Michael Shanks

Shanks on Daniel's Longevity

Shanks for the Memories

Starburst Issue #339, Summer ’06, features Michael Shanks and Joe Flanigan on the cover, and interviews with both. An excerpt of Michael’s interview is available on-line here, including:

…”In terms of the creative aspect, we’ve had a lot of continuity behind the scenes. Brad Wright has been there throughout, and Robert Cooper as well. We’ve had a lot of writers, like Joe (Mallozzi) and Paul (Mullie), who’ve stayed around, and it’s the same with the actors and crew. Most of us have been here a very long time, and that’s where a lot of shows falter. They lose people here and there and the continuity, which is so valuable, goes by the wayside. We also keep a good sense of humour.”

Buy the issue at Visimag.

Old-time fans might remember another interview with Michael also entitled “Shanks for the Memories,” conducted by Thomasina Gibson in 2002. The context and tone of that interview were quite different, as Michael had just left the show. Feel free to relive those times here. 🙁 😉

2006 SyFy Portal Genre Award Nominations

Nominations

BEST ACTOR/Television
Ben Browder, “Stargate SG-1”
Christopher Eccleston, “Doctor Who”
Nathan Fillion, “Firefly”
Matthew Fox, “Lost”
Edward James Olmos, “Battlestar Galactica”

BEST ACTRESS/Television
Caroline Dhavernas, “Wonderfalls”
Jennifer Love Hewitt, “Ghost Whisperer”
Evangeline Lilly, “Lost”
Mary McDonnell, “Battlestar Galactica”
Billie Piper, “Doctor Who”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR/Television
Adam Baldwin, “Firefly”
Jamie Bamber, “Battlestar Galactica”
James Callis, “Battlestar Galactica”
Terry O’Quinn, “Lost”
Michael Shanks, “Stargate SG-1”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS/Television
Amy Acker, “Alias”
Tricia Helfer, “Battlestar Galactica”
Rachel Luttrell, “Stargate: Atlantis”
Grace Park, “Battlestar Galactica”
Katee Sackhoff, “Battlestar Galactica”

BEST ACTOR/Movie
Christian Bale, “Batman Begins”
Nathan Fillion, “Serenity”
Daniel Radcliffe, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
Mickey Rourke, “Sin City”
Hugo Weaving, “V for Vendetta”

BEST ACTRESS/Movie
Zooey Deschanel, “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
Summer Glau, “Serenity”
Natalie Portman, “V for Vendetta”
Gina Torres, “Serenity”
Emma Watson, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR
Dakota Fanning, “War of the Worlds”
Carter Jenkins, “Surface”
Malcolm David Kelly, “Lost”
Daniel Radcliffe, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
Emma Watson, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”

BEST WEB SITE
Bloody Disgusting
GateWorld
Kryptonsite
SciFi Wire
Whedonesque

BEST SPECIAL GUEST/Television
Claudia Black, “Avalon, Part 1,” Stargate SG-1
Michelle Forbes, “Pegasus,” Battlestar Galactica
Kelsey Grammer, “Death Takes a Holiday,” Medium
Christina Hendricks, “Trash,” Firefly
Connor Trinneer, “Michael,” Stargate: Atlantis

BEST EPISODE/Television
“Dalek,” Doctor Who
“Downloaded,” Battlestar Galactica
“Lay Down Your Burdens, Part 2,” Battlestar Galactica
“Scar,” Battlestar Galactica
“Trash,” Firefly

BEST SERIES/Television
Battlestar Galactica
Doctor Who
Firefly
Lost
Wonderfalls

BEST MOVIE
Batman Begins
Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Serenity
V for Vendetta

GENE RODDENBERRY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDJ.J. Abrams, producer/writer
Gene Coon, producer
Dan Curtis, producer
Stan Lee, comic book creator
Ronald D. Moore, producer/writer
William Shatner, actor

http://www.syfyportal.com/

From Mike at SyFy Portal

Hello, everyone!

This is very unfortunate because we cannot post this on our own site since we’re still trying to recover from the hack, but I’m releasing the SyFy Genre Awards nominees for 2006.

Please note that the voting is expected to start June 25 and last until July 25. However, because of the site hack and the fact that our programmer Leigh Ashton has been concentrating on getting us back online instead of devoting time he had scheduled to get the nomination forms up, a possibility remains that we may have to delay the start of voting.

I can assure you that Leigh is working very hard around the clock to try and get everything back up among all the other things that also have him occupied on his schedule. We know he will do his very best to get this back up.

This was going to come with some trivia notes about the Genre Awards and such, which we included in our all-staff posting. However, in trying to correct the hack, we did a system restore, which cost us several message board posts, including that one. So, I apologize for the lack of trivia.

We will keep everyone updated on when voting begins. But in the meantime, spread the news far and wide who’s been nominated!

For more details on the SyFy Genre Awards including past winners, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SyFy_Genre_Awards

[Thanks to Sueb45 for posting at Our Stargate.]

