"Farscape" (1999) TV series 1999-2003

Creator:

Rockne S. O'Bannon
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

19 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Thrown into a distant part of the universe, an Earth astronaut finds himself part of a fugitive alien starship crew.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Space | Fugitive | Technology | Villain

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 11 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Ben Browder	...	John Crichton (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Claudia Black	...	Officer Aeryn Sun / ... (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Anthony Simcoe	...	Ka D'Argo / ... (88 episodes, 1999-2003)
Lani John Tupu	...	Pilot / ... (85 episodes, 1999-2003)
Jonathan Hardy	...	Dominar Rygel XVI / ... (84 episodes, 1999-2003)
Gigi Edgley	...	Chiana (74 episodes, 1999-2003)
Wayne Pygram	...	Scorpius / ... (61 episodes, 2000-2003)
Virginia Hey	...	Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan (50 episodes, 1999-2002)

Series Directed by
Rowan Woods		(18 episodes, 1999-2003)
Tony Tilse		(18 episodes, 1999-2002)
Andrew Prowse		(17 episodes, 1999-2003)
Ian Watson		(15 episodes, 1999-2002)
Peter Andrikidis		(7 episodes, 1999-2003)
Geoff Bennett		(4 episodes, 2002-2003)
Catherine Millar		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Pino Amenta		(2 episodes, 1999)
Ian Barry		(2 episodes, 2001)

Series Writing credits
David Kemper		(16 episodes, 1999-2003)
Justin Monjo		(14 episodes, 1999-2003)
Rockne S. O'Bannon		(11 episodes, 1999-2002)
Richard Manning		(10 episodes, 1999-2003)
Grant McAloon		(4 episodes, 1999-2001)
Carleton Eastlake		(4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Doug Heyes Jr.		(3 episodes, 1999)
Naren Shankar		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Gabrielle G. Stanton		(3 episodes, 2000)
Harry Werksman		(3 episodes, 2000)
Matt Ford		(3 episodes, 2001-2002)
Mark Saraceni		(3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ro Hume		(2 episodes, 1999)
Sally Lapiduss		(2 episodes, 1999)
Lily Taylor		(2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Ben Browder		(2 episodes, 2001-2002)
David E. Peckinpah		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Produced by
Matt Carroll	....	producer (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Richard Clendinnen	....	line producer (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Kris Noble	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Rockne S. O'Bannon	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Richard Manning	....	co-executive producer / consulting producer (3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Robert Halmi Jr.	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Henson	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Naren Shankar	....	co-executive producer (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Andrew Prowse	....	associate producer / producer (2 episodes, 2000-2003)
David Kemper	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 2000)
Sue Milliken	....	producer / consulting producer (2 episodes, 2000)
Justin Monjo	....	co-executive producer (1 episode, 2000-2003)
Emily Skopov	....	consulting producer (1 episode, 2001-2002)
Mark Saraceni	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Doug Heyes Jr.	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Lesley Parker	....	line producer (unknown episodes)
David Willis	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Tony Winley	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Guy Gross		(58 episodes, 2000-2003)
Braedy Neal		(26 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chris Neal		(26 episodes, 1999-2000)
Subvision		(26 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Cinematography by
Russell Bacon		(28 episodes, 2000-2003)
Craig Barden		(21 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Film Editing by
Neil Thumpston		(1 episode, 1999)
Minh-Tam Nguyen		(1 episode, 2000)
Nicholas Holmes		(unknown episodes, 2000-2002)
Martin Connor		(unknown episodes)
Wayne LeClos		(unknown episodes)
Mark Perry		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Hatice Kanli		(22 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ros Breeden		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Tim Ferrier		(36 episodes, 1999-2003)

Series Art Direction by
Julian Parry		(34 episodes, 1999-2000)
Katie Sharrock		(17 episodes, 2001-2003)
Scott Bird		(12 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Set Decoration by
Oleh Sokolovsky		(22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Tony Xeros		(12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Faith Robinson		(8 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Costume Design by
Terry Ryan		(24 episodes, 2000-2003)

Series Makeup Department
Adam Johansen	....	special makeup effects artist (87 episodes, 1999-2003)
Shane Thomas	....	makeup artist (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Elka Wardega	....	special makeup effects artist (15 episodes, 1999)
Kerrin Jackson	....	assistant makeup artist (7 episodes, 1999-2000)
Shay Lawrence	....	additional makeup artist / prosthetic makeup artist (2 episodes, 2001)
Jennifer Lamphee	....	hair styles supervisor / makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)
Paul Pattison	....	hair stylist supervisor / makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)
Annie Single	....	makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Ralph Belcher	....	assistant unit manager (1 episode, 1999)
Peter Coogan	....	executive in charge of production (1 episode, 1999)
Matt Jones	....	unit manager: second unit (1 episode, 1999)
Simon Lucas	....	unit manager (1 episode, 1999)
Jane Maguire	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 1999)
Helen Panckhurst	....	production manager (1 episode, 1999)
Brett McManus	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 2001)
Lesley Parker	....	production manager (1 episode, 2001)
David Birrell	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Paula Jensen	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Deborah Peart	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Sam Thompson	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Annabel Osborne	....	third assistant director (16 episodes, 2001-2003)
John Cole	....	second assistant director: second unit (unknown episodes, 1999-2001)
Mark Boskell	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Alison Meir	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Daniel Palmisano	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Adrian Pickersgill	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Alan Fleming	....	construction manager (28 episodes, 1999-2003)
Michael O'Kane	....	head scenic artist (28 episodes, 1999-2003)
Kerrie Van Lambaart	....	assistant to set designer (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Nickless	....	set designer / draftsman (15 episodes, 2001-2003)
Craig Mandile	....	set dresser / art runner / ... (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Oleh Sokolovsky	....	set dresser (2 episodes, 2001)
Damien Drew	....	draftsman (unknown episodes)
Paul Matthews	....	art department electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Alicia Slusarski	....	sound effects editor / post-production sound (58 episodes, 1999-2003)
Christian Bass	....	dialogue editor / post-production sound (52 episodes, 1999-2001)
Damian Candusso	....	dialogue editor (23 episodes, 1999-2003)
Julius Chan	....	adr engineer (10 episodes, 2003)
Cate Cahill	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Phil Judd	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Jo Mion	....	sound assistant (unknown episodes)
Angus Robertson	....	post-production sound / sound editor (unknown episodes)
Fabian Sanjurjo	....	adr editor / dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Thompson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Richard Darwin	....	animatronic model designer (4 episodes, 1999)
Chris Fitzgerald	....	creature effects designer / prosthetics and creature effects: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (2 episodes, 1999)
Stephen Bettles	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)
Kriselle Gardiner	....	creative supervisor (unknown episodes)
Chris 'Flimsy' Howes	....	model maker (unknown episodes)
Guy Stephens	....	creative supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Grant Everett	....	on-set visual effects supervisor (68 episodes, 2000-2003)
Marusha Xeros	....	visual effects supervisor (41 episodes, 2000-2002)
Dave Morley	....	senior compositor / visual effects: Garner MacLennan Design (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Alexander Whitlam	....	visual effects artist (22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Felix Crawshaw	....	visual effects coordinator (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Diego Guerrero	....	animator (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Andy Tamandl	....	animator (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Emmanuel Blasset	....	visual effects / visual effects: Animal Logic (5 episodes, 1999-2001)
Steve James	....	Co-3D Creative Director / visual effects: Garner MacLennan Design (2 episodes, 1999)
Vaughn Arnup	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Marten Blumen	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Marcus Bolton	....	lead compositor (unknown episodes)
Chris Cooper	....	lead animator (unknown episodes)
Sarah Dowland	....	visual effects producer (unknown episodes)
Paul Kirwan	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)
Stefan Litterini	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Brendan Lonergan	....	creature finisher/painter (unknown episodes)
Gregory W. McKee	....	animatronics (unknown episodes)
Sunit Parekh	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Matt Town	....	assistant visual effects editor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Raelene Chapman	....	stunt double: Aeryn / stunt performer / ... (16 episodes, 2000-2002)
Nash Edgerton	....	stunts (6 episodes, 2001)
Michael Duncan	....	stunts (2 episodes, 2003)
Glenn Boswell	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Daniel Stevens	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Glenn Suter	....	stunt rigger: decelerator, ratchets (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Toby Watson	....	assistant camera (66 episodes, 2000-2003)
Peter Stott	....	focus puller: main camera / focus puller (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Adam Kuiper	....	best boy grip (21 episodes, 1999-2000)
Pim Kulk	....	additional second assistant camera (16 episodes, 2001-2002)
Danny Batterham	....	director of photography: second unit / camera operator (8 episodes, 1999-2002)
Martin Perrett	....	gaffer (5 episodes, 2001-2002)
Gerard Maher	....	additional second assistant camera (2 episodes, 1999)
Gary Burdett	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Ian Freeman	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Henry Pierce	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Luke Thomas	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Graham Binding	....	animator (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chris Cooper	....	lead animator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Ros Breeden	....	extras casting (1 episode, 1999)
Maura Fay	....	casting: Australia (1 episode, 1999)
Sharon Klein	....	casting: USA (1 episode, 1999)
Patrick Rush	....	casting: USA (1 episode, 1999)
Sharon Kune	....	casting: USA (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jo Thorpe	....	costume cutter (87 episodes, 1999-2003)
Dan Owen	....	costumer (32 episodes, 2001-2003)
Julie Barton	....	set costumer / costume stand-by (11 episodes, 1999)
Lyn Askew	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 1999-2002)

Series Editorial Department
Alan Hansen	....	colorist (78 episodes, 1999-2003)
Brett McManus	....	assistant editor / on-line supervisor / ... (75 episodes, 1999-2003)
Alan Green	....	post-production (unknown episodes)
Margi Hoy	....	post-production (unknown episodes)
Mark Spessot	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Aaron Symonds	....	assistant to composer (1 episode, 1999)

Series Transportation Department
Lily Taylor	....	driver (1 episode, 2001)

Series Other crew
John Eccleston	....	puppetry / puppeteer (87 episodes, 1999-2003)
Rockne S. O'Bannon	....	executive consultant (66 episodes, 2000-2003)
Brittan Brown	....	post-production accountant (44 episodes, 2001-2003)
Deborah Alleck	....	production coordinator (43 episodes, 2001-2003)
Martin Kosinar	....	stand-in (22 episodes, 1999-2000)
Gabrielle G. Stanton	....	executive story editor (22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Harry Werksman	....	executive story editor (22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Kira Bohn	....	script supervisor (5 episodes, 2000-2001)
Sarah Jane Dunlop	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2000)
Lily Taylor	....	script editor / story editor (2 episodes, 1999-2001)
Honor Bannister	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Damian Bradford	....	puppetry (unknown episodes)
Jo Carter	....	first accountant / production accountant (unknown episodes)
Dave Cullins	....	puppetry (unknown episodes)
Dave Elsey	....	creative supervisor (unknown episodes)
Kerry Fetzer	....	caterer (unknown episodes)
Lou Grant	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Jackie Hallatt	....	creative supervisor: Costuming (unknown episodes)
Piers Hampton	....	project producer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop (unknown episodes)
Joyce Hsieh	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Karen Jacobson	....	voice artist (unknown episodes)
Richard Manning	....	executive consultant (unknown episodes)
John May	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Reza Mokhtar	....	caterer (unknown episodes)
Justin Monjo	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Andrew Prowse	....	production consultant (unknown episodes)
Sophie Siomos	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Sandy Stevens	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Suzy Vaughan	....	clip clearance / script clearance (unknown episodes)
Mak Wilson	....	puppet master (unknown episodes)
Jonathan Wolf	....	studio representative (unknown episodes)
Megan Worthy	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Robert E. Wozniak	....	production executive (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Jim Henson Productions
• Hallmark Entertainment
• Jim Henson Television
• Nine Film & Television Pty. Ltd.
• Nine Network Australia
• Sci-Fi Channel, The

Distributors

• ADV Films (USA) (DVD)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (UK)
• Chum Television (2001-)
• Koch Media (2004-2005) (Germany) (DVD) (seasons 1-3)
• New Films International
• Nine Network Australia
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (USA)
• YTV (1999-2001) (season 1)

Special Effects

• Animal Logic (visual effects)
• Garner MacLennan Design
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop

Other Companies

• Maura Fay & Associates  casting: Australia
• PhilmSound  sound post-production
• Soundfirm  sound facilities
• Spectrum Films International  editing facilities

Also Known As:

Farscape (Australia)
Space Chase (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

50 min | USA:60 min (88 episodes) | New Zealand:44 min (Season 2-4)

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:16 | Australia:M (Season 2, 3, 4 DVD Rating) | New Zealand:M (Season 2, 3, 4 DVD Rating) | Australia:MA (Season 1 DVD rating) | New Zealand:R13 (Season 1 DVD rating) | Australia:MA (some episodes) | Australia:M (some episodes) | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-14 | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Jim Henson Productions

Trivia:

In August 2002, the cancellation of Farscape was leaked by David Kemper, Richard Manning and Ben Browder in an online chat at Scifi.com. Fans began a campaign to save the series and have hopes that a fifth season will follow, especially since the fourth season finale was written with the fifth season in mind. After more than a year of rumours of a feature film or revived series being produced, plans were announced for a series-ending mini-series for 2004.

Quotes:

Dominar Rygel XVI: You certainly look dead to me. I don't know your customs for these situations, but I'll give it a shot. Ahem. John Crichton, valued friend - no, wait a minute. That's a bit of a stretch. John Crichton, unwelcome shipmate, may you have safe journey to our hallowed realm... Actually, not our hallowed realm, that's for Hynerians. Go find your own hallowed realm. With the ceremony of passage complete, I declare you officially dead, and claim all your possessions for myself.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) (TV)

The best original science fiction I've seen in a great while.

This has got to be without a doubt, the best original science fiction show I've seen in a long time. I had rather high hopes for seaQuest (written by Rockne S. O'Bannon as well), and was disappointed. My first impressions of "Farscape" were "Voyager" / "Battlestar Galactica" clone, but that lasted about five minutes. I think my favorite characters are probably Pilot and Moya herself, although Aeryn is a close third. I do wonder that everyone frequently defers to John's leadership since he is brand new to the situation (not to mention that area of space) and seemingly does not understand even the basics of Leviathan tech.

I do love the occasional pop-culture reference, such as John's statement "This place looks like Dagobah." Upon being asked where "Dagobah" was, John smiled at his joke and replied that it was a place where great warriors were trained. I half expected the reply to be "Wars not make one great". It's a good, subtle blend that keeps us awake, but doesn't inspire wild "easter egg hunts" for other allusions.

I am very impressed with this show, and I hope the Sci-Fi channel will continue to produce this excellent series.