We've noticed that there are quite a number of "V" fans who have continued to stop by Visitors Among Us and, recognizing that they've been coming back to the same material that has been posted for quite some time, we will begin providing new updates, previously unreleased interviews and much more on a regular basis in the very near future. If this is of interest, please offer your comments and let us know what types of things you'd like to see. Thanks. — Visitor Ed
August 25, 2011
August 20, 2011
February 24, 2010
NEW "V" PROMO IMAGE
With "V" returning to ABC on March 30th, the network has released this new (and very cool) promotional image featuring Morena Baccarin's Anna and Elizabeth Mitchell's Erica Evans.
February 17, 2010
DAVID PACKER TALKS "V": THEN & NOW
Ilana's "V" site recently posted a candid interview with David Packer, who played Daniel Bernstein in the two "V" miniseries. Among the many things discussed was David's reason for leaving the franchise with The Final Battle. "I decided I didn't want to be under contract for a long period of time, because the network usually makes a decision in early May regarding which shows to pick up. Everybody else's contract, which they negotiated a little later, went until the end of the year. Since the original miniseries went on in early May and the numbers were really good, theoretically the network should have given the 'go' [for a series] but they were concerned about the cost. Based on the opening excitement of 'V', that was the right time to do it; it creates momentum. So by May 5th, the network's job is to get the affiliates enthusiastic, which they were. These were the highest ratings that NBC had gotten for a non-sporting event in years. But the show was very expensive and they decided to wait. At the last second, they took "V' off the fall schedule. Assuming they had until the end of the year to make the decision, because everyone was under contract, they later made the decision to try a second pilot, which turned out to be 'V': The Final Battle and discovered that I was no longer under contract.
"I was so about the art of it," he adds, "and didn't really understand about the business end. I put my heart into it. After Ken Johnson left the show, I just did The Final Battle because I felt I owed it the story. I asked for them to write me out because, technically, I was not under any contractual obligation. Back then I had no understanding that business realities don't necessarily go hand in hand with artistic items. I regret not making the business decision to stick with the show; I would own a house in Laurel Canyon. You know it's funny, I was so caught up in what Ken was trying to accomplish, I had no understanding back then how huge the show was with the public."
For the rest of this interview, click HERE.
November 28, 2009
EXCLUSIVE: "V" EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SCOTT ROSENBAUM SAYS SERIES IS NOT ABOUT OBAMA
As envisioned by Kenneth Johnson, "V" in its original incarnation served as an allegory of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. As to the new version of the show, executive producer Scott Peters and departing executive producer Jeffrey Bell have said if it can be viewed as a parable to life in America post-9/11 with themes of terrorism and not truly knowing who your neighbors are. Many in the media have taken to the idea that the show is an attack on the Obama administration.
As to what allegory the show may be addressing, new executive producer/showrunner Scott Rosenbaum notes, "I'd rather not be too specific. I might answer that later, but if it's an allegory for anything, I might just say it's an allegory for the human condition. That's very vague, but I want people to watch it and make that choice. By the way, I'm not just doing this show because I have a message to tell. I'm just telling what I think is the most interesting story. Yes, there is a worldview, and is my opinion on humanity going to be influencing it a little bit? Yes. I will say this, it's not necessarily a political statement, and I don't think it's an attack on anyone.
"You watch and everyone is going to have a different opinion on it," he continues. "And by the way, even if I was anti-Obama, and I'm not, I would be a fool to be judgmental about his administration this early on. The man deserves an opportunity to implement what he's trying to do. I don't know if it's going to work -- I understand why some people are concerned -- but the idea of judging him this early, and reacting so strongly, isn't fair. I wouldn't do that to a Democratic President, I wouldn't do that to a Republican president, I wouldn't do that to anybody. I think you should give people a chance to do their job. So the answer is no. But the fun of it is, is that hopefullypeople will read into things. The truth is, a Republican or Democrat could look at the show and the Republican could say it's about Obama, and the Democrat could say it's about the Bush administration. People see it the way they want to. I do think there are some truths in there, but it remains to be seen what they are."
