Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 475

January 12, 2013: Continuing our trip down SGA Memory Lane with The Daedalus Variations!

Congratulations to Akemi who has been bestowed the highest honor one can achieve as a tourist visiting Yellowknife willing to pay three dollars for a certificate.  She is now and forevermore (unless she misplaces this piece of paper and doesn’t buy herself a new one) “an honorable member of the exclusive North of 60 Chapter, Order of Arctic Adventurers”!  All good – until Russia invades, of course, in which case she is legally bound to fight on behalf of the Northwest Territories.

So, we were discussing Stargate: Atlantis’s fifth season.  Where were we…  Where were we… Oh, yeah!

THE DAEDALUS VARIATIONS  (504)

Near the end of the show’s fourth season, writer-producer Alan McCullough had an idea for a story which would see our crew trapped in a room that would travel through different parallel universes.  EP Robert Cooper, our resident idea man, suggested a slight but significant alteration: instead of being trapped in a room, our heroes should be trapped aboard the Daedalus.  And thus, our SF version of The Flying Dutchman was born.

Alien ship design.

Alien fighter design.

Alien design.

Yes, you!





‘Splosion!  (Photo @MGM Television)





Firefight! (@MGM Television)





David Hewlett and Director Andy Mikita in discussion (Photo @MGM Television).





Always nice to see Teyla packin’ (Photo @MGM Television)





Rodney McKay is smokin’ (Photo @MGM Television)




Tagged: Atlantis, science fiction, Science Fiction Television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, The Daedalus Variations

January 11, 2013: Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! Broken Ties!

Well, I pretty much accomplished zero out of the dozen or so things I needed to get done today.  Zero.  Oh, I started off with the very best of intentions, but I was either at the wrong place or at the wrong time and, in one instant, on the wrong date(!) so that, when all was said and done – nothing got done.  I even failed at making the bed, putting the comforter in inside out!  It does give me cause for concern given that I’m scheduled to pick up Akemi at the airport later.  The way things are going, I may well be eating ramen alone tonight.

Oh, sure, I did take part in that conference call in which we went over the notes for the urban fantasy pilot script we’re working on – but, to be perfectly honest, I was left more confused by the end of our conversation than I was going in.  It happens a lot.  My writing partner, Paul, and I have two very different approaches when it comes to notes. Upon reading them for the first time, I tend toward the pessimistic and panic (“There’s no way we can address these notes!  We’re doomed! DOOOMED!”) while Paul is much more positive and, dare I say, irrationally optimistic (“Oh, that’s no problem.  Sure we can do that!”). Days later, once we’ve had time to fully digest, our opinions invariably flip – suddenly, I’m Mr. Positive (“Yeah, in retrospect, maybe these notes aren’t so bad”) while he’s adopted a decidedly more negative attitude (“What was I thinking?!  We’re doomed!  DOOOOMED!).  But I’m sure it’ll all be fine.  If t.v. has taught me anything, it’s that everything always works out in the end.

Unless you happen to be a serial killer being chased by Mandy Pantinkin.

BROKEN TIES (503)

Sometime near the end of Atlantis’s fourth season, actor Jason Momoa swung by our offices to talk about his character.  Over the course of our discussion, he told us that there was one thing he would love to see Ronon do in season 5, and that was to go darkside.  Well, it just so happened that I was looking to do a sequel to season 4′s Reunion and the notion of writing an Evil Ronon story was just too enticing to pass up.  I wrote the script over the hiatus, including a scene in which Ronon shaves his head to complete his bad-ass transformation.  It was the ideal opportunity to present a logical, in-story explanation for the change in hairstyle (over the hiatus, Jason ended up losing the dread locks).  As it turned out, however, the network felt strongly about the Ronon character’s trademark dreads and so we ended up losing the scene – and wigging Jason for the rest of the season.  That wig, by the way, was woven from his real hair.

Anyway, playing the part of a bad guy is something almost every actor longs for and Jason threw himself into the role.  He was, in a word, magnificent.  And he was magnificent not only because he was so damn scary-convincing as Ronon gone darkside, but because he was so damn good conveying a range of emotions: fear, anger, anguish, and, ultimately grief.  Jason demonstrates incredible depth and range in this episode – in my opinion, his best performance of the series.

Special mention should be made of our guest star, Mark Dacascos, who returns to reprise his turn as Tyre – and win his character’s redemption.  Mark is a class act, incredibly professional and a wonderful on-set presence.  He so impressed that, at various points during the production, a good half dozen members of the crew approached me to ask “Is he really dead?” and “Is there any way we can bring him back?”.

Artist’s concept of Ronon’s original transformation. In retrospect, maybe a little too bald.

[image error]

Stunt Coordinator James “Bam Bam” Bamford and Rachel Luttrell (Teyla).

Mark Savela appeals for calm. And more visual effects shots.

Them playback meetings were the longest!

Assistant Director Alex Pappas keeps the production meeting running smoothly.

The sword was so sweet that Jason ended up adding it to Ronon’s arsenal. Hey, Contracto, your handiwork? And weren’t your supposed to do a Q&A at one point? Still interested?

Down to the details. Impressive, no?

Lounging extras.

Alex Pappas on set.

Kavan Smith (aka Major Lorne)

Mr. Hewlett

Rodney’s bathtub.  Extra bubbly!

Woolsey settling in to his new digs.

Some of the Atlantis decor.

I need one of these for my living room.

The ever-classy Mark Dacascos.  BTW – yes, he’s made up to look like he’s just been put through the physical and emotional ringer.

The wraith pay a housecall (photo @ MGM Television)

Contacts in!

Our wraith guest kicks back with his human crew.

Uh, somebody drop this?

Tagged: Atlantis, Broken Ties, science fiction, science fiction teleision, scifi, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis

January , 2013: Days of Stargate Atlantis Past! Broken Ties!

Well, I pretty much accomplished zero out of the dozen or so things I needed to get done today.  Zero.  Oh, I started off with the very best of intentions, but I was either at the wrong place or at the wrong time and, in one instant, on the wrong date(!) so that, when all was said and done – nothing got done.  I even failed at making the bed, putting the comforter in inside out!  It does give me cause for concern given that I’m scheduled to pick up Akemi at the airport later.  The way things are going, I may well be eating ramen alone tonight.

Oh, sure, I did take part in that conference call in which we went over the notes for the urban fantasy pilot script we’re working on – but, to be perfectly honest, I was left more confused by the end of our conversation than I was going in.  It happens a lot.  My writing partner, Paul, and I have two very different approaches when it comes to notes. Upon reading them for the first time, I tend toward the pessimistic and panic (“There’s no way we can address these notes!  We’re doomed! DOOOMED!”) while Paul is much more positive and, dare I say, irrationally optimistic (“Oh, that’s no problem.  Sure we can do that!”). Days later, once we’ve had time to fully digest, our opinions invariably flip – suddenly, I’m Mr. Positive (“Yeah, in retrospect, maybe these notes aren’t so bad”) while he’s adopted a decidedly more negative attitude (“What was I thinking?!  We’re doomed!  DOOOOMED!).  But I’m sure it’ll all be fine.  If t.v. has taught me anything, it’s that everything always works out in the end.

Unless you happen to be a serial killer being chased by Mandy Pantinkin.

BROKEN TIES (503)

Sometime near the end of Atlantis’s fourth season, actor Jason Momoa swung by our offices to talk about his character.  Over the course of our discussion, he told us that there was one thing he would love to see Ronon do in season 5, and that was to go darkside.  Well, it just so happened that I was looking to do a sequel to season 4′s Reunion and the notion of writing an Evil Ronon story was just too enticing to pass up.  I wrote the script over the hiatus, including a scene in which Ronon shaves his head to complete his bad-ass transformation.  It was the ideal opportunity to present a logical, in-story explanation for the change in hairstyle (over the hiatus, Jason ended up losing the dread locks).  As it turned out, however, the network felt strongly about the Ronon character’s trademark dreads and so we ended up losing the scene – and wigging Jason for the rest of the season.  That wig, by the way, was woven from his real hair.

