SCI FI PI

Walking around Bright Lights Studios in Vancouver you quickly understand the massive scale of production that a major Sci Fi TV show requires to get to air. 9/10ths of the entire studio are currently turned over to Stargate:Atlantis, and with a combination of permanent and 'swing' sets on several massive sound stages, the sounds of activity are constant. One day an 'indoor' forest will exist next to a village, the next day a spaceship will spring into existence.

Sets are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Of course, sets like The Daedalus, the Puddle Jumper, Atlantis Base and The 'Village' remain more or less intact. But even these sets remain active, providing surprising versatility for a show that's soon heading to its 100th episode.

But it's more than just sets at Bright Lights - to run such an enterprise requires offices for the departments covering every aspect of production, from props to costumes to visual effects, form designing to editing. It's a mini-city, a giant iceberg, if you will, resting beneath the tiny tip of a few actors in front of a camera.

Walking around, one can see, for example, the 'conference room' - featuring a massive table seating at least twenty is where major stories and production issues are broken down. The walls are lined with designs of sets, characters and props for upcoming shows. Outside, assistants to assistants make sure the wheels run smoothly. The echoes of a thousand raucous arguments about plot and character seem to echo off the walls.

Months of work for each Episode
In another building, the costume department is entirely self-contained, 95% of all the costumes on the show are built from scratch - including 'building up' of alien leather. There are so many costumes made for the show that only the ones used for the current season can be kept on site.

One interesting surprise - the boots used on Atlantis are for the most part, Blundstones - they often have a special covering on their soles designed to reduce wear and tear on the sets and to reduce noise.

In a small red brick building past 'The Village' stage, the visual effects department gets about two months from go to woah on each episode - (whilst working on about 12 episodes at a time) to produce the 40-50 vfx shots required for each 44 minutes of Stargate:Atlantis.

People are People - Actors More So
Lunch is (in nice weather) is set in a marquee on the lot, with the kind of food that wouldn't be astray at a fancy hotel. The cast and crew sit together, there is no 'stars'/ 'plebs' feeling, although the actors do tend to congregate at the same tables. They seem to eat a normal amount (!)

There are, of course, differences from the characters they play, although for the most part, the actors are not a million miles away from their fictional counterparts. David Hewlitt is a self-confessed nerd, Joe Flanigan says he loves action and Jason Momoa is a wild card. Rachel Luttrell and Jewel Staite emanate warmth and generosity (and are far smaller and cuter in person than seems physically possible) and the multi-talented Robert Picardo has the air of a man who can not only do it all, but has seen it all.

Rumours of Jason Momoa driving a golf cart around the lot dressed in only a towel may or may not be exaggerated, certainly remain unconfirmed.



MORE PICS FROM THE SET OF STARGATE:ATLANTIS:



Sci Fi Blundstones - leave them out in the sun to dry - and what's that in the distance?




This is what the actor sees when they're 'scanning' something in the medical bay. Awesome.




Good to know our new Season 5 regular has the chops to lead this team. But does a law degree help when you're up against The Wraith?




High-tech spaceships built to travel vast interstellar distances... - hang on, is that a colander?




Behind the behind the behind the scenes. Just another day at work for the people who really put this all together.



Season 4 of Stargate: Atlantis will be coming to DVD in Oz on Sep 3. In the meantime, catch the next episode of Stargate:Atlantis on SCI FI, right here !







SEASON 5 AND SEASON 4 SPOILERS BELOW IF YOU JUST CAN'T HELP YOURSELF

Walking around the Season 5 sets gives some indication as to the direction of the show. A brand new space ship is being constructed, production offices are swamped with images of a new 'Lost Tribe' that is anything but primitive in appearance (actually not that dissimilar to the 'super soldier'), and there are preparations to turn Teyla Emmagen into a Wraith Queen. Yes. You read that. Season 5's 100th episode will be a milestone that the Atlantis production team are gearing up for with major plot developments and set and vfx preparation.

Robert Picardo's character, Woolsey, has taken over the running of Atlantis Base, and the poor IOA rule-monger has to deal with having to make some decisions of his own - although he does create friction (and humour - he has difficulty finding his way around Atlantis) there are signs that as a character Woolsey will definitely develop. As for S4 - some rather unlikely team-ups - to say the least! Michael returns and Teyla gets pregnant. Who is the father? He He.

Scottish Doctors you may have known DO return.