SGA S3 Spoilers: Filming Updates

Blogs tell the story

Stargate Atlantis‘s third season has been filming, and there are some interesting pieces of insider info coming from the blogs of James Bamford and Alex Levine.

According to the two, the currently-being-filmed episode is “Sateda”, written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. Bamford, stunt coordinator, says that there has been fight sequences filmed for each day of filming for this episode! He’s excited about the story and impressed with Cooper’s writing and directing. According to him, “This episode is like nothing that has ever been done on SG1 or ATLANTIS…ever…..ever….never…..before. Unreal.” Bamford is also excited because he gets to make an appearance as a Wraith — one with a limp, no less! (SG-1 viewers might remember Bamford’s performance as a Human Form Replicator in “New Order Part 2”, the first to be destroyed by Jack’s disruptor gun.) Filming on “Sateda” is due to wrap today, March 20.

Dropping the names of guest stars is one feature among many of Alex Levine’s blog. He enjoyed letting one name slip: “This season, get ready for more excitement in the Pegasus Galaxy — new villains, new guest stars (Richard Kind!), new stories.” Richard Kind played Dr. Gary Meyers in Stargate (the movie). It was his translation of the coverstone that Daniel immediately corrected on the chalkboard. Although Dr. Meyers was a bit offended, he was in awe of Daniel’s grasp of Egyptian hierglyphs. But, Levine mentioned Kind’s appearance in conjunction with Stargate Atlantis, so it is possible that he is not re-creating his role from the movie. Levine didn’t say which episode Kind was appearing in.

Both bloggers are also in awe of Atlantis's executive producer and co-creator Robert C. Cooper’s performance as both writer and director of “Sateda”. Bamford states, “Robert Cooper has always been a creative writer, knowing what he wants to see at all times…as a director, this man rivals John Woo, Tony Scott, Michael Mann…and its a TV series!!! I’m not writing that because the guy is my boss…that’s not like me. The visuals contained within this episode will surely entertain the fans and non-fans alike!! I can’t wait to see this cut together with all the bells and whistles to boot.” Levine, script coordinator, stated pretty much the same thing, “Meanwhile Rob Cooper has his director’s hat on and is shooting some of the most exciting footage I’ve ever seen on a Stargate show. He’s using different kinds of media — even a hand-cranked Bolex, shooting on 16mm — to give some depth to the flashback storyline. "Sateda" is going to be one action-packed blockbuster of an episode. Think John Woo action on acid. Strap yourself in for that one.”