Janet: Good evening, everyone, and welcome to “Beyond Sand and Soul”! I’m your host, Janet, and in each episode of our show, we’ll be diving deep into the latest episode of “Sand and Soul” to analyze the characters, story, technical aspects, and more. Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1, and I have two very special guests with me—Alex and Elias! How are you both doing tonight?
Alex: (smiling) Doing great, Janet. Thanks for having us.
Elias: (nodding) Yeah, it’s great to be here. Hi, everyone.
Janet: We’re thrilled to have you both. For those who are new to “Sand and Soul,” Alex, you’re the author and director of the story, and you also play yourself. Elias, you play George Lewis, an otaku who works in an adult video store. How has it been stepping into these roles?
Alex: It’s been a unique and rewarding experience. Playing a version of myself allows me to bring a lot of authenticity to the role, while directing gives me the creative freedom to shape the story.
Elias: George is definitely a challenge because he’s so different from me, but that’s what makes it fun. It’s a great opportunity to explore a different side of human interaction.
Janet: The contrast between your characters is fascinating. Alex, you’re a confident ladies’ man, while George is socially awkward who is afraid of women. Elias, have you ever had any experience working in an adult video store or in any film before this?
Elias: (laughing) No, this is all new territory for me. I’ve never worked in an adult video store or acted in films before this project.
Janet: That’s interesting! Now, let’s talk about that memorable moment with Serenity. Elias, I heard you were quite nervous when you first met her.
Elias: (blushing) Yeah, that’s true. Serenity is stunning and has such a commanding presence. I got really flustered when I first met her.
Alex: (laughing) We actually used that spontaneous reaction to help Elias understand how George should feel every time he’s around a woman. It was perfect for the character development.
Janet: That sounds like a great method. Now, Alex, there’s a lot of curiosity about the virtual reality machine and the mystery surrounding the woman who appears to George. What can you tell us about that?
Alex: The VR machine and the woman are just the beginning of a larger mystery. The story will reveal more about them gradually. It’s filled with twists and turns that will take the characters on a journey through the metaverse of SL. We’re exploring the dynamics of the metaverse and what it means to be real.
Janet: Fascinating! And what about the Cockbuster store? Where did the idea come from?
Alex: The name Cockbuster is actually borrowed from my friend Serenity’s movies, where she features a store called Cockbuster where a lot of wild things happen. In our story, this Cockbuster is part of the same chain but in a more conservative neighborhood, so you won’t see the crazy stuff from Serenity’s movies. The story justifies this by saying Serenity’s Cockbuster is in the light red district, while ours is in a regular commercial area.
Janet: That’s a clever twist. Speaking of Serenity, there’s a scene with you two. Do you really have sex during the filming?
Alex: (smiling) Yes, we do, but it’s nothing new for us. Serenity and I are great friends and have done similar scenes together many times. We’re very comfortable with each other.
Janet: I’d love to ask more about that, but I suppose we’ll save that for another episode.
Alex: (laughing) Definitely. We’ll dive into those scenes more in a future episode.
Janet: Now, what about Bob? Will he have a significant role?
Alex: Yes, Bob will be a major character. He’s a politician openly against the adult entertainment industry, so he’s going to stir up a lot of trouble. He’ll be a significant antagonist.
Janet: And the woman who interrogates you, Alex? Who is she, and why is she questioning you?
George: She’s going to be the third main character of the story. She’ll also provide her perspective. The interrogation scenes are tied to a bigger plot that involves events at the store, leading to Alex being caught up in the situation.
Janet: The episode ends with a woman approaching down a hallway. What should we know about her?
Alex: She’s a key character for what’s coming next. I can’t reveal much more, but I promise she’ll play a crucial role in the story. You’ll have to tune in to the next episode to see how it unfolds.
Janet: That’s a perfect tease! Thank you both so much for sharing these insights. We’re all looking forward to seeing more of your characters in “Sand and Soul.” Any last words for the fans before we wrap up?
Alex: Just a big thank you for all the support. We hope you enjoy watching as much as we enjoyed making it.
Elias: Yeah, thank you, everyone. We hope you love George and Alex’s journey.
Janet: Thank you, Alex and Elias! And thank you to our audience for tuning in. Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes looks and interviews right here on “Beyond Sand and Soul.” Good night!