“GAK” is a slang term used in the film industry to describe stuff that is used to add detail to props, set dressing or costumes.  It is the acronym for “Goods All Kinds,” but I like to think it stands for “Garbage And Knick-nacks.” Typically, props made from used items purchased at junk yards or flea markets can be said to be made from “gak.” For those in the Vancouver film industry the word gak is used quite often to describe props in general. “I have to wear all of this ‘gak’ in the next scene.”

The following image is a great example of “gak.”

As you can see “gak” is nothing more than bits of everyday stuff or goods, acquired from pretty much anywhere, that can be used to make a prop or set look more interesting or realistic to the camera and the audience.

Gaeta with the retractable, bloodied pen as Adama, Roslin, and others storm Baltar's cell.

Fortunately for the viewing audience, one of the greatest characters in history is not taken out by a whimpy pen, as Admiral William Adama punches Gaeta, thereby allowing Cottle to prevent any further damage. Still, once Baltar is safe, he manages a comical dig into Gaeta during Baltar’s trial in “Crossroads, Part II” when bringing up the fact that Gaeta tried to kill him with a pen: “And you missed, butterfingers!”

The bloodied, retractable pen.

The clean version of the retractable pen.

These metal pens measure 7 1/2″ in length, with the pen tip portion of the item capable of retracting into the hollowed out tube. The pen cap, attached at the end here, cannot be removed.

Originally, Colonel Tigh poured alcohol in a metal cup, as seen in the Miniseries. However, later on he resorts to hiding his alcohol needing tendencies by hiding his flask in a holster around his left leg, just above his boot.

The flask, which also features a small area for Tigh to put a few cigarettes in, is a 5.5 oz bottle capable of handling ambrosia or the like.

There are stunt rubber versions of this flask, which were used in scenes when the prop had to be thrown, such as down one of the corridors in Season 2′s “Resistance” after interrogating Galen Tyrol.

In the hopes of working into a rythym of adding new posts on a daily basis, I’m going to kick off this party with one of the most iconic pieces from the series. It’s a small little picture introduced in Season 1′s “33” and is the photo of the unknown soldier seen in Laura Roslin‘s office on Colonial One and the pilot briefing rooms on Galactica.

Galactica's exhausted pilots touch this photo on their way to their ships in "33".

This iconic piece is explained in a deleted scene in “33″, when Roslin asks Billy Keikeya what is in the package on her cluttered desk. As he briefly searches for the note that came with the package, Keikeya informs her that the package was delivered by one of the ship captains. Finding this note, he he reads the following to her: “President Roslin, please accept this on the behalf of the people of Aerilon. It was taken on the capital of our colony during the attack.”

After this, she reflects on the significance of this photo and tries to figure out where to hang it in her new office. While the picture from this scene survived, the frame did not.

Roslin is presented the framed version of this photo by one of the ship captains who hail from Aerilon. This is from the deleted scene in "33".

This iconic photo was actually taken on the helicopter pad on top of Battlestar Galactica‘s production offices at the Vancouver Film Studios, which is where Battlestar Galactica was filmed when it went to series. The person in the photo is none other than production manager and director Wayne Rose, who directed all the webisodes for the series and the episodes “Dirty Hands” and “Guess What’s Coming to Dinner?“. At Rose’s left side is also the second appearance of the “futuristic” assault rifle that Galactica‘s security and Aaron Kelly use when apprehending Aaron Doral in the Miniseries.

The iconic "unknown soldier" photo in question.

An award, shown from the back, landing on the debris in the aftermath of Clellan's suicide bombing.

As usual, we are the first to show you what those diplomas look like in crystal-clear detail.

A high quality view of a distressed New Caprica Police Academy award certificate.

As a result, Crashdown decides to attack these emplacements, so that any rescue attempt from Galactica can be successful. In planning it, he uses a technique taught during basic training called the “five-’graph order”, which he outlines on a notepad and presents to the survivors, who will be the ones executing his attack plan.

Despite the by-the-book planning, the attack does not end well, particularly when Crashdown has to threaten people at gunpoint so that it may be executed.

Crashdown reviews his "five-'graph" plan to attack the Cylon anti-aircraft weapon in "Fragged".

A page from Crashdown's notepad.

When presented with the transfer orders in Commander Adama’s office, Kara Thrace and Lee Adama react unfavorably to the orders, but ultimately follow them. The orders themselves are never seen on screen as they are being held in their hands, until now.

Text of Kara's transfer order. Text of Kara's transfer orer. Note that Cain's name is misspelled and that the serial number is not correct.

Text of Lee's transfer orer. Note that Cain's name is misspelled and that the serial number is not correct.

We’ll focus on Cally, since she’s dead. As seen in the picture below, she’s wearing a helmet (along with Prosna and Chief Tyrol) when repairing Starbuck’s Viper.

Cally wearing her deckhand helmet in the Miniseries.

Cally's helmet.

However, it would not be until Season 3′s “The Eye of Jupiter” until this prop sees the light of day, as Adama opens the munitions key storage box and removes the key before arming the nuclear weapons, themselves aimed at the algae planet.

Here are the contents that are inside that box. Note that while the munitions key and the FTL key look similar, the FTL key is one piece without any glowing lights. And no, when you go to bid on the prop, just remember that it won’t arm any nukes. Sorry.