The explosion was so loud it reverberated throughout the building and set the windows thrumming. I looked outside and watched as stunned lot personnel stepped out of buildings and cars to investigate. “Damnit!”cursed Paul who suddenly stepped into my office. “I missed it.”
The “it” in question was one of the stunts for the Atlantis promo being shot on the lot. Directed and produced by Martin Gero, it details the misadventures of three uber-fans and their attempts to reach Atlantis. Since I had made astounding progress on my script (already seven pages in!) I decided to reward myself and go for a little stroll.
I got there as they were setting up the bike stunt. BamBam, our stunt coordinator, was prepping his stuntman. Martin and the actors (pictured along with on-set visitor, Martin’s gal Stephanie) were kicking back as the ramp was readied and the measurements taken to ensure the impromptu gate not be damaged during the stunt. I said hi to everyone then moved over to snap some pics of the set-up and some preliminary bike jumps. Check out the improvised DHD. As I was snapping away, Martin came over and informed me that the actors, upon seeing me stride over in my all-black ensemble, gloves, and overcoat had remarked: “Wow. Is he a Count or something?”. Close. Close. Wil Waring, manning the camera, got into position as the rope that would be used for the ratchet pull was laid out serpentine (to avoid it snagging), and the signal given. I readied the camera. Action! I heard the bike approaching. My finger pressed the button – just as BamBam side-stepped into my direct line of sight. The stuntman made the jump, got ratcheted, but not before taking out a portion of the gate. Click. And I snapped a pic of the back of BamBam’s head.
I returned to the office and a delightful surprise. Well, besides Jason Momoa in his snazzy snakeskin boots and dangling rubber chicken. Anne M. from Highworth, Wiltshire sent me a hardcover copy of John Scalzi’s The Android’s Dream which I recently mentioned I was having some trouble tracking. Anne, the book is much appreciated. In fact, I swung by set today and ran into David Hewlett and told him about it and he was equally thrilled. Since I’m only a hundred or so pages into Red Mars and he’s finishing off To Say Nothing of the Dog tonight, he’ll be swinging by the offices at some point to borrow the book and break it in with a first read.
Guys night out tonight. The place: Wing Nuts. In attendance: Carl Binder, Alex Levine, Lawren Bancrot-Wilson, and myself. On tap: assorted wings including – cajun, salt and pepper, spicy thai peanut, garlic parmesan, tandoori, and smoking hot. The latter were so hot that Alex was actually perspiring and I was riding an endorphin rush that hit 11 with dessert: deep-fried Mars Bars and deep-fried Snickers bars. The meal averaged out to about 18 wings and a deep-fried bar and a half each not counting miscellaneous fries and celery sticks. By the time we were done, we could barely move. Soooo diiizzzy. I’ve included snaps of the after-meal hangover. “Let’s never do this again,”moaned a barely coherent Carl.
Give it a couple of weeks.
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