Playback Supervisor Krista McLean came by the office today with Playback Artist Rob Fitzimmons to discuss – yes, you guessed it – playback. What kind of information do we see on McKay’s laptop in this scene? Is it scrolling data? What kind of data? Numbers or script? Ancient or English? Do you want any sort of undulating power graphs to go with that? How many, how big, and what color? While they were in my office, the topic turned to cigarettes, and I offered (imposed on) Krista my surefire method of quitting smoking. It’s quite simple really. Whenever she is struck with the urge to light up, she should eat a cigarette. “Even the filter?”asked Paul. “The whole cigarette,”I informed them. “It’ll be tough at first but I guarantee that after the fourth or fifth cigarettee, the mere taste of one will be enough to turn you right off them.” Krista was surprisingly reticent to embark on my program. “I don’t know if I’d be able to digest the filters,”she admitted. Again with the filters! “Everything your body can possibly absorb, it will,”I assured her. “Everything else will pretty much pass right through your system.” Eventually, Paul offered a compromise: “Okay, you eat the cigarettes but you don’t have to eat the filters.” Someday she’ll thank me for this.
An old friend from Montreal dropped by the offices today – Doug (Hawman) Taylor – who was in town working on his latest project: “A ghost movie,”is how he referred to it. Alas, he leaves town tomorrow which means he won’t be in town for this weekend’s festivities.
Received my second and third shipments today – the second from Genevieve Grandbois in Montreal, the third from Christopher Norman in New York. I also had a nice chat with Chef Poole over in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, who has put together quite an assortment of some of the most delectable creations I’ve ever seen. They looked great on Road Tasted, and equally great on his website – https://wenchocolates.com/display_products.php?category_name=Truffles
I could decided so ordered six of each.
Production has begun on SG-1 movie #1: The Ark of Truth with writer-director-producer Robert C. Cooper at the helm (looking particularly fearsome and fiery-eyed in his “Get the fuck off my set!” gangsta pose). Check out the man in action, working with DOP Pete Woeste, the Ori warriors winding down, Ori warrior Jason Calder, Ivon Bartok shooting me shooting him, and, of course, the set.
Q&A –
Jen Kirk: “Ever tried Jacques Torres chocolate from NYC? I had it shipped once to DC for a party and it was pretty good.”
Answer: My sister mentioned Jacques Torres and I did contact one of the New York locations, but was informed they don’t ship to Canada.
Anonymous #1 writes: “I love guessing games….NOAS…Now Orbiting Another Star?”
Answer: Negative.
Susan writes: “(1) why is there a legal problem taking story idea from fans? Is it a money issue? (2) why is there such a big break in the screening of each series. Here in Scotland we see 6 months of a series and have a 6 month break. (3) are you a ‘chocolate snob’ or do you eat the usual commercial stuff also?”
Answers: 1) If we actually approached a fan for a story, that would be one thing. But that isn’t what we’re talking about here. 2) That’s a question for the networks airing the show. 3) I wouldn’t say I’m a snob, but if I’m going to enjoy a chocolate bar, I prefer to enjoy one with the best top-quality ingredients as opposed to preservatives and heaps of sugar to mask the flavor.
Anthony writes: “NOAS = Nuclear Oatmeal Avenges Subtlety. Never Overlook Angry Siberians.”
Answers: Negative. Negative.
Jenny Robin writes: “I’m thinking of buying a house. Any advice?”
Answer: Get something with a sizable guest room as I may need someplace to stay the next time I’m in town.
Valerie writes: “Why are the first and second parts or two-parters written by different people? It seems as if the same person would normally write the two of them?”
Answer: We break all of the stories together so it doesn’t really matter if the two parter is written by two different writers.
Anonymous #2 writes: “1. I was wondering if atlantis as a show can survive with the destruction of the city ship? 2. Will Doppelganger be an unusual high budgeted eppy like Sateda given the fact that its the BIG boss’s baby? 3. Would you accept an invitation, all expenses paid for a trip to Morocco?”
