Saturday, August 23, 2008

Jensen Ackels - Supernatural - Amazon Armchair Commentary: Video Interview

At Amazon's Armchair Commentary:



More Fun with Celebrity Interviews

by Leah Weathersby on August 22, 2008

At Comic Con '08, Ms. Weathersby ask's Jensen Ackles from Supernatural the de rigueur question about Dean's (his character's) beloved Impala/his trip to Hell and back. Also interviewed is series creator Eric Kripke and producer Sara Gamble.

(Video is 5 mins 58 secs in length.)

Stargate Atlantis - NEW Behind the Scenes Photos From 'Identity'

From Joseph Mallozzi's blog update for August 23, 2008:

(Please follow the link for the complete blog update and to view the ten NEW Stargate Atlantis season five behind the scenes photos with the guest star from "Identity," Dawn Olivieri, and Jason Momoa, in their original format!)



Jason serenades our guest star...

August 23, 2008: Questions, Answers, Guests, and Pics!

Well, not surprisingly, you guys have more than a few queries concerning recent developments. I've received about 650 comments over the past two days and, while I can't address them all, rest assured I have read them. Still, many of you bring up some very interesting questions that I'm going to try to respond to in this entry.

I'd like to start off by recognizing your anger and disappointment. Hey, many of us wish it could have gone another way too, but that doesn't mean we're going to give up on the franchise. Like SG-1, Atlantis will love on in a different format. Now, at present, a lot of you aren't exactly feeling charitable toward the forthcoming spin-off, Stargate: Universe, and I understand. But the premiere is a long way off and I'm hoping that, when the time comes, you'll at least consider giving the series a shot.



..while Dawn feigns interest in the script.

There's been a fair amount of talk about SGU being little more than a shallow space romp based on the preliminary buzz. Well, given that the series has been created by Brad Wright and Robert Cooper who will assume co-show running duties once SGU goes into prep, one can expect a certain level of quality. After all, these are the guys who, between them, have written such episodes as Sateda, Beachhead, Unending, Abyss, Meridian, 2010, Torment of Tantalus, and, most recently, The Shrine. They are adept at crafting stories that are fast-paced and entertaining yet resonate with the humanity and spirit of the characters at their core. A better example of their talents can be found in Stargate: Atlantis, a series they created and helped build
over the past five years. There's no doubt in my mind that SGU is in infinitely capable hands and that viewers who tune in to check out the latest Stargate incarnation will not be disappointed.

Also, keep in mind that most of the people who worked hard to bring you Atlantis will be working equally hard to bring you the new series (and, if we can steal some of them away - the Atlantis movie). That includes the directors, most of the staff and crew, in addition to our kick-ass VFX team who were kind enough to post a much-appreciated thank you note in yesterday`s comment section that I have copied and
pasted for anyone who might have missed it...



It's a good old-fashioned Stargate sing-along

...Well, as promised, here are some of the fun photos I took on set the other day. Guest star Dawn Olivieri is, to use Costume Designer Val Halverson's words, "a hoot"! The native Floridian and former Deal or No Deal Model #14 is possessed of a quick wit and sharp tongue. Oh, and she also happens to be doing a kick-ass job as Identity's Neeva. Don't mess with Dawn! A couple of our actors learned the hard way.

To those of you asking - the Book of the Month Club guests and discussions will continue as planned. Catherynne M. Valente will be dropping by and we begin discussion of Stephen Dobyns' The Church of Dead Girls on Monday.

We'll also be moving ahead with actress Sharon Taylor's Q&A. Thanks to all those who submitted questions for Sharon. I hope to hear back from her this week. Next up in our continuing line of special guest bloggers will be Stargate Atlantis props master "Evil" Kenny Gibbs. If you have any questions for Evil, start posting them.

Today's pics: Blowing off steam on set!



Is she for real?!!

Mailbag:

DasNdanger writes: " Wait…you're not moving over to SGU… Are any of the writers?"
Answer: It's still to early to say who will be involved and in what capacity.




Actors are encouraged to criticize each other in an open and constructive manner.

Missy writes: "Just a quick question, Are you planning on wrapping up the wraith story line between now and the movie, or are you gonna save them for other movies?"
Answer: Some storylines will be wrapped up by series end, but the wraith will continue to be a presence beyond our 100th episode.




