Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 178

December 24, 2020: Beware Santa!

If comics have taught us anything, it is to be wary of sleigh-riding stranger bearing gifts.  Especially if they gain access to your home in the dead of night.

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December 23, 2020: Amazing Comic Book Covers!

Here are a few that caught my eye…

Marvel #3 – cover art by Alex Ross

Batman Beyond #50 – cover art by Francis Manapul

Detective Comics #1033 – cover art by Lee Bermejo

Black Adam: Endless Winter Special #1 – cover art by Bosslogic

Batman: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? – cover art by Andy Kubert

An Unkindness of Ravens #4 – cover art by Dan Pendergast

The Department of Truth #4 – cover art by Martin Simmonds

And which were your favorites?

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December 22, 2020: A busy end of 2020!

Well, it was touch and go there for a while as it seemed that my Snow Monkeys were poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but Big Ben, Diontae, and the Steelers D did just enough to help us eke out a nailbiting triumph.  But it doesn’t get any easier for my Snow Monkeys as, next week, we play for all the marbles in the League of Our Own final.  Who do I start?  And who do I sit?  These are just a few of the questions I’ll be throwing your way in the days to come as I attempt to secure my first championship in years.  We got this!

YEAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!

Meanwhile, slow if not quite steady progress on the Project F pilot.  I aim to forge ahead this week with the aim of delivering a first draft mid-January.  I really need to pick up the pace to stay ahead of a looming perfect storm.  February is going to be crazy.

I’m compiling a list of my favorite things across various categories (reads, shows, etc.) for 2020 and, honestly, having a hard time.  Have I really become that much more selective?  Or maybe cranky?

Did you miss yesterday’s Dark Matter Episode 12 chat with the gang at Orville Nation and special guest Ivon Bartok?  Well, fear not.  We have you covered!

Tonight, I’ll be joining the Legion of Substitute Podcasters to talk sci-fi, Stargate, Dark Matter and, of course, The Legion of Super-Heroes!

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December 21, 2020: Snow Monkeys poised! Chatting Dark Matter with Ivon Bartok! Robbie David channels George McFly!

Yeah!  Sweet, sweet almost victory.  My Snow Monkey are poised to wrap up a semifinal win tonight and move on to next week’s League of Our Own fantasy football championship final against the #2 ranked Alvin Mack.  Down about 13 points heading into this evening’s game, my hopes rest with Ben Rothlisberger, his #1 receiver Diontae Johnson, and the #1 ranked Pittsburg Steelers defense.  I am cautiously optimistic…

Hey, what are you doing later today?  Here’s your answer…

DARK MATTER MONDAY

December 20, 2020: Suji Sunday!

Defiant!

Old Yeller.

Top Gun back in action.

Snack time.

Zonked.

Napping.

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December 19, 2020: The Saturday Update!

This afternoon, I sat down with Gateworld’s David Read to talk about Stargate SG-1’s sixth season.  Ended up unearthing some stories I’d completely forgotten until today…

A little Yes/No…

Cannabis Ice Cream? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/pUlx2ur4lz

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) December 19, 2020

Today –

Akemi: Alexa, set timer for thirty seconds.

Alexa: Turkey seitan added to shopping list.

From the Stargate vault courtesy of Lawren Bancroft-Wilson…

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December 18, 2020: You Never Know!

When people ask me what I’m working on, I will always list at least a half-dozen projects in various stages of development.  At present, it’s actually eight.  It may seem like a lot but the truth is, in this business, you never know: what’s going to move forward, what will be delayed, what will get killed, and what will get picked up.  Especially the latter.  Some seven years ago, I was 99% certain a drama series I had developed was about to get the green light while a sci-fi series I had pitched was D.O.A.  In the span of 24 hours, that drama series was dead and the sci-fi series got picked up.  Hello, Dark Matter.

There’s absolutely no way to know what a given buyer will take a shine to.  Often, it all comes down to timing.  And that’s why it’s always a good idea to have multiple projects on the go.  Of course you’ll always have your personal favorites, or the ones you deem most likely to spark interest, but best not to get too attached because if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you should always expect the unexpected. Such was the case yesterday morning when I received an email by a buyer expressing interest in a pilot I wrote a while ago, a script that I had assumed would never get produced.  Well, surprise surprise.  Needless to say, nothing is a given.  It could all amount to nothing.  But, for now, that supernatural small town mystery has vaulted into first place like Lollopop overtaking Black Knight in the windy part of Jelle’s Sand Marble Rally:

A little Yes/No for you…

Spam and Oreos Burger? Yes/No
McDonald's China Has A Spam and Oreos Burger, It Seems https://t.co/pE2mB6Pm1i via @kotaku

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) December 18, 2020

As someone rightly pointed out on twitter, the biggest concern isn’t the spam-oreo combination but that layer of mysterious white substance.

