In one day I survived walking through a Stargate, being in close quarters with a prototype Cylon, as well as glimpsing a pharmaceutically-fueled version of Wonderland. It was all thanks to the Syfy’s press day held last week in Vancouver, in which journos and web-writers (and me) got a unique behind-the-scenes experience of Syfy’s upcoming programming, including Stargate Universe, Caprica, Sanctuary, and Alice, the upcoming original mini-series based on Alice in Wonderland.
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The tour officially kicked off bright and early at Bridge Studios, a location that’s served as home-base for the Stargate franchise for the last 15 years, with an interview and set-tour for Stargate Universe, the newest incarnation of the Syfy’s mainstay show.
Once we were seated in the cavernous stage that holds the fully functioning Stargate (wormhole not included), the ‘gate began dialing back and forth, sounding like something in between a massive rotary phone and a rickety, wooden roller coaster. It was almost soothing, watching the massive wheel dial back and forth, until it concluded with a minor-heart-attack inducing BANG, with two puffs of smoke shooting up from floor panels on each side of the ‘gate: Syfy Day was officially underway.
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SGU Creator Brad Wright was on hand for the panel interview, along with the main cast, including Robert Carlyle, who’s bearded appearance seemed to suggest that Dr. Rush has yet to find a razor on the ship, as well as Lou Diamond Philips, still carrying scars on his hands from his misadventures in reality television.
Nerd-cred be damned, but previous to landing this assignment, I was completely ignorant of the Stargate franchise and knew next to nothing about the show, except for an inkling of the premise and that MacGyver was involved. But the oversimplified plot of SGU is this: A portal spits out an unwilling crew of military, civilians and scientists on board an ancient, abandoned space-craft, named Destiny. The ship is floating through space, light years away from home. With no means of getting back, the motley crew must band together to fight for their basic survival needs. The biggest difference between SGU and SG-1 and SG: Atlantis, from what I’ve been told, is that the tone of the show is dark, and the characters seem to be brimming with moral ambiguity. Few characters thus far can be easily defined as “good guys,” and I wouldn’t be surprised if even that changed, as we learn more backstories and characters are faced with tougher choices.
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Prior to the interview, I watched the first two hours and liked what I saw. Going off what I’ve seen, I’d call it “Lost, But In Space.” (With Robert Carlyle’s Dr. Nicholas Rush acting as the show’s Locke, a character who looks a little too comfortable in the dangerous and mysterious surroundings.) Not surprisingly, the question of comparisons was one of the first things to be addressed by the panel.
Wright said he’s fine with people comparing it to other shows, especially if people are putting SGU along proven shows like Battlestar Galactica and Lost, and not calling it the next Gilligan’s Island. He also noted that SGU will grow into its own unique identity as the series continues. The SGU creator also addressed the change in tone for the franchise, saying it’s the 16th season of something called Stargate, and it was time for a change. However, the series still honors its continuity, as evident by the cameos in the first episode.
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David Blue, who plays super-nerd Eli Wallace, and who also happens to be a fan of the previous iterations of the show, said that previous knowledge of the Stargate mythology can act as sort of Easter Eggs, enhancing the experience of the show, but it isn’t necessary to watch the other shows to enjoy SGU.
There were some very tiny spoilers dropped, including the title of the sixth hour, “Water”, which will feature an alien planet of frozen waterfalls and frozen lakes.
The cast and crew are also in the middle of shooting the 19th episode, which will be the first part of a two-parter that concludes season one.
Much of the talk also centered on how the large cast works together.
[singlepic id=494 w=250 float=left]“It’s not a competition,” summarized Robert Carlyle.
“This show rests on everyone’s shoulders and not one or two people,” explained Lou Diamond Philips, adding, “It’s a star vehicle, but it’s not a star vehicle.”
Brad Wright spoke about the evolution of the characters over the first season and teased that “by the mid-point of the season, circumstances — and the relationships – reach a point where you might think it’s impossible for these people to exist together further… and then they do. And it’s very engaging.”
[Side note: Each of the day’s interview panels were filmed and we were given DVD’s. Once we get it edited down, PCZ will post it for your perusal.]
After the interview panel, Brad Wright walked us through the claustrophobic hallways of the good ship Destiny, in what felt as much like a set-tour as it did a guided tour through archeological space-ruins. It’s one thing to have a set layered with intricate sci-fi details, but the whole set projects a spooky aura of having been previously lived-in.
Also on our tour, we were shown the room that will become Eli’s living space, and the Kino – which in real-life is not so much a flying camera, but more of a 5 lb. painted bowling ball (spoiler!).
I haven’t been on many sets, but after walking through the halls, I was kind of freaked out about how claustrophobic it felt. I can only imagine what the halls, as well as some of the smaller rooms feel like on a busy day, crammed with cast and crew and equipment.
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On the lot, we were also given a given a look at some of the costumes and uniforms the characters will be wearing throughout show. Every character’s wardrobe has been prepared so that you will see their clothes slowly break down over the course of the show. [A couple dozen copies of Eli’s “You Are Here” shirt were purchased online to ensure they never run out, and they’re prepared for him to potentially wear it for the next 10 years. (Or until there’s an episode titled “Clothes.”)]
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Our SGU tour concluded back in the main Stargate control room, where we were left to our own devices, and I had the chance to further admire the complexity of the set, including the Stargate consoles that have buttons that light up when pushed, and the Ancient script written on everything from doors to dials. The rise of hi-def television was part of the reason given for all the insane detail put into the set, but it was hard being around all this stuff and not feeling the effect of it, like being transported light years away. Or at least getting the feeling you’re in the coolest play-set ever.
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