Michael Shanks has given an audio interview to SciFi Talk. The mp3 file is available for downloading from their main page or directly here. You may play it on an iPod or on your computer with any mp3 player.
Michael talks at length about the genesis of the 2007 Women of SciFi Calendar that he and Chris Judge are producing. They had been batting around the idea for quite a while but were sure someone else had already done it. The idea gained a lot of momentum once they realized they would be first and there were no legal hurdles in that regard. Lexa helped convince the other actresses to participate once she realized how good a photographer Chris is and that it would be a good experience for them.
An interesting tidbit is that Erica Durance’s sister has married Chris Judge’s brother and they have a child. It’s not clear if this is his brother Jeff, who has appeared in SG-1.
Michael hopes that the company he has formed with Chris to produce the calendar, Slacktwaddle, will grow into a Vancouver-based production company, using their Sci Fi connections to produce film and television products. Of course that will have to wait for the end of Stargate: SG-1, a date that he refuses to predict.
There will be a 2008 Women of Sci-Fi calendar featuring some of the actresses who weren’t available for the first one. And in response to many requests they’ve had, they are lining up actors for a 2008 Men of Sci-Fi calendar.
Michael and Chris, along with some of the actresses from the 2007 calendar, will be at the Timeless Destinations Sci Fi convention to be held in Vancouver this August. Michael will be in the dealer’s room and Chris will appear on stage.
Regarding SG-1, Michael had nice things to say about Ben Browder and how he came in with very much the attitude that he had to prove himself; he didn’t have any attitude of entitlement or expectation. They broke him in at the same time the team broke in Mitchell, and Ben was willing to play the fool when necessary to make the point. (Remember the “Hey, new guy” line? :))
They are currently filming episode 3 of Seaon 10. SPOILERS FOLLOW (highlight to read)Episode 3 is a crossover episode in which many of the cast of Stargate: Atlantis will appear. In one of two storylines, Daniel and Vala will dig through the archives of Atlantis’ library searching for something to stop the Ori. They will discover something ‘interesting and titillating’.
As far as the rest of the season, episode 6 is the 200th episode, a reality Michael finds unbelievable. As far as that episode, from what he’s heard, it’s going to be not unlike Wormhole Extreme in that they’ll be taking a few potshots at themselves. But the audience will be in on it, too. And it may involve the appearance of a face we’ve missed for some time.
There are lots of nice tidbits in the interview and it’s clear the interviewer (Tony) really likes Michael’s acting. So, go, download, listen!
I find this interesting and fun news! I have always enjoyed Wormhole Extreme and the other more comedic episodes, so it will be nice to see them doing it again. I look forward to it.