November 25, 2009
November 24, 2009
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SCOTT ROSENBAUM ON THE RETURN OF "V" IN MARCH
Our sister site's exclusive interview with new "V" executive producer Scott Rosenbaum continues over at SCIFITVZONE.COM. In this installment he discusses the reasons the show will stop airing after tonight's episode, and why holding off until March for the series' return is actually a good thing. For the interview, just click HERE.
November 18, 2009
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: NEW "V" SHOWRUNNER SCOTT ROSENBAUM
It was recently announced that former Chuck executive producer Scott Rosenbaum had been named as the new showrunner of "V". Our sister site, SciFi TV Zone.com, has secured what looks to be the first interview with Rosenbaum about the show. To access it, just click on the image below:
November 17, 2009
"V": THE SUMMIT - AN ORIGINAL COMIC STORY
The passion among fans of "V" runs deep, a point evidenced by the creation of the following original comic book story written exclusively for this site. As to the story's genesis, writer John T. Caliber explains, "The title of htis short story is 'The Summit.' I had it dashed out in my notebook for years, intending one day to use it as the basis of a 'V' comic book mini-series I would have both written and illustrated. When Ed gave me the oppotunity to scrpt a 'V' one-shot for Visitors Among Us, I decided to salvage the old title and see what might in response spring from my imagination. The original 'The Summit' comic book mini-series' premise was grand, breathtaking, something only achievable with a comic strip's unlimited budget. Ironically, the version to finally adopt the title is a relatively intimate affair, an enjoyable novelty." The art for the final version of "The Summit" was done by artist extraordinaire Pat Carbajal.
Once you've had a chance to check out "The Summit," please provide feedback and let us know if you'd be interested in seeing more original "V" tales.
Continue reading ""V": THE SUMMIT - AN ORIGINAL COMIC STORY" »
VISITOR/HUMAN ROMANCE?
E! Online.com's "Watch With Kristin" column had a very intriguing "V" question that was raised:
DANIELLE IN SEATTLE: Are you liking "V" as much as I am? It's so much fun seeing Scott Wolf back on my TV every week!
KRISTIN: Just wait until Lost returns, and we'll have Scott Wolf Tuesdays and Mathew Fox Wednesdays—it's going to be like Party of Five all over again! And we love 'V', especially Morena Baccarin as the otherworldly Anna. We just chatted with her and learned that a romance might be a brewin' between Anna and Chad, but it's a slow go of it. "We haven't established any boundaries, but it's kind of a cat and mouse game," Morena tells us.
November 13, 2009
November 12, 2009
November 11, 2009
"V": EPISODE TWO RATINGS
Given the hype surrounding its debut, it's perfectly understandable why the premiere of "V" drew such high ratings last week. Episode two, however, dropped 29% from a week ago, which, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is the highest drop from a scripted premiere that has been seen so far this season. Notes the Reporter, "Driven by 1980s nostalgia and plenty of marketing, viewer curiosity ran high for the debut -- a pattern we've seen in recent years for network remakes of Knight Rider, 90210 and American Gladiators. Tuesday night's decline, therefore, was not exactly surprising ... yet it was pretty steep. The second 'V' hour was seen by 10.6 million viewers and drew a 3.7 preliminary rating among adults 18-49... The rating is still a successful number for a freshman drama. If 'V' can remain anywhere close to this neighborhood, the show will be fine."
EPISODE 1.02, "THERE IS NO NORMAL ANYMORE": REVIEWS
REVIEWS: EPISODE 1.02, "THERE IS NO NORMAL ANYMORE"
FILM SCHOOL REJECTS:
Excerpts:
"... Episode two of V is a marvel of mediocrity. While it never achieves the levels of drek found in the pilot, it also makes no visible improvements whatsoever. V is still dry and tepid with little to no understanding of suspense or drama. It pretends to, it wears the skin of an exciting, compelling series, but we are not fooled...The biggest problem that stands out to me with episode two, and honestly a big problem with the pilot, is the balance. In the first episode, the issue was striking a balance between inciting action and exposition. The aliens arrive and the emphasis becomes how these characters’ lives have changed before the audience has any concept of what that life used to be. In this episode, the balance problems have to do with the pre-commercial 'punches'. These are the moments typically reserved for either startling revelations or moments of foreboding intrigue, but episode two offers very little revelation at all. For all the things we learned right at the end of the pilot, you would imagine some startling truth would surface in episode two, right? Well, the aliens can hack 911. That’s…something.... I desperately want this show to hit its stride, but at this point I would settle for an upgrade to average. The sophomore episode of V offers very little in the way of new information and the biggest conflict of the episode is largely fought offscreen: the visitors trying to obtain diplomatic relations with the United States and getting issued visas. There is actually a totally predictable twist at the end of this one, but I wouldn’t want to spoil what you will all figure out from minute five. The acting is still piss poor and the imbalance of surprises makes for clunky story progression. Here’s hoping episode three gives us something to sing about."
