Syfy

 

 

With three days to go before the official start of our summer hiatus, I was back in the office today, trying to figure out the beat sheet for the big SGU Season 1 finale (hint: the title rhymes with the name of the preceding episode). Lots going on in this one and this first pass was really just an attempt to establish the major beats, who is where doing what and why, and the general escalation of the action. Tomorrow, I get down to details and start running the character through lines, ensuring that all the individual beats track and, hopefully, dovetail in step with the plot. Some wonderful shocks in this one, big and small.

Carl was on a location scout to Widgen Park all morning as he and director Will Waring continue prep on Faith. This will mark our first return to Widgen since Atlantis’s fourth season when we shot Harmony there. I was on hand for most of the festivities on that one – also, coincidentally, with Will. It’s about an hour’s drive there and another hour’s drive back, through winding back country roads surrounded by dense forest. “Yep,”I remember telling Larry, my driver “This is great corpse-dumping territory.” I believe that was the same day a bear meandered across our path, oblivious to us, before disappearing into the trees. Come to think of it, years earlier, when SG-1 shot in the same location, a bear sighting kept actor Chris Judge holed-up in his trailer, much to the delight of his fellow castmates. Someone please remind me to warn Carl to pack his bear spray or, at the very least, give him some worst case scenario advice. Now I forget. If he runs into a bear, should he be playing dead or rubbing its belly to calm it? Also, I seem to remember someone telling me that you should run AT a bear, making as much noise as possible, because they are easily spooked. Does that sound right? Any bear experts out there?

You know, one of the great things about working on Stargate is the occasional sneak peek you get on an upcoming episode. Usually, if it’s not your episode, you don’t sit in on prep and get to check out the cool design packs the Art Department has put together. Unless you make it a point to seek one out. Or, as was the case today, I happened to poke my head into the conference room and caught sight of the design work adorning the inside wall: the shuttle hurtling through space, the “discovery”, schematics for the shuttle, infirmary, mess hall, Wray’s quarters, Rush’s quarters, the observation room, the control interface room, in addition a general lay-out of the Destiny’s main section and something titled Gate Protocol that offers a step by step run-through of the dialing process. I snapped bunch of pics, most of which I can’t show you just yet, but some of which I will. Check ’em out.

Hey, there may be a good chance we’ll be up against Ugly Betty this Fall when it moves into its new 9:00 p.m., Friday time slot. I heard the news from David Blue. David knows, not because he worked on the show, but because he watches EVERY show and knows everything that‘s goes on with everything. He’s a t.v. junkie to rival Martin Gero (a guy who watches programs I’ve never even heard of). He’s also a very funny, very entertaining guy. I spent the better part of an hour talking t.v. and entertainment with him the other week (Head on over to his twitter page and ask him his thoughts on Lost. http://twitter.com/davidblue I guarantee he’ll have a lot to say on the subject).

 

Anyway, when production got underway on Stargate: Universe, I was most impressed with many of the choices David made as an actor. He would deliver a line in just such a way or add a certain look or bit of business that had the producers smiling if not laughing out loud every time we screened dailies. Yes, very early on we established that David had great comic timing and that, as the overwhelmed Eli Wallace, he would serve as the point person for many viewers who will connect with his fish-out-of-water character and experience the dangers, adventures, and far-flung journey of discovery through him. Yet, as the season progressed, David was challenged, his dramatic range tested, and he delivered every time – to the point where, now, some of his more heartfelt moments (ie. Time) stand as some of my favorites. Yes, he can do funny. And he’s proven that he can do touching. But can he bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies? That’ll be his next challenge.

Tagged: David Blue, Eli Wallace, Stargate, Stargate Universe

 

 

Breaking a story can go either way. It can be a fast-paced and entertaining exchange of ideas in which all participants contribute to fashion a gripping, tightly plotted, detailed episode breakdown. Or, it can be a frustrating exercise in futility spent arguing story points and running into creative dead-ends resulting in little, if any, progress Usually, it falls somewhere in between.

Earlier in the week, we had an example of the former when we all got together (along with the visiting Martin Gero) to break episode 19. Inside of two and a half hours, we were done: The tease and all five acts . Well, with time ticking down toward the beginning of our summer hiatus, we all gathered again the other day to discuss episode 20. We took an hour to discuss the story, throw out some notions and then, with time running out, put the potential act breaks up on the whiteboard (You know, those tun-tun-TAAA moments right before you cut to commercial – ie. the villain gets the upper hand, our team is trapped, our hero loses his lucky sock.). The plan was for everyone to re-gather today and actually break the story – the tease and all five acts, 4-5 beats per act.

Well, that was the plan anyway but, unfortunately, Rob Cooper had some post-production issues to deal with. And he’d be unavailable next week which meant we had to proceed without him. Normally, the absence of a single individual wouldn’t be that big a deal but, in this case, it was. For a number of reasons. First and foremost is the fact that Rob is the master spinner, ever capable of coming up with a solution to any creative roadblock no matter how wild or wacky the idea. Secondly – and this applies to co-creator and series show runner Brad Wright as well – this is the season finale and if there’s an episode you DON”T want to break without him, it would be this one. At the end of the day, Brad and Rob have the final say and there’s nothing more dispiriting than spending a day outlining an episode, presenting it, and having one of them find fault or creatively disagree with a crucial story element. It happens, of course, but it could be avoided – and would save a whole lot of time and effort – if we were all on the same page from the get-go.

But that wasn’t going to happen today. Paul and Carl were kind enough to offer to spend the morning breaking the episode with me, but I elected to set aside an hour to review what I had and beat out the story myself. Given the choice, more often than not I prefer to work alone.

Sometimes, you can spend days stumped, staring at those varying narrative elements as if they were pieces to completely different puzzles – the corner of a building, a tuft of cloud, the rear hindquarters of a rhinoceros – willing them to magically come together to no avail. Other times, you’ll be struck by a moment of clarity in which the disparate pieces coalesce and crystallize to form a coherent creative vision. You never know how it’s going to go. But, this morning, I was fortunate. I broke down the story, jotting the beats up on the whiteboard, then invited Paul, Carl, and Brad into the room and pitched it to them. They had some great suggestions that I incorporated into the narrative and, half an hour later, I was done. Now all I have to do is put out the beat sheet, get some feedback (hopefully Rob will like what we‘ve got), and I’m done.

Well, practically done. There’s that whole “writing of the script” thing, but that’s the easy part.

