Beyond the Gate: A Convention Experience with Michael Shanks, and some movie spoiler questions

[fignewton]

I watched my first "special features" from the complete series today - something I'd never seen before!

Beyond the Gate: A Convention Experience with Michael Shanks was fun. It lasted only thirteen minutes, but there were quite a few gems in there, including a rendition of "The Puff and Ruffle" (while MS did an overvoice) and the story of how he was strip-searched at the border when he first auditioned for Stargate ("No, I'm not gonna re-enact it."). My personal favorite was when a fan asked what powers he would have liked Ascended!Daniel to have for his showdown with Anubis. MS suggested X-ray vision: "Not to fight Anubis, though!" And then he proposed - doing this funky little hand gesture, sort of like a Jedi mind trick: "I would give him some sort of special starch beam. Because you know that stupid robe that Anubis wears all the time? That's all it takes. You stiff that puppy up, he ain't moving." 

This was apparently filmed during S8. In fact, it's most emphatically pre-S9: One fan asked what storyline he'd write (or ask someone to write - it wasn't that clear to me), and he refers to Vala in Prometheus Unbound - I couldn't tell whether it had aired or not at the time, although I think it hadn't - and how much he'd enjoyed working with Claudia Black, and that he'd enjoy a storyline of one or two episodes when Vala comes back. Another fan asked which episode or scene, over eight years, best highlighted the friendship between Jack and Daniel. Sadly, that question wasn't answered, at least not on the clip.

So. I've got the previews to the upcoming movies leering at me from the box. I've been careful to avoid spoilers so far; all I know is that the team filmed on-location in the Antarctic for the first movie, which wraps up the Ori storyline, and that the second movie involves time travel. Will I regret it if I watch the previews? How different is the spoiling done by leaks online and the spoiling done by watching what is essentially a teaser? I'm thinking of AOL teaser for The Quest, part 2, which gave away a HUGE plot point six months before the episode aired. Do I want to watch it or not? Give me some advice, here. :)

Comments

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

the story of how he was strip-searched at the border when he first auditioned for Stargate

So....was he not in Canada at the time or did they not do the auditions at Bridges studios or what? And...why was the poor boy strip-searched?

I like the starch beam!

all I know is that the team filmed on-location in the Antarctic for the first movie

Arctic, not Antarctic (and I think maybe it was for the second movie, but I'm not sure - no, wait, I know it was because of an exciting casting spoiler I won't mention here in case you don't know). And Chris Judge was hilarious at Dragon*Con explaining that he decided not to up there to film with them because he realized his skin was seal-colored and he didn't want to get eaten by a polar bear.

If I were you, I'd avoid the previews. Our local newspaper, in an article about SGA, released a spoiler about the second (time-travel) movie that I REALLY didn't want to know and also...made me kinda pessimistic about it so I'm avoiding all spoilers as much as possible.

Good luck resisting!

[pepper-field.livejournal.com]

And...why was the poor boy strip-searched?

Because the border guards are as human as the rest of us? ;)

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

Ah, good point.
Lucky border guards.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Heh. He did say they "exchanged phone numbers" before he left. ;)

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure how true the story was... but it was fun to see him tell it!

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

He got sniffed by one of those drug-detecting dogs, apparently.

He also might have been making up the story out of whole cloth. It's kinda hard to tell. :)

Arctic, Antarctic - the point was somewhere with ice and snow. :) And heh on the Chris Judge line! I'd forgotten you were there.

Most people seem to think I should avoid them. For the time being, that particular DVD is staying in the box. ::glares at it and ignores the returning snigger::

[zats-clear.livejournal.com]

they sent them down to LA for the screen tests...which makes me wonder where he was stripped searched LOL. In LAX's little incoming international flights area?

