Caprica,

Syfy is launching Caprica at several film festivals including the Woodstock Film Festival which begins this Friday, October 2, and runs through Sunday, October 4.

Caprica Producer/Director Jeffrey Reiner and star Esai Morales will attend the Austin Film Festival Saturday, October 24 screening as well as participate on panels.

There was also a screening last week in San Diego, so if anyone was there, stop on by and tell us about it.

Want the 411 on Caprica? Here you go:

Humanity’s storyline takes completely new twists with Caprica, which follows two rival families and their patriarchs – Daniel Graystone (Eric Stoltz) and Joseph Adama (Esai Morales) – as they compete and thrive in the vibrant realm of the 12 Colonies, a society recognizably close to our own. This original, standalone series will feature the passion, intrigue, political backbiting, and family conflict in an omnipotent society that is at the height of its blind power and glory…and, unknowingly, on the brink of its fall. Caprica also stars Paula Malcomson (Amanda Graystone), Polly Walker (Sister Clarice Willow), Magda Apanowicz (Lacy) and Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Graystone).

Pictured: (l-r) Esai Morales as Joseph Adams, Eric Stoltz as Daniel Graystone — SCI FI Channel Photo: Carole Segal

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Marsters will play dangerous terrorist leader Barnabus Greeley. Driven by moralistic and yet carnal desires, this unpredictable villain is constantly torn by his conflicting motivations.

Sounds like a role he was born to play!

It’s funny, years ago, I interviewed James when he was just starting out on Buffy. I asked him what he loved most about playing the role of Spike and he said he loved that he could fight all night long and not wake up in jail the next morning. That, and the boots.

In other casting news, Firefly’s Gina Torres will be joining Gossip Girl for a short arc. According to TV Guide, she’ll be playing Vanessa’s free spirit, home-schooling mother.

If you watch CBS this season, you’ll see a few more familiar sci fi faces. Point Pleasant’s Grant Show is a regular on the new Jenna Elfman comedy Accidentally on Purpose and I’m pretty sure I saw Reaper’s Christine Willes (Gladys) in the pilot for The Good Wife.

James Marsters, who stars in the new action film “Dragonball Evolution,” responds to reporters’ questions during a publicity event in Seoul on Feb. 18.

Photo: Newscom

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Though not generally known for his genre work, Patton has appeared on Dollhouse and Reaper. It’s more likely that you know him from Reno 911 or as a voice actor from anyone of a dozen popular cartoons and video games.

Caprica, premieres January 22, 2010 on Syfy.

NBC Photo: Paul Drinkwater

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The biggest item is a new Battlestar Galactica Cylon Toaster. It bakes a Cylon face into one side of the toast and Frak Off in the other. Perfect for breakfast with your significant other! This year’s model has an LED light “eye” on the front, too. A steal at 90.00.

This odd duck of a thing is a Caprica Serge USB Keychain. I can’t figure it but it’s limited to 1,000, so buy now!

They’re also offering a Buy More shirt from Chuck and a sword letter opener and double helix necklace from Heroes.

If you are attending Comic Con, Syfy will be giving away many of these items to lucky panel attendees and they’ll also be handing out thousands of scratch off discount cards for the NBC store.

You can find it all at the special Comic Con Shop at the NBC online store.

Photos: NBC / Universal

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I’ve always enjoyed SCI FI’s imaginative ads, seeing people and things transform right before your very eyes. This new promo takes it even one step further as some of the network’s stars come out to party in a truly magical castle.

The biggest difference I see between this new promo and the old ones, is the warmth and happy tone. The original ads were cool but always very sterile and simple — truly capturing the feel of modern science fiction. This new ad is full of warm colors and detailed images that are constantly changing and moving. It feels more modern fairy tale and less a trip into space and you gotta love the Escher homage with the cast of Warehouse 13.

It’s all very SteamPunk meets Alice in Wonderland and I can totally get behind that. Click here to watch the House of Imagination video at the new Syfy.com.

I think it’s more fun to spot the stars Waldo style, but if you want a list in order of appearance, it’s under the cut.

