SpaceGypsies

Paul Spragg, Big Finish’s Stargate Producer, was kind enough to answer a few questions for the SpaceGypsies.

Visit Big Finish on Twitter:  @bigfinish Online and where you can pre-order the Stargate Series: bigfinish.com 

How long have you been a Producer for Big Finish?

Not very long; a couple of years. My first producing credit was Highlander season two, which I enjoyed putting together immensely. The rest of the time I’m employed in the Big Finish offices as Producers’ Assistant to do all manner of bits and pieces ranging from appearing in podcasts to posting out competition prizes and scripts and putting together CD inlays.

Besides Stargate, what are you involved in producing for Big Finish?

At the moment, nothing. I’d love to do more Highlander, but sales weren’t really strong enough to warrant pursuing it.

You’ve mentioned that your dream would be to do a Farscape audio drama. What are some of the roadblocks to doing that?  Any possibilities on the horizon?

We looked into it a while ago but nothing came of it. Licensing shows is expensive, but licensing American shows is very expensive, so we have to establish if it’s worth pursuing or not. I’d still love to do it; it was one of my favourite shows and I’ve met most of the cast, who were a joy, but it seems unlikely at the moment. The comic books that continued the show were superb, though. I recommend those…

Is there some personal or professional story in your history with Big Finish that makes you laugh or cringe when you think about it?

I can’t think of anything cringeworthy from the last three years. There are a lot of laughs here though; most of them you can probably hear on the podcasts. It does amuse me that I’ve somehow acquired a small degree of fame just by talking rubbish on those.

 What’s the one thing you’d like to see happen in an audio drama that hasn’t happened yet?

I would love to see a full cast Stargate audio with all of SG-1. But I suspect we would bankrupt ourselves trying to finance it!

 Here at Spacegypsies.com we are very excited about the upcoming Stargate SG1, Daniel and Vala two-part audio dramas being released in May and August. Is there a snippet, line, or scene you can share with us?

Hmmm… well, I enjoy Daniel and Vala’s faltering attempts to go undercover in one story, there are some powerful emotional moments for Daniel that sounded incredible in the studio, and we do a lot of playing with the ‘will they won’t they’ nature of Daniel and Vala’s relationship; they have some tough times together. Plus: Ba’al and the Asgard! Who doesn’t want to hear those guys again?

Will there be an actual audio trailer on the Big Finish site? And if so, when?

There will; the first story is being sound designed at the moment, so once we have some nifty sound effects, we’ll be able to bring you something. I’m hoping sometime in March there will be a trailer.

Can you share some story from Claudia Black’s sessions?

I’m afraid I can’t as I wasn’t there! It was all directed in Los Angeles and I couldn’t convince the head of the company to fly me out just to sit and enjoy listening to it all…

We’ve read that Michael Shanks had good chemistry with John Schwab who read Vala’s part while Michael was doing Daniel’s. Would you mind giving us some more details on this?

Ah, slight misunderstanding there. It was John Banks. John’s my go-to actor for a variety of voices, and he plays several roles in the upcoming series. He’s great to have on hand as a ‘read-in’ actor as his range enables him to play multiple parts. His Vala was surprisingly good, and by the time of the third day of recording with Michael, their rapport was oddly convincing. He picked up on the flirtatious and cheeky nature of their relationship and was really playing up to it!

Do you have any plans for U.S. conventions?  (We’d love to see you at Dragon*Con this year).

At the moment, no. It all depends on costs and availability. I’d love to come out and do more, though. I’ve been Stateside before for Big Finish, so I’m sure we’ll be back at some stage soon with the new box sets.

Xena vs. Magnus, who would win in a fight?

Hmmm, tricky. Magnus has got the smarts and centuries of knowledge to help her, but Xena’s fought the God of War to a standstill, so I’d choose her. Unless, of course, you’re talking about Ultra Magnus the Transformer, in which case him. He’s much bigger than Xena and could just squash her.

Join me for my very first celebrity interview ever – Mr. Mark Sheppard!  A press conference of only two reporters got the chance to sit down with him during Dragon*Con 2011. I was incredibly nervous before meeting Mr. Sheppard, and it was definitely a unique experience. He spoke about everything from being a fan of his own shows to the intricacies of working in Great Britain. A big thanks to Mr. Sheppard for his time and an insightful interview!

SpaceGypsies had the chance to interview our friend Jan Hoyle about her artwork and what inspires her to create the amazing pieces on her site. Jan uses a variety of mediums along with exquisite details and vibrant colors to bring her pieces to life. If you haven’t seen her work, you should check her out!