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

He doesn't specify. He mimed getting sniffed around his legs by a "cute little puppy," and then they started searching his luggage. And then him. And when it was all cleared up, they exchanged phone numbers, apparently, and he left in peace. :)

I say again that I can't promise the story is actually true. He might have made it up on the spot, considering that the question that started it all was, "Since you travel back and forth so frequently between Canada and the U.S., do the customs official recognize you already, or do you get hassled just like the rest of us?" <-- paraphrasing. I didn't pop it in again to watch now.

[pepper-field.livejournal.com]

Not a spoiler, because I don't think I know much more than you do, but I think the Antarctic stuff is for the second movie, not the first. And I want to seeeeeeeeeee theeeeeeeeeeeem! *is suffering Stargate withdrawal*

I'm hopeless at resisting spoilers, myself, but I'm going to try to remain relatively unspoiled for the movies. At least for as long as my strength of will holds out. :)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Second movie, not the first? Okay then.

I'm just assuming it's something to do with the chair or the second Stargate or... something.

To be fully honest, I'm not that invested in the movies, since I don't like S9-10 very much. I'm hoping that what I mentioned above re spoilers for the second movie means that the second one will be more to my liking.

[pepper-field.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping that what I mentioned above re spoilers for the second movie means that the second one will be more to my liking.

Me too, if you mean what I think you mean. The chair seems likely to be involved. Or - and this is pure speculation on my part, no spoiler - something else Ancient in that area, seeing as they dug up Ancient Typhoid Mary there, too.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Most of the stuff the Goa'uld have were ripped off from the Ancients. Rings are in the Ori galaxy, frex. The sarcophagus was Ancient-based. And, of course, the Gates.

So, yeah. I'm thinking something Ancient. And I'm also hoping we'll get back to the classic SG-1 dynamic if ::spoiler:: is involved, sigh.

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

It was filmed in the Arctic. I don't know if it's supposed to be the Antarctic or the Arctic. :-)

stupid internetz went out when I wrote a long response to you here. :-p

Can you figure out what the bonus disks are? I've got a link that shows what the regular North American boxsets have if you want it. (looks worriedly at world wide web and it's tempermental nature)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Are you asking for a list of what's on the bonus discs? I can give you that if you'd like.

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Something hit me the other day when I heard a news story about the expected writer's strike.

I wonder if these might end up on SciFi after all if they end up needing to fill space because of the strike. :-)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

What's this about an expected writers' strike? I haven't heard this.

That would be nicely ironic, I suppose, if that actually happened. Take that, Skiffy! ::thwaps them::

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. I think if they can't come to an agreement with the studio association, the strike starts in about a month. Lots of projects would end up being put on hold. Apparently, the new Star Trek movie could be in trouble. Goodness knows what else.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Oh, the studio association (as a wanna-be Hollywood writer, I'm trying to educate myself on this, but don't know all the parties' names yet) is being extra-stupid about residuals for writers (it seems that they don't want to pay them for re-using their work, and want to be able to outright buy concepts/characters from New Media like Internet series and so on, and use them as they see fit, without compensating the writers the way they do for regular TV/film work).

I hope there doesn't have to be a strike. But the Writer's Guild is not pleased, and I can't blame them.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Hm, thanks for the info. I'm assuming no one is actually on the studio association's side except the producers themselves. :p

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

That would be a pleasant surprise. :D

[tejas.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be nice? :-)

spoilers

[randomfreshink.livejournal.com]

If the "previews" are anything like the ones I've seen it's all just lead up stuff to the movie (meaning nothing you haven't seen and lots of dramatic music).

While pricipal photography finished a while back they're doing and redoing effects (and holding back all the money shots until the DVDs are about to go on sale), so my bet is they're pretty safe.

That said -- am I going to look at them? Well.......probably not

Re: spoilers

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Oh, did you get the complete set too? Hurray! Hope you're enjoying it. :)

If it's just "previouslies," I'm not interested. And if it's real spoilers, I don't want to see it. So I guess... I won't be seeing it. :)

Re: spoilers

[randomfreshink.livejournal.com]

Yup, got the whole shebang---I've been holding out for extras. But no time right now to watch (but I'm planning on a fun Sat evening!)

