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.

Friday, March 24, 2006
As much a gift as it is for a fan to get to see the inner workings of his favorite television show there is definitely a down side. I know, some of you have got to be saying 'Down side?? You brat!' But picture it this way: You're a cult fan of a magician, and he becomes aware of your interest and independent promotion. In exchange for your continued support he offers to show you around backstage. Simultaneously, he will unveil all of his tricks.

Spoils it, doesn't it? Well in terms of Stargate the spoiling isn't that great a magnitude. You know that Atlantis isn't in the Pegasus Galaxy. You know that the settings for both Cheyenne Mountain Complex and the Ancient city are just feet away from each other. Still, it unravels some of the magic when you look at S.G.C.'s Level 27 elevator and can say to yourself, 'I know what's on the outside of that portion of the set -- Jan Newman's makeup stand.' Or to look into the ceiling of the Atlantis Gatrium and not find a portal into the bay of the Puddle Jumpers, but rather the high ceiling of Stage 6 and a plethora of lights.

Listen to me. I'm complaining.

Like last year, Friday is not as productive for GateWorld as Thursday. I'm not quite sure what it is about Fridays at The Bridge. It's almost like it's crunch time for the entire crew. It's 10 a.m. and already both shows are in full swing. SG-1 is dealing with [a familiar nemesis] in the briefing room, and Atlantis is shooting the teaser for "Irresistible" at the village stage.

Carole takes us over to see the teaser filmed. The village has been reconfigured since we saw it last year. The overpass is gone and almost every section of the entire set appears ready to represent an entirely different planet from the other. Brick houses, stone houses, wooden houses. It's even more spectacular than last year. Today it's a marketplace, and the Atlantis crew has just arrived. Extras, all adults minus one young man, have shown up in full force. Let's just say that Howard Stern would be very pleased with this cast.

Carole finds us a corner to stand and wait while they set up the shot. David Hewlett and Joe Flanigan are the first of the actors on set. Both are wearing their mission uniforms. David comes over and says hello, eager to catch up with us later in the day. Joe eventually comes over to great us as well. "We were just discussing polygamy," he says, stepping away from director Martin Wood.

Soon the Atlantis expedition will be meeting Richard Kind's character, an individual that sounds a little like a nasal Gilbert Gottfried -- completely unlike Dr. Gary Meyers. Eventually Richard himself emerges onto the set. Kind is a much bigger man than I thought he would be. He is very tall, and looks as though he could clobber Darren.

The teaser is a pretty straightforward sequence, but even so -- when you add rehearsals and the various camera angles -- it takes about an hour to get just right. Martin Wood is extremely picky, and as far as I am concerned it is terrific that he is intent on getting it just the way he wants it.

After filming the teaser we are allowed a quick word with Mr. Wood. We take seats in a cafe area to discuss what he's up to. "It's a wonderfully comic episode," Wood says about "Irresistible." "I did "Avenger 2.0" and "The Other Guys." You do so much of the drama of science fiction that it's nice to be able to do the comedy episodes, too, and I have a really good time with it. It's nice to say 'cut' and have everyone laughing behind the camera."

After Martin we return to Stage 5. It is the funniest thing for me when we get upstairs and look into the monitors: Beau and Peter are coming out of the elevator -- finally! It's very funny. The shot takes Landry and Barrett into the briefing room, where a full wall of monitors have been set up. It's like nothing we've seen in the briefing room before. Quite impressive.

While waiting in the wings of the stage I reintroduce myself to makeup artist Jan Newman. I first met Jan at Gatecon 2004, sitting next to her in the front row during Amanda, Michael and Chris's panel. Lovely woman. I made a point to run into her last year, and she remembered me then, but I'm not sure if she knows who I am now.

Others sure do, however. During a break in the action Amanda, Ben, Claudia and Beau emerge from the stage. We say our hellos to Beau, who is eager to unsnap his tie and take a break. Amanda goes over and grabs herself some chicken soup from a portable stand. Darren and I are on the opposite side of the room, but I eventually make my way over and wait until she gets done talking with a crew member.

Amanda Tapping has the best memory of any actor I have ever encountered. She knows and remembers her fans. She sees me and there isn't even a hello. She takes me into her arms and gives me a long hug. After a brief chat she goes over and does the same to Darren. We catch up with her and Ben for probably five minutes before they are called back into the scene. Same sequence, different angle. We remain for a few more minutes to watch.

Yesterday Rob Cooper finally finished directing "Sateda." He was out on-location shooting, but now we finally get some time with him. Rob's office is a lot like Brad's. He has a couple of absolutely gorgeous and comfortable black couches, and the room is adorned with all sorts of Stargate stuff. (You might have caught it in the first SCI FI Lowdown -- Amanda was playing put-put golf in there.)