Anyway, playing the part of a bad guy is something almost every actor longs for and Jason threw himself into the role.  He was, in a word, magnificent.  And he was magnificent not only because he was so damn scary-convincing as Ronon gone darkside, but because he was so damn good conveying a range of emotions: fear, anger, anguish, and, ultimately grief.  Jason demonstrates incredible depth and range in this episode – in my opinion, his best performance of the series.

Special mention should be made of our guest star, Mark Dacascos, who returns to reprise his turn as Tyre – and win his character’s redemption.  Mark is a class act, incredibly professional and a wonderful on-set presence.  He so impressed that, at various points during the production, a good half dozen members of the crew approached me to ask “Is he really dead?” and “Is there any way we can bring him back?”.

Artist’s concept of Ronon’s original transformation. In retrospect, maybe a little too bald.

[image error]

Stunt Coordinator James “Bam Bam” Bamford and Rachel Luttrell (Teyla).

Mark Savela appeals for calm. And more visual effects shots.

Them playback meetings were the longest!

Assistant Director Alex Pappas keeps the production meeting running smoothly.

The sword was so sweet that Jason ended up adding it to Ronon’s arsenal. Hey, Contracto, your handiwork? And weren’t your supposed to do a Q&A at one point? Still interested?

Down to the details. Impressive, no?

Lounging extras.

Alex Pappas on set.

Kavan Smith (aka Major Lorne)

Mr. Hewlett

Rodney’s bathtub.  Extra bubbly!

Woolsey settling in to his new digs.

Some of the Atlantis decor.

I need one of these for my living room.

The ever-classy Mark Dacascos.  BTW – yes, he’s made up to look like he’s just been put through the physical and emotional ringer.

The wraith pay a housecall (photo @ MGM Television)

Contacts in!

Our wraith guest kicks back with his human crew.

Uh, somebody drop this?

Tagged: Atlantis, Broken Ties, science fiction, science fiction teleision, scifi, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis

January 10, 2013: The Akemi Update!

Well, I heard from Akemi who is presently in Yellowknife enjoying the Northern Lights – and deep freeze (35 degrees celsius/-31 fahrenheit) - with friends.  One of the first messages she texted me was:

“It’s skin peel cold.  I want to go back to Vancouver.”

Eventually, she warmed up a little to idea of her northern adventure (figuratively speaking) but did admit she much preferred Vegas as a vacation destination.

Still, she seems to be having a good time, spending time with her girlfriends and, of course, checking out the lights -

Ooooh. Aaaah.

I’m sure they’re a marvelous sight to behold in person but I couldn’t imagine sitting through more than twenty minutes of their glorious splendor – much less three days!

Oh, and just to give you an idea of how cold it is there, Akemi sent me the following photo of a wet towel she flapped (did “bun bun” as she put it) in the open air:

Yep. Frozen solid.

Speaking of interesting texts, I received the following from my sister, a pic of the directions on a bag of dumplings in my mother’s freezer:

This is one of those rare instances where it’s actually MORE confusing with instructions.

Rodney’s bathtub – Broken Ties.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I came across a slew of Art Department handouts (schematics, sketches, blueprints, etc.) for Atlantis’s 4th and 5th seasons. Since I’m in the process of downsizing my crawlspace, I thought it might be nice to find them a new home.  There were a few of you who suggested I donate them to charity and, while I like the idea in principle, these items aren’t originals.  They’re copies.  And, while they’s certainly prove interesting to most fans, they won’t be commanding the type of price that would make it worthwhile.  Alternately, it was suggested I auction them off myself since doing so would give everyone a fair chance to win.  But, in reality, that simply gives the individual with the deepest pockets an unfair advantage.

No.  Ultimately, I’d like to give everyone of you blog readers a shot at winning – or, more precisely, 40 shots at winning as I’ll be packaging these documents up by episode for distribution.  I’m thinking, maybe, some quizzes or contests specific to each episode.  I’ll take the weekend to think about it.

