Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 186

September 9, 2020: I would advise caution and remind you to take your vitamin D!

Covid-19 case rates are rising in some places, falling in others, but the death rates have either remained flat or fallen off.  This seems very promising and, as a result, many are already looking past this pandemic.  I would advise caution.

There are many theories for the drop in the fatality rate, everything from a weakening virus to better treatments, but I believe that one of the major factors being overlooked is the summer weather.  Studies have shown that the severity of the disease is linked to viral load.  In other words, the heavier the dose, the sicker you can get.  If you’re outside, the virus is dispersed and, if you catch it, you’re more likely to suffer a milder case or be asymptomatic.  Still, even if you do get sick, the fact that you’re soaking up the sun boosts your vitamin D levels – which, apparently, are one of the biggest contributing factors to severity and survival.  With me so far?

As we head into winter, younger people will no doubt continue their irresponsible behavior, but socializing will more likely take place indoors in closed environments leading to larger viral loads.  Less time out in the sun will also make people more susceptible as their vitamin D levels drop.

People are acting like the worst is over, but there’s a potential for things to get very bad around November-December and, potentially, well into 2021.

Don’t forget to take your vitamin D!

Amazing people with whom I have worked…

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Peter Williams (@actualApophis) played the role of Apophis on #StargateSG1. And although the character seemingly died in season 2, the magic of science fiction afforded me the opportunity to work with Peter on later episodes. pic.twitter.com/obbIIIGGMQ

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 31, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Actress Andee Frizzell (@AndeeFrizzell) played the roles of various Wraith Queens over the course of #StargateAtlantis' five year run, undergoing countless hours of early morning transformations in the make-up chair. THAT is dedication! pic.twitter.com/tL6aGVpZpg

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) September 1, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
He was Carl Strom in #StargateUniverse and Warden Treihan on #DarkMatter. Carolo Rota is not only a great actor, but a celebrated chef and gourmet. I look forward to casting him again so we can resume our discussion on the merits of 'ndjuja. pic.twitter.com/kWCBxvk95Z

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) September 2, 2020

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September 8, 2020: From the Atlantis vault!

Assassin’s Creed Pandemic: Altair’s Staycation

The wraith hive ship interior as a nightclub…

The bar.

The dance floor.

The creepy back corridor that leads to the washroom.

And a few more BTS pics from “The Queen”…

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September 7, 2020: The Crime Club convenes to discuss The Taking of Pelham One Two Three!

The Crime Club convenes to discuss the 1974 classic The Taking of Pelham One Two Three…

This movie was, in two words, “truly awesome”.  And, to be perfectly honest, I was surprised.  Pleasantly so, because a lot of these classics to not stand the test of time.  In this case, however, outside of a few outdated beats, this movie holds together really well.  Hell, better than well.

The script is tight and full of humor, surprises and, at times, unbearable tension.  The direction is top-notch.  This ride never slows down or spins its wheels.  It is a thoroughly engaging film from start to finish and, on second viewing (I must have watched it when I was a kid because I don’t really remember much outside of the hair-raising “third rail” sequence), it has vaulted into one of my very favorites of the genre.

Of course, the crackerjack performances seal the deal: Walter Matthau as the cool-under-pressure Lt. Garber, Martin Balsam as the hapless Mr. Green, but Robert Shaw’s turn as the nefarious Mr. Blue is the show stopper.  The supporting cast is also terrific: Lee Wallace as the anxious, bed-ridden mayor, Jerry Stiller as the cranky Lt. Rico Patrone, Earl Hindman (who would later find t.v. fame as Tim Allen’s neighbor, Wilson, on Home Improvement) as Mr. Brown, and Hector Elizondo as the deranged Mr. Grey.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three has apparently between remade twice, once as an MOW, another as a big screen release starring Denzel Washington.  I haven’t seen either but I am willing to bet neither are even half as good as the original.

Anyone else watch?  If so, what did you think?

Friday, the Crime Club reconvenes to discuss the 1991 Patrick Swayze/Keanu Reeves thriller Point Break.

How about a little Yes/No?

Cheesy 7 Durian Pizza? Yes/No
Pizza Hut releases a pizza with real durian and 8 types of cheese. I'm sold. @mashablesea https://t.co/PkRH1nit2E

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) September 7, 2020

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September 6, 2020: Suji Sunday!

Babushka babe.

Earthquake-ready stance.

Contemplating life, the universe and everything she had for breakfast.

A quizzical girl.

With sister Lulu back in the day.

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September 5, 2020: Remembering my time on Whispers!

Name this band!

