Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 209

March 4, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Batman #90 (cover art by Jorge Jimenez)

Black Cat #10 (cover art by Adi Granov)

Chastity #4 (cover art by Catherine Nodet)

Daredevil #19 (cover art by Julian Totino Tedesco)

Daredevil #19 (cover art by Michael del Mundo)

Justice League: Odyssey #19 (cover art by Skan)

Mercy #1 (cover art by Stanley Lau)

Stargate Academy #1 (cover art by J. Scott Campbell)

Superman Villains #1 (cover art by Bryan Hitch)

So, which were YOUR favorites?

The post March 4, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 3, 2020: Guys, it’s okay. Dr. Drew say we’ll be fine!

A quick google search turns up the following:

Hmmm.  We seem to be there, no?  So why isn’t the World Health Organization declaring this a pandemic?  Well…

Why the WHO won’t call the coronavirus a pandemic

“The WHO’s funding is part of the problem. The fact that most of the member country’s contributions are earmarkedfor specific health programs allows donors to dictate priorities, with just 20 contributors funding 75% of the program budget (which was $4.42 billion in 2018-2019, lower than that of many major hospitals). China is a major donor.”

Meanwhile, in the U.K. –

NHS declares highest level emergency

Cases are comparatively lower here in North America.

Of course, the fact that we’re not testing could have something to do with it…

"In New York state, the person who tested positive was only the 32nd test we've done in this state. That is a national scandal. They're testing 10,000 a day in some countries." – ER Dr. Matt McCarthy pic.twitter.com/Yvwnp96E7d

— Matt Novak (@paleofuture) March 2, 2020

But it’s just the flu, isn’t it?  Well…

View at Medium.com

 

The post March 3, 2020: Guys, it’s okay. Dr. Drew say we’ll be fine! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Why can’t Hollywood get adaptations right?

I hopped online this morning to discover fans of the Artemis Fowl book series reacting to the recently released trailer for the big screen adaptation.  To put it mildly, they are NOT happy.  I haven’t read the series, nor have I seen the trailer, but the twitter reactions seem to criticize the upcoming movie for not remaining true to the source material.  Now I do sympathize with writers working on adaptations.  I understand that, occasionally, changes need to be made for a variety of reasons.  But, in the case of the Artemis Fowl movie, from what I can gather, it’s a big one.  They have changed the very nature of the series protagonist.  And, if true, THAT is a problem.  A problem for the fans of the book series, to be sure, but potentially a problem for the studio banking on the existing fanbase to support the launch.

On the flip side, I’m reminded of a similar response to the Sonic the Hedgehog trailer when it was first released.  Fans were pissed because Sonic looked…different. More to the point, the character’s visual design had, for some mysterious reason, been changed from the original video game design.  “Within two days, the trailer was viewed more than 20 million times on YouTube, and had received hundreds of thousands of “dislike” ratings, drastically outnumbering the “like” ratings” (source).  The studio responded by delaying release of the movie and actually going back to redesign Sonic, releasing a “new and improved” trailer some seven months later – to a very appreciative fanbase.  As of top of March, the movie has earned over $265 million worldwide.  In retrospect, listening to the fans and doing a better job of honoring the source material proved a wise – and profitable – move.

For all of its single-minded obsession with acquiring I.P. (Intellectual Properties), Hollywood often seems mysteriously unable or, perhaps, unwilling to honor the same source material in its adaptations.  How to account for this apparent dichotomy?

Well, as I already mentioned, there are perfectly sound reasons why certain changes are made.  Outdated concepts, dialogue, and characters may need to be updated.  Anachronisms may need to be addressed.  Often, especially when adapting something as an extended or ongoing series, a writer may be required to build upon and expand the world and characters established in an original property, creating a series that honors the source material while, at the same time, offering something new and entertaining.  Think The Handmaid’s Tale, You, Friday Night Lights, and the first five seasons of Game of Thrones.

But, a lot of the time, changes are made for no good reason.  And those no good reasons may, depending on the project, amount to one or more of the following…

1 – The writer and/or producer are not familiar with the source material.

