July 28, 2005
Ronon Dex in the house
Now, I don’t know how many of you are religious out there, but can you imagine sitting around, brainstorming, thinking about races and aliens and then coming up with an interesting idea and POOF! Making it happen… Just like that?
Well, the writers aren’t gods, but they do have that power…
And you’re wondering now what the process is, aren’t you? Well, firstly, you should know that all the writers were in agreement that the Atlantis team needed a new element, but they was no consensus about what that new element would be. Brad Wright wanted a military guy. Robert Cooper was leaning toward an alien. Now, I wasn’t privy to the conversations, but a little bird told me the discussions actually got quite heated, as often happens when two strong creative minds conflict.
Luckily for them, there was a compromise… and thus you have: Ronon Dex, the alien with a military background! The best of both worlds.
So they began casting, and they were very much looking for someone with great physical presence and athleticism. I saw many of the casting tapes, and I can tell you that this is no joke: as soon as the writers saw Jason Momoa’s audition, it was pretty obvious he would be offered the part.
And that’s pretty funny, considering he almost died the night before the audition. Jason told me the story… he was staying at a friend’s house the night before the taping and there was a gas leak… He didn’t really think twice about it – curled up on his buddy’s couch, and actually slept in the room with the gas leak for several hours before his buddies woke him up and they all got the hell out of there. So on the day of his audition he was woozy and kind of out of it.
And by the way, Jason is a hugely athletic dude. Look at the flashback scene tomorrow night in Runner and see how fast he is running. He actually outran the motorized camera dolly on that shot. And if you’re looking for funny little inconsistencies, watch the Wraith running after him. Does it look like the Wraith has any real chance of catching him? Didn’t to me.
So that’s it, really. That’s all the dirt I’ve got on Jason. Oh, actually, I made a list of the bumper stickers on his old school Toyota Landcruiser:
North Shore Cartel
Russ K Custom Surfboards
Hawaii Longboard Surfing Association
Eddie Would Go (in memory of Eddie Aikou)
Water Warrior
Where the Wind Flies (Nepal)
Treehugging Dirt Worshipper
Free Tibet
Vote for Pedro
And another little tidbit. All the other actors are in new school trailers. Jason chills in an old silver Airstream that he owns, with a big Buddha inside it.
ATL
Posted by Alex Levine at 11:08 PM
July 25, 2005
Medium
I’m sitting in my office, alone, when suddenly… a strange feeling comes over me… I feel the spirit of another life force overtaking me… my eyes roll back into my head, and my eyelids start to flutter… my body starts to shake and then…
Suddenly something is forcing my hands to type these words… I feel compelled to answer some questions posed by fans on Gateworld.net! Information courses through me… How do I know these answers? It’s as if I am speaking the mind of the Executive Producers!
So here’s some information you might want to know about Avalon Pt. 1, Avalon Pt. 2, and Origin. Actually, Robert Cooper wanted you uber-fans to know this stuff. And then later in the week I’m going to talk about Jason Momoa’s character on Atlantis – his big introductory episode, Runner, premieres on Friday.
As you’ve no doubt become aware, Avalon Pt.’s 1 & 2, and Origin is a three – count ‘em – three-parter. Very unusual, very serial. But! It was not originally intended to be so. It was intended to be a two-parter. So that might explain to you why the structure is so avant-garde, so new-age, so… 21st century. The original show-break, or half-way point, or cliffhanger, was when Vala and Daniel go to another galaxy and meet the worshippers of the Ori. But there was so much material and story, and Cooper was so white-knuckled about all of his witty character moments (the new SG-1 member interviews, the flashbacks in the hospital) all of which were well-liked by all of the writer/producers, that they decided to make it a three-parter, which is what we ended up with… so the unusual structure is because of that.
Also, there was originally a more interesting and involved role for Teal’c in the story. The way Avalon was originally written, the book discovered in the treasure cavern in Avalon was supposed to indicate the existence of an Ancient communication device which was to be found by Teal’c on Dakara. In order to get his hands on it, Teal’c was going to have to cede power over the high council to Gerak. Teal’c, like everybody else, would see the importance of the Ancient communication device that would lead SG-1 to the Gatebuilders (the Ancients or, as referred to in Avalon, the “Alterans”), even at the expense of the democratic future of the Jaffa. This subplot, however, had to be cut because of time, and the Ancient communication device was therefore found in the treasure cavern with the book in Avalon Pt. 2.
