Launch All Vipers!

Have you ever dreamed of launching a viper from your living room? If you have, then this gem will make your day. This is the actual Viper launch control board from the Hangar Bay set. It is an amazing piece. Set under a large trapezoidal window facing out to the Viper Launch tube this control panel has sent many a Viper barreling out to combat. It has also ejected a few of our favorite and not so favorite characters to their demise.

You might be wondering… “Where has this little gem been hiding?” Well, to be honest we just plain forgot we had it. It’s been stuffed under one of our many shelving racks waiting its turn to be offered to intrepid Battlestar collectors. Now that there is room to see everything in our warehouse we are rediscovering these awesome pieces.

In the following photo Damian is providing a little leg support so I could take a photo of the piece with my iphone.

This piece is heavy! It’s made from hardboard and plywood. So, if you intend to bid on it make sure to ready yourself when you get the shipping charges. All said and done it’s definitely a piece worth displaying in your “Man’s Room” to make your buddies jealous.

Storyboards are Frakking Cool

Ok, so I know the title says it all, but I’m going to keep going anyway. These storyboards are cool because 1. I say so.  2. They are done in pencil, and are one of a kind! 3. I frakking say so, did I say that yet? 4. These storyboards are of Anders setting up a makeshift explosive detonator in an underground carpark, just waiting for unsuspecting Cylons to walk in.

There are nine pages of this set of storyboards (There are more storyboards in the ebay auction, and a few more in the store, go look!!) and I’m going to describe a few for you guys, just incase looking at the pictures isnt cool enough.  So on page two we have a very intense looking pencil Anders setting this detonator line to a battery, and then running like hell to cover.  Thankfully, incase you cant tell that from the picture, there is a small caption of “Anders sets bomb” to let you know. Those artists were smart!

Moving on we have Anders doing sneeky eye through a car window as a Cylon walks through the carpark.  We again have awesome narration by the Artists with, “Centurion moves behind car” written below the picture.  The Centurion then moves from behind the car and looks around, Oh crap, he sees the bomb! He walks his CGI self over to the bomb and leans down to inspect the fuse.

The Cylon, being all advanced and everything, takes time to note the almost burned out cigarette…right before it blows him straight to Cylon hell. I will give a half point back to him though, he was distracted by the bomb that would almost certainly kill him by Anders cocking his gun, which would probably dent his armor (or you know, make it dirty, scratches!) and not harm him at all. That Cylon superbrain was really slacking that day.  Look at this guy, he’s going for the terminator look, and then..

My favourite of all the storybaords,  BOOM!!!   Would you like some explosive with your Cylon chunks? Yes please!

The Gods Are in the Details

One of the cool things about working at Propworx is you can see how much thought, craft, and TLC went into the making of Battlestar Galactica. And the attention to detail is amazing.

Awhile back we auctioned a pair of prop tickets for Eversun Luxury Liners. In the small print was the disclaimer, “Passengers will not be allowed to board unless they are inebriated.” (Or words to that effect.) Those props peeps sure are “wacky funsters.”

When we pull costumes for an eBay auction, we visually match them with images from the costume continuity binders or with scenes from the actual episodes. Oftentimes we examine scripts to see how the costumes were used on that show.

And those shooting scripts can be revelatory.

Last week I was looking at the script for “Black Market” to double-check something. And a dialogue exchange Mark Verheiden wrote for that episode leapt off the page at me:

Dualla: I heard what you said, after they rescued you. That you didn’t want to come back…
Lee: I was sick, delirious… whatever I was feeling, I never meant to dump any of it on you.
Dualla: Actually, I’m glad I heard it. For the longest time I thought I was the only one.

Whoa.

Can you say “Foreshadowing”? Although that exchange was trimmed from the aired scene, the writers clearly had foreknowledge of Dualla’s tragic fate two seasons prior to “Sometimes a Great Notion.”

