Now Aliens target the world

THE journey to the queen took a little over 18 months for Gary Gillies

and John Gorman to traverse a landscape of movie executives and Japanese

banks as alien as their creation. But the Glaswegian entrepreneurs

behind Alien War, London's latest theme ride finally made it to New York

and the office of Hollywood agent Sam Cohn. Inside sat Sigourney Weaver,

the star of the movies that inspired them, the Aliens' trilogy.

''She was just marvellous,'' said John. ''The complete opposite to her

Ripley character. She wasn't tough. She was warm but didn't suffer

fools. I think with John and I she found it refreshing to find two young

guys not dressed up in suits, that wanted the project to succeed and

wanted it done to a certain standard. It wasn't just money. We cared

about the films and I think that shone through.''

The Alien War project is a modern ghost ride that sets the public on

foot as they are led through an industrial maze by an armed space marine

fleeing the bio-mechanoid creatures, created by Swiss artist H. R.

Geiger, who launch constant surprise attacks. Simple but unique, it was

unveiled at The Arches in Glasgow during 1992 before moving to London's

Trocadero Centre where Weaver survived its maiden run last October.

Talking to camera crews afterwards, she was impressed. ''People love

to be scared,'' she said. ''And I think Alien War has enough that is

innovative and sort of sci-fi so it's interesting too. Visitors get to

be scared out of their wits and go on an adventure into the future.

It'll appeal to any Aliens lover.'' A perfect PR pitch.

The deal struck between the movie queen and Gillies and Gorman is

similar to what 20th Century Fox received for releasing the rights --

large royalties stapled to its success. So should new centres open in

Japan and America, Ms Weaver will once again wield her flame-thrower,

singe the ribbon, and announce it open. The story of how two film fans

went behind the screen and pulled back such a monster is inspirational.

In 1991 Gary Gillies, 37, was working as a swimming instructor at

Eastwood Baths to support his family while playing trumpet during

sessions with the BBC. John Gorman, 28, worked in video and TV. Both saw

the Aliens double bill at the Glasgow Film Theatre and stumbled out

stunned. But it was not until Gary's wife had a nightmare in which she

was chased by the Alien creatures that the idea hatched.

False courage and dumb luck led the pair to put a call to Los Angeles

and the studio that produced the films -- 20th Century Fox -- where a

secretary surprisingly connected them with the vice-president. Al Ovadia

listened, asked for designs, received them by fax and then said ''Yes''.

Within one week the pair had the world rights for Alien Wars.

The Glasgow project cost around #30,000 to stage and involved a load

of props from the films culled from Gorman's own extensive collection.

The money was secured through a partnership with local businessmen. The

press and news coverage proved extensive. America's CBS sent a film crew

and so did Japan, while Time magazine ran a full-colour story.

Despite its tremendous success, the pair's partners balked at the

thought of a move to London which would push costs to #1m. New blood was

needed and so it was drained from Brian Drysdale, a financial adviser

from Newton Mearns and Charles Buggy, a San Diego multi-millionaire.

Prior to the London opening, auditions for the space marines were held

at Planet Hollywood where 200 out-of-work actors and enthusiasts vied

for 20 places. One applicant quit her job as a manageress at Harrods to

pick up a part.

''The great thing about this was that it originated from Glasgow,''

explains Gary. ''Not America, not Disney or Universal or Japan. The

world premiere was in Scotland. Now we are in London and there is talk

of Tokyo. It's nice because we're already thinking -- let's make the

Americans wait four or five years for a change.''

Minutes before our interview, Gary completed a tour of the complex

with members of the Japanese Samwa bank who are considering investment

in the first link of a worldwide chain. Discussions are already underway

for a spin-off project, entitled Future Wars, based on The Terminator

films. ''Jim Cameron, the film's director, wants to talk to us and it

looks promising.''

During a trip round Alien War, adults start off by feeling foolish and

slightly embarrassed for the actor in the trooper suit barking the

orders. But five minutes in, and with a 8ft alien lumbering towards them

under strobe lights, they'll do what I did -- grap the nearest kid who

didn't look up from his Game Boy and hope he has the brat for breakfast

and leaves you till lunch.

But walking darkened gangways illuminated by lights flashing danger

orange is not essentially scary but exciting. Logic tells you somewhere

along the line a screen creature which looks as far removed from a ''man

in a suit'' as it is from compassion and kindness, is ready to attack.

Younger kids are often led out by parents, bawling after a few minutes

while a few nervous adults have fainted.

Interestingly, in a plan which will add a certain symmetry to the

above equation, Gilles and Gorman hope to use their profits to shoot a

horror movie to be set on a Scottish island. Whether it employs the

correct shock tactics will depend on the truth behind the maxim that

practice makes perfect.