Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 211

February 13, 2020: Montreal Day #1!

Well, Day #1 of my dogsitting stay in Montreal is almost complete.  And I am completely exhausted. I caught the second to last flight out of Toronto last night, got in a little after 9:00 p.m., woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning to drive my sister to the airport, read for several hours, then headed over to mom’s for lunch – and an early afternoon of writing.  I am ready for bed – and it isn’t even 6:00 p..m. yet.

Behold part of of lunch!  Broccoli, rapini, crab mousse, beets, fried peppers, and eggplant.

So, in addition to the cat, Rapini, who stays downstairs most of the time and only comes up for the occasional pets, THESE TWO will be my roomies for the next little while…

Kona.  Very sweet if not a little needy.  Like nothing better than to sit by the window and incessantly bark at whoever, or whatever, happens by.  When I let her out in the backyard, she will take up position on the highest snowbank and sit vigil, ignoring my calls for her to come back inside.  She likes to sleep smack-dab in the middle of the bed.

Ralphie.  High-strung and anxious.  He also enjoys barking at passersby as well as bothering the cat.  He needs to be forced out to do his business.  At night, he’s a roamer, often circling the bed in search of the perfect cool spot.  Bonus: He peed on my sister’s bed last night, so there’s something else to watch out for!

Alright.  I’m off to watch old episodes of 30 Rock until I fall asleep.  Hopefully before 10:00.  Fingers crossed for a peaceful, urine-free night.

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February 12, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Animal Man by Grant Morrison vol. 1 (cover art by Greg Land)

Catwoman #20 (cover art by Ian MacDonald)

DC Poster Portfolio: Joshua Middleton (cover art by Joshua Middleton)

Dr. Strange #3 (cover art by Kev Walker)

Green Lantern, Season 2 #1 (cover art by Gerald Parel)

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1 (cover art by Ethan Van Sciver)

Marvels X #2 (cover art by Alex Ross)

Nebula #1 (cover art by Jen Bartel)

RWBY #5 (cover art by Sarah Stone)

Spider-Man: The Black Cat Strikes #2 (cover art by David Nakayama)

Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #3 (cover art by Greg Land)

The Batman’s Grave #5 (cover art by Jeehyung Lee)

X-Men #6 (cover art by Mark Brooks)

X-Men #6 (cover art by Matteo Buffagni)

So, which were your favorites?

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February 11, 2020: Gatecon 2020!

Hey, Stargate fans – “Tickets are still available for Gatecon Full Circle, the big 20th anniversary Stargate celebration being held in Vancouver August 27-30, 2020. Head on over to www.gatecon.com to grab your ticket while you still can.”

Check it out!  Guests will include beloved cast members, fan favorites, and Gary Jones!

I don’t usually do cons but I’m making an exception for this one given the momentous occasion, my connection to Gatecons of yore, and the fact that I was actually invited.  So I do intend to be there this year, schedule and wife permitting.

MORE #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked:

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
I worked with the ever affable Ross Hull (@Ross_Hull) on my first live-action production, #StudentBodies, then again on #Stargate and on #DarkMatter. Actor, meteorologist, and an all-around stand-up guy. pic.twitter.com/eLR4Lnaa3J

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 8, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Given its staggered production schedule, #Stargate made use of multiple Directors of Photography. Jim Menard – who worked on #SG1, #SGA, and #SGU, about 150 episodes all told – was one of my favorites. pic.twitter.com/TO84CPc9Kq

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 9, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked#DarkMatter's confident and colorful Commander Truffault differed greatly from #Stargate's cautious and compassionate Elizabeth Weir, yet the amazing Torri Higginson (@torri_higginson) nailed both roles. She's terrific in everything she does. pic.twitter.com/bqSpC1u8fr

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 10, 2020

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February 10, 2020: I’m Team Habanero!