I did a fun interview this morning with the Midnight’s Edge broadcast.  We touch on Stargate and Dark Matter but mostly focus on writing and the t.v. industry.  Check out if you’re interested:

Set your alarms for tomorrow, at 4 pm ET, when I rejoin the incredible David Read for another in-depth Stargate discussion as part of the Dial the Gate video series.  Tomorrow, we’ll be talking about SG-1’s fifth season and such episodes as The Fifth Man, The Tomb, Desperate Measures, Summit, Last Stand, Fail Safe, Revelations, and, of course, Wormhole X-Treme!  I suspect we may also touch on using a toaster to power a stargate, the Aschen and their suspect vaccine, and the death of Daniel Jackson (his first but certainly not his last!).

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December 17, 2020: Remembering Steve DiMarco

Saddened to hear of the sudden passing of director Steve DiMarco who I worked with over two seasons of Dark Matter.  A unique individual with a sense of style all his own, Steve was one of this industry’s quickest and most efficient shooters, never failing to make his days, often wrapping early (to the delight of the crew).  He was also a thoughtful and kind-hearted individual who would, over lunch and between set-ups, swing on by my office for a casual chat.

I honestly didn’t know quite what to make of him on first meeting, this rebel punk in combat boots (and, if I remember correctly on that first day, a kilt), but we ended up forming an unlikely connection over a shared appreciation for The Prodigy, Ministry and, of course, good storytelling.

Steve’s first episode of Dark Matter was Season 2, Episode 3 “I’ve Seen the Other Side of You” that kicks off with one of the show’s most suspenseful openings: FIVE on the run from some unknown pursuers who, in the Tease’s closing seconds, are revealed to be her fellow crew members.  I remember watching the director’s cut of the that scene – the CLOSE SHOTS, the QUICK CUTS, the unbearable escalating tension as she evades capture, seemingly escapes, only to be snagged at the very last moment.  It’s a terrific scene, one that puts Steve’s skills on full display – and simply blew me away in the editing suite.

He came back to direct two episodes in the show’s third season, Episode 3 “Welcome to the Revolution”, and Episode 11 “The Dwarf Star Conspiracy”.  The latter included a shot he pitched during prep week that I was, admittedly, dubious could be pulled off – a shot of an expanding blood pool whose widening compass captures the reflection of  our main baddie (played by actress Kate Drummond).  I was skeptical it would work, but Steve proved me wrong.  Proved me wrong AND wrapped before lunch.

Sure, he was fast.  But he was also very good.

We kept in touch via email after Dark Matter ended, meeting up for a sushi lunch back in January over which we discussed the state of the industry.  He was finding it increasingly difficult to land steady work despite his great body of work.  The pandemic only exacerbated the situation, but Steve remained upbeat in his messages, always checking in to see how I was doing.  The last time I heard from Steve was back in November when we exchanged emails and he told me about some writing he was doing.  It’s a shame he never got the opportunity to realize that work.

Steve DiMarco was one-of-a-kind.  And he will be missed.

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December 16, 2020: Amazing Comic Book Covers!

Just a few that caught my eye…

Mars Attacks/Red Sonja #4 – cover art by Arthur Suydam

Vengeance of Vampirella #12 – cover art by Ben Oliver

Vengeance of Vampirella #12 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo

Captain America #26 – cover art by Alex Ross

Deadpool #9 – cover art by Chris Bachalo

Star Wars: Darth Vader #8 – cover art by Aaron Kuder

The Immortal Hulk #41 – cover art by Alex Ross

Aquaman #66 – cover art by Dima Ivanov

Batman #104 – cover art by Francesco Mattina

Dark Nights: Death Metal #6 – cover art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau

Nightwing #77 – cover art by Alan Quah

Rorschach #3 – cover art by Jock

Superman #28 – cover art by Gabrielle Dell’Otto

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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December 15, 2020: In case you missed it…

Here’s last night’s Orville Nation Dark Matter Episode 11 discussion with director Martin Wood.  Some tidbits and BTS stories here for Stargate fans as well.

One of the things we discussed was the possibility of doing a Stargate rewatch once we wrap up Dark Matter.  Anyone interested?

Whew.  I spent three hours zooming today.  First up was a conversation with the author of the the terrific fantasy series I’ll be adapting for the small screen.  A terrific guy.  Very much looking forward to working with him when the time comes.  Then, it was a two hour spin session with two other writers that covered everything from warp drives and wormhole travel to zero point modules and generation ships.

How about this holiday Yes/No?

Eggnog Bread Pudding! Is it even the holidays if you didn't have eggnog? pic.twitter.com/tqpZcQqfXo

— Chefclub Network (@ChefclubNetwork) December 4, 2020

A definite YES for me.  I mean, I’d definitely eat it…after someone else made it.

Informative if you are planning a long interstellar trip:

Making sense of the incredible speed of Light.

Acknowledgement: James O'Donoghue @physicsJ /NASA imagery pic.twitter.com/kkZEylJTHk

— Tech Burrito (@TechAmazing) December 15, 2020

 

Making sense of the incredible speed of Light.

Acknowledgement: James O'Donoghue @physicsJ /NASA imagery pic.twitter.com/kkZEylJTHk

— Tech Burrito (@TechAmazing) December 15, 2020

Fire in the hole!

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