The Production GuideScript To Screen: Year 2 Promo film
by Martin Willey
The Production Guide
In August 1976, the Space: 1999 crew made a series of promotional films for the new series.
They had just started filming A Matter Of Balance and Space Warp. and had to work on Sunday to avoid delaying the episodes. This was exceptional- during 1976 they only worked on weekends twice (both Saturdays, 17th July and 30th October). They had never worked on weekends during year 1. A full crew of 60 people were present. There were no scheduled buses from the train station to Pinewood on Sundays, so a coach was hired.
They also recorded short films saying "Here are a few scenes from next week's episode of Space 1999." In each, Landau, Bain and Schell are sat at the same desk (Tony's desk).
The set was Command Center, with Landau, Bain and Schell in full costume, but addressing the camera directly as themselves, not in character. The director, Robert Lynn, is seen in the film (on the left with glasses in this shot). He was assistant director on numerous episodes, and main director for three, Catacombs of the Moon, The A B Chrysalis, and The Beta Cloud.
In addition to Landau, Bain and Schell, we can see regular Command Center operatives John Ketteringham and Glenda Allen. According to this call sheet there were 5 more extras. The visible "film crew" may actually be actors. One of them is Charlie Price (he wore the same medallion seen here as astronaut Darren in The AB Chrysalis). Film union rules were strict about who could appear in front of camera, and, apart from Robert Lynn, the actual camera and sound crew seems to have been kept out of shot.
| I.T.C. PROMOTIONAL FILMS | JOB NO. 8729 |
CALL SHEET
| Title: | PROMOTIONAL FILMS FOR Space 1999 - Series II |
Date: | SUNDAY: August 8, 1976 |
| Stage: | L | ||
| Director: | ROBERT LYNN | Unit Call | 8.30 a.m. |
| ARTISTE | CHARACTER | D/R | M/U | ON SET |
|
INT. COMMAND CENTER: |
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| MARTIN LANDAU | KOENIG | 321 | 8.30 | 10.00 |
| BARBARA BAIN | HELENA | 322 | 8.30 | 10.00 |
| CATHERINE SCHELL | MAYA | 324 | 8.30 | 10.00 |
| STAND-INS: | ||||
| ALAN MEACHAM | for Mr.Landau | 312 | 8.00 | 8.30 |
| SUZANNE HEIMER | for Miss Bain | 312 | 8.00 | 8.30 |
| PAT THOMPSON | for Miss Schell | 312 | 8.00 | 8.30 |
| CROWD | ||||
| 7 MIXED | 312 | 8.00.am. | 8.30.am. | |
| PROPS/ART DEPT: | As arranged with Michael Ford. | |||
| CATERING: | A.M. and P.M. breaks for 60 people on L Stage | |||
| LUNCH: | Please apply to Production Office for Vouchers. Lunch in Pinewood Canteen. |
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| TRANSPORT: | Ray Atkins to pick up Mr.Landau and Miss Bain as arranged and bring to Studio. Steve Smith to pick up Miss Schell as arranged and bring to Studio. |
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| UNIT TRANSPORT: | From Uxbridge: Coach will leave at 8.15 a.m. for Studio. From Pinewood: Coach will standby from 5.00 p.m. |
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The actual boom microphone is visible on one shot; the one in the background (by Glenda Allen and Charlie Price) is, like the camera and light, just set decoration for these shots.
Nick Tate and Tony Anholt were not present, but did record their own trailer and short Next Week trailers probably after episode filming later in the week.
Copyright Martin Willey.