Finally – swung by my local bookstore the other night and picked up a few new titles, some of them recommended…

Tagged: Atlantis, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis

January 9, 2013: Days of Stargate Atlantis Past continues with season 5′s The Seed!

So with Akemi out of town (freezing her cute little butt off in Yellowknife), I thought it would be a good a idea to do a little cleaning up around the house.  Truth is I have so much “stuff” in boxes, on shelves, in closets, and squirreled away in the darkest recesses of my crawlspace that I’d need at least a month to do a proper job of it.  Still, every little bit helps.  Thus I dedicated a significant part of my afternoon today to tidying up.  In all honesty, I didn’t really clear anything out as much as I moved things around – but, in so doing, I did come across THESE:

And what, pray tell, are THESE? you are no doubt wondering.  Well, THESE are Art Department handouts from Stargate: Atlantis’s fourth and fifth seasons covering everything from wall panels to sconces and buttress designs.  I was about to recycle them when I stopped myself and thought: “Hey, you know who might like these?  NOT me!”.  But, maybe, a diehard fan might be interested in perusing the details that went into the making of an Atlantian Ship North Corridor Light Pillar or a Lantian Chair Room Weapons Chair Gak Box.  Hell, these sketches, schematics, floor plans and blueprints are so comprehensive you could actually recreate your own Atlantis set if you so choose (and have the time, money, and manpower).  And, hey, it’s not all minutiae.  Amid the Core Room Console Base Brackets and Athosian Tent Placements are the occasional genuinely interesting finds: the Core Room Core Unit & Console, Aurora Pods, even the Midway Station!

So, interested?  The amount of supporting material varies from episode to episode, but I’m sure there’s still plenty to thrill most discerning Stargate fans.  Give me a little time to figure out the best way to award and distribute the swag.  Unless you have some suggestions…

Meanwhile, let’s continue our trip down SGA memory lane with season 5′s second episode -

THE SEED (502)

In her first appearance on Stargate, actress Jewel Staite was unrecognizable underneath all that prosthetics and make-up in season 2′s Instinct.  She did such a terrific job in the role of Elia, the tortured wraith, that we ended up casting her as a completely different prosthetic-free character, Dr. Jennifer Keller, in the show’s 4th season. But old habits die hard and, when an early episode called for someone to get infected by an alien pathogen, we automatically thought of Jewel for two reason: 1. She’d done such a terrific job the last time and, most importantly, 2. She didn’t complain.  And #2 is key since the episode required her to be in at 4:00 a.m. every morning for a three hour body cast session.

One of the many great things about the show was the thought, creativity, and hard work that went into even the smallest elements of the production – like, say, these light dimmers.

The Art Department’s Chris Beach takes one for the team.

On set with actor Paul McGillion and director Will Waring.

The lovely Jewel Staite.  Before.

Director Will Waring at work (photo @ MGM Television).

Hazmat Rodney. I want the action figure! (photo @ MGM Television).

This is what happens if you don’t clean up after eating breakfast in bed.

Nap time!

Tagged: Atlantis, Days of Stargate Atlantis Past, Days of Stargate Past, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, The Seed

January 8, 2013: Akemi’s unique perspective!

“I am going to be toilet paper Santa!”announced Akemi and then, econo-size package of bathroom tissue tucked under her arm, she scurried off to distribute the rolls around the house.

Yep, my girlfriend is mighty unique.  She has an interesting way of looking at things that, at first, I chalked up to her being Japanese but, eventually, realized was something specific to her.  Being Japanese had nothing to do with it.  Being Akemi did!

Take our last breakfast in Montreal for example.  Akemi ordered the freshly squeezed orange juice.  ”Small or large?”asked the waitress.  Akemi seemed perplexed by the question.

“Small or large?”I repeated.

Akemi gave it some more thought.  And then: “Small?”.  It was more of a question than an answer.

The waitress headed off to relay our order to the kitchen.  I asked Akemi why the question had proved so challenged.  She shrugged and informed me that it had simply taken her by surprise.  It was, in her opinion an odd thing to ask.  Ultimately, however, she chose “small” because “Smaller oranges are sweeter.”

