Fic question

[sholio]

I have an Atlantis geography question for my Fading Sun story. I've been re-watching bits of first season eps to try to figure this out, but as far as I can tell, the series is always very vague with such things. (I imagine that it changes depending on what the script calls for ...)

That balcony where we always see the main characters ... does that open onto the general vicinity of the gateroom and/or Weir's office?

If so ... where, specifically?

If I have a character use the balcony to get into the general control room/Stargate area, would you find that jarring or would it fit with your general mental picture of the layout of the Gate tower area?

Comments

[alessandriana.livejournal.com]

If it's not canon that it opens onto/near the gateroom, then it's definitely fanon. I seem to remember seeing it in a bunch of fics, though don't quote me on that. So no, wouldn't be jarring.

[sholio]

Thanks! ^_^

[nonniemous.livejournal.com]

If you watch Rising, just after the city rises Weir and Sheppard go out onto that balcony. I think it's just off of Weir's office, but I' not 100% sure.

[blade-girl.livejournal.com]

I always thought that in that episode, we saw into the gate room from the balcony. When Elizabeth and John are out on the balcony, I seem to think we saw the party going on through those doors, and that it was in the gate room rather than her office.

[sholio]

I could be wrong here, but I don't think the party is actually on *that* balcony. I watched that bit, and looking through into the city, it seems like it was just generic corridors that we were seeing.

[sholio]

Ah, thank you! I had clicked around on various 1st season episodes, but I couldn't find one where we actually saw anyone go out onto the Infamous Mystery Balcony. It would just cut straight from inside to outside on the balcony.

[jaekayelle.livejournal.com]

I think as they leave Weir's office they walk a few feet to the left of the doors and they're on that balcony. Or it could be like Giles' apartment on Buffy where they moved the stairs to his loft from one side of the door to the other in different episodes. *g*

[sholio]

Thank you! *grin* I kinda think it might change as the episode requires ...

[margec01.livejournal.com]

Having been to the set, I can tell you that a balcony is accessed from the back of the control room. This is probably about 10 steps to the left of Weir's office as seen from the Gate.

Of course, in real life the balcony overlooks--the floor of the studio. But there is plenty of room there to put cameras so that you can shoot balcony scenes that look back towards the control room.

[sholio]

Ooh, firsthand set knowledge! That helps a lot -- thanks!

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

I think there's several doors to it, one off Weir's office, another off the control area, but that's just my guess.

[sholio]

Thanks!

[bramble-rose.livejournal.com]

In that scene in Rising, while Weir and Sheppard definitely access the balcony from the control level, once they are on the balcony the scene through the stained glass window looks like they are on the same level as the gate.

[sholio]

Thank you!

I had actually forgotten that there was a balcony scene in Rising other than the party scene at the end. I found the Sheppard/Teyla scene a few eps farther on, but totally missed this. I thought there was a good balcony scene in the first couple episodes, but couldn't find it. I will have to go back and look -- thanks!

[margec01.livejournal.com]

There is a second balcony they use to film scenes when a larger group is required. This is the balcony where the party in the last few scenes of Rising takes place. Where Teyla and Sheppard did the forehead greeting thing.

The balcony where John gives Elizabeth the urn or the jar or whatever it was is just off the control room.

There is even a third balcony which was the grounding station in the Storm/Eye two-parter. Those Ancients, they just loved those balconies! (g)

[sholio]

Oh! I can't believe I forgot the urn scene. *bangs head against wall*

Thank you!

I get the impression that there are actually a ton of balconies on Atlantis, and we only ever see a few...

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

The balcony is on the level with the control room, because when the door opens in Rising and they step through, there's a shot of Grodin (who is in the control room) taken from the balcony. He has a OTT look of surprise on his face. Also check out The Pegasus Project. Daniel loses Vala for a few moments, and then Weir sees her on the balcony. Watch to see where they go.

[sholio]

Ah! Thanks!