Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 214
January 14, 2020
January 14, 2020: Updates!
Check it out – the international times for our upcoming Stargate twitter event. Take note of the hour in your area. This is for all those fans who weren’t able to participate in the last tweetstorm. That’s Saturday, January 25th (ish)!
So, spent much of the day rewriting the outline for the second episode of TimEscape. Working on this one reminds me very much of writing episodes like Stargate’s Window of Opportunity and Dark Matter’s All the Time in the World and Isn’t That A Paradox? Producing an entire season of this show would be unbelievable fun. Of course, the whole “in development” portion of the process can be frustrating and, often, vastly disappointing. But for now, it’s been a blast.
Pug Quest 2020 Update! We inquired about Bocelli. He’s a sweetheart but a big barker, which sadly means he wouldn’t be a great match for our anxious Suji. Lexxie was taken to the vet late last week after showing signs of lethargy. Turns out she has a UTI which they’re treating with antibiotics. They’re keeping me updated on her condition, the poor gal.
Meanwhile – could it be? Following a year of disappointment, am I about to read back to back great books? I absolutely loved Mary Miller’s Biloxi and am presently very much enjoying Sue Burke’s Interference, the second book in her Semiosis Duology. I should be finished with this one sometime tomorrow and am nervous about my next pick. Can I luck out and actually read back to back to back terrific novels?
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Zoie Palmer
Originally envisioned as a minor role, #DarkMatter's Android became an immediate fan favorite on the strength of @ZoiePalmer's performance at turns humorous, heartfelt, and altogether wonderful. Which pretty much sums up Zoie. pic.twitter.com/8ravLuleoV
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 14, 2020
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January 13, 2020
January 13, 2020: Projects on the go! #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Okay, back to it.
Had a conversation with my agent today regarding the horror script. A few notes to address before proceeding. It’s high concept, chock full of solid scares (and humor of course), has a couple of good twists, and would be relatively inexpensive to produce. He thinks it’s a slam dunk – but I’ve been in this business long enough to know there’s no such thing.
Got the green light to write the second script for my sci-fi series, TimEscape, a month back and received notes for my first draft of the outline. Writer Nikolijne Troubetzkoy (Orphan Black, Killjoys) has joined the development team as a story editor for episode 2 and has been amazing to work with – smart, funny, and fairly bursting with great ideas.
That big comic book project seems to have stalled out. Which is all kinds of infuriating but, again, such is the business. Is it actually dead? Who knows?
Wanted to be in L.A. pitching this procedural this month, but pumping the brakes as I don’t think the pitch is quite there yet. Early March seems more reasonable but it’s a long time to wait – considering I’ll hopefully be picking up my new (old) dog while I’m there.
About to close on a deal to develop a pitch package for a monster series. Interesting.
Offered a co-write on a pilot for a YA sci-fi series that sounds like an absolute blast. The only reason I hesitate is because it has similarities to another project I’m developing…
This one! It’s similar to the aforementioned only in the broadest sense of its setting – and even then… Been working on this one for a few months now and spinning my wheels for going on two, trying to figure out the narrative engine. Hoping the answer will come to me in a dream.
Circling another adaptation, this one a big but utterly unique fantasy series. I await word on whether the parties can reach an agreement on the film & television rights.
And another adaptation, this one based on a contemporary thriller. We’re in the early stages of discussion, but this one, a possible miniseries, would be a major commitment.
Had to say no to a couple of other adaptations because – well, the books didn’t make any sense.
Finally, pulling the plug on a few projects. The lack of enthusiasm on the part of others has caused my own enthusiasm to wane.
