Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 241

March 22, 2019: Production looms!

So today was our last day of prep before Monday’s start of production and we celebrated, as is the custom, with a cast read-thru, mini cupcakes, and some 11th hour blue pages.  Also, a tour of the stages culminating in the grand space piano reveal!

Tonight, is the cast dinner followed by bowling –

 – which, quite frankly, will take me well past by bedtime.   This weekend, I’m going to do a future slang pass on Episodes 3-6, finish my rewrite of Episode 7, and wade into Episode 8.

Meanwhile, developments await on three other future fronts…

Oh, hey.  Good news.  Sis’s dog, Fernando, is apparently on the mend from Severe Acute Pancreatitis.  Here he is, all smiles –

Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve done a mailbag.  If you have any questions, be they Stargate, Dark Matter-related, or just general questions about the t.v. industry, post them in the comments section and I’ll answer them in my next blog entry.

March 21, 2019: Well – this may take a while.

You know what I hate more than driving around looking for parking?  Or weddings?  Yes,  rewriting scripts.  More often than not, it’s just a pain in the ass necessary evil.  Other times, it can be downright infuriating as you realize…

And that afternoon script polish suddenly turns into a three day rewrite.

Production meeting for the Episode 1/2 First Block!  We breezed through it in under two hours.  We could have gotten it done in one and a half if not for The Great Grinder/Flint/Spark Generator Debate.  Following a long and involved discussion on the shot in question (eventually tabled and picked up later that afternoon), a decision was finally reached.  And, as my former Stargate editor Rick used to say: “Saved the episode.”.

Only days away from the commencement of principal photography, so I picked up some professional-looking pens to be used in important meetings and for the signing of contracts and the like.  White sheep for good mood.  Black sheep for bad mood.  Poultry for undecided.

Today’s blog entry is dedicated to sis’s blind rescue husky Fernando who is in emergency.  Get well, Fern!

March 20, 2019: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Batman #67 (cover art by Elizabeth Breitweiser, Lee Weeks)

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #4 (cover art by Andrew C. Robinson)

Immortal Hulk #15 (cover art by Alex Ross)

Infinity 8 #10 (cover art by Martin Trystram)

Invisible Kingdom #1 (cover art by Christian Ward)

Jessica Jones #3 (cover art by Martin Simmonds)

Spider-Man: Life Story #1 (cover art by Chip Zdarsky)

Star Wars #63 (cover art by Gerald Parel)

So, which were your favorites?

March 19, 2019: What delicious plans await!

Plotting and scheming with this evil genius.  Who knows what the future holds? Not sure.  But I do know the recent past included chirashi, squash agnolotti, black truffle-topped pasta, and schnitzel at Spago.

#GoldenBoy

Speaking of food –

New  Swiss Study Suggests That Hip-Hop Makes Cheese Taste Better

Wonder if I can find a way to work this into the new show?

Cadbury Promotes the Gleeful Destruction of Archaeological Sites?

In response to the uproar, Cadbury was “directing families to museums” – where, presumably, Easter Creme Eggs await for those determined to dig deep enough.

It’s finally here!  Maple Syrup Spray! 

Now if they can only make sprayable liquid bacon and egg yolks.

Is Dark Chocolate Healthy?  It Depends Who You Ask.

Oh.  You’re asking me?  Then yes.

Are you ever frustrated by the fact that, after frequenting a fast food joint, you eventually stop smelling like french fries after only a few hours?  Well then this soap is for you!

Do you enjoy honey?  What about hornets?  Well now you can enjoy the great taste of both together!

Finally –

Birthday Boy Robbie David enjoys a chocolate birthday cake compliments of his wife, Stephanie.

While Akemi settles for a big salad.

March 18, 2019: Teams with awesome (or occasionally suspect) nicknames I am sorry didn’t make the NCAA Division 1 March Madness Tournament!

Stony Brook Seawolves

UMBC Retrievers

Albany Great Danes

Wichita State Shockers

Tulane Green Wave

Richmond Spiders

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Stetson Hatters

TCU Horned Frogs

Depaul Blue Demons

Northern Arizona Lumberjacks

Idaho Vandals

Campbell Fighting Camels

Presbyterian Blue Hose

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

UC Riverside Highlanders

Delaware Blue Hens

Drexel Dragons

Marshall Thundering Herd

North Texas Mean Green

Youngstown State Penguins

Manhattan Jaspers

Saint Peter’s Peacocks

Akron Zips

Floria A&M Rattlers

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

Southern Illinois Salukis

Evansville Purple Aces

St. Francis (BKN) Terriers

Austin Peay Governors

Loyola (MD) Greyhounds

Alabama Crimson Tide

Vanderbilt Commodores

Furman Paladins

VMI Keydets

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

Mississippi State Delta Devils

South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Purdue Fort Wayne Mastadons

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Pepperdine Waves

UKMC Kangaroos

So, who you got in the Final Four?