Another fan also mentioned that the number-puzzle that Mitchell solves in the caverns in Avalon uses Arabic numbers. We actually shot a Daniel scene which explained the connection to the use of Arabic numbers. But, again, that scene had to be cut for time.
Lastly, the Daniel/Vala puzzle may have seemed simplistic and a 50/50 chance (pick the pot with the coin in it) but in actually, the important part of the test was “truth of spirit” – to see whether anyone would steal the coin, which Vala, of course, did. Gotta love those second chances…
ATL
Posted by Alex Levine at 10:50 PM
July 20, 2005
Keeping it real...
So initial feedback to the blog is good, for the most part… Most people think it’s informative, upbeat, candid and fun… Almost everybody likes it.
Except for one person.
One guy thinks it’s too “fan-boy”. One guy thinks it’s too sugary, too gushing… Can you guess who that might be?
No. It’s not Richard Dean Anderson. Nice try. You can put your hand down now.
No. It’s not Ron Moore. He’s got his own blog to worry about.
Wait for it… Okay. It’s Robert C. Cooper, the show runner of SG-1. Yeah, it’s the guy who deserves a lot of the credit for making SG-1 such an amazing… I mean… such an okay television show. He’s the guy steering the ship.
Now, either Rob’s a little embarrassed about all the positive attention, or he’s worried my blog will be tuned out because it’s so adulatory. Yes, that’s a word, according to the Microsoft Word spell checker.
Well guess what, Rob? That’s just tough. I like sci-fi. I watched Star Trek growing up. I owned light sabers. And I like Stargate. Just because I happen to work here doesn’t mean I can’t be a fan, alright? Sheesh. (Just don’t fire me.)
So now what do I do? I’m not really down with being critical for no good reason. I guess I could blog all day about my office job (oh, you betcha, that’s coming, sooner or later). But I gots to keep it real, yo!
So, I guess what people really want to know is the behind the scenes stuff… All right – so here’s some interesting stuff about this week's episodes:
· Fire! In an upcoming scene in Avalon Pt. 2, our fearless SG-1 Stunt Coordinator Dan Shea caught on fire! Yep, it’s true. A wider shot selection forced him out of his fire-retardant garb so he could be in the shot and near the “burn” (the fire-stunt). When Dan went to put the “bridge” down over the flames to let the actress out of the ring of fire, the fire was accidentally blown toward him and he caught on fire. Stop, drop and roll! Thankfully he wasn’t hurt.
· Factoid: the village from Avalon Pt. 2 is entirely within our Effects stage – it’s not outside at all. There will be a behind the scenes featurette called “It Takes a Crew to Raise a Village” on the DVD’s for season 9, which, among other interesting things, shows the village being built via time-lapse photography.
· The Intruder… This episode reintroduces Col. Steven Caldwell, commander of the Daedalus. You can read his interesting bio on this site under Stargate: Atlantis cast. Brad Wright told us he talked to Mitch during shooting, and that Mitch was pretty stoked about his new role on Atlantis. Mitch apparently said something like “I actually get to command my own space ship!”
· Kimani Ray Smith, who plays Lindstrom on “The Intruder”, also works as Rainbow Sun Francks’ stunt double on the show.
Ok… next week, as promised, info about the origin of Ronon, the Runner… And maybe some more dirt…
Oh, speaking of dirt. If you’re thinking the Stargate powers that be don’t pay enough attention to detail, you’ll be amazed to learn that the network took issue with the color of the dirt in the village set. Thankfully, the matter was resolved. The producers and the network settled on brown. Now that’s keeping it real.