I think that’s it. I have about a half dozen ideas in reserve – but will wait to clear my plate before
Continuing my #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked series…
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
400+ hours of television as a creator/producer, 350+ as a showrunner, 100+ written. Brad Wright gave me my big break on #Stargate and taught me the keys to success: proper prep, great writing, and always treating your cast and crew with respect. pic.twitter.com/WmBsoNBO8F
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 11, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Writer-Producer-Director-Creator-Showrunner Robert C. Cooper was also responsible for giving me my first big break in the industry. A mastery story spinner, a great director, and an amazing chef! #Stargate pic.twitter.com/MeVb9FqOvR
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 12, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Krista McLean – in-house digital effects, supervisor, #Stargate
I was a big fan of the Stargate in-house visual effects crew, and an especially huge fan of Krista McLean whose meticulous mattes never failed to impress. #CaptainMarvel #InfinityWar pic.twitter.com/QMbNiEv0jO
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 13, 2020
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January 12, 2020
January 12, 2020: Suji Sunday!
Assume the crash position!
Snack time!
Wake me up when this blog entry is over.
Sooooothing…
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January 11, 2020
Pug Quest 2020 begins!
We have begun our quest to find Suji a new friend. Or, if not a friend, then another pug she can snuggle up with when Akemi and I go out shopping. Or, if not a another pug she can snuggle up with when Akemi and I go out shopping, then another pug to boss around. In short, Suji seems lonely and it would be nice for her to have some company.
We’re looking to adopt another senior – special needs is fine – and have started our search.
Potential candidates so far…
Lexxie
Ah, Lexxie. This 12 year old sweetheart has some hind-end weakness that makes it hard for her to get around (and know when she needs to poop), but she is incredibly cuddlesome – as evidenced when I visited her rescue late last year. As soon as I approached, she just rolled over onto her back and allowed me to (requested I?) rub her belly.
Lao and Dao
Akemi desperately misses Bubba and would love a boy. So, I thought, two boys would make her doubly happy. These two 13 year old brothers, former strays, are bonded and still have plenty of energy despite their advanced age.
Bugsy
A young man at 6 years of age, Bugsy has significant mobility issues due to an inoperable cyst and a herniated disc issue. Although his long-term prognosis isn’t great, that shouldn’t be a reason to deny him a good home.
Gertie
This 8 year old girl suffers hind-end weakness to the point that she is unable to walk and needs to have her bladder expressed (which sounds a lot like Suji when we first got her). She’s described as a big personality in a tiny little package and is given to howling for attention. She sounds like a bit of an alpha and so, might not be a great match for Suji, but we’re looking into her.
Bocelli
Estimated to be between 5-7, Bocelli is blind (the result of his eyes never fully developing). Incredibly affectionate and downright adorable, he is a bit of a barker which may not sit well with Suji.
The plan is to actually travel with Suji, sometime in early March so I can fold our pug search into a round of pitching in L.A. We’re thinking of hitting Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, staying at a dog-friendly hotel, eating on some dog-friendly patios, and then flying back home with two dogs when the time comes.
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January 10, 2020
January 10, 2020: Revive a popular series! #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked! Mom!
“In this crowded marketplace, if you can start with some kind of brand awareness and IP that has a vocal support and, in this case, a crazy, passionate love for it, you’re ahead of the game.” [source]
The above quote is from FOX Entertainment President Michael Thorn in response to queries about a possible Firefly revival. But, of course, it is equally applicable to Stargate with its 350+ hours and massive fanbase.
Just saying.
Updating you on my continuing #AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked series –
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Alexander M. Ruemelin: Bad-ass writer-producer. BIG in Germany! We met and worked together under very difficult circumstances but he remains, to this day, a good friend. No one can make me laugh like he can. pic.twitter.com/AvpQPOl4jH
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 4, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Roxanne Borris: 1st Assistant Art Director – #DarkMatter. Kind, talented, and incredibly creative, Roxanne's masterpieces have ranged from space station logos to dog portraits to one killer jalapeño relish. pic.twitter.com/D3fjhY97hy
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 5, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
RT Thorne – Director, Creator, Executive Producer. @directedbyRT
A chance encounter turned into a 2 hour lunch turned into me showrunning his creation – #UtopiaFalls, a 10 episode YA sci-fi hip hop series streaming next month on @Hulu and @CBC pic.twitter.com/7GiVHMp5Wf
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 6, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Jenny Seelman Stiven – Digital Consultant and point person on #Stargate for many, many years. Thoughtful, strategically-minded, and generous with her time, Jenny continues to be a huge supporter of the franchise and its many fans. pic.twitter.com/wYe1DlVhwU
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 7, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
Robert Picardo – Gifted performer, kind soul, brilliant mind, and all around class act. I had the pleasure of working with Bob on #Stargate and he has remained a good friend ever since.
