set in a mental institution. (Incidentally, the “Hot Nurse” played by Kelli Brisbane in The Fold is my producing partner in these early stages and I wrote a juicy role just for her.) I have Whorescopes syndicated across the globe and I just sold a screenplay that will begin shooting next summer. I’m also developing a bit of a pinup model/burlesque hobby when I’m not writing. I just played Bettie Page in a wonderful series of pinup girl shoots. (”Hot Nurse” Kelli played Donna Reed. I tied her up and force-fed her muffins in some shots. We really enjoy working together!) I’m writing/directing/performing for the Slipper Room’s Red Light Night next month which is always a grand ol’ time! You can read my stuff at: www.TickingBoxes.com

We Foldies love Helen Mirren for her talent and her beauty, but also for her aesthetic-erotic daring. So why not pause to enjoy her latest press coups too. First, appearing on a beach in a bikini and making it all look good at age 62:

And, more recently, giving an interview in which she asserted that she doesn’t think Mike Tyson was guilty of rape, that she used to enjoy cocaine, and that she thinks prostitution should be legalized.

Here’s a nice recent opening-night pic of Dame Helen:

Our third installment of sci-fi sexiness is now up and raring to be absorbed by your senses - but is our physical world prepared for a story of such panty-drenching proportions?  Meatware beware!

Cronenberg’s film version of The Fly is one of my favorite sci-fi thrillers of all time, and starting on September 7th, it will be transmogrified into an opera with original music by the film’s composer Howard Shore. Wish I could make it out to LA for the opera’s three-week run, but here’s hoping that the show makes it’s way to NY in the near future. In the meantime, here’s Mr. Shore giving us the low-down on how The Fly Opera went from larval stage to the big stage.

If you haven’t checked out this great trailer for Iron Sky, about a secret Nazi group that returns to Earth from their moonbase in the year 2018, well then please do.

Looks pretty good, right? Almost as interesting as moon-bound Nazis is the way the movie is being created, which is through a communal Finnish moviemaking site called Wreck A Movie. How does this process work, you ask? Well, I have to say I’m not entirely sure, though I’m awfully intrigued by the idea. The Wreck A Movie website breaks their process down into three broad steps: 1) joining their online community. 2) finding like-minded artists within said community to collaborate with. 3) setting up your own production and creating a collaborative community around it.

Sounds like a great idea, but it certainly raises quite a few questions at the same time about what level of collaboration we’re talking about here. My impression is that at this point their community is used more as a creative sounding-board, with users offering ideas on what a nuclear device detonating in outer space would look like, or what a cool design for a moonbase might be. Still, it’s a promising idea, and the Wreck A Movie’s maverick spirit and pro-Creative Commons philosophy alone is worth championing. I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on what they do next.