It came down to a mad scramble today because we took yesterday off to watch the Day 1 Mix of Air I and II. Composer Joel Goldsmith did a wonderful job with the score (my favorite cue comes near the very end of the second part) and the show itself looks fantastic (and, once the color timing is complete, fantasticker(?)). Even with temp visual effects, you get a sense of the scope of the story and it’s truly awesome. Director Andy Mikita should be very proud. The performances were terrific and I can’t think of a better way to show our appreciation than to invite the entire cast and crew to a private screening of the premiere. The actors are dying to see some of the cuts, but I keep telling them to hold off and wait for the finished version. It’ll blow them away. At this point, I feel like I’ve chipped in and bought them all the most incredible gift and simply can’t wait to see their reactions when they open it.

Hey, speaking of actors, Brian J. Smith (Lt. Matthew Scott) popped by the production offices yesterday on his way to his cross-fit work-out. Whenever he comes by, he’s always a pleasure to talk to – bright, upbeat, and amazingly down to earth. In some ways, he reminds me of a young Ben Browder in that, like Ben, Brian quickly won the crew and his fellow castmates over with his down-home disposition and good-hearted outlook on all things. And, like Ben, he’s been known to stick around even after he’s wrapped, sitting by to watch the process and lend a hand whenever possible. We’re all excited about working with Brian because he’s young, extremely talented, and is no doubt has a very promising future ahead of him. And, oh yeah, we got him on our show first!

Since he was upstairs, I grabbed my laptop and went through all of the photos I’ve taken of him to date, hoping he could sign off on a few for the blog. Well, he signed off on all of them. Unfortunately, most of them have him on the Destiny set – and the studio wants to hold back on the ship reveal. So, for today, I give you (and especially Brian’s mom who follows this blog) two pics: Brian relaxing on the Icarus set, and Brian taking a break between set-ups.

Tagged: Brian J. Smith, Lt. Matthew Scott, Matt Scott, Matthew Scott, Stargate, Stargate Universe

Some of you know him as Ernest Littlefield.  Most of you know him as Dr. Carson Beckett.  Me?  I know him as good ole Paul - talented actor, all-around good guy, and the most entertaining person to hang with at a con (as I discovered at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con).  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the charming Scotsman, Paul McGillion…

Lexi Proudfoot writes: “1] You said in June of last year that Hakkasan is one of your favourite places to eat. What is your absolute favourite restaurant? If you had to pick one dish to eat every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?”

PM: Hakkasan in London is still my favourite restaurant. If only one dish, it would have to be the duck salad – delicious!

“2] If you were invited to a costume party and the theme was ‘childhood heroes,’ who would you go as?”

PM: Flash. That way I could be everywhere at once.

“3] Will you ever start a blog? Please, please start a blog! For the love of ceol mor, man!”

PM: Don’t see myself ever doing my own blog. Joe’s a tough act to follow.

“4] Have you ever visited your Gateworld thread, a.k.a. The Gutter? I hope you brought some hipwaders if you ventured there…”

PM: I’ve popped into the Gateworld thread a few times. No hipsters were needed – everyone seemed pretty cool!

“5] Will you marry me?”

PM: As flattered as I am, I’m spoken for.

Rhonda writes: “Do you have any con appearances coming up? You and Aaron Douglas really need to do one together. You guys are hilarious. Anyway, hope to see you back on TV in a regular position soon.”

PM: Thanks Rhonda. As it happens, Aaron and I are appearing at Dragon Con. Should be a blast! Hope to see you there!!

GateGeek in Canada writes: “Whoo! Thanks for doing a Q&A! My question is completely unrelated to Stargate but…
Can you share any amusing anecdotes/stories from the Star Trek set? Your scene (though far too short) was brilliant and I IMMEDIATELY burst into a huge grin when you came onto the screen! I also began frantically pointing you out to everyone I was with; I didn’t know when you’d appear and so it rather surprised me. Bravo! And thanks again.”

PM: Hey GateGeek! Thanks for the Star Trek kudos. Yes, it was a  lot of fun to be part of such a cool movie. Maybe not so funny, but unusual was riding in a Pope-mobile type thing to and from set – top secret and all.

Michael A. Burstein writes: “Were you as surprised as the rest of us when you died so quickly on 24?”

PM: Not really – everyone gets killed by Jack.

Elyse writes: “Thanks, Paul, for taking the time to answer some questions. Had Stargate Atlantis had a sixth season, where would you have liked to have seen Beckett go, story/character-wise?”

PM: Hi Elyse. Beckett, 6th season? Finally ending up on that island inhabited only by Swedish swimsuit models.

“Any word on whether Beckett will be in the SGA movie?”

PM: Yes… looks like Dr. Beckett will indeed be in the SGA movie. At least that’s what Joe says!!

“What’s the next project we can look forward in seeing you in?“

PM: I currently have a couple of things on the go. Most exciting, is an independent feature I’m working on with a friend of mine. Working title: ‘The Bad’.

flygirl writes: “Hi Paul – You were absolutely super in “A Dog’s Breakfast”. Do you have any future plans to take a turn behind the camera as a producer/director? If so, would it be a comedy, adventure, mystery, or scifi???
Enjoyed meeting you in Vancouver, BC in the Hilton’s restaurant, after you met with the lovely lady who led your “Save Beckett” campaign!!
Take care – Evelyn
(co-producer of your “Lean on Me” vid)”

PM: Hi Evelyn.  Nice to hear from you! No directing is in my immediate future, but I’m co-producing an indie. Hoping to get it behind the camera by the fall; working title, ‘The Bad’.

Ricky writes: “I watched “A Dog’s Breakfast” few times as you were wonderful in it! Any word for ADB 2?”

PM: Hey Ricky! Thanks for your kind words about my performance in ADB. You’ll have to ask Dave Hewlett about a sequel. I certainly hope so – it was fun to do.

Bailey writes: “For Paul:
1.Do you keep in touch with any of your colleages from SGA?”

PM: Hey Bailey.  Yes, I keep in touch with all of them. Infact, I saw the lovely Rachel just last week.

“2. I loved you as Dr. Beckett, what do you think were his best qualities? His worst?”

PM: Thanks. Some of his best qualities were his sense of humanity and his sense of humour. Worst? Would have to be his lack of love interests.
P.S. There’s always the movie.

“3. Did you try to play the second incarnation of Beckett differently than before he was cloned?”