Simply a terrific individual. @RobertPicardo pic.twitter.com/VylnyDXIDl
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 8, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
James Robbins – Production Designer
His unique vision and inspiration are on display throughout #Stargate's run, from spaceships to aliens, otherworldly weapons to the city of Atlantis itself. #DarkMatter's space stations were also his designs. pic.twitter.com/6IUR0hDIQt
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 9, 2020
#AmazingPeopleWithWhomIHaveWorked
John Stead – An incredible Stunt Coordinator, John was responsible for all of the onscreen action on #DarkMatter, planning and executing every move with precision and care. He is also one of the best damn directors I know! pic.twitter.com/X3gM406Iyv
— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 10, 2020
Great great people!
Finally – mom took a fall in the kitchen the other day and suffered two small fractures – one to her hand, another to her wrist. She slipped on the carpet she put in the kitchen to keep her dog from slipping. Ironic, no? Here’s hoping she makes a full recovery and back to making orecchiette in no time!
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January 9, 2020
January 9, 2020: Utopia Falls
Back in April of last year, I was invited to attend an event hosted by the Director’s Guild of Canada. The aim of the evening was to connect showrunners and directors in a speed-dating-like setting. Prior to the date, I was forwarded a list of 200+ directors and instructed to choose six. Then, on the night, I met with each of my chosen directors for a total of 10 minutes each. It was fun and I did, in fact, make some great connections. But there was one director who I met on the night that wasn’t on my list. I was introduced to RT Thorne through a mutual friend, former Stargate producer Alan McCullough, during some downtime between meetings. He was very complementary about Dark Matter, so I suggested we simply meet up later that week.
A few days later, over a two hour lunch, RT filled me in on the ambitious series he was planning to pitch – a far future, post-apocalyptic sci-fi series that would incorporate music, performances, and an underlying theme related to discovery, social change, and youth empowerment. Oh, and Hip Hop. He was very passionate about the project, and that passion, I felt, would serve him well. But without a pilot script to accompany the series overview he had put together, I assumed a sale would be a lofty prospect.
So imagine my surprise weeks later when RT phoned me up to tell me he had sold the show. They had a 10 episode first season order and were looking for a showrunner. I wished him luck but couldn’t really think of anyone who might be a good fit. But RT wasn’t looking for recommendations. He was looking to me. My response was: “I’m not Hip Hop. I’m sci-fi.” And he countered: “I’M hip hop. You handle the sci-fi.”
In the end, I was convinced to meet with the production company, Sonar Entertainment, that was in the process of interviewing for the position. To be honest, when I went in, it wasn’t with the intention of pitching myself. I went in out of respect for RT who asked me to sit down and talk about the project. So I did. And I was brutally honest. I told them what I loved about what they had, but also made it very clear where I felt the problems lay.
The following week, I received a call from my agent informing me that I’d been offered the showrunning position. I was flattered, but didn’t think I was the right fit for the show. And there were still some issues that I felt needed to be addressed. My agent asked me how I would address the issues. So I told him. I wanted to co-write the pilot with the series creator RT to establish the world and these characters with him. And I wanted to write the finale which would, no doubt, require a fair amount of narrative juggling as our various stories would dovetail. I also wanted my Dark Matter team backing me up, key positions like Production Designer (Ian Brock), Line Producer (Robbie David), and On Set Producer (Ivon Bartok), as well as most of the old crew.
I got them.
RT and I spent the month of August breaking the world, the characters, the relationships, broadstroking the various character and story arcs, and then, in October, we convened the writers’ room. Over the course of five weeks, we world-built and broke all ten of the show’s first season episodes.
Prep on the series started in February and we rolled into production in March.
It was a very different experience from my time on Stargate and Dark Matter, but rewarding nonetheless. I got to work with some incredible people – a terrific cast made up of young up-and-comers as well as more seasoned veterans, new faces on the crew, casting director Stephanie Gorin, VFX Supervisor Greg Behranes and his team, Post-Production Supervisor Katherine Hul and HER team, as well as our point people at Sonar – Andrea Gorfolova, Ashley Rite, and Marc Kell Whitehead. And then, of course, there were the talents of Music Supervisor David Hayman, Composer Nikhil Seetharam, Music Producer Boi-1da, choreographer Tanisha Scott, Snoop Dogg (as the voice of our A.I.!), and the man himself – RT Thorne.
Fair to say that a good time was had by all.
Utopia Falls premieres February 14th on Hulu and CBC Gem.
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January 8, 2020
January 8, 2020: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!
These were my favorites…
Batman #86 (cover art by Francesco Mattina)
Black Panther Book 8: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, Part 3 (cover art by Daniel Acuna)
Catwoman #19 (cover art by Ian MacDonald)
Catwoman #19 (cover art by Joelle Jones)
Dragonfly & Dragonflyman #3 (cover art by Jamal Igle)
Miles Morales: The End #1 (cover art by Rahzzah)
Red Agent: The Island of Dr. Moreau #1 (cover art by Keith Garvey)
Red Mother #1 (cover art by Reiko Murakami)
Star #1 (cover art by Jee-Hyung Lee)
Venom #22 (cover art by John Tyler Christopher)
So, which were YOUR favorites?
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January 7, 2020
January 7, 2020: Opportunities missed! Opportunities realized!
I’ve had a fairly successful career to date. Over 350 hours of produced television. Over a hundred written. Over a hundred as a showrunner. By now, those who have tuned in to my work are aware of my style, the type of work I produce: character-driven stories with an underlying sense of humor that speak to the bonds of camaraderie and family. It’s something that is readily identifiable in my contributions to the Stargate franchise, my own series, Dark Matter, and will, hopefully, continue to entertain fans in future productions.
Of course, what worked so well on Stargate and Dark Matter may not have proven the right for other productions. So, looking back on the various productions I pitched to over the years, it’s perhaps not that surprising that I didn’t land a script or a staff position with them. And still, there are a few that felt like pretty good fits that, for whatever reason, got away. It’s a part of the business. You win some; you lose some. Sure, they can often warrant considerable frustration given the amount of effort that goes into a pitch or take but, at the end of the day, it’s no something to get upset over. There will always be other opportunities.
I look back at some of the more notable opportunities missed…
LEXX
My then writing partner, Paul Mullie, and I were just finishing up work on a half hour sitcom called Student Bodies and looking for an opportunity in the one hour world when we received a call from our agent informing us a sci-fi series gearing up for production. We were thrilled at the prospect and eagerly sat down to watch the pilot. It was pretty “out there” and, quite honestly, we didn’t know quite what to make of it – but it was sci-fi and we were game to give it a go. Alas, in the end, we didn’t make the cut – which, in retrospect, worked out for the best because a commitment to this production would have surely taken us out of the running when a staff position on Stargate presented itself shortly thereafter.
THE OUTER LIMITS
Growing up, I was always a big fan of anthologies, especially those that dabbled in science fiction like The Twilight Zone and the original Outer Limits, so when we got word that the new Outer Limits series was entertaining story submissions, Paul and I put together a few and sent them along. Looking back on them today, they’re all really solid ideas that could form the basis for some pretty kick-ass sci-fi movies – but, at the time, they failed to elicit much interest. The feedback we received was nevertheless positive enough to convince us to try again. And, again, we were turned down. I didn’t think of it again until years later when we working with Brad Wright, former EP on The Outer Limits, and we told him about the stories we pitched. Turns out Brad never saw them. Apparently, they never made it past the production’s gatekeeper.
