SG1: Morpheus commentary
Aug. 11th, 2007 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tenayaMorpheus by Joe Mallozzi and Andy Mikita.
JM complimented AM on making the funny scenes funny and the creepy scenes creepy. Admits to sometimes being disappointed in his episodes because of other people’s input.
AT was supposed to have more crossover with Atlantis in S10 by making her commander of the Odessy and have her going back and forth. Originally, she was to have come across a spaceship with the crew in their beds from a space virus. JM wrote three eps over his Xmas holiday: Morpheus, Counterstrike and Mememto Mori—three eps to develop Vala’s character. (and FINALLY someone on the commentary actually points out a bit of acting.) JM points out a Vala reaction shot. Discusses her evolution to being accepted by the SGC and then finally given a place on the team. AM compliments CB on her choices.
Deleted scenes for S10, still resistance to putting in bloopers. (are there missing scenes in S10?) Morpheus, Quest, Momemto Mori, Counterstrike are the eps that should have deleted scenes.
Talk about the village set, giving it fog and low lightening, and compliments the art dept.
JM mentions CB adding the line “because you are also a tortoise” and that the question was a Blade Runner reference.
JM states when he joined in S4, he wrote 45 page scripts but they came up short, so he gradually increased his page count to 50. SGA has 55 pages and still are short. Part of the reason they get through it so fast is (camera on Daniel) “this man here, Mr. Michael Shanks who is a fast talker but nothing in comparison to David Hewlett over on the Atlantis side who just chews through those scenes.” It’s infectious to the rest of the cast and they race through the scenes.
On the scene where Vala talks to the shrink, they compliment both the actors and how fun it was. JM states that many writers don’t like writing as it is arduous a process. Paul Mulie often recalculates how long until he can retire and not write another word. JM says he’s a better producer and can stay in the editing both all day and he has a good eye, whereas JM finds it tedious.
Mentions an actor that was in WOO, and they talk about that one. Wary of an ep where everyone falls a sleep because it might be boring. JM checked out the reaction of the fans about the ending and Vala being accepted.
The network resisted putting CB on as a regular for S9, but eventually suggested it after they were mostly through it.
JM plays poker at Chris’. Robert Picardo invited JM to his house and JM complimented him on his family, his house and his cooking. They talk about ice cream. JM admits to being annoyed that SG1 was cancelled because he felt there was a lot left in the show to do.
They talk about the lie detector machine and the Vancouver Police Dept guy who came with the machine. The bug under the microscope thing was real and the guy really did prick his finger for the blood. They talk about a missing scene where one of the med guy looses it and starts to cry and Daniel comforts him. JM talks about watching the episode so much as it is being created that he doesn’t often watch the finish product.
Mentions that Rick got along well with Picardo. That Picardo is a pleasure to work with. If guest stars are liked, they return. If they don’t, there’s an issue. They talk about animal wranglers in Evolution. Discuss how the fluorescent lighting works well to make the actors look tired.
JM talks about his process of writing. Idea, pitch. Work out tease and five act breaks. What happens in acts. Then outline. Beat by beat for each scene. Then write script.
He does his dialogue while driving or eating with his wife.
The lizard was CGI, but the one that Teal’c caught was a Sharper Image mechanical dragon that they upgraded the tail on.
Discuss slowing down the filim for when Carter and Daniel lose conciousness.
JM likes the idea of the team hanging out together, the camaraderie, something that SG1 has always had. SGA not so much but he hopes to improve that this season.
States Beau Bridges may want to make script changes but they usually are small and he always runs them by the writers and the director.
Actually, a fairly entertaining commentary.
JM complimented AM on making the funny scenes funny and the creepy scenes creepy. Admits to sometimes being disappointed in his episodes because of other people’s input.
AT was supposed to have more crossover with Atlantis in S10 by making her commander of the Odessy and have her going back and forth. Originally, she was to have come across a spaceship with the crew in their beds from a space virus. JM wrote three eps over his Xmas holiday: Morpheus, Counterstrike and Mememto Mori—three eps to develop Vala’s character. (and FINALLY someone on the commentary actually points out a bit of acting.) JM points out a Vala reaction shot. Discusses her evolution to being accepted by the SGC and then finally given a place on the team. AM compliments CB on her choices.
Deleted scenes for S10, still resistance to putting in bloopers. (are there missing scenes in S10?) Morpheus, Quest, Momemto Mori, Counterstrike are the eps that should have deleted scenes.
Talk about the village set, giving it fog and low lightening, and compliments the art dept.
JM mentions CB adding the line “because you are also a tortoise” and that the question was a Blade Runner reference.
JM states when he joined in S4, he wrote 45 page scripts but they came up short, so he gradually increased his page count to 50. SGA has 55 pages and still are short. Part of the reason they get through it so fast is (camera on Daniel) “this man here, Mr. Michael Shanks who is a fast talker but nothing in comparison to David Hewlett over on the Atlantis side who just chews through those scenes.” It’s infectious to the rest of the cast and they race through the scenes.
On the scene where Vala talks to the shrink, they compliment both the actors and how fun it was. JM states that many writers don’t like writing as it is arduous a process. Paul Mulie often recalculates how long until he can retire and not write another word. JM says he’s a better producer and can stay in the editing both all day and he has a good eye, whereas JM finds it tedious.
Mentions an actor that was in WOO, and they talk about that one. Wary of an ep where everyone falls a sleep because it might be boring. JM checked out the reaction of the fans about the ending and Vala being accepted.
The network resisted putting CB on as a regular for S9, but eventually suggested it after they were mostly through it.
JM plays poker at Chris’. Robert Picardo invited JM to his house and JM complimented him on his family, his house and his cooking. They talk about ice cream. JM admits to being annoyed that SG1 was cancelled because he felt there was a lot left in the show to do.
They talk about the lie detector machine and the Vancouver Police Dept guy who came with the machine. The bug under the microscope thing was real and the guy really did prick his finger for the blood. They talk about a missing scene where one of the med guy looses it and starts to cry and Daniel comforts him. JM talks about watching the episode so much as it is being created that he doesn’t often watch the finish product.
Mentions that Rick got along well with Picardo. That Picardo is a pleasure to work with. If guest stars are liked, they return. If they don’t, there’s an issue. They talk about animal wranglers in Evolution. Discuss how the fluorescent lighting works well to make the actors look tired.
JM talks about his process of writing. Idea, pitch. Work out tease and five act breaks. What happens in acts. Then outline. Beat by beat for each scene. Then write script.
He does his dialogue while driving or eating with his wife.
The lizard was CGI, but the one that Teal’c caught was a Sharper Image mechanical dragon that they upgraded the tail on.
Discuss slowing down the filim for when Carter and Daniel lose conciousness.
JM likes the idea of the team hanging out together, the camaraderie, something that SG1 has always had. SGA not so much but he hopes to improve that this season.
States Beau Bridges may want to make script changes but they usually are small and he always runs them by the writers and the director.
Actually, a fairly entertaining commentary.