PM: I think Beckett, as well as the rest of the crew, had some trepidation about his return to Atlantis. He was certainly aware of the changes that had occurred in his absence and his own circumstances, ie being a clone. That being said eventually, by the end of season five, I think we had good old Carson back.

“4. Whatever happened to the “wee turtles?”

PM: Rodney still has them. The bastard! “Give me back my wee baby turtles!!”

Arctic Goddess writes: “Questions for Paulie: Where did you get the name, “Paulie”?”

PM: Hello to the Arctic! It was a nickname, “Pauly”. It was given to me when I was a wee boy from my sweet mum, and it just stuck!

“Are you going to be at Comic Con in San Diego this year?”

PM: No Comic Con for Pauly this year, unfortunately. Dragon Con in Atlanta though.

“When you were on Atlantis, who was your absolute favorite guest star to work with and why?”

PM: We had a lot of great guest stars on Atlantis over the years. But for me, I’d have to say Richard Kind, in the epidosde Irresistable. Great comic timing, and just a funny, funny guy.

“Thanks for answering the questions, Paul. As a mom, I suggest you give your parents a call and tell them how much you appreciate them. You can never say that enough to the people you love. “

PM: I talk to my parents everyday – you’re absolutely right!

Adna writes: “Since David Hewlett said that there are high hopes ADB’s ‘Starcrossed’ will see the light of day, are you going to participate in the project?”

PM: Hi Adna.  That’s totally up to David, but I’d love to.

PoorOldEdgarDerby writes: “Questions for Paul: Can you comment on whether you’ll be in either the Atlantis movie or SGU?”

PM: PoorOldEdgarDerby, Nice to hear from you. Altantis movie – yes. SGU – haven’t heard, but if they asked me, I’m sure it would be a blast.

“3. Who is your second favorite Beatle?”

PM: Assuming my first is Sir Paul (little known fact – I was named after him) I would have to say John Lennon.

Silversi writes: “Hey Paul, Do you get to Scotland often? If you were to recommend the best place to visit on vacation–what would you choose? I’m hoping to get there one day, and I’m looking for suggestions!”

PM: Hey Silver, I do indeed get back to Scotland – love it there! Glasgow’s a party, Highlands are a must, and get tattooed in Edinborough.

“Also–with your parents having fairly heavy Scottish accents, and while you played Carson on Stargate–did you ever randomly find yourself slipping into a bit of a Scottish brogue at all? It seems like you can slip in and out fairly easily–did that take much practice at all?”

PM: No, I can go back and forth quite naturally. Lucky for me, because the brogue can be quite a tongue twister at times!

Ponytail writes: “Questions for Paul McGillion. You have always been one of my favorite characters. Nice, sweet, non-threatening, always there to help.
What was your favorite episode of Stargate Atlantis?”

PM: Thanks Ponytail! You’re sweet.  My favourite episode would have to be “Poisoning the Well”.

“Who did you most like to work with and why?”

PM: Had the opportunity to work with Sally Field in a movie called ‘Cooler Climate’. She was just such a professional, down to earth – a genuine sweetheart.

“What would be a dream project for you?”

PM: Working on a film where we could cast all the talented actors I know, have an endless budget, and tons of laughs.

“Were you surprised when Martin Gero wanted to be your brother “Danger Beckett” in the hilariously funny Road To Dream featurette?”

PM: Not at all. Martin has always looked up to me.

Hachi writes: “Hi there, I love Paul McG!
I was wondering what he thought about some of the moral dilemmas and medical decisions that Dr. Beckett went through during his tenure on Atlantis?
Some of the medical experimantation on both humans (the ATA gene therapy which turned out well), and the Hoffan virus and Michael transformation (which didn’t).”

PM: Hi Hachi. Great question. The moral and ethical issues that Carson had to deal with over the five seasons of Atlantis weighed heavily on the character. As an actor, it made for great story lines with complex scenes, that were thought provoking and challenging at the same time. One of the great things about Carson’s journey is that the character had the opportunity to deal with many different issues on a human level.

“And was his work with the Pegasus Galaxy natives upon his return part of a way to assuage his percieved guilt?”

PM: I think you’re right Hachi. Carson wanted to give back to the Pegasus Galaxy, aka his Doctors Without Borders within the Pegasus Galaxy.

Vecturist writes: “Questions for Paul – I know you have a teaching certificate – what classes have you taught or what you like to teach given the opportunity? (If you want to come teach my college intro bio courses, give me a call).”

PM: Hello Vecturist. I have teachable subjects in science, history, physical education and theatre. For the past fifteen years, I have been focusing of my acting. As far as teaching your college courses, I think I’ll leave that to you – I wouldn’t want to get you fired! I’m sure you’re doing a great job. Keep it up.

“Do your siblings give you a hard time for being an actor, especially since it seems you have a lot of female fans?”

PM: My siblings love the fact that I’m an actor. As far as the female fans go, they’re just curious to see if they actually exist – that I’m not putting them on.

Carolyn writes: “Question for Paul: As with all actors, there is probably a part out there that you’ve dreamed of playing – whether it be a character from a favorite book or screenplay or maybe a part that you’ve seen played by another. What would be your dream role?
Paul, thank you for the years of happiness you’ve given your fans playing Dr. Beckett. I watch TV shows for the characters – and the depth and soul you gave Carson will forever make him one of my favorites.”

PM: Carolyn, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kind words. That’s very thoughtful of you to write. As for my dream role, it would have to be Bond. Pauly Bond. 008. What do you think of that?!

ChelleDeBoer writes: “Question for Paul – Mr Mc – first off I’m looking forward to meeting you for the first time when you pop down under in October. I know you’ve been to Australia a few times already but I’ve never had the chance to get to one of your cons til now. So, I hope you brush up on your Australian accent coz I’m likely to ask you to give it a try!! Most folks who try to imitate an Aussie end up sounding rather Cockney!
Anyhoo, my question as boring as it may seem, is: do you ever find yourself slipping into a Scottish accent when chatting to either the fans or just anyone in general?
Also, if you could have chosen…if it were possible, who would you have liked to have seen Beckett “hook” up with??
Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer the fans questions. Again, I’m looking forward to meeting you in Melbourne in October. Oh wait…do you prefer red wine or white?? Or would you prefer a good Aussie beer? I’ll shout you a drink at the cocktail party! Cheers!! “

PM: Gidday Chelle! Looking forward to the accent challenge. Scottish accent slip? Sometimes – depending on the number of drinks. As for hookups, Beckett and Teyla would’ve been a solid pair in my humble opinion.

Kabra writes: “Duet has to be one of favorite episodes. The scene with you and David kissing… I have to say I did not see that coming.
I think it was on the DVD to that episode you talked about that scene. What was you initial reaction when you were approached? Did you receive extra pay for that kissing scene?
Both you and David did a great job with that scene.
I was very shocked when Beckett died – and I was thrilled when he came back, even though he was clone.”

PM: Hey Kabra.  First off, kissing scene – creepy. As far as extra pay goes, sadly no. But should’ve.

Johnny E! writes: “This question is for Mr. McGillion: Having seen you on roles in Smallville, 24 (nice death by the way), and other roles that do not feature your accent, my question is 1. Is the accent on Atlantis yours, or is it exaggerated? 2. How long did it take for you to “loose” your accent for the other roles? Thank you for your time.”

PM: Johnny – Born in Scotland, but raised in Canada, so I don’t normally have a Scottish accent. What you do hear in Atlantis, is from years of being around my parents, who are Scottish through and through. All best, Paul.

Sinan writes: “Hello Paul how are you? Thank you so much for answering fans questions. I have a few questions to ask you.You don’t have to anwser if you don’t have the time. I’ll try not to ask to many questions.
If it’s ok i’d like to ask some questions about acting. I finished a course in April at the VFS (Vancouver Film School)and i was wondering how you got started,what steps did you take ?
Thank you so much Paul for your time and from me i’d like to thank you for helping me find an awsome school (Thanks to your biography)and making making my first Stargate convention Gate Con (April 4th) really specail.Also thank you very much for your work on Stargate.
Take care and all the best and good luck for your future projects.”

PM: Hi Sinan, I’m so glad my bio pointed you in to the right direction (Hey VFS, can you say free advertising?!) Welcome to the biz! As far as advice I could give, do as much theatre as you can, do as many independents as you can, and act because you love it, not because you want to be famous.

Chevron7 writes: “Questions for Paul: Have you ever used the Scottish accent to get an advantage in real life, such as dealing over the phone with a customer service person or does it come with great responsibility? p.s. Listening to you as Beckett makes me remember my Physics teacher. He rocked!

PM: Hey Chevron7, funny that you’d mention that. I’m famous amongst my friends for ordering pizza, and working a deal – Scottish style. Works like a charm! I know it’s bad, but it’s so much fun!

“What was the best thing, personally or professionally, you did while your character was off Atlantis?”

PM: I moved down to L.A. and set up camp down there. I met and worked with J.J. Abrams and Star Trek, but perhaps most important, perfected my highland dancing.

“Has your hair recovered from the unfortunate “Elvis” dyejob of 2008?”

PM: Thanks for the reminder. Yeah, no kidding – what was that?! Yes, my hair has recovered. But our hairstylist, Richard, hasn’t.

“Read any interesting books lately?”

PM: I’ve recently finished Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink.

“Who would win in an arm wrestling contest, you or David Hewlett?”

PM: Oh definitely David – if he used TWO arms!!

Paloosa writes: “Actors seem to have to go with the flow in their quest to find interesting work. Do you enjoy moving, or would you rather stay rooted somewhere?”

PM: Hey LolaPaloosa, I’ve been very fortunate to be able to travel quite a bit, working all the while. That being said, there is definitely something about coming “home”, having a routine, and being able to spend time with close friends. So to answer your question, I guess I like a bit of both.

Joflyaway writes: “For Paul: Love your work. I felt you played Beckett as a relunctant hero; one who just wanted to do his work and let the soldiers do theirs. Was this your choice to play him this way or was he written in this manner? What did you think when you learned of Beckett’s death in “Sunday”? Did the fan’s outrage over Beckett’s death surprise you? What did your parents think of your accent? I heard you tell the story of when you called your dad to tell him of your role on Stargate–he thought you said Star Trek. What did he think when you did get a part on the Star Trek movie? You and David Hewlett have great onscreen chemistry. Does the friendship continue offscreen as well? Last question: How did you get to be so bloody awesome? Did you grow up that way or do you just acquire additional awesomeness as the years go by?”

PM: Hey Joflyaway.  First off, thanks a lot for the kudos, brother. Carson turned out to be a reluctant hero. If I had something to with it, great, but really it was the writers who made him the hero.
Beckett’s death on ‘Sunday’, surprised everyone, including myself. The fan response was truly overwhelming. To think that you’ve affected that many people simply by playing a character in a television series, and then for those people to then mobilize and campaign for your character’s return, was pretty cool.

My parents give my accent a thumbs up – and trust me, they’d tell me otherwise. As for telling my dad about my role on Star Trek, let’s just say, I had to say it a few times.

I’d have to agree, David and I do share great on-screen chemistry. And of course, our friendship transcends the set – unfortunately though, I don’t get to see him enough.

With regards to being awesome, it takes one to know one! Thanks for the great questions. To quote from Anchorman, ‘Stay classy.”

Newkax writes: “Dear Mr. McGillion.
I live in the Czech Republic.
I ¥m sorry, because I don¥t speak english very well.
Do you like reading or watching the sci-fi?
What is your favourite genre in the movies or books?
Thanks”

PM: Hi Newkax.  I actually grew up watching sci-fi as a kid – Star Trek, Dr. Who, Phoenix and the Carpet, etc. I’d my tastes are pretty eclectic in terms of genres.

Maggiemayday writes: “Question for Mr. McG: do Americans with Scottish ancestry annoy you when they trot out their knowledge of the clans in their past?
and I’ve never made it to Scotland, but perhaps in the next few years I can swing a week. So, Edinburgh or Glasgow?”

PM: Hi Maggiemayday.  No, it doesn’t bother me. It’s nice that they have the interest in their culture and heritage. Though a lame Scottish accent – that can really get on my nerves!
Sorry dear, but do yourself a favour and make time for both Glasgow and Edinburgh – too hard to choose one over the other!

Sirle writes: “I’ve got a question for Paul:  how has the Stargate experience been for you and given the chance would you change anything at all? If so, then why? Also, all the best for future endeavors.
I’d like to thank in advance for even considering my question. This is so exciting!”

PM: Thank you for the question for the Sirle! The Stargate experience has been one of the best I’ve ever had. Would I change anything? Well let’s put it this way: beware of exploding tumours.