Akemi’s special way of looking at the world make her endlessly amusing and endearing – and, to no one’s surprise, particularly fascinating to kids.  Children love her!  Our friends Jodi and Steve, for instance, have a daughter who considers Akemi a best friend of sorts.  The other night, she invited us over so that she could play Kinect Games with her on the Xbox.  And Akemi, of course, was more than happy to oblige…

I get in on the action.

Steve’s fists of fury!

And feet fury!

BFF’s

After working up an appetite, we headed over to Minami’s for sushi -

And a styling.

This morning, I dropped off Akemi at the airport.  She’ll be spending the rest of the week with friends in Yellowknife where she’ll be taking in the Northern Lights, dog-sledding, and no doubt regretting her decision to submit herself to -30 degree (celsius/-22 Fahrenheit!) average temperatures during the day (and about -5 degrees colder at night).

Akemi and co. Yellowknife-bound. Akemi is the one hiding behind the red mitts.

Despite her insistence that she was well prepared for the sub-zero conditions and that she could simply rent whatever equipment she needed once she got there, I made sure to send her off with at least a fighting chance at survival: proper winter boots, thermal undies, and a hat that, while admittedly not fashion, would certainly keep her ears from frosting over.

Anyway, I look forward to the pics.  And my “I told you so’s”.

Touchdown in Yellowknife! C-c-c-c-c-cold!

January 7, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Spiderman 3!

As rule of thumb, you know you in for crappy viewing experience when SUPERHERO movie you watching kick off wit MUSIKAL NUMBER.  Let just say dat, after sitting thru rest of dis film, monster wasn’t any Less Miserables.  Whew!  Dis movie be messier den Snuffalufagus eating Cantonese chow mein.  It meander and hopscotch from one coincidence or contrivance to de next as it desperately search for a plot dat never materialize.

Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson in love!  Peter decide he going to ask her to marry him – but he too cheap to buy a ring so he con Aunt May into giving him her old engagement ring.  Yep, tings looking pretty sweet for our tightwad hero until -

Just hanging around.

He get attacked by his old friend Harry Osborne who want revenge on Spiderman for killing his father!  Dey fight.  Harry seriously injured and – develop CONVENIENT amnesia, putting de brakes on dis partikular storyline.  We’ll get back to Harry later.  Meanwhile -

Like father like son.

Convikt Flint Marko escape from police by hopping a fence and ending up – oops – smackdab in middle of a science experiment on demolecularization.  Evidently, dese scientists are “book smart” not “security and safety” smart.  Flint Marko demolecularized and turned into…Sandman!  He visit his sick kid, vowing to make enough money to help her.  Uh, hold dat thought.  We get back to him later.  Meanwhile -

Mr. Sandman, lend me your comb, da-da-da-dum…

A meteor just happen to COINCIDENTALLY land near Peter and MJ out on a date.  A creepy black alien tingie hitch a ride on Peter’s bike and hang around his apartment.  But we’ll get back to dat later.  Meanwhile -

V

City honor Spiderman wit outdoor fest.  Spidey swing in and kiss Gwen Stacey, seksy blond who, COINCIDENTALLY, Spiderman saved and COINCIDENTALLY also be Peter Parker’s lab partner.  She also, COINCIDENTALLY, happen to be dating Eddie Brock who happens to be rival freelance photographer at de Daily Bugle.  Dat enuf coincidences for you?  No?  Good.  Plenty more where dose came from.

Peter take MJ out for dinner where he plan to propose to her wit second-hand ring, but plans fall thru becuz MJ mad at Peter for being a complete douchebag kissing Gwen Stacey.  Peter upset – and even more upset when police reveal dat Flint Marko de real killer of his Uncle Ben!

Huh?!  Apparently, producers feel not quite enough going on in dis movie so dey have to create forced “Oh, by de way, let’s retread dat whole revenge for Uncle Ben ting dat worked so well in de first movie” sub-sub-sub plot.

Putting capper on Peter’s bad day, he infekted by black alien creepy-crawly symbiote dat cause him to act crankier, dance around, and sport silly hairstyle.

