INTERVIEW: Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper (Executive Producers)

GateWorld · #1 April 21st, 2009, 09:41 PM

AUDIO INTERVIEW:
AN EXPANDING UNIVERSE
GateWorld talks with Brad Wright & Robert C. Cooper

The creators of Stargate Universe talk exclusively with GateWorld about their approach to the new series, how it will be different, and what the future holds for the rest of the franchise.

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Pharaoh Atem · #2 April 21st, 2009, 10:03 PM

how would you rate this interview on the spoiler scale???

Darren · #3 April 21st, 2009, 10:06 PM

On a scale of one to ten, hovering somewhere between zero and 0.5.

... As we've seen in years past, it all depends on what you might consider spoilery.

Coronach · #4 April 21st, 2009, 10:12 PM

Very cool interview Darren, I just finished it

.

I really like how they're stressing the different ways they're trying to make SGU different, while still retaining the big Stargate aspects. It makes me excited. {mod snip}

PG15 · #5 April 21st, 2009, 10:16 PM

If they do, they shall be pwned by logic.

Half way through. Very cool interview, guys.

kennythewraith · #6 April 21st, 2009, 10:18 PM

i dont think we got anything new really..<Snipped by Moderator>

Pharaoh Atem · #7 April 21st, 2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

On a scale of one to ten, hovering somewhere between zero and 0.5.

... As we've seen in years past, it all depends on what you might consider spoilery.

cool thanks

PG15 · #8 April 21st, 2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennythewraith

i dont think we got anything new really.<Snipped by Moderator>

I disagree. We got something we haven't got in a while - some thoughts from the people who are actually making this show, rather than random snippets and rumors from spoiler mills.

I love knowing the thought processes of a writer or a showrunner, the logic that goes into their creative decisions; and so far, this interview is bringing it in spades.

magictrick · #9 April 21st, 2009, 10:25 PM

Good to hear from the guys in charge. They sound really confident in the cast and the characters that they portray. I like how they mention the characters will show their flaws and none of them will be "perfect". That's what I'm looking forward to seeing the most - realism.

kennythewraith · #10 April 21st, 2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PG15

I disagree. We got something we haven't got in a while - some thoughts from the people who are actually making this show, rather than random snippets and rumors from spoiler mills.

I love knowing the thought processes of a writer or a showrunner, the logic that goes into their creative decisions; and so far, this interview is bringing it in spades.

well yeah i meant they didnt announce anything we really didnt already know.just there thoughts and opinons on news we have heard and wat we fans have been saying on the forums.it is always good to hear from them and i hope we can get some interviews with the cast,i know we got Brian J smith,but wat about LDP or RC,we all want to hear from RC about universe am i right?or RDA about why hes coming back to do so much stargate all of a sudden.

Bagpuss · #11 April 22nd, 2009, 07:31 PM

A little reminder when commenting, folks : state your own opinions about the interview,but please let other fans post on their own behalf.

Thank you .

Bagpuss
GateWorld Moderator.

majorsal · #12 April 22nd, 2009, 08:41 PM

i read the beginning of their interview (about sg1 and atlantis movies), then skip read through the rest. i'm just not interested enough in sgu to care right now, and i don't mean that meanly.

maybe when i see the show (and hopefully like it), i'll go back and read their interview again. it'll mean something then, you know?

CraigMacD. · #13 April 22nd, 2009, 10:20 PM

Can't freakin' wait for SGU to start. I loved Atlantis but wasn't big on SG-1. Hopefully this new series will bring something new to the Stargate franchise. I like the idea of the show being more character based and the cast in place (Robert Carlyle, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ming-Na) is pretty impressive.

Also, looking forward to the Atlantis movie and waiting to get season five of SGA on DVD when it comes out.

Sg Gato · #14 April 23rd, 2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majorsal

i read the beginning of their interview (about sg1 and atlantis movies), then skip read through the rest. i'm just not interested enough in sgu to care right now, and i don't mean that meanly.

maybe when i see the show (and hopefully like it), i'll go back and read their interview again. it'll mean something then, you know?

