After a minor interruption, the "Caprica"
countdown continues with just three days left until the pilot re-airs and
reaquaints viewers with the characters and quirks of the Syfy show. We're
coming back strong too, posting a conversation with executive
producer/writer/whatever's-needed guy David Eick. Before that, a quick
introduction to another of the 12 Colonies: Leonis.
Two major landmasses differentiate this
beautiful colony, ideal for a variety of outdoor activities thanks to its
predictable climate. Leonans are an overambitious and wealthy society that
is increasingly isolationist and even xenophobic, making modern Leonan
democracy and inter-colony relations deeply troubled.
And now, on to Mr. Eick and his thoughts on the optimistic,
technologically enhanced culture of Caprica.
So how long ago did the idea for "Caprica" actually come about?
The first time that myself, Ron Moore and Remi Aubuchon got together to
discuss it was was five years ago. It's crazy cause it doesn't seem that long.
Ron and I came from these franchises that had spawned offspring. In Ron's case
it was "Star Trek" and in mine it was the "Hercules"/"Xena" world. At some
point during the second season of "Battlestar," we started kicking around the
idea of another story rooted in this world. We started kicking around the idea
of a more human-based, terrestrial-based soap opera with a sci-fi undertone
that would take place in the years before the events that were depicting in "Battlestar."
In affect, it would be Dallas where the McGuffin would be artificial
intelligence instead of oil.
We had a general conversation with execs at Universal, then we tabled it as we
continued to make "Battlestar." We got a call from those execs some time later
and they said that at some point in time they heard a pitch from Remi Aubuchon
that they felt crossed paths in many ways with what we'd talked about for our
"Battlestar" prequel. It just made sense to Ron and I to have another partner
since we were so into just making "Battlestar" at the time. So we sat down
with Remi and started to hammer out where this spinoff would be. So I don't really need to ask if it was a harder sell than the original 'reimagined'
"Battlestar" premise?
Our reimagined "Battlestar" premise was held back by a couple of things at
different stages. One was title, which was a blessing and a curse. It opened
certain doors, but there's a whole contingent ... who would not watch a show
called "Battlestar Galactica" no matter how many trophies you win. And Bonnie
Hammer said to me, 'You're gonna have to explain to me again when you come in
to pitch this why the world needs another space opera.' And I think we did.
In this case, we had a leg up, you could say. We were coming at the "Battlestar"
mythos at what did not feel like a lot of other shows. As unique as "Battlestar"
is, it's still easy to lump it in with "Stargate" and "Star Trek" and
"Andromeda" and I can't even name them all. Whereas with "Caprica" I think
we're operating in very unique territory. So, what were your fears going into production?
Fears? Well, I think that we got really, really lucky with "Battlestar" in one
respect and that was the cast. We had Oscar nominees and really accomplished
actors and young actors who were doing if not their first thing then their
second thing, all side-by-side. So whether or not that was going to hold
together and gel to create a long-running series was always a risk. And when
it happened the way that it did -- I can't tell you the number of actors that
we cast out of local Vancouver dinner theater who, two or three years later we
were writing entire arcs around. But they were so good and so reliable that
we knew we could go in a variety of different places that we may have never
intended or expected. Certainly coming back to another emsemble show, you just
wonder how or if lightning can strike twice. And I have to say, I think we
got lucky. I think between your critically acclaimed actors like Polly Walker
and Eric Stoltz and Esai Morales to your younger actors who American audiences
may not have seen much of before with Alessandra [Torresani] and Magda [Apanowicz].
I think that once again, we can look to side stories. Sasha Roiz, who plays
Sam Adama, is Caprica's answer to Tahmoh Pennikett or Katee Sackhoff or
Jaimie Bamber. People who really hadn't been established, but in very short
order, we found ourselves writing around.
Counting down until the Jan.
22 premiere of "Caprica," we take a look at a man who has helped shape the
mood and tone of the "Battlestar Galactica" universe as much as anyone
acting, lighting, writing or directing an episode: composer and musician
Bear McCreary. His arrangements bring huge crowds of not only "BSG" fans but
also general music fans out to concert venues around the country.
Hard-core fans realize the intricacy with
which McCreary crafts tunes, creating themes for characters that define who
they are, and even who they will be. The young accordion player (among other
things) turns 31 soon, making him an Aquarius (or right on the cusp). And that
transitions into our latest description of another planet making up the 12
Colonies, Aquarion:
A frigid ocean world, Aquarion functions
as little more than a scientific research outpost to the rest of the
colonies. There are small landmasses, usually volcanic, and there are native
communities, both small and tolerant enough to effectively use a unique
communal governing system.