Shanks Gets Golden Stargate

Michael Shanks Receives Special ‘Golden Stargate’ Presentation

Legends President Paul Brown presents the Golden Stargate to Michael Shanks

June 2, 2006 (Vancouver, B.C.): Paul Brown, President of Legends Memorabilia, recently presented a special ‘Golden Stargate’ display to Michael Shanks in Vancouver. The company commissioned this special display as a 10th Anniversary Commemorative award in recognition of Michael’s contribution to the long-standing success of Stargate SG-1â„¢.The company also presented Golden Stargate displays to original cast members, Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Don S. Davis and Teryl Rothery. Several key production staff personnel including Brad Wright and Robert Cooper were also presented with Golden Stargate displays. In receiving this presentation, Michael commented: “Wow, this is brilliant! Thank you so much, this will stay here in my home with my other ‘treasures’.”

The framed display consists of a highly detailed golden Stargate mounted on a black suede matte with a personalized inscription plaque which reads:

Presented to
MICHAEL SHANKS

In commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of
Stargate SG-1, and in recognition of your
outstanding contribution to the success of the series.

– Legends Memorabilia –

The miniature Stargate was created in precise detail from the design plans that were used for the original Stargate installed on the SGC set at Bridge Studios. The company is considering releasing a limited production series of the same 16″x16″ Golden Stargate display for fans who also may wish to have a special 10th Anniversary memento of the series.

About the Company:
Since its inception in 1995, Legends Memorabilia has pioneered the sale of set-used movie and television props and has a unique position as a specialist supplier of this type of commodity. With clients in 70 countries, the Company is a global player in the memorabilia industry and is the vendor for Stargate SG-1â„¢ set-used props and costumes through its online auctions on eBay and website sales at www.stargateprops.com.

As an official MGM appointed Licensee, the Company manufactures and distributes replica props and collectibles from Stargate SG-1â„¢ as well as limited edition art prints from Stargate SG-1â„¢ and Stargate: Atlantis. Legends Memorabilia also operates the exclusive Stargate cast-authorized autograph site, www.stargate-autographs.com.

Shanks Talks Daniel/Vala Romance

From Sci Fi Wire. Be aware there is a minor spoiler for Season 10 below, most likely from Memento Mori.

SG-1‘s Shanks Talks Romance

Michael Shanks, who plays Daniel Jackson in SCI FI Channel’s original series Stargate SG-1, told SCI FI Wire that the series will play down the potential romance between his character and Claudia Black’s Vala as the series kicks off its 10th season this July. Last season, former Farscape star Black played Vala in half a dozen episodes, which came on the heels of an eighth-season guest shot that introduced her wily thief character. In the upcoming season, Black joins the cast as a regular, and Vala, who has been impregnated by the villainous Ori, will give birth to a rapidly maturing child named Adria, who will be played by several actresses, including ex-Firefly star Morena Baccarin.

“In order to justify Vala there in a regular capacity this season, we’ve had to tone that down a little bit,” Shanks said in an interview, referring to the characters’ sexual tension. “We’re doing a lot of balancing right now. We’re trying to find the fun of it, and we’re trying to find the push-pull in a more practical, kind of friendship situation. There’s an episode where Daniel and Vala go out to dinner to talk about her personal growth, so to speak, and there’s all the innuendo and misconception that can happen in that kind of situation.”

Shanks added: “So there’s a lot of fun in that. What we’re doing is trying to keep the joke alive without killing it. And it’s always fun when you work with somebody like Claudia, who’s so good at playing with you and playing off you and who just gives you so much all the time. It’s been a lot of fun doing that.” Stargate SG-1 premieres on July 14 with a season opener entitled “Flesh and Blood.” â€”Ian Spelling

Thanks to Elyse at sg1_spoilme for the heads up.

Michael Shanks on eTalk Daily

Michael Shanks was interviewed by Susie Wall, reporter for Canadian talk show eTalk Daily. The segment was filmed right after the birth of Michael and Lexa’s son, Samuel. Michael describes Daniel as the “resident nerd, archeologist, anthropologist, egyptologist, linguist, and anything else that suits the episode.” He also talked about the longevity of SG-1 and what was appearing in his baby boy’s diapers 🙂

If you have Macromedia Flash 8, you can view the video at Photo Bucket.

Michael Shanks on ESPN2

Today Michael Shanks did a remote guest appearance on the US ESPN2 interview/talk program Cold Pizza. He appeared with recently retired NHL player Luc Robitaille, and they traded quips and opinions about the NHL Hockey play-offs, this year’s rules changes, and even the NBA play-offs, which Michael is following at least partly because Phoenix Suns’ MVP Steve Nash is a Canadian.

A video of the interview is available in an 18 MB wmv file at MichaelShanks-online.com.

Shanks Movie Swarmed Now Shipping On DVD

With the tagline “Man doesn’t rule the planet anymore,” Michael Shanks’ science fiction/horror movie “Swarmed” launches on DVD.In this fun, classic genre “B” movie, the residents of a small town find themselves battling a swarm of wasps which has been sprayed by a super pesticide. Cover art for the DVD is featured to the right…

Amazon.com’s editorial review/product description focuses on fan-favourite Michael Shanks:

Man’s place as ruler of the natural world is about to be defeated. Michael Shanks (“Stargate SG-1”) stars in this thrilling story about a swarm of deadly genetically enhanced wasps on a rampage. Featuring eye-popping special effects, explosive excitement and all the six-legged horrors the world of man can handle.

