The Production GuideScript To Screen: Seed Of Destruction
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
Page 6 of the script is an unusual production note, explaining the set construction. This would have been written by Fred Freiberger, probably in consultation with designer Keith Wilson, not by the writer John Goldsmith.
6.
HALL OF MIRRORS - Production Notes
Art Department
The irregular shaped mirrored surfaces should be slightly
tilted down and away from the open end of three-sided set.
In the walls, small areas of plain glass veiled on the
inside with fine net - this to enable camera crew to shoot
from outside the set thus maintaining concealment.
A floating piece of crystalline rock should be available
to hide the camera crew should they need to operate inside
the set. It should provide complete enclosure taking into
account that there are reflective surfaces on all sides.
Two or three reflective surfaces to be covered with perspex
to provide for break up of Hall of Mirrors toward the end
of script.
Director:
Since it is impossible for the Art Department to establish
the visuals that will be created in advance, the set must
be closely inspected and all shots closely pre-planned in
advance of shooting.
FADE OUT:
END OF THE HOOK
The first pages of Act One were replaced in the 6th July blue page amendments (expanding slightly, so pages 7 and 8 become blue pages 7, 7A and 8). The action is mostly the same, with additional shots of Koenig-2 stalking Koenig-1 in the hall of mirrors (scene 17A), inserted before the scene of Alan working to fix the Eagle panels. The main change to the action is to note the reversed jacket of Koenig-2, which does not exist as such in the original script. After Koenig-2 has called Carter to say he wants to take off in five minutes, the original stage direction was simply:
He clicks off abruptly, belts comlock, unhurriedly steps
over the prone figure of KOENIG-1, casts a parting glance
down at KOENIG-1, turns, walks out of shot.
CLOSE in on KOENIG-1 and HOLD.
The following additional stage action is new in the blue pages:
He clicks off abruptly.
He looks at the reverse lettering on his jacket;
looks at the proper lettering on KOENIG-1's jacket,
then begins to remove his jacket, obviously to
change them over.
He puts the comlock in his belt, unhurriedly steps
over the prone figure of KOENIG-1, casts a parting
glance down at KOENIG-1, turns, walks out of shot.
CLOSE IN ON KOENIG-l AND HOLD.
In the script there are 3 energy reflector dishes, but the episode saves a time by having just one. The set dish still has a large "3" on it (not matching the SFX model), and Koenig's dialogue still asks about "unit 2" and "unit 3".
33 EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA - OUTBUILDINGS (SFX)
LOW ANGLE (so as to exclude spacesuited crewmen seen in
next studio shot).
On the flat roof of the building, a large directional
energy dish, aimed at the Asteroid.
34 INT. OBSERVATION ROOM 34
The Observation Room is on the top floor of an Moonbase
outbuilding.
POV SHOT THROUGH THE WINDOW
A small section of roof. On the roof TWO CONSTRUCTION
CREWMEN in spacesuits are putting the finishing touches
to an energy reflector - a large directional dish, the
bottom section of which is seen in the top of picture.
1st CREWMAN
(voice through helmet mike)
Energy reflector operational,
Commander...
44 EXT. MOONBASE ALPHA. OUTBUILDINGS (SFX) 44
Beams of light spring from the three Energy Reflectors
situated on the roofs of three outbuildings, slashing
the space sky.
Copyright Martin Willey.