LA TIMES
Excerpts:
Like "Battlestar Galactica," "V" imagines a world where no one is quite what they seem, where everyone you encounter — whether stranger, lover, co-worker — could be an enemy. After all, when the enemy you're fighting looks just like you, how can you tell your friends from your foes?... It's in this mind-set that we find Erica Evans and Father Jack Landry. After witnessing the truth of the Visitors in last week's pilot episode, they are thrust into a world where they can trust no one but themselves ... and even that seems hard for Erica and Jack to pull off. It's an instinct that seems more or less ingrained in Erica. She's been betrayed by not one but three men in her life (more on this in a bit), which could perhaps explain the chemistry she shares with Father Jack. It's an attraction that can never be reciprocated, never be consummated, and it's incredibly safe for a woman who has had her heart broken several times already. If only she knew that her son Tyler was lying right to her face... I thought Elizabeth Mitchell played her anguish at Dale's betrayal beautifully, as well as her frustration with Father Jack for doing the right thing and attempting to upset the apple cart. Her fleeting nightmare — that Dale had returned to take Tyler hostage — was unnerving and palpably felt, even if it was clear that it was in her mind. Erica is smart to keep what she knows a secret for now and to be suspicious of the members of the FBI Visitor Threat Assessment Joint Task Force (even Jack admits that's a "mouthful"); there's no telling how far the Visitor infiltration has gone. I even suspect the older priest at Jack's church of being a Visitor... Which could be a problem for Jack, who is far more concerned with doing the right thing than keeping his head. He was right to question the Visitors' intentions and the so-called divine plan for them, but he's far too altruistic and myopic about his own actions and his involvement.... It's clear that the Visitors' reach is quite long... Loved Anna's wardrobe selection scene. Morena Baccarin plays the sultry high commander pitch perfectly, and her performance this week was fantastic as she conveyed Anna's confidence in the master plan (see: kimono) and her vexation with Chad Decker after he ambushes them. I'm curious to see just how dirty Anna is willing to get her hands. She didn't turn up to witness the torture of the human prisoner they took from the warehouse. Is she the sort of high commander who leaves dirty work to those beneath her? Or is she even more dangerous than she seems?..."
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Showmescifi.com: The second episode of ABC’s V was another really great episode. The key character is really shaping up to be FBI Agent Erica Evans played by actress Elizabeth Mitchell... We think that Agent Erica will end up leading the human resistance overall, she’s got what it takes... Overall, the sophistication of the series so far is superb. There are so many layers to the plot that it’s clear this show has legs — so long as ABC doesn’t cut this show off at the knees.
November 10, 2009
TVGUIDE.COM INTERVIEW WITH MORENA BACCARIN
SOURCE:
TV Guide.com
DATE: November 10, 2009
EXCERPTS:
Any good qualities to the Visitors?
"Yes, absolutely. Anna is very loyal to her people; that's a good quality. I think there are Vs that have been living among humanity, so they take on some human qualities. There are parts of Anna that, depending on who you ask, can be seen as good."
"I think that the Vs are pretty good at masking to the masses, but I think that humans are very smart and they have instincts. You can tell right away there's something going on behind the surface, and it becomes more public knowledge."
Will Anna get her hands dirty?
"You mean like fighting? Not initially. I think Anna is very capable of throwing down with the best of them, but I think we want to keep her more elevated, more political, more presidential than getting down and dirty right now."
Why should people watch?
