DeeKayP – Page 65 – Solutions Blog

Joseph Mallozzi Interviewed by About.com

Joseph Mallozzi and his writing partner Paul Mullie have been with the Stargate franchise since Season Four of Stargate SG-1. They went on to become the showrunners of Stargate Atlantis during its final two seasons (Seasons Four and Five). And now, they’ve become writers and consulting producers in the production offices of Stargate Universe.

Mallozzi has been keeping a blog for several years now, writing about all kinds of things on a daily basis. And of course, the Stargates are high on his list of hot topics. He’s become the most accessible person in the franchise as he fields questions from his readers frequently.

About.com got to talk extensively about his years with the franchise, especially those with Atlantis. Visit About.com: Interview: Stargate Writer-Producer Joseph Mallozzi: The franchise mainstay ponders the end of ‘Atlantis’ and the dawn of ‘Universe’ by Mark Wilson.

Ask Claudia Black Your Questions at Fansite Forum

The dedicated fan site Claudia Black Online has announced that the Stargate star will be answering fan questions directly in their on-site forum:

Would you like to write questions to Claudia Black?

You can do it now because we are trying to get questions of her fans on the Internet and we are going to use Claudia Black Online Forum to post them. This forum is the perfect place where people could ask her something about her work on TV in shows like Farscape or Stargate SG-1 and movies like Pitch Black.

So you’re the journalist who is going to manage this interview with your questions.

You’ll need to be registered as a user of the forum in order to post your questions by February 8. Visit CBO to get further details about this exciting event!

MGM: Hit the Road to "Vegas" Location Shoot

MGM has posted a new behind-the-scenes video about the filming on location in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada, for the penultimate episode “Vegas”. This location substituted as the desert outside Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Visit Stargate Hits The Road: Osoyoos, BC Canada to watch as stunt coordinator James “Bam Bam” Bamford shares the woes of spinning the red 1981 Camero 180°. Something about the brakes and snapping cables…

Richard Dean Anderson in SNL "MacGruber" Skits

Wearing a wig to call up the past days of Angus MacGyver, Stargate star Richard Dean Anderson appeared in three variations of a “MacGruber” skit on Saturday Night Live last night (January 31, 2009). According to reports, these skits were actually cleverly-disguised commercials for Pepsi.

Along with commentary, the Chicago Tribune included the three videos in their blog, and with the posting generosity of user hayes650 at YouTube, we’ve embedded them here as well:

Also, you can download the WMV files from Richard Dean Anderson’s official website.

Behind the Archaeologist Archetype of "Stargate Worlds"

Daniel Jackson Exploring
Dr. Daniel Jackson uses his weapon’s flashlight to explore, but he’ll fire the weapon if he has to.

Stargate Worlds has become a highly-anticipated MMORPG in the gaming world, and its unique feature for non-combatant character types might be the reason.

The Archeaologist—the “peaceful explorer”—in the game relies on intelligence, cunning, and the ability to infiltrate the enemies’ ranks in clever disguises. In game-talk, the Archaeologist is good at mini-games that lead to new Stargates or other important treasures, negotiation (“conversation”), and disguise.

Back in September 2008, “Inside Stargate Worlds” was launched on YouTube. According to Jim, the director of the channel, “This is your official channel for Stargate Worlds videos straight from the source.” The channel features game play and interviews with the developers. Of course, there are explosions and firefights, but there is also background information on the creation of the Archaeologist character type. This archetype was fashioned after SG-1’s own Dr. Daniel Jackson. Even though Dr. Jackson is able to engage in combat—he carries weapons—his primary purpose on the SG-1 team is to peacefully explore and use his knowledge and skills in making contact with alien worlds.

Although the YouTube channel hasn’t been updated in a while, these videos might be of interest to those of us who are new to the gaming world and might actually give this game a try because of this non-combatant character type who, in systems designer Steve Williams’ words, was fashioned after “the soul of the show”:

Creation -Systems designer Steve Williams talks about how his team translated aspects of the Stargate SG-1 series character Daniel Jackson into the Archeologist archetype in Stargate Worlds.
Inspiration – Creative Director Chris Klug discusses how the Stargate television series influenced the creation of the Archeologist archetype in Stargate Worlds.
Disguise – Systems designer Steve Williams talks about the archeologist archetype’s disguises and how they are implemented in Stargate Worlds.
Archaeologist in Disguise during Combat – Originally posted at mmorpg.com, this video shows combat using a high power rifle as well as a sneak peek of an archeologist getting into disguise as a Jaffa.
Mini-Games – Systems designer Steve Williams talks about the archeologist archetype’s strength in mini-games and how they are implemented in Stargate Worlds.

Stargate Worlds, which is set before the discovery of Atlantis, is due to be released this year. Visit their homepage for the latest news and developments.

An Update on Ben Browder's Projects

Stargate star Ben Browder is a man of many talents, including writing, acting, and coaching pole vaulting and football. Solutions has done some investigative “leg-work” to see what he’s been up to lately based on what the Internet has to say.

Browder talked with the guys over at Gateworld about many things, including two projects for the Sci Fi Channel and its website: Going Homer and the Farscape web series.

“Going Home is about a twelve year old boy named Homer Jones and his family. Homer sees the Greek myths unfolding in the world around him. It’s basically The Iliad and The Odyssey clashing with the modern world,” he explained. “Going Homer is a project that has been commissioned by SCI FI Channel, that we sold to them. We’re still at the story stage. We’re in what’s called … I think development hell was the phrase someone else used. But what we’re doing is refining the story before we get a script.”

As of the time of the interview, which was posted January 12, there hasn’t been a set day for production to begin. “We’re in development, so that means that we keep working and refining until we produce the script that is agreed upon. And then at that point, we try to go to shooting and go to air. It’s a process.”

Browder mentioned that he still has an interest in participating in the Farscape web series, but couldn’t offer any new information about its development.

And finally, Browder has made a preview trailer for an independent film named Freeze Frame that has been posted on YouTube (subject matter might be too intense for some).

According to Ben Browder Portal, “The story is about two vets. One from the Vietnam war and the other is a guilt stricken veteran of the Iraq war. One was considered a success and the other, a failure. Ben portrays a convict who, in a failed attempt at “suicide by cop”, went to prison for committing a robbery with an unloaded gun. The Vietnam vet makes an Academy Award winning documentary about the Iraqi vet. When he gets out of prison Ben’s character wants to kill the film maker who, as it turns out, also has a death wish.” Visit BBP for more information about the film which is to start production later this year.

Black Plays New Character in "Uncharted" Game Series

Stargate star Claudia Black is portraying a new character in the second installment of the Uncharted PS3 game series, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (from Sony Entertainment’s Naughty Dog development franchise), according to her dedicated fan site, Claudia Black Online.

According to Naughty Dog, the Uncharted franchise’s 2007 debut on the PS3 has received worldwide critical acclaim for its “engaging storyline, solid gameplay and compelling visuals.” It stars Nolan North as the “irascible treasure hunter Nathan Drake.”

Black’s character is Chloe Frazer, “a tough but reckless treasure hunter who cooperates with Drake on his quest to unravel the mystery of Marco Polo’s missing fleet.” Like Black, Frazer is Australian, so expect to hear her wonderful accent in the game.

In an excerpt from Game Informer Magazine supplied by CBO, it appears that Black not only provided the voice for the character, but also her moves: “To act out the cinematics of the game, Naughty Dog performed full body motion capture on the characters and recorded extensive voiceover sessions on set as the actors delivered their scenes. Frequently, motion capture is completed separately from voiceovers, sometimes even by other actors. Naughty Dog went to the expense and difficulty of recording dialogue live to capture the real moment-to-moment chemistry between the actors.”

Here’s the premiere preview video (doesn’t include Black, though):

Uncharted 2 is expected to have a fourth quarter 2009 release.

