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May 21, 2011 - Part 1
Video: Cyril Raffaelli
Photos: Transporter: The Series, SG-1 Season 7
Thought I’d kick off today’s blog with a little Transporter: The Series Q&A...
Lou Zucaro writes: “Also…please tell me that Tarconi is going to be in the series. I really like that characterâ€
Answer: Tarconi WILL be in the series. We’re all huge fans of the endearing Inspector played by the brilliant François Berléand.
Winst writes: “Joseph……what type of run times are you aiming for with Transporter scripts/episodes?â€
Answer: We’re aiming for a little under 50 minutes an episode.
Winst also writes: “Any plans in place to have some fun with the opening credits for each individual episode? …maybe something interesting, amusing and unique?â€
Answer: We’ve talked about a variety of recurring themes and fun signature visuals for the show but have yet to sit down and discuss the opening credit sequence. Stay tuned.
Randomness writes: “Must admit though, the name Chris Vance was the last I was expecting from a series like The Transporter, but am happy he got the role.â€
Answer: His audition was a home run, everything from his look to his mannerisms to his delivery. We wanted someone who could do tough and charming, and Chris is both. He’s got a terrific screen presence, as I’m sure you’ll agree once you see him in action as Frank Martin.
sparced writes: “Can’t wait to see the guy in action. I have to imagine you guys are sending him off to some seriously heavy martial arts training to fit the part.â€
Answer: Yes, he is in training. He also has the benefit of working with one of the best stunt coordinators out there in Cyril Raffaelli.
dioxholster writes: “I agree with you on this though, we were introduced to the character as a loner so seeing him now in a team might upset some fans. “
Answer: There is no team. In addition to his uncertain but ever-entertaining friendship with Inspector Tarconi (as established in the movies), we also established the character of Carla exactly because Frank IS a loner. Looking back over the movies, it didn’t make much sense that a guy with a strict adherence to rules like “No names†and a desire to know as little as possible about the people he’s working for would work alone. How do people contact him? How does he screen them? How is payment arranged? The Carla character effectively acts as his agent, doing all that for him and then simply forwarding him the coordinates of his next transport. Once the package has been delivered, the balance of the payment is made to one of Carla’s offshore accounts and she sees to it that Frank gets paid. This set-up is a lot less complicated for Frank and requires next to no contact with the client. His only contact is with Carla, someone he trusts, who simply supplies coordination and support from her office in Nice.
masterchief writes: “it basically says that Luc Besson will be showrunner of the series which will be produced by RTL, HBO, HBO Canada and M6″
Answer: It does? Great! I guess my work here is done. Vancouver, here I come!
Ponytail writes: “It looks like Transporter: The Series will bring a “whole new breed†of fan to your blog.â€
Answer: Hopefully, yes!
Michel Cardoso Teixeira writes: “I’m gonna follow the Transporter series as soon as it arrives in Sweden. I don’t think that particular type of TV-show would be something I’d ordinary watch if it wasn’t for you and your dedication to the fans (and the fact that you’re somewhat talented as well… ).â€
Answer: Thanks. Somewhat talented is what I strive for! When the show does air in your neck of the woods, check it out (and bring your friends and family along for the ride). I have a feeling it’ll fast become one of your favorites.
So, getting back to my Stargate reminiscing – I believe I was halfway through SG-1′s seventh season. Michael Shanks had returned, Daniel Jackson was back, and it was just like old times. Except, of course, for RDA’s reduced participation. After many years on the show, Rick had decided to take a step back to spend more time with family and we were faced with the challenge of finding increasingly creative ways to write him out of episodes. Easier said than done. After the third “Hey, O’Neill says he’s stuck in traffic and we should just go ahead without him†excuse, you kind of begin to stretch credulity. Still, I think we did alright as O’Neill’s diminished role allowed us to shift focus to the other members of the team.
EVOLUTION I (711)
The first part of our mid-season two-parter (Hey, remember the days when the 11th episode was the midway point of the season?) introduced a fearsome new enemy with an equally fearsome codpiece. Yep. Whenever the deadly super soldier strode onto the scene, all I could think was “I wonder if that’s where they keep it’s battery pack?â€. The idea of an almost indestructible enemy was a good one and, on paper, it certainly sounded cool but the finished product was more likely to trigger laughter than any feelings of foreboding.
Note: For what it’s worth, the Asurans were similarly/mysteriously well-endowed.
EVOLUTION II (712)
Enrico Colantoni guests as Burke, a former black ops buddy of O’Neill’s, and does such a formidable job that, for months later, we’re still talking about the fact we have to bring him back and give him his own team. Like so many of the show’s creative good intentions, it never comes to pass – but things worked out for Enrico all the same. Last I hear, he’s tearing it up on Flashpoint.
As much as I didn’t love the super soldier, I was all over the zombies that stalk the jungles of Nicaragua (Vancouver woods with a little help from our Greens Department). Speaking of tearing it up, Director Peter DeLuise does a brilliant job here with the action, particularly one shot that sees the Zombie Chalo blown apart. The other guys felt it was too visceral (“Pretty damn goopy!â€) but I didn’t see the problem. It was a zombie after all, not a human being. I mean, it’s perfectly acceptable to decapitate robots onscreen. I think the same logic would apply. I was overruled.
GRACE (713)
While I, admittedly, would have liked to see the Sam-Jack arc culminate in their finally settling down together, I wasn’t a fan of the dream flash in this episode in which the two lock lips. My problem with it was not so much the content of the sequence as the fact that it was confusing – a hallucination within a greater hallucination. That said, I quite liked the episode that, in its early outlining, jumped back and forth between Carter actually boarding the alien vessel and coming face to face with its crew. In the end, it was decided the story would work better as a self-contained narrative.
FALLOUT (714)
Actor Corin Nemec pitched this story and wrote the original outline for an episode that brings back Jonas Quinn and explores his new life on Langara. The original title of the episode was Turn of Events which, we couldn’t help but note, was a title applicable to every episode we’d ever done. It would have been akin to titling an episode Off-World Adventure or Fourth Act Twist! It was a lot of fun although one element in the story didn’t quite pan out – specifically, Jonas Quinn’s love interest, a fellow Langaran named Kianna. On the day the first dailies came in, we were horrified to discover that both actors had unnervingly similar hairstyles that, as a result, made them look like they were related. Which, in turn, made some of the romantic scenes a little…weird?
May 21, 2011 - Part 1
Video: Cyril Raffaelli
Photos: Transporter: The Series, SG-1 Season 7
Thought I’d kick off today’s blog with a little Transporter: The Series Q&A...
Lou Zucaro writes: “Also…please tell me that Tarconi is going to be in the series. I really like that characterâ€
Answer: Tarconi WILL be in the series. We’re all huge fans of the endearing Inspector played by the brilliant François Berléand.
Winst writes: “Joseph……what type of run times are you aiming for with Transporter scripts/episodes?â€
Answer: We’re aiming for a little under 50 minutes an episode.
Winst also writes: “Any plans in place to have some fun with the opening credits for each individual episode? …maybe something interesting, amusing and unique?â€
Answer: We’ve talked about a variety of recurring themes and fun signature visuals for the show but have yet to sit down and discuss the opening credit sequence. Stay tuned.
Randomness writes: “Must admit though, the name Chris Vance was the last I was expecting from a series like The Transporter, but am happy he got the role.â€
Answer: His audition was a home run, everything from his look to his mannerisms to his delivery. We wanted someone who could do tough and charming, and Chris is both. He’s got a terrific screen presence, as I’m sure you’ll agree once you see him in action as Frank Martin.
sparced writes: “Can’t wait to see the guy in action. I have to imagine you guys are sending him off to some seriously heavy martial arts training to fit the part.â€
Answer: Yes, he is in training. He also has the benefit of working with one of the best stunt coordinators out there in Cyril Raffaelli.
dioxholster writes: “I agree with you on this though, we were introduced to the character as a loner so seeing him now in a team might upset some fans. “
Answer: There is no team. In addition to his uncertain but ever-entertaining friendship with Inspector Tarconi (as established in the movies), we also established the character of Carla exactly because Frank IS a loner. Looking back over the movies, it didn’t make much sense that a guy with a strict adherence to rules like “No names†and a desire to know as little as possible about the people he’s working for would work alone. How do people contact him? How does he screen them? How is payment arranged? The Carla character effectively acts as his agent, doing all that for him and then simply forwarding him the coordinates of his next transport. Once the package has been delivered, the balance of the payment is made to one of Carla’s offshore accounts and she sees to it that Frank gets paid. This set-up is a lot less complicated for Frank and requires next to no contact with the client. His only contact is with Carla, someone he trusts, who simply supplies coordination and support from her office in Nice.
masterchief writes: “it basically says that Luc Besson will be showrunner of the series which will be produced by RTL, HBO, HBO Canada and M6″
Answer: It does? Great! I guess my work here is done. Vancouver, here I come!