Where did you first discover art?

As far back as I can remember. Probably in the womb.

How do you describe your style?

Fantasy, Womens issues, abstract and somewhat eclectic.

What is you biggest influence?

My brain, it’s not geared towards math or science! My mom always took me to art museums in the Detroit area, and always to special exhibits at the Detroit Museum of Art, and Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. She also took me to the zoo & the Ice Capades But she also started me with paint by numbers kits. I had a great Kindergarten teacher who taught us how to use different textures around us to bring depth to our fantastic crayon colorings. And I had a great Art Teacher in grade school who taught us ceramics with pinch pots and printmaking with latex wood blocks. I didn’t like my High School Art teacher because she wanted us to use mathematical concepts, and I suck at math.

Do you find yourself influenced by other artists?

Yes, definitely! Vincent Van Gogh, Edward Munch, Pablo Picasso, teachers. I definitely credit my love of ceramics to my Professor at University of California Irvine, Gifford Myers, and Artist Pamme Turner, also Printmaking to another Professor at UCI, John Paul Jones. You should see the recreation of Van Gogh’s Starry Night I painted on flower pots it’s quite beautiful. Of course my mom made jewelry and was always painting, sewing or crocheting. Textiles are an art form by the way.

What is your preferred medium?

Ceramics & Printmaking. I love watercolor, but I really suck at it so I will leave that for others who are talented with watercolors. I love the feel of clay, it’s very tactile and an excellent medium for people like me who are have had to work through fine motor skill problems. I prefer using underglazes for fine painting, I can’t get the same effects with Acrylics or Oils. And printmaking (scraffito), well it’s the same for me. When I grduated from college I use to joke that I missed the smell of acid, alcohol & Kerosine in the morning, LOL.

What inspires you to create? Can you explain your creative process?

I have no idea, I just get ideas in my head. That seems to be a standard question for artistic people, and I don’t know of anyone who can really answer that. I see it in my head, and work out how I will approach it. I’ve never been able to draw a rendering on paper, I just can’t work that way. I figure it out then if it’s something that has to have exact measurements, then I write it out and create a rendering. Plaster or silicone molds definitely require a detailed blueprint.

The proceeds from some of your work is donated to charity. Why are those charities important to you? And what other ways can people help? 

My main charities are the ASPCA & Doctors without Borders. I love animals so deeply, I grew up with 2 cats, a dog, rabbit and a Parakeet in a suburban area with a lot of wildlife. And I’ve always loved cats, big or small. All animals are sentient beings with feelings, and they love unconditionally. No animal should ever suffer in any way, they are helpless in many situations, and deserve food, shelter, kindness and love in return. The ASPCA is very involved in every process from education to rescuing abused animals, taking in strays, medical care and adoption. They are always there in the midst of disaster to rescue animals displaced by natural disasters. And I adopted my kitty from them in 1995.

Doctors Without Borders because every person regardless of income, age, race, religion or location deserves medical care. DWB goes to places no one else will, to donate their services. Just like the ASPCA, DWB rushes to areas where there has been a natural disaster to aid those in need of medical care. The conditions rescuers work in a anything but ideal, they risk illness, injury and their own lives to help others in need. I know I never could have helped to rescue animals after Hurricane Katrina, I’m just not physically able to do that. 2. Donate, once or monthly, if you can’t give money volunteer your time. There’s shelters and organizations in every area crying out for volunteers, in all areas from clerical to walking dogs, and cleaning litter pans. If you are a veterinarian or a medical doctor, even nurse or tech, offer low cost vaccinations to low income patients, volunteer at the local clinic or shelter, or donate pet food to outreach centers. You can always help in a disaster if you can’t have a regular schedule to allow for that time. Educate yourself about charitable organizations, and tell others about the need for volunteers and donations.

How do you handle criticism of your work? What inspires you to keep creating?

Well it depends what kind of criticism it is! If it’s creative criticism from other artists, friends, etc. I want to hear it so I can improve my skills. I often take and use criticism from other artists in my studio and friends. It still takes a village, lol. But if it’s from someone like my son who just doesn’t appreciate art in the first place, not well. In fact there’s times I’d like to kill that kid, because it’s painful to have a family member feel that way about what I do.

As for inspiration to create, encouragement from others is the best gift you can give an artist. And of course and artist is what I am, not what I do. I couldn’t live without creating art.

Do you have any words of advice for aspiring artists?