In order of appearance: Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne (Sanctuary); Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Jordan Hinson, Neil Grayston, (Eureka); Lou Diamond Phillips (Stargate Universe); Josh Gates (Destination Truth); Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson (Ghost Hunters); Tracy Morgan (Scare Tactics), Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek (Warehouse 13), and Alessandra Torresani (Caprica).

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They have some great guests and lots of sneak peeks at many of their new TV shows.

Also note that the Sanctuary panel is listed as being at the Bayside Hilton — leading me to wonder if more of the events are going to be held off site to reduce crowding. Nice idea, but getting from there to the Warehouse 13 panel that follows is going to be a nightmare.

Here’s the full listing:

Friday, July 24

10:30 AM-11:30 AM Stargate Universe

Ballroom 20

A new chapter of the Stargate saga begins with the all-new original series Stargate Universe. Join stars Robert Carlyle (Dr. Nicholas Rush), Brian J. Smith (1st Lt. Matthew Scott), Elyse Levesque (Chloe Armstrong), David Blue (Eli Wallace), Alaina Huffman (1st Lt. Tamara Johansen), Jamil Walker Smith (Master Sargeant Ronald Greer), and Ming-Na (Camile Wray) alongside Brad Wright (Series Co-Creator) and Robert Cooper (Series Co-Creator) as they take you through a gate you’ve never seen before.

11:45 AM-12:45 PM Caprica / Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

Ballroom 20

The present meets the past as the makers of Battlestar Galactica deliver the highly anticipated original series Caprica and the 2-hour event, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan, directed by Edward James Olmos. This is your chance to get the inside scoop on these exciting projects and see two generations of Adamas on stage together for the first time. Executive Producers Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson sit down with Caprica star Esai Morales (Joseph Adama), and Battlestar Galactica’s Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), director of The Plan, to reveal the truth about these two new chapters in the mythology of BSG. Moderated by Geoff Boucher, Los Angeles Times.

3:15 PM-4:15 PM Eureka

Room 6BCF

Eureka is back this summer with all new episodes, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Allison Blake), Erica Cerra (Jo Lupo), Neil Grayston (Douglas Fargo), and Jaime Paglia (Executive Producer/Co-Creator) are stopping by to let you in on the fun. Don’t miss your chance to see one of Comic Con’s most entertaining panels. Moderated by Josh Gates, Destination Truth.

8:30 PM-10:30 PM SCI FI Screening

Room 6DE

Warehouse 13 & Eureka will premiere every week this summer on SCI FI, but only Comic-Con fans can see them on the big screen. Join SCI FI for an exclusive screening of the next all-new episodes of the summer’s two hottest series, along with best of clips from Ghost Hunters.

Saturday, July 25

12:30 PM-1:30 PM Sanctuary

Bayside Hilton Indigo Room

Before Sanctuary returns for an all-new season, don’t miss your chance to go inside the action and behind the scenes. Join stars Amanda Tapping (Dr. Helen Magnus) and Robin Dunne (Dr. Will Zimmerman) as well as Martin Wood (Executive Producer) and Damian Kindler (Executive Producer) for an exclusive conversation about one of television’s most innovative shows. Moderated by Michael Logan, TV Guide.

2:15 PM-3:15 PM Warehouse 13

Room 6A

This summer, the unknown has an address in the new original series, Warehouse 13. Join stars Eddie McClintock (Pete Lattimer), Joanne Kelly (Myka Bering), Saul Rubinek (Artie Nielsen), Allison Scagliotti (Claudia Donovan), Jack Kenny (Executive Producer/Showrunner) and David Simkins (Executive Producer) as they reveal confidential information about America’s most classified secret. Moderated by Michael Logan, TV Guide.