I know, it’s crazy to think that someone would invest in securing the rights to a property but then not even bother to familiarize themselves with it – but it happens. More than it should.  I’ve heard of instances where a producer simply purchased the rights because they liked the basic premise.  Or cases where a writer was specifically brought on to a project precisely because they were unfamiliar with the original property.  Even occasions where a writer was instructed NOT to consult the original source material while writing.  Why?

2 – The producer wants a “fresh” take.

And by “fresh” I mean “at times totally different from the book/video game upon which this movie or series is based”.  Again, while it would seem logical to build on the success of an existing property by realizing what is there, many producers prefer to jazz things up by doing a twist on the source the material.  Last year, I was invited to offer my take (vision) on three different adaptations: an anime series, a foreign language series, and a video game.  In all three cases, I immersed myself in the materials, did the research, and came up with pitches that honored the work of the original creators.  Which was, evidently, a mistake.  In all three pitches, I was told my takes hewed too close to the source material.  They told me about one take they really liked that served as a not-so-subtle critique of consumerism and capitalism.  It sounded pedantic, and a total bastardization of the original anime but, I had to admit, it WAS very different.

3 – The producer has a skewed perception of what will make the project more successful.

This usually happens when some other movie becomes a surprise hit, so an attempt is made to instill some of the elements that presumably made THAT movie a success into the adaptation.  What’s the perceived flavor of the moment? Car chases?  Magical toddlers?  Talking dogs?  Chances are good someone will try to squeeze them in somewhere.

There are plenty of other no good reasons, but the aforementioned are really the cream of the crop.

Still, there are a lot of truly great adaptations that do honor their source materials, delivering a series or film (or series of films) that rewards the existing fanbase while, simultaneously, introducing first-timers to an amazing new world of characters they can, subsequently, further explore in the original books.

Some of my favorite adaptations include –

Homicide: Life on the Streets, I, Claudius, Friday Night Lights, The Boys, The Godfather, The Silence of the Lambs, Stand By Me, Don’t Look Now, The Shawshank Redemption, The Princess Bride, Misery, Oldboy, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Deadpool, Iron Man, Kick-Ass, Logan.

So what are some of your favorite and LEAST favorite adaptations?

The post Why can’t Hollywood get adaptations right? appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

March 1, 2020: Suji Sunday!

Spring fashion!

Snow bunny.

Ah, my girls.  Sometimes, when I come home, I still catch myself looking for Lulu.

Suji and me in our matching sweaters.

Suji (and mom!) make chickpea pancakes!

 

The post March 1, 2020: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 29, 2020: A Rare Leap Day Entry!

Monday night, I’ll be doing a live twitter chat with Utopia Falls creator R.T. Thorne.  WHAT, pray tell, is a live twitter chat?  Well, I suppose it’s like a regular twitter discussion except that I get back to you sooner.  And someone, perhaps only tangentially connected to the discussion, will, at some point, post a gif.

Did my first pass on my TimEscape script rewrite today.  Tomorrow, I do my punch-up pass, looking to layer in some non-sequiturs, far future curses and, hopefully, come up with an answer to the handful of notes I was unable to address on this first go-around.

I HAD planned to do some work-related travel in a few weeks but think I’ll hold off until this whole coronavirus thing blows over.

In 2-3 months.

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked…

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
I worked with Electrician/Lighting Tech Tio Zeviar for many years on #Stargate. Great guy, but he is extra special for: a) introducing me to fantasy football and b) being a big-hearted dad to our former frequent houseguest, the lovable Petunia. pic.twitter.com/MgotXCkN97

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 20, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The late, great Wray Douglas was #Stargate's longtime Special Effects Supervisor. He was a true pro who was so damn good at what he did. No matter how spectacular the sequence or explosive the pyrotechnics, Wray ran the scene with calm precision. pic.twitter.com/jkGvzTkNtD

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 21, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Ashleigh Inman was our fabulous Executive Producers' Assistant (and my arch-nemesis) on #Stargate Universe. She was a lot of fun to work with – and prank: https://t.co/EgPKayBs0U pic.twitter.com/RZmELsnVAl

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 22, 2020

The post February 29, 2020: A Rare Leap Day Entry! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 28, 2020: Let’s Make A Deal!

