Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (film)
Encyclopedia
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is a 1999 Disney Channel Original Movie, starring Kirsten Storms
as the eponymous heroine and Raven-Symoné
; this was the first work by Symoné for Disney.
in 2049 A.D. After getting into trouble with Commander Edward Plank, the space station's commander, Zenon's parents punish her by grounding her to Earth to live with her Aunt Judy, who is afraid of space. Zenon finds out that her space station home's Computer system will crash causing the Space Station to also crash putting everyone on it in danger, but since Commander Plank sees all children as troublemakers, he convinces her parents not to listen to her when Zenon
tries to tell them that the Space Station is in danger especially since Her idol
Protozoa (and his pop-rock group Microbe) is also being sent the world's first space concert there putting them in danger as well.
With the help of her friends Andrew and Greg, she must find a way to save the space station and her family. Zenon manages to get to the Space Station when Protozoa recognizes her from a dance with Protozoa contest and takes her with him, his band, Mr Windom, his assistant Lutz and Aunt Judy as well. Commander Plank is shocked to see Zenon on the station, but gets smitten with Aunt Judy.The Commander still has trouble Believing Zenon, especially when Windom accuses her of sabatoging the Station. Zenon manages to use the Computer Virus undo program Andrew created to save the Space Station and Mr Windom and Mr Lutz gets arrested.
for a proposed television series. It was directed by Kenneth Johnson and based on the book of the same name
by Roger Bollen and Marilyn Sadler
. The film was produced by de Passe Entertainment
for cable television's Disney Channel
, and executive produced by Suzanne de Passe
and Suzanne Coston.
Filming began in August 1998. Scenes set on Earth were filmed in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
; one well known location is the Plaza of Nations
, where Zenon arrives and departs.
Kirsten Storms
Kirsten Renee Storms is an American actress. Her biggest break came when she was cast as Isabella "Belle" Black in the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives from 1999 to 2004....
as the eponymous heroine and Raven-Symoné
Raven-Symoné
Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman , known professionally as Raven-Symoné , or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symoné launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in The Cosby Show as Olivia...
; this was the first work by Symoné for Disney.
Synopsis
Zenon Kar is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her family on an orbiting space stationSpace station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
in 2049 A.D. After getting into trouble with Commander Edward Plank, the space station's commander, Zenon's parents punish her by grounding her to Earth to live with her Aunt Judy, who is afraid of space. Zenon finds out that her space station home's Computer system will crash causing the Space Station to also crash putting everyone on it in danger, but since Commander Plank sees all children as troublemakers, he convinces her parents not to listen to her when Zenon
tries to tell them that the Space Station is in danger especially since Her idol
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
Protozoa (and his pop-rock group Microbe) is also being sent the world's first space concert there putting them in danger as well.
With the help of her friends Andrew and Greg, she must find a way to save the space station and her family. Zenon manages to get to the Space Station when Protozoa recognizes her from a dance with Protozoa contest and takes her with him, his band, Mr Windom, his assistant Lutz and Aunt Judy as well. Commander Plank is shocked to see Zenon on the station, but gets smitten with Aunt Judy.The Commander still has trouble Believing Zenon, especially when Windom accuses her of sabatoging the Station. Zenon manages to use the Computer Virus undo program Andrew created to save the Space Station and Mr Windom and Mr Lutz gets arrested.
Cast
- Kirsten StormsKirsten StormsKirsten Renee Storms is an American actress. Her biggest break came when she was cast as Isabella "Belle" Black in the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives from 1999 to 2004....
as Zenon Kar - Raven-SymonéRaven-SymonéRaven-Symoné Christina Pearman , known professionally as Raven-Symoné , or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symoné launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in The Cosby Show as Olivia...
as Nebula Wade - Stuart PankinStuart PankinStuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
as Commander Edward Plank - Holly FulgerHolly FulgerHolly Fulger is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Robin Dulitski in Anything But Love and as Holly Jamison on Ellen.-Early life:...
as Aunt Judy Kling - Frederick CoffinFrederick CoffinFrederick D. Coffin was an American film actor.-Early life:Coffin was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943 to actress Winifred Deforest Coffin, and was one of five children. He was educated at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where he was both a student and athlete. He began to study...
as Parker Wyndham - Bob Bancroft as Mr. Lutz
- Greg Thirloway as Mark Kar
- Phillip RhysPhillip RhysPhillip Rhys is an English actor.Rhys was born the second of three boys in South London. After graduating from Westminster College he spent a year living and working in Paris...
as Proto Zoa/Microbe - Gwynyth WalshGwynyth WalshGwynyth Walsh is a Canadian actress best known for her role of the Star Trek character B'Etor, one of the Duras sisters.She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1958 and raised in Vancouver. Walsh earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Alberta and started her career appearing on stage...
as Astrid Kar - Lauren MaltbyLauren MaltbyLauren Maltby is an American actress.Maltby was born in San Diego, California. She is an alumna of Whittier Christian High School where she ran cross country. In the Olympic League cross country finals held on November 2, 2000, she placed 28th with a time of 25:49.15. She currently attends Biola...
as Margie Hammond - Danielle Fraser as Lynx
- Brenden Richard JeffersonBrenden Richard JeffersonBrenden Richard Jefferson is an American film and television actor and songwriter.-Life and career:Born in San Bernardino, California, Jefferson is an only child....
as Andrew - Blair Slater as Aquillat
- Zach LipovskyZach LipovskyZach Lipovsky is a visual effects specialist from Vancouver, British Columbia. He has also worked as a director, actor, writer, and editor in the film industry. Lipovsky was a finalist on the Fox reality show On the Lot ....
as Matt - Neil DenisNeil DenisNeil Denis is a Canadian actor. He is known for his role as Rya'c, son of Teal'c, a Jaffa in Stargate SG-1. His first appearance was in University Hospital in 1995 at the age of 8. He also appeared in the Canadian television series 2030 CE. He has provided the voice for Spyke in X-Men: Evolution...
as Leo - Gregory Smith as Greg
- Kea WongKea WongKea Wong is a Canadian actress well known for her role as Jubilee in X2: X-Men United, which she reprised in X-Men: The Last Stand....
as Gemma
Production
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century was originally made as a pilotTelevision pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for a proposed television series. It was directed by Kenneth Johnson and based on the book of the same name
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is a children's science fiction picture book written by Marilyn Sadler and illustrated by Roger Bollen...
by Roger Bollen and Marilyn Sadler
Marilyn Sadler
Marilyn Sadler is a children's writer with a deadpan sense of humor. She was born November 17. One of her best known works was made into a television movie, under the title Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century...
. The film was produced by de Passe Entertainment
De Passe Entertainment
de Passe Entertainment is an American film and television production company run by entertainment executive Suzanne de Passe. The company was originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in 1968, as Motown Productions, the film and television arm of Gordy's Motown Records label.-History:Motown...
for cable television's Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
, and executive produced by Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne de Passe is an American television, music and film producer. As well as the Co-Chairman of de Passe Jones Entertainment Group-Career:Suzanne began her career at Motown as Creative Assistant to company founder, Berry Gordy...
and Suzanne Coston.
Filming began in August 1998. Scenes set on Earth were filmed in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
; one well known location is the Plaza of Nations
Plaza of Nations
The Plaza of Nations was an entertainment complex located on the northeast shore of False Creek in Vancouver, British Columbia.It was part of the British Columbia Pavilion during Expo '86, and along with Science World, Canada Place, and the Roundhouse Community Centre is one of the remaining...
, where Zenon arrives and departs.