First of all while you are still a student talk to your teachers, explore different mediums and genres. I started out earning a BA in Drama, and while working found out I was much happier as an artist, so I went back to school for my MA in art. Also learn how to find and file the paperwork for grants both private and educational. Keep up with all of the professional websites and publications. They always announce “Call for entries” on their websites, getting your work out there even if you will not be able to sell your work is the best way for people to find out about you. Some ask exorbitant fees for submissions so start with student submissions which are free or low cost. Don’t start out trying to sell your work at art fairs, and conventions where table fees are very expensive. There’s nothing more disappointing than not even making enough to cover your table fee. Use those art shows to get feedback on what is popular, what sells and what audience to target. And as with any profession, network! But don’t expect people to add you to their websites, especially if they they are selling the same type of art as you are. No one wants to help the competition. Also, don’t waste your money on ebay. The buyers there are looking to find something for nothing, which is often the case at craft fares. Once you graduate get any job you can, you can’t buy supplies without money. I know most artists just don’t do well at 9-5 jobs, and most of us did very well getting fired from most of them, but you need something. If you can live at home and handle being around your parents, do it, even if they ask you for rent or to contribute. It’s hard to find decent roommates, and it’s very expensive.

Where can fans stay up to date on what you are working on? Where can they purchase your pieces?

I am on facebook and twitter, my facebook page is under The Art of Jan Lorraine Hoyle, on twitter I’m known as @ceramicat. You can purchase at my website http://www.paganart.net and wherever I am exhibiting my art. I have several things pending, but I will definitely have my work at the ApolloCon Art show in Houston June 22-24th. Right now I haven’t decided whether to invest in the Pagan Pride Los Angeles Fair or the Summer Solstice Fair in Long Beach. And I’m always looking into different cons around the country, while I will be volunteering at Wizard World Anaheim in April, and Nuke the Fridge Con in City of Industry, I’m not sure my work would do well there. So if anyone has any ideas on cons or shows, please let me know so I can check it out.

Thanks Jan!

Make sure you visit her SITE and check out her available pieces for purchase!

In the last few years, podcasts have become incredibly popular, but I’ve never really jumped on the bandwagon. Even though there’s a podcast for just about everything from performing arts to science, I just never found a podcast that could hold my interest for more than one or two episodes. However, I discovered recently that I genuinely enjoy podcasts about Doctor Who, one of my favorite television shows. After browsing through many podcasts, I stumbled upon a podcast about podcasting which was recorded at ChicagoTARDIS 2010. It was through that podcasting panel podcast (say that five times fast) that I learned about the New Who Podcast, a short (less than 30-minute) program produced by David Vox Mullen and his stepdaughter Nicole. I was immediately drawn to their show because I loved not only the fact that someone watches Doctor Who with his stepdaughter, but also that he co-hosts a podcast with her.

While at ChicagoTARDIS 2011, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with Mullen about his podcasting career.

The New Who Podcast isn’t the first podcast that Mullen has produced; he started out in 2009 with a Flash Forward podcast, the Flash Forcast. Says Mullen, “we got to speak with the creators of the show, some of the stars of the show, and it was just my first foray into the podcasting universe. And it was kind of trial by fire, learning things that worked, things that didn’t work, but I found that because we were the first podcast about that show, we were getting a majority of the audience.”

After Flash Forward met an early death, Mullen began a new podcast about The Event, which was, unfortunately, also canceled. In summer 2011, Mullen produced Torchcast, which focused on the ten-episode Starz and BBC collaboration Torchwood: Miracle Day. Just prior to the start of the 2011 fall lineup, Mullen merged all of his productions together to form the DVM Podcast Empire, a conglomerate which now encompasses over a dozen shows. Although the idea of a podcast network isn’t new, Mullen’s empire is unique because it focuses on high-concept television shows.

Mullen truly has taken on a unique and challenging enterprise by covering so many shows, including Grimm and Terra Nova for sci-fi/fantasy geeks, Person of Interest and Alcatraz for drama buffs, American Horror Story for horror fans, and The Secret Circle for teenagers (hosted by Mullen’s stepdaughter Nicole), just to name a few. “We literally cast a giant net each year on all the high-concept, high-drama shows like Person of Interest and Alcatraz, shows that are created by people like J.J. Abrams and Jon Nolan, where we know we’re going to get the big puzzle-type mystery thing. And that’s what we do, we just enjoy trying to unravel the mystery, and we’re having great fun with it.” Because the DVMPE podcasts include so many shows, Mullen couldn’t possibly host them all. While he does produce each podcast, he currently has contributing hosts in New Jersey, South Carolina, Illinois, and even the United Kingdom.

Anyone can record a podcast, but both the production and the content of the DVM Podcast Empire’s shows are definitely high-quality. The hosts are engaging and entertaining, thorough in their reviews, and their discussions are thought-provoking without being overly serious. In fact, some hosts are so personable that I’ve actually caught myself agreeing (or arguing) with them out loud in my car. Mullen explains, “we’re just having a blast, meeting new people, and we’re always growing and looking for new podcasters and new talent.”

If you’re a fan of any of the shows that the DVM Podcast Empire produces, I absolutely recommend that you check out their podcasts. In addition to current productions, you can also download podcasts from shows that are no longer with us. If there’s a show not currently being produced by the DVM Podcast Empire that you’d like to see added to their lineup, please contact David Vox Mullen via www.dvmpe.com

Dragon*Con just keeps getting better and better every year. I always walk away with great memories and this year’s Dragon*Con was no different.

Doctor Q and his fantastical microphone at the Clockwork Comics panel

There were some amazing panels this year. The Sanctuary panel, featuring the wonderful Amanda Tapping, Christopher Heyerdahl and Robin Dunne, was so personable it didn’t feel like we were sitting in a ballroom that held hundreds. Doctor Q’s Clockwork Comics panel gave me a whole list of Steampunky comics I want to check out and taught me a thing or two about Steampunk costuming. My favorite panel of the weekend though was probably the Gonzo Quiz Show on Saturday night.

Featuring Paul and Storm, Jonathan Coulton, Doc Hammer, James Urbanik, and Sylvester McCoy (among others), I can honestly say I’ve never laughed that hard for that long. It was filled with so many memorable moments, like Doc Hammer’s rendition of The Beatles “When I’m 64” done in the voice of Doctor Girlfriend, that it would be impossible to choose just one as a favorite. Sylvester McCoy definitely stole the show in the second half with a continuous and impressive display of physical comedy.

1812 and One Eye

Costuming has always been something that has interested me and Dragon*Con attendees bring costuming to a whole new level. WhiteRabite and I have had costuming success in the past with our Farscape DRDs 1812 and One Eye. (Ben Browder LOVED them!) But we wanted something different this year. We wanted something no one had ever done before, or at least, not well. Inspired by the Jim Hensen exhibit we saw at the Museum of Science and Industry in October, the Snowths costumes were born.

All I will say is that those costumes were a lot of hard work. If it weren’t for our combined creativity, talent and ingenuity, WhiteRabite and I could have never pulled them off. The result was a hit! We wore the costumes three times, Thursday night, Saturday night and Monday. Each time we couldn’t take more than a few steps without people asking for our picture or singing “Manah Manah.” It was amazing! And we were worried no one would know who we were! We clearly underestimated the popularity of these Muppets and even ended up making iO9’s list of Coolest Costumes and Props at Dragon*Con 2011.

Small children were the most adorable. They would come up to us very shyly and ask if they could take their picture with us. We tried not to speak much in the costumes except to sing the song, but a nod and open arms was all the kids needed to smile brightly and pose with us. All of the compliments we received really made our day. Even celebrities loved us!

SGU's David Blue asked for a picture with us!

We were walking by the bar in the Marriott (and by “walking” I mean being led hand-in-hand by a handler since we couldn’t see very well) when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, nearly hitting the person in the head with my nose as a familiar voice asked “Can I get my picture with you?” I nodded and got WhiteRabite’s attention so she would stop and pose as well. Then I heard it, the slight squeal from PlayItGrand. I looked over at the man who had his arm around my waist. Our “fan” was none other than Stargate Universe’s David Blue! He said he had seen us on the second floor and came running down because he had to get his picture taken with us! Of course I had to ask if he would mind if we took our picture with HIM. He seemed surprised and I’m not sure why. The next day I stopped by his table at the Walk of Fame, out of costume, and thanked him for making our night. We chatted for a bit about the costumes and how we made them. He was simply wonderful. Those who know me know I wasn’t a fan of SGU. It wasn’t my cup of tea. However, it did make me a fan of David Blue and now that I’ve met him, I can honestly say he’s as great of a guy as you’d imagine!

Posing with Felicia Day in the Walk of Fame!

Felicia Day (The Guild) climbed over her table in the Walk of Fame and Amy Okuda (The Guild) crawled under hers to get their pictures taken with us. Addy Miller, the little girl zombie from The Walking Dead asked to pose for a picture as well. Even the staff members in the Walk of Fame wanted their picture taken with us! Perhaps the most hilarious moment came when we were standing outside the Walk of Fame getting ready to go back up to our room. Louis Ferreira (Stargate Universe) walked past us singing “Manah Manah.” Of course we joined in and soon we were dancing and singing with Colonel Young himself while David Blue laughed in the background!

