Hello again from Mongo! Or in reality a large former equestrian barn in Langley, BC. As you may or may not know we shoot "Flash Gordon" north of the border just outside of Vancouver on the lovely west coast of Canada. And when I say north of the border I literally mean less than a mile from the 49th parallel. This seems to be the land of science fiction with a great number of the genre's series and features shot here. Currently at least four of SciFi's network shows are filmed in and around Vancouver...I run into the other series' actors all the time at the airport! Yes, Trisha Helfer is just as attractive in person.

Since we shoot in such a large converted studio/barn we are able to house most of the Mongo sets under one roof. The exception is Rankol's lab which is situated in a former chemical lab facility a few miles down the road. Recently a new standing set has been added to the floor plan, one that caught my eye and I wanted to give you a little preview as it will be appearing for the first time in a couple of episodes.

The set is called the "Steep House". It is a place where the well healed Denzens of Nacent City deign to mix socially with the riffraff from the outside cantons, where people indulge in the illicit consumption of tea like drinks that have a gratifying if deleterious effect on the body. Visually the set is part Asian opium den part Moss Eisley cantina (with perhaps a smattering of "Prancing Pony" tavern thrown in for good measure). When you're in the steep house you do quite literally have to watch your back.

The first time Rankol visits (in the series, no doubt he's been there before) I actually get to dispatch someone who has been a failure to me. It's the kind of venue where such things happen, people notice the body drop to the floor and then resume their activities as though nothing at all transpired. It's all deliciously malevolent. It's also where plans get hatched, old scores get settled and new ones forged. The design is rich in detail with all sorts of odd vessels and implements adorning the walls, bar and tables. The Steep House is usually stocked with a good number of miscreants and shifty types. All in all not a destination you'd want to wander in to unaware. The set design and art departments have done a terrific job with this set, I hope you like it.

Watch for it in the coming weeks and just one tiny tip...if a very tall deviate in black hovers over and offers you some tea for your own sake DON"T DRINK IT!!