I pretty much did the same thing. Skimmed through the interview for news of the movies. At the moment, I'm just not interested in SGU. I just can't seem to connect to the show.

Wafflenator · #15 April 23rd, 2009, 10:08 AM

First time post from me, so hello all. Just wanted to chime in with my own thoughts on this interview.

I thought it was a nice change to get some insight into where they're trying to head intellectually, but they still haven't really told us anything of substance.

I've got to say I've been a huge SG1 and Atlantis fan ever since the first episode of SG1 came out in Australia, and I've developed a healthy enjoyment of the action-adventure aspect of those shows and the fact that they didn't take themselves too seriously while still throwing us some fantastic stories.

Especially in later years, Atlantis was the last of a dying breed of light-hearted, episodic action-adventure shows that ironically now offered something different from the character-driven, arc-based dark and dramatic fare that while good (I'm a MASSIVE Battlestar and Sarah Connor fan), puts you in a different place. Stargate for me and I'm sure many other fans has been about that escapism and adventure ride. That's not a bad thing, quite the opposite.

Am I getting to a point? I hope so. I guess from everything I've heard from production people in interview regarding Universe I just find myself asking one rather important question: How and why is this really Stargate?

No offense intended here to the people that have given us 15 seasons of great popcorn entertainment, but I think the fundamental disconnect you're going to have with your audience from the get-go is that a lot of your viewership actually like the episodic format, the now-rare cinematic production style, a small team of likable (yes, dare I say it... "Good Guy") characters and regular jaunts though that glowing blue thing to do battle with lifesucking aliens.

What we're not looking for is another Battlestar Galactica written by a team of writers who I'm sorry to say aren't really capable of writing another Battlestar Galactica. To be fair I honestly can't see Ron Moore pulling off a Teal'C or a McKay, but I digress.

Obviously we're looking at a new direction for the show and it's not a bad thing but I honestly think that they're not as in touch with audience that'll be tuning in for Air as they think they are. All I'd suggest is don't make it too dark, and don't be so quick to throw away that sense of fun and adventure for another "Character moment". We get enough of that from every other angle on TV these days.

Ishay · #16 April 23rd, 2009, 11:21 AM

i listened to this and i enjoyed it looking forward to universe

amconway · #17 April 23rd, 2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Am I getting to a point? I hope so. I guess from everything I've heard from production people in interview regarding Universe I just find myself asking one rather important question: How and why is this really Stargate?

No offense intended here to the people that have given us 15 seasons of great popcorn entertainment, but I think the fundamental disconnect you're going to have with your audience from the get-go is that a lot of your viewership actually like the episodic format, the now-rare cinematic production style, a small team of likable (yes, dare I say it... "Good Guy") characters and regular jaunts though that glowing blue thing to do battle with lifesucking aliens.

Exactly! Well said!

bluealien · #18 April 23rd, 2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wafflenator

First time post from me, so hello all. Just wanted to chime in with my own thoughts on this interview.

I thought it was a nice change to get some insight into where they're trying to head intellectually, but they still haven't really told us anything of substance.

I've got to say I've been a huge SG1 and Atlantis fan ever since the first episode of SG1 came out in Australia, and I've developed a healthy enjoyment of the action-adventure aspect of those shows and the fact that they didn't take themselves too seriously while still throwing us some fantastic stories.

Especially in later years, Atlantis was the last of a dying breed of light-hearted, episodic action-adventure shows that ironically now offered something different from the character-driven, arc-based dark and dramatic fare that while good (I'm a MASSIVE Battlestar and Sarah Connor fan), puts you in a different place. Stargate for me and I'm sure many other fans has been about that escapism and adventure ride. That's not a bad thing, quite the opposite.

