Halfway To Nerdvana

Thanks to friend of the blog The One True b!X, we were alerted that half the Comic Con schedule, for Thursday and Friday programming only, was posted last night without fanfare. It has since been taken down, but we saved PDFs for download here. [ETA: Comic Con's David Glanzer left a comment on the Spout blog saying these are not final schedules.]

The BSG-related panels listed for these two days are:

Thursday, July 24

• 11:15am-12:15pm - 30th Anniversary Battlestar Galactica Panel: Richard Hatch (Tom Zarek/Apollo), Bear McCreary (BG composer), producer Tom DeSanto (Transformers, X-Men), Dr. Kevin Grazier (science consultant), and surprise guests present an in-depth discussion of the Battlestar universe from the classic to the re-imagined and beyond, including BSG trailers and Q&A.

• 11:45am-12:45pm - Knight Rider: First Look at the New Series and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers. Room 6A. *castmember Paul Campbell (formerly "Billy" on BSG) is scheduled to attend with the rest of the cast.
  

• 10:00-11:00am - Kings: Exclusive Sneak Peek Screening and Q&A with Cast and Executive Producers. Kings is a contemporary re-imagining of the timeless tale of David and Goliath, an epic story of greed and power, war and romance, forbidden loves and secret alliances, and a young hero who rises to power in a modern-day kingdom. Be the first to see an exclusive sneak peek from the two-hour pilot. Moderated by Greg Grunberg (Heroes), the panel includes a Q&A with creator/executive producer Michael Green (Heroes), director/executive producer Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend), executive producer Erwin Stoff (I Am Legend), and the cast: Golden Globe winner Ian McShane (Deadwood), Chris Egan (Resident Evil: Extinction), Susanna Thompson (Star Trek: Voyager), Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl), and Allison Miller (Seventeen Again). Room 6B * We list this because BSG's Kevin Fahey has just joined their writing staff. Also because we follow Ian McShane wherever he goes nowadays.

• 11:00am-12:00pm - Professional Writing: Threat or Menace? Let's talk writing, creativity, and selling (and selling out), and what the world of professional writing is like. Questions that you've always wanted to ask? Creative blocks bugging you? Wondered what the H*O*L*L*Y*W*O*O*D life is really like? Show up and get answers to those questions. This no-holds-barred talk is moderated by J. Michael Straczynski. Room 5AB * I'm listing this one because I wanted to make Logan's day. He's a fan. :D
  

Friday, July 25

• 1:00-2:00pm - Production Designers: For the second consecutive year, Comic-Con attendees will have the opportunity to interact with a lineup of master production designers—the artists responsible for creating the looks of today’s most celebrated sci-fi/fantasy films and television. Organized by the Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, these production designers will show clips, answer questions, and share their methods for creating imaginary worlds and convincing environments. Participating panelists (listed alphabetically) include Richard Hudolin (Battlestar Galactica, Caprica), Alex McDowell (Watchmen, Corpse Bride), J. Michael Riva—(Iron Man, Spider-Man 3),—Barry Robison (Wolverine, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader). Moderating the panel is John Muto, designer of Terminator 2 3D, Species, and Home Alone. Room 32AB

• 6:00-7:00pm - Exceeding Expectations and Exploring New Worlds: Feature Effects for the Small Screen. Zoic Studios moderates a discussion with VFX supervisors on their passion for creating narrative enhancing, eye-popping effects for television. Some of the best in the business discuss future trends as well as their contribution to the television series Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, The Middleman, Lost, Eureka, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Smallville, and the new fall show Fringe. Room 32AB

No official word yet on the Holy Grail that is Saturday's schedule, but I have cobbled together the following:

• The Saturday BSG panel may include Tricia Helfer, James Callis, and other "human/cylon couples" such as Katee Sackhoff and Michael Trucco (source); and may include Kevin Smith (source). This would be great, since Smith was a hilariously good moderator of the 2007 BSG panel at New York Comic Con. This is what Tricia had to say recently in a long interview:
  

Question: How busy are you going to be at COMIC CON in a couple of weeks?
Helfer: I’m sure I’m going to be pretty busy. I think Battlestar is sending down some Cylon human couples, so I know I’ll be there with Baltar and Starbuck will be there with Anders, so it should be a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to it.

Question: Are you going to do anything with Burn Notice at COMIC CON?
Helfer: I don’t know yet actually. I will certainly be willing. I just haven’t heard yet.

• The Saturday evening TV Guide New Series panel will include Ron Moore discussing VIRTUALITY, as well as Jason Smilovic (formerly with BIONIC WOMAN) for MY OWN WORST ENEMY and others. (source)
  

• Mark Verheiden has mentioned he will be at Nerdvana as well:

…it appears that I'll be involved in the Dark Horse panel at the big San Diego convention later in July. Bruce Campbell will also put in an appearance and clips from the long awaited My Name Is Bruce will be on display. I haven't got an exact time yet but it will be Saturday, and hopefully won't collide with the Battlestar panel, which promises to be a star-studded affair. Otherwise I don't have any panels scheduled, so I'll just be wandering the halls looking at a expensive comic books and meeting up with old pals.

More as it becomes available!

• Famous BSG fans Seth Green, Joss Whedon and Kevin Smith are busy as all heck this year at Comic Con. Green will be there for ROBOT CHICKEN, and with Seth McFarlane for FAMILY GUY (which will be a big hoot). His NY Comic Con panel was HILARIOUS, I highly recommend you see him do something, anything. Whedon is promoting his Buffy Comics and internet musical DOCTOR HORRIBLE'S SINGALONG BLOG on Friday, and TV show DOLLHOUSE on Saturday. Smith will do his own panel for all topics including his new film ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO (we hear there may be a new red band trailer to see), participate in EW's Visionaries: Filmmakers panel, and mod a panel hosted by Spike TV's Scream Awards, called "Spike Salutes the Women of Sci-Fi."

The Wrap Party and Beyond

As promised, Mojo has begun posting about his wrap party weekend experiences. Tongue firmly in cheek as usual, here is Part One. Ain't fandom grand?

Mark Verheiden also writes a bit about the wrap party and the nomadic life of the film writer, actor, and/or crewmember.

Meanwhile, Jane Espenson sounds like she's awfully busy this week... ;)

Nice Frakking Hat

The July 14-20 issue of TV Guide has a preview of Caprica, showing Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales on set. Click the above photo to embiggen. Scan from Kelsrealm. (Minor plot spoilers.)

[ETA by ProgGrrl: the most interesting thing about that scan is that it says Caprica will air THIS FALL. YAY. Also, I heard elsewhere that this TV Guide issue has a SCI FI TV special theme.]

TV Week's summer critics poll has Battlestar Galactica listed as number 7 out of the top 25 series for January through June 2008.

Here's the top ten:
1. Lost
2. The Wire
3. 30 Rock
4. The Office
5. Friday Night Lights
6. House
7. Battlestar Galactica
8. Breaking Bad
9. John Adams
10. In Treatment & The Tudors (tie)

Full list of Best and Worst Series (PDF)

Katee gaming again?

According to Resistance 2 gamer fans, Katee Sackhoff may be playing the role of a military psychologist (with "a Mitzi Gaynor quality" LOL), in what some say is a new ARG designed by the folks who created the infamous "I Love Bees" ARG for Halo.

Feel like playing? I suggest you read this.


[Big tip o' my hat to greycoupon]

VIRTUALITY: pilot script preview

The Futon Critic's Brian Sullivan has posted a preview piece on Ron Moore and Michael Taylor’s VIRTUALITY pilot script. As Sitrep has also managed to get our hands on this script (sorry, no sharing), I can attest that Sullivan has the real deal, and his preview is accurate...not to mention immensely spoilery, for those of you keeping track.

