Cooper Directs Finale

[scifiannie]

Hope by the time he helms what they're touting as "the best episode ever" they'll get around to shooting better coverage so we'll actually SEE Mitchell's face when he's talking. Oh, and maybe he'll even get to lead this military operation for a change, instead of the civilian. Since I've read elsewhere (interview with Mallozzi and Gero) that they're purposefully pushing Mitchell to the background I'm a little skeptical.

[binkpmmc]

Do you have a link, magazine name or location for the interview to direct us to where you saw this about Mitchell? I had not heard that this was said. Did they indicate why they were doing that? Thanks.

[Kalliope]

HERE , reply #3.

[babaganoosh]

I read that season 9 is gonna end with a cliffhanger paving the way for a season 10.

[morjana]

Oh, and maybe he'll even get to lead this military operation for a change, instead of the civilian.

Which civilian are you referring to?

Morjana

[Darren]

Purposefully pushing Mitchell into the background? I don't see that anywhere in this interview. What they do say is:

Gero: It's funny ... I remember when we were breaking Ties That Bind. We had buried Mitchell's character to reduce his days. Rob [Cooper] came in and looked over the board and was like, "You know, we don't have to write around him. We can use him in every scene if we want to." Oh, yeah! How wonderful is that! That definitely is freeing.

Mallozzi: On the other hand, I know he is the hero. I wouldn't think he's a replacement for Rick, but I mean he is the team leader at least for the first couple of episodes. But I still think the show is more about the team than a lead.

Gero: More than the sum of its parts.

Mallozzi: I guess what I'm tying to say is that I don't want the fans or anyone else to think that it's going to be the same old 'Cameron Mitchell Show.' We're always going to try to include all four of team members in any episode.

Source: Stargate SG-1: The Official Magazine, September/October 2005 (#6)

[scifiannie]

[QUOTE=Darren]Purposefully pushing Mitchell into the background? I don't see that anywhere in this interview.

The excerpt you quoted exactly proves my point. No, they didn't LITERALLY bury Mitchell. But it does show how scared they were that he would "take over." And so, they "buried" him in a different way. This is a directing thread, so take another look at TIES. Almost every two-shot shows Daniel (the civilian) in the foreground close to the camera and Mitchell buried in the back. Given their relative positions to each other, who would you say is leading? Or, take the briefing scene from the first half of "Beachhead." Most of that scene shows a master shot with Mitchell the farthest away from camera. I mean he's practically in Iceland. They don't even go to close up when he has a line of dialog. Did they not have time to get coverage (close-up reaction shots)? Or did they have the coverage and choose in post to go with the wide shot? Either way, Mitchell is "buried" in the background. All I'm saying is that if Cooper follows the trend for the finale, Mitchell will continue to stay "buried."

[GateAngel]

[QUOTE=scifiannie]

Purposefully pushing Mitchell into the background? I don't see that anywhere in this interview.

The excerpt you quoted exactly proves my point. No, they didn't LITERALLY bury Mitchell. But it does show how scared they were that he would "take over." And so, they "buried" him in a different way. This is a directing thread, so take another look at TIES. Almost every two-shot shows Daniel (the civilian) in the foreground close to the camera and Mitchell buried in the back. Given their relative positions to each other, who would you say is leading? Or, take the briefing scene from the first half of "Beachhead." Most of that scene shows a master shot with Mitchell the farthest away from camera. I mean he's practically in Iceland. They don't even go to close up when he has a line of dialog. Did they not have time to get coverage (close-up reaction shots)? Or did they have the coverage and choose in post to go with the wide shot? Either way, Mitchell is "buried" in the background. All I'm saying is that if Cooper follows the trend for the finale, Mitchell will continue to stay "buried."