Harry’s memories come back to him – CONVENIENTLY after movie has had chance to set up its half-dozen other half-ass storylines – and he blackmail MJ into breaking up wit Peter.  Monster not really sure how it be possible to threaten her since her boyfriend…BE FRIGGING SPIDERMAN!!!!  Peter, under influence of symbiote’s dance fever infektion, show up at bar where MJ works and dance up a storm, securing prize for Most Bewilderingly Stupid Scene in Spiderman Film History.

Eddie Brock, meanwhile, upset at being fired from De Daily Bugle and blaming Peter Parker, goes to some empty church in middle of night. But not just any empty church and not just any night.  He just happen to be at de exact same church at de exact same time dat, COINCIDENTALLY!!!!, Spiderman choose to divest himself of alien symbiote.  Symbiote drop off Peter and onto Eddie Brock who be transformed into…Venom!

Venom and Sandman kidnap MJ, den team up against Spiderman.  But Spiderman helped by most unlikely ally…Harry “New Green Goblin” Osborne (in one of the movie’s few inspired moments)!

[Addendum: Monster almost forget reason for Harry's turnaround.  In one of movie's most implausible moments - and dat's saying someting! - Harry's butler - who we've never seen before - tells him dat COINCIDENTALLY he was dere on de night his father was killed - untrue if first movie is to be believed - and saw everyting.  Spiderman not responsible for death of Norman Osborne after all.  Dis 11th hour "Oh, by the way!" moment go beyond CONVENIENT into INSULTINGLY STOOPID territory.  Hoo boy.]

Venom/Brock obliterated wit pumpkin bomb while Sandman say he sorry and drift away, leaving his “sick kid” storyline unfinished.  A mortally wounded Harry forgive Peter and die.

Movie conclude wit Harry’s solemn funeral.  And more singing and dancing!

Verdikt:  It be a movie about Peter Parker’s love for Mary-Jane.  No!  It be a movie about Harry Osborne getting revenge for his dad.  No!  It be about de Sandman misguided attempts to help his daughter.  No! It be about Peter/Spiderman getting revenge for Uncle Ben!  No!  It be about de dark side in all of us.  No!  It be about an evil alien symbiote wit de power to corrupt.  No!  It be about all of dese tings!  And none of dese tings!  On bright side, Sandman effekts pretty cool and monster like Spiderman/Green Goblin team up dat end movie.

Rating: 5 chocolate chippee cookies.

Tagged: comic book movies, Comic Books, Comics, Cookie Monster film reviews, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews Spiderman 3, Sandman, Spiderman, Spiderman 3, superhero movies, superheroes, Venom

January 6, 2013: The Ominous Rule of 3!

Yesterday, I averted disaster not once but twice.

In the first instant, I decided to make myself some steelcut Irish oatmeal.  I always follow the same procedure – cook them on high until they come to a furious boil, then turn the heat down to medium for another couple of minutes before turning it all the way down to minimum for the final five.  I set the pot on the stove and headed into the next room to check my email and update my blog comments.  At which point Jelly waddled into the room and barked up a storm, her way of saying “Walk me!”.  And so, I put on my coat, picked her up, and headed outside.  Because of her hip dysplasia, it takes Jelly a while to complete even the shortest of strolls – ten minutes from my front walk to the end of the block.  Then, another ten minutes up the opposite side of the street and back.  We had just reached the corner, the halfway point of our walk, when a certain uneasiness crept up on me, a simmering sense of foreboding fueled by a suspicion that I’d forgotten something.  Something very important.  But what?  What? And then it hit me.  The oatmeal on the stove!  Holy shit!  I scooped up Jelly and charged back up the block as fast as I could, tearing up the walk and onto the porch, scrambling with the house keys, unlocking the door and rushing inside, images of my kitchen engulfed in flames alive in my mind.  I raced into the kitchen to find – the pot sitting quietly on the burner.  I’d forgotten to turn the stove on.