"It is not only a show that has all the exciting stuff you want to see on TV when you want to veg out. There's cool effects and action. That aside, the creep factor of a huge spaceship hovering over our major cities, gives me goose bumps when I think about it. That element and the element that anything can happen and there's characters that are all people you can relate to. On some levels you relate to Elizabeth, we all relate to Tyler, we relate to all these people who are having struggles with their lives in addition to an alien invasion. It's a show that has a little bit of everything for everybody."
ELIZABETH MITCHELL INTERVIEW IN USA TODAY
SOURCE: USA TODAY
DATE: November 10, 2009
WRITER: Arienne Thompson
EXCERPTS:
On comparing "V" to Lost:
"You can be a profoundly intelligent person and (Lost) can still confound you. (V) probably won't be as involved, but like Lost, there will be things dropped here and there, and to keep on top of that, you'll have to figure out more and more and more of it. The intentions are pretty clear pretty quickly. It's not a vague idea of what (the aliens) want. They really do want us – they're just doing it very slowly."
On Erica Evans:
"I bust loose a lot in this. The thing I loved about Juliet is that everything was just boiling away beneath the surface, and the thing that I love about Erica is that everything is just boiling away on the surface. She's quick to be irritated, she's quick to be angry, but she also has those moments of thoughtfulness, where she's studying, which I also enjoy because that's how I am as a person."
November 09, 2009
November 06, 2009
"V" IS FOR VICTORY, NOT FOR VISITORS!
"V" creator Kenneth Johnson has been pretty supportive of the new version of his concept, but it seems that one thing he can't handle is the show's designation that the letter "V" stands for Visitors, which was never his intention. Responding to a fan asking for clarification, Johnson noted on Ilana's "V" SITE:
"V has absolutely no connection to the word Visitors. V is and always has been the universal symbol of Resistance against Tyranny. I got the idea for using V as the title for my original miniseries from seeing Winston Churchill holding up his two fingers as a V in the darkest days of World War II -- and from seeing so many Nazi propaganda posters with a big red V slashed across them.
"Leonardo Cimino even states it loud and clear in my original as he says to some teenagers spraying graffiti, 'No, if you are going to do it, do it right! I'll show you!' He takes the boy's hand and guides the spray paint onto a Visitor propaganda poster into a big red V. 'You understand?' he says, very loud and clear. 'For Victory! Go tell your friends!' Anyone who has ever paid an ounce of attention to my original -- or to history -- certainly knows that. Calling the Visitors 'The Vs' is pretty silly and not only totally misses the entire point in an effort to sound psuedo-hip, but denigrates the efforts of millions of Resistance fighters, many of whom died heroically in their determination to win and preserve freedom."
ARE THE VS AN ALLEGORY OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION?
The new "V" has taken some critical hits from people who are claiming that whereas the original was an allegory of the Holocaust, the new take on the material is a thinly-veiled attack on President Obama and his adminstration -- particularly after Anna announces they want to bring humanity universal health care. However, according to Damian Penny at damianpenny.com, "Any similarities between President Obama and the aliens in ‘V’ are purely coincidental. The script was not written as a roman a clef or allegory for the Obama administration. The script was written by Scott Peters during the Bush administration and started before Mr. Obama clinched the nomination. The author, Mr. Peters, is not some evil sleeper right-winger/Obama hater. Mr. Peters, besides being a talented writer and director….is a liberal supporter of the President who worked for and donated money to his campaign. If he’s a mole for some right-wing conspiracy, he may be the most committed spy ever. Mr. Peters, who was born in Canada, recently became an American citizen; a process he tried to expediate so he could vote for Mr. Obama, a deadline he missed by two days.”
As "V" continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see what parallels to our modern day society it will address.
November 04, 2009
THE RETURN OF "V" (CRANESHOT.BLOGSPOT.COM)
This is going to be a rare exception. Generally speaking, when not running original interviews exclusive to this site,
Visitors Among Us will only excerpt articles from other sources. In this case we're reprinting the entire piece as it's a look back at the original mini-series, comparing it to the new show.
SOURCE: craneshot.blogspot.com
DATE: November 3, 2009
WRITER: Marty McKee
Seeing Kenneth Johnson’s credit as the creator of the original V on tonight’s premiere of the ABC remake reminded me of how intelligent and exciting the 1983 miniseries was. Judging just from the pilot, it doesn’t appear the new V is an improvement in any way, except perhaps the visual effects. It isn’t particularly intelligent or exciting either.
