Any Stargate fans?

[Miller]

From what I understand, the main gimmick of the Atlantis gate is that it's "digital" vs SG-1's "analog", i.e. the inner ring doesn't spin. In-universe, the pattern of glyphs are still in a specific order, and each segment can display whatever glyph it needs to while 'digitally' dialing. The prop, however, isn't that configurable, and each glyph segment was designed to show one specific, unchangeable glyph. Doesn't matter much when all they're fully lit, or when dialing as they flash by so fast it's hard to notice. However, when the chevrons lock on, sometimes they used CG to change the glyph to match the correct gate address for that scene. Also, I think that for pure effects shots of an already-open gate, the glyphs are digitally overlaid so they're brighter and more legible than the ones on the prop itself.

From some reason I thought they could program different addresses and show a glyph move from one segment to another. As for the gate made with rubber, I guess this explains why some of the LEDs can be seen through the tip of the chevrons.
Also it's funny that they never made a full gate for the filming on location.

One thing that's bothering me now that I look into it is how incredibly inconsistent the gate is lit in any given scene. Sometimes when the gate activates, only the glyphs under the chevrons stay lit. Sometimes all the glyphs light up. Sometimes when the gate is inactive, it's completely dark, sometimes the glyphs are all lit...again.

...and then there's the issue with different VFX houses having their own models so sometimes you get the inner ring on both sides, lol.

 

[Migraine Box]

...and then there's the issue with different VFX houses having their own models so sometimes you get the inner ring on both sides, lol.

Or the gate having 8 chevrons

 

[Screamer_2]

From when I was looking into it yesterday, the glyphs weren't individual LEDs, they where back lit panels with a cover with holes for the light to come through.

I don't know if I remember this correctly, but the gate room set was built so it could be used without the gate. It folded into the floor or easily could be removed so the space could be used for other locations.

They chopped up the main hero prop of the gate and sold it off at auction.

 

[Migraine Box]

From when I was looking into it yesterday, the glyphs weren't individual LEDs, they where back lit panels with a cover with holes for the light to come through.

I don't know if I remember this correctly, but the gate room set was built so it could be used without the gate. It folded into the floor or easily could be removed so the space could be used for other locations.

They chopped up the main hero prop of the gate and sold it off at auction.

View attachment 8654051

Better fate than the original movie gate, I guess. Speaking of, I wish there was more info on how that gate worked. IIRC the inner ring was like a giant bearing controlled via tire-sized pinch rollers and they had a hell of a time getting it to work. The SG-1 gate was re-engineered from the ground up to be essentially a giant machined gear, directly motor driven, and turned out to be one of the most robust and reliable props built for any SG production.
What I'm really curious about is the 7th chevron of the original gate, and whether or not it actually did anything like the other 6 (which individually moved when they locked) or was purely decorative.


Edit: Noticed another neat detail about the movie gate for the first time: when the gate activates, the chevrons all lock open simultaneously. It's hard to notice because the puddle effect is incredibly bright in the film, but they're like that in every scene when the gate's active.

Dialing (for reference):


Activating:


From the side:

These screen grabs are all from YouTube, sorry if they're bad quality. I'll try and grab them from the blu-ray in a bit. And done. Bit more of a teal color grade on my blu-ray than I remember...
Also just to reinforce that this is a deliberate design feature on the movie gate, the Abydos gate's chevrons were also locked open when activated:

 

[Miller]

Better fate than the original movie gate, I guess. Speaking of, I wish there was more info on how that gate worked. IIRC the inner ring was like a giant bearing controlled via tire-sized pinch rollers and they had a hell of a time getting it to work.

I had a DVD set of the movie, there was a section in the bonus about how they built it.
The gate was made of metal I believe. Gateworld had interviewed the set designer on SG-1 (who later worked on BSG), it was pure luck that he found parts of the movie gate in someone's garage.
Interview with Richard Hudolin (Gateworld)

 

[Migraine Box]

I had a DVD set of the movie, there was a section in the bonus about how they built it.

Huh, I'll have to dig around to see if I still have the DVD. Unless it's in the big making-of featurette, I didn't see it on the blu-ray.

The gate was made of metal I believe. Gateworld had interviewed the set designer on SG-1 (who later worked on BSG), it was pure luck that he found parts of the movie gate in someone's garage.
Interview with Richard Hudolin (Gateworld)

Richard and his crew did such a phenomenal job on the SG-1 gate. Anyone know what happened to it after its final use in SGU? Did it get cut up for auction like the Atlantis gate or is it still hiding out in storage somewhere?

 

[CarlKingofDucks]

SG1 (seasons 1- is literally the greatest scifi show of all time. Teal'c is literally my nigga. Jackson is amazing after he cut his hair, and o'neill (Two L's) is one of the greatest team leads of all time. Hell even carter isn't an annoying woman. I seriously loved this show. I've probably watched all of it 6 or 7 times.

Atlantis is ok, fairly mid and SGU was a precursor to modern slop. Doesn't change that fact that SG1 is truly god tier television.