Reaper Taco? Yes/No https://t.co/bJpcX5yqZP

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 10, 2020

I love spicy.  Always have.  The heat, obviously, but also the flavors of the varied peppers simmering beneath that deep fire kick.  The bottom shelf of my refrigerator is occupied by my hot sauce collection (much to Akemi’s chagrin) with names like Brain Damage, Memento Muerte, and Howler Monkey.  Although I have a high tolerance for heat (I always opt for Thai Spicy whenever we got out for Thai), I avoid the ultra-hot sauces that are pure burn and taste of vulcanized rubber.  I prefer the fruit-based hot sauces, more sweet than vinegared, something with a thick body like a Caribbean scotch bonnet pepper sauce or a habanero sauce with a chunky consistency.  Whenever I eat at home, I’ll pull out three random bottles and sample with my meal, narrowing down my list of favorites.

Sriracha is a popular go-to (that pairs surprisingly well with maple syrup if you’re looking for a sweet and spicy combo).  The cayenne-based sauces like Tabasco and Frank’s Red Hot are fine, but a little too dilute.  The jalapeno-based sauces are also fine, but my color preferences run to the reds and golds.  I do like the Marie Sharp line as well as the selection offered by Montreal-based La Pimenterie.  I’m a big fan of Dawson’s Cremini Habanero and was recently surprised by Big Fat’s 7o8 Optimus Primo.  Hot One’s The Last Dab (featured on First We Feast, a series that sees its host interview celebrities while they dine on increasingly spicier wings, culminating in the aforementioned sauce) is crazy-hot, and at the very edge of my endurance…but tasty!  There used to be a place on the San Francisco pier that sold one of my favorite hot sauces of all time, Besos De Fuego (Kiss of Fire), a fiery mix of fruit mustard, and, I suspect, habanero.  Sadly, it no longer exists.

When I go to the farmer’s market, I’ll often pick up fresh peppers, everything from bird’s eyes to fatalis, then oven dry them before either grinding them to a fine power or using them as the base for varied oils.   The powders I seal in tiny plastic containers and carry them around with me – in case of emergency.  I know double seal these containers in a tiny plastic bag, this after a painful and unfortunate mishap taught me a valuable lesson about the need to be extra careful with what you put in your pocket.

My favorite pepper in terms of kick and flavor is, without a doubt, the habanero.  My sister grows scorpions, ghost peppers, and Carolina reapers and while I have enjoyed the two former, I have to draw the line at the latter which has the distinction of being unbearably hot – AND also possessed of an unpleasant, almost acrid undertone.  But maybe that’s just me.

Behold the Scoville scale!  How high can you go?

 

 

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February 9, 2020: Suji Sunday!

Come on!  Let’s get moving!

That expectant look.

The bath time routine…

Yech!

Daughter-Daddy time.

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February 8, 2020: Serial killer, you say?

Majority of serial killers are Taurus, study claims

I am not in the least surprised.

“Is your friend a Taurus? Does he or she obsess over murder and watch way too much “CSI”?

There’s a good reason to be wary now.”

And yet it’s always the same.  Whenever police catch a serial killer, the neighbors always profess their shock.  “He was such a quiet guy.”  “He alway kept to himself.”  “I never would have suspected.”  Come on!  I have a friend who, while not a Taurus, is a huge true crime junkie.  He devours everything from documentaries to podcasts to reruns of The First 48.  Now if HE was ever arrested on suspicion of being a serial killer and the news van rolled up to my place, I’d be all like: “Serial killer you say?  Oh, yeah.  I’m not surprised at all.”

Any oddball neighbors, friends, or family members you’re worried about?

Well, four more days until I head to Montreal to dogsit.  My sister will be away for 13 days but, realistically, given everything I have going on, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to go away for almost two weeks.  I’m up for two upcoming projects – one which may require a trip to L.A., another which is pretty atypical of my past work (although, to be fair, there’s nothing I will ever do that will be more atypical than my last production).  I’m going to need to implement notes on two pitch presentations (Supernatural meets This Is Us, and my team-up with Ed the Sock).  Meanwhile, my other three projects (TimEscape, that superhero show, and the sci-fi series) continue apace.  Specifically, at a snail’s apace.  I have five other projects that presently vary from “poised” to “on life support”, so let’s not spare them a second thought.