Well from what I read of it, it sounds like the writers had gotten so used to 'burying' the lead of the show because they had to write around RDA and his reduced schedule for the past 3 seasons of the show. Then RCC comes in and gently reminds them that those days are over, that Ben Browder is going to be on set full time and they can write him in as many scenes as they wanted to. I don't see it as any attempt to keep Mitchell in the background, but more a matter of the writers having to switch gears and relearn to write the lead into more scenes and make him more prominent.
Also I think it was brilliant the way they eased Mitchell into his situation. Yes he was technically the leader of SG-1 (or at that point SG-ME) and he was treading very carefully as he made his case for getting the team back. Also Mitchell was in awe of all of them and maybe a little intimidated and he kept himself in the background a bit so as not to impose and make things awkward.
As episodes progressed and Mitchell became more sure of his place and his acceptance, he became more front and center.
Well at least I see that as the concept, however I have to admit that Mitchell has yet to stand out for me or capture my attention. This has nothing to do with the placement of the character in the storyline, but more about the fact that I haven't found a connection point to the character yet.

[scifiannie]

[QUOTE=GateAngel]

[color=darkred]I have to admit that Mitchell has yet to stand out for me or capture my attention. This has nothing to do with the placement of the character in the storyline, but more about the fact that I haven't found a connection point to the character yet.

Hmm...wonder why he hasn't "stood out" or "captured your attention"? Could it be that he's too far away from the camera? How can you bond with a character you can't see? You can't see the emotion on his face, the subleties of his reactions. It makes perfect sense he hasn't stood out for you. He's literally not in front of you.

[Kalliope]

scifiannie, don't exagerate. As far as I remember, TPTB said somewhere before season 9 was on air, that it's going to focus on Daniel in most of cases. Plus, if you remember the original Stargate movie, it was actually Daniel who was the main character in the film. So, it's kinda unfair to demand Mitchell being it's central point. I love Ben from Farscape, but SG-1's nature is completely different. And his character here is not invisible at all for me.

[ShardsofGlass]

Kalliope, in all of your posts here at GW, you've made it clear that all you care about is Vala. Let's all be honest here.

I think Scifiannie has a good point about how Mitchell has been sidelined so far. I think the long-term fans who are happy with his slow introduction also have a point. However, I think TPTB have gone too far in trying to not upset fans, and I also think they focused on Daniel and Vala too much, or rather too many eps in a row right in the beginning of the season. I understand that outside circumstances with AT dictated a lot of what they did, but they still could've included Mitchell more into the storylines. I think TPTB were afraid to show Vala and Mitchell together because fans would associate them too much with FS. Unfortunately, Mitchell has gotten short-changed.

Hopefully, now that the team is back together that'll change.

ETA: I think Kalliope wants Daniel to be the central character because it means there's more of a chance that Vala will come back. However, TPTB have also said that S9 is more of an ensemble this year. And I think it's important to remember that Mitchell is the leader of the team, and Ben Browder has top billing on the show. These are not the qualifications of a secondary character, which is what he's been so far this season.

[GateAngel]

[QUOTE=scifiannie]

Hmm...wonder why he hasn't "stood out" or "captured your attention"? Could it be that he's too far away from the camera? How can you bond with a character you can't see? You can't see the emotion on his face, the subleties of his reactions. It makes perfect sense he hasn't stood out for you. He's literally not in front of you.

Please don't try to make my words fit your stance, because it is NOT the reason why I am having trouble connecting with the character. I said that my non connection with the character has nothing to do with his placement in the storyline OR in front of the camera. Cameron Mitchell could be the ONLY one on camera and right in front of it and I still would have a problem connecting with him.

I'm not picking up any chemistry with Ben Browder or Cameron Mitchell. I have the same problem with the majority of the Atlantis cast which is why I don't watch the show. (except for Duet...and I think that Torri Higginson is wonderful in person).

[Kalliope]

ETA: I think Kalliope wants Daniel to be the central character because it means there's more of a chance that Vala will come back. However, TPTB have also said that S9 is more of an ensemble this year. And I think it's important to remember that Mitchell is the leader of the team, and Ben Browder has top billing on the show. These are not the qualifications of a secondary character, which is what he's been so far this season.