View the Final Works of Don S. Davis

When Stargate star Don S. Davis passed away in June last year, there were several of his final works that had not yet been released, the most notable and cherished of which was our very own Stargate: Continuum, which premiered on DVD and Blu-ray one month following his death on July 29, 2008. This weekend sees the debut of two of Davis’s unseen works, as well as the premiere of Continuum on Canadian television.

Coming to theaters this Friday, January 30, is The Uninvited, starring Emily Browning and Arielle Kebbel. IMDb’s synopsis for the movie reads, “Anna Rydell [Browning] returns home to her sister (and best friend) Alex [Kebbel] after a stint in a mental hospital, though her recovery is jeopardized thanks to her cruel stepmother, aloof father, and the presence of a ghost in their home.”

Davis played the character named Mr. Hensen. This movie is an American remake of the Korean Changhwa Hongryon (A Tale of Two Sisters). Check your local theater listings for show times.

From the Fangoria Online website comes this description of Wyvern, which is premiering this weekend on the SCI FI Channel: “Saturday, January 31 sees the debut of WYVERN, also airing later that night at 1 a.m. and Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. This one’s directed by Steven R. (IT WAITS) Monroe and stars Barry Corbin and X FILES vets Nick Chinlund and the late Don S. Davis, and concerns a wyvern (that’s fancy talk for “dragon”) that attacks an Alaskan town.”

Don S. Davis as General Hammond in Continuum

And Stargate fans in Canada can catch Davis as the beloved George Hammond in the Stargate SG-1 movie Stargate: Continuum on the SPACE channel on Saturday, January 31, at 10 PM Eastern.

Continuum also sees the return of Season Ten’s regular cast, as well as of Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O’Neill. It’s a time travel adventure in which Ba’al, the last of the Goa’uld System Lords, has managed to wipe out the Stargate Program and gain domination over much of the galaxy by traveling back in time. His next target is Earth. What he doesn’t know is that SG-1 is in full kick-ass mode and is working to undo all of his grand schemes.

Catching Up with Beau Bridges

Stargate star Beau Bridges did an exclusive interview recently with MovieWeb.com concerning the DVD release of Max Payne on January 20. According to Brian Gallagher who posted the interview, “… the disc topped all three home video charts in its first week in release.”

The focus of the interview was Max Payne, but Gallagher also got a chance to talk with Bridges about his upcoming projects, as well as a possible return to the Stargate franchise:

MovieWeb: So is there any chance for any sort of a Stargate resurrection with you?

Beau Bridges: Well, I haven’t talked directly with those guys for awhile, but I know they have a new show coming out called Stargate Universe. They’ve got a complete new cast, but there has been talk, just rumors, that maybe they’ll have some of the Stargate SG-1 cast back, but I don’t know. I enjoyed doing that. I did that for two, three years, maybe almost four years with the movies that I did. It was a good experience and I wouldn’t mind at all going back and doing some more.

Movie Web: What can you tell us about some of your upcoming projects, like Don’t Fade Away, Dirty Politics, or anything else that you’re eyeing up or working on?

Beau Bridges: Yeah. I just finished my looping on Don’t Fade Away with Mischa Barton. It seems like it’s a pretty good movie. It has a chance to have some potential. I haven’t seen the whole thing yet. They haven’t locked it yet. Dirty Politics, I haven’t seen that one either. I just finished my looping on that, so it’ll be interesting to see how those films turn out. They should be out pretty soon. I just got through doing Desperate Housewives. That was fun. It was [their] 100th episode. That was fantastic. I really enjoyed that so much, because I know most of those ladies and they’re so talented. (Creator) Marc Cherry wrote a really great script, so it was fun.

Movie Web: Will you be returning to My Name Is Earl as well??

Beau Bridges: I’d like to. I don’t know how many more seasons Earl‘s going to be going. It’s been awhile since I’ve been on that show because, maybe one of the reasons why is the lady who plays my wife, Nancy Lenehan, she’s in a series called Worst Week, so she’s kind of tied up in that. But I’d love to go on Earl. I’ve done a bunch of those now and they’re always fun.