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
The original plan was for the character of Dale Volker to sacrifice himself partway through the first season of #StargateUniverse, but actor Patrick Gilmore (@PatrickGilmore) was so damn good that the producers had no choice but to reconsider. pic.twitter.com/o9jzMFvA5F

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 5, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Jodelle Ferland (@jodellemicah) started her career at age 2, so she was a veteran by the time I worked with her at age 13 on #Stargate. And she was so damn great that I had to cast her in #DarkMatter. In which she was so damn great. pic.twitter.com/SGLHjvWHs3

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 6, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
It's always a blast to work with the wardrobe departments, especially when you have someone as talented and gracious as Costume Designer Noreen Landry at the helm. pic.twitter.com/jhDGunn1jU

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 7, 2020

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February 7, 2020: Sliding on over…

Scientists are searching for a mirror universe.  It could be sitting right in front of you.

What’s this?  On the heels of our discussion about seeking out a new timeline comes this article from NBC News on the search for a mirror universe!  Coincidence?  Maaaaybe.  OR – maybe not!  Is this a sign?  Some echo from that mirror universe?  Are element from another AU bleeding into our reality?

I, of course, don’t need to point out that the more historically distant and/or deeper the changes to your timeline, the further the parallel universe and the more difficult to access it.  Shifting an alternate reality where Dark Matter wasn’t cancelled would be a lot harder to get to than, say, one where you just had Chicken Kiev for lunch today.  Sliding into AU’s with more promising future elements, on the other hand, is a much easier task.

And so, I’m shifting over to an AU where my new series, TimEscape, is going to get the green light, Stargate will be making a return to the small screen, and Dark Matter will receive the go-ahead for a concluding mini-series.  Who’s coming with me?!

And what AU’s are YOU looking to slide into?

On a somewhat related note –

Take Our Poll

***

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
I keep in touch with a few of the old #Stargate gang, and one of those I get together with on a semi-regular basis is Alan McCullough who, most recently, finished a stint showrunning Private Eyes. @alanmccullough pic.twitter.com/VHUvlBGbP2

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 2, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Although his name is more suited to detective work, Mike Banas (P.I.!) is truly a fantastic editor who cut some of my very favorite #Stargate episodes including Vegas, Time, Common Descent, and Gauntlet. pic.twitter.com/d5U0Oejedi

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 3, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Best known for his portrayal of the compassionate General George Hammond on #Stargate, Don was also an accomplished artist, a delightful dining companion, and a true southern gentleman. pic.twitter.com/7zgfjD9ufT

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 4, 2020

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February 6, 2020: The Evening Edition!

Took a HUGE schnitz today at Country Style Hungarian Restaurant.  As did my friend Robbie.  Akemi opted for the cabbage roll.  It has been a while.  In fact, now that I think on it, I believe the last time I had schnitzel was at The Black Forest Inn in Hamilton during Dark Matter’s third season.  It made me long for the days of Vancouver’s dearly-departed Budapest restaurant.  Although I wonder how our North American versions compare to the Viennese originals.  I recall an Austrian acquaintance once assuring me that his home country’s schnitzels were superior because they were not only delicious but also – and I quote: “as big as a toilet seat!”.  THAT is pretty big.  I wonder if their Vienna sausages are as long as a toilet brush?  Or their knodels as large as elephant testicles?

So, what’s the best thing YOU’VE eaten recently?  And how big was it?

Looking to target the week of March 23rd for my L.A. trip.  Provided, of course, this whole pandemic thing fizzles out.  I’ve seen a fair amount of alarming information concerning the coronavirus, but it’s usually relegated to more obscure corners of the internet.  Thankfully, the major media has taken a more, dare I say, dismissive approach, pointing out that the common flu is actually worse than this virus.  This is very comforting.  Provided, of course, you ignore the fact that the coronavirus is actually far more contagious than the flu and the mortality rate significantly higher.  I wish the media had been able to point this out to China BEFORE they went through the trouble of building all those new hospitals and quarantining a city of 11 million people.

Still finishing up work on a few of these development projects, so I unfortunately had time to watch anything, but after hearing my friend Ivon’s glowing recommendation, I’ve added Chernobyl to the list of shows I’ll probably never get around to watching.