Perragrin writes: “Paul, firstly.. a heartfelt thanks for five absolutely wonderful years of Carson Beckett. Your portrayal of him is second to none and it’s been both a pleasure and honour to watch. It really wouldn’t have been the same without our adorable Doc. How surprised have you been with the overwhelming show of support from your Fans, especially towards the end of the third season/begining of the fourth season?”

PM: Hi Perragrin.  To be honest, I have been flattered. The fans never cease to amaze me. The support after the demise of Beckett completely blew me away.

“Looking forwards, is there any particular direction you’d now like to take with your career? Perhaps something you’ve not been able to indulge in before now?”

PM: Every actor hopes for the opportunity to play a character that allows them to stretch themselves as an actor. Be it film, television, or theatre, I’m looking for the next opportunity to be involved in something like that.

“A friend once mentioned that you’d make a perfect ‘Q’ for James Bond Would a role like that attract you?”

PM: If Bond is taken, then sure!

“4. Talking of roles.. what type of character portrayals give you the most satisfaction when acting? And which do you find most challenging?””

PM: As I said earlier, any role that has forced me out of my comfort zone, and helped me learn to test the boundaries of my skill and confidence, give me the most satisfaction. Ironically, they are usually also the most challenging. I hope that answers your question.
Thanks for your support!

Scary writes: “Question for Paul. Thank for doing this because I will probably be too nervous to ask it to you at Dragon*con.  I saw your cameo in the new STAR TREK movie. It went by pretty fast but I knew to keep an eye out for you. What was it like to film your scenes? Personally I thought Simon Pegg played Scotty a little too slapstick/over the top for me. Other then that I love it. : ) Have you had the chance to see the whole movie?
Only 85 more days to Dragon*con!!!!!!”

PM: Hi Scary!Glad you caught me in the movie! Yes, I saw it too – I thought J.J. and the cast and crew did a great job. Stop by and say hi and Dragon Con.
Best,
Paul

Quade1 writes: “Question for Paul McGillion:
How did you feel when they decided to bring back Beckett?? Did you think the character was brought back for the fans or for the show??”

PM: No doubt, the fans had a huge role in bringing Beckett back. I was happy to come back and reprise the role, as I personally thought he had some unfinished work to do.

Trish writes: “Hey Paul! Thanks for doing this Q&A with us! My husband met you on the elevator in Vancouver back and April. He warned you about me. Remember that? Then I met you at the photo op. I gave you a mousepad with Ryan on it from “A Dog’s Breakfast.” I just wanted to say that meeting you was one of the highlights of the entire convention! Not really a question, I know. But thank you, all the same! By the way, our picture is fabulous, naturally.
David Hewlett is *supposed to be* working on his next indy movie, Design of the Dead. Will you be in that, hopefully? I think you two work so well together.
I do love Simon Pegg. However I need to tell you that you would have made a better Scotty. That’s the truth. Even my mom and dad agree. So does my big sister. We did enjoy seeing you in the latest Star Trek movie, all the same.
Any exciting plans to tell us about? Work or otherwise?
I wish you the best! Again, thanks for stopping by Joe’s blog!”

PM: I remember your husband and of course, I remember you! Thanks for the mouse pad. Of course it’d be grea to work with Daivd again. Thanks for the comments about Star Trek. See you at the next convention! Stay out of trouble..
Paul

Miz writes: “During your time on SGA, who used more hair product? You or Flanigan. Cause really, when you get right down to it, it’s all about the hair.”

PM: Hi Miz! I would have to say Flanigan. I mean c’mon, you’ve got to give it to him. The man has good hair.

LibKat writes: “For Paul McGillion:
After doing the cross-dressing role in A Dog’s Breakfast, were you surprised by any of your reactions to acting as a woman? How’d you like wearing nylons? (Of all the tortures inflicted upon women, they are the worst, IMO.) Do you think David Hewlett wrote that bit simply so he could make fun of you at all future con appearances?”

PM: Hey Kat.  I can sincerely sympathize with women out there. The nylons were tough, but the heels were the worst. As far as David goes, and him torturing me at conventions? I didn’t make the best looking woman, but I’d put money down that I’d beat David in a pageant.

KaziWren writes: “PAUL “WOULDA BEEN A HOTTIE SCOTTY” MCGILLION QUESTIONS: Do you go after all the roles you can, or do you have projects you prefer to go after?”

PM: Hi Kazi. Generally speaking, my agent send sme projects that we feel confident we’d like to pursue.

“Everyone is so careful not to pry, but I’m going to pry a little (forgive me): Do you want to settle down and do the family thing at some point, or are you a destined bachelor?”

PM: I’m thinking a Mrs. McGillion, and an army of kids one day. Someone’s got to take care of me, right?

“3. Are you considering any projects in the UK, such as Torchwood, Dr. Who, etc?  My husband and I adore your work. We’ll be supporting you in all you do!”

PM: Sure I would. Please tell them I’m interested.
Appreciate your support,
Paul

Lcshepp writes: “For Paul- At the VanCon Joe F. stated he won the ‘wrestling’ match between the two of you. When you poked your head into the room, you stated you won. What’s your version of that match?
Do you really occasionally call him ‘Josey’? Beautiful job in ‘Star Trek’!”

PM: Hey Leshepp.  Let’s put it this way: I don’t think Joe’s going to want to wrestle me any time soon. He’s a good athlete, but he should stick to the surfing. No, I don’t ever call him Josey. Wouldn’t that make the rest of the cast the pussy cats?! Thanks for your words about Star Trek – it was great to be a part of it!

Laura writes: “Question for Paul: I’m a premedical student, and from what I can tell most of the medical stuff in Stargate is relatively accurate for a scifi show. Did you get to learn about any of the medical procedures that you were supposed to be doing or did you just memorize your lines? Thanks for taking time to answer questions!”

PM: Hi Laura.  Thanks for the question. Truth be known, we have a med tech on set most of the time. Although I did get a chance to learn some of the minor procedures, I wouldn’t look to me to perfom surgery in the near future. I’ll leave that to up and coming professionals like yourself.
Best,
Paul

C.C. writes: “Question for Paul McGillion: You’ve worn a kilt at more than one convention in europe, so I was wondering, is there any way you might be convinced to wear a kilt at some of your USA cons too? It just doesn’t seem fair that only the europeans have had a chance to get a photo op with you in your kilt!
Loved seeing you in Star Trek and 24!”

PM: Hi C.C. I think there’s most definitely a chance the kilt will make a U.S. appearance. Thanks for watching Star Trek and 24 – really appreciate it!

