Julia Benson won a Leo Award for her performance in PAIN (MGM/Movie Web)Julia Benson, Stargate Universe co-star and Leo Award winner for her performance in “Pain”, has answered lots of fan questions that were submitted to executive producer Joseph Mallozzi’s weblog. The Q&A is quite extensive, so you’ll need to visit the website for the complete treat, but here are a few highlights:
I have always wanted to act or perform in some capacity. I grew up in competitive dance and always loved being on stage. As soon as I did a play, there was nothing else that I wanted to do!
To get the role of James I had to go through several rounds of auditions! First I read for the character, Andrea Palmer, then I was in consideration for the role of Riley, and then they asked me to come back and read for James. I knew instantly that this was the role I wanted. It just felt right!
The hallucination scene in Pain was emotionally exhausting. You have to throw yourself in and go to a very dark place and that is incredibly challenging but also draining. It’s interesting though…you don’t realize how tired you are until the end of the night when you get home and all the adrenalin has left you!
Given the amount of screen time James has had, I think that we have seen many sides of her character. In general I think the writers do a great job of exploring the complexity of humanity in both their male and female characters.
Tonight at 9 PM ET on Syfy, Stargate star Torri Higginson will be appearing in the original movie Stonehenge Apocalypse, which also stars Misha Collins (Supernatural), Peter Wingfield (SG-1’s Tanith, recently of Riverworld), Brent Stait (SG-1’s Louis Ferretti, recently of Smallville) and Hill Harper (CSI: NY).
Sci Fi and TV Talk got a chance to publish a few images from tonight’s movie, which centers around the idea that Stonehenge is an alien mechanism that causes the planet to become somewhat unstable (to put it lightly), so make sure to visit, since there’s one of Higginson in her role as Kaycee who works with Collin’s Jacob to try to stop the end of the world.
There’s a little discrepancy as to when Stargate Universe will return with Season Two, but whether it be September 28 or October 5 or some other date, it’s pretty much a given that we’ll be waiting around 100 days for new episodes (at the time of this posting).
Whatever the case, we’ve provided the MGM Countdown and the Syfy Season Two Promo from YouTube (thanks to user Thebattlecruiserll) for your enjoyment.
Eli and Chloe are running out of air in INCURSION PART 2 (MGM)Long-time fans know that most seasons of Stargate end on a cliffhanger, and Season One of the new saga Stargate Universe is no exception!
Tonight’s episode continues the story of the Lucian Alliance‘s attempt to gain control of Destiny after they successfully dialed the nine-chevron code. But Commander Kiva’s plans aren’t going very smoothly. Opposing her every move, Col. Everett Young must try to keep as many of his people alive as possible. Unfortunately, things have a way of getting worse before they get better.
While they play the negotiating game, the two sides must also contend with mysterious events happening aboard the ship. The Destiny hasn’t jumped back into FTL and various systems are operating haphazardly. Men are being reduced to ashes in a most horrific manner, and power outages come at the most inopportune times. On top of that, Chloe is bleeding out from a gunshot wound, and Eli is trying to get them both back to a place on the ship that has replenished air.
We’ll get some of our questions answered tonight, but then, more questions will pop up. They’ll have to remain unresolved until October 2010 when SGU returns for its second season with “Intervention”, directed by Andy Mikita and written by Paul Mullie, whose writing partner Joseph Mallozzi described the episode as “an explosive conclusion” and “chock full of great character moments.” If Season Two premieres on Tuesday, October 5, that means we’ll have close to four months’ worth of counting down to do before we get resolution!
The Story Behind the Scenes: About the Script
Who will end up in control of Destiny in INCURSION PART 2? (MGM/About.com)In our episode guide in the Stargate Wiki, we’ve gathered some quotes from writer Joseph Mallozzi and a few of the cast members who have expressed their reactions about the Season One finale. Here are a few highlights:
Joseph Mallozzi: “The second script is a robust 53 pages (52 full) and contains what is, without a doubt, the biggest HOLY #%&@! ending I have ever written. I mean, I knew what was going to happen but, as I was writing toward it and the different pieces of the story were falling into place, I decided to go with a little something different in the lead-up and…well…it’s quite the eyebrow-raiser. Actually, the double eyebrow-raiser. Hell, the truth is, you don’t have enough eyebrows to make it work. Trust me.” … “I wish I could watch the reaction of the cast as they read the scripts. NO ONE IS SAFE!”
Brian J. Smith: “Wow – the finale is – wow – jeeze – did what I think happen just happen? I mean – how could you . . . ? My head is SPINNING.” … “When I read it I got upset. There’s something that happens in that last episode that is so upsetting and so cruel and so wrong … just thinking about it, it gives me goosebumps.”
