Production GuideObservations: The Infernal Machine
Production Guide
The explanation for Paul's absence, and introducing Winters as a temporary replacement, is welcome. Compare the episode-by-episode cast changes and disappearances in Year 2, and even swapping Ouma with Kano after Breakaway. Thanks to Richard Totis.
Gwent's requirements start with an electrical diagram.
Koenig, Helena and Victor wear spacesuits throughout this episode, and the costumes have been adjusted slightly. The velcro patches that hold the helmet rings in place have been removed, and in high-definition the stitching holes are visible (they were seen clearly in The Last Sunset). Instead of wearing uniforms under the spacesuit, the Alphans wear black polo-necks, perhaps suggesting an undersuit.
Alan and the second Eagle attack Gwent. As the Eagles retreat, Gwent fires at them. The scene 29 description reads "Just as the Eagles reach a range of mountains, the Machine opens fire with considerable overkill. The mountains explode." Later, after Gwent takes off, Alan confirms that "Both the Eagles have superficial damage, but they're operational." This is surprising, as the SFX shot shows the red laser striking at least one of the Eagles before the explosion. The script is deliberately ambiguous as to whether the Eagles survive, but the SFX shot, particularly the optical laser beam, suggests they shouldn't have. Thanks to Chris Dale and Gary O'Brien
The match between the Eagle shot and the explosion is imperfect. While the explosion shows the same lunar mountains, it is farther away, showing more of the right side, and the foreground hills are gone, replaced by a flat plain.
When Companion falls from his chair, Bergman puts the chair up. In the reverse shot, the chair is still on its side as Companion is helped up, and Bergman lifts it a second time.
The close up of Companion in his coffin. His chest rises and falls slightly.
Where does Koenig's pen come from? We see it briefly on a perspex desk ornament after Companion collapses. Companion doesn't seem to write or draw, and Gwent is blind, so why is it there?
Some of the shots of the Eagle firing are flopped left for right. Notice the reversed text of the "Alpha" badge.
The last Eagle to be blown up shows the SFX studio ceiling for a few frames.
The frame shows more of the eaves over the door than it should. The scene opens panning down from a plain vertical section, to the short section of eaves over the door. On the model Eagle we would expect to see the end of the windows/solar panels, or even the spine framework. Thanks to Richard Totis.
The side hand rails are not deployed, and the Alphans walks out on a flat surface, level with the passenger module floor. There must be some sort of boarding tube or raised platform connecting to the passenger module.
When Koenig returns to Main Mission, the first view shows his spacesuit zipped further up than the second view through the windows (he also walks a long way round).
Copyright Martin Willey.