Answers: 1. No idea. 2. Nope. 3. To be honest, I don’t know when I’d have the time to go.
Anonymous #3 writes: “NOAS………. Nearly outstanding asuran special.”
Answer: Negative.
Anonymous #4 writes: “Joe which will be the science geek eppy in season 4.. I mean the one where we will see a hell of a lot of space ships and advanced technology at work…”
Answer: The second part of the mid-season two-parter certainly fits the bill in a big way.
Anonymous #5 writes: “Can you tell us who in the office pool guessed right on the ratings numbers? Was it the abnormally lucky Martin Gero? The quiet, calculating Paul Mullie? Or maybe Brad Wright just has too much experience for all of you?”
Answer: None of the above. It was Robert Cooper who may well assume my Wizard of Odds title.
Kelly J. Compeau writes: “I’ll have my Aston Martin in cherry red, please.”
Answer: Yeah, I’d figure you’d go red.
Arctic Goddess writes: “NOAS – Never On A Sunday.”
Answer: Negative.
Paul writes: “”Not Only Another Sheppard”
Answer: Negative.
Firefly827347 writes: “Any chance you could make it to SG-12 in November or Pegasus 3 in January?”
Answer: Probably not as I’ll probably be in Asia in November and, hopefully, working on season 5 in January.
Anonymous #6 writes: “I was wondering after seen unending will we see development and evolution of the legacy they left behind for us or will it be just forgotten it’s hard to show it in sg-1 but will we see it in atlantis.”
Answer: Did I already mention the second half of that mid-season two-parter?
Anonymous #7 writes: “Have you ever had an actor/actress do such a great job as a guest star that you had to have them back for another appearance?”
Answer: Robert Picardo comes to mind. So does Claudia Black. And David Hewlett.
Lily writes: “It seems odd that Joe Flanigan is the leading actor and we haven’t had any extra dedicated to him or any of his episodes neither in s1 or s2.”
Answer: The subjects of the various special features are dependent on actor availability.
Ugly Pig writes: “How did your mother, the minister, react when you told her you wanted to be a supervillain?”
Answer: She doesn’t know. Shhhhhhh.
Tom Foolery writes: “When you are writing the first part of a two parter with someone else writing the second part – say Martin Gero. Do you try to make it as difficult as possible for him to save the team/right your wrongs (or write your wrongs)??”
Answer: The whole point of writing the first part is to write the guy person following you into a corner. Mission accomplished.
Anonymous #8 writes: “Ok people, here’s the deal. It makes no difference to Scifi that so many people download the episodes illegally…”
Answer: An astute and well-presented argument. However, there are a couple of points you’ve missed and some incorrect assumption made. For starters, while the fact that a network may not have ownership in a given show would place a greater impetus on ratings, the reality of the six month lay-off that has resulted in the show airing elsewhere first (and, as a result being readily available for download online) does necessarily figure into the equation. Keep in mind, it’s not just a matter of “What have you done for me lately?” but “What can you do for me?” especially considering the network has already committed to a fourth season that is well into production. If episodes that have aired elsewhere and are available online are still pulling in 1.4 and 1.5’s and leading the network ratings, then one can only expect bigger and better from a fourth season with all new never-before-seen episodes – particularly if, from what I hear, the fans won’t have to wait all that long to see it. Furthermore, don’t underestimate the value of repeats. SG-1 was a solid performer for the network’s Monday block over the years. Obviously DVD and downloads will eat into the market share, and certain shows simply do not perform well in reruns, but Stargate has always proven the exception to the rule. And one of the best way to keep interest in these repeats alive is through the airing of new, first run episodes. A syndication package of 80 episodes (4 seasons) is very attractive to a network, but a 100 episode (5 season) package even more so. Finally, the fact that “most shows start seeing audience erosion around season three” is, again, not necessarily true. Look at SG-1 that actually saw it’s ratings climb over the course of its stay on SciFi.
GW Whumpers writes: “Our suggestion for NOAS is Nightmare on Atlantis Street.”
Answer: Affirmative.
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