I was really looking forward to today’s Lynn Valley location shoot. Finally, we‘d be out of the dark environs of the FX Stage and basking in the sun‘s warmth. Well, not exactly. It was overcast for most of the day and, yeah, damn cold to boot. I spent most of the morning huddled up to the heater. “Just trying to warm up my green tea latte,”I told anyone who happened by, smiling amiably and giving the empty cup a little shake. I think they bought it. I did venture out on occasion to field dialogue queries, address script concerns, and chase down the mobile snack station dispensing grilled reubens and chicken soup. Fortunately, it was only a half day for me as, by early afternoon, the three Whispers scenes were completed and the focus shifted to Tracker. While I would have loved to stick around for this one, I thought it would be presumptuous of me to be making producorial decisions on Carl’s episode. Also, I couldn’t feel my feet. Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok and I caught a lift with one of the transport guys who ferried us out of the forest, down the road, over to the crew park, past the parking lot, up the road, into the forest and back to our departure point before realizing we were still in the van with him.
Well, I finally did make it back to the production offices in time to watch the producer’s cut of The Shrine of Talus (Some really nice moments in this one. And it’s nice to see Jeannie back.) and give Carl notes on his beat sheet (formerly The Red Shirt Diaries then First Day and now ???).
An early night tonight and an even earlier start to the day tomorrow (a 6:30 a.m. call!) for our last day on Whispers. On tap for Friday: Searching, a gunfirely interruption, the mist rolls in, and shadows and fog.
Mailbag –
Charles Schneider writes: “Everybody’s had snow days when they can’t get to school or work because it’s so bad, but have you or anyone at Stargate been snowed in at the studio?”
Answer: Nope. In spite of the fact that we Vancouver is a Canadian city, it doesn’t get all that much snow.
Patricia Lee writes: “how is Lulu and the other pups doing?”
Answer: Great. The dogs have been spending quality time with mom while I’ve been on set.
Thornyrose writes: “Are those figures who we think they are?”
Answer: Uh, I don’t know. Who do we think they are?
Thornyrose also writes: “ Has the use of standing sets been a cost saving measure? Is it ever more expensive to modify the interior sets than it is to do an outdoors shoot?”
Answer: The expense of modifying an interior set are well worth it since it saves us the cost of packing up and moving everyone/everything to a location for however many days are required to shoot there.
Kellie writes: ““Walkers in Darkness” just won me a $100 scholarship in a contest. “
Answer: Congratulations. Great story.
Janet writes: “Just wondering, is it just the one episode for Amanda Tapping at the moment or are there going to be more later in the season.”
Answer: There should be more than one Amanda appearance in season 5 – but, as I’ve said from the start, it all depends on her schedule.
Travis writes: “Would it be possible for Dr. McKay to acquire the schematics to create a ZPM from a single, human form replicator?”
Answer: Not unless the replicator specifically gave him the information.
wraithbones writes: “Have you ever read Markus Zusak “The Book Thief”?”
Answer: I haven’t.
Amy Lynn writes: “With on-location shooting, how much do you guys think you will be doing this?”
Answer: We have no way of knowing until we get the script.
AMZ writes: “Wish me luck with the wind!”
Answer: Good luck with the wind!
Cathie writes: “Have you ever tried kangaroo meat!”
Answer: Sometimes last year (or it may have been the year before), the writers ordered from a place called Stormin’ Norman’s that offered a variety of exotic burgers including: elk, deer, ostrich, and, yes, even kangaroo. We weren’t wild about the taste. And, as Carl eloquently put it after we’d sampled the selection: “I feel as though there’s a wildebeast stampede in my stomach.”
Shirt ’n Tie writes: “ Have just heard that SGA will return earlier, (in July)…Is this true or just speculation? If true, any ideas on the UK/Ireland Sky One pick up date?”
Answer: I haven’t heard anything official yet – but it sounds about right. As for when the show will air in the UK/Ireland – no idea.
OctoberMoon writes: “Do you have any production plans in place to finish most/all of the season if a strike does occur?”
Answer: Yep. Fans will fall in love with an all new team of daring adventurers/writer-producers.
Tba writes: “Are there any new true ‘alien’ races in s5, like the Asgard?”
Answer: Yep.
Stargategeek writes: “You said you speak 3.5 languages. What are they?”
Answer: English, Italian, French and some Japanese.
Syble4 writes: “I’d ask for a pic of Joe Flanigan for my birthday tomorrow, but something tells me that’s not really a possibility.”
Answer: Alas, it isn’t. But happy birthday anyway!
Caro writes: “Just wondering, we have heard a lot about Whispers, but could we have some pics/video from some of the other episodes being filmed please?”
Answer: We’ve heard a lot about Whispers because it’s my episode and I have been on set for most of the production. Time permitting, I will drop by set and snap some pics of other episodes (ie. I’ve already posted pics from Search and Rescue and Ghost in the Machine).
GoSpikey writes: “Any chance of us seeing Mr Coolidge again this season?”
Answer: Nope. Sorry.
Ahem writes: “But despite your assurances that Joe F., is/was on the set, we have yet to see even one photo of him. Is there some reason you will not post his photos despite the many pleas from readers?”
Answer: Yep. The reason I haven’t posted any photos is because I haven’t taken any.
MrsB108 writes: “Do any of the characters stand out this year in regards to substantial emotional moments?”
Answer: All of them have some nice, meaty, emotional scenes.
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