A few other production opportunities have recently arisen, some of which would take me away from Toronto.  Akemi and Suji would, obviously, come with, but I’m not so sure I want to leave Hog Town.  Maybe if this was twenty years ago and I really needed that next gig, but I now have the luxury of waiting things out.  Then again, I shouldn’t thoroughly dismissed these nascent possibilities.  Back when I was living in Vancouver, the thought of shooting a show in Toronto did not appeal – but I went ahead and did three season of Dark Matter.  Much earlier in my life, the prospect of leaving Montreal to travel to the other side of the country for work seemed the last thing I wanted to do – yet, in the end, I packed my bags, moved to Vancouver, and did 12 years of Stargate.

I suppose part of my reticence stems from my desire to see three of the big projects I have in play (see last entry) go to camera.  By committing to another production, I’ll be taking myself out of contention should any of those projects get a green light.  On the other, it’s the classic –

Do I take Door #1 or wait and try my luck with Door’s #2 or #3?

Akemi Presents…”Lunch” (Created and Produced by Akemi Aota, Eaten by Joseph Mallozzi)

More #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Before she landed on #AgentsOfShield – and after her memorable run on #ER – actress @MingNa played the part of Camile Wray on #StargateUniverse.
Immensely talented, she's also possessed of an incredibly kind and positive spirit. pic.twitter.com/V67xRUBkbg

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 17, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Accomplished singer, actress, and Face Timer, Melissa O'Neil (@Mel13Oneil) lit up #DarkMatter with her performance as our kickass commander, TWO. Smart, sweet, and super successful, she's currently tearing it up on #TheRookie. pic.twitter.com/6UE5vUjeny

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 18, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Actor/Writer/Producer Miklos Perlus played the villainous Victor Kane to perfection in #StudentBodies. However, unlike most actors who play bad guys, Mik is surprisingly un-nefarious, down-to-earth and good-natured. pic.twitter.com/i8s9ohK5je

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 19, 2020

The post February 28, 2020: Let’s Make A Deal! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 27, 2020: Recommended Comic Book Reads!

I’ve had a lifelong love affair with comic books, one that has waxed and waned and waxed again over the years as I invariably pick up, then lose, then pick up interest once again.  Everyone once in a while, I’ll make a concerted effort to get back into reading by picking up almost every title that looks even remotely interesting, then drop them as I lose interest. As time goes on, this becomes increasingly more difficult what with the proliferation of publishers, books, and those annoying crossovers.

So, over the past couple of days, I checked out a veritable mountain of new releases – strictly new issues of ongoing series.  THESE were my Top 5 Reads…

Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #4 (of 6)

Written by Kelly Thompson / Art by Mattia de lulis

I loved Michael Bendis’ Jessica Jones, so, to be honest, I was a little leery going in, worried that a new writer would not do justice to the character Bendis made so very compelling.  And yet, to my delight, writer Kelly Thompson doesn’t miss a beat, effortlessly capturing that original tone, those original voices, and making the character her own in this outstanding limited series.

Punisher: Soviet #4 (of 6)

Written by Garth Ennis

Art by Jacen Burrows

I’ve often found the gratuitous, comical violence in Ennis’s work will occasionally undermine the drama of his narrative, but this issue finds him at his constrained best.  There’s humor here, but it comes from the characters and the dialogue rather than the over-the-top bloodshed.  Don’t get me wrong.  There’s still plenty of graphic brutality here, but it’s in service to a top-notch, suspenseful story.

The Amazing Spider-Man #40

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Ivan Coello

I’ve been a big fan of Nick Spencer’s since Superior Foes of Spider-Man and The Fix.  He is the perfect fit for the quippy web-slinger, delivering a fun, funny, and fast-paced tale involving colorful villains, games of chance, and the perils of social media.

X-Men #7

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Leinil Francis Yu

I have clearly been out of X-loop way too long and have A LOT to catch up on. Despite that seemingly herculean task, this issue offers a surprisingly good jumping on point as we are introduced to the Crucible, a shocking ritual that seemingly seeks to undo the harm caused by Scarlet Witch’s devastating actions in House of M.  This one was a jaw-dropper.

Black Terror #5

Written by Max Bemis

Art by Ruain Coleman

Hats off to writer Max Bemis for so thoroughly sucking me into a story about a character I knew absolutely nothing about – five issues in!  Great book all around but it’s the dialogue that really makes it stand out.  Going to have to pick up the first four issues now.