Bridges concluded the interview with a thumbs-up rating for the movie, “I just think that it’s a good ride. All the action, which is at the heart of the video game, is very much there. I think it’s a wild ride and I think Mark Wahlberg won’t disappoint them as Max Payne. He’s an exciting actor to watch, both in psychological scenes and in the action, so I would recommend it to anyone.”

To read the complete interview, visit MovieWeb.com: EXCLUSIVE: Beau Bridges Steps Into the Dark with Max Payne.

Tapping on Return to Stargate, SGU Premiere

In a recent interview with Pop Culture Zoo, Stargate star Amanda Tapping shared what it was like to return to the Stargate sets after fully immersing herself in the world of Sanctuary and how her show will be shown on Friday nights with the new series Stargate Universe.

On reprising her role as Col. Samantha Carter in the Stargate Atlantis series finale, “Enemy at the Gate”:

PCZ: So, the other thing that aired recently was the final episode of Stargate Atlantis. What was it like going back and shooting that?

AT: It was really hard, I have to be honest with you. Stargate has been my home for such a long time that jumping out of that nest was such a big, scary leap to make. I’m glad I did it, for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is creatively I feel revitalized. But to go back with that crew, that wonderful crew and that cast – they were all [there] in the makeup trailer. It was weird and bittersweet because it was their last episode and it sort of didn’t make sense to me why it was ending. So, it was bit weird. I had gone off and done my own thing and now I was coming back and there was this sense of sadness about the place. It was hard. I mean, my car knows how to drive to Bridge Studios. I walked into Joe Mallozzi’s office and had such a lovely talk with him. Brad Wright and Rob Cooper came down before my last shot and gave me a hug. But it opens the door for movies and there’s a certainly a lot of talk about that. I would jump back into the army boots any day.

On honoring the late Don S. Davis and Carter’s role in the next Stargate SG-1 movie:

PCZ: My favorite part of the final episode was the little tribute to Don Davis and General Hammond. I think it speaks highly of the cast and crew that even in an episode where so much needs to get done, room is made to have a scene like that.

AT: Something had to be said that’s such a show of respect for an incredible man who…here come the tears…but something had to be said. I remember we were at Don Davis’ memorial and I was standing in his kitchen with his wife, Ruby, and Joe Mallozzi said “We’re naming the ship the General Hammond.” And we all just lost it. “Of course you are, thank you.” It’s a subtle, simple tribute, which is exactly – Don was a simple, beautiful man so that’s how they did it, it was lovely. You can’t overplay it, you’ve just got to say it. As an actor you wonder how you could possibly do justice to it. It one line and it’s so huge. So, it was just keeping it simple and lovely.

PCZ: Definitely a perfect moment at the right time. And it also takes Carter off in a new direction too. Hopefully we’ll get to explore that a little in the movies.

AT: I hope so!

On the second season shooting and premiere of Sanctuary and the series premiere of Stargate Universe:

PCZ: When do you start shooting?

AT: We’re still waiting on word, ideally the beginning of March so that we can deliver for early October. SCI FI wants us to air October 9th. We will run concurrently with Stargate Universe. I think they premiere with a two-hour episode and then the following week we will run together. Anyway, that’s the plan. We’ll hopefully start shooting at the beginning of March at the latest.

To read the complete interview in which Tapping covers Sanctuary‘s direction in more depth, visit Pop Culture Zoo: Catching Up With Amanda Tapping.

Stargate Universe will begin principal photography February 11. They’re scheduled to complete filming October 23 (according to the BC Film Commission). Based on what Tapping said, the new show will premiere Friday, October 2, most likely at 9 PM, with their two-hour opener “Air”, and return the following Friday, October 9, with the third part to “Air”. If Sanctuary keeps its first season timeslot, then SGU will probably take SGA’s old timeslot of 9 PM as a lead-in.