ATL
Posted by Alex Levine at 06:01 PM
July 15, 2005
New Beginnings
Well, just like in Poltergeist….”We’re baaaaa-aaaaack”. Yup, SG-1 Season 9 and Atlantis Season 2 premiere tonight and it’s going to be a whole new season of sci-fi twists, turns, new villains, new heroes, old villains in new roles, old characters in new stories… hey… I’m telling you… there are some great story lines for both shows…
For Stargate SG-1, Avalon Pt. 1 will introduce Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell, played by Ben Browder of Farscape fame. In case you were wondering if he is a worthy successor to Richard Dean Anderson, let me assure you: this guy is the real deal. We’re talking about an actor who is prepared, talented as hell, prefers to do his own stunts (when the producers will let him), has good comic timing, and some serious screen presence. And leave it to Robert Cooper (“Coop”) to come up with an ingenious back story for our new hero. I can tell you that when Rob came back after the Christmas break with the script for Avalon Pt. 1, people were seriously excited about this new character and new story line. As you’ll soon find out, the “We’re getting the band back together” story line is priceless, classic SG-1 stuff. You gotta love a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Here’s something you probably didn’t know about Ben Browder: big Duke basketball fan.
You’ll also get to see Beau Bridges holding down the SGC. And, of course, we’ll be welcoming back the show-stopper: Claudia Black – and I’m not just talking about her wardrobe. Okay, I am. The show stopping part is definitely partly wardrobe related. But beyond that, she’s freaking hilarious and her character is such a trouble-maker...
Now, I was a fan of last year’s cast, don’t get me wrong, but having seen half the season now in various stages of post, and I can tell you that I am an even bigger fan of this year’s cast. I know, I know… it’s like parents – you’re supposed to love them equally. But I can’t. The way they interact and the way the arc of the season has pulled them together is making for great character-based story lines.
Sorry this all sounds so gushing… it’s just that… well… when I came onto the show I was the new guy surrounded by all the old crew… so I didn’t really feel a sense of connection as much as I do seeing this new season, and new characters and new stories being created. Seeing it all happen from the inside is a thrill and I can’t help but feel connected to the results. I’m just happy the results are so good.
On Atlantis, you get the riveting conclusion of The Siege. I know, it’s a shame what happened to Major Sheppard (Joe Flanigan’s character) in The Siege Pt. 2, but hey! That’s what heroes do. They put their lives on the line. Time and again, when duty calls, they’re the first to dive in. Think of Braveheart… the hero’s always gotta lead the charge. So a big “sorry” to those of you who got really attached to him. But sometimes you gotta stir the pot. That’s what the writers and producers tell me…
Having just watched the final cut of Siege Pt. 3, though… I know what gets my MVP award. The visual effects. For a television show with a budget not even in the realm of sci-fi feature films, I am stunned by the quality and power of the visual effects in Siege 3. These guys are doing an unreal job making the show look visually stunning and producing intense, tension-building effects. Keep an eye out for a scene between Weir and Sheppard under the glow of the onslaught of the Wraith hive ship attacks. It’s surreal.
Alright, enough blabbing about Premiere week. Check in next week and I’ll tell you a little about Avalon Pt. 2 and … The Intruder… and the new character on Atlantis: Ronon Dex, all the way back from his inception in the writers’ room.
ATL
Posted by Alex Levine at 10:54 PM
July 11, 2005
Inside The Producers' Lounge
Well, it’s not the lounge actually. It’s more of a wing. Well, not a wing… more of an area. A loose collection of offices, really, joined by a common hallway. Okay, you got me. It’s an office. Nothing more. Nothing less. Welcome to the producers’ offices.
This is where it all goes down.
Well – not all. Because the show is shot on sound stages below us (Stages 5 and 6), and across the way on the other sound stages (the Effects Stage, Stage 3, Stage 2), and of course on location. And costumes isn’t here either. They’re downstairs. The art department isn’t too far away. Casting happens in a nearby trailer. Props is downstairs too, as is construction. Our visual effects department is in another building. And, well, the trailers where the actors hang out are outside and not in here. So I guess, this is where some of it goes down. The producing part. Oh – and the writing part!