THE SAINT
Shortly before Dark Matter got the green light, our agent contacted us regarding a potential showrunnig opportunity on a remake of the Roger Moore series The Saint. I loved the idea, a call was set up, and we were sent the pilot. But upon reading the script, I had some issues – logic bumps mostly, but some pretty stark parallels to another action series we had just worked on. I was brutally honest with the producer on the phone call, outlining my creative concerns. He thanked me and – that was the last I heard from them. To the best of my knowledge, the production ended up falling through.
OLYMPUS
I learned early in my career that it’s always best to be honest, especially when it comes to production concerns, because if you don’t speak up early, you could get caught short late. So it was that we interviewed for a possible showrunning gig on a mythology-based series called Olympus. It was an ambitious production that aimed to make expansive use of green screen, but I wasn’t convinced the technology was there to achieve their lofty goals. Nevertheless we ended up getting on the phone with the show creator to discuss the pilot script. We had notes. Presumably too much because, halfway through the conversation, the line went dead and that was that.
HELLRAISER
When I heard that plans were underway to produce a Hellraiser series, I had my agent look into the possibility of pitching a take. I’m a big fan of Clive Barker (his Books of Blood were one of my favorite reads growing up), so I jumped at the chance to possibly oversee a small screen adaptation of one of his most famous works. Sadly, for reasons unknown to me, the series never came to fruition.
SHADOWHUNTERS
Interesting, no? Loved the premise and the mythology. Paul and I had a conversation with the production company very early in the process, but they went with someone else – and we ended up producing Dark Matter instead.
AMERICAN GODS
I love Neil Gaiman’s work and loved the novel, so I really appreciated the opportunity to pitch (Paul and) myself for this production but, looking at how things shook out, I can’t imagine a better version of the series than the one presently being produced.
STARCRAFT
I wasn’t all that familiar with the game going on so, in preparation, I ended up immersing myself in countless hours of game play covering the franchise’s history, from Starcraft through Brood War, Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, and Legacy of the Void. I spent weeks crafting a pitch that I felt confident would be a slam dunk. It was warmly received and then…nothing. After repeated follow-up emails went unanswered, I had my agent follow up. He confirmed they were going in another direction, but that they appreciated my efforts – although why they couldn’t have simply said as much in a response to one of my original queries remains a mystery.
And there were more – pitches and takes I spent weeks, often months developing – that ultimately went nowhere. But, as I said earlier, it’s all part of the business, and things have a way of working their way out. If we’d landed any of the aforementioned shows, my career trajectory would have certainly been very different. I may not have landed on Stargate. I may not have been able to showrun my own series, Dark Matter. So rather than wallow on missed opportunities, I prefer to see them as destiny redirecting on my fated path – hopefully, in 2020, towards one of my own creations, or an exciting new collaboration.
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January 6, 2020
January 6, 2020: Stargate Superdrive Tweetstorm – European Edition!
As promised, we’ve planned a Stargate twitter event for European fans who were unable to make December’s tweetstorm (on account of it kicking off at approximately 2:00 a.m. their time).
We’re eyeing a 1:00 p.m. EST kick-off which means European Stargate fans will be tweeting approximately six hours later, about 7:00 p.m. their time.
This go-round, we’ll be doing things a little differently. Trending will be of lesser importance. Rather than an hour long blitz, we invite Stargate fans worldwide to tweet at their leisure, anytime after the appointed time and for however long they like. Let us know your favorite Stargate moment. Your favorite episode. What drew you to the franchise and why you want to see it make a comeback.
In December, we delivered the message to MGM by tagging @StargateCommand. In a little under three weeks, fans will be tagging the future home of the new Stargate series. And where is that? Well, that’s up to you. Where would you like to see the new series land? Possible homes include:
Amazon @PrimeVideo
AMC @AMCTV
Apple TV+ @AppleTVPlus
CBS All-Access – @CBSAllAccess
Disney+ @disneyplus
HBO Max @hbomax
Hulu @hulu NBCU’s
Peacock @NBCUniversal
Netflix @netflix
Showtime @Showtime
Starz @STARZ
Syfy @Syfy
***
Let ’em know!
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January 5, 2020
January 5, 2020: Suji Sunday!
Wearing out those socks and boots!
Catching her ride.
One of their last rides together.
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