I wholeheartedly agree with most of what he is saying. It is great to see a Sci Fi television project that will interest fans of such films as ALIEN, SUNSHINE, THE MATRIX, and even THE TRUMAN SHOW. There is a fascinating overlap of subject matter between this pilot and CAPRICA, ie virtual spaces and how people use them; it will be cool to see how each show deals with these concepts in its own way. I am just as squee-filled as Mr. Sullivan, to know that Peter Berg is directing VIRTUALITY – he really seems like the perfect choice. There is a nice big cast full of meaty character parts (much like BSG). The script I saw also had an addendum note, outlining many of the directions the series could take over several seasons; there were a ton of cool ideas there.

And most exciting of all? Ron Moore has already raised the Sci Fi TV bar pretty high – so what a great thing it is to see him with a project that differs immensely from BSG, yet aims to crack open just as many Big Issues.

The VIRTUALITY pilot begins shooting this month in Vancouver. At this point we've heard no news of its being picked up for series, no details of who would be showrunner or who would be on the writing staff...and no news of when Fox might plan to put the show on air, other than a suggestion in this trade blurb, that it might be a mid-season show if all goes well with the pilot. [An RDM show on Fox mid-season? You know what that would mean, fellow members of the Moore-Whedon Mutual Admiration Society.]

One other note from the Variety announcement: if VIRTUALITY goes to series, apparently the reality show element will turn into a web-only transmedia product. Sweet idea.

As previously mentioned, Moore will be talking VIRTUALITY at San Diego Comic Con, during a TV Guide panel on Saturday night. He also recently discussed a few details of the project with Trek Movie in this section of a 3-part interview.

You can find images of all the announced cast and other recent news tidbits, by poking around our posts tagged “Virtuality."

Hope you are all getting a teeny bit excited.

The Class of 2008

Another alumnus of the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA writers room has a new job starting this week: Kevin Fahey, BSG staff writer ("Faith") has been hired as a story editor on the new NBC series KINGS. Michael Green's contemporary take on the David vs. Goliath tale stars Ian (DEADWOOD) McShane and is shooting in New York. Congrats to Kevin.

Wrap Party Video

Someone The Mighty Chin has posted this video screened at the BSG wrap party last weekend. There are a few mild spoilers for scenes yet to be viewed in season 4.5. The audio is pretty tough to make out, but it's a nice glimpse of the entire BSG crew thanking Ron Moore and David Eick and saying goodbye en masse.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Moore

Today is Ron Moore's birthday. We wish you a great one, Mr. Moore. Without you, our beloved show would not be on the air, this blog would not exist, and many terrific people might never have met.

Happy Birthday.

Weddle & Thompson leaving for Vegas

SyFy Portal has received confirmation from BATTLESTAR GALACTICA writer/producer David Weddle, that he and his writing partner Bradley Thompson have just left the BSG team. They are both starting new jobs next week on CSI.

"When we got the offer, we had to call Ron Moore and ask to be released from the movie," Weddle told SyFy Portal's Michael Hinman. "It was one of the most difficult calls we ever had to make, but Ron made it easy by telling us we should seize this new opportunity."

The two will join the Las Vegas version of "CSI" on CBS beginning July 7 as writers and supervising producers, a similar role they had with "Battlestar Galactica." Because of the new job, they had to withdraw from writing the upcoming "Battlestar Galactica" movie, instead handing the reins over to popular writer Jane Espenson, as first reported on Galactica Sitrep.

"Jane Espenson has eagerly grabbed the baton and will write the movie," Weddle confirmed. "We helped the staff outline the plot this week, and this [Thursday] is my final day at 'Battlestar.'"

Thompson and Weddle initially served as story editors on BSG season 1, became co-producers for season 2, were given more responsibility as producers during season 3, and became supervising producers for season 4.

Best of luck, boys...and Good Hunting.

4th of July Weekend

Meshel73 of The Chief's Deck and Aaron Douglas Fans has the latest news from Aaron regarding the BSG telemovie that is in the works. (Minor spoilers.)

Have a great 4th of July everyone.

