30.Sep.08
Posted in News, Universe at 3:40 am by DeeKayP
The casting audition sides for Stargate Universe characters are starting to emerge. These audition sides are not in context of the pilot of the new television series, which won’t start production until February 2009, but are apparently meant to determine character types and the actors’ ranges.
The three sides available thus far are for Tamara Johanson, Eli Hitchcock, and Jared Nash. Each actor will be reading from previous Stargate scripts, which have been somewhat modified for the auditions.
In the case of Tamara, the actor will be reading the part of Jennifer Keller from the Atlantis episodes “First Strike” and “Missing”. Like Keller, Tamara will be thrown into a medical leadership position before she is ready, but will also be required to show compassion and understanding. She will show the insecurity that Keller did in her conversation with Elizabeth Weir about taking over for the late Dr. Carson Beckett from “First Strike” and her distaste for local cuisine like Keller did in “Missing”. That time was also when Keller learned of Teyla’s romantic involvement with Kanaan.
Eli’s audition sides are Rodney McKay’s part from the SG-1 episode “Redemption” concerning Anubis’s attack on Earth through the Stargate. He converses with Carter about how to knock out the technology Anubis was using to bombard the Stargate. The actor will most likely face the same level of technobabble that David Hewlett faced in portraying a math and science genius, as well as demonstrate a rather acerbic, sarcastic attitude. The audition also includes McKay’s conversation with Carter in the infirmary about wanting to be a pianist to show a more affable side to the character.
The actor reading for Jared Nash’s role will audition from John Sheppard’s rescue-our-people balcony conversation with Elizabeth Weir from the Atlantis pilot “Rising”. Like Sheppard, Nash will be thrown into a military position of leadership. It isn’t clear, though, that Nash’s commander, Col. Everett Young, will face the same fate as Sheppard’s commanding officer, Col. Marshall Sumner. Additionally, Nash’s actor will have to read from Daniel’s part in the SG-1 series finale “Unending” where Daniel confronts Vala about her constant sexual solicitations and breaks down his wall of emotional self-protection.
All three characters are in the age range 20 to 25.
Keep up with the latest on the new series in Solution’s Stargate Universe Guide in the Stargate Wiki.
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29.Sep.08
Posted in Atlantis, News, Press Watch at 6:35 am by DeeKayP
Joe Flanigan and crew have gone to Las Vegas, Nevada, to film the penultimate episode of Season Five of Stargate Atlantis, “Vegas”, written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. Carol Cling of the Vegas Voice blog on the Review Journal website posted a brief interview with Cooper about the shoot in SHOOTING STARS: ‘Stargate: Atlantis’ orbits Planet Hollywood. Cooper explained the plot of the episode that sees Detective John Sheppard and FBI Agent Richard Woolsey investigating Wraith killings on Earth.
Cooper confirms that “Vegas” is an alternate reality story, with “a slightly askew version of Earth.” Sheppard “ended up as a homicide detective in this reality,” Cooper told Cling.
The Wraith is played by Neil Jackson (SG-1 fans will remember him as Anubis’s “son”, Khalek). Amazingly, this Wraith has come to Earth and has blended into society, but he’s left several dead bodies exposed to the elements that Sheppard is investigating. The two finally meet in a casino playing high-stakes poker! Additional poker-playing guest stars include Sopranos veterans Steve Schirripa and Frank Vincent.
Cooper admits that the episode is shot in a style similar to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, which is also set in Las Vegas. He said, “If you tuned in late, you might think you had turned on the wrong show.”
There will be an amazing stunt performed by stunt coordinator James Bamford’s team, as Cling reveals in the opening paragraphs of the article: “To some, Las Vegas already qualifies as an alternate universe, complete with alien life-forms. But Stargate: Atlantis puts that description into practice at Planet Hollywood, spending Monday and Tuesday in front of the casino, inside the casino — and on the roof, where a stunt player will perform a nine-story fall.”