"I'm having a great time," Rob says in response to Darren's question of whether or not the executive is still having fun. "The directing has certainly been a great, invigorating aspect of my creative energies. But I still like writing the show. I still love the characters and I want to see it -- it's like reading a book, and why would you put it down before the end? In some ways I want to help tell the end of the story."

After more than a half hour with Rob we leave for lunch.Stargate lunch ... It doesn't get much better than this.

To Be Continued ...


There are many certainties in my life. Here is Number 3:

The only person who doesn't say Thank You when I hold a door open for them is aways, regrettably, the most beautiful woman I will encounter that day.

Thursday, March 23, 2006 (Con't)
Carole places Darren and me in a holding pattern in front of the office workers, a team of script coordinators and writer/producer facilitators who are buzzing around the room like bees. I hear the word "Goldsmith" mentioned, indicating someone may be on the phone with Joel or his assistant.

Before we know it, Ben Browder comes around the corner. We stand to greet him and are very happy to have a chance to chat with him again. Unfortunately we won't get the chance to interview Browder during the week, but we will get to chat more with him tomorrow.

Next up, the man himself, Mr. Brad Wright. I have never been inside Brad's office. It's about the same size as Rob's, and is full of neat things, from an enormous HDTV to a row of the loveliest panoramas from various sets from over the years (including the Beliskner from "Nemesis," and I believe Togar's laboratory from "Urgo."). Brad gives us a huge portion of his time. Sitting with him really is like a kid sitting in a candy store. Eating candy.

"I do know that on our show for the last couple of years we've had to renegotiate every year, and that is very difficult from our perspective," Wright says. "We don't know: a) whether we're going to get a network pick-up; b) how much money we're going to get to make the show. And all of those things are contingent on the cast deals that we make. Which comes first, right? So it's been difficult the last couple of years."

Next stop, Stage 5. Stargate Command. The lights are set on Beau Bridges and Peter Flemming (Agent Malcolm Barrett), who are entering an elevator in the tunnel corridor. Darren and I wait with Carole in the control room and get a chance to thoroughly look over the equipment. While examining the star map it occurs to me to write all of the addresses down for later inclusion in the Omnipedia, but I remind myself that it can't be so unless it's specifically been seen in the view of the camera.

"Can I go out there," I ask Carole, pointing to the Gate room. She nods, and Darren follows me out the right stairway.

If you've been to the sets, I'm sure you'll agree with me when I say that the Stargate is bigger than you think it is. Well, have you seen it when the only light in the room is a green screen from behind? It's bigger. I somehow get it in my head that after the inner track there is no more Stargate. In fact there's a two to three inch rim that marks the inside of it, and this makes the Gate look much, much fatter when you're only seeing its silhouette. Even thicker than the shot from "Singularity."

Two long floor mats have been placed on the ramp, for reasons which still elude me (perhaps for the cameras), and as I said before, a green screen has replaced the back wall of the Gate room. This is the first time we've been around the object when it hasn't been near some form of action, so we are really allowed to take in the moment, albeit in mostly blackness. Darren and I go from one end of the ramp to the other for a good five minutes, relishing in the experience of being with the ultimate symbol of the franchise once again. One of us, I won't say which one, reenacts Daniel's first experience with the event horizon.

Soon Beau has a spare minute, and he sets himself down in his own chair in the control room. Peter Flemming sits near by, listening to his iPod, while Bridges and I chat. Now here is a man who could potentially say certain things to me that would make me wet my bridges -- I mean britches.

Beau Bridges has an aura about him. While I ask him my questions his eyes remain locked on mine. His expression doesn't change. I feel like his hands are reaching behind my eyeballs and into the back of my head, pulling me toward him. I cannot imagine what it would be like to act in a scene with him. Dylan Bridges is my age, so I can't help but think that he's looking at me like he would anyone his son's age. But when he speaks, he's unexpectedly gentle and treats me like I know my stuff.

"It's [a familiar nemesis] again," Beau says about the episode currently filming. "Insiders" features the return of a wonderful enemy. "He's giving us a bad time. In fact, there's more than just one of him. And I also have the N.I.D. to deal with. Barrett is back again, giving me a problem, like he always does. He's lurking very close to me right now, as we speak." Beau and I stare at Peter Flemming, who continues to bob his head while in his own little world, and he eventually sees we're watching him. It's quite funny.

We spend some time waiting for Beau's breaks, and the afternoon wanes. But we make our way out into the trailers for some time with Rachel Lutrell. A lot of folks, as I did, put the emphasis on the TRELL. But it's actually the LUT that gets the emphasis.