The story covered a lot of ground in 42 minutes, making the exercise feel rushed, and much of it is too difficult to swallow. Believing that New Yorkers would applaud a giant spaceship two minutes after it appeared over the city is a lot tougher to buy than the existence of extraterrestrials themselves. Scott Wolf (PARTY OF FIVE) is miscast as a television journalist, though Elizabeth Mitchell (LOST) as a strong FBI agent and particularly Morena Baccarin (FIREFLY) as Anna, the leader of the aliens, are perfectly suited to their roles.
As for the big reveal of the aliens, I actually didn't mind that it occurred so quickly, since it wasn’t a mystery to most of the audience anyway, so why treat it as one. Still, V has some problems. Scott Peters, who developed the remake, was just today fired as V’s showrunner and replaced by Scott Rosenbaum, a former executive producer of CHUCK and THE SHIELD, so it appears that ABC recognizes the flaws in the show’s early episodes and are trying to correct them. But will it be in time?
Looking back to the four-hour NBC miniseries that aired in 1983, it stands out as an ambitious, sprawling exercise that was, at the time, the most expensive miniseries ever made. The visual effects alone, which include mattes, miniatures, and animation, cost over a million dollars. Originally penned by Johnson (THE INCREDIBLE HULK) as a cautionary tale of an American takeover by hostile forces from within, he rethought the concept after suggestions from NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff, and turned it into a science fiction fable of epic proportions.
Johnson's plot involves the Visitors, seemingly friendly aliens from another planet who arrive on Earth in dozens of gigantic motherships that hover over most of the world's major cities, including Los Angeles. Led by their Supreme Commander, who calls himself John (T.J. HOOKER boss Richard Herd), and his comely assistant Diana (Jane Badler), the Visitors “come in peace" to ask for our help in creating a chemical that they need to survive. In exchange, they'll provide us with medical and scientific knowledge far beyond what we already know.
While most of the world welcomes our new friends with open arms—and even into their homes—some, such as maverick news photographer Mike Donovan (Marc Singer), are wary. Their suspicions prove to be correct when the Visitors begin kidnapping Earth's greatest scientific minds, manipulating the media and imposing martial law.
To investigate, Donovan sneaks aboard the mothership hovering over L.A., where he discovers that the humanlike Visitors are actually reptilian creatures in disguise and that they're kidnapping Earth's population to use as food! Joining up with a small army of resistance fighters led by biochemist Juliet Parrish (Faye Grant, just off THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO), Donovan uses his journalistic instincts and friendly sources behind enemy lines to battle the Visitors' reign and, hopefully, rescue his son, who's one of the aliens’ victims.
V contains nearly sixty speaking parts, and it's interesting how Johnson has tied the characters’ plights and relationships together. The story bounces around from family to family, showing how the lives of ordinary Americans have been affected by the Visitors' arrival. Since V is obviously a not-so-subtle nod to the way in which Hitler and the Nazis were able to take over Europe in the '30s, one middle-class family is Jewish, including a suspicious patriarchal Holocaust survivor, who tries to hide a scientist's family in his pool house Anne Frank-style, and his disenfranchised grandson, who is seduced by the Visitors and becomes an informer for them.
Although four hours in length (with commercial interruptions), V doesn't feel padded at all, and, in fact, was followed a year later by a six-hour sequel and then nineteen episodes of a weekly series. Carefully mixing social commentary, preachy skepticism, and healthy doses of good old-fashioned action and adventure, writer/director Johnson has created a fascinating "what if" scenario that still holds its power nearly thirty years later, even after projects that were clearly heavily influenced by V, including INDEPENDENCE DAY, which lifted its big-money shots of huge, saucer-shaped motherships hovering over Washington D.C. directly from V.
Continue reading "THE RETURN OF "V" (CRANESHOT.BLOGSPOT.COM)" »
ABC.COM TO OFFER "V" PILOT WITH COMMENTARY
Dedicated to expanding its network and channel brands across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite shows anytime and anywhere, Disney/ABC Television Group will unveil ABC Social: Episode Commentary, a new feature of ABC.com's Full Episode Player integrated with Facebook Connect, which allows online viewers to create their own commentary tracks to ABC episodes and share the experience with friends. The new Episode Commentary will be available beginning this Saturday, November 7, for the first episode of ABC's new series "V," and will feature expert commentary from "V" executive producers Scott Peters and Steve Pearlman. This new feature will roll out across other series on ABC.com over the coming weeks.