Of course, if there's a lesson to be learned here, it's "Don't mess with Momoa!"


Thornyrose writes: "I'm really looking forward to your Stargate version of a horrror story, not to mention seeing Mr. McGillion back on the show."
Answer: It's a fun little episode. More edge-of-your-seat popcorn fare than last night's character-driven drama, but that's what I love about the show, its ability to tell wildly different stories. I'll be posting more behind-the-scenes Whispers pics in the lead-up to its airing...

Chuck - Video: 'Chuck Versus the Imported Hard Salami'

At HULU, Chuck's 'Chuck Versus the Imported Hard Salami,' starring
Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez and Adam Baldwin. Guest stars include Rachel Bilson, Anthony Ruivivar, Vik Sahay, Bonita Friedericy and Theo Zouboulidis.

Chuck's relationship with Lou hits the skids when he flashes on her ex, an heir to a Greek shipping fortune who is mixed up with illicit, time-sensitive cargo.

NEW episodes of 'Chuck' premiere on NBC on Monday, September 29 at 8pm.


Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: Full Coverage: The Shrine

At GateWorld:

FULL COVERAGE: The Shrine



Discussion



Episode Guide

From the Production section of the Episode Guide, this brief excerpt:
"Today we're shooting the entire Atlantis away team, looking like drowned rats, cowering atop a submerged Stargate. OK -- Joe, Rachel, and Jason are crouching, and look more like the glistening sea-panthers ... but I'm doing my part and representing for the bedraggled geeks with sinus problems. The interesting part of today's filming is that all this takes place in the studio! Jim Menard, who shot our 'A Dog's Breakfast' film, is having all sorts of fun with little P2 cameras and snorkel lenses and aquariums in a bid to turn our corner of the studio into a massive glacial lake. So they hose us down, we climb up on half a gate and (apart from the fish tank) they put the water and the scenery in later. ... Got to love that green-screen technology."

(Actor David Hewlett, in a post at his blog)




Transcript



Photos



Download (iTunes)



Download (Amazon)

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: First story details for 'Vegas'

At GateWorld:

(Please follow the link for the complete GateWorld article.)



First story details for 'Vegas'

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23 (EPISODES)

The nineteenth episode of Atlantis Season Five will have a very different take on Stargate.


A brief excerpt:

The cast and crew of Stargate Atlantis head south to shoot the nineteenth episode of the season in Las Vegas, and now the first story details have arrived at GateWorld. "Vegas" will shoot in late September, the final episode of the series to go before cameras.

Written and directed by series co-creator Robert C. Cooper, the episode looks to be a very different take on Stargate, mimicking the hit C.S.I. crime procedural series in its tone, setting, and visual effects ... with a decidedly sci-fi twist, of course...

Stargate Atlantis - 'The Shrine'



Stargate Atlantis - The Shrine

Wow! What a terrific episode. Thank you Brad Wright and Andy Mikita, and the cast for excellent SciFi Friday entertainment.

The Shrine is wonderful, delicious episode, sort of a like a seven course meal. Instead of say, for example, a beef stew, with everything in one helping, we were treated to separate courses: 1) the appetizer in the introduction of Jeanie Miller on Atlantis, 2) the soup -- literally, Team Atlantis sitting on TOP of the offworld Stargate, surrounded by water, 3) the entree, Rodney in danger and the team trying to find an answer, 4) the main course -- the journey to The Shrine, 5) the bread -- David Hewlett tearing into his performance in the cave, 6) the salad -- every character in this episode having their own special moment -- Ronon with Jeanie in the hallway, Teyla with Rodney, Shep and Rodney on the pier, Jeanie with Rodney, Woolsey's memory of his father, Keller and Rodney with the video logs, heck, even the MALP gave its life as a distraction to the puddle jumper's entry through the Stargate, and 7) the dessert -- Rodney's admission to Jennifer that he has loved her for some time.

Stargate Atlantis, you're a jewel, and you're treasured by many fans. Thanks to all who have worked on and with the series for all your talents.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - SciFi Talk: Audio Interview

From SciFi Talk:



Star Wars Clone Wars

Fri, 22 August 2008

Audio from press conference discussing Star Wars Clone Wars feature and the creation of the groundbreaking CGI animated film and television series. On hand is Star Wars Creator George Lucas, Director Dave Filoni, and Producer Catherine Winder. Special thanks to Warner Bros Pictures for supplying the audio. Music is by Affiliation.

Download link

ReGenesis: Video: 'Spare Parts'

Courtesy of HULU, ReGenesis' 'Spare Parts,' starring Peter Outerbridge, Maxim Roy, Conrad Pla, Mayko Nguyen, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Mishu Vellani and Greg Bryk. Guest stars include Ellen Page, Mark Rendall, Kristin Booth and Kenneth Welsh.

Norbac has finally found Patient Zero, and the hard part starts since it's a baby girl who is the carrier.

Stargate Universe: 'Stargate' Opens Floodgates

From Multichannel News:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



`Stargate' Opens Floodgates

As 'Atlantis' Bows Out, Sci Fi Franchise Heads to New 'Universe'

By Kent Gibbons -- Multichannel News, 8/23/2008 5:53:00 AM

At Sci Fi Channel, the cycle went like this the last few days: cancel Stargate Atlantis on Wednesday, suffer the slings and arrows of outraged loyal fans — and then announce Friday the creation of a brand new Stargate Universe next year.
"It's kind of hard to cancel one, but it's good news to announce a new one," Dave Howe, the network's president, said on Friday.

For producer MGM Domestic Television and NBC Universal-owned Sci Fi, the Stargate franchise is big business, one that has now expanded beyond one-hour series to also include two-hour movie "events."

Atlantis, now five episodes into its fifth 20-episode season, wraps next January but will be followed by a two-hour movie Sci Fi has green-lighted for 2009.

There could be more Atlantis movies after that, as MGM has produced two so far extending the original Stargate SG-1 franchise after it ended a 10-year run of new episodes on cable (lastly on Sci Fi) in 2007.
"I think these things lend themselves to a bigger, kind of high-production-value, two hour event, which is great," Howe said of Atlantis...

Those moves may have muted the fans' reaction to the cancellation — but not completely. One barometer: an online petition to save the show had close to 1,000 signatures the morning after the cancellation news broke at night. By 1 p.m. Friday it had 3,774 names.
"There's no sign of a letup in my e-mail inbox, I can tell you," Howe said in a telephone interview from England Friday. "I've had to get on with IT because it is so clogged up with e-mails to 'Save Atlantis.'

"There's obviously a passionate audience for Atlantis and the characters of Atlantis," Howe said. "And yes, they're absolutely going to continue in the movie franchise. But people need to mourn for a while and come to terms with it. I don't anticipate that that will subside quickly. But once Universe is on air and they have kind of their next fix of the Stargate franchise, I think hopefully people will realize that it's in safe hands at Sci Fi, that we really value this franchise and it's in our interest and the fans' interest to let us continue the story and figure out how to retell it for a new audience every few years..."

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: Video: People's Choice Award Featurette

From MGM Stargate:

(Please follow the link for the video in its original format.)

People's Choice Award Featurette

2:51 11MB

Stargate Atlantis - People's Choice Winner for Favorite SCI FI Show!

(NEW video with interviews including Joe Flanigan, David Hewlett [for some reason, his interview is mirror reversed], Jason Momoa, Rachel Luttrell, Joseph Mallozzi, Martin Gero, Paul McGillion and Robert C. Cooper.)

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi Channel Updates for The Shrine

From the SciFi Channel's Stargate Atlantis site, updates for August 23, 2008:

The Shrine

* Episode Synopsis

* Episode Photos


NEW Alex Levine Blog update for ‘The Shrine:'



NEXT new episode: ‘Whispers’ airs Friday September 5 at 10pm on the SciFi Channel (US). (No NEW episode on August 29 due to the Labor Day holiday programming.)

An Atlantis away team uncovers one of Michael's horrific secret labs.

Trailer for ‘Whispers:’

(Please follow the link for the original format.)




NEW Season 5 Quiz!

The Daedalus - Hard



Stargate Atlantis - Video: Comic Con Panel

SG1: Continuum - Video: SciFi Channel Exclusive Interviews

Stargate Atlantis Movie - press release