Arts & Culture

Richard Weiss Debuts a Strange New Film: “The Book: They Came From Inner Space”

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“The Book: They Came From Inner Space” is French filmmaker Richard Weiss’s debut feature movie.  The story within the wildly visual film explores the idea of a civilization from Inner Space invading earth by way of quietly inhabiting the planet with alien doppelgangers of earthly humans.  The aliens take hold of a prominent author’s mind and reputation to publish a book that is designed to seep into the world consciousness an idea of a united, peaceful humanity.

Richard Weiss is a native of Lyon, France, and has made a career of composing music for film in Europe.  He has also spent time working as a graphic artist, which he says has helped him enormously as a director.

Before taking the reigns as a filmmaker, he was asked to direct a small music video in France.  The video was well-received by audiences worldwide, and it sparked a lust in Weiss to follow his true passion.

“I wanted to make a movie for a long time”, says Weiss.  “I wanted to make a feature film to be able to have free reign to do whatever I want.”

That, he did.  Weiss moved to the United States to make a career transition in the world of moviemaking.

He describes “The Book” as being “science fiction- more fantasy than sci-fi.  It’s a very visual movie.  The story is important, but it’s almost secondary to the visual.  It’s very fun and takes place in the future.  It’s Invasion of the Body Snatcher meets Buck Rogers, done in the style of the 1950’s and 1960’s.”

The images in the film are unlike nearly anything that is seen in the industry now.  The costumes and sets are reminiscent of classics like The Wizard of Oz and a more colorful version of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Weiss, like his film work, is eccentric and unconventional.  He prefers to be known as the symbol “Ø”, rather than his legal name.  Despite oddities, or perhaps because of them, his debut film has made an impression in the festival circuit, taking home more than a dozen awards.  The unique film has found a loyal audience.  “The Book” has seemed to fulfill a niche in the market, and may be on its way to becoming something of a cult classic.

Richard Weiss has two upcoming feature films in development.

“I want to keep doing some weird visuals, but I want to tackle comedy now”, he says.  One of the developing projects is called “Pandemonium “.  Weiss describes it as, “Peter Pan meets Wizard of Oz, for the whole family.  There will be partying teenagers and an elf, and an element of whimsical.”

In “The Book: They Came From Inner Space”, Weiss aims to present more than just an over-the-top display of costumes and characters.

“It has plenty of messages.  It depends on what way you look at it.  Be very careful, because you never know what you’re reading, because it could change you.  There could be subliminal messages that are hidden and could change you.”

For more information about “The Book: They Came From Inner Space”, visit the website at

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Meili Cady