And that’s why I’m here. I’m Alex Levine and nope – I’m not a writer. I’m the “script coordinator”, which means I work for the writers, proofing and reviewing scripts, keeping a handle on versions, mistakes, names, product placements, clearances and whatever else they need done over here.
And so now you’re asking yourself: “why is the script coordinator writing a blog, for goodness sake!”, because you would probably rather hear what Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, the executive producers and show runners of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis, have to say. And I don’t blame you. Or how about Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie – they’ve been writing Stargate for years and are executive producers of SG-1 and Atlantis in their own right. What about their blogs? Or Damian Kindler – he’s right across the hall. Or Carl Binder or Martin Gero. Those guys are producers and writers too…
What about the directors, you ask? Martin Wood, Peter DeLuise, Andy Mikita. They’ve all got offices within a stone’s throw of mine too. And I’m sure those guys have something to say. Can’t they write a blog? Can’t any of these guys write a blog instead of the stupid script coordinator?
And the answer is… NO! They’re too darn busy! They’re writing, producing and directing 40 hours of television a year these days. And that’s a lot of television. Think about it: a big order for a season of television is 26 hours. And these guys are making 40. So cut ‘em some slack, alright? You want good sci-fi on television, leave ‘em be. Let ‘em do their thing – dreaming up the Jaffa, the Replicators, the Ori, the Athosians, the Wraith, the Runners… creating compelling characters and stories that make us think about life beyond this puny little rock we call earth…
Which means… you get me and my blog. And I don’t want to hear any complaints. (Actually, any feedback would be okay, even if it’s a complaint. Looking forward to it, really.)
So that’s the bad news.
But here’s the good news!
I’m in the trenches, baby! I’m in the eye of the storm. It’s all happening right outside my office. When Beau Bridges’ costume doesn’t fit right, I hear about it. If Joe Flanigan’s character Major Sheppard is getting a new gun, I know. When new villains and characters are coming down the pipe – yup, you guessed it – I find out about it just as soon as they’re thought up. I’m the fly on the wall, the eye in the painting, the bug in the lamp.
Think about it this way: if all the writers are talking story and I walk in the room, they just keep on talking. And at lunch, when all the writer/producers are watching dailies and cracking jokes, yeah – I’m in there too. You want gossip? You want dirt? Well I know it all (not that I’m going to put it in here… but maybe I’ll slip? Maybe some of it will fly under the radar. Who can say?)
For example, right now, Chris Judge is across the hall in Joe Mallozzi’s office, with Damian Kindler, Paul Mullie and Robert C. Cooper, and he’s wondering why he’s not in scene 53 of Babylon. He’s got a point – it’s a Jaffa story, and they’re saying goodbye to a Jaffa who was in the SGC for a while. So why isn’t he saying goodbye in the gateroom? Well in this case Chris is just giving Damian the gears – his story line ends the scene before. Now they’re talking about whether a particular show is looking good in the director’s cut. Now they’re just talking about movies and poker. Shoot. I’ve said too much.
And this morning I was hanging out with Paul McGillion, who plays Dr. Beckett on Atlantis. He’s pretty excited about “Duet”, an upcoming episode in which he has some great comedic scenes with David Hewlett’s character, Rodney McKay.
So maybe this isn’t so bad, after all. Maybe you’ll find out a little bit more than you thought you would by reading this blog? Maybe the bigwigs aren’t the best guys to be writing the darn thing after all. Maybe this is all going to work out. You’ll just have to keep reading.
Okay, so before I sign off, I’ll bring you up to speed on what’s happening in the world of Stargate SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis this season:
· We’ve shot 12 shows of each series, and we’re taking a break for our summer hiatus. But don’t worry, I’ll be writing this blog in chronology with the broadcast season so I don’t get ahead of myself.
· On Stargate SG-1, get ready for Ben Browder as Lt. Colonel Colonel Mitchell, Beau Bridges as General Landry, Lou Gossett Jr. as Gerak, and Claudia Black, back to reprise her role as Vala Mal Doran.
· Also get excited for Jason Momoa as Ronon, the alien soldier from the planet Sateda.
So there you go! Just a little bit to get you started. Stay tuned for more…
Posted by Alex Levine at 09:28 PM