In addition to the above, the following titles captured my interest and warrant further investigation:

Avengers #31
Ravencroft #2 (of 5)
Star #2 (of 5)
Amazing Spider-Man The Daily Bugle #2 (of 4)
New Mutants
The Kill Lock #3
Batman: Curse of the White Knight #7

Avengers of the Wastelands #2 (of 5)
Falcon & the Winter Soldier #1 (of 5)

Detective Comics #1020
Far Sector #4
X-Force #8
Suicide Squad #3
Year of the Villain: Hell Arisen #3
Death and Glory #9
Killadelphia #4
Invisible Kingdom #10

The post February 27, 2020: Recommended Comic Book Reads! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 26, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Avengers of the Wasteland #2 (cover art by Juan Jose Ryp)

Black Terror #5 (cover art by Rahzzah)

Detective Comics #1020 (cover art by Lee Bermejo)

Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir #1 (cover art by Ron Garney)

Leviathan: Dawn #1 (cover art by Alex Maleev)

Monster Planet #4 (cover art by Ron Leary)

Monstress #26 (cover art by Sana Takeda)

Suicide Squad #3 (cover art by Mico Suayan)

So, which were your favorites?

The post February 26, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 25, 2020: Pandemic? Yes/No

For the past month or so, I’ve been keeping abreast of this potentially burgeoning pandemic by checking out daily updates on the breaking news.  My source of information is NOT –

The WHO – which has appeared shockingly inept throughout the virus’s progression.

The CDC – that seems more worried about scaring people than informing them.

The major media – who prefer to minimize mounting concerns by comparing the coronavirus to the seasonal flu which, in their learned estimation, is infinitely worse.

No, my sources for thorough coverage have been reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/China_Flu and https://www.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/ ), twitter (@BNODesk and MackayIM). And the following youtube channels:

MedCram –

Dr. John Campbell –

Chris Martenson over at Peak Prosperity:

Hopefully, the relative indifference to this mounting global issue on the part of our political leaders will prove the correct approach.  But, just in case…

So you think you’re about to be in a pandemic?

The post February 25, 2020: Pandemic? Yes/No appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

February 24, 2020: Back in the swing of things

It’s nice to be back home.  Last night, I slept in my own bed, with my own dog snuggled up against me.  And, today, I was back in the swing of things, taking a few meetings and, most importantly, completing a first draft of my second TimEscape script.  The more I write for these characters, the more determined I am to see this show made – for my sake (because I love writing this show) and for yours as well (because you’re going to LOVE it).  I’ll get some notes, do a pass, then send to my partners at EOne, go through a round of their notes, and then send on to the network.  I’m hoping to hear word on a green light by top of April at the latest – which, honestly, feels a long ways off.

In the meantime, also awaiting word on another amazing mega secret project.  This one is in play but, as always, who knows if and when things will fall into place.  It’s really a no-brainer – but, sometimes, there’s no figuring the decision-makers.

And then there’s that other SUPER project that has been held up for going on six months now.  This one would be a blast as well.

And, of course, the other projects and prospects.

The one thing that gives me pause as these various possibilities coalesce is the likelihood that committing to one will pretty much shut the door on the others.  But, of course, that’s a classy problem to have.  In a perfect world, with a perfect schedule, I could do all three.  But I am not a patient person.  For the sake of my immediate sanity, I’ll settle for one.  NOW.

More #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Michael Klinghoffer and Judy Spencer were two of the co-creators of #StudentBodies, my very first live-action series. They were welcoming, collaborative and, above all else, just a hell of a lot of fun to work with. pic.twitter.com/7rTM2136Rn

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 14, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
My former writing partner, Paul Mullie, has always had a great ear for dialogue, and a great head for logic. If your story could survive a writers' room with Paul in attendance, then you knew it was bulletproof. pic.twitter.com/ATufCkSipC

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 15, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Alex Levine started as a script coordinator on #Stargate and is now one of Canada's premiere t.v. writers with credits on #OrphanBlack, #XCompany, and #Flashpoint. With a great head for story and character, he's a huge asset in the writer's room. pic.twitter.com/JUHDCQdc6F

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 16, 2020

The post February 24, 2020: Back in the swing of things appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.