The Study of Life

Tricia Helfer talked to Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune about her work on Burn Notice, Battlestar Galactica, and other topics:

MR: Just turning to “Battlestar,” the mid-season finale, "Revelations," definitely got a huge response. Was it one of those times where you could feel it on set, that it was going to be something special?

TH: Yeah. When we shot “Revelations,” we also shot [the next episode] at the same time. It was a very odd feeling shooting those right before the strike because those scripts ended at a place where you could end the series there. It’d be incredibly dark, but you could.

So we were going into the strike, and filming these episodes, not knowing if were coming back. It was all these unknowns. We were told that we were supposed to, that that was the goal. But you go into the strike not knowing anything and [wondering] if the strike goes on, how long before they pull the plug?

So it was a very odd feeling on set, and everybody was not wanting to say goodbye as in, “This may be the last time I see you in years.” I think in way it helped the episode, because we were feeling uncertain. Here it was, you land on this planet after this elation of “We found Earth,” – then you get down there, the looks on people’s faces. We shot that the last day before the strike.

MR: That was the very last thing you shot before the strike, the “on the beach” scene?

TH: Yes, the very last day we shot that. All the cast was there, and it was this huge unknown. I guess looking back it was kind of cool [that that informed the episode], but at the time it was weird, such a bizarre feeling.

MR: When do you guys wrap “Battlestar” for good? I keep hearing different dates.

TH: It was June 30, now it’s July 7, but I think it’ll kind be around July 12 that we finish. We’ve got a couple of very heavy episodes – not giving you a spoiler there, I just mean “heavy” in terms of a lot of work to get done. So I’m not sure what day it will be, but I bet it will go into the second week of July.

MR: You’ve seen all the scripts for the final episodes -- how did they affect you? How do you see them fitting into the legacy of the show?

TH: I think they’re fantastic scripts. Obviously, it’s the end of the series, so things are going to be revealed, and all the questions are going to be answered. There’s a lot to fit in. I’ve heard some fans say, whoa, there’s so much in every episode, and that’s certainly not going to change in the last half of the season, there’s so much to get out there. It’s intense.

All our reactions to reading script [among the cast], we talked about it – some people broke down in tears, I felt like I was punched in the stomach. More so out of a mixture of feelings like, wow, that’s why this happened, but also [sadness about the end of an era] – I was sitting on a plane, and it was like, “This is the last ‘Battlestar’ script I’ll read.” So there was that mixed into it.

There’s some really heartwarming stuff, there’s some very damaging, sad stuff. It’s such a commentary on human behavior and social behavior and where our world is and can go. I find the last episode is quite fascinating, the study of life.

Read the entire interview here.

On Location

The 13th Colony has some photos of recent location shooting for the grand finale of Battlestar Galactica. They report that there's just one week of filming left on the series.

The photos contain some visual spoilers, so if you don't want to be spoiled, don't click this link. Though I would say it's minor spoilers. And we probably shouldn't get carried away with wild speculation either.

If however speculation and theories are your thing, check out the Battlestar Revealed blog. There's even a flow chart to study.

Trailer

With EJO slated to direct the next BSG telemovie, could it look something like this?


Well, maybe not. Still, Adama needs a katana.

Video by anastasiosandy

And yes, that is a brief shot of Dean Stockwell at the 2:19 mark, as he guest started in the Miami Vice episode, "Bushido" as Jack Gretsky.

"Bushido" which EJO directed is actually one of the most memorable Miami Vice episodes.

ETA: Hulu has the Miami Vice episodes showcased in the above trailer, Golden Triangle Part 1, Golden Triangle Part 2, and Bushido.

It's About Time

The L.A. Times' The Envelope Gold Derby by Tom O'Neil reports that Mary McDonnell is among the top ten finalists being considered for the Emmy for Best Actress:

Patricia Arquette, "Medium" ( "Aftertaste")
Glenn Close, "Damages" ("Pilot")
Minnie Driver, "The Riches" ("Dead Calm")
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters" ("History Repeating")
Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" ("Undercover")
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace" ("Tacos, Tulips, Duck and Spices")
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" ("The Hobo Code")
Mary McDonnell, "Battlestar Galactica" ("Faith")
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer" ("Manhunt")
Jeanne Tripplehorn, "Big Love" ("Take Me As I Am")

When the nominees are annouced, the list will be reduced to a final five. (Heh. Final Five.)