Clementine from France writes: “Questions for Paul :
1) What is your feeling at the end of a convention ? Easiness or not ?
2) Do you think the conventions are more tiring than days of shooting ?
3) How do you feel the behaviour of the fans toward you ?
Excuse me for my bad english . I hope the best for you in the future. Thank you for my wonderful birthday in Facts Belgium and your kindness.”

PM: Hey Clementine.  After a convention, I feel energized and touched after meeting all the fans. That being said, conventions are indeed tiring – not often do I shoot 12plus hours and talk to new people. You’re most welcome, and many more birthdays to you!
All best,
Paul

Nichola Dennigan writes: “1)If you could invivite five famous People living or dead to dinner who would you ask and would you include David Hewlett?”

PM: Mohammed Ali, Elvis, Bill Clinton, Johnny Depp, and of course, Andre the Giant. David Hewlett will be serving us all.

“2)Did you enjoy making the star trek movie?”

PM: Of course!

Tina writes: “Question for Paul : How much fun was it getting to take part in the stunt demo at P4 back in January??(you definitely showed those stunt guys whose boss!!thankfully I had gotten off the stage by then!) how does Carson Beckett:Action Hero sound
Dude you are an absolute one in a million..total legend!!!! P.S thanks for the bottle of water!!!“

PM: Hi Tina. Yeah, it was great to be a part of the stunt demo. From what I recall  though, you’re the action hero! Great work out there! Carson Beckett Action Hero? I like the sound of that!

BlondieChemGirl writes: “Thanks for hosting the Q & A with Paul McGillion.
I went to the Michael Shanks Online Auction and found the recorded book that Paul McGillion read/voiced and signed. I am going to go bid on it.
1) Did you enjoy doing the characters and voices on the SGA recorded book?
Recorded books are a great way to “read” a book and get lots of other things done like housework, gardening, and driving and it can save your sanity on long trips. And my sister is sight-impared and recorded books are the only way she can “read”, so thanks for that.”

PM: Working on the SGA record books was a lot of fun and an interesting challenge.

“2) How are the fans at the conventions? Are they cordial and friendly or over-the-top crazy?
I have yet to go to any fan convention, but would hope that I wouldn’t make a fool of myself or just stand there in awe of a favorite actor.”

PM: Conventions are great – you should check one out sometime. A lot of fun, friendly people.

JYS writes: “Hi Paul, you rock. If you were offered a regularly recurring role on SGU as Carson Beckett the clone, or another character, which role would you choose and why.   I was at the Save Carson rally at the Studio years back. Skipped an important English class for ya! And when I was at the Bridge Studio’s Haunted Studio Tour, the guide forgot to mention you as part of the cast, so I yelled out your name. That’s how much you rule Best of luck!”

PM: Hey JYS! If I came back, I’d definitely come back as the one, and the only, Dr. Beckett. Thanks for going to the rally – that was really cool of you.
All best,
Paul

Neverstop writes: “A question (or two) for Paul McGillion:
As much as I’ve enjoyed your work on SGA and laughed at “A Dog’s Breakfast”, I would really love to see more of the amazing acting you did in “See Grace Fly”. (I’ve tried to promote it through the Cinemateque club at the Swedish Film Institute, so far without success…) Do you have any similar projects planned? And will you be working with Gina Chiarelli (absolutely fantastic!) again in a somewhat near future?
Thanks for taking the time and good luck with your career!”

PM: Hi Neverstop. Thanks for your comments about “See Grace Fly”. I’m currently working on another indie film, “The Bad”. Gina, however, is not in this one, but I’m sure we will work together again soon.
Take care,
Paul

Caitlyanna writes: “One question for Paul McGillion – Out of all the roles you have played in your life, which was your favorite and why?”

PM: Hi Caitlyanna. It’s got to be a toss-up between Carson and Dominic McKinley, the character I played in “See Grace Fly”.

BloodyB writes: “Hi Paul.
You never gave me a right answerd for my question at FedCon in Bonn about the number of takes it took to finish the kiss-scene in “Duet”
Here is another try to get an answer
Wish you all the best.”

PM: Hi BloodyB. I was done after the first take.
Best,
Paul

Halessa writes: “Hi Paul, just wanted to say hi! and send you all the best wishes from the members of your fansite. We just want to know your plans about future conventions in the UK or in Germany for the next year. Hope to see you in the future. Cheers, -Tanja”

PM: Hi Halessa. No plans as of yet, but would love to come back to Germany and see all the fans there. Have your ptb make that happen and I’m there!
Take care,
Paul

Dini writes: “I hope you feel fine. It’s great that you’re taking time for this Q & A These are my questions I forgot to ask you during the interview at F.A.C.T.S. in Gent / Belgium: Could you tell us something about the signifaction of your tattoos?”

PM: Hi Dini! Flag of Scotland – need I say more? The other one, I share with two close friends of mine – guy bonding!

“What has been the most lovely gift, that you ever got from a fan?”

PM: A terrific bottle of 18 yr old Scotch – delicious!

I want to thank all of the fans for the great questions. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to them all. Quite honestly, they were in the hundreds! Wow!

I did my best and I wish you all a great summer.

Keep on checking out Joe’s blog. I would also like to thank Joe for letting me come on here and talk to you all.

All the best,
Your Scottish Doc,

Paul McGillion

Tagged: Carson Beckett, Dr. Carson Beckett, Paul McGillion, Stargate, Stargate Atantis, Stargate: Atlantis

Well, after several weeks of talking about it, we finally sat down and did it – the writers set aside their other work (editing, outlines, autobiographies) and their differences (the Binder-Gero feud is legendary) to gather and break Episode #19. And, in under two and a half hours, we were done. Not only did we have a terrific story with not three, not four, but five FULL acts, but Robert Cooper had come up with an episode title none of us hated (which, trust me, is a major achievement). Can’t reveal the name yet but, as Carl noted, if you switched out a single letter, it would have the same title as an episode of Atlantis.

Now if all goes according to plan, we’ll break Episode #20 on Wednesday, discuss Brad’s story, and ensure everyone is poised to go to script before our lengthy hiatus.