Am I getting to a point? I hope so. I guess from everything I've heard from production people in interview regarding Universe I just find myself asking one rather important question: How and why is this really Stargate?

No offense intended here to the people that have given us 15 seasons of great popcorn entertainment, but I think the fundamental disconnect you're going to have with your audience from the get-go is that a lot of your viewership actually like the episodic format, the now-rare cinematic production style, a small team of likable (yes, dare I say it... "Good Guy") characters and regular jaunts though that glowing blue thing to do battle with lifesucking aliens.

What we're not looking for is another Battlestar Galactica written by a team of writers who I'm sorry to say aren't really capable of writing another Battlestar Galactica. To be fair I honestly can't see Ron Moore pulling off a Teal'C or a McKay, but I digress.

Obviously we're looking at a new direction for the show and it's not a bad thing but I honestly think that they're not as in touch with audience that'll be tuning in for Air as they think they are. All I'd suggest is don't make it too dark, and don't be so quick to throw away that sense of fun and adventure for another "Character moment". We get enough of that from every other angle on TV these days

Excellent post.. I could really highlight all of it but I've highlighted the parts that explain why SGU is just not Stargate for me anymore. .... I tuned in for 15 years BECAUSE of the lighthearted escapism.. I didn't want dark and edgy, or relationship based .. if I wanted this or more realism I could tune into the myriad of other shows that offer this kind of entertainment... Stargate was unique but now the tpb seem to want it to be like all the other mainstream shows out there that never interested me... and are taking away all the reasons I chose to tune into this franchise for so long..

David · #19 April 23rd, 2009, 05:17 PM

The 15 seasons of Stargate that you know and love are not going anywhere. They're going to be available for you to enjoy for as long as you draw breath and care to watch them. But I trust you to realize that these people thrive on creative energy, and doing the same type of storytelling for the rest of time is simply not sustainable, either for them, or the network. The storytelling gets dull. The show's audience will lose interest. No one wants to see the same thing forever.

In my humble opinion I think we're now beginning to see signs of that. What's certain is that Brad and Rob realize this, and that's one of the reasons they're doing something different. They want to do something different. They want to offer us Stargate, but a new Stargate. That is not sacrilege. That is the way it works.

I understand there is no new Stargate currently airing, and I understand many of us are bored. A few prepackaged segments by a team of marketers are more than likely going to fall short of the potential that the show is generating. We haven't seen Universe yet. "Sure, Brad. Sure, Rob. I've liked the stuff you've done for the past 15 seasons, but no. No, I cannot trust you to do another one." How shallow.

I don't have a crystal ball. I can't judge whether or not I am going to like a product six months before it hits the airwaves. And to think that I can is a little delusional. But I know that I've enjoyed almost everything these guys have done. Logic suggests that I will more than likely enjoy the next one. It's the same creative team.

If you're on this board then you obviously like Stargate enough that you should give the pilot a chance. If you like it, fantastic. If not, that's OK too. It's just a television show, not the end of the world. Life goes on.

i_adore_atlantis · #20 April 23rd, 2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

If you're on this board then you obviously like Stargate enough that you should give the pilot a chance.

Not me. I'm not interested in Stargate "insert-any-generic-name-here".

I didn't like Stargate the original movie.
I didn't like Stargate SG-1.
I love Stargate Atlantis to pieces.
I won't watch SGU. I haven't read anything about the show. I'm just not interested.

I'm on this board because of Stargate Atlantis. I haven't liked anything else in the Stargate franchise so far, and I don't care about any more products/shows within the franchise, except for SGA.

I know I'm not the only one here who only likes Atlantis and don't care for anything else in the franchise. And I'm sure there are others who only care for SG-1, others who care for both SG-1 and SGA, others who care for SGA and SGU, and any other combination.

Not all the Stargate fans like everything in the franchise. Not all the Stargate fans are interested in giving every product within the franchise a chance.

In my case, my interest in the franchise starts and ends with Atlantis.