E! Online's Watch With Kristen has an online poll where you can vote for which shows you'd like to see win, and you can vote for which shows were egregiously snubbed. Right now Battlestar Galactica is running in second place as egregiously snubbed. So, head on over and add some votes.

Burn Notice

Michelle Alexandria for Eclipse Magazine shares some notes from a media conference call with Tricia Helfer to discuss her work on Burn Notice. Tricia also took some questions on Battlestar Galactica. And showing great taste, she notes that she watches cool shows like Weeds, Arrested Development, and Mad Men.

Tricia will be in 7 Episodes of Burn Notice playing a mysterious spy. She’ll be in the first two episodes of the season, the season finale and a couple in 2009.

Alexandria says they will have a full transcript of the call posted later in the week.

Maureen Ryan in the Chicago Tribune interviewed “Burn Notice” star Jeffrey Donovan,

Five million polygons and three thousand frames

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA visual effects artist "Mojo" has posted about the effects work on the mid-season finale "Revelations," with a few additional notes on how he sneaks in subtle shout-outs to the effects shots from BSG: TOS. Apparently he is planning to work backwards through the rest of season 4.0 to discuss effects on each episode. Swell!



Mojo tells me he is thinking of posting something about the wrap party in the near future; we hope so...the only things we have seen so far have been these two random entries from folks who attended, and a comment on Sitrep from the other day. I also hear that the party was DJ'd by the son of one of the BSG writers. Details, people...more details please?

[photo: The Mighty Chin]

ETA: We also found out via this photoset from Ben Templesmith, that Kandyse McClure got her own wrap cake over in Perth, Australia, Saturday night at the Supanova Con. Awww. Note that Mr. Templesmith has a great talent for getting people to pose with their fingers up (NSFW). Hmm. :D

Even More TV Movie News

Hi folks...I'm fresh back from my lovely Maine vacation and had to post some updated info from Sitrep sources regarding the first BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TV Movie.

The first of a possible three films is now in development. The studio has reportedly offered a deal to Dean Stockwell, and is interested in making deals with Michael Trucco, Aaron Douglas, Grace Park, Michael Hogan and Katee Sackhoff, among others, for this film.

Jane Espenson will write the script, and as we said recently, Edward James Olmos will be directing.

Pretty. Frakking. Kewl.


ETA: Looks like Aaron Douglas told his fan site moderator that the TV movie will take place some time during the events of BSG's first season...and (OMG!) that BSG writer/producers David Weddle and Bradley Thompson are leaving the BSG crew as of this week for "a very popular show"? Frak.

ETA Part 2: David Weddle has confirmed he and Thompson are indeed leaving BSG for a hit network show...more info here.

Enjoy the Cylons

Awesome video by jaromematthew.

h/t Grant Gould on the Battlestar Blog.

More Virtuality Casting

According to The Hollywood Reporter Erik Jensen, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Clea DuVall have been added to Fox's two-hour backdoor pilot "Virtuality." Jensen will play the Phaeton's navigator. Cantillo will play a mathematician. DuVall will play the Phaeton's co-pilot and engineer.

Clea Duvall previously was in the cast of Carnivàle, the HBO series run by Ron Moore during its first season. (The good season of the show.)

The Party Is Over

Since the Battlestar Galactica cast and crew wrap party was held over the weekend, we can now report it was held at the Vancouver Library. Does it look familiar?


Helo and Sharon hung out there in ep 3, "Bastille Day."


Photo by Flickr user Lightgazer.



Looks like a great place for a party.

And at least we can be sure that if any rats tried to invade the party, Tahmoh could take care of it.


Caps from GalacticaBBS.