Alaina Huffman: “Reading the LAST script of the season WOZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe it…”
Patrick Gilmore: “Just read #SGU’s season finale ‘Incursion.’ At one point I blurted out ‘Oh my god!’ They’ve done it. 20 solid ep’s. All Killer,no filler.”
Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman: “Just finished reading the season finale!! Speechless!! Can’t wait for all the fans to see it!”
Lou Diamond Phillips: “All I can say is that Telford’s journey is so twisted and takes so many turns, it’s very, very interesting.” (From a new interview at Chicago Now.)
So, there you have it, a glimpse into what awaits you tonight! Get your eyebrows ready and prepare for one heck of a rollercoaster ride!
ETA NOTE: “Connect” with Alaina Huffman and Jamil Walker Smith at Syfy.com during the airing of the finale at 9 PM ET.
NOTE: Space will be having a special live chat with Ming-Na during the finale’s airing at 10 PM ET, and after the finale at 11 PM ET David Blue will be taking part in the live discussion. Check InnerSPACE Live for more details.
NOTE: The UK’s Sky One viewers will see “Incursion Part 2″ on Tuesday, June 15, at 8:00 PM, and viewers in Australia will be getting it on the Sci Fi Channel on Friday, June 18, at 8:30 PM.
[spoiler intro=”TV Guide’s Episode Summary”]
Conclusion. A hostage crisis unfolds following an attempt by the Lucian Alliance to seize Destiny, which starts to have ship-wide power fluctuations and blackouts due to its proximity to a binary pulsar in the first-season finale.[/spoiler]
[spoiler intro=”Official Synopsis”]
A derailed attempt by the Lucian Alliance to seize control of Destiny culminates in hostages and casualties on both sides. With a tense stand off between Col. Young (LOUIS FERREIRA) and his brutal adversary, Commander Kiva (RHONA MITRA) the Destiny starts having ship wide power black outs. To make matters worse, Dr. Rush (ROBERT CARLYLE) concludes that these power fluctuations are being caused by deadly bursts of radiation from a binary pulsar that will in a short while cause the shields to fail and kill all aboard the ship.
While the standoff plays out, Eli (DAVID BLUE) helps an injured Chloe (ELYSE LEVESQUE) as they try to make their way back from a remote section of the ship.
Canada’s Space channel will be hosting live discussions/chats with Stargate Universe stars Ming-Na and David Blue during the course of the finale’s evening on Friday, June 11, starting at 10 PM ET. Here are the details from their InnerSPACE Live page:
This is what Destiny intended from the moment she entered the star system. On Friday, June 11, starting 10ET the Season 1 finale for Stargate Universe airs on SPACE and we are sending out this season with style!
THE AFTERSHOW
Prepare for an off-world event, because InnerSPACE is hosting a live viewing for the finale at SPACE headquarters, followed with a LIVE 1-hour special hosted by Ajay Fry and Teddy Wilson. There will be celebrity panelists, including DAVID BLUE (Eli), a live web chat, and a lively roundup of the first season.
WEB CHAT
Starting at 10et and continuing for the duration of the live show, Natasha Eloi will be hosting a live web-chat with guest panelist MING NA at spacecast.com – so you can be part of the fun online.
And if you’re in or around the Toronto area, you could be part of our LIVE studio audience! To guarantee your spot in the audience call our InnerSPACE LIVE: SGU hotline at 416.384.LIVE – and follow the prompts! But hurry before spots run out!
You might be interested in these news tidbits and announcements that have been noted on this editor’s calendar and notebook for this week. If you’ve got more to add, please don’t hesitate to announce them in the comment section below. We’ll update this article if something comes to our attention during the week.
Calendar
Monday, June 7
NBC’s Persons Unknown premieres at 10 PM ET. Current SGU writers/producers Remi Aubuchon and Linda McGibney contributed to the 13-episode show, and actor Robert Picardo is due to make an appearance in the show’s first season finale.
Richard Dean Anderson can be seen as the ever resourceful Angus MacGyver in the release of a two-movie DVD in Region 1 today! MacGyver: The TV Movies comes with MacGyver: The Lost Treasure of Atlantis and MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday. More information about the release can be found at TV Shows on DVD.
Wednesday, June 9
Thursday,
June 10
Stargate Universe“Darkness” on New Zealand’s Prime TV at 8:30 PM.
Lou Diamond Phillips will be participating in the Osoyoos Wine Festival, which starts today and ends June 12. More details can be found at the Vancouver Sun.