Principal photography of the show’s finale, “Enemy at the Gate”, has already been completed in Vancouver. These scenes shot in Vegas will be the final scenes shot of the television series. Already, though, Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie are spinning the story for the first Atlantis telemovie that will be broadcast first on the Sci Fi Channel and then distributed on DVD in 2009.
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27.Sep.08
Posted in Merchandise, News at 7:12 pm by DeeKayP
The third and final Atlantis episode in the first season of the new Big Finish Stargate series of audio dramas, “Zero Point”, is currently available for download and its CD for purchase at the production’s website. This production is written by James Swallow and directed by Sharon Gosling and features the voice of David Nykl as Dr. Radek Zelenka. “Zero Point” also features a musical score and runs for approximately 70 minutes.
Set between “Reunion” and “Midway” of Season Four, the story synopsis: “Zelenka reluctantly finds himself aboard the Starship Apollo as part of Colonel Carter’s drive to survey the area of space surrounding Atlantis’ new planet. It’s a sensible idea, he understands that – but it’s also very dull. Dull, that is, until the ship discovers an entirely new life form…”
Fans will be able to download each audio adventure in the six-episode season, along with the CD artwork, for $8.99 (USD). This episode’s CD release is priced at $18.15 + $2.74 shipping (USD) at the website. Those who buy the CD will be permitted to download the episode from the website at no extra charge.
Big Finish is planning on releasing additional titles for a second season, including “Pathogen”, which features Teryl Rothery and audio drama newcomer Christopher Judge.
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Posted in Atlantis, News, Press Watch, SG-1, Universe at 7:31 am by DeeKayP
Multichannel News has announced that the Sci Fi Channel has bought the rights to air the two DTV SG-1 movies, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, next year. These rights were bought along with the new Stargate Universe television series and Atlantis telemovie.
According to the article, the Sci Fi Channel will have the following airing schedule:
- Spring 2009: Stargate: The Ark of Truth (Sunday Movie Event)
- Late Spring 2009: Stargate: Continuum (Sunday Movie Event)
- Summer 2009: Premiere of Stargate Universe (first 10 episodes)
- Fall 2009: Stargate Atlantis movie, to fill in the mid-season hiatus of Stargate Universe
- January 2010: Return of the second half of Season One of Stargate Universe
Talk of a third SG-1 movie for the direct-to-video format has been around for quite some time, but Thomas Vitale, senior VP of programming and original movies at Sci Fi, said, “We’re very interested in partnering with MGM to do additional SG-1 movies as well, and we’re talking about it.” No official word has been released that the future SG-1 movies will be first aired on Sci Fi before being committed to DVD as the first Atlantis movie is currently set to do.
To read the complete article, visit Multichannel News: EXCLUSIVE: Sci Fi Buys ‘Stargate SG-1’ Flicks For Spring ’09 Schedule: Scores U.S. Rights to Premiere Made-For-DVD Movies.
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26.Sep.08
Posted in Atlantis, SG-1 at 8:57 am by DeeKayP
“The truth is that Martin [Gero] has wanted to do a heist episode ever since the first season of the show,” script coordinator Alex Levine tells fans in his scifi.com blog. “[For] this two-parter – first part entitled ‘First Contact’, second part entitled ‘The Lost Tribe’ – there were already some partly developed concepts in the mix. Firstly, since the Replicator story line has pretty much concluded, there was general consensus that a new villain was needed in the Pegasus galaxy. And Martin had a visual idea of a race of xenophobes or mysophobes (look it up!). Secondly, Alan had suggested doing some sort of story regarding Janus’ long forgotten lab on Atlantis. Thirdly, they had all planned to do a story bringing Daniel Jackson back to Atlantis. So all these story lines converge to bring you this mid-season two parter.”
Dr. Daniel Jackson discovered Atlantis, and when he pitched the idea of going there, he seemed pretty excited about the opportunity to explore the legendary Lost City of the Ancients himself. He recognized that Atlantis had the potential of being the mother lode of advanced knowledge, technology, and weapons that Stargate Command was originally commissioned to find to aid in the defense of Earth. After a few failed attempts, Daniel finally got to see Atlantis for the first time, but it was under grim circumstances that didn’t allow him time to study and explore like he was meant to do.