Twenty minutes, I was out walking Bubba and Lulu when we happened to cross paths with an elderly lady walking her dog.  Of course, the mere sight of another dog is enough to set Bubba and Lulu off.  They started barking.  Her dog started barking back.  I reined in my dogs. She tried to rein in her dog, tripped and stumbled, almost losing her grip on the leash.   I tugged on my leashes, backing up, swung around to head off – and turned right into a sprawling curbside tree.  I felt the branch, sharp and solid, glance off my left eyelid and bounce painfully off my nose.  I blinked and, as my eyesight adjusted, blurred then sharp, I realized how close I had come to impaling my eyeball.  A quarter of an inch lower and I’d be sporting a rugged-looking eyepatch today.

Like speech gags and celebrity deaths, bad luck comes in three’s.  I know this for a fact because I’ve fallen victim to the Rule of 3.  I remember…

I was in fourth grade grade gym class and our phys ed teacher called on the students to help set up the trampoline.  I was a little wary of the damn thing because, only days earlier, I’d avoided serious injury after attempting a flip – and landing squarely on my head (#1!). That’s all I could think of us as we rolled out the apparatus and proceeded to unlock it.  Distracted as I was, I didn’t even realize my hands were resting on a metal roller until the connecting bar touched down on my fingers.  I pulled them away in the nick of time as – snap! – it locked into place.  One of my classmates, Steve Robertson, marveled at my luck.  ”You almost got your fingers massacred!”he said as we opened the trampoline.  ”Almost!”, I remember thinking (#2).  At which point the spring-loaded section we were trying to snap into place sprang back and landed my left arm, snapping it in two places.  Like kindling.  The palm of my hand was flat against my wrist (And that was #3!).  I cringe even now thinking about it.

If those Final Destination movies taught me anything, it’s that disaster, twice averted, only sets you up for a third strike.  However, if you manage to survive that third attempt by the Fates, then simple superstitious logic dictates that you’re home free.

I just need to survive that third attempt.

As a result, I spent most of yesterday and today indoors, double-checking my dumbbells before my workouts, cautiously sniffing my food before I eat it, bringing my old swim googles out of storage – just in case.

See you tomorrow.

I hope!

January 5, 2013: Resuming our trip down Stargate: Atlantis memory lane with seasons 5′s Search and Rescue! A slew of behind-the-scenes pics and vids!

SEARCH AND RESCUE (501)

When production resumed on Stargate: Atlantis’s fifth season, little did we realize at the time that it would be our final year.  We were coming off a terrific fourth season and had some great scripts on deck and some big ideas for what lay ahead.  Samantha Carter was on her way out and a new Commander was on his way in.  And this time, there would be no discussion over potential candidates.  There was only one. I picked up the phone and called Robert Picardo, told him we’d love to make Richard Woolsey a regular.  I pitched him what we had in mind, a move that would complete Woolsey’s transformation from pencil-pushing pain-in-the-ass to surprising and lovable friend and ally.  Bob loved the idea, welcomed the opportunity and his deal was closed that day.  It was tough to say goodbye to Amanda, but we were happy that she would be leaving for a passion project, the first season of Sanctuary, in which she would be producing and starring (and, eventually, directing as well over the show’s five year run).

The change in command was not the only development in this final season.  Teyla would finally give birth, the Michael storyline would be concluded, Elizabeth Weir would make a (sort of) return, while the introduction of a powerful new enemy would complicate matters for our intrepid expedition.

But first things first.  We had a story to conclude, some trapped team members to rescue and, of course, a baby to deliver…

VFX Supervisor Mark Savela at the Search and Rescue concept meeting.

The show’s visual effects were second to none, thanks to the work of Mark Savela and his crew.

Art Department package for the episode. The Construction Department had their work cut out for them on this one.

The former village set is transformed into a ruined facility on what we used to call The FX Stage.

That’s a load-bearing ladder!

A relaxed Jason Momoa returns from hiatus sans dreads. It would be a couple of episodes before we could write them out so we had to wig him to start the season. The wig, by the way, was made of his own hair.

One easy to handle baby for the birthing season.