Re: spoilers

[nomadicwriter]

Yup; if it's the same Ark of Truth promo that's on the region 2 season 10 discs (and it probably is - having seen a list of the "all-new" content for the US complete series set, it's all stuff that's already been released in region 2) then it's a bunch of season 9 clips edited together with a Very Dramatic Voiceover.

Don't know about the Continuum promo, though, we haven't had that one yet.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I'm trying very hard not to resent them for re-releasing everything in one huge box set and adding lots of stuff that hadn't previously been released for a ridiculously small sum of money. Not only do I have 10 complete seasons of SG-1 on DVD, I bought each season for my brother, too, so it's not as if I can give him mine and buy myslef the "new and improved" version. Better yet, I spent a lot more money buying them as they were released. I'm really unhappy with them.

And now I'm dying to see this feature. *pouts*

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

I can absolutely see that frustration. It was different for me, as this was my first SG-1 purchase ever. (I've been a fan for only two years.) If it weren't for the low price, I never would've bought the complete set; it probably would've been only S1-3. So I'm grateful, if annoyed on behalf of all of you who were loyal all along.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd have been thrilled for the box set if I hadn't bought anything. And if they hadn't added in bunches of new stuff, I wouldn't even be cheesed. It isn't the lower price -- after all, I've had years of fun with my DVDs that those purchasing the boxed set haven't -- but it's the fact that they want me to re-purchase what I already have in order to get the new stuff.

So, does your copy of The Nox have Apophis's voice on it? I didn't see it in the first run but on DVD and I got one of the infamous DVDs where they failed to add the recording track for Apophis. It was a long time before I realized that the personal shield wasn't also a sound barrier. ;) I did go out and purchase a new DVD for that episode so I'd have the correct version. I could have traded it to the studio but I wanted the flawed version, as well. I really am terrible about being a "complete-ist." I'm chafing at not having the newest stuff. :)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I didn't see it in the first run but on DVD

I didn't see it on TV in the first run but rather on DVD...

My editing skills leave much to be desired, apparently.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Eeep! The set arrived after we did The Nox, so now, I haven't checked. But now I am absolutely going to do so, so thanks for the tip. :)

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Definitely worth checking but I'd bet after all of these years that they've fixed it. It was *odd* to see the episode and hear Apophis talking. Hee -- the good old days! I do adore the early SG-1 years. *nostalgic sigh*

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

I checked. You were RIGHT. Argh!

He smirks at Jack when the shield protects him and turns and calls, "Jaffa! Kree!" and gets tossed the staff weapon - but we don't hear his voice. OTOH, we do hear him spit out, "Teal'c! Jaffa sholva!"

So. Er. What do I do now?

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Wish I knew. I bought a replacement disk containing that episode (I don't know if they're still selling singleton DVDs) to replace mine rather than ferret out info on trading it in. I can't believe that they are still releasing the defective ones. That's inexcusable. :(

I bet, though, that someone on your flist will know if you ask about it. Sorry I'm not more help.

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

I have ALWAYS wondered why Apophis couldn't be heard! Well...apparently whatever he was saying wasn't all that important, because it's certainly never affected my enjoyment of the episode.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

That is why -- it's a DVD foul-up! :) It's bizarre that they're STILL selling the defective disks, though. It has been too many years since I paid any attention but I recall something several years ago about MGM being willing to swap out DVDs.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

That was something a little bigger than the two words "Jaffa, Kree!" They shipped out S8 discs with the shorter version of Threads - I believe twenty minutes' worth were cut out. That's what they replaced.

I'll have to consider whether it's worth kicking up a fuss about these two lines from Apophis.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

I could be mixing up the two events but my impression was that I made the decision not to trade in my defective disks prior to the Threads thing. I waited to buy my S8 disks until after they'd stopped selling the shorter version which I considered being cheated rather than getting an SG-1 version of the "Inverted Jenny" stamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_Jenny) so that's why I'm fairly sure there used to be an option to trade in the defectives. However, since they're still selling defective disks, I guess it's possible I've mixed things up in my head.