Finally, after the defeat of the Ori, Daniel has been given the opportunity to study the history of Atlantis and its people. He already knew Moros, the last High Councilor of Atlantis at the time of the Ancient-Wraith war 10,000 years ago (Daniel knew him as Merlin and he actually harbored the Ancient’s consciousness for a time) and Ganos Lal (she went by the name of Morgan Le Fay and helped Daniel and his team win the war against the Ori).
A third Lantian Ancient that Daniel knew about was Janus, the scientist who built a time machine in a puddle jumper that Daniel helped discover on a planet in the Milky Way. Janus had created an identical time machine 10,000 years ago during the Ancient-Wraith War, and he carried his research with him to Earth when the last of his people abandoned Atlantis (”Before I Sleep”). Janus had played a significant role in saving the city from flooding once the Atlantis Expedition set foot in it.
And now, “Daniel, as his hobby of studying the Ancients, has been doing some research and comes to Atlantis with the idea that he might actually be able to track down this secret lab that Janus had that has is yet to be discovered on Atlantis,” Michael Shanks told Gateworld in a recent interview. “And he needs some help doing that. So he enlists Rodney McKay to help him track this thing down.”
Remarkably, Janus’s lab has remained intact through all of the city’s many plights since the Expedition arrived. It holds some major secrets, including a very powerful weapon. “And by making this discovery,” executive producer Joseph Mallozzi told Cinema Blend, “they alert an alien race that also happens to be looking or have been in the midst of seeking out this device that they end up discovering. This alien race ends up coming to Atlantis and it’s not a, I guess, a friendly house call you would say. Again, I don’t want to give too much away about the race but they’re kind of an interesting player that we introduce in the midseason two-parter.”
Shanks told TV Guide, “Then a batch of unexpected villains shows up. Let’s just say, Daniel has a history with them.”
Mallozzi explained further about these aliens in his weblog, “I had pitched out the idea that given the wraith’s weakened position in the Pegasus Galaxy as a result of the heavy losses they had suffered over the past year, it would make sense for advanced civilizations that had been in hiding for hundreds of years might seize the opportunity presented by the shift in the galactic status quo to make themselves known. We went back and forth on who these aliens might be until Rob came up with a clever spin on a familiar notion. So we had our villains and we had their backstory. All we needed now was a motive. And it came compliments of Alan McCullough who pitched out an idea about the team discovering a secret lab on Atlantis that was once the workplace of the enigmatic Ancient Janus.
“With all of the major pieces in place, Marty G. took the week to spin it in his head, we all gathered and broke the two parter, then he wrote the script. That was easy part. Then, it came time to design the look of these new interstellar baddies. Well, we knew what we wanted. Something cool-looking. And we knew what we didn’t want: lycra, shiny plastic bits, and enormous cod-pieces (q.v. SG-1 super soldier). After much discussion between Mary G. and Production Designer James Robbins, the villains were given their look: sleek, nefarious, body armor chic. Check ‘em out in the posted pics. And in … First Contact, the first part of our spectacular mid-season two-parter.”
Mallozzi has also told fans in his weblog that there are three storylines in this two-parter, which means that the main characters are split up: McKay is with Daniel; Woolsey, Keller, and Ronon are with Col. Caldwell and his crew on the Daedalus as they meet with Todd and some of his Wraith concerning the testing of Dr. Keller’s treatment to allow this particular alliance of Wraith to survive without feeding on humans (introduced in “The Queen”); and Sheppard and Teyla are left in charge of the city. And, as usual, things go wonky and all three storylines dovetail into one big one, as Levine explained, “Martin also mentioned that normally the mid-season two-parter works within the existing season story arc and spins the action of that arc towards a new direction, effectively setting up the back half of the season. This is completely different, however. He likened it to a two episode stand alone movie.”
See how one discovery can have a ripple effect across the galaxy tonight at 10pm ET on the Sci Fi Channel.