The movie also stars Carol Alt, Jonathon Malen, Maria Brooks, Richard Chevolleau and Ellen Dubin.

Rated PG-13, the movie has been released on DVD by the Lion’s Gate studio. The DVD is Region 1, closed-captioned, Dolby, subtitled, widescreen and NTSC.

Click here to buy “Swarmed” online from Amazon.com.

Sci Fi Monday Night Snippets

The April 24th Sci Fi Monday SG-1 marathon was “One is Never Enough,” which included two two-parters from Season 7, “Heroes” and “The Lost City”. Below are the interview snippets shown throughout the night, courtesy of Elyse at sg1_spoilme. Thanks, Elyse!

Also this week, you can view very high quality Quicktime movies of the snippets at Farscapism.com. Well worth watching.

Ben Browder

“Well, what I think is interesting about the SG1 team is that it is continuing to change and evolve. You still have the core – you have Teal’c, you have Colonel Carter, you have Daniel – and in the last two years, we’ve added Landry, and Mitchell and this year we’ve added Vala, and you have a group of people who have saved the universe on countless times and now you have new people to come in and ask the stupid questions (said with big grin). ‘I’m sorry, we’re going through the gate, why?’ and ‘who is that? Great, okay, let’s go!’ (ends with thumbs up gesture).”

“Heroes, part one and two, really sort of delved into the character relationships in terms of what they mean, or what they could mean in our theoretical world, what they could mean to the outside world that we’re trying to represent, and uh, I think that was a great example of the characters interacting and making you care about them so that when all the explosions and bombs and the aliens are happening that you actually care about the characters so I think that’s one of my most favorite episodes, if that’s proper English.”

Amanda Tapping

“What I’ve enjoyed building over the last ten years is the relationship with Teal’c. They just really love each other and it’s so nice that they now express it. An arm around the shoulder, or a hug, or a look between the two of them that says everything, and Chris and I really enjoy playing that. Like yesterday we were shooting a moment with this new character Vala – Claudia Black’s character – and she went up and did something and we just shared a look that said everything, that we’d known each other so long, and that’s quintessentially what makes SG-1.”

Beau Bridges

“One of my favorites of last year was ‘Ripple Effect.’ I really enjoyed that. It was very imaginative, and I still get a thrill because it’s sort of new to me – all the sci-fi stuff, when you have clones of all these people, and it gets kind of tedious doing it, because there’s a lot of technical stuff going on. You have to shoot scenes over and over again to get those effects, but watching it, just as an audience, it made me giggle. I thought it was cool.”

Ten New Interviews Excerpted

We’ve extracted excerpts of ten recent interviews of SG-1 cast and crew, past and present, from the Stargate Official Magazine. Here are direct links to each:

Daniel Dares
Judge for Yourself
Got Carter
Creating Cameron
Vala Unveiled
Taking a Beau
Fraiser’s Unfaded
Noble Prize
Sha’re Shares
The Write Director

Enjoy, and be sure to pick up the March/April 06 Official Magazine Yearbook from Titan Magazines, which has the full interviews and many exclusive photos.

Sci Fi Monday Night Snippets

The theme of April 17th’s Sci Fi SG-1 marathon was “Those Darned Russians”; it featured four eps with Jack’s favorite comrades. Once again, there were interview snippets interspersed through the episodes. Thanks once more to Elyse from SG1_spoilme, here are the transcripts of those mini-interviews.

Chris Judge

Early on in the show’s run, we didn’t get to see a lot of the concept drawings, so the director would say ‘there’s a big ship, a BIG huge ship,’ so what you imagine is like a big ship, but we would see the final cut and it would be MONSTROUS. It would eclipse the horizon and so we learned early on, we had to kind of imagine bigger and better and I think that made us better as actors.

Claudia Black

I think Richard Dean Anderson is so specifically identified with the show that, you know, when I said I was coming to join the cast of Stargate, they’d say ‘oh, the one with Richard Dean Anderson,’ and to turn up and have him not be here, it’s kind of weird, and even more peculiar to have Ben [Browder] in his place, for want of a better word, but he is someone as an actor and a character who can’t ever really be replaced.

Michael Shanks

God, we had one great location which was the sand dunes of Richmond which gave us this whole otherworldly feel, gave us back to our grassroots of the original Stargate movie, has unfortunately been developed. We’ve been doing the show so long we’ve actually watched the city grow over our locations that we started off in. The GVRD – which was our go-to place which is the Greater Vancouver Regional District Water Reservoir – and that’s gone by the wayside too, so we’re kind of running out – it’s odd to say in British Columbia – we’re running out of forest to shoot in.

Amanda Tapping

I love it when it’s the four of us going off, wreaking havoc in the universe. And all of our little idiosyncrancies and dysfunctions coming together in, you know, a crisis moment and how we deal with it, how the interpersonal relationships play. I love it when there’s an episode about all four of us. Those are kind of my favorite stories. Of course now it will be all five of us. Six, if you count Beau. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger…