Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 472

January 15, 2013: Days of Stargate Atlantis Past continues with Ghost in the Machine!

I spent yesterday afternoon going through the various Art Department handouts I amassed over my time on Stargate.  Sadly, not over my entire run on the franchise but mainly over those last four years – Atlantis’s fourth and fifth seasons, and Universe’s first and second. There’s a lot of interesting stuff – and some highly detailed schematics that might only prove of interest to the most diehard fans.  Some episodes are well-represented with reams of supporting sketches and blueprints while others have only a single sheet or two to accompany the happy memories.  All told, several hundred documents at least.

The plan, as outlined in a previous entry, is to package them by episode as fan giveaways.  I estimated 40 at first but, including SGU, it’s closer to 80!   Ultimately, as many of you have already pointed out, it would be nice to make this veritable treasure trove of Stargate information available to fandom at large.  And so, before I get around to doing that giveaway, I’m going to have everything scanned and digitized so that someone (hint! hint!) can upload to a dedicated site where fans can peruse them at their own leisure  - while the more ambitious of you can start work on building your own versions of the various sets.  How’s that for an idea?  ”Hey, studio, we’d like to shoot the movie.  No, we can shoot it for half the cost because we’ve already got the sets.  They’re on loan from some fans…”

Continuing our trip down SGA memory lane with…

GHOST IN THE MACHINE (505)

Another one of Carl Binder’s infernal “ghost” episodes!  Have to hand it to him though.  He was damn good at them.

This one was bittersweet for a host of reasons, the chiefest, of course, being the fact that it marked the final appearance of Elizabeth Weir (in new replicator form, mind you).  The original ending was a little more open-ended but, once were unable to secure Torri for a return appearance, it was decided to rewrite the script and offer closure to that particular storyline.  I often like to think that, if things had turned out differently – IF the show had been picked up for a sixth season and IF Torri had been amenable to a return appearance – we could have found a way to re-introduce the real Weir to the Stargate universe.  In my mind, Oberoth’s claim to have killed the real Elizabeth was an obvious lie.  Why dispose of such a valuable asset, someone with such intimate knowledge of Atlantis and the Stargate program?  It’s more probable that Oberoth kept Elizabeth in stasis at a secret location – only to perish with that knowledge.

Somewhere out there in the Pegasus Galaxy, Elizabeth Weir is waiting to be rescued!

The lovely Michelle Morgan as Fran.

Lots of firepower in this episode.

Heads up! (Photo @MGM Television)

(Photo @MGM Television)

Tagged: Atlantis, film & television, Ghost in the Shell, science fiction, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, t.v., television

January 2013: Days of Stargate Atlantis Past continues with Ghost in the Machine!

I spent yesterday afternoon going through the various Art Department handouts I amassed over my time on Stargate.  Sadly, not over my entire run on the franchise but mainly over those last four years – Atlantis’s fourth and fifth seasons, and Universe’s first and second. There’s a lot of interesting stuff – and some highly detailed schematics that might only prove of interest to the most diehard fans.  Some episodes are well-represented with reams of supporting sketches and blueprints while others have only a single sheet or two to accompany the happy memories.  All told, several hundred documents at least.

The plan, as outlined in a previous entry, is to package them by episode as fan giveaways.  I estimated 40 at first but, including SGU, it’s closer to 80!   Ultimately, as many of you have already pointed out, it would be nice to make this veritable treasure trove of Stargate information available to fandom at large.  And so, before I get around to doing that giveaway, I’m going to have everything scanned and digitized so that someone (hint! hint!) can upload to a dedicated site where fans can peruse them at their own leisure  - while the more ambitious of you can start work on building your own versions of the various sets.  How’s that for an idea?  ”Hey, studio, we’d like to shoot the movie.  No, we can shoot it for half the cost because we’ve already got the sets.  They’re on loan from some fans…”

Continuing our trip down SGA memory lane with…

GHOST IN THE MACHINE (505)

Another one of Carl Binder’s infernal “ghost” episodes!  Have to hand it to him though.  He was damn good at them.

This one was bittersweet for a host of reasons, the chiefest, of course, being the fact that it marked the final appearance of Elizabeth Weir (in new replicator form, mind you).  The original ending was a little more open-ended but, once were unable to secure Torri for a return appearance, it was decided to rewrite the script and offer closure to that particular storyline.  I often like to think that, if things had turned out differently – IF the show had been picked up for a sixth season and IF Torri had been amenable to a return appearance – we could have found a way to re-introduce the real Weir to the Stargate universe.  In my mind, Oberoth’s claim to have killed the real Elizabeth was an obvious lie.  Why dispose of such a valuable asset, someone with such intimate knowledge of Atlantis and the Stargate program?  It’s more probable that Oberoth kept Elizabeth in stasis at a secret location – only to perish with that knowledge.

Somewhere out there in the Pegasus Galaxy, Elizabeth Weir is waiting to be rescued!

The lovely Michelle Morgan as Fran.

Lots of firepower in this episode.

Heads up! (Photo @MGM Television)

(Photo @MGM Television)

Tagged: Atlantis, film & television, Ghost in the Shell, science fiction, scifi, scifi television, SF, SF television, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, t.v., television

January 14, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer!

Benign and inoffensive.  Dat pretty much sum up dis movie.  On de one hand, it not sink to craptastic lows of first FF movie; on de other hand, it never quite reach de lofty heights of mediocrity either.

Reed Richards and Sue Storm be in love and want to get married. Meanwhile, silver alien on surfboard fly around world creating weather disturbances.  Dis pretty much sum up first 60 minutes of movie’s 90 minute running time.

Most boring super celebrity couple ever!

Instead of quietly tying de knot in publik, Reed and Sue opt for big publik wedding – and den complain when dey keep getting harassed by paparazzi.  Boo hoo hoo.  Dey also end up getting upstaged by silver alien on surfboard who happen to fly by during ceremony.  Johnny flame on and give chase, but get choked out for his troubles.

Choke out time!

When he return to team, we diskover he suddenly possess strange ability.  Every time he touch someone, he end up swapping powers wit dem!

“Cool!”say Michael Chiklets.  ”It me!”

Monster realize dis a superhero movie and rules of general logik may not apply, but me still feel movie should adhere to internal logik.  What possible reason dere be for Johnny to acquire dis strange power?  Silver Surfer never display dis ability.  So why dis complikation introduced? Two reasons.  1. So dat movie can include scene where Johnny swap powers wit Sue who end up burning off her clothes and end up – ho ho ho – naked.  Again!  2. So dat we have ready-made, dramatikally unsatisfying solution to problem at end of film.

London = de world’s sandbox!

Silver Surfer a real annoyance.  He keep flying around de world causing trouble.  FF try to stop him but keep getting in each other’s way.

Finally, Reed realize dat surfboard is source of Silver Surfer’s power. How he figure dis out?  Come on!  De guy’s name be Silver Surfer!  So Reed create plan to use tacky-on pulse to separate Silver from surfboard.  He be helped, sort of, by Doctor Doom who, conveniently, be cured of scarring and get free pass from “army”.

Silver ride de missile waves.

Reed succeed!  Silver captured.  His board locked safely away.  Until Dr. Doom ask army if he can take a look at it.  Pretty pleaze.  Army say okay and – in movie’s most unshocking twist – it turn out Dr. Doom be a bad guy after all.  Come on!  De guy’s name be Doctor Doom!

He hop on board and surf away.  FF give chase in flying car-thing Reed just happen to finish building off-screen.

Shotgun!

Monster just one to take a moment to say idea of alien riding around on a cosmic surfboard must have been really great back in de 60′s when everybody doing LSD.  Nowadays, not so cool, dude.

Reed get bright idea to give Johnny all deir powers so he can fight Surfer Doom.  How he know dis even possible monster not sure but movie near its merciful end so me not complaining.  Much.  Sue sacrifice her life to save Silver.  Johnny, wit all four powers, fight Doom. It back and forth until -

Ben Grimm (aka Thing) climb up onto crane, swing it around and knock Doom into de drink.  Really.  DAT was de plan?!

Fantastic Four in One.

Wind pick up.  Uh oh!  It turn out Silver Surfer be a herald for Galactus de Planet Eater and Earth be doomed.  But Silver Surfer have change of heart and, after curing Sue of death (Oh, he can do dat?  Okay.), he fly up into funnel in de sky and stop Galactus from eating Earth.  How exaktly?  Why he do dis when he already said he serving Galactus to save his own family?  Why do Johnny’s weird body swapping powers suddenly disappear?  Shut de fudge up!  You ask too many qwestions. Just sit back and enjoy give  makers of dis movie a free pass so dey can cash deir unearned paychecks.

Everybody hug.  Reed and Sue get married in Japan.  Johnny’s girlfriend almost catch bouquet but he end up incinerating it becuz he a playah!  And she, by extension, a tramp.  Tee hee.

Verdikt:  Dis movie less satisfying den seksual relations wit Grover’s sister.

Rating: 3.5 chocolate chippee cookies.

Tagged: comic book movies, Comic Books, Comics, Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Cookie Monster superhero movies reviews, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, FF, film reviews, movie reviews, superhero movies, superheroes, The Fantastic Four

January 13, 2013: Patriots 41 Tomato Cans 28!

With my gal back in town, it was time to resume our weekend traditions of Farmer’s Market and Football!

The Winter Farmer’s Market is a far cry from the Summer Farmer’s Market and, to be honest, the draw is less the fresh produce as it is the food trucks – namely two of our favorites.

Sacre Bleu (cheese with with prosciutto and brie)!  Just one of their many tasty sweet and savory selections.

For Akemi, it’s La Boheme Creperie, a family-run food truck that serves a host of terrific buckwheat crepes.  She always gets the same thing: The Quebecois (ham, cheese, and apple compote minus the ham and with the addition of greens).

Superbe!

As much as I like the crepes, my go-to truck is Le Tigre Cuisine which offers up a kick-ass Asian fusion menu that includes pork belly shao bing, crispy chicken karaage and -

My fave: the beet fries!

Football and I have brokered a temporary truce through the rest of the playoffs.  To be honest, my interest lies less in the games themselves than the opportunity to root against the teams I hate.  #1 on that list was the Green Bay Packers.  My hatred for this team was a recent development, the result of Aaron Rodgers belligerent refusal to throw any passes James Jones’ way in week 12, costing my Snow Monkeys a shot at a Fantasy Football post-season berth.  The Pack, of course, ended up having their Superbowl dreams quashed by the San Francisco 49ers.  Very satisfying.

Perhaps even more satisfying was seeing the favored Denver Broncos go down as well.  Being a longtime Raiders fan, it’s always nice to see a division rival lose out.

And, while they’re no longer a division rival, the Seattle Seahawks were once.  They ended up on the short end of 30-28 score.

Sadly, it wasn’t a perfect football weekend as the New England Patriots qualified for the AFC conference championship by slapping around the hapless Houston Texans.  Going into the game, the Texans were upset by a Boston Globe article that likened them to tomato cans.  Not that I really did anything to discourage the comparison but in my mind, given their somewhat respectable first half performance, I’d liken them more to paint cans than tomato cans.

I’m holding out hope for an Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens Superbowl.  That would be sweet indeed!  But I think the Falcons are going to have their hands full at home against a very strong 49ers team on both sides of the ball while the tough Ravens D will really have to step up to slow down pretty boy Brady and his milquetoast teammates.  Looking forward to next weekend.

Oh, and getting back on the football horse also allowed me to reconnect with friends -

Hey!  It’s special guest Brad Wright!  Also, Ivon Bartok and his girlfriend Lulu.

My writing partner Paul (camera loves him!) and Lawren Bancroft-Wilson.

Not pictured: Robert Cooper who just returned from a whirlwind tour of Australia that, apparently, boasts the greatest salt and pepper lobster in existence.  Hey, you Aussies!  Hook me up!

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!