Back to the scene. Inside Rachel's trailer her dog, Nala, naps in her bed underneath Rachel's table. Darren leads this particular interview. He is quite taken with her, as I first was in my telephone interview with her. I notice a portable shoe rack, suspended in the corner, holding pairs of both Rachel and Teyla's shoes.

"I was taking the time to visit with my family and my friends," Rachel says about her hiatus time, "because I'm up in Vancouver alone. Obviously I have new family but I don't get an opportunity to really be with my family. And they, like Teyla, are a huge part of my life and who I am. So yeah, I did a lot of traveling and spent a lot of time with loved ones. Yeah, that was pretty much my focus."

Rachel gives us both hugs before we depart for the production office. We're about to have a chance to sit down for our first full interview with Miss Claudia Black.

Not being a Farscape watcher I cannot appreciate the experience like Darren does. As far as my experience with Claudia, I've known her as Vala and as Shazza in "Pitch Black," one of my all-time favorite monster movies. "Why did Shazza have to die so early," I complain to Claudia.

She replies flatly. "I know, she didn't stay down."

If you saw it, you get it.

"I would never expect anyone to be a fan of anything I've done," she says. "And the fact that people have crossed over and started to [tune] in to Stargate is fantastic. And I really appreciate the fact that, from what I've heard from people, that they recognize how different the characters are. And I'm glad I'm able to do something different for them."

Not only is Darren a huge Farscape fan, but he's a huge Claudia fan. It was amusing to watch him. I think he lit up for her like no other interviewee ... Well, maybe Amanda Tapping ...and Andee Frizzell.

Another of GateWorld's buddies, stunt coordinator James Bamford, is putsing outside the room we have taken over. We say goodbye to Martin Wood and his family and chat with BAMBAM for a few minutes. He is getting ready to practice for the following evening's stunt performance at Creation's convention. We see Ben Browder pass through again before Carole escorts us to the front gate. We grab a taxi and head back to the hotel for the convention's early registration.

To Be Continued ...


There are many certainties in my life. Here is Number 2:

When I travel to Vancouver, Don S. Davis will be in LA.
When I travel to LA, Don S. Davis will be in Vancouver.

"Just take it easy," says Mitchell.
"We mean you no harm," Daniel adds.

Several seconds pass as Cam Chai, playing Azdak, gives his lines off-screen. Vala comes around from the corner, dressed in a beautiful garment. The camera moves toward her. "Then you are foolish," says Vala. "I would not abandon you. I am your God."

She looks over at Daniel and smiles.

"And cut," says director Will Waring. I turn to Darren, nod my head, and think to myself, I sure hope they decide to use the take of Claudia smiling at Michael.

If you've seen "The Powers That Be," this is not the take they used. It was gold, and I am indeed disappointed. But life goes on. Such is the excitement of standing behind the cameras at the home of Stargate.

I will not pretend that this is a cohesive recollection of my days at The Bridge Studios in Vancouver. I will also not pretend that it is completely void of information for the upcoming episodes "Insiders" and "Irresistible." In order to give what follows proper context and flavor, I have added my observations, none of which I would consider to be "spoilery." No on-camera dialogue is divulged, and certainly no plot points are revealed.

Having said that, in order to keep it interesting you will get the sense of the scenes that were being filmed as GateWorld watched from the sidelines. A small snippet from almost all of our interviews has also been included. If you want utterly no knowledge about "Insiders" and "Irresistible," I suggest you stop reading now.

Thursday, March 23, 2006
It's been a year since my first visit to The Bridge. I remember last year I went to bed as early as was reasonable to get as much sleep as I could. I didn't know if I'd ever get to go back so I absolutely had to absorb every detail I could take in. Visiting the sets was a true childhood goal of mine.

For me, it's not just the privilege of watching scenes that you will be seeing on your television set in four months. Rather it's things that no other fan will ever get to see. Last year Darren and I were privileged to watch a beautiful exchange between Landry and Mitchell which explored Dr. Lam's back-story, and it was sadly deleted from the final cut. Unless MGM/Sony change their attitudes about deleted scenes from episodes before Season 10 (their policy may be changing this year), this footage will be forever lost.

Returning to the studios this year was very-much a wonderful thing for me. It had established that our trip last year was not a one-off, but that our work was still being read, and often liked, by the folks that make our favorite shows. To visit the sets of SG-1 and Atlantis is a treat a fan cannot describe. To have David Hewlett light up with recognition when you turn the corner is, well, inestimable.