Preview Videos – Beware of Spoilers! -
Recent High-Profile Interview –
Solutions Coverage –
NOTE: Part Two, “The Lost Tribe”, will air at 9pm ET on October 10. The remainder of Season Five’s episodes will air in this new timeslot.
[Images from MGM Official Stargate website and Sci Fi's Atlantis website.]
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19.Sep.08
Posted in Atlantis at 8:16 am by DeeKayP
Script coordinator Alex Levine spoke about tonight’s episode, “Tracker”, in his scifi.com blog. He explained, “Tracker was developed from a freelance pitch into a really cool story about Ronon, McKay and Keller. Although the teleplay was written by Carl Binder, the story was developed while the WGA was on strike and Carl was in California. Then, once the strike ended and Carl came back up here to Vancouver, the guys suggested he write the episode using what had been developed by the freelance writer and the other writer/producers. Carl liked the concept and jumped on it. And, like another of his episodes from Season 3, Phantoms, this is an episode in which everything came together. Gotta love it when that happens.”
No doubt, if one were able to ask Ronon Dex about how it was even possible for the seven years’ worth of being a Runner to be seen as a good thing, he might answer from his experiences portrayed in “Tracker”. Not only does he have to go back to thinking like a Runner to hunt down and kill Wraith Hunters, but he must also predict the actions of another Runner who has kidnapped Dr. Jennifer Keller. All of Ronon’s skills are put to the test as he must also protect Dr. Rodney McKay in their efforts to find and rescue Keller. But first, he must see to the safety of the village’s population who are threatened by the Wraith that Kiryk, the Runner, has brought to the planet because of the tracking device buried into his back.
“I spoke with James Bamford, our Stunt Coordinator, and Will Waring, who directed this one, about the episode,” Levine goes on to say. “Both raved about the abilities of our guest star, Mike Dopud, who plays Kiryk. Not only is this guy a solid actor, but, in Bam Bam’s words ‘We didn’t double him at all. He did all his own action.’ Of course it helps that Mike was a stunt man for years.”
Stargate SG-1 fans might also recognize Dopud as Col. Ruselin Chernovshev in “Full Alert” and as the bounty hunter Odai Ventrell in “Bounty”. Jason Momoa, eager to do his own stunts but being pulled back by director Waring, looked forward to working with Dopud as Kiryk because then Ronon could “beat his ass for beating his ass’s sake!” Jewel Staite, in discussing Keller’s predicament, said, “She sees something in her kidnapper that isn’t necessarily evil, and she works on him the entire time and softens him. It’s an interesting dynamic and he’s a really interesting character.”
It’s a dangerous world out there, so casualties are pretty much guaranteed. Find out how it all comes together for Ronon and the others tonight at 10pm ET on the Sci Fi Channel.
Preview Videos – Beware of Spoilers! -
Solutions Coverage –
[Image from MGM Official Stargate website.]
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Posted in Atlantis, News, Press Watch, SG-1, Universe at 6:14 am by DeeKayP
Those who visit Stargate Atlantis executive producer Joseph Mallozzi’s weblog have been treated to daily entries that have offered countless tidbits of behind-the-scenes information about the production of a sci-fi television show. He’s even given his readers access to ask questions that are answered by others involved with the series.
And now, he’s letting us know that things are winding down in the production of the final season of Atlantis. “Well, yesterday was the final day of shooting for many of our regular and recurring actors: Rachel Luttrell, Jewel Staite, Jason Momoa, David Hewlett, Kavan Smith, Sharon Taylor, and Chuck Campbell. Today, marks Bob Picardo last day with us. Joe Flanigan heads to Vegas next week where he will complete filming on Vegas, and the series, alongside guest stars Neil Jackson, Steve Schirripa (The Soprano’s Bobby “Bacala“ Baccalieri), and Frank Vincent (The Soprano’s Frank Leotardo). A bittersweet time for all; me in particular. Bitter in that it’s been a great five years and I will sincerely miss the show and the many wonderful people who made it all happen. Sweet in that I like to sleep in.”
Mallozzi recorded a farewell video from Paul McGillion for the fans and posted it in his September 16th’s entry.
David Hewlett texted on his twitter on the 16th as well, “Just wrapped 5 years of Atlantis…very sad. I have never worked with such a wonderful cast, crew and audience. Thank you and goodnight!”
Mallozzi and Paul Mullie will be writing and producing the first Atlantis movie. Not very many plot details are available as of yet, but in addition to the show’s regular cast, Todd the Wraith, Samantha Carter, Daniel Jackson, and Teal’c have been mentioned as making appearances (Mallozzi said that the third SG-1 movie and the first SGA movie will be filmed around the same time next year, so it is reasonable to conclude that Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, and Christopher Judge will be available for crossover appearances). The survivors of the all-female off-world team introduced in “Whispers”, Teldy, Porter, and Mehra, have also been mentioned as far as the movies are concerned, but whether they’ll be appearing in the first one is still not clear. Solutions readers can review the collection of hints about the movie on the movie’s main page in the Wiki.
On the Stargate Universe front, Mallozzi addressed some of the concerns his regular visitors have voiced regarding the cast breakdowns. Because the majority of the new characters will be in the age range of 20-25, the current online fanbase, which age-wise has skewed somewhat older, might not necessarily be the obvious target demographic for the next franchise installment. Although Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper are the main creatives behind the new show, neither one has worked with the fans like Mallozzi has with his blog, so it was Mallozzi who spoke for the production team: “Speaking of SGU, I notice that much of the reaction to the character breakdowns has been negative. While I respect everyone’s right to express their opinions, I’d suggest holding off on making a final decision on the show until you’ve actually seen it.
“Last week, Brad pitched us the series and its first five episodes and, I have to say, it’s a far cry from the shallow confection many fans are imagining. In fact, in many ways, it’s a much more cerebral and mature addition to the franchise. While firmly entrenched in pre-established Stargate mythology, Stargate Universe definitely strikes out in an exciting new direction. It’s a series that will delight veteran fans, but also appeal to newcomers who may not necessarily know the difference between an Alteran and an Asuran.
“In spite of what the indicators may suggest, this will definitely not be a Voyager 90210. The assortment of characters that make up the character breakdown are certainly an atypical collection of heroes, far-removed from the skilled likes of Jack O’Neill, Samantha Carter, John Sheppard, and Rodney McKay – but there’s a damn good reason for that. Can’t say more but suffice it to say I have a feeling this show will pleasantly surprise a lot of people.”
Stargate Universe is in the process of casting and will begin its production February 4, 2009. The Sci Fi Channel is planning to air the first two hours, the pilot, as a movie, and the remaining 18 episodes will be shown during the summer of 2009.
In the meantime, there are still 12 episodes of Atlantis to make their debut in the coming weeks.
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17.Sep.08
Posted in News, Universe at 8:21 am by michelle
Actor and sometime Stargate guest-star Morris Chapdelaine has posted (at his site) the character breakdowns for Stargate Universe. These will be used to signal agents which type of actors they should suggest to audition for the roles. As promised by the producers, studio, and network, most of the roles will be for younger actors, as they are looking for that younger demographic.
Character Breakdowns, Stargate Universe 03/09/08
Colonel Everett Young. 40’s handsome, capable, former SG team leader. Like the Jack O’Neill of ten years ago, but Young’s edges have tended to sharpen over time. He requested permission to serve the remainder of his commission on Earth upon marrying his wife, Hailey, two years ago, but for now he’s temporary commander of a secret off world base. The loss of two members of his team several years ago has taught him never to take anything for granted, and be prepared for anything. He stays on top of his team so they stay alive.
Tamara Johanson. 20-25. SGC Field medic, Captain grade. Off world experience. Beautiful, tough, smart, capable. Paramedic level training. Able to triage serious injury. Modest background. Dreamed of being a doctor but couldn’t afford medical school and the Air Force was her best option. She ends up being the most medically inclined person on the ship but is overwhelmed by the lack of knowledge and experience treating seriously wounded and ill patients. She also lacks the medicine and supplies and has to make do.