Two episodes really stand out for me over my five year involvement with Stargate: Atlantis.  The first was

“Harmony”.  The second was this one, “Whispers”.  I would occasionally venture down to set during production, but those visits were few and far between simply because I often had my hands full with either prep, post, or scriptwriting.  In the case of the aforementioned episodes, however, I was able to carve out some time and spend some extended time on set.  And the fact that director Will Waring was at the helm made all the more memorable.

I remember doing an initial test run of the smog effect on one of our closed sets and the results weren’t ver promising.  In order to get the desired density level, we would have had to fog the hell out of the place  and, at even moderate levels, it caused the crew some discomfort.  So we ended up choosing one of the bigger sound stages that offered good cross ventilation, and set up individual tented areas we could fog up for limited spans.

The creature designs were another challenge,  Between the “eyeless” applications and the smog, the performers were flying blind.  The first rehearsal was absolute mayhem.  As a result, adjustments were made to the make-up to allow for a better visibility.

In fact, this episode was full of challenges.  Another instant was the wall-crawling sequence which required one of the creatures to defy gravity.  This was achieved with the help of a false wall and some trickery.

It was a tricky, dare I say difficult shoot, but we were in great hands with Will at the helm.  And the on set mood was buoyant, no doubt in part due to our terrific guest stars, among them Nicole de Boer, Christina Cox, Javina Gavankar, and Leela Savasta.

Finally, one of my favorite keepsakes from my time working on the franchise was adorable this little something left on my chair by Production Designer James Robbins.

Good times!

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September 4, 2020: The Crime Club convenes to discuss The Man From Nowhere!

The Crime Club reconvenes to discuss The Man From Nowhere…

A reclusive pawnshop owner with a dark past befriends his neighbor, a neglected young girl.  After the girl’s mother steals a drug shipment, the rightful owners come looking to reclaim their stash – and exact a little revenge by kidnapping mom and daughter.  But our hero, it turns out, is a former covert operative for South Korean Intelligence.  And he wants his friend back.

Great performances from Won Bin as the reserved but lethal  and actress Sae-ron Kim as the precocious So-mi, but also some terrific performances by the colorful cavalcade of baddies, especially Thanayong Wongtrakul as the scarily dangerous (yet ultimately redeemable) Ramrowan.

The movie is written and directed by Jeong-beom Lee (who brought us No Tears for the Dead four years later), and he delivers a perfect action movie: dynamic fight sequences, crazy pursuits, ballistic ballets and, most importantly, at the heart of the movie, characters and a relationship you care about.

While watching the movie, before Cha Tae-sik cuts his hair (with a razor blade no less), I was struck by how much of a John Wick vibe I was getting.  Wonder if this movie offered any inspiration to the creators of the Keanu vehicle several years later?

A lot of standout scenes in this movie, but my favorite was the Bulletproof Windshield Sequence.  Watching it, I had a strange sense of deja vu, and I’m convinced an American movie stole this exact moment – but I can’t remember WHICH American movie.  To those of you saw The Man From Nowhere and know what I’m talking about, do you have any idea?

I have yet to be even mildly disappointed by any of these Korean crime thrillers.  Old Boy, Memories of Murder, I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life – all equally brilliant.  And now I can add The Man From Nowhere to that list.

Alright!  Let’s try to keep the hits coming!  Next up, we’ll be watching the 1974 classic: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three…

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September 3, 2020: More from the Stargate vault!

More from the Stargate vault…

The Atlantis gate.

Setting up the gate – White Sands, New Mexico.

Fun in the sun with Jamil Walker-Smith and Brian J. Smith.

Director Andy Mikita’s On-set Brain Surgery TED Talk – “The Shrine”

You get one trip through the gate.  Where are you going and who are you taking with you?

The dynamic desert duo.

Doing a thorough sweep of the area.

 

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September 3, 2020: Temporal distortion fields, Project F, and more amazing people with whom I have worked!

Sometimes when I talk to my mother on the phone, I feel like I’ve inadvertently crossed into a temporal distortion field where time passes slower for me than the actual time would indicate.  Today, the effect was triggered by a seemingly innocuous question: “How much did it cost?”.  This a reference to the renovation work recently completed on her kitchen.  By way of a response, Mom proceeded to break down ALL of the work done to date, from the doors to the floor, cubbies to crawlspace, all the moving and the repairing and the cleaning and the painting, sparing absolutely no detail in the retelling.  And, the more she talked, the further away the answer seemed to recede, tantalizingly close yet growing more elusive by the minute until, eventually, I couldn’t even remember what I’d asked in the first place.

Anyway, five grand.

I kid.  I kid.

Closer to six.

Another stage completed on Project F today!  This time the First World section.  Keywords and phrases included: neural interfaces, future, post-apocalyptic, explore, unknown, their true identities a mystery.  Tomorrow, I move on to the Second World section.

Amazing people with whom I’ve worked….

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The incredible Joe Turner was our a camera operator on the last season of #DarkMatter before moving on to work on #KimsConvenience and #Titans. Pictured here with the equally fantastic Alyssa Pawlak. pic.twitter.com/VZZe93vfi8

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 28, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
A veteran of the #OrphanBlack and #MurdochMysteries writers' rooms, Natalia Guled proved a powerful creative voice on #UtopiaFalls as well.
Looking forward to working with her again in the not too distant future! pic.twitter.com/oW1XDoAupT

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 29, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Sam Inayeh was the Director of Photography on #UtopiaFalls. He's accomplished, a focused worker, and a good guy. You can check out his most recent work on #Coroner. pic.twitter.com/TiTChJEEEw

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 30, 2020

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September 1, 2020: Robots! Diamond Nano Threads! Another Crime Club Selection! And more Amazing People With Whom I Have Worked!

A solid start to development work on Project F.  Today, I completed the Tease, as scheduled. Whenever I pitch, I always start with a very detailed breakdown of the pilot opening.  I’ve been running this one through my head for weeks and finally got it down.  Four full pages all told.  Keywords and terms for those  interested: graphene structure, nanocrystal windows, bioreactor panels, spider silk armor, robot, gun turret, diamond nano threads.

Tomorrow, I re-read what I wrote today, make any necessary changes, and then move on to the next section: FIRST WORLD.

Alrighty!  Since progress was made, I’m reconvening the Crime Club for another discussion.  Next up is another superb-looking South Korean offering, The Man From Nowhere:

Amazing people with whom I have worked…

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Jennifer Spence (@SpenceJen) played the role of Dr. Lisa Park on #StargateUniverse, crafting a nuanced, heartfelt, and incredibly memorable performance. pic.twitter.com/UP5uwQKHrB

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 25, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The terrific Tal Aulbrook (@taliily) was our third assistant director on #DarkMatter and the partial inspiration for the character of Devon Taltherd (Get it?). pic.twitter.com/xImZkeL5Bn

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 26, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Dino Laurenza was the A camera operator on the first two seasons of #DarkMatter. In addition to being well skilled and easy to work with, Dino is also an incredible foodie. pic.twitter.com/PYkHaKKDLV

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) August 27, 2020

The post September 1, 2020: Robots! Diamond Nano Threads! Another Crime Club Selection! And more Amazing People With Whom I Have Worked! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

August 31, 2020: Post-draft discussion and the Crime Club reconvenes to discuss A Bittersweet Life!

Last weekend, I participated in two fantasy football league drafts.  Unlike past years, I went in wholly unprepared.  I hadn’t read any articles, done any research.  I just sat down, logged in, and selected my players by hunch.

So, how’d I do?

Well, if the post-draft rankings are any indication, not bad.  Not bad at all.

Both sites I consulted had my Snow Monkey at #1 in the power rankings.

Ah, if only the season had ended on Sunday – a full eleven days before the start of the actual NFL season.

My second draft wasn’t quite the rousing success, but I attribute this to NFL.com’s insistence on auto-correcting Ertz to Hertz so that, instead of landing Philly TE Zach Ertz in the 4th round, I ended up drafting Carolina Panthers TE Chris Manhertz who racked up a whopping 11 yards over 16 games last season.  As a result, my Snow Monkeys ranked #5 out of #12 in that league.

But it’s early.  We have a long way to go before the championship.

Or maybe a comparatively shorter way if the season ends up being called due to this pandemic.

Hey, Crime Clubbers, what did you think of A Bittersweet Life?

Absolutely loved it.

Back in the day, Hong Kong produced the very best in crime and gangster films. Today, it’s South Korea.

Lee Byung-hun is brilliant as Sun-woo, the mob enforcer tasked with keeping an eye on the boss’s mistress.  He has specific orders to take her out if he catches her cheating.  But a moment of sympathy sets his life and career down a bloody and bullet-riddled path.

Amid the action and mayhem, there is humor, humanity, and some truly heartfelt moments as our hero struggles to come to terms with, what seems to him, an unjust turn.  You can’t help but feel for him when he confronts his boss at film’s end and demands to know “Why?”.   And “No, the real reason.”.  He’s incredibly sympathetic, so the scenes that track his quest for revenge really pack an emotional (occasional cinder block) punch.

This movie is full of great little sequences as well.  The first awkward meeting with the mistress.  His initial encounter with the drug runners.  The race to assemble the guns.  The levity of these scenes are in marked contrast to the movie’s visceral violence – the warehouse sequence, the ice rink set-up, the final showdown – casting those elements in a much darker light by comparison but offering viewers some much needed instances of hope.  Because, at the end of the day, these things never end well.

For most anyway.

So, did any of you check out A Bittersweet Life?  If so, what did you think?

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