Café Diem Hours of Operation:

Wednesday, July 22nd 6:30am-midnight
Thursday, July 23rd 6:30am-midnight
Friday, July 24th 6:30am-3am
Saturday, July 25th 6:30am-3am
Sunday, July 26th 6:30am-10pm

SANCTUARY — Pictured: (l-r) Christopher Heyerhahl as John Druitt, Amanda Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus, Emilie Ullrep as Ashley Magnus, Robin Dunne as Dr. Will Zimmerman — SCI FI Channel Photo: Jamel Toppin

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First, on June 13, McCreary will conduct the music from Battlestar Galactica to kick-off the 2009 Grand Performances Series at California Plaza. It’s a free concert in downtown Los Angeles so all you have to do is show up and enjoy. Not going to be in the area? Then mark your calendar for June 16. That’s the day La-La Land Records will release the soundtrack for Caprica on CD.

Next, on July 23-25, McCreary will be performing at the House of Blues in San Diego just for all you Comic-Con fans. That concert will celebrate the July 21 release of a special 2-CD set, Battlestar Galactica: Season 4. The first disc features music from seasons 4.0 and 4.5, with the music from “Daybreak”, the stunning series finale, featured on the second disc.

Two concerts and two new CDs. It’s music that will inspire you. Get more information or order your CDs at the La-La Land Records website.

CD cover: La-La Land Records

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It’s Alessandra Torressani and Paula Malcomson.

Tricia Helfer seems a bit happier to be here and then there’s the funky Seth Green

Esai Morales gets grabby, and Magda Apanowicz and Alessandra Torressani do their Top Model imitations.

Best for last, Ron Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson. Jane is my idol, she’s like the Tina Fey of SCI FI and I’ve adored her since her Buffy days. Go, Jane, Go!

Photos: PR Photos

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Part 1

This has all happened before. And it will all happen again. That’s not just the mythology behind Battlestar Galactica, it’s what the newly christened Syfy hopes will take place where prequel Caprica is concerned.

Faced with a hole in its lineup larger than the one Boomer created when she jumped near the ship, the cable channel took a predictable step toward filling it. No show garnered more buzz, earned more pop culture resonance and became more identifiable as Sci Fi Channel programming than BSG.

I’d have been more surprised if they hadn’t looked at Ron Moore and said, “So, what else ya got, Galactically-speaking?” But it’s not just as easy as telling fans there’s a BSG prequel on, add water, instant profit. The first question fans have a right to ask is gee, couldn’t you have just greenlit another season or two of the original show?

Following up one of the most acclaimed series in the genre’s history would be a Herculean task for any show. A prequel to BSG may have it harder than most. The comparisons will be inevitable. And how many times can you remember one of the best shows ever being replaced by a show of equal or superior quality? Sadly, that’s even true with spinoffs. For every Cheers that has given us a quality show such as Frasier, there has been a Friends giving birth to the train wreck that was Joey.

Prequels are often a mixed bag as well. Star Wars has certainly made billions more through its first three episodes, the Clone Wars cartoon, etc. But few  Star Wars fans think the newer films are better than the originals in anything beyond special effects. Doing a prequel offers notoriously nitpicky fandom ample opportunities to poke plot holes in things they feel couldn’t have logically happened that way.

Another problem with prequels is that it’s a lot harder to sell people on a story we already know the ending to. We’ve learned the final fate (at least in the show’s current timeline) of the human and Cylon cultures. Again, it’s akin to following Anakin Skywalker’s journey. It’s not as if Lucas could do a last minute riff and say -  you know what? Obi Wan was really Vader the whole time. Thanks for your $10, now show yourselves out.

Sure, if Caprica goes three or four seasons there will have to be some shocking revelation. Something that tells us how the humans and Cylons began their final, fatal for many prominent characters dance.

But who are we kidding? Right now, Syfy and Ron Moore have our undivided attention to see if they can pull this off. They have earned that much. In the next installment of this article, we’ll look at how other sci-fi series have spun off and avoided franchise fatigue (or not.)

SCI FI Channel Photo: Jeff Weddell

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Now I’m here to give you a shot at winning one!

Universal Home Entertainment has given us two copies of this limited-edition uncut DVD edition and we’re giving them to you, our loyal SFUniverse readers. You are a loyal reader, right?

Leave a comment stating what show, movie, planet, you’d like to see us cover more here on SFUniverse and you’ll be entered to win.

US entries only please. Contest ends April 21 at midnight PST, so hurry!

After you enter, check out this new clip from Caprica courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment.

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