Today while researching Kara Thrace’s paint-splattered shirt from “Maelstrom” (which goes up for auction soon) I read this action line written by Bradley Thompson and David Weddle:

TOOTHPASTE SQUEEZED ONTO A BRUSH. Kara brings the brush to her mouth and tries to scrub away the tactile memory of Leoben’s kiss.

Wow. In two sentences, the writers give you a glimpse inside Kara’s fragile state of mind, which is one of three maelstroms referenced by the episode’s title.

Pretty frakkin’ kewl.
Thomas

Cylon Infiltrators Work At eBay It Seems

I want to send out a huge apology to some of you who were bidding on a few of the items in this week’s auction. Apparently, eBay decided to pull about forty items because they deemed we had broken one of their listing rules. Wow, that’s news to us! No forewarning that we were in any kind of violation then “BAM!” they just start closing out items. Needless to say we corrected the rather minuscule link error for the remainder of the forthcoming listings.

So, that’s the bad news. The good news is that those same items will be re-listed in next week’s auction which launches on Sunday.

Sincerest apologies from the whole Propworx team.

The Best Cast in the Biz

When Ronald D. Moore reimagined Battlestar Galactica, he realized one way to distance it from the typical trappings of space opera was to hire top-notch actors. He envisioned casting Oscar-caliber actors like Edward James Olmos (1988 best actor nominee for Stand and Deliver) and Mary McDonnell (1990 supporting actress nominee for Dances with Wolves). Surprisingly, both actors saw past the science fiction title and realized therein lay defining roles of their careers.

But having seasoned veterans ground the cast was not enough. The rest of the BSG ensemble needed the “chops” to stand toe-to-toe with Olmos, McDonnell, and veteran character actor Michael Hogan. The fact BSG actors continue to be in demand shows that Moore and fellow executive producer David Eick assembled what Entertainment Weekly calls “the strongest ensemble cast of the past decade.”

To wit:
• Katee Sackhoff will be on the Fox hit 24 this fall
• Jamie Bamber plays Detective Sergeant Matt Devlin on Law and Order: UK (side-by-side with Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman—Yowza!)
• James Callis plays the titular role in the upcoming Sci Fi Channel original Merlin and the Book of Beasts
• Tricia Helfer has guest starred on Burn Notice and Chuck, as well as the forthcoming Fox series The Human Target
• Grace Park co-stars in TNT’s series The Cleaner
• Aaron Douglas plays the lead in the new police drama The Bridge
• Tahmoh Penikett is part of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse

And the list goes on…

I’ve had the privilege of meeting most of the above actors and happily report they are some of the nicest I’ve encountered in my 16 years of working in “the business.” As the Propworx eBay auctions draw to a close in the next few weeks, now is the time to pick up that special memento used by your favorite BSG cast member. Who knows, if you go to Comic-Con or Dragon*Con you may be able to get him or her to sign it for you.

Thomas

T-minus Three Weeks and Counting

That’s right folks. Only three weeks left in the Official Battlestar Galactica eBay auctions left to go. If you weren’t panicking before you should probably start now. Look for the exciting gems we have been saving for these last few auctions. Trust me, you will be surprised. That’s it for now. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the “Miniseries.”

Starbuck: You sure they’ll fly?

Tyrol: Well, the reactor’s still hot, so all we have to do is pull the rad buffers from the engine, refuel it, load the ordnance, and you’re ready to go. The biggest problem is getting them over to the port launch bay.

Starbuck: Why can’t we use the starboard launch?

Tyrol: It’s a gift shop now.

Starbuck: Frak me!

General Insanity and Updates.. yup.

Soo first I want to say hello to everyone in my Ask Erin forum, your all insane, really really insane, but I like you anywho.  Most of the time.

Second, guess what?  There are only FOUR WEEKS OF AUCTIONS LEFT!!! Thats right, after this week we start the countdown, so get it now or watch it go out the airlock!  I really cant believe we are almost done here, as this has been such a great experience.  I’m going to miss reading your crazy comments and getting all of your emails, even the crazy people. (well maybe not so much.. )  Ok, enough of that mushy stuff!