So Jamil Walker Smith dropped by the office the other day to kick back, chat, and regale us with tales of his latest cycling escapades. I recall, in those first few weeks of production, being struck by the contrast between the actor and the character he played. Onscreen, Sgt. Ronald Greer is a smoldering powder keg, tough, threatening, incessantly ominous. Off screen, however, Jamil is one of the happiest, most gregarious individuals one could ever hope to meet. On the surface, the two seem to be polar opposites but, getting to know Jamil over these past few months, I can’t help but note he shares one major attribute with his character: a quiet intensity that drives everything from personal philosophy to performance. He’s hilarious, a hell of a lot of fun, but when it’s time to get down to business, I’ve rarely seen anyone so inwardly focused. I told him he was doing a terrific job and that his character was really popping. Ever gracious, he likened our working relationship to a tennis match, his performance an inspired response to the material we were serving. “Keep smashing it our way,”he said, “and we’ll keep hitting it back.” And, so far, eleven episodes in, they all have.

Anyway, while Jamil was in the office, I had him sign off on some pics for the blog. As he was looking through my vast collection, he zeroed in on one in particular and announced: “That’s it! That’s the one for the blog!” I studied the photo and considered, not entirely convinced. Oh, it was certainly a handsome pic. Perhaps too handsome. I told him I feared that putting it up on the blog would win him the attention of female fans, potentially distracting him from the work ahead. No, no. Better to post an alternate pic. Maybe the one with his eyes half-closed and rolled up like some fearsome zombie? While he appreciated the logic of my argument, he nevertheless preferred the less-crazed photo. Fine.

Oh, thanks to everyone who weighed in with their disquieting, occasionally revolting accounts of the countless unpleasant surprises found in your meals. Keep ’em coming!

Today’s entry is dedicated to Deni. Condolences on your loss.

Tagged: Jamil Walker Smith, Stargate, Stargate Universe

Well, former Stargate: Atlantis Executive Producer Martin Gero finally made his triumphant return to The Bridge Studios. Yesterday. Unfortunately, I wasn’t around so I missed the parade and pizza lunch in his honor. I was, however, back in the office today and on hand to welcome him in proper fashion: with a thrilling tour of the standing sets. And so, after getting the update on his adventures in New York (in addition to working on the new HBO series Bored To Death, he also apparently won a spot on the Mets’ pitching rotation), we all (Marty G., Carl, Paul, Lawren, and I) headed downstairs to check out Stage 5 where the thrilling off-Destiny sequences for Space were being shot.

After that, we popped into Stage 6 to say hello to the Atlantis set, then strolled across the lot to Stage 2 for a walk-thru the hydroponics lab and shuttle (Martin took it for a spin).

We capped off our tour with a visit to the Destiny on Stage 4 – corridors, kino room, apple core, observation deck, control interface room, quarters, and, of course, the gate room.

Mission accomplished, we swung by the catering, and caught a ride back to the Production Offices on the Special Effects golf cart courtesy of Special Effects Supervisor Wray Douglas (next time, I‘m borrowing his jet pack).

Alas, we didn’t get around to discussing any stories today but Martin did manage to knock off three of the comedy routines on our request list including perennial crowd-pleaser “Lip-Smacking Landry”. Sadly, no Topango as of yet but I have my fingers crossed for tomorrow. When I left him (Martin not Topango), he was in his office (actually, not really HIS office anymore. Since he left, we’ve been renting it out as a timeshare to vacationing Swedes), sprawled out on his couch, catching up on his script-reading (Space, Divided, and Lucid). Tonight, we’re be heading out for dinner with Carl. Ah, just like old times.

Hey, check out the latest addition to my ever-growing library – a book that has found its way to the top of my to-read pile on the basis of its title alone: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Brilliant!

Finally, to all you Ashleigh fans (both of you) who asked how her Q&A is coming along – it’s done!  She sent it to me about an hour ago, but I was unable to open the attached file.  I asked her to re-send it which she did but, again, I was still unable to open  it.  I emailed her back: “For some reason I’m unable to open docx documents.  Is this some sort of cheap Lithuanian software program?  Could you re-send as a more suitably Western Word document or PDF file?”.  Moments later, I received her response: “Sheesh you are high maintenance.  Copy and pasted for your enjoyment.”  Well, ”enjoyment” is a bit of a stretch, but I’ll let you all decide when I post it as tomorrow’s entry.

Tagged: Jane Austen, Martin Gero, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith, Stargate, Stargate Universe

Today’s lunch room conversation centered on the frustrating, lonely, arduous, dispiriting, painful, occasionally lucrative job of the professional scriptwriter. How to best describe the scripting process? Well, have you ever spent a night in a feverish haze, tossing and turning, falling in and out of sleep, endlessly repeating variations of the same weird, maddening dream? It’s like that except that you’re not confined to your bedroom. No, so long as that script sits unfinished, it’ll weigh on your 24/7 – at the office, in the shower, while you’re having that long distance conversation with your mother about that celebrity dance show. We compared and contrasted our various writing processes. My writing partner Paul, for instance, has to work an entire scene out in his head before sitting down to write it. Brad and Robert, on the other hand, write at their laptops. I’m a pacer, generally running dialogue anywhere but in my office, nailing down a run before getting it down. And, like Carl, when I sit down at the my laptop, I review and rewrite what I’ve got before moving on, advancing a few pages and retiring for the day, then repeating the process the following day. By the time the script is complete, I can recite that first scene line for line. Yes, it can be extremely demanding and incredibly taxing but, at the end of the day, it’s the constructive fan criticism that make it all worthwhile.

I headed down to Stage 4 today where Director Andy Mikita was overseeing one of the big green screen sequences in Space, episode #11. On the observation deck this afternoon: Patrick Gilmore (Volker), Julia Anderson (James), Jennifer Spence (Park), and various others taking in the pyrotechnic display. During a break in the action, Patrick regaled us with the tale of his first memorable Chris Judge experience way back on a little SG-1 episode called Morpheus in which he played the role of the sleepily ill-fated Bernie Ackerman. In addition to being a terrific actor (yet another instant of someone whose small initial role continues to grow as a result of some impressive performances), he’s a really good guy. And funny. You can check out his twitter here: http://twitter.com/PatrickGilmore

Today’s blog entry is dedicated to Das and her hubby who are mourning the loss of Cowboy. Also, belated condolences to Maggiemayday on the loss of her buddy Cricket.

Tagged: Andy Mikita, Ivon Bartok, Jennifer Spence, Mark Savela, Patrick Gilmore, Stargate, Stargate Universe

 

 

We were standing in the hallway, making plans for that night’s outing, when I threw a glance to Ashleigh and asked whether she’d be joining us. No, she explained, she was meeting a friend for dinner.

“Hey, maybe you can bring her along,”I suggested.