"ABC Social: Episode Commentary is great example of how we are continually pushing the envelope to create 'what's next' and use our digital platforms to further engage the core fans of our series," said Alexis Rapo, vice president, Digital Media, ABCEntertainment. "Now online viewers at ABC.com can not only take part in a world class viewing experience, but also engage with show experts' and share their own viewer-created commentaries seamlessly within our player the result is a rich, social experience that can only be found on our site."
Expert commentary featured in the Full Episode Player will vary from episode to episode and may include insights from a series' producers, writers and directors, stars of the series, production and costume designers, music supervisors and network executives, among others.
To create and share their own fan commentary tracks, participants can go to ABC.com and log on using their Facebook account. As they view an episode in Commentary Mode, they can simultaneously add their own comments and read expert commentary, as well as see comments from their Facebook friends. Actions taken on ABC.com will be shared in the viewer's Facebook stream, alerting friends to view the episode online and add their own comments.
As the online home of the ABC Television Network, ABC.com is dedicated to providing users with innovative ways to experience their favorite shows. In addition to the Emmy & Webby Award-winning ABC Full Episode Player, the site also offers the viewers of ABC's hit series everything from games, blogs, community forums, photos and downloadables to new ABC Music Lounge and the ABC Store which provides fans access to a wide variety of unique ABC-related merchandise. ABC.com is available anytime, anywhere on mobile devices at m.abc.com.
ELIZABETH MITCHELL & MORENA BACCARIN INTERVIEWED AT SIDEREEL.COM
SOURCE: Sidereel.com
DATE: November 4, 2009
AUTHOR: maxqt
EXCERPTS:
Elizabeth Mitchell: [On Publicity]: "It's worth it. Most of the time, you want to build the hype so something less than adequate can be put out there and people will swallow it. But in this particular case, we're like, 'Just watch it!' That's all we really want you to do is actually just turn on your television and watch it, because then you'll want to watch the next one. You're going to think it's good. Otherwise, I wouldn't be out here saying, 'It's really good!'"
Morena Baccarin: "I think Diana's a lot more evil. It's a very different character. It's a different show. Anna I think strides that line between good and evil a little bit more.... That being said, I think Anna definitely wants to call the shots. Anna is the leader of the Visitors, so she's the one and calling the shots and figuring out what needs to happen in order for them to get what they want. [But] It would be wrong to play her as this misogynistic leader that just demands what she does of people. I think one of the wonderful things that the writers have given me with Anna is a nurturing personality. Somebody that has the well being of other people in mind. She doesn't take s**t, but at the same time, she's a nurturing leader."
RATINGS "V"ICTORY
The Hollywood Reporter.com is stating that ABC's massive marketing of "V" paid off - big time. The premiere episode of the series, based on overnight ratings (which could change based on national numbers), was seen by 13.9 million people, and its rating among adults 18-49 was the highest of the night, even beating CBS powerhouse NCIS. "That's the biggest scripted series premiere rating for a freshman show this fall," offers the story. The real question ABC is asking is how many of those people will return next week? Let's hope the audience stays with the show.
November 03, 2009
"V": THE ZOIC POINT OF VIEW
Zoic Studios, the visual effects house behind "V", has launched its own website over at www.idesignyoureyes.com, which features an inside look at the effects work done on the "V" pilot.
EXCERPTS: "Zoic is handling all of the visual effects for 'V', under the oversight of creative director and VFX supervisor Andrew Orloff (FlashForward, Fringe, CSI)," offers the site, "and visual effects producer Karen Czukerberg (Eleventh Hour). Work on the pilot was split between Zoic’s Vancouver studio, which handled greenscreen and virtual sets, and the Los Angeles studio, where the motherships and other effects were created. Zoic began work in February 2009 on the pilot, which featured about 240 effects shots, 125 of which involved live actors shot on greenscreen in Vancouver where the series is filmed. Another three episodes now in post-production have some 400 effects shots overall, half of which involve digital compositing of actors on greenscreen."