Cloe Carpenter. 20 ish. Stunning and sexy. Daughter of a U.S. Senator. Silver spoon upbringing and a little spoiled but not stupid either. Politically and socially savvy. Dreams of following in her father’s footsteps but for now she’s a bit of a party girl in her first year at an Ivy League school. Her father’s tragic death and the dire circumstances of being trapped on a spaceship seriously tests her character.
Eli Hitchcock. 20-25. Total slacker. Utter genius. Mathematics, computers, anything he puts his mind to. Acerbic sense of humor. A social outcast. Comes from a broken home. Lacks confidence because his true intelligence has never really been recognized like Matt Damon’s character from Good Will Hunting with a little Jack Black thrown in.
Lt. Jared Nash. 20-25. Junior SGC team member. Officer material but green and rough around the edges. Every teenage girl’s fantasy. Like a college quarterback thrown into his first pro game, he is thrust into the role of leader well before he’s ready for the responsibility and must learn to take command, earn respect through action, and manage the diverse personalities on the ship to keep everyone alive. Like Jason Bourne, he is skilled and well-trained but mentally unprepared for the urgency of the situation.
Ron “Psycho” Stasiak. 20. Marine. Big, strong, silent. You want him on your side. You don’t want him mad at you. Lacks control over his temper in non combat situations. His emotional expression ranges from sarcasm to anger. His past is a mystery but it’s clear something dark formed the hard shell around him. Yet, there must also be some moral center because otherwise he’d kill everyone around him. Think Eric Bana’s character “Hoot” in Blackhawk Down. Adam Baldwin at 20 could play him.
Thanks to Elyse at sg1_spoilme for the tip!
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12.Sep.08
Posted in Atlantis at 7:19 am by DeeKayP
“A really nice range of emotions for Teyla in an episode chock full o’ crosses, double-crosses, and an atypically ruthless turn for the new mom,” executive producer Joseph Mallozzi said in his weblog about tonight’s episode, “The Queen”, written by Alan McCullough and directed by Brenton Spencer. “Throw in Todd, an intriguing proposal, and that creepy new-look wraith and you’ve got one of the best episodes of the front half.”
“We pick up with Todd and try to come to some type of a deal, an agreement, where he can help us and we can supposedly help him,” Joe Flanigan told Cinema Spy. “Surprisingly, it backfires. Which makes a very interesting 44-minutes of entertainment: When plans go badly.”
“We go to Todd with a gene therapy we’ve managed to develop using Michael’s research, which we believe will make the Wraith able to process food and thus not have to feed on humans anymore,” writer Alan McCullough explained in a Gateworld interview. “So this is something that obviously would be very valuable to us and we’re trying to pitch Todd on it to help us develop it further and test it.
“Of course, Todd, who’s always got his own agenda, asks us to do something in return, which is what then the episode becomes about. It becomes a very Teyla-focused story. Essentially what Todd requires is he’s joined an alliance of other hives, but the only way you can be—he’s had to fake his way in and lie and say that he had a queen on board.
“I don’t want to say more. Perhaps I’ve already said too much. But it goes in an interesting direction after that. It’s a combination of a story that I pitched and a story that Alex Levine, our story coordinator, pitched last year. He pitched a story where there was a Wraith summit and we tried to infiltrate it. We were trying to infiltrate a Wraith summit and we needed to go in undercover. Using that pitch, as well as some story elements that I pitched this year, we built the story.”
Tune in to the Sci Fi Channel tonight at 10pm Eastern to see how awry the best-laid plans of Wraith and men—and women—can really go.
Preview Videos – Beware of Spoilers! -
Solutions Coverage –
[Image from MGM Official Stargate website.]
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09.Sep.08
Posted in Atlantis, News, Universe at 7:00 pm by michelle
On the heels of SGA’s cancellation and the announcement of Stargate Universe, Atlantis showrunner and writer Joe Mallozzi kindly granted Solutions a Q&A to get at some questions he hasn’t answered so far on his blog. Here are the questions and Joe’s answers, which we think you’ll find enlightening!