“Yeah,”she replied as though I’d suggested she should compete in the Olympic decathlon. “Me and my four dads.”

Dads?

“Wait a minute!”Lawren piped up, looking back and forth between me and Carl, then back to Ashleigh. “Who’s the fourth?”

“The other guy,”she replied, motioning back down the hall.

“Uh, you mean Paul?”I asked. The guy you’ve been working with for the past few months?

“Yeah,”she said, all smiles.

“But I’m younger than you!”protested Lawren. “I’m, at best, an older step-brother!”

For his part, Carl seemed to find this hilarious. In all fairness, however, he’s used to fielding gags about his age. I mean seriously. Last time he told someone how old he was, they assumed he was talking in “dog years“. My response, however, was less than amused. I believe it was something along the lines of “Hunh.” as I turned and headed back to my office.

Now I’ve never considered myself as old.  Until now of course.  Generally, I’ve dealt with people as personalities rather than age groups although I realize that that isn’t the norm.  And I usually wouldn’t give the ageistic realities of our society a second thought – except that, now that the subject has been broached, I’m forced to admit that it’s only a matter of time before I’m headed into that twilight territory where “fun” gives way to “charming” and the best one can score is the inoffensively neuteral (sic) ”distinguished”.  All at once, the inter-office hilarity becomes somewhat less so because, in the back of your mind, you imagine the person you’re sharing a laugh with heading back home, stepping through their front door, and loudly proclaiming: “You’ll never guess what that adorable old coot said today!”.   Suddenly, you’re the crazy uncle, ole so-and-so whose antics liven up the workplace much to the delight of your fellow employees who can’t quite tell whether you’ve been gifted with a wonderful sense of humor or simply surendered to the eccentricity that, years down the line, will see you leaping through the aisles of your local supermarket wrapped in toilet paper screaming “Squeeze the Charmin!  Squeeze the Charmin!”         

Anyway – the next morning, when I rolled in, I was asked what I’d done the previous night. “After dinner, I stopped by to watch some commercial construction for an hour,”I answered. “Then I got home, had a glass of Metamucil, soaked my feet in Epson salts, and fell asleep in front of the t.v. watching some nature show.” Yep, it’s all downhill from here.

Yesterday, we watched the latest cut of Life. A brilliant episode (written by Carl Binder, directed by Alex Chapple) with some great performances – and here I must make mention of two guest starts in particular: Sarah Smyth, who delivers a wonderfully nuanced performance as the struggling Annie Balic, and Reiko Aylesworth (Hey, eagle-eyed Lost fans!) whose touching turn as Sharon proves alternately uplifting and heart-rending. Great casting.

Speaking of which – actress Jennifer Spence plays the role of Dr. Lisa Park in Stargate Universe, a character who has developed quite nicely since the pilot. Here’s a classic case of a supporting player who, over the course of several episodes, catches the attention of the writer/producers on the basis of an impressive initial performance. Based on that initial performance, the actor is given more to do – and hits it out of the park, which gives rise to more interest and meatier scenes. Jennifer‘s growing role on SG:U is just one example of the many such instances I‘m seeing develop as we make our way past the season one midway mark.

Received an email from writer-producer Rafael Jordan who tells me his latest SciFi original movie, Star Runners, premieres tomorrow night. All you Connor Trinneer fans may want to check out (http://www.youtube.com/user/rafael607).

Mailbag:

Belouchi writes: “I have a quick question regarding the Stargate Universe upcoming series: you mentioned on an earlier blog entry that you were waiting for the opportune time to release to us fans some cool concept arts of the Destiny and other tech related props. Any idea when that time will be, if you can post them that will be great.”

Answer: Alas, still waiting for the okay from the studio with regard to much of the behind-the-scenes pics I’ve taken. I’m hoping things will relax after Comic Con.

Louis writes: “Joe I was just wondering if you have ever read any books by Stephen Baxter?”

Answer: Not yet. I have The Time Ships sitting on my to-read pile.

Nadine writes: “Loved the pic of Lulu today.. Will she actually chase the ball, or does she prefer tug-of-war type games?”

Answer: Oh, she’ll chase it, chew it, then nudge it into some inaccessible spot (ie under the couch) and bark until I rescue it for her. Then she’ll repeat the process.

Nadine also writes: “ I seem to recall reading that the pictures on the sidebar are randomly generated, but have you read them all? I swear I saw a pic of Mary Doria Russell’s “The Sparrow”.

If so, have you read it? Did you enjoy it? Was there ever a BotM discussion for it?”

Answer: It wasn’t a book of the month club selection, but I did read and enjoy it.

Major D. Davis writes: “Almost one year ago, Brad had an interview in which he said the Atlantis movie would be made in the near future(Also, he already knew you guys were doing Universe, so I am assuming he had that in mind during the interview). Almost 10 months later the actors haven’t even been contacted yet. I mean how can this not be considered a delay?”

Answer: Ah, if only it were as simple as simply picking a date and making a movie. Unfortunately, it’s a process complicated by deal aspects I’ve already enumerated in a previous entry (look it up, ed.) in addition to the stark realities of a suffering DVD market (the victim of a perfect storm of circumstances – the evolution of alternate media platforms, the recession, and – my #1 suspect – Blu-ray). In order to set an official date for the commencement of principal photography, the studio – which is taking the lion’s share of the risk by bankrolling the production – must first sort out a number of issues. Still, as I’ve been saying all along, we all want to make this movie (me most of all as, from a purely mercenary standpoint, I’ll be producing it – and not for free), and we now have a first draft script in place.

ZeroPointBatteries writes: “How does the filming of sgu work while Lou is on a supposedly ‘live’ television show at the moment?”

Answer: No differently than when we have to shoot around the commitments of other actors. Happens all the time.

Nicole writes: “ I’ll be driving out to the east coast (Canada) this summer with stops in Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City – a day or two per city. Could you recommend some must try restaurants – and maybe chocolate shops?”

Answer: Sorry, I know nothing about the Ottawa and Quebec City dining scene and, quite frankly, very little about the Montreal dining scene. If you like foie gras, I definitely recommend Au Pied de Cochon (I go for dinner every time I’m in town). As for some Montreal chocolate shops, I’d suggest checking out Les Chocolats de Chloe located, conveniently, practically right across the street from Au Pied de Cochon.

Tagged: Connor Trinneer, Jennifer Spence, Rafael Jordan, Reiko Aylesworth, Sarah Smyth, Star Runners, Stargate, Stargate Universe