Hey, Canadian Stargate: Universe fans! Did you get a chance to watch last night’s post-SGU episode of Innerspace. It featured special guest Robert C. Cooper who fielded a rapidfire barrage of fan questions on everything from directing to the furlings. Ah, the furlings, those mysterious aliens, alternately loved and despised (I suppose it depends on whether you’re a fan or simply working in the Stargate writers’ room). “When are we going to see the furlings?” was the question. To which Robert replied: “I never get that question.” He then went on to reveal that he is presently working on a furling spin-off series. With a straight face no less. The guy plays a lot of poker. Which is something he’s good at – unlike, say, naming alien races. As a matter of fact, his alien-naming privileges were revoked shortly after he came up with “the furlings”. True story.
Hey, check it out. Snow Day today!
Akemi is thrilled! Me and the dogs…not so much.
So yesterday I was leaving the doggy daycare and rolled up to a tricky intersection. I needed to take a left turn across two lanes of traffic. On my right, all clear. On my left, all clear except for a slow moving van inching up to take a right. I crept up. Right still clear. Left still clear. Tapped the gas. At which point a speeding SUV, perfectly blocked by that creeping van, came streaking up to my left. I happened to catch it from the corner of my eye and hit the brake just in time. It zipped on by and away. Had it been going a little faster, had I not hesitated, I would have certainly been demolished – along with my car. I thanked my lucky stars, took the turn and headed home. Then, some five minutes later, almost had another car merge directly into my driver’s side (for the second time this year: https://josephmallozzi.com/2010/06/17/june-17-2010-aw-resurgence-day-1-mailbag-day-872ish/
But of course that’s not possible because tonight is the SGU season two wrap party. Yes, I’ll drive extra carefully. And, yes, I’ll bring my camera to document the evening. And, finally, yes – I’ll post the pics as part of tomorrow’s blog entry. While you’re waiting, how about a little…
Mailbag:
Aaaargh! writes: “An analogy: if you read in the newspaper that someone got run over by a car you don’t think twice about it (causal viewers). If that person is your best friend, however, you’ll visit the hospital to be at his side every day (true fans). Are you having fun ? Why are you still visiting your friend if you’re not having fun ? Because now he needs you the most, that is what real friendship is all about.
I think this is *the* reason why so many people are angry, you’ve been trusted to take care of our good friend, the Stargate franchise, and you betrayed our trust. Not only did you rape and murder our friend, you’re offended that people don’t thank you for it.”
Answer: Aside from the fact that your analogy is both shallow and offensive, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. A more appropriate analogy would be – after losing your girlfriend to a tragic accident, you decide to start dating her cousin. This cousin reminds you of your ex-girlfriend but, very quickly, you realize that she is not enough like your deceased ex for your liking, so you start pestering her to dress more like her dead cousin, talk more like her dead cousin, and generally behave a lot more like her dead cousin. When she resists, you get angry and begin harassing her incessantly, stalking her online and wishing her dead as well.
Michael White writes: “I hope you read the comments because I had the strongest feeling to share this with you.
http://io9.com/5694701/does-cosmic-background-radiation-reveal-the-universe-before-the-big-bang”
Answer: Great article. Thanks for the link.
Ponytail writes: “Joe what’s wrong with you? No patented peace sign and no big grin. I must say, I’m a little disappointed.”
Answer: To be honest, I was holding my patented phony photo smile for what like forever, then relaxed – at which point the picture was snapped.
JYS writes: “also. I went to Meat and Bread on cambie today. Really good porchetta sandwich. they’re closed on sundays, but, i suggest trying it before you head to Tokyo”
Answer: As a matter of fact, I did. And enjoyed the porchetta sandwich. Great minds eat alike…
- Meat & Bread’s porchetta sandwich.
- And their maple-bacon ice cream sandwich.
Johnny writes: “Since there’s no DHD placed along with the respective gates, are we to assume the gates were only meant to be accessed from Destiny alone?”
Answer: That’s a safe assumption.
Elliot writes: “You said that Destiny has a repairing drone. And if they can make it work again, that means they can build back the damaged ship parts?”
Answer: Yep. First up, the dome that will house the new hydroponics lab.
zaghy2zy writes: “I just had to ask, why is Robert Carlyle way at the back not with the rest of the main cast?”
Answer: Despite his celebrity status, Bobby is an incredibly quiet, and humble guy. He passed on front and center for a more casual position amidst the rest of the crew.
PJR writes: “The Comic Project – Thanks for your response. I’d like to ask further: is the script format somewhat along the lines of a TV/film script?”
Answer: No. It’s a very different format that requires some getting used to.
PJR also writes: “- and assuming (dangerous!) that ‘general structure’ you mention refers to plot/arcs, etc and not the script body – I’m wondering more about how through the brief you were given you see similarities and differences to the plotting/breaking/etc you do on a show like SGU, or Atlantis. Quite different animals or more similar, at least in essence, than we’d figure?”
Answer: I was referring to the format specifically. Elements related to plot and story structure remain more or less unchanged. The end of the first issue lines up naturally with the end of the pilot script’s second act, the end of the second issue with the conclusion to the pilot script.
PJR also writes: “Now you’re working both on episodes and comic story planning, I’m wondering how many pages a 45 minute episode might run on the basis of the standard 22 page/issue comic format – much more or pretty much there?”
Answer: It’s really story dependent because the two formats are so different. That said, it’s looking like your average minute script will translate to two 22 page comic book issues.
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