Orloff created the mothership on his laptop, working through numerous iterations with input from Peters and Simoneau. He wanted a design that was “freaky and menacing,” and would be emotionally impactful when it made its first momentous appearance onscreen. Because the mothership itself is enormous, the 3D model used to represent it is huge and highly detailed. Zoic CG supervisor Chris Zapara (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Pathfinder) modeled the “transformation” effect, in which the ventral surface of the ship changes, causing the frightened humans below to fear an imminent attack. In fact, the ship is deploying an enormous video screen, displaying the greeting message of Visitor leader Anna (Baccarin). After many rounds of pre-visualizations, a design was chosen with large, movable panels and a grid of smaller panels arranged in a snakeskin pattern. The mothership was created in NewTek’s Lightwave 3D.
...Because the motherships are enormous, it only makes sense that they would feature enormous interior spaces. These sets would be too large to build, so half the effects shots on V involve actors filmed on a greenscreen stage with tracking markers. These virtual sets, based on Google Sketch-Up files from V‘s production designers (Ian Thomas (Fringe, The 4400) for the pilot; Stephen Geaghan (Journey to the Center of the Earth, The 4400) for later episodes), were created at Zoic’s Vancouver studio in Autodesk Maya and rendered in mental images’ mental ray.
The ship interiors were created before the related greenscreen shots were filmed. For the episodes shot after the pilot, Zoic provided the production with its new, cutting edge proprietary Zeus system, which allows filmmakers to see actors on a real-time rendered virtual set, right on the greenscreen stage. The technology is of immeasurable aid to the director of photography, crew, and especially the actors, who can see themselves interacting with the virtual set and can adjust their performances accordingly. Zeus incorporates Lightcraft Technology’s pre-visualization system.
After actors are filmed on the Vancouver greenscreen set and the show creators are happy with the pre-visualized scenes in Zeus, the data is sent south to Zoic’s Los Angeles studio, where the scenes are laid out in 3D. Then the data goes back up to Zoic in Vancouver, where the virtual set backgrounds are rendered in HD.
For much more on Zoic's efforts, click HERE.
"V" SET VISIT BY USA TODAY
SOURCE: USA Today
DATE: November 3, 2009
WRITTEN BY: Gary Levin
EXCERPTS:
Morena Baccarin on Working With Greenscreen: "You feel like you're floating a little bit, It gives you a headache after a while, staring at that green."
Scott Peters On Appeal of Concept: "There's a lot of bad news out there and it's really depressing. I thought it was a tremendous wish-fulfillment fantasy, if there was some deity that said, 'Look around, everything's going wrong, and we're going to fix it for you.' There's a lemming mentality that goes on in our humanity, and the idea of blind devotion, to me, is really fascinating. If you don't ask questions about things you have faith in, it could wind up coming back to bite you."
USA Today on the Production Shutdowns: "The pilot was well-received by advertisers and critics, but ABC's late-summer decision to start the show two months earlier than planned — in part to dodge American Idol and the broadcast of the Winter Olympics, also in Vancouver — led to script problems, which forced reshoots and a five-week production break. The first of three planned story arcs was condensed from six to four fall episodes. And the show will test viewers' loyalty with a three-month hiatus; remaining episodes won't surface until March.... In a response to the show's production problems, Peters (USA Network's The 4400) was replaced at the helm of the show by Scott Rosenbaum (Chuck, The Shield), though he is expected to stay aboard as an executive producer. 'We had a great pilot, then a couple of great episodes, but we had a disconnect on where we were going from there," says ABC Entertainment Group chief Stephen McPherson. Though no stranger to tinkering (he made extensive changes to the original Grey's Anatomy pilot), 'I hadn't had the experience of that before.' But McPherson accepts 'a little blame for rushing them.'"
Elizabeth Mitchell on the Reshoots: "They heightened it, they took it up. The idea is to make it a movie, something where we are on the edge of our seats, wondering what's going to happen."
Morena Baccarin on Anna: "I don't want to go into the land of melodrama and evil and mustache-twirling. I have to be threatening but at the same time nurturing and nice. There's something so dynamic, scary, sexy, smart; everything about her is a challenge."