1. How did you hear that Season 6 of Atlantis wouldn’t happen, and what was your first reaction?
Although we knew that the odds were stacked against us for a sixth season pick-up, we were cautiously optimistic after our premiere. In the ensuing weeks, the ratings held and, given that the first few episodes of season 5 had pulled in better numbers than the back half of season 4, our optimism grew. We had, of course, heard word that SGU was close to a done deal and, with the new series poised to go, we were looking at the possibility of producing another 40 episode season. Taxing but very doable, and we were more than up to the task. But, following a conference call with the studio and the network, Brad came in and told us that this would be Atlantis’s final season. We were disappointed, not only for ourselves (we had a great time making the show, especially these last two years) but for the countless others involved in its production as well.
2. What was the experience like for you and Paul Mullie as you told the cast and crew? We’ve been told they were shocked at the decision.
I think everyone was surprised. When we received word that we would not be coming back, Paul and I headed down to the trailers to inform the cast members: Joe, Jason, Rachel, and Jewel. David was off that day so we phoned him at home. By the time I got through to Bob, he already knew. Once that was done, John Smith and I headed down to set and broke the news to the crew. Reaction ranged from shocked disappointment to philosophical resignation.
3. Do you think the success of the SG-1 DVD movies helped push the decision to move Atlantis to movies? In that sense, were they a mixed blessing for Atlantis?
I don’t know. At the end of the day, I can’t speak for the decision makers. Certainly, producing 40 episodes of television in addition to a couple of DVD movies would have been very difficult. But, again, it would have been a very classy problem. Could we have done it? I suppose we could have tacked on a couple of months to the shooting schedule and wrapped in November but there’s no point in speculating now.
4. Do you think fans who are angry have some valid concerns about what’s happened? Regardless of who is making it, Universe seems like a big departure for Stargate, both in premise and in “target demographic”.
Well, yes and no. I don’t blame the fans for being upset given how much they have invested in this show and its characters over the years. The prospect of doing DVD movies may seem a small consolation, but in comparison to many shows that disappear, never to be heard from again, it’s a pretty nice going away present. As for SGU being a huge departure from its predecessors – it’s a ship-based show, true, but a the end of the day I think it makes little difference whether home base is a ship, Stargate Command, or the lost city of the Ancients, so long as the series is about a group of adventurers traveling to alien worlds through a stargate.
5. Do you think Universe truly will be more of a relationship-oriented space opera aimed at younger viewers, or has that been overstated in press releases?
Individuals on both sides of the issue have made a huge deal about the push for younger viewers. The fact is Atlantis was originally envisioned along these same lines and, in my opinion, it retained the quality of the original series. I expect SGU to follow in the footsteps of its wildly successful predecessors.
6. Assuming the crew and production staff stay on board, it seems all the built-in costs for Universe will be the same as they would have been for another year of Atlantis, except perhaps for actor pay. Can you say what costs might be lower on a new show versus a 5-year-old one?
Across the board, salaries would be lower and the licensing fee commanded by a new series in contrast to a show entering its sixth scene would be higher.
7. Do you know yet which of the standing sets will need to be dismantled to make room for Universe, or will the studio space expand?
For now, we’ll be holding onto Stage 5 (our SG-1 standing set) and Stage 6 (our Atlantis standing set). We’ll probably move the Daedalus and hive sets over to a smaller stage and end the village’s glorious run.
8. Can you shed some light on what’s holding up a second round of SG-1 movies? It’s been over 18 months since the first two were filmed!
Hey, you’re guess is as good as mine. I’m surprised we didn’t shoot any this year.
9. When do you think you’ll have more firm information you can share about the first Atlantis movie?
Possibly in the coming weeks.
10. How likely are crossovers from SG-1 in the first SGA movie?
It’s very possible that we’ll have, at the very least, limited crossover. Given the story we’ve been spinning, it would make sense to see Carter, Daniel, and Teal’c pay Atlantis a visit.
