The Vancouver SCI FI Channel's Digital Media Press Tour was flat out amazing. The first set we were taken to early in the morning were the stages of “Eureka.”
Sci Fi channel’s character-based drama (with a touch of comedy) is a now a breakout hit show filming its second season.
In a nutshell, Eureka is the story of a special, small town in the general “Pacific Northwest” – a cloistered community of geniuses who get into “situations.”
Blame the secretive doings at Global Dynamics, whether it’s exploding toilets or giant body encasing bubbles, the town’s sheriff, played by Colin Ferguson tries to get to the bottom of it with stunning Sallie Richardson, the head of GD.
The overwhelming sense from the crew and the cast we met was gratitude to continue to develop and run with the story of Eureka. The cast gives juicy hints at character arcs and twists in the story for season two.
The first set we were taken to was Henry's garage, (Joe Morton). The cast reveal Henry now has an office in the new (huge!) Global Dynamics building, but his grungy garage from first season was a tinkerer’s dream, replete with salvaged tools, gadgets, retro radios, tools and Americana all artfully dressed for filming.
The art department dazzles again, with the help of many skilled set carpenters, painters, electricians, set dressers, decorators, leadmen and drapers who together have built a new two-story rotunda set for the Global Dynamics Company.
The new space will give the camera department nice tracking shots to film all those long conversations Colin and Sallie seem to wind up having.
Global Dynamics set
Delightful Neil Grayston, (Fargo), served as our personal tour guide as he took us in the (underground) Smart House, while giving us a taste and some comic relief showing off his voice-over skills as “Sarah” - the voice of the house.
The Smart House had a similar feel to it like Michael Bay’s interior sets on “The Island” in Downey Studios. Skimmed concrete, glazed and enameled concrete floors, high-tech kitchen and modernistic textures painted in cool palettes, lots of glass, and a minimalist set decoration. As with most sets, lots of Trompe-l'œil going on here.
In contrast, the sets for the Sheriff’s office and Joe’s Garage were organic and warm, the office encased in layers of wood paneling, furniture and flooring, the personal effects all homey. The garage was heaven for anyone who thirfts and collects old tools, signs, radios and arcane items.
Another warm set was the Café Diem, which was partially cordoned off and ready for a shoot later after we exited the studio.
Special FX department assistant Attila Vaski and Special FX Coordinator Tim Storvic were generous of their time too, Tim showed the various pulleys and tricks they used to make the range hood a seamless retractable prop, and the sleek refrigerator was genius and set up to dispense beer (important beverage in Canada).
Tim also showed us the mechanics of setting up the scene of the Café Diem's exploding toilet, with rigged flash paks to facilitate the bang, plus the concealed air cannons filled with Café Diem trash aimed and ready to explode over the patrons when the loo blows. (Methane gas buildup is to blame.)
The newest and most labor intensive set was Global Dynamics headquarters, where we were lead to sit down and ask questions to the panel for “Eureka.”
Have a listen: Eureka-cast-talk-new-season
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