It wouldn't be the first time I felt "sure" of something only to discover I'm wrong. I thought my copy of The Nox was missing more than just the two words. I thought it was missing Peter Williams' track anytime they'd flanged him for the goa'uld effect. Well, darn. Now I'll have to watch my disk just to check. What a sad fate. ;)

[neiths-arrow.livejournal.com]

Has anyone else noticed that the broadcast version of Thread was even longer than the long DVD version? They cut out a number of scenes including the one where a nervous Sam is sitting in her car watching Jack's BBQ smoke wafting over his house.

[hsapiens.livejournal.com]

Huh, no, I hadn't noticed. I'll admit to being one of the few fans who was completely not interested in the "Who's Carter Sleeping With/Lusting After" arcs. This was a monumental episode where my favorite character was out fighting for the future of the galaxy and my nearly favorite character was...dithering over whether to get married. *sigh* I know others view it differently but it annoyed me so I popped the DVD in, determined the episode was more than an hour, and then replaced it in the sleeve. I haven't actually watched it. However, as much as the storyline irks me, I am equally irked to learn they've sold me less than an entire episode. :|

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

No, I'm with you all the way on that one. It infuriated me. Daniel is debating with Oma on the fate of the universe, Teal'c is helping Bra'tac create the Free Jaffa out of tretonin and hope, Jack is trying to keep the SGC going with the threat of Anubis' resurgence, and the best the writers can do for Sam is have her dither about breaking up with Pete and kill her father off in the process?! Oh, she deserved so much better than that.

I haven't checked yet to see if the version I have from the box set is shorter than the one that aired. I'll have to take a look, though. I'll add it to the list. :)

[neiths-arrow.livejournal.com]

Um guys! That was just an example of one of the scenes cut from the ep. Another scene cut from the long DVD version was the scene where Teal'c and Bratac were sitting at the conference table discussing the state of affairs with Jack. In fact, a lot of Teal'c / Jaffa scenes were cut from the final DVD version. I've kept the original aired copy because there is SOOO much missing from the DVD. Isn't the DVD version supposed to be LONGER than the aired version? What else was cut off from both???

[cyren-2132.livejournal.com]

Is the box as unfriendly as it looks in pictures? It just seems like it would be quite difficult to tell which episodes were on each disc, and while there may have been a time when I was very good at just KNOWING where the episode I wanted was, that time is long gone.

I don't know why I'm even asking though, because I already have nine seasons and had pretty much decided to just buy the 10th separately and just try to forget that those super-special 4 discs exist.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

The box itself is not so unfriendly. The discs have no titles on them, and YES THAT IS ANNOYING. You have to refer to the booklet, which has NO LARGE PICTURE OF JACK AT ALL. Grrrrr.

Also, they seem to have mixed up the order for S1, which is the only one I've really looked at so far. (My redial_the_gate is showing, heh.) The Nox is listed as after Fire and Water and before Hathor, and that's just weird.

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

I know redial_the_gate isn't the same order as my region 1 S1 dvds...

(and, grrr, stupid box. over the last (not ever one) year I've acquired all the seasons...to be fair I didn't really pay more total than the box would cost because I could good sale prices, but still....grrrr)

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

The North American DVDs are different than the initial airing order for some unknown reason...and the UK version, and...(that's why I asked which "version" we'd be doing for the redial way back in the day. ;-)

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

The first movie thing is a bunch of season 9-10 clips with voice over. but the second one is clips of filming in the Artic with nothing of the plot just the behind the scenes on the ice.=)

I love the Convention piece with Michael Shanks. I was laughing so very hard as I was watching it.

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

So actual spoilers, then? Just the guys laughing together? Hmmm. Maybe it's worth watching after all, then.

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

Nope no spoilers.=)