Our contact at Bridge asked us to meet her at the studios at 10 a.m. We arrive two or three minutes early. While Darren and I are standing under the awning of the security office David Nykl rides up in his car. "Hey guys," he says, putting his pass card into the box, raising the guard stick. He was flying out to Amsterdam that weekend and couldn't make it to the con, so he made a special trip just so we wouldn't miss him.

The wonderful Carole Appleby of Stargate Publicity escorted us from the main entrance. Carole is a young woman who has been working for Stargate since the start of SG-1 Season Nine and Atlantis Season Two". We met her last year. When she speaks, Carole is as Vancouverite as they come. Being a student of voice for many years, this is something I always pick up on.

Two years ago when Darren came by himself he got to sit down and chat with Martin Wood and Michael Greenburg in the S.G.C. briefing room. I've always been jealous of him for this. So when we decide where to sit down with David for our chat, I immediately chime in. "The Atlantis conference room!"

We enter Stage 6, the sound stage for the central spire of Atlantis. In minutes we are facing the grand staircase. To my surprise, the Stargate is missing. Actually, it's under the floor. The platform of the Gatrium is being revamped for Atlantis's cafeteria. This set was designed to appear to be a number of different places, from a commissary to a dark hallway where Teyla fights Sora.

Air conditioning is very much active upstairs in the conference room. Above, suspended by cables, is the swaying globe that gives the room most of its light. But the panels of the tables are also lit by fluorescent bulbs on the inside. I sit down across from David while we do our interview in this room.

My first question to David is about the episode he is shooting this week, as Darren and I are not aware of this show's title. "'Irresistible' is the name of the episode," says Nykl, "featuring Richard Kind. And Zelenka is doing much what Zelenka does quite frequently, which is in the control room with Weir. But, let's just say that there's been a remarkable effect on the Atlantis crew that has changed their behavior and Zelenka is susceptible to that." After a few pleasantries we say our goodbyes.

Carole takes us through the effects stage where portions of the "Blade" set have been converted into Atlantis. You'd recognize it as everything from the wide shots of Atlantis stair wells (usually used when Atlantis personnel are searching for something) as well as the catwalk that has been seen a handful of times. Right now Martin Wood is setting up a scene in McKay's lab. After a few moments we get a word with him, and he agrees to have some time with us during our visit.

Next on our list, the Stargate production office. Approximately 20 feet (through walls) from the S.G.C. Stargate itself, the production office is integrated into the same building as Stargate Command and Atlantis Base. The office is about as exciting as any of the sound stages. You never know who you're going to see while you're up there. Last year Tony Amendola passed through.

Martin Gero is my favorite writer. There, it's out. We've talked a great deal since I met him a year ago. I walk in front of his office and see him inside. His noise-canceling headset is over his ears and he is typing away. When he looks up and sees me, the image of Jack O'Neill smooching the glass of General Hammond's back window goes through my head, but I don't repeat the gesture -- don't want to get scolded.

Martin is on a roll and can't be stopped for a chat (I suspect he was writing "McKay and Mrs. Miller"), but he promises me an interview later.

I've never met Carl Binder, though I'm a fan of his work. He's probably best known for Dr. Quinn, and referenced the show at least once during our interview with him. Carl is one of the oldest writers in the Stargate production office, but is a real gentleman. We speak with him next.

"Going off to think of a new idea, you're constantly going, 'Oh, wait a minute, they've done that. They've done that,'" Carl says. "'OK, They've done that, but is there a fresh, new way?' Ultimately there's only a certain -- very few story types, and in science fiction. They're always saying 'That's this kind of story' or 'that kind of story.'"

We say goodbye to Carl and make our way a couple of offices back down to Gero. Martin welcomes us in. Instantly I remember the space from last year. The wall to the right of his desk is filled with drawings from seasons one and two of Atlantis. One of the shelves in his bookshelf to his left are filled with, you couldn't guess it if you tried, Muppet characters.

Martin is a huge Muppet fan. Toys of almost every character are everywhere, though, disappointed, I could not find Pepe. We sit down and start off by catching up with Martin, showing pictures of babies and discussing school. But eventually we dig in to the meaty stuff. Martin's second episode of SG-1 is "200," an episode penned by just about all of the writers. It is only logical to bring it up with him.

"I'm not going to say anything about the 200th episode," Gero says. "I really feel like the [less] we say about this episode the better. The one thing that has gotten out is it is a fun episode in the vein of a 'Wormhole X-Treme!' That's really, I think, all that anybody needs to know. Sorry." Frankly, I can't agree with him more. We hear more about the show from higher-ups later on, and he is right.

To Be Continued ...


There are many certainties in my life. Here is Number 1:

No matter when you buy your airplane ticket, the time you didn't buy will always have the better pricetag.

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