At about 1727 pacific standard, the USS Carl Vinson, celebrated its 200,000 trap(aircraft recovery at the Vinson's flight deck.  It's a huge milestone for any carrier and a testament to safety, durability and efficiency over a long period of time.  Congratulations to all the Sailors who made it happen, present and past.

Click on banner and it will take you to our video log.  We will continue updating as we find more of our favorite all time videos.

Hello Everyone:

When mother nature strikes, she strikes hard. As we all know, Haiti has been devastated by two earthquakes. People died, lost their homes, not enough food. As part of the Unified Humanitarian Relief Effort, all branches of the military, despite their history of difference, came together to help bring aide to the people of Haiti and also defending the front lines. We have actual members and friends of Battlestar Aries as part of that making a difference right then and there. One of them is our very own Aries Actual, who is aboard the USS Carl Vinson in Haiti helping out with the relief aide. One friend of the Aries just departed recently for Afghanistan. And one more will also be going in the next few months. All their hard work and sacrifices should not go unnotice. What they do they in and day out to make a diffrence is greatly appreciated by many and is a very tough job to do whether a lot of people like to admit it or not. Needless to say, the people that stand behind them and that supports them, also should be appreciated for without them and their undying support, their jobs would be a lot harder.

So in closing, Battlestar Aries would just like to say 'THANK YOU' to our members and friends that are in uniform and also to all those that supports them in making a diffrence. But one does not need to be in uniform to make a difference. Just be a good citizen of good morale character, is enough.

" So Say We All"

Battlestar Aries-BSR 26- Now Parth of the 7th Fleet

     Battlestar Aries memebers and friend, partook in a recent game of paintball at one of the nation's top paintball scenario field located in Harwood, Texas this past October 3, 2009.  The scenario game was Back to Bataan Game.  Goes to show you that members and friends of the Aries just does not limit themselves to scifi when it comes to having fun.  There were pictures taken at the even and is located at the following website:

http://www.federationguard.com

Battlestar Galactica

Sci-fi series and programming earned a good share of technical and other nominations for the 61st annual Emmy Awards, which were unveiled this morning in Hollywood, including five nods for ABC's Lost, including best drama; and five nods for Syfy's Battlestar Galactica, including best direction.

ABC's canceled Pushing Daisies also got five nominations, including best supporting actress (for Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook), and HBO's True Blood got three. NBC's Heroes received two nominations.

In a special note, nominations in a new category, outstanding special class--short-format live-action entertainment programs, recognized Web videos and went to Syfy.com's Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy and Joss Whedon's groundbreaking Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, among others.

Holly Hunter got a nomination for best actress for her lead role in TNT's Saving Grace.

Syfy's Sanctuary got one nomination, for visual effects.

Following is a full list of the nominations for sci-fi, fantasy and supernatural programs. The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards airs Sept. 20 on CBS.

The following list are the categories Battlestar Galactca was nominated for:

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

Battlestar Galactica ? Daybreak (Part 2) ? Syfy ? R&D TV in association with Universal

Cable Productions

Michael Rymer, Director

Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series

Battlestar Galactica ? Daybreak (Part 2) ? Syfy ? R&D TV in association with Universal

Cable Productions

Andrew Seklir, A.C.E., Edited By

Julius Ramsay, Edited By

Michael O'Halloran, Edited By

Outstanding Special Class - Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs

Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy ? Syfy.com ? Universal Cable Productions

Ronald D. Moore, Executive Producer

David Eick, Executive Producer

Jane Espenson, Executive Producer

Harvey Frand, Produced By

Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series

Battlestar Galactica ? Daybreak (Part 2) ? Syfy ? R&D TV in association with Universal

Cable Productions

Daniel Colman, Supervising Sound Editor/Sound Designer

Jack Levy, Supervising Sound Editor

Vince Balunas, Dialogue/ADR Editor

Sam Lewis, Sound Effects Editor

Michael Baber, Music Editor

Doug Maddik, Foley Artist

Rick Partlow, Foley Artist

Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour)

Battlestar Galactica ? Daybreak (Part 2) ? Syfy ? R&D TV in association with Universal

Cable Productions

Rick Bal, Production Mixer

Michael Olman, C.A.S., Supervising Re-Recording Mixer

Kenneth Kobett, C.A.S., Supervising Re-Recording Mixer

Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series

Battlestar Galactica ? Daybreak (Part 2) ? Syfy ? R&D TV in association with Universal

Cable Productions

Gary Hutzel, Visual Effects Supervisor

Michael Gibson, Visual Effects Producer

Jesse Toves, CGI Artist

Sean Jackson, CGI Artist

Kyle Toucher, CGI Artist

Pierre Drolet, CGI Modeler

Greg Behrens, Visual Effects Coordinator

Heather McAuliff, Visual Effects Compositor

Dave Morton, CGI Artist

Battlestar Aries Promotions 14 Aug 09

*** OFFICIAL PROMOTION LIST ***

Fm: VADM Rivera, Commanding Officer Battlestar Aries

To: Valiant Crew of the Aries & Fenris

Via: 7th Fleet Commanding Officer

Subj: BATTLESTAR ARIES / FENRIS PROMOTIONS

1. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Battlestar Aries and Fellow Colonial Warships operating here in the 7th Fleet. I am always honored to recognize our hard charging people who day in and day out do their best to make a difference. I myself find it a humbling experience b/c it always feels like the first time for me. Onboard the Battlestar Aries we have such members i would like to recognize at this time for their loyalty and dedications to the Aries.

2. The brave young men and women have gone through alot over the years juggling Sci Fi fandom and real life in order to take care their families as well as close friends. Again i am reminded how television shows can actually reflect what happens in the real world.

3. I have been very fortunate to be blessed with knowing such dedicated people whom i have met in person at CONS as well as just simple dinner or hanging out. The high caliber of these people does not surprise me. The same goes to the men and women who have served onboard the Aries but are not with us anymore. Such quality is unmatched and though they are not onboard the Aries i still maintain contact with them. Through it all friendships are everlasting no matter how many fall outs people go through. In the end all you have is one another.

4. Without any further ado it is with great honor the following Colonials are promoted to the next rank. ~Atten HUT!~ Attention to ceremony. ~Looks at the certificate as he reads~

By the power vested in me by the Colonial Fleet and Commanding Officer. The following individuals are hereby promoted on 14th Day of August on the years of our lord 2009. To the next highest rank in order to further expand their knowledge, dreams, aspirations as they lead new Colonial Candidates to become the future leaders of tomorrow in the Fleet.

Selectees::

ARIES

Maj Robert Ybarra to Colonel Ybarra

Capt Jereomy Faber to Major Faber

LT John Paul Gonzales to Captain Gonzales

LTjg Carter Hayes to Lieutenant Hayes

LTjg Nikolas Manak to Lieutenant Manak

LTjg Michele Vargas to Lieutenant Vargas

MSGT Jesse Gutierrez to Command Master Sergeant

FENRIS

Chief Petty Officer Shianne Radle to Senior Chief Petty Officer

SPECIAL CITATIONS::

"To John and Shianne Radle i thank you for going for to Conventions and having the courage to extend Honorary Memberships to Battlestar Galactica celebrities. Though Mr Edward James Olmos was inducted sometime ago into the Aries. It is great to see him inducted into the Gunstar Fenris where undoubtedly he will be honored as all of them are. Thank you for extending the hand of friendship and Honorary membership to all of them."

CDR John Radle

Chief Engineer Shianne Radle

All of the above mention will be updated on databases as well as Aries website located here for anyone wishing to visit www.battlestararies-bsr26.net

Respectfully,

VADM Miguel A. Rivera (CF)

Colonial Defense Forces, C.A.G.

Commanding Officer, Aries BSR-26

Squadron Leader, 66th Fighter Squadron

MK VII Viper 06016TX "ION"

One on One with Edward James Olmos

Wednesday, 05 August 2009

By Jamie Ruby

http://scifivision. com

Edward James Olmos is a man of many talents, though he confesses he had to learn everything he knows, often saying, ?I have become the best I can be.? However, everyone knows that no one can be that great without a lot of natural talent. Olmos is known for his versatility in many roles, though is probably best known for his work in the movie Blade Runner and on the television show Battlestar Galactica, a remake of the old classic.

Olmos recently made a special appearance in Cleveland at the Screaming Tiki Convention where he participated in a panel discussion on Saturday. On Sunday he sat down with Jamie Ruby of MediaBlvd for an exclusive interview.

Olmos told MediaBlvd that he has a hard time choosing a favorite role. ?I really never had a favorite role because they?ve all been favorites. It?s like asking me which one of my six children that I like the most, you know. It?s not easy, but they?re all so different.? He did; however, find one role more challenging then the others. ?The hardest role that I?ve done was [for] Selena. Playing Abraham Quintanilla, the father, was very difficult for me, because it was so close to her death. He was the only one of the family who was around the set, so every time we would finish a scene, they?d holler cut; I?d see that he?d be in pain, in heaving sobs, in the corner, and it really became very difficult.?

Olmos had a lot to say about his work on Blade Runner, in which he played the role of Gaff. At the time the movie was released, it was laughed off the screen. No one knew then that over 20 years later it would become such a phenomenon. ?No one knew where this journey was going to lead us,? Olmos said. The actor had complete creative control over his character then. He helped create the culture of the show as well as invented ?city speak? for the film. Much of his character was his own improvisation that got used in the film.

Olmos often compares Blade Runner to the series Battlestar Galactica, for which he has gained critical acclaim for his role of William Adama. Like Blade Runner, its success was a surprise. He tells fans that the events in Blade Runner are what he believes happen to the characters of Battlestar Galactica after the series (and subsequent movie(s)) have ended.  In 2008 we finished the series [Battlestar Galactica]  The very last words that are said on Battlestar is, it has happened before,  it will happen again. That's the very last shot as Baltar and Six walk away. Grab the final edition, the final take of Blade Runner, put it right after, and you're going to see that the world of Battlestar connects directly to the world of Blade Runner. And you'll see how Adama fought Cylons - genetically his genes came out to be Gaff.

And Gaff is the only=2 0blade runner in Blade Runner. And he's the one who fights the rebels. So you're going see something.  Did Ron Moore know he was going to do that? Did any of us know that they were connected with it.   No. But you can put them right in. So if you want to know what happens to this world, what has happened before will happen again. Put Blade Runner right in there and you'll know exactly what happened.

When Olmos was offered the part of Adama, at first he wasn't interested. They sent me the script and I was asked to read it, and at first I didn?t want to read it and I ended up asking my wife and my wife read it and she ended up [telling] me that I should read it and the script was a very, very important piece, and I did read it after that and I was blown away by the story and by everything about it.

Olmos was hesitant in the beginning and told the show runners that Galactica had to be about the humanity.  I signed the contract and the contract stated, the first four-eyed monster I see, I'm going to faint on camera.  And then I'm going to be having a heart attack so you guys have to say, "Guy died!   I'm off the show. It's in my contract guys. They were so scared to do the hybrid. But I said, No, no, no, it's part human and part machine.  That's not what I was talking about.  I wanted to really make the thing a human story.  And they went for it.

When playing the part of Adama, Olmos didn't need to do research for his character. He draws his inspiration from music. It's really imperative that my characters have [music]. I have to learn something about them in order to expound on them and really create them, and in this case, I found Deva Premal's albums, and ended up listening to them which drove me into understanding Battlestar's world, and it became the centerpiece. It helped Bear McCreary, and it helped the editors edit the very first production. It was really ? I take my hat off to that music. And there were mantras that she was singing and kind of like prayers, but she had put melodies and sang them and they were so enlightening, it was almost like a cross between Gaelic and ancient music, just using her contemporary instruments, but they were so haunting that they became the centerpiece of how I could create this world? I needed my imagination to open, and that?s what the music does. Music has a tendency to be probably the most prolific way of honoring the lines to feel safe and to explore and to go into those places. Some people need drugs; I do it with music.?

Olmos has a hard time choosing a favorite scene from the series. ?I don?t know, it?s hard to say, this program was so beautifully constructed that it?s hard for me to say, ?This is my favorite scene, this is my favorite,? you know. I like the whole journey. So for me it?s just a matter of realizing that, you know, as far as I?m concerned if people really want to see something they should start from the beginning and take the journey.? Although he did say that working with his son Bodie on the show was ?probably the high point of the whole experience.?

However, during the panel, Olmo?s did talk about one of his favorite scenes in Galactica. It was one of the last scenes of the miniseries (which preceded the series), which was the first scene they filmed when the whole cast was together. It was his decision that as admiral he should stand with his crew as they gave their respects to the dead. They had not rehearsed the scene. After saying, ?So say we all!? with his power and conviction behind it, the cast repeated it themselves and it became one of the most defining moments of the series, if not one of the=2 0most defining moments of science fiction.

Olmos has also directed four episodes of the series as well as the television movie, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan. He enjoys working on both sides of the camera. ?I enjoy acting and I love directing. I love acting, I love producing, I love the ability to write - anything to do with the story I love doing. I love editing. And over the years I?ve been able to accomplish and understand how to do all of that.? It was also enjoyable for him to get to direct the cast that he had acted along side with for so long. ?It was great. I mean basically, the thing I loved the most about it was that we didn?t have to really go through any kind of studying to be able to direct a show. I?d been there since the very first day, so it became a real, beautiful experience directing them, and they loved it, and they rose to the level of expectation and they actually went further then the expectation.?

Olmos also has watched the series. ?This show is the only one that I actually looked at when I was done with it. It?s a tremendous story and the characters are so riveting you learn something from them all the time, so yeah, I do watch?I?ve been editing myself and directing myself?for 27 years.?

The hardest part now is leaving the show. ?Saying good bye to everybody - I think that?s been probably the most devastating part of the whole thing is having to, you know?A lot of us still stay in contact with each other, but it?s been very difficult.?

Olmos has more projects in the works. ?We?re working on about three or four movies that hopefully we?ll be able to find the money for.? Also, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan will be airing soon, which will be the end of the Battlestar Galactica series.

Olmos believes that The Plan will change the way you view the show. ?It will drive you to want to see the whole series over again, because you?ll have a different perspective on it. And that?s really the issue, and it?s been quite an experience, but once you learn the plan, what the plan was, then it gives you a deeper understanding of everything. So yeah, it will drive you to watch?and at the end you watch Blade Runner and boy you?re going to realize what has happened before will happen again.?

The series also has a ?real world? impact. Olmos, along with Mary McDonnell, Ron Moore, and David Eick, were invited to the UN where they held a Battlestar Galactica retrospective. The series deals with a lot of real life moral issues, including dealing with the reconciliation of two groups (humans and Cylons) after war. They showed clips and talked about how and why the series went beyond the call of duty and how it relates to the real world. However, they also ended up having a discussion of human equality, and as Olmos has often been involved in social activism, he was offended when of the UN?s representatives when talking about human rights used the word ?race.? Olmos went on to explain that race is not a cultural determinate ? there is only one race: the human race. Everyone was moved by what Olmos said, that weeks ago the representative came up to Olmos and told him that because of his speech that the entire UN charter was rewritten without the word ?race.? *

Olmos has been and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in life and on the screen. So say we all!

/div>

*Note, this has not been confirmed, and other news outlets that originally reported this have retracted their stories.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

BSG: The Plan Box Art

UGO provides the box art for the DVD and Blu-ray release of Battlestar Galactica: The Plan:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From Universal Studios Home Entertainment:

Experience the Fight for Humanity's Survival

Through the Eyes of the Cylons for the First Time Ever In

Battlestar Galactica:  The Plan

Premieres Exclusively on Blu-ray Hi-Def,

DVD and Digital Download October 27, 2009

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., July 17 - Television's most thrilling science fiction adventure makes a stunning turnabout when Battlestar Galactica: The Plan debuts on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD on October 27, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For the first time ever, fans can experience the uncut and uncensored story of humanity's futuristic fight for survival through the eyes of their deadly adversaries, the Cylons. This never-before-seen perspective of the Cylon plan reunites the series' original television cast, including Emmy Award winner Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver), Dean Stockwell (JAG), Tricia Helfer (Burn Notice), Grace Park (The Cleaner) and Callum Keith Rennie (Californication). Ronald D. Moore and David Eick return as executive producers.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's executive producer and writer Jane Espenson added, "Edward James Olmos was our director on the movie, and he did an amazing job. He also shot some great footage that we are not able to show on TV, so I'm thrilled that viewers can experience it uncut as our director envisioned it."

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan includes the uncensored 90-minute feature and revealing bonus features that take viewers onto the set of the most unexpected twist ever in the intergalactic saga's history. Interactive features available exclusively on Blu-ray Hi-Def include the new Battlestar Galactica Trivia Game, as well as Universal's acclaimed U-CONTROL and BD-LIVE experience. With Blu-ray Hi-Def, viewers can enjoy Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's stunning visuals with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.

During four spellbinding seasons on the SCI FI Channel (now Syfy), Battlestar Galactica's vivid reimagining of the classic television series earned a legion of devoted fans, as well as unfettered critical acclaim, and Emmy Awards for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in 2007 and 2008 and a Peabody Award in 2008. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan is priced at $39.98 SRP on Blu-ray Hi-Def and $26.98 SRP on DVD.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN - BONUS FEATURES

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD takes viewers deeper into the acclaimed space drama with exclusive bonus features, including:

* EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-ray Hi-Def:

o BD-LIVE: Access the BD-Live Center through your Internet-connected player to download more exclusive content, the latest trailers and more!

+ MY SCENES: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie.

+ BATTLESTAR GALACTICA TRIVIA: All-new trivia game.

* BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY HI-DEF and DVD):

o DELETED SCENES

o FROM ADMIRAL TO DIRECTOR: EDWARD JAMES OLMOS AND THE PLAN - A day-in-the-life with director and actor Edward James Olmos, as he tackles the most ambitious Battlestar Galactica production to date.

o THE CYLONS OF THE PLAN - Features interviews with the actors who play the film's key Cylons, including Dean Stockwell, Tricia Helfer, Grace Park, Michael Trucco, Rick Worthy and Michael Bennett.

o THE CYLON ATTACK - This featurette takes viewers behind the scenes for the planning and execution of one of Battlestar Galactica: The Plan's major action sequences.

o BEHIND THE PLAN - An in-depth look at some stunning visual effects and the role post-production plays in bringing the world of Battlestar Galactica to life.

o FILMMAKER COMMENTARY

SYNOPSIS

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan: The Cylons began as humanity's robot servants. They rebelled, and evolved, and now they look like us. Their plan is simple: destroy the race that enslaved them. But when their devastating attack leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of two powerful Cylon leaders, working separately, and their determination to finish the task.

An inspired, visually stunning reimagining of the 1978 series of the same name, Battlestar Galactica captured the imaginations of a new generation of fans with its gritty realism, compelling storylines and commanding performances. The show garnered numerous awards, including two Emmys and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and was recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding television programs of the year for two years running. In March 2009, Battlestar Galactica's impassioned explorations of today's hot-button issues, including politics, terrorism, treatment of prisoners and religion, even inspired the United Nations to host a special panel to discuss the questions it has raised. The series is from Universal Cable Productions and is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN

Blu-ray Hi-Def

Street Date: October 27, 2009

Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Price: $39.98

Running Time: 90 Minutes

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: THE PLAN DVD

Street Date: October 27, 2009

Copyright: 2009 Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Price: $26.98

Running Time: 90 Minutes

CONVENTIONS:

DragonCon 2009

Sept 4th - 7th, 2009

Atlanta, GA. USA

NOTE: Aaron will be attending D*C as a 'fan' not a guest

09 August 2009 @ 11:40 am

Aaron at DragonCon (update)

I was just telling Aaron how there were a few comments on his fanpage on facebook from people thinking they were going to see him at DragonCon (at guest panels, photos sessions, autograph signings) and that I had to make a post on there letting them know he was going as a 'fan' not a 'guest'. Obviously all of us here already knew that. But for anyone that doesn't read this LJ comm, they're still under the impression that he will be there as a guest because the D*C website lists him as one.

He doesn't want to disappoint anyone that was hoping to meet him so he said that he might get a table for one day for a few hours just to sign for people who want something.

I'm not sure how the announcement will be made regarding what day and time he will be signing. Maybe at one of the BSG guest panels or on one of those daily DragonCon update pages (not sure what the official name of that is) that you can pick up at the info booths. Or maybe it will just have to be pure luck of stumbling across him in the 'hall of fame'.

                                                                                                 Future Movies

Speaking at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con, director and star of The Plan, Edward James Olmos stated that he believes there will be several more Battlestar Galactica movies in the future and is confident that the DVD release of The Plan will sell well enough to facilitate these films:

"As a matter of fact, I've got to tell you right now. Because of you all, what you're doing, because of the love for that world...I can guarantee that this will not be the last movie." 

This statement, however, is by no means official, as both Ron Moore, David Eick, and SyFy have made no mention of any additional Battlestar films.

Olmos later went on to clarify that is The Plan sold ¾ of a million copies (750,000) then Universal studious would assuredly be willing to produce future Battlestar-related productions.