Ponytail writes: “It looks like Transporter: The Series will bring a “whole new breed†of fan to your blog.â€
Answer: Hopefully, yes!
Michel Cardoso Teixeira writes: “I’m gonna follow the Transporter series as soon as it arrives in Sweden. I don’t think that particular type of TV-show would be something I’d ordinary watch if it wasn’t for you and your dedication to the fans (and the fact that you’re somewhat talented as well… ).â€
Answer: Thanks. Somewhat talented is what I strive for! When the show does air in your neck of the woods, check it out (and bring your friends and family along for the ride). I have a feeling it’ll fast become one of your favorites.
So, getting back to my Stargate reminiscing – I believe I was halfway through SG-1′s seventh season. Michael Shanks had returned, Daniel Jackson was back, and it was just like old times. Except, of course, for RDA’s reduced participation. After many years on the show, Rick had decided to take a step back to spend more time with family and we were faced with the challenge of finding increasingly creative ways to write him out of episodes. Easier said than done. After the third “Hey, O’Neill says he’s stuck in traffic and we should just go ahead without him†excuse, you kind of begin to stretch credulity. Still, I think we did alright as O’Neill’s diminished role allowed us to shift focus to the other members of the team.
EVOLUTION I (711)
The first part of our mid-season two-parter (Hey, remember the days when the 11th episode was the midway point of the season?) introduced a fearsome new enemy with an equally fearsome codpiece. Yep. Whenever the deadly super soldier strode onto the scene, all I could think was “I wonder if that’s where they keep it’s battery pack?â€. The idea of an almost indestructible enemy was a good one and, on paper, it certainly sounded cool but the finished product was more likely to trigger laughter than any feelings of foreboding.
Note: For what it’s worth, the Asurans were similarly/mysteriously well-endowed.
EVOLUTION II (712)
Enrico Colantoni guests as Burke, a former black ops buddy of O’Neill’s, and does such a formidable job that, for months later, we’re still talking about the fact we have to bring him back and give him his own team. Like so many of the show’s creative good intentions, it never comes to pass – but things worked out for Enrico all the same. Last I hear, he’s tearing it up on Flashpoint.
As much as I didn’t love the super soldier, I was all over the zombies that stalk the jungles of Nicaragua (Vancouver woods with a little help from our Greens Department). Speaking of tearing it up, Director Peter DeLuise does a brilliant job here with the action, particularly one shot that sees the Zombie Chalo blown apart. The other guys felt it was too visceral (“Pretty damn goopy!â€) but I didn’t see the problem. It was a zombie after all, not a human being. I mean, it’s perfectly acceptable to decapitate robots onscreen. I think the same logic would apply. I was overruled.
GRACE (713)
While I, admittedly, would have liked to see the Sam-Jack arc culminate in their finally settling down together, I wasn’t a fan of the dream flash in this episode in which the two lock lips. My problem with it was not so much the content of the sequence as the fact that it was confusing – a hallucination within a greater hallucination. That said, I quite liked the episode that, in its early outlining, jumped back and forth between Carter actually boarding the alien vessel and coming face to face with its crew. In the end, it was decided the story would work better as a self-contained narrative.
FALLOUT (714)
Actor Corin Nemec pitched this story and wrote the original outline for an episode that brings back Jonas Quinn and explores his new life on Langara. The original title of the episode was Turn of Events which, we couldn’t help but note, was a title applicable to every episode we’d ever done. It would have been akin to titling an episode Off-World Adventure or Fourth Act Twist! It was a lot of fun although one element in the story didn’t quite pan out – specifically, Jonas Quinn’s love interest, a fellow Langaran named Kianna. On the day the first dailies came in, we were horrified to discover that both actors had unnervingly similar hairstyles that, as a result, made them look like they were related. Which, in turn, made some of the romantic scenes a little…weird?
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