11. With Brad Wright and Rob Cooper busy with Universe, might they turn over the reins of the next SG-1 movie(s) to you and Paul as well? Would you say “yes” to that?
Of course we’d say yes. Paul and I had a great time writing for SG-1. That said, it’s very unlikely we’ll be involved in the SG-1 movie as we’ll be too busy working on the SGA feature.
12. Looking back, what are some of the most rewarding moments you had as show-runner of Atlantis that fans might not know about? What are some not-so-great moments?
I know it sounds like a cliché but one of the most rewarding aspects of working on Stargate in general has been the people I’ve worked with and the friends I’ve made over the years. In terms of specific rewarding moments as a show-runner? Well, back early in season 4, I received a call from composer Joel Goldsmith. I assumed he was phoning to discuss an upcoming score but, instead, it turned out he was calling to tell me what a terrific job he thought we were doing. “You’re very kind,” I told him. “No, I’m not kind,” he informed me in no uncertain terms. “I’m telling you I’m telling you you’re doing a good job because the show is great.”
As for a specific not-so-great moments? Well, getting the news that the show was ending was a low point (I felt the same when we heard that SG-1 wouldn’t be coming back).
13. What episode of Atlantis are you proudest of, as writer, producer, or show-runner?
Hmmm. As a writer, I’d probably go with Remnants. It was a tricky script. As a producer, I’d have to go with Whispers. It was a departure episode and a teamless departures episode at that. It was fraught with a host of potential pitfalls but, in the end, the cast and crew came through with a wonderfully unique episode. As a show runner? Let’s see how our 100th episode turns out.
14. What impacts do you think your blog has had on fandom and on the production itself, given it’s read by the cast and crew? Did you ever imagine it would take on such a life, or take up so much of yours?
When I first started my daily entries back on blogspot, it was intended to be a food journal to document my meals during my two-week vacation in Asia. At the time, I was averaging maybe 50 views a day. In time, the blog-topics have expanded, as has the number of readers, averaging 8 000/day and hitting peaks of over 15 000/day. Within the month, I’ll be hitting my 3 000 000th visitor. At this point, I consider it more a means of honing my skills as a writer than an entertaining diversion. I haven’t missed a day since I started. I suppose I’m not unlike a newspaper cartoonist who feels the pressure of having to come up with something on a regular basis. Fortunately, I’ve been able to diversify my offerings. Thank God for Stargate, my adventurous palate, Baron Destructo, and Cookie Monster. As for the impact this blog has had on fandom and the production itself? I don’t really know.
15. Seeing as how the franchise just won’t die, when can we expect your tell-all Stargate book?
Years after the franchise has wrapped and I am operating my yogurt stand in my local mall.
16. The next Winter Olympics will be right there in Vancouver, in 2010. Can you contain your excitement at the prospect? Can we assume you won’t be leaving your house for those two weeks?
In my less than humble opinion, the Olympics are a farce. I feel sorry for all of the athletes who commit so many years of their lives to training, only to be robbed by the highly questionable judging that seems to pervade The Games. As for the ridiculously wide variety of events… Seriously, at this point, it feels as though they’re just making stuff up. Fastwalking? Ping Pong? How about rock, paper, scissors or maybe duck, duck, goose? And while I know they have a lengthy Olympic tradition, do we really need the discus, hammer throw, AND the shot put? I mean, what the hell else can you throw? How about regulation size toaster or table lamp? Want me to watch the javelin? Change the rules. If your opponent can catch your javelin before it lands, then your throw is disqualified. And why the hell do we need a bobsled event in addition to the luge AND the skeleton? I’ll tell you why. Because the organizers are sitting on a freaking multi-million dollar bobsled run that they can’t use for anything else! Ahem. I might take the two weeks off and go on vacation.
17. If you were a betting man: Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin?
If I was a betting man, I’d take the money and bet on the horses at Happy Valley in Hong Kong. Crusader of Gold looks like a lock.
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