Torri Higginson can be seen tonight on Syfy in the movie Stonehenge Apocalypse at 9 PM ET! Peter Wingfield also stars, along with a whole host of other Stargate veterans (check out the movie’s IMDb profile for the cast list).
Sunday, June 13
Michael Shanks is wrapping principal photography in Winnipeg, Canada, for the movie Faces in the Crowd. Director/writer Julien Magnat has been posting production updates on his Twitter/Facebook, including a few behind-the-scenes photos (none include Shanks to-date, though). Shanks will begin filming his next movie project Red Riding Hood in Vancouver starting July 22.
News Notes
Last week, we posted a few background articles in our LJ Companion that you might be interested in. These articles don’t have a companion piece in our News Blog here:
Recently, we’ve been keeping up with the Team Stargate Worlds racing team as Simona de Silvestro drives the Stargate Resistance #78 car. She finished 14th in the Indy 500 and was named Top Rookie. Unfortunately, yesterday, she hit the wall and burst into flames in Texas, but thankfully walked away with non-threatening burns on her right hand and finished 24th.
For news as it happens, make sure to visit the Stargate Twitter Superfeed for tidbits directly from the Stargate stars and production crew. And don’t forget our new feature Beyond the Event Horizon, which consists of “home pages” with dynamic feeds from our LJ and Blog for the stars of SG-1 and Atlantis.
Our LJ Companion has news bites, polls, and glimpses into the lives of the actors that we don’t necessarily cover here in our more formal news blog. Make sure to visit the LJ’s feed on our front page or visit the site directly to see its mostly fun little tidbits.
For the latest in convention appearances, which are subject to change, make sure to visit Stargate Actor Appearances.
The Gala Awards Ceremony for the 2010 Leo Awards occurred last night and newcomer Stargate Universe was selected as the Best Dramatic Series!
Between the two nights of ceremonies, SGU took home six trophies, while Amanda Tapping’sSanctuary took home seven. Here’s the final list:
Stargate Universe
Best Dramatic Series: Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Carl Binder, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mulle, John G. Lenic, N. John Smith – Producers
Best Screenwriting in a Dramatic Series: Brad Wright – Stargate Universe – “Light”
Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series: Michael Blundell – Stargate Universe – “Human”
Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Series: Rick Martin – Stargate Universe – “Human”
Best Visual Effects in a Dramatic Series: Mark Savela, Shannon Gurney, Brenda Campbell, Craig Vandenbiggelaar, Krista McLean – Stargate Universe – “Air”
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series: Julia Benson – Stargate Universe – “Pain”
Sanctuary
Best Direction in a Dramatic Series: Brenton Spencer – Sanctuary – “Pavor Nocturnus”
Best Production Design in a Dramatic Series: Bridget McGuire – Sanctuary – “Kali Part 2”
Best Costume Design in a Dramatic Series: Christina McQuarrie – Sanctuary – “Pavor Nocturnus”
Best Make-Up in a Dramatic Series: Todd Masters, Holland Miller, Harlow Macfarlane, Werner Pretorius, Yukio Okajima – Sanctuary – “Fragments”
Best Guest Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series: Christopher Gauthier – Sanctuary – “Hero”
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series: Christopher Heyerdahl – Sanctuary – “Haunted”
Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series: Robin Dunne – Sanctuary – “Pavor Nocturnus”
Stargate Universe star Elyse Levesque has submitted her answers to the questions posed by fans at executive producer Joseph Mallozzi’s weblog.
Eli Wallace and Chloe Armstrong share a moment in Levesque's favorite episode from the first half, TIME (MGM)A few highlights:
Emotional scenes definitely take their toll, but I find them to be more therapeutic than anything. As actors it’s part of our job to go into those dark, messy places. I think it’s important to leave “the work” at work and not take it home with you.
What’s great about Chloe is that the possibilities as to where her character can go are endless. I would love to see her come into her own and take on a leadership, perhaps in an area that would allow her to exercise her skills as a political science major.
One of the hardest scenes for me, probably would have been in the pilot where my character attacks Rush after her father dies. The emotional and physical demands of that scene were both very challenging. I felt terrible having to beat up poor Bobby, but he was a trooper and insisted I just go for it. Funny part is that I was probably more bruised after that scene than he was!
My favorite episode of the first half is “Time”. I think it stands out. Everyone brought their best game to the table in that episode and it shows.
As far as Eli and Chloe are concerned, you never know where the writers may take the relationship, but I think it’s a stronger choice to not have them get together because once you cross that bridge, there’s no turning back. There’s something enticing about not giving the audience what they want and I think the constant desire to see these two together will keep certain fans tuning in!
