Friday, March 24, 2006 (Con't)The catering at
Stargate is everything you've heard. I know the crew has discussed it from end to end, but I feel it deserves mentioning here. We wait until the cast and crew have had a chance to get their lunch, and then Darren, Carole and I dig in. The caterers are in enormous trailers that are nothing but kitchens. Little windows are open for you to request what you want from a dry erase board menu, looking up at a person four feet above you. Their chefs are the nicest folks. I always make a point when I'm done eating to return to the trailer and thank them.
Today I order cuttings of tender beef, corn, beans and a slice of hot apple pie. It really doesn't get better than this. And I'm a picky eater. There's just something about their food that hits the spot no matter what your taste buds prefer.
There are two types of food service at The Bridge: catering and craft service. Both are run by completely different people. While the catering manages complete meals, the craft service tents are set up near the action and are there for anyone who wants a light snack. These tents have
everything. Muffins, coffee, every kind of milk, boiling hot water for tea -- sometimes to the extent of melting Styrofoam. Even a microwave, if I recall correctly.
I meet the lady who is managing the craft service tents. It is her job to keep them stocked the entire day. She even makes custom-made items for the crew. My particular favorite is the peanut butter, jelly and sliced banana on half a sub sandwich bun. Delicious. All of these things are individually wrapped. This gal does an amazing job. I'm not sure if I could do the same in all of the pouring rain, regardless the tent.
Aah, David Hewlett. Now this man is an amazing character. I don't know why he's not working on a big-time sitcom, but we're lucky to have him on
Stargate. The first question out of my mouth when I enter his trailer is "You didn't get rid of Mars, did you?"
David quickly confirms that he still has him. And then I put it together. David's just finished working on "A Dog's Breakfast." "Mars is the dog," David says.
It clicks.
I met Mars last year. He's mostly German Shepherd, my favorite breed, but like many of the Shepherds who are old he has a lower back problem and can't get around too well. Last year David was debating whether or not to keep him. I can't remember where he got him. Either way, Mars is a wonderful animal, and I am more excited than ever now to be seeing "A Dog's Breakfast" knowing that his pooch is the title character.
"When we did
"Hot Zone" where [McKay] confesses that he has a sister, it had originally been written as a brother," Hewlett reveals to us. "And I said, 'Look, just on the off chance, I've got a lot of sisters and one of them happens to be an actress. I'm not saying you have to cast her, but just on the off chance, can I say 'sister?'' And they said, 'Oh, that's a good idea. That's fine.
"I've just worked with Kate, because we just did this film together in January," he says. "And she's fantastic. And that's me saying it -- I'm usually tougher than anybody on that kind of stuff. And one of the producers actually saw a couple of things she did recently, as well, and said she's good. So we'll see. I've got my fingers crossed."
We return to the village set to watch the filming of an expository sequence taking place. I believe this scene marks the first moment ever for the franchise when a character besides Daniel has intentionally sneezed in a scene. A moment of profound significance, to be sure ...
Following the filming of this scene we meet Joe Flanigan in the portion of the village set that had been the bar last year. Right now it's being used to store flowers. We chat with him for probably ten minutes before he is called back to the set.
Paul McGillion is soon entering the village. He has scenes later in the day and didn't have to come in until the mid-afternoon. Though I did have a brief telephone conversation with him about a year ago, this was my first time meeting Paul face to face. Another great guy. I'm very pleased he's been added as a regular cast member. As David DeLuise put it, "He's just one of the guys."
It's beginning to rain again, and the sun is starting to disappear. We walk out to Paul's trailer, flanked by Jason Momoa, to do a double chat with these fine men. Unfortunately Jason can't see the interview to its completion -- he is called back to set -- but we carry on with Paul for quite some time.
"The direction the character's going in right now, I'm very pleased with it," says McGillion. "So far I've had some great stuff to do in the first few episodes we've had [in Season Three] and hopefully it will continue."
It is an extremely fulfilling interview, one I can't wait for people to hear.
After we wrap with Paul we head back over to Stage 5 to catch a few minutes with Amanda Tapping. The scene is set for Carter's laboratory and everyone, minus Michael Shanks (who won't be in "Insiders") is in this sequence. Even Beau.
During breaks Amanda manages to come out into the corridor to sit and chat with Darren for a few minutes. It is then that the passage of time is starting to get to me. It is going on 6 p.m. and I have to get back to the hotel to host at a party I planned. Amanda has an assistant call us a taxi and promises to continue our discussion at the convention in a couple of days.
My lovely pal Bonnie is escorted back to the front gates by Martin Wood. We all take the taxi back to the hotel together, share a spoiler or two, then hurry over to TGI Fridays for a kick-ass dinner party.
Well, that's that. My second year at The Bridge Studios,
not in a nutshell. If you are a big fan of the show I'm sure you've entertained the possibility of visitng the sets through Creation.
Star Trek and other sci fi genres were notorious for
not letting you do that, so in the scheme of things this really is unprecedented.
If you get a chance to visit the sets, take it. If you
have the money to spend on it, spend it. Notice I emphasized the word *have*. Don't be an idiot. Nothing is worth starving yourself, or worse, your children, for the months afterward, and I've just about seen certain wild fans do this to themselves. Just take this word of warning: Some of the magic will forever be laid to rest.
There are many certainties in my life. Here is Number 4:
If Jamie ONeal is still trying to find Atlantis,
she obviously doesn't get the SCI FI Channel.
David has been a member of GateWorld since early 2003. His interests
include Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, writing, and
multimedia. He is a DJ at a hometown radio station.
oh man am i jealous. hanging out with the stargate casts and great food... like i said... Jealous!
David,
I thought you forgot that I was there! :( You made up for it by calling me lovely. Mwa!
For others reading this, I'd like to make a correction: Martin Wood didn't escort me to the cab. This wondeful man ran into the pitch black parking lot, in the drizzle, shouting for them to stop the cab. I couldn't see a thing. David, did Martin Wood throw himself in front of the cab?
I just know that when I got there (I don't run in my 2 inch heeled boots) David and Darren were out of the cab looking like they were afraid they were in trouble.
A wonderful memory. :). Thanks for the cab ride. It's dark and creepy at Bridge Studios at night.
And David, thanks for not making fun of how I blathered when I talked to Joe Flannigan.
Bonnie/Hats
Thanks David for taking the time to share your set experience. I found it a lot of fun and really interesting. Some day for me maybe. *grin*
David,
Speaking of catering, do you know who the caterer is for Bridge Studios?
I'm a chef in the US and looking to relocate to Vancouver and would love to work for a catering company up there.
Paul Roberts
mcpesto@hotmail.com