And "unique" takes us back to McCreary. I
saw the maestro play a
concert in 2009 down the street from the Los Angeles Times building in
downtown L.A. I felt like a final five cylon following the melodic sounds to
the venue. The crowd assembled was the opposite of intimate, but the communal
mood was palpable as McCreary and the band played to a raucous audience.
That's where we begin our interview. Doesn't seem like a lot of composers command the types of crowds and
adulation you do. How are you handling that?
It's interesting 'cause that side of my musical life is not something that I
ever pursued actively. I didn't become a TV and film composer because I wanted
to play sold-out rock concerts, but that's what's ended up happening. And it's
fun. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play the music that means so much to
those people, and to me, live in a concert setting with all of the musicians
that I work with in the studio. And it's an extraordinary chance for the fans
to not only see it live, but to see it performed by the same men and women who
play it on the series. It's very different than seeing something in the
Hollywood Bowl conducted by a composer or a guest artist 'cause these are the
exact same artists who play it on the series.
The much anticipated Battlestar Galactica
follow-up
Caprica is set to debut on SPACE Friday night. As you may
have heard, it rewinds viewers 58 years before the Cylons destroyed
the 12 Colonies and set into motion the epic events of the hugely
popular BSG. This prequel is set on (spoiler alert!)
Caprica and it promises to explore the origin of the Cylons and
the life and times of the Old Man’s old man. Still very much in the
realm of science fiction, Caprica is the family saga of the
Adamas and the Graystones – two families that become intertwined after
a tragic terrorist attack. It promises to be a drama focusing largely
on relationships, personal demons and political turmoil – all set
against the backdrop of a future (or is it historical?) world.
The burning question on every frakkin’ BSG fan’s mind is
whether these new characters, new situations and the practically
unknown world of pre-Fall Caprica can recapture the magic of the
original. Can a prequel hold the interest of an audience when they all
know what will happen in the end?
Star Wars may be our greatest touchstone when it comes to
discussing prequels, and if George Lucas’ prequel trilogy is anything
to go by, things might not bode well for Caprica. While the
new Star Wars movies interested millions who wanted to see
how Skywalker the Elder became Skywalker the Darth, the films suffered
horribly in execution with disinterested scripts, wooden acting and
cheap, childish sight gags. That said, viewers still tune in every
week to understand more about how Clark Kent became Superman on
Smallville.
So perhaps the curiosity in prequels is there, but their success comes
down to the way the backstory is told – for every awful Dumb and
Dumberer or Hannibal Rising, there’s a solid Red Dragon
or even a brilliant Godfather Part II. Thankfully,
Caprica boasts a top-notch cast (including solid lead actor Eric
Stoltz) and the strong point of BSG was always its mature,
nuanced writing. If these qualities can carry over to Caprica,
my hunch is that the interest will follow suit.
What do you think? Is Caprica a non-starter for you? Or can
you not wait to explore the rise of the Cylons and the history of the
Adamas?
Today we're continuing the "Caprica" countdown to the show's Jan. 22
premiere on Syfy with actor Sasha Roiz, who plays Sam Adama (brother to
Joseph and uncle to William).
Roiz has gotten a lot of questions about
what "Battlestar Galactica" fans can look forward to, so we address them
here before we even get to the Q&A. First off, he says that fans already
familiar with the style of "BSG" will watch it and be able to appreciate it
even more on a secondary level, but should "leave 'BSG' at the door." He
understands the loyalty, but believes that "there's always gotta be room for
some sort of evolution and creativity. We always want to push the
boundaries."
Sam is a Tauron loyalist, as we'll come to
find out, so what better 12-Colony world to describe before talking to the
actor who plays him than Tauron. Here's a quick planetary guide:
A red, arid planet, Tauron is home to a
culture of great tradition. Its surface soil grants no favors, so all
agriculture is hard won; something seen by the pride in its people. Family
and honor are placed above all else in life, until you can finally be at
rest and 'return to the soil.'
And on to Sasha Roiz, starting with what I
thought would be a curveball. He hit it anyway.
How's it feel to be a Tauron
assassin?
Interesting question. Well it feels really great that they've imbued this
character with so many dynamic elements. It's not just a cookie cutter
monster; he's got so many complexities to him that it's just a joy to play
him.
What's the relationship like between Joseph and Sam?
At the beginning of the series, it's relatively strained. Obviously, the
circumstances of the tragedy exacerbate the difficulties that the brothers
had, and the brothers have a very different opinion of the world that they
live in. Joseph is someone who's been trying to assimilate into the Caprican
life while Sam is steadfast in staying loyal to Tauron and the Tauron
community and has absolutely no interest in assimilating into the Caprican
world. So those differences sort of come to a head, especially in the
aftermath of the bombing and the loss of his wife and daughter.
The Ha'la'tha seems like a "Godfather" or yakuza type of
organization. Where did you get your influences?
