Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 264

That New Show…

Well, