"Odyssey 5" Pilot (2002)

Director:

David Carson

Writers:

Manny Coto (creator)
Manny Coto (written by)

TV Series:

"Odyssey 5" (2002)

Original Air Date:

21 June 2002 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Earth can be darker than space.

Plot:

The astronaut crew of a space shuttle looks on in horror as they witness the violent destruction of the Earth...

Plot Keywords:

Astronaut | Space Shuttle | Digit In Title | Number In Title

Cast

Peter Weller	...	Chuck Taggart
Sebastian Roché	...	Kurt Mendel
Christopher Gorham	...	Neil Taggart
Leslie Silva	...	Sarah Forbes
Tamara Craig Thomas	...	Angela Perry
Gina Clayton	...	Paige Taggart
John Neville	...	The Seeker
Kenneth Mitchell	...	Marc Taggart
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Appel	...	Kaylee
Lorry Ayers	...	Reporter
Matt Birman	...	Shuttle Pilot
Richard Blackburn	...	Ed Scrivens
Daneen Boone	...	Hooker
Lindy Booth	...	Holly Culverson
J. Adam Brown	...	Wade
George Buza	...	Matthew Pallard
Nicholas Carella	...	Diaz
Katia Corriveau	...	Hooker on top
Craig Eldridge	...	Matt Walsh
Matthew Finlason	...	Male Grad Student
Derwin Phillips	...	Security Guard
Conrad Pla	...	Paul Nieves
Kim Roberts	...	Dr. Egrari
Austin Schatz	...	Chaplain
Maria Vacratsis	...	Elaine Wilkerson
Philip Williams	...	Gerald Wilkerson

Directed by
David Carson

Writing credits
Manny Coto		(creator)
Manny Coto		(written by)

Produced by
Manny Coto	....	executive producer
Jonathan Glassner	....	executive producer
Nicholas J. Gray	....	supervising producer
Jim Michaels	....	producer
Gary Mueller	....	associate producer
Tracy Tormé	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Laura Karpman

Cinematography by
Victor Goss		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Paul G. Day		(as Paul Day)

Casting by
Eric Dawson
Shawn Dawson
Stephanie Gorin
Geoffrey Johnson

Production Design by
Jeff Ginn		(as Jeffrey Ginn)

Art Direction by
Michele Brady

Makeup Department
Paul R.J. Elliot	....	key hair stylist
Maribeth Knezev	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Byron A. Martin	....	unit production manager
Gary Mueller	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Birman	....	second unit director
Sara MacDonald	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Isabel Blair	....	set decoration buyer
Andrew Chang	....	assistant property master
Jon P. Goulding	....	set designer
Joanna Tracey Heaton	....	props daily
John MacNeil	....	set designer
Melissa Olson	....	set decoration buyer
Stephen Paisley	....	art department apprentice
Danny Scavuzzo	....	scenic carpenter

Sound Department
Rob Bertola	....	sound effects editor
Alek Bromke	....	adr assistant recordist
Steve Foster	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Gingras	....	supervising sound editor
Kevin Howard	....	sound effects editor
Colin Jones	....	boom operator
Cory Mandel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Scherer	....	production sound mixer
Robert Scherer	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
John Palmer	....	special effects project supervisor: WonderWorks
Skyler Wilson	....	special effects key

Visual Effects by
Greg Astles	....	digital compositor
Jeff Gordon	....	systems engineer
Peter Hunt	....	visual effects
Yoga Kurniawan	....	motion graphic artist
Saybian Morgan	....	technical director: Sundog Films
Earl Paraszczynec	....	visual effects
Stevie Ramone	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Nick Alachiotis	....	stunts
Matt Birman	....	stunt coordinator
Eric Bryson	....	stunt coordinator
Scott Alan Cook	....	stunt double (as Scotty Cook)
Joe Eigo	....	stunt double
Danny Lima	....	stunts
John MacDonald	....	stunt double
Darren Marsman	....	stunts
Layton Morrison	....	stunts
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunts
Robert Racki	....	stunts
Kevin Rushton	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Shane Baker	....	first assistant camera
Pierre Berube	....	rigging gaffer
William Engel	....	grip
Robbi Hinds	....	director of photography: second unit
Adam Jeffery	....	second assistant camera
Steve Kolodziej	....	video playback operator
Robert McAdam	....	gaffer: second unit
Marcus Paletta	....	grip
Peter Stranks	....	still photographer
Shai Vera	....	electrician

Casting Department
Larissa Mair	....	casting assistant
Matthew Skrobalak	....	casting associate: Los Angeles

Music Department
Charlyn Bernal	....	composer: additional music
Charlyn Bernal	....	original score designer
Brett Boyett	....	music editor
Shannon Halwes	....	music editor

Other crew
Stephanie Lee Berger	....	weapons handler
Angela Cheyne	....	office staff (as Angela Latorre)
Lawrence Curtis	....	office production assistant: Los Angeles
JoAnne Fishburn	....	assistant to producers & director
Lisa Ghione	....	unit publicist
Kelly Gilbert	....	daily accounting assistant
Sam Greenmun	....	spacesuit design/fabrication/set technician
Pamela Hackwell	....	contact lens technician
Andy House	....	production executive
R. Emerson John	....	script supervisor: second unit
Alison Jones	....	assistant to executive producer
Cathy Katrib	....	assistant production coordinator
Steve Kolodziej	....	24p HDTV digital technician
Dorian Logan	....	production assistant
David Mongan	....	script coordinator
Jym Morton	....	location assistant
Marie A. Nazar	....	publicist
Rob Shea	....	production coordinator
Sue Sparling	....	payroll accountant
Derek Ursacki	....	second assistant accountant
Sharon 'Mae' West	....	script supervisor: pre-timing
Steve Holt	....	on-set medic (uncredited)