Yeah, it is of sorts. It's very much an ethnic organization not unlike what
you said; it's kind of like a mafia or Yakuza. It's very similar to the way
other mobs were formed in our world, say a century ago. When Italian and
Irish and Jewish immigrants came over and were ghettoized and treated as
second-class citizens, they formed organizations to protect themselves and
their own ways of life and enforce their own laws. The Ha'la'tha have
created a community and a life and a force on Caprica, and Sam's a soldier
in that organization.
Sam Adama the role model ... is this all that good for for his
nephew Willie, the future Admiral William Adama?
Ha! Well, Sam thinks so and has no doubts about it. Like I said, it's a very
difficult time for the family, and Joseph's focus begins to spin a little
bit out of control as he starts to chase after this avatar of Tamara [Adama,
his deceased daughter] and he leaves Willie behind. So this is where Sam
comes in almost as a surrogate and starts to raise this young boy. Sam
always feels like the kid needs more Tauron influence, and along with that
is a certain pride and strength that he wants to imbue in Willie.
Were you a "Battlestar" fan before getting the role?
Well, I wasn't a "Battlestar" fan, but I had a lot of respect for the show.
I had a lot of friends who worked on the show and I had seen a few episodes.
but i was more attracted to it from afar from the respect and awards it had
received to the loyal viewership that it had. That piqued my interest a lot
when the opportunity for "Caprica" arose. Subsequently, I have been watching
a lot [of "BSG"] and I like it very much, but I didn't come into it as a
fan.
So, the aftermath of how Willie becomes the admiral isn't a factor
in how you approach the role of uncle?
Well, and I can't speak for the entire cast, but there isn't a general
feeling of obligation to connecting those dots. I think we leave that to the
writers and the creators, and I'm sure they'll do a great job with it, but
we just sort of focus on our characters and the world that we live in. We
don't really feel a lot of pressure to bring "Battlestar" into this. It
works on its own.
How would you describe the style and tone of "Caprica?"
I guess there's a sense of foreboding. Even when I'm in it or when I'm
watching some of the cuts that we have or the lighting, and the music,
there's the sense that something ominous is coming. I love that mood. It
brings an intensity to the show. And that being said, we have moments of
lightness and laughter and love, but there's definitely an intensity that I
love.
You mentioned laughs, and I think that Sam provides that levity a
bit, even though he's not 'the funny guy'...
Yeah. It's interesting that you say that. It does come out a bit. Sam's just
this character that's, in a way, so removed in the way he lives his life and
the way that he perceives the world around him that there's just no room for
any argument. Especially when you watch him and Willie together. You take
this intense character and throw in a little kid, and to watch them interact
is sort of amusing.
Because he's so rooted in his Tauron background, and I don't want to
get too spoilery, but does he get to go back to Tauron, and was it what you
as the actor thought it would look like?
I'm not sure if I can address that directly, but as the series unfolds,
there is more and more detail about the background of Joseph and Sam, and
the tragedy that they come from. They came out of the civil war on Tauron
and everything that leads to that. They came over to Caprica as orphans.
Being raised in the Ha'la'tha, all of that is sort of an extension of the
tragedy they lived through in life. At one point we will see flashbacks to
them when they were younger, and we will unfold the story of the tragedy
itself. It's a great episode.
Though he's a real free-spirit on Caprica, is there anything that
Sam does in future episodes that surprises you?
I would say absolutely. There comes a point where he questions certain
loyalties that he has. It's going to be really interesting to see what kind
of choices he makes. I mean, this whole show is about choices, which is just
a reflection of life. I mean life is all about choices, and we're all faces
with difficult choices at some point in the show. From there, we sort of
springboard into this wonderful, crazy and fascinating storylines that are
going to be a lot of fun to watch.
Caprica star
Alessandra Torresani plays Zoe in Syfy's upcoming Battlestar Galactica
prequel series Caprica. Actually, she plays five different
versions of the character, the daughter of industrialist Daniel Graystone
(Eric Stoltz). (Spoilers ahead!)
In the show—which premieres Jan. 22 and
airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT—Daniel Graystone is a computer engineering
genius and owns a large corporation that is spearheading the development of
artificial intelligence. His unwavering professional pursuits are driven to
extreme measures when personal tragedy strikes him and his wife, Amanda
(Paula Malcomson), as their strong-willed daughter, Zoe (Torresani), dies in
a terrorist bombing fueled by an underground religious dogma. Unbeknownst to
her parents, the teenager had also been dabbling in these radical teachings,
which were secretly propagated by her school's headmistress, Sister Clarice
Willow (Polly Walker).
"I've done a scene where I play three
characters in one," Torresani said. "Season 1.5, the second half, third
episode into it. Besides just that, I get to play five completely different
characters, which is not like any female 16-year-old show character that
I've ever seen before in my life."