News on the shipping front:  Curtis, our shipping manager has put quite the dent into sending out live auction stuff, so if you havent paid, get on it so you can get your props!  Also, I know some of you were concerned about your ebay items from about two weeks back, fear not, your stuff is on the way, shipping is moving between live and ebay, so they are busy, but are keeping up!

On the ebay store:  More items will be up soon, a smaller number, but cooler stuff!  Also, the Cylon War paintings and auction two patches will be making an apperance there as well. Remember These are a limited edition, get one before they are gone!  I myself would bring one of the Cylon paintings to Dragoncon* as it looks like a great place to have it signed, a large part of the cast will be there!

Cylons and Their Wonderful Clothes

When the producers of Battlestar Galactica decided to show the inside of a Cylon basestar during Season Three, some pundits thought demystifying the enemy was a mistake. Yet despite the hybrids, naked Eights, and liquid-filled control consoles, the one question I wanted answered was “Where do the Cylons get their clothes? Perhaps there were tailors hidden on the basestar’s lower decks. Hmm…

I’ve been trying, albeit unsuccessfully, to convince my Propworx colleagues to make a Project Runway: Cylon Basestar Edition parody film for Dragon*Con this year. It could be a cross of American Idol, Zoolander, and Caprica’s Top Model. Imagine the possibilities: John Cavil as a judge (“Honey, that was great, but do it again—this time with no clothes on”); a knock-down, drag-out catfight on the catwalk between Athena and Boomer (“Karl is my man!”); or Aaron Doral (“Girl in three words—Fab-u-lous!”).

Whether it’s bright colors, earth tones, leather, or a variety of fabrics and textures Costume Designer Glenne Campbell and her department made sure the Cylons were the best dressed nemeses this side of Ionian Nebula. And it’s our pleasure here at Propworx to offer you some of the best costumes from the show.

Thomas

Sacrificial Daggers on the Battlestar?

Here is an interesting bit of kit to ponder on regarding the juxtaposition between the Polytheistic religion of the Colonies and the Monotheistic religion of the Cylons. When you take the time to really look at these daggers they have a very menacing and polytheistic look about them. At first I thought, “Huh, interesting “Klingon-ish” daggers” but then I realized that in some Polythestic religions sacrificial knives are sometimes part of the belief system. This brings up an interesting hypothesis that these were daggers used by the different Colonies during the First Cylon War. Or, they are an unintentional and happy coincidence purchased by the guys from Set Dec.

Anyway, it is a very neat and exciting piece that will create plenty of conversation at your next dinner party.

Down with the walking toasters!

Steven

The Store…part 2, Plus BEAR MCREARY CONCERT!!!

Ok, so as I’m sure you’ve noticed, the store was not up yesterday, oh no!!! No worries everyone, after a few technical problems, then a few more, we have started loading up the store!  Get over to ebay soon and check it out, it should be available soon!

In other news, Bear McCreary is having a concert next weekend.  IT’s FRAKKING FREE!!!! Here is all the information, taken directly from Bear’s website (hope you dont mind Bear!)  There will be alot of really cool stuff happening there, but I cant tell you about it so your just going to have to show up.  Yea it’s evil and it’s wrong, but well, thats me. MUAHAHAHA!

“THE MUSIC OF BATTLESTAR GALACTICA” SUMMER 2009 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOUR.

Last year, my orchestra and I performed two SOLD OUT shows at the famed Roxy Theater in Los Angeles and the overwhelming response from fans around the world brings us back to the stage this summer in FOUR LIVE CONCERT EVENTS.

Saturday, June 13th
Grand Performances Series in Downtown Los Angeles
7pm

The concert at this gorgeous outdoor venue will be FREE ADMISSION.

Thursday, July 23rd
Friday, July 24th
Saturday, July 25th
The House of Blues in San Diego

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