June 24, 2015: Dark Matter episode 102! Pics! Vids! Secrets!

Continuing our behind-the-scenes insight in Dark Matter’s second episode…

1) “Who doesn’t like a good song?”

The boys head down to the planet to complete the delivery and get the hell out of Dodge. ONE continues to agonize over the situation. Partly, it’s his desire to take the moral high ground here, but much of it is driven by the guilt he feels. All evidence suggests that The Raza crew heisted the weapons delivery these miners are anxiously awaiting, their only slim chance at defeating the forces of Ferrous Corp. Not only will they only be getting HALF the weapons they desperately need but, tragically, they won’t know “no more help is coming.”

For his part, THREE doesn’t seem all that bothered by the approaching calamity and even enjoys himself in the doomed miners’ company, playing drinking games with them while ONE looks on disapprovingly.

Hard to gauge FOUR and SIX’s reaction but it’s almost certain they do feel sympathy for the miners but, unlike ONE, will not allow their emotions to dictate their actions. FOUR is inscrutable but SIX admits: “Hey, if you’ve got another suggestion that doesn’t involve us dying here with them…” signalling a willingness to help trumped by a reality check. Again, another suggestion that SIX is TWO’s equal in terms of judgement.

2) “Ferrous Corporation destroyer!”

Concept design by James Robbins

Detailed VFX model by VFX Supervisor Lawren Bancroft-Wilson and his team.

And finished

While the guys are down on the ground, boozing it up, the ladies are up in orbit, holding the fort. TWO and FIVE have a little chat just starts getting interesting…

FIVE: Well, I guess the next big mystery that needs solving is who stole our memories.

TWO: Nobody stole our memories. It was an accident.

FIVE: No it wasn’t.

At which point they’re interrupted by the Android. Hmmmm.

They join the Android on the bridge and she informs them that a ship has just dropped out of FTL. It’s a Ferrous Corp. destroyer. Uh oh.

3) “That actually went better than I thought it would!”

The Ferrous Corp troops confront the miners. ONE makes one last ditch effort to head off the coming conflict. And FOUR proves what he said to THREE earlier on the marauder. The sword IS faster than the gun. At least in this case.

Before

And After

This was a complicated battle sequence that changed from the script stage. In the initial concept, the Ferrous Corp Officer draws his gun and turns to face them – but FOUR is lightning fast, drawing, slashing, and sheathing his sword in the blink of an eye. The officer turns, stunned. A red line forms across the base of his neck and his head slides off. The second it hits the ground – all hell breaks loose! FOUR uses the decapitated corpse as a shield while the others draw their guns.

Walk it off, buddy. Walk it off.

1st AD Brandon Tataryn trying to get that head arc just right…

That is one amazing dummy head!

Deleted shot

P.S. Anyone catch this quick shot of THREE covering ONE as it all goes down? Now that’s a team player!

In the end, the sequence proved overly ambitious but we saved the decapitation thanks to our VFX team. The officer draws, FOUR slashes and, as the officer spins, you can see his head begin to rotate off his neck.

Corporate guards on standby

Hey, buddy, no lying about. We’ve got a scene to shoot.

Stunt coordinator John Stead giving everyone their marching orders.

Action star Roger Cross…in action!

Another thing to note during this gunfight is the moment when one of the miners gets the drop on a Ferrous Corp guard and shoots him – to no effect. These soldiers were prepared for the miners antiquated weapons – but didn’t count on the firepower our crew carries.

4) “So, do either of you possess offspring?”

FIVE gives his FOUR a helping hand.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, the ladies entertain. TWO tells FIVE to make herself scarce and she does, hiding out in the ship’s maze-like vent system. But being the curious sort, she does some exploring – and ends up in FOUR’s quarters where she helps herself to that puzzle box he found back in episode #101. While she busies herself trying to solve it…

The Android attempts small talk with the Ferrous Corp escort. What makes this exchange so brilliant is Zoie Palmer’s delivery – AND the way she drops her gaze at the end of the shot, making the awkwardness all that more palpable.

TWO has a sit down with the Commander of the FCS Deliverance played by the terrific David Richmond-Peck (who I last worked with eight years ago on an episode of Stargate: Atlantis called “Harmony”, coincidentally the last time I worked with Jodelle Ferland as well). He makes her a deal. She seems to consider it…

P.S. Melissa O’Neil’s delivery of “How much?” at the end of the scene makes me NOT want to EVER play poker with her.

More tomorrow. For now, I leave you with some great Dark Matter-related links to check out: