Propworx has circulated a new press release about their upcoming Battlestar Galactica prop auctions – both the live event in Pasadena and the subsequent eBay auctions. The live event is scheduled for January 16-18, 2009. Below is the official press release and my short Q&A with Propworx’s CEO, Alec Peters.
“BATTLESTAR GALACTICA” LIVE AUCTION SET FOR
JANUARY 16-18, 2009 IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
One-Of-A-Kind Props, Set Pieces And Costumes Will Also Be Offered In A Series Of Auctions Coinciding With The Final Episodes of The Hit SCI FI Channel Series
NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music And Consumer Products Group Is Teaming With Propworx To Offer Fans And Collectors This Unique Chance To Own A Piece Of Television HistoryUNIVERSAL CITY, CA – November 08, 2008 – As the SCI FI Channel’s original series “Battlestar Galactica” draws to a close, NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group has teamed with Propworx to offer thousands of one-of-a-kind props, set pieces and costumes to the public in a series of live and online auctions, beginning on January 16, 2009 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California. Some of the more spectacular items that will be available to bid on include full size ships, “Admiral William Adama’s” desk, a Cylon Raider and six to 12 costumes from each major character including Viper flight suits and “Caprica Six’s” red dress. A portion of the auction’s proceeds will benefit United Way.
The auctions will kick off with a preview day on Friday, January 16th at 10:00 a.m. The preview day will also feature a series of live panel discussions with the creative team that developed all the fantastic props, costumes and set pieces for “Battlestar Galactica.” The two day live auction event will take place Saturday January 17th and Sunday January 18th and will feature hundreds of items from the first three seasons of the show. The live auction will also be available to view online at www.battlestarprops.com so that those unable to make it to Pasadena will have a chance to bid electronically. On Tuesday, January 20, 200 items will be offered on eBay for those that were unable to participate in the live auctions over the weekend.
Then, as previously announced, additional items will be made available for auction each week on eBay in conjunction with the airing of “Battlestar Galactica” and will feature items that appeared in that particular episode. The first of these auctions will take place on Friday, January 23, starting at 9:00 a.m. (ET), and will conclude the following Friday, January 30, starting at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
“We are all fans of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and are excited to see how the series concludes,” said Stacey Ward, Director NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group. “We are also really excited to be able to offer both fans and collectors this incredible opportunity to own a piece of science fiction television history as the series concludes.”
“This will be a huge event and I am really honored to be a part of it,” said Alec Peters, Chief Executive Officer of Propworx. “There will be a great selection of items in every category and we will be certain to provide items in all price ranges so that every fan can have a chance to own a part of the show.”
Some of the items to be offered in the live auction include:
- A life-size Viper
- Admiral Adama’s duty blue uniform
- Apollo’s Viper flight suit
- Caprica Six’s red dress
- Consoles from the CIC
- The Arrow of Apollo
- Admiral Adama’s painting of the first Cylon war
- Colonel Saul Tigh’s eye patch and liquor bottle
- President Laura Roslin’s desk
- Original production sketches
- Set plans and drawings
- Props, costumes and set pieces for every budget
The schedule of events is as follows:
- Preview Day – Friday, January 16, 2009 – Pasadena Convention Center (Doors open at 10:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m) (Panel schedule to be announced at another date).
- Live Auction Day – Saturday, January 17, 2009 (Doors open at 8:00 a.m. Auction begins at 9:00 a.m.).
- Live Auction Day – Sunday, January 18, 2009 (Doors open at 9:00 a.m. Auction begins at 10:00 a.m.).
- Online Auction of 200 Items – Tuesday, January 20 (Auction goes live at 9:00 a.m. (ET) and will conclude Friday, January 23, starting at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
- First of Several Weekly Online Auctions – Beginning on Friday, January 23, weekly online auctions on eBay begin at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
For more information please visit www.battlestarprops.com.
The Pasadena Convention Center is located at 300 East Green Street in Pasadena, California, 91101 www.pasadenacenter.com).
About “Battlestar Galactica”
Battlestar Galactica is the gripping saga of humanity’s last remnants and their struggle to find a new home while fleeing from their deadly Cylon enemies. Redefining the space opera with its gritty realism, Galactica’s intensity, issues-driven topicality, and command performances have garnered it numerous awards, including three Emmy® Awards and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. The show was recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding programs of the year two years running. The series is produced by Universal Cable Productions and executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick. The outstanding ensemble cast is led by Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park.
About Propworx
Propworx, Inc. serves the movie and television industry by selling production props, costumes and set pieces through special live and Internet auctions, while at the same time integrating these special events into a studio’s marketing campaigns. Propworx goal is not just to sell the assets of a production, but to leverage those sales into meaningful publicity and marketing to increase the overall awareness of a production. For more information about Propworx, and examples of what Propworx can do, please go to www.Propworx.com
About NBC Universal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBC Universal Television DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBC Universal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special market projects and the NBC Universal Online Store.
About United Way
United Way is a global network, including nearly 1,300 local organizations in the U.S. that advance the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. The United Way movement creates long lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of problems that prevent progress in these areas. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: LIVEUNITED.org.
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Below is my short follow-up Q&A with Alec Peters:
Q. Is there going to be a Battlestar Galactica “convention” of sorts, or is it merely an auction with an ancillary panel/presentation event?
A. Yes, we want Friday, the Preview Day, to be an event. So we are flying down all six department heads to give one hour panel discussions on what they did and to take questions from fans and collectors.
Q. How many lots in total will be sold “live” over that weekend?
A. 800 plus 200 ending Monday on eBay
Q. What company/software is going to handle the online bidding component?
A. Auction Network. They are an incredibly professional outfit, with lots of production experience in the television world, so what they record is done with a full TV production team and in HD. The Internet component is really impressive. They have been handling Julian’s auctions and I went to their one in Vegas in August and it was very impressive.
Q. Will there be an online streaming video to “watch” the action?
A. Absolutely.
Q. Could you provide a few example lots and what the open bid and estimates are?
A. We are not doing estimates, as they really aren’t realistic, nor very helpful I think.
Q. What is the Buyer’s Premium?
A. 20%.
Q. Will there be California sales tax assessed on purchases made by CA residents and/or all buyers?
A. Sales tax must be assessed on any purchase made where the item is picked up in, or delivered to CA. That is state law. If you are outside of CA and the item is delivered outside of CA, then there is no sales tax.
Q. When will the catalogs be available? How much will they cost? Will there be a free PDF download?
A. Catalogs will be available early in December. They will cost $35. The catalog will also be available online on AuctionNetwork.com
Q. How many episodes are left in the series? How many weeks of eBay auctions will that translate into?
A. There are 10 episodes left and there will be auctions corresponding with each week.
Q. Will there be a Buyer’s Premium on eBay sales?
A. No.
Q. Is there still a second live auction event planned, or will it be just the one live event followed by eBay auctions to the conclusion?
A. There is a second auction that will happen shortly after the last episode.
Q. What percentage of the gross proceeds will go to the United Way?
A. That is up to Universal and I am not sure that they have disclosed that yet.
Previous related articles can be found at Auction Event: Propworx (Battlestar Galactica)
Jason De Bord