Interview: "Tfor2" Host Casey Stelken on His "Terminator 2" Themed YouTube Show
Casey Stelken appears on camera as “Uncle Casey” in his Terminator 2 YouTube show, Tfor2. Allow his Twitter bio to explain it best.
“Watch along as we celebrate the greatest film in the history of cinema! It’s an exploration, investigation, and celebration of all things #Terminator2!”
In perfect fashion, Casey, out of character, spills the tea on the tea he drinks on camera beside his fireplace and the show itself!
I remember you saying planning for this show took about one year. What details can you discuss about the planning stage, and the filming itself?
Most of this is because I have a problem maintaining brevity, haha. I also can't get into any sort of creative project without blowing it entirely out of its originally-imagined proportions.
You could say the idea for this show started when I realized I had multiple copies of Terminator 2: Judgment Day... between my old childhood VHS, and some DVDs and Blurays, I thought it was kind of funny that I had it on several formats... so I picked up an old T2 Laserdisc to put on the shelf with them, just for fun. Then one day on eBay, I found an old Chinese VHS of T2, and thought that would be especially funny to add to the collection. At some point it became an obsession - I thought the different languages printed on the covers were interesting to look at, and having so many language variations displayed together was a fascinating way to display the worldwide appeal of the film. I decided I wanted to own every different VHS release ever produced for Terminator 2... in every language, and from every country.
Eventually I came up with the idea that some day, when I couldn't find any more variations, I should make a YouTube video showing all of the different VHS tapes released around the world for Terminator 2. And then I thought, "Well, I've also been collecting various press books and odd merchandise from around the world, and I probably know a lot of interesting little tidbits that your average fan might not know... maybe I should make a show all about T2!" And then it sort of snowballed out of control from there.
Sorry, I told you I wasn't good with brevity, haha. To answer your question, I'm not sure exactly when I started planning the show, because it was such a gradual thing that sort of happened on its own throughout this bizarre VHS-collecting ordeal... but a lot of the planning involved developing the characters (mainly "the Host" and "the Cameraman"), writing episodes (believe it or not, I have the final episode of the show roughed out... but we won't reach that point for a few years), and getting the set prepared. Speaking of the set, I'm currently planning a brand new set that I hope to have built by next winter - bigger and brighter, with more camera angles and more engaging set decor. Should be fun!
You joke about it defining your life a little in the introduction video. Seriously, how did, and does, Terminator 2 inspire you?
I wasn't kidding when I said that Terminator 2: Judgment Day was the first movie that made me cry - that was the truth, and that moment had a huge impact on me. Up until that point, as a kid in second grade, I didn't necessarily think of movies as an art form with the potential to deeply inspire you, or to emotionally move you. It wasn't until that final scene in T2, when I got a little choked up (and anyone who says they didn't is a blatant liar) and realized the potential power of motion pictures.
Another way that the film inspires me is the "No fate" line. For me personally, it ties a bit into religion - or lack thereof. I'm not a religious person, and I never personally got into the idea that someone else had made a plan for me. So that line, "No fate but what we make," has a deep and personal meaning for me beyond mere movie drama.
If you could go back in time auditioning for an acting role in Terminator and/or Terminator 2, who would you like to play in it?
The characters I'm most often fascinated with in films are those smaller roles... the characters in the background who have the memorable look, or have the one line that everyone quotes ("You forgot to say please"), yet no one knows the name of the actor. To me, those characters are not only the most interesting, but the actors behind them get the chance to be in major motion pictures, work with massive stars, and have their friends and family see them on the big screen... yet they still have the freedom go grab a Dave's quarter pounder at Wendy's without being mobbed.
Anyway, if I had my choice... I'd play the homeless guy from the first film. "That son of a bitch stole my pants!"
You have shown audiences different action figures created for the sequel. Which Terminator 2 artifacts are going to be on the show next?
The next episode is one that I'm pretty excited about, because it's the first episode tying into how this weird adventure began - the many international releases. We're "going to France" to discuss how the film was released there. This means we'll be looking at a few interesting old Terminator 2 promotional items from France that I've collected over the years, as well as looking at some clips from the French dub of the film to hear how these classic characters sounded in French cinemas back in 1991. I hope someone finds this stuff as interesting as I do... Is anyone going to be interested in hearing a Terminator with a French accent? I guess I'm about to find out.
Why do you think classic movies from decades ago speak to people and many modern day blockbusters do not?
I'm not sure if that's always the case... I agree that a lot of movies released today don't leave a lasting impression, but occasionally something special does sneak through. And the same thing was happening 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago in the movie industry. 1984 was an AMAZING year for movies - Gremlins, Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Muppets Take Manhattan, The Terminator... but there were an awful lot of other movies released that year that nobody remembers. I think the same thing happens today, and there will probably be a similar-sized handful of movies released in this decade that will be considered classics in 30 years. Blade Runner 2049 was a big one for me!
Which tea brand and flavor are you always drinking on the show? Have to ask as a major fan of tea and Terminator 1 and 2!
I don't know, but it tastes awful. It's some cheap stuff the studio provides. No sweetener or anything. I think it's just there for looks. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure if I'm even supposed to be drinking it...
What career opportunities do you hope will come to you because of Tfor2?
To be completely honest, I have zero financial aspirations or career goals with this show. It's purely a hobby, and more importantly, it's a true passion project; all I want to accomplish with it is to entertain people, and bring Terminator fans together. Thanks to this show, I recently had the opportunity to chat with Terminator and T2 score composer Brad Fiedel, so that was pretty exciting for me!
Some of the best compliments the show has received have actually come from non-Terminator fans, who say they enjoy the show because of the humor or the interesting trivia that applies to the film industry. So if I can reach non-Terminator fans with a Terminator-themed show, then I feel pretty good about it.
Don't get me wrong - if the show does somehow lead to invitations for involvement in other creative projects with people, I would be thrilled, because I love that kind of stuff! But I'm not counting on it. My focus is on making this show the best I can! As long as it engages people and makes them happy, I'm completely satisfied.