First of all, if you talk to me, talk to me, not in the third person. RED. Second, this piece of info about Daniel I remember reading some time ago, didn't have anything to do with Vala, there're many other issues concerning Daniel

[Skydiver]

i have no issue with what they've done with mitch so far. the slow build - TO ME - is far more enjoyable than the in your face introduction that we got with vala. in fact, that introduction along with some character quirks is where i attribute a large part of her very slow acceptance by your general, run of the mill fan

if mitch were front and center with 50% of the lines, then i'm sure folks woudl be yelling and screaming about him taking over the show and the sidelining of the original actors.

I think my one concern with the finale is, well two, first of all the title suggests a topic that i've never been fond of or warmed up to. In a general movie, sure that topic is fun and enjoyable (in fact, First Knight is one of my favorite chick flicks), but also, while coop may do work that appeals to some, i'm finding more and mroe that it's just not to my taste. he seems to get so wrapped up in telling the story that he forgets the characters whose job it is to tell teh story and there's not as much depth to them and thier actions as there was when brad was doing things

time will tell and it'll be great or not...or likely both to a wide vareity of people

[Kalliope]

[QUOTE=GateAngel]

Please don't try to make my words fit your stance, because it is NOT the reason why I am having trouble connecting with the character. I said that my non connection with the character has nothing to do with his placement in the storyline OR in front of the camera. Cameron Mitchell could be the ONLY one on camera and right in front of it and I still would have a problem connecting with him.

I'm not picking up any chemistry with Ben Browder or Cameron Mitchell. I have the same problem with the majority of the Atlantis cast which is why I don't watch the show. (except for Duet...and I think that Torri Higginson is wonderful in person).

Have I said that I love your sig?

Hmm... I have one problem only with Atlantis cast - Shephard. But I absolutely love McKay!

[Uber]

[QUOTE=GateAngel]

Please don't try to make my words fit your stance, because it is NOT the reason why I am having trouble connecting with the character. I said that my non connection with the character has nothing to do with his placement in the storyline OR in front of the camera. Cameron Mitchell could be the ONLY one on camera and right in front of it and I still would have a problem connecting with him.

I'm not picking up any chemistry with Ben Browder or Cameron Mitchell. I have the same problem with the majority of the Atlantis cast which is why I don't watch the show. (except for Duet...and I think that Torri Higginson is wonderful in person).

Yeah I'm a little surprised that we don't know more about him yet.

I mean I logically understand that the main story had to be essentially sidelined until they had a full team...and that the first several stories were kind of a filler until the "real action" could begin...which I personally saw starting to happen with The Powers that Be. And even THEN there was that bizarre beat with Mitchell getting the illness...like we as the audience ever felt as though he were in danger of dying 5 episodes into the new season.

I am hoping that we'll see what the deal is with him...why he not only qualifies to be ON the team but to lead it...because so far, I'm not seeing it... ...and I WANT TO because I love Ben Browder so much.

[david2708]

"Best episode ever!"
Good lord, TPTB say that about every new episode they make.
I remember the Moebius hype: "The time travel to end all time travel stories..."
Well, that turned out to be one of the most lame time travel stories I've ever witnessed in the whole SCiFi genre. It was garbage.
So whenever they spew forth hyperbole about upcoming best episode ever quotes, I take them with a grain of salt.

[Jonzey]

"Best episode ever!"
Good lord, TPTB say that about every new episode they make.
I remember the Moebius hype: "The time travel to end all time travel stories..."
Well, that turned out to be one of the most lame time travel stories I've ever witnessed in the whole SCiFi genre. It was garbage.
So whenever they spew forth hyperbole about upcoming best episode ever quotes, I take them with a grain of salt.

Well they're hardly gonna say ''we're making an average episode. It's going to be woefully mediocre and leave a lot of fans feeling unfulfilled.''

[Skydiver]

Well they're hardly gonna say ''we're making an average episode. It's going to be woefully mediocre and leave a lot of fans feeling unfulfilled.''

very true.

part of their job is to sell what they do....and to sell it you pump it up. after all, it's not like fans can take back their ratings after watching if they don't like it

[Pitry]

Oh. So I'm the only one who thinks Martin Gero was joking when he said that? ... T'is a shame paper (and internet) can't pass on tone of voice and facial expressions.