Don’t forget the umbilical cord!

Inside Michael’s hive ship.

An Alien-esque feel.

The wraith tech was always very organic-looking.

Wraith tablet.

Michael (Connor Trineer) at the controls.

An Andy Mikita joint.

A visit to the wraith OB/GYN.

Kanaan, Teyla’s baby daddy, relaxes between takes.

Martin Christopher (aka Major Marks) checks out the craft service offerings.

Amanda Tapping and Mitch Pileggi.

Stand-ins (or, more appropriately in this case, sit-ins) aboard the Daedalus.

And…Action!

Preparing to send out the MALP.

Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok at work.

David Hewlett and Kavan Smith take a break from the dust and debris.

Major Lorne looking the worse for wear.

Exhausting work. McKay’s jacket gets a workout.

The ruined facility.

The jumper. Stage 2.

And a few behind the scenes vids…

Wraith tech:

On the hive ship:

Search a rescue rehearsal:

And the scene:

Tagged: science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, Search and Rescue, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis season 5, Stargate: Atlantis

January 5, 2012: Resuming our trip down Stargate: Atlantis memory lane with seasons 5′s Search and Rescue! A slew of behind-the-scenes pics and vids!

SEARCH AND RESCUE (501)

When production resumed on Stargate: Atlantis’s fifth season, little did we realize at the time that it would be our final year.  We were coming off a terrific fourth season and had some great scripts on deck and some big ideas for what lay ahead.  Samantha Cater was on her way out and a new Commander was on his way in.  And this time, there would be no discussion over potential candidates.  There was only one. I picked up the phone and called Robert Picardo, told him we’d love to make Richard Woolsey a regular.  I pitched him what we had in mind, a move that would complete Woolsey’s transformation from pencil-pushing pain-in-the-ass to surprising and lovable friend and ally.  Bob loved the idea, welcomed the opportunity and his deal was closed that day.  It was tough to say goodbye to Amanda, but we were happy that she would be leaving for a passion project, the first season of Sanctuary, in which she would be producing and starring (and, eventually, directing as well over the show’s five year run).

The change in command was not the only development in this final season.  Teyla would finally give birth, the Michael storyline would be concluded, Elizabeth Weir would make a (sort of) return, while the introduction of a powerful new enemy would complicate matters for our intrepid expedition.

But first things first.  We had a story to conclude, some trapped team members to rescue and, of course, a baby to deliver…

VFX Supervisor Mark Savela at the Search and Rescue concept meeting.

The show’s visual effects were second to none, thanks to the work of Mark Savela and his crew.

Art Department package for the episode. The Construction Department had their work cut out for them on this one.

The former village set is transformed into a ruined facility on what we used to call The FX Stage.

That’s a load-bearing ladder!

A relaxed Jason Momoa returns from hiatus sans dreads. It would be a couple of episodes before we could write them out so we had to wig him to start the season. The wig, by the way, was made of his own hair.

One easy to handle baby for the birthing season.

Don’t forget the umbilical cord!

Inside Michael’s hive ship.

An Alien-esque feel.

The wraith tech was always very organic-looking.

Wraith tablet.

Michael (Connor Trineer) at the controls.

An Andy Mikita joint.

A visit to the wraith OB/GYN.

Kanaan, Teyla’s baby daddy, relaxes between takes.

Martin Christopher (aka Major Marks) checks out the craft service offerings.

Amanda Tapping and Mitch Pileggi.

Stand-ins (or, more appropriately in this case, sit-ins) aboard the Daedalus.

And…Action!

Preparing to send out the MALP.

Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok at work.

David Hewlett and Kavan Smith take a break from the dust and debris.

Major Lorne looking the worse for wear.

Exhausting work. McKay’s jacket gets a workout.

The ruined facility.

The jumper. Stage 2.

And a few behind the scenes vids…

Wraith tech:

On the hive ship:

Search a rescue rehearsal:

And the scene:

Tagged: science fiction, Science Fiction Television, scifi, scifi television, Search and Rescue, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate Atlantis season 5, Stargate: Atlantis