 

[Miller]

Richard and his crew did such a phenomenal job on the SG-1 gate. Anyone know what happened to it after its final use in SGU? Did it get cut up for auction like the Atlantis gate or is it still hiding out in storage somewhere?

The off-world gate was cut in small parts and the SGC gate was sold in segments like the Atlantis version.

 

[indomitable snowman]

View attachment 8644890

Looks like a Rubbermaid container your mom keeps Christmas ornaments in.

No bigger truth than that.

I don't know if I remember this correctly, but the gate room set was built so it could be used without the gate. It folded into the floor or easily could be removed so the space could be used for other locations.

It was also the cafeteria and the gym sets iirc.

I always wondered why the puddle jumper changed every season.

 

[Miller]

I always wondered why the puddle jumper changed every season.

They changed the dashboard in season 3 or 4, right? It's weird because they never do a close shot on it, they always focus on the hologram HUD.

 

[Migraine Box]

They changed the dashboard in season 3 or 4, right? It's weird because they never do a close shot on it, they always focus on the hologram HUD.

Somewhere around 3, I think. You're right, they never really focus on it so it's hard to notice. I do distinctly remember them changing the flight controls, the originals were two separate, very thin clear acrylic joysticks with a lot of motion, they later changed to a more solid, wider single-piece yoke, that worked more like the ball...thing in Goa'uld cargo ships.

 

[indomitable snowman]

Season 1: Flat glass and the thin controls



Season 2+ no glass, more levers, thicker front dashboard thing and added the lights on the walls.



Later changed to be more blue in season 3/4 with more lights.


Season 5, I think the buttons changed and there are some LED lights that race across the dash (can't tell in screencap)


side panels are now fully blue instead of the greenish/aqua they were before.


Here's set photos from Joseph Mallozzi




I was thinking there were bigger changes each season. Looks like there was a big change from season 1 to 2, then little changes here and there.

 

[Miller]

The gaming chairs looked uncomfortable.

Somewhere around 3, I think. You're right, they never really focus on it so it's hard to notice. I do distinctly remember them changing the flight controls, the originals were two separate, very thin clear acrylic joysticks with a lot of motion, they later changed to a more solid, wider single-piece yoke, that worked more like the ball...thing in Goa'uld cargo ships.

I was never a fan of the clear acrylic props, it didn't feel like the tech that the Ancients would have.

 

[Migraine Box]

I was never a fan of the clear acrylic props, it didn't feel like the tech that the Ancients would have.

I kinda liked 'em. The thin white crystals felt much more refined and high-tech than the big rgb crystal rods the Goa'uld used. Since all their tech was scavenged/stolen, I guess you could say the rods were just crudely reversed-engineered from the Ancient ones, kinda like western vs eastern bloc computers back in the 80s

Spoiler: Example

For example, an original ZX Spectrum from the UK vs a Soviet clone of the Spectrum:

Operationally the same, but obviously from two totally different levels of technological advancement

 

[Leylon Sneed]

kinda like western vs eastern bloc computers back in the 80s

The Western vs Eastern block electronics weren't as much about production capabilities, but more about strategic consideration. Eastern Block was figuring when it all went down they would have to survive the first strike, they couldn't produce microelectronics like we could, but they weren't trying to.

I'm interested in this new Stargate series because I really enjoyed it before they made it a Farscape reboot.

 

[Captain Syrup]

I really enjoyed it before they made it a Farscape reboot.

I love Carter but come on, get over yourselves.

 

[Miller]

The new Stargate series is recruiting some big names to its roster of talent, naming a pair of award-winning artists to lead the production design and visual effects departments.

Nathan Crowley has joined the team as Stargate’s production designer, series creator Martin Gero tells GateWorld. Crowley is an Academy Award-winning production designer whose career includes a long-time collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Nolan — from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight to The Prestige, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Tenet.

Leading the VFX team is Mohen Leo, whose work as a visual effects supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic’s London and Singapore effects houses has included The Martian, Ant-Man, and Deepwater Horizon. Leo was nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (with Neil Corbould, Hal Hickel, and John Knoll), as part of the team that accomplished some 1,700 VFX shots for the movie.
On television, he subsequently served as visual effects supervisor on Season 2 of Lucasfilm’s Andor, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie. His Star Wars credits also extend to video games, as creative director for ILMxLAB’s work on the Star Wars VR series Vader Immortal, for which he created the story.

If you want to read the article (Gateworld).

 

[indomitable snowman]

Euronda did nothing wrong.

 

[Mr. Racewar1488]

I'm making my way through SG1 for the first time and loving it. I want to avoid spoilers so I won't be reading the thread until I'm done but I found something that tickles my gun autism.

S6E14 Smoke Mirrors, the one where MacGyver is framed for killing Sen. Captain Jellico. The other gun he looked at before the breakdown Remington 700 was a Knight's Armament Silent Revolving Rifle:

There's a good chance the one Ian is looking at is the same one in SG1.

 

[Tsukasa Kadoya]

Been thinking a lot about the Amazon show and after seeing how EVERY show they've made ruins the source material, gotta wonder how bad Stargate will be.