Production GuideObservations: Collision Course
Production Guide
In the opening shot of Main Mission, the microphone boom is seen in the top right corner.
The mines hang below from the Eagles, although the cables are not rigid. They are taut even in the zero gravity of space. Thanks to John Day.
Consecutive shots of Kano from opposite sides show him always facing camera. He may be rotating his desk, but he does it very fast.
Carter could have jettisoned the passenger pod to release the bomb (but this would have prevented Koenig's Eagle from docking). Thanks to Chris Moore.
As Koenig and Bergman join Paul to try interstellar frequency, we can see a brown mat on the floor behind Sandra. We see it again under Bergman's feet later. There is also a black cable stretched across the floor by Sandra (perhaps for the microphone).
The 44inch Eagle rescue pod has been repainted since its last use in Missing Link; the red stripes do not extend to the lower rim of the transporter pod. However, on the 22inch Eagle, the stripes do.
The first shot of Alan's Eagle is the 11 inch Eagle, showing burns. The docking shot is the second 44 inch Eagle (Koenig's rescue Eagle is the first 44 inch). The POV shot through the cockpit windows shows the 22 inch Eagle, but the model is clean, without the burn marks in the other two shots. Thanks to Richard Totis.
When Koenig rushes into the travel tube after decontamination, he goes straight to the side door and points his commlock at it, as if it would open immediately at his destination (or he wants to get out onto the launch pad). Thanks to David A. Sobral
Apparently Alan Carter doesn't wear anything under his spacesuit. When Helena unzips his top, his bare chest is revealed.
More brown carpet, first in the command office (seen under the chair), then in Main Mission behind the desks.
And more brown carpet, after the command conference.
As they tensely wait for the countdown to Operation Shockwave, Operative Julie (Annie Lambert) places a tray of coffee cups in front of Bergman and Morrow. We cut to a shot of the space mines, then return to the same angle as Julie returns, picks up the tray, and carries it away. It has been there for 3 seconds of screen time. Thanks to Simon Rhodes.
In the last section of the story, a duplicate sound effects track can be heard, about 2 seconds before the actual sound effects and action. This is particularly noticeable when Koenig wakes from sedation and attacks the guards. As the close-up shows him looking at the Communications Post, the sound of the the button is heard being pressed before he presses it. Then, as Koenig turns his head to the door after seeing the guards on the screen, the sound of the Commlock can be heard and a shuffle as he hits the guards, again, before he actually does so. Thanks to Elliot.
Koenig runs through the door into the guards. We only see him from behind, as this is a stuntman is doubling for Landau (Eddie Stacey). His face is carefully obscured when he pushes the first guard (Romo Gorrara) into the quarters. The second guard (Les Crawford) pushes him out to the right, out of frame. The guard already has his laser in hand, but lowers it and acts as if he is drawing it from the holster again. Martin Landau now appears from the right of frame and chops his laser arm away. This is sometimes called a "Texas switch" or a "cowboy switch", swapping a stuntman and the real actor in the middle of a single continuous scene. The guard is grimacing before Landau taps him on the belt.
Alan wakes up. Top right, the shadow of the microphone hovers over the computer.
When Koenig enters Main Mission in pyjamas, he walks along a strip of pale carpet behind the desks (see behind Sarah Bullen's chair).
When Helena and Mathias run in through the Main Mission doors, a studio microphone is visible at the top of the frame (it is only visible on the HD version of the episode; previous DVD versions had a smaller picture area). A few shots later, as Helena advances to Koenig, the microphone is still visible, then disappears. Thanks to Jonathan Baxter.
At the climax, Koenig could have simply stunned people to keep them away (presuming that stun is truly harmless)
Stunt men Vic Armstrong and Peter Pocock are featured, but stunt doubles for Paul (Terry Walsh), Bergman (George Leech) and Koenig (Eddie Stacey) are briefly visible. Alan's stuntman is Tim Condron. The fight was arranged by Romo Gorrara, a stuntman who appeared as a guard earlier in the episode.
After the Main Mission staff have retreated up the stairs, Helena is a double, not Barbara Bain
A cut scene, not in the episode. The episode ends with Koenig looking up at the Big Screen as the Alphans try to control the fires. In cut scenes, Koenig then walks slowly to the window and looks out. The other Alphans also move to the windows and look out. Bergman puts a hand on Koenig's shoulder. Koenig looks at it, and turns away. He turns his back on the others and walks out the arch. Outside Main Mission and alone, he looks out the window. The epilogue then follows on this action, with Helena coming to Koenig. Thanks to Gordon Moriguchi.
Copyright Martin Willey