Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 246

March 5, 2019: Prep Day 2!

Today’s ensemble…

Decepticon cufflinks, Little Prince socks, grey suit, and Macallan Amber.

Casting, emails, more casting, more emails, even more casting, even more emails, reviewing scripts and pulling scenes for the upcoming chemistry reads (aka. even MORE casting).  And the color palette meeting.

Hey, this is important!  Gummy Bear sausages are a thing –

https://t.co/wD7Cgi18Ae

I mean, Zoie almost unfollowed me for posting this informative news piece about a place that serves pizza ice cream: https://twitter.com/thisisinsider/sta...

Please, select your Lantern Corps…

Then pick up your ring…

 

 

March 4, 2019: And so it begins…

Today, we kicked off official prep on this new sci-fi series with a good old-fashioned concept meeting.  In attendance: show creator/director/Executive Producer R.T. Thorne, myself, and a bunch of familiar faces from my Dark Matter days (including Production Manager Catherine Lang, Production Designer Ian Brock, Art Director Kelly Diamond, Graphics Roxanne Borris, Costume Designer Noreen Landry, Props Master Victoria Klein, Line Producer Robbie David, and On Set Producer Ivon Bartok).  I welcomed everyone back after a refreshing two year hiatus and then we rolled right into our first two episodes, touching on everything from force shields to holograms, night shoots to mealworms.  We went from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., stopping only for a quick lunch and a conference call with the network to discuss music, casting, and genetics.

Tomorrow, the Wardrobe and Art Department convene for the big palette meeting.

I shit you not.

Prep Day #1 look = blue suit, black design shirt, red lantern cufflinks, pocket handkerchief, and ninja cat socks.

Slowly restocking my in-office whiskey collection.

And thanks to my buddy Jeff, I no longer have to drink straight out of the bottle.

Hey.  Who called this meeting?

A little pre-paint wall texture.

Frank and Rick.

Craig and Mean Jean.

And this seems to be coming along nicely.  Whatever it is.

Meanwhile, one step closer on both the Untitled Awesome Project and the Super Project.

It’s gonna be a big month!

March 3, 2019: Suji Sunday!

Your typical Sunday lazing.

Suji prefers the minimalist decor.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays this pug from the swift completion of her appointed poop rounds.

Meanwhile, Lulu does NOT enjoy her visits to the vet –

Let’s play a little Yes/No!

Yes/No?

Yes/No?

Yes/No?

Yes/No?

Yes/No?

Yes/No?

Yes/No?

Answers to yesterday’s quiz.  Match the fandom name to the t.v. show:

Clone Club: Orphan Black
Clock Blockers: Timeless
Fannibals: Hannibal
Dunderheads: The Office
Flash Mob: The Flash (2014)
Wingnuts: The West Wing
Kimbits: Kim’s Convenience
Browncoats: Firefly
Sidekicks: Heroes
Psych-Oh’s: Psych



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Submitted without comment…

March 1, 2019: All Aboard or Get out of the way!

Well, we’re certainly picking up speed and – Oh, yeah! – past the point where we can apply the brakes in any hope of slowing down this runaway train.  Nope.  It’s either All Aboard or Get out of the way!  Today, we barreled through three and a half hours of live auditions and another hour of self-tapes to accompany the four hours of callbacks we sat through yesterday.  We’ve got to start pulling the trigger on choices next week because, uncoincidentally enough, our first day of official prep is this Monday as we sit down for the Block #1 concept meeting which promises to be a real page turner.  It’s true.  It says so right there on the prep schedule:

Got my hands full this weekend with production-friendly passes on Episodes 101 and 102.  And, most certainly, more auditions.  And some possible pottery glazing.

Quick!  Match the inspired fandom nickname to their obsession!

Clone Club
Clock Blockers
Fannibals
Dunderheads
Flash Mob
Wingnuts
Kimbits
Browncoats
Sidekick
Pysch-Oh’s

February 28, 2019: Sweet sweet elusive sleep!

It’s been about two weeks since I’ve had a goodnight’s sleep.  For some reason of late, it takes me forever to drift off and, when I finally do, I’m awake again hours later.  In bed by 10 p.m., asleep by 1 a.m., awake at 2:30 a.m., asleep against by 3:00 a.m., awake again an hour later, and so on.  I do, however, make up for my night time insomnia by being thoroughly exhausted through most daylight hours.  I’ve tried everything – chamomile tea, warn milk, booze.  Even formerly reliable melatonin hasn’t helped.  I mean do I have to resort to taking Suji’s CBD oil?  Akemi thinks it may be because I’m stressed, but what do I have to be stressed about?  And even if I am stressed, I apparently do a terrific job of hiding it from myself.

This inability to sleep through the night has made it incredibly difficult for me to focus, especially when it comes to reading.  Whereas, last year, I could get through a book, maybe two, in a single day, now I’m lucky to make it through a couple of chapters before growing weary and setting it aside.

And still work continues on several fronts.

Today, it was call-backs for our seven younger leads while auditions are coming in for our adult regulars.  Set construction is in full swing.  We’ve had our preliminary art department, props, and costume meetings – as well as several sit-downs to discuss visual effects and our ambitious schedule.  Tomorrow, it’s a chat with the broadcaster and another round of call-backs, these via Skype.  This weekend, I set my sights on our first two episodes with a mind to tightening, streamlining, and discovering some futuristic turns of phrase.

The outline for my (formerly titled) Untitled Awesome Project was delivered to the broadcaster last week and we impatiently await word.  No need for a long and detailed response.  A simple “Great!  Start writing that first draft!” would suffice.

Tweaked and delivered the series overview for that comic book adaptation last week as well.  Once our awesome artist has delivered the required images, we’ll put together a proper package, hopefully get that script order, then attach a director and awaaaaay we go!

Slow and steady progress on the BIG dream project.  We went back and forth on the pitch, finally locked it down, and sent it off to the production company.  Once they sign off, it goes to the publisher.  And once THEY sign off, WE go to the broadcaster and pitch it.  And if THEY give us the go ahead…we are going to have a blast.

February 27, 2019: Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

These were my favorites…

Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #1 (cover art by Rahzzah)

Books of Magic #5 (cover art by Kai Carpenter)

Cloak and Dagger: Negative Exposure #3 (cover art by Jamal Campbell)

Cold Spots vol. 1 (cover art by Sean Phillips)

Fantastic Four #7 (cover art by Esad Ribic)

Hex Wives #5 (cover art by Jordie Bellaire, Joelle Jones, Tula Lotay)

Monstrella #1 (cover art by Sun Khamunaki)

Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #29 (cover art by Ashley Witter)

So which are your favorites?

February 26, 2019: News of Note!

 

New parents face up to six years of sleep deprivation according to a new study.  Does this hold true for elderly pet owners as well?

Protect your dogs from coyotes with these awesome armored vests.

Home A.I.’s with morals – and a direct line to the cops.

Winter is coming.  And so, apparently, are Game of Thrones Oreos.

Also on its way = a beer that takes like Lucky Charms.

Jason Momoa responds to girl who put his shirtless photo on the box of the Girl Scout Cookies she is selling.  He wants a taste.  Preferably shortbread.

Actor Ryan Reynolds getting into character for his upcoming role in Detective Pikachu –

Pottery II: The Quickening!

Yesterday was, presumably, Part II of II of our couple’s pottery course.  I say presumably because, as it turns out, yesterday’s class didn’t cover the (apparently) all-important art of glazing.  Instead, the day was dedicated to hand-sculpting and trimming.

The artist at work.

Putting the finishing touches on that matcha bowl!

According to Akemi, Nib Nib is a cocoa nib who “couldn’t become chocolate because he was eaten by bug”.

For my part, I decided to really unleash my artistic spirit –

Starro the Conqueror.

Stargate.

Legion of Super-Heroes drink coaster.

And since I discovered we would have to come back to glaze, I thought it only appropriate that I make a donut.

Cha-daaa!

Still, as Ivon pointed out, I could probably do a lot worse than having to accompany my girlfriend to a couple’s pottery class…

February 24, 2019: Suji Sunday!

Always trying to figure you out.

That look when she gets an idea for that new script.

Too much tongue for that tiny mouth.

Always down for a pajama party.

Pondering the secrets of the universe.

Bet you can’t do – THIS!