March 17, 2019: Suji Sunday!

As is the tradition…

My girls in their matching sweaters.  Sadly, they didn’t have one in medium for Lulu.

Slo-mo Suji!

Mesmerizing.

Checking out her Pooch Patch.  It’s like having a mini park on our balcony!

Yet another addition to the every-growing Coffee Cup Cap Collection!

March 16, 2019: The fruits of our labor!

Today was the big day!  Yes, after hours and hours of molding, spinning, glazing, and generally not paying attention, it was time to pick up our finished works of pottery.  Akemi’s creations…

Put to good use…

Now, check out MY masterpieces…

When I heard we’d be glazing, I knew I had to make a donut.  It turned out pretty good, all things considered (and by all things, I mean the fact I made it in less than a minute). Krispy Kreme, eat your heart out!

A little too much wax ruined the color scene here.  [Warning: Not safe for gate travel!]

My glazing experience was one step short of disaster.  None of the glazing liquid colors actually matched what would be the finished look.  Also, it’s apparently impossible to do contrasting colors when you’ve already done a coat of dark.  Witness my Legion of Super-Heroes drink coaster.

The crown jewel of my collection, sadly, did not make it past the last stage of the process. RIP, Starro the Conqueror.  I draw consolation from the fact that the center eye came out pretty good.

As she was packing away out art work, our instructor commended me on my originality. Apparently, most students stick to the tried and true plates, bowls and cups and rarely venture into galactic super villain territory.

Hoowee.  As this week approaches, the Perfect Storm approaches.  I’m strapping on my life vest and going in.  Wish me luck!

March 15, 2019: Countdown to lift-off!

Can you spot all of Suji’s appearances in the following video?

P.S. I also make an occasional guest appearance as well.

Today’s sci-fi word of the day was = @SpacePiano

Some random shots –

Former Dark Matter Playback Operator Greg Whiteside looking relaxed following his Panama staycay.

Costume Designer Noreen Landry consults with Show Creator/Executive Producer R.T. Thorne.

Found on set.

Also found on set.

Well, one more week of prep and then – it’s smooooooooth sailing, all the way through production.  If the schedule-maker is to be believed, we’ll be wrap last week of June, just in time for everyone to hit the beach!

March 14, 2019: Birthday Bashes!

This week, amid all the construction and painting and sewing and stitching and meeting and writing, we also found time to celebrate.  Specifically, on Tuesday, with The Sandlot-themed bash for Assistant Production Coordinator Drew Cohoe’s birthday.

Check out the spread!

I’ll be honest.  I’ve never seen the movie but I can only assume this cake is really on point.

The Birthday Boy!

The Prize Drawer!  What wonders does it hold?

Guess the number of gumballs in the jar!  Everyone scoffed when I wrote 103, yet it was good enough for 2nd place!

Plus a box of oreo Pocky AND two handfuls of gumballs!

Then we followed that up yesterday with a Curb Your Enthusiasm-themed birthday bash for our Line Producer Robbie David who turned – oh, I don’t – I’m guessing 50-something!

Best Birthday Cake Ever!

There were special character balloons, party hats, and a special screening of some of Robbie’s favorite episodes.

There were games.  In “Do You Respect the Wood”, you had to identify all eight types of wood.  I got zero.  The next (better) game had you building the Larry David sandwich from the list of ingredients provided.  I came in second.

Which meant MORE prizes.  A pack of Junior Mints and the pink thing Akemi had fun with last night (It’s a giant bubble wand).

Other prizes won included a Black Panther mask, a nerf basketball net, and two framed photos of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich!

But wait!  There’s more!  We ended the festivities with this literal coup de grace!

Piñata!!! And inside?  More gumballs (that I suspect may have been leftover from preceding party).

Who doesn’t love a party?

March 13, 2019: Week’s Best Comic Book Cover!

These were my favorites…

Age of X-Man: The Marvelous X-Men #2 (cover art by Phil Noto)

House of Whispers #7 (cover art by Sean A. Murray)

Orcs & Goblins vol. 5: Bad Luck (cover art by Benoit Dellac, Stefano Martino)

Punisher #9 (cover art by Greg Smallwood)

Runaways #19 (cover art by Kris Anka)

Star Wars: Age of Republic – General Grievous #1 (cover art by Paolo Rivera)

The Batman Who Laughs: Grim Knight #1 (cover art by Jock)

The Flash #66 (cover art by Tomeu Morey, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona)

The Life and Death of Toyo Harada #1 (cover art by Mico Suayan)

Wolverine: The Long Night Adaptation #3 (cover art by Rafael Albuquerque)

And you?