Directed by
Jim Michaels
Adam J. Shully

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Manny Coto		creator

Produced by
Larry Gross	....	supervising producer (2003)

Casting by
Carol Kritzer
Robert J. Ulrich

Set Decoration by
Ane Christensen

Makeup Department
Karola Dirnberger	....	assistant makeup artist
Sean Sansom	....	special makeup effects artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcia Douglas	....	second assistant director
Greg Edmunds	....	third assistant director
Dan Gosse	....	trainee assistant director
David Manion	....	first assistant director
Elizabeth Scherberger	....	first assistant director
John Stoneham Jr.	....	second unit director
Sorcha Vasey	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Lara Alexander	....	construction coordinator
Ane Christensen	....	set dresser
Greg DaPrato	....	property master
Henry Ilola	....	construction coordinator
Kim Karon	....	assistant art director
Mary O'Dell	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Rick Ellis	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Fleming	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael LaCroix	....	sound mixer
John Laing	....	sound effects editor
Paul Shubat	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Warren Appleby	....	special effects coordinator
David Loveday	....	model builder

Visual Effects by
Keith Cooper	....	visual effects
Kent Ing	....	visual effects
Ken Mitchel Jones	....	technical director: Sundog Films
Darren Kirkness	....	visual effects artist
Gary Mueller	....	visual effects supervisor
Jose Perez	....	visual effects
Robin Trickett	....	visual effects supervisor
Wayne Trickett	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunts
Matt Birman	....	stunt performer (multiple episodes)
Shelley Cook	....	stunt performer
Steve Lucescu	....	stunts
David Stinson	....	stunt double
David Stinson	....	stunts
Ron Webber	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Daniel Abboud	....	assistant camera
Mike Burak	....	grip
Rion Gonzales	....	electrician
Rich Green	....	assistant camera
David Kellner	....	gaffer
Michael Kohne	....	key grip
Chris Little	....	best boy electric
Rudolf Mammitzsch	....	assistant camera
Mike Ohorodnyk	....	dolly grip
Frank Polyak	....	camera operator
Mike Rybock	....	grip

Casting Department
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robyn Rosenberg	....	costume set supervisor

Editorial Department
Chuck Kahn	....	assistant editor
Sue Mitchell	....	post-production coordinator

Transportation Department
James Beaudrow	....	head driver (as Jim Beaudrow)
Marcel Bérubé	....	driver (as Marcel Berube)
Dana Howes	....	transportation captain
Michael Kielar	....	driver
Dave Loveless	....	driver
Brian Lytle	....	driver
Larry McFadden	....	driver
Holly Meeker	....	driver
Don Morley	....	driver
Don Retzer	....	transportation coordinator
Robert White	....	driver: honeywagon
Craig Witthun	....	driver

Other crew
Saverina Allevato	....	script supervisor
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	weapons handler
Kimberley Bradley	....	production coordinator
Scott Brophy	....	production assistant
Bridget Cooper	....	publicist (2003)
Tom Di Blasio	....	production accountant
Hugh Elchuk	....	production assistant
Bryn Garrison	....	location manager
Katharine Gray	....	story department coordinator
Robin Litwack	....	craft service
Evajoye Mendoza	....	stand-in
Rachel Oldfield	....	craft service
Uros Raickovic	....	production assistant
Michelle Taddei	....	post audio coordinator
Michael Tough	....	location manager
Kris Wood	....	24 frame computer playback operator

Production Companies

• Cliffwood Productions
• Columbia TriStar Television

Distributors

• Sat.1 (2004) (Germany) (TV)
• Showtime Networks (2002) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

Finland:120 min (2 parts) (including commercials)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Cliffwood Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When the crew are attempting to rescue Angela from her spacewalk, the flight director says he's going to order the shuttle Discovery to intercept her. However, the displays at NASA all indicate that the shuttle is the Odyssey.

Quotes:

The Seeker:Wow. You're all alive. That means I got the atmosphere right.
[the Odyssey crew stares at him blankly]
The Seeker:It is English, isn't it?
Chuck Taggart:Uh, yeah, we speak English.
The Seeker:Phew. For a second I thought I had it wrong.

Movie Connections:

References "The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" (1981)

Surprisingly good, unfortunately cancelled.

Accidentally catching the pilot for this show on late night TV, I decided to give it a chance in lieu of the infomercials playing on other channels.

I was lucky that I did. From the moment the Earth explodes this show dares to be different, with charismatic acting and witty scripting. It is rare to find a television show that explores hard-sf ideas, and even more rare to find one that is actually entertaining.

If you have ever wished that sf was as smart, well-presented and entertaining as the Sopranos then your wish is fulfilled.

Unfortunately, this show was canceled after it's first season. (A surprising move, given that it was Showtimes second-highest rated show.)