Tag: Col. Young

Stargate Universe’s costume designer Valerie Halverson shares a revealing behind-the-scenes story about the first-season episode “Space,” in which Dr. Rush and Chloe Armstrong (played by Elyse Levesque) are prisoners on an alien ship. To complicate matters, Col. Young arrives on the ship and also turns into an alien. But not all of the effects were as high-tech as you might think. Halverson revealed to VIP Fan Blog: “The greatest challenge was when Col. Young was using the stones and became an alien. The director, Andy Mikita, wanted to do that in one shot, so I had to devise a way to change Col. Young from his Icarus uniform into an alien without cutting the take. What we had to do in the end was build a full Icarus uniform for Col. Young with Velcro down the back and on the sleeves as he was going to have to hide the bony gauntlets of the alien costume. Two of my team stood behind Col. Young, holding him steady, and as he reacted to the stones we ripped his costume off. Any movement is barely noticeable and his alien costume was revealed underneath. Quite an accomplishment for all concerned!” Right now, the costume she wore on-screen aboard the alien ship – including gauntlets and re-breather equipment – in the episode by Chloe is available at VIP Fan Auctions. Check out the details and additional photos of the amazing piece of wardrobe (as well as other eye-popping Stargate Universe wardrobe items) and place your bid today!

Stargate fan Claire Cowan’s quest to fit into a uniform once worn on-screen by actress Amanda Tapping – who played Col. Samantha Carter on Stargate Universe, Atlantis and SG-1 that she purchased several years ago. Cowan, 45, reportedly vowed to slim down to fit into the uniform. “The costume was made to measure for Amanda but I couldn’t fit into it, so I decided to lose weight to get into it,” she told London’s Daily Record. “I would sit on my exercise bike watching box sets of Stargate. That was my motivation.” Now you can also own a piece of your favorite Stargate star’s wardrobe thanks to VIP Fan Auctions – including the Icarus suit worn by Col. Young (played by Louis Ferreria), a military uniform worn by Eli Wallace (David Blue) – and the flight suit worn by Col. Carter (Amanda Tapping) in SGU’s first season episode “Incursion” part 1. And in case you’re thinking of starting your own Stargate exercise regimen, wardrobe sizes and other information are listed at VIP Fan Auctions!

For all of the amazing stories and effects fans saw on-screen during Stargate Universe, there was also a lot of action off camera. In the exclusive VIP Fan Blog interview excerpt below, Stargate Universe’s costume designer Valerie Halverson shares one of the more memorable behind-the-scenes secrets!

Valerie Halverson: Dr. Rush was left for dead in “Justice” (SGU episode  #110) and we learn he was discovered by aliens. When we come upon him in “Space” (episode #111), he is on another ship and in an alien costume (pictured above). We learn that Chloe is also a prisoner and in the same costume, and as Col. Young arrives on the ship, he is in the same alien suit.

The alien was designed by our production designer, James Robbins, and our visual effects supervisor, Mark Savela. Once that was approved, I had to make the costume. Working with Gord Bellamy of the Model Shop, we came up with the look that you saw on the episode.

The greatest challenge was when Col. Young was using the stones and became an alien. The director, Andy Mikita, wanted to do that in one shot, so I had to devise a way to change Col. Young from his Icarus uniform into an alien without cutting the take. What we had to do in the end was build a full Icarus uniform for Col. Young with Velcro down the back and on the sleeves as he was going to have to hide the bony gauntlets of the alien costume. Two of my team stood behind Col. Young, holding him steady, and as he reacted to the stones we ripped his costume off. Any movement is barely noticeable and his Alien costume was revealed underneath. Quite an accomplishment for all concerned!

Check out a uniform worn on-screen in Season Two’s “Aftermath” (episode  #202) by Col. Young as well as Chloe’s alien suit from Season One’s “Space” (episode 111) at VIP Fan Auctions. But hurry – these auctions end soon!