Getting hugs from Eddie McClintock

My celebrity sightings didn’t stop there! I got hugs from Warehouse 13‘s Eddie McClintock  (which is starting to become an annual “thing”) and chatted with him about his American Staffordshire Terrier who was a mirror image of our dog Bunny. Of course I had to stop by and say “hi” to Farscape‘s Virginia Hey. She knows me instantly as “Radio’s Mum” and always wants to know how he’s doing. I see her once a year and it’s always a pleasure! I even got William Shatner’s autograph on my copy of Saddle & Bridle! We chatted briefly about reining and showing. He seemed amused to find one fan who was a fan of him as a horseman rather than an actor.

Dragon*Con afforded us with amazing opportunities this year as far as one of our favorite shows, Sanctuary, goes. PlayItGrand did her very first interview ever with Robin Dunne! It is definitely one of the best interviews I have ever seen! She did such a great job. I think you can hear me giggling in the background as Robin ribbed her.

Christopher Heyerdahl, as it turns out, is really not scary in person. He’s very much the opposite! (And very handsome!) I had a chance to interview him and remarked about how his portrayal of John Druitt often freaks me out so much I need to turn on all of the lights in the house if I’m home alone. He seemed very amused by this! He was incredibly charming and witty. He’s so not like any of his characters that it really speaks to his abilities as an actor.

I may have a new fangirl crush...

I would have to say though that the highlight of Dragon*Con 2011 for me was Amanda Tapping. I’ve seen Amanda before at Creation’s Chicago Stargate Convention so I already knew how awesome she was. Or at least, I thought I knew! First we had the chance to interview her with our friends at Fandomania and That Sci-Fi Show. If that wasn’t enough, we learned that Amanda loves horseback riding and used to volunteer at a therapeutic riding facility! The great thing about Amanda is that she is the most genuine person you will ever meet. She genuinely cares about everyone she meets and it shows. The interview felt more like a conversation with an old friend than it did an interview, and that was great!

Let me say that I can’t praise Illumina Productions and Craig Damon enough. His pictures are always BEAUTIFUL. His photo op room is always fun and friendly. His staff is helpful and pleasant, and he gets things done on time without rushing you through. You’re given a few moments to say “hello” to the guest and get yourself situated. It’s obvious that Mr. Damon cares about the fan experience. If your eyes are closed or you take a “bad” picture, he takes another one! Illumina Productions was also wonderful about e-mailing out autograph prices for their guests before the convention. Their photo-ops may be a little more pricey than Froggy’s, but let me tell you, honestly…you get what you pay for. I have never been disappointed with my photos or my experience.

Beautiful right? Our photo-op with Christopher Heyerdahl and Amanda Tapping by Illumina Productions

When I went for my photo-op with Amanda she recognized me from the interview and greeted me with a friendly hug. Some people have specific poses in mind for their photo-ops and I knew exactly what I wanted to request, if Amanda would be game. I saw on Twitter that Amanda can do something very unusual with her eyes. She can look to the left with her right eye and straight with her left eye at the same time. I’ve never seen anyone else who can do this! Though I doubted hers was “natural” like mine, I had to ask if she’d be willing to do it in the picture.

Me: Can we do that thing where you look to the left and straight at the same time? I’ve never met anyone else who can do it.
Amanda: (Looking surprised) Can you do it?! (very excited, grabs my arms).
Me: Yes! (crosses eyes).
Amanda: Awesome! Yes! Lets do it!

It took her a moment to do it (since my muscles are paralyzed I just look to the left), but the picture was snapped with Amanda making a goofy face and me with an equally goofy and very excited smile. I saw her in the hallway later, in passing, and she ran over to me and excitedly asked if I had seen our photo-op yet. I immediately went to pick it up! On Sunday she signed the picture “to my wonder twin” and we chatted a bit about the picture. I told her how I took a lot of flack in school for unintentionally crossing my eyes. Her handler, who was equally as awesome as Amanda, laughed and asked what Amanda’s excuse was. “I’m just an idiot!” she giggled. I don’t think she realized how that one moment, that one silly picture, made all of the schoolyard teasing I endured worth it. Amanda thought my ability to cross my eyes like that was cool.

Summing up Dragon*Con 2011 in one word is easy. “Memorable.” From the panels to our interviews, the concerts, reunions with old friends and meeting new ones, our costumes and encounters with our favorite guests, everything about this year’s Dragon*Con was truly unforgettable. I can’t even begin to imagine what will happen next year!