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked –

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
James "Bam Bam" Bamford
Stunt Coordinators are unique: cautious, cool under pressure, always very colorful. And Bam Bam is no exception. He also boasts 18 hours of television as a director.
Definitely someone you want in your corner. pic.twitter.com/vy8ugFNsCE

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 30, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Once an office P.A. on #StargateAtlantis, Lawren Bancroft-Wilson is now one of the best Visual Effects Supervisors in the business. Focused, detail-oriented, and extremely thorough, his contributions played a huge part of #DarkMatter's success. pic.twitter.com/NZXqgl9A7j

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 31, 2020

#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Once a special features producer on #Stargate, Ivon Bartok (@Ivonbartok) is now my eyes and ears on the floor when we're in production. As my on set producer, he ensures things run smoothly, the required footage gets shot, and the day is made. pic.twitter.com/1fsnHHLubM

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 1, 2020

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February 5, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Backtrack #1 (cover art by Marco D’Alfonso)

Batman #88 (cover art by Francesco Mattina)

Captain America: The End #1 (cover art by Rahzzah)

Daphne Byrne #2 (cover art by Dan Quintana)

Daredevil #17 (cover art by Julian Totino Tedesco)

Gen Lock #4 (cover art by Dan Mora)

Harleen (cover art by Stjepan Sejic)

Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity #3 (cover art by Francesco Mattina)

Justice League: Odyssey #18 (cover art by Jose Ladronn)

Lois Lane #8 (Kamome Shirahama)

Martian Manhunter #12 (cover art by Joshua Middleton)

Pestilence (cover art by Tim Bradstreet)

Red Sonja #13 (cover art by Jae Lee)

Spider-Verse #5 (cover art by Dave Rapoza)

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 (cover art by In-Hyuk Lee)

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 (cover art by Michael Del Mundo)

Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 (cover art by Raffaele Ienco)

The Marked #4 (cover art by Brian Haberlin, Geirrord Van Dyke)

Vengeance of Vampirella #5 (cover art by Ben Oliver)

So, which were your favorites?

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February 4, 2020: Akemi-isms! Project update! Lunches, lunches, and dinners!

Akemi: The food was standing.

Me: What?

Akemi: The food was standing!

Me: OUTstanding. The food was outstanding.

Akemi: WTF?

Me: It's outstanding.

Akemi: Nobody says outstanding.

Me: Everybody says outstanding. Nobody but you says standing.

Akemi: WTF?

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) February 4, 2020

Wait!  Have I already shifted out of the dark timeline?  Received a message today regarding a project I have been working on with this lovable individual –

Yes, I’m collaborating with Ed the Sock (and, oh yeah, also his handler, the lovely and talented Steve Kerzner) on a high concept procedural.

Anyway, we’re scheduling a call for later this week to discuss next steps.  But this sounds very promising.

Not so much promising as it is interesting – I received a message from one of my reps informing me that they were submitting me for a new sci-fi series.  I’m honestly somewhat on the fence about joining someone else’s show, but would seriously consider it for the right project.  And this might be the right project.  Of course it will all come down to whether I (and they) feel I’m a good match.  If they’re looking to go dark and gritty, I’m not their guy.  If, on the other hand, they’re looking to do character-driven action-adventure with a sense of humor, then let’s talk!

Okay, AL MOST finished work on that pitch presentation I mentioned last night.  One more paragraph and I am done!  With my first draft.

Still awaiting notes on my outline for Episode 2 of TimEscape.  I imagine what’s happened is that the executives needed to read the script twice over, so amazed were they by the fact that they had absolutely NO NOTES!  Now it’s just a matter of congratulating me on a job well done and sending me off to first draft!

Lunches, lunches, and dinners!  Tonight, I’m going out with on-set producer Ivon Bartok and actress Zoie Palmer.  Tomorrow, it’s lunch with actor Jeff Teravainen followed by dinner with Utopia Falls Creator/EP/Diretor R.T. Thorne.  Thursday, it’s lunch with Line Producer Robbie David.  And then, Friday, it’s lunch with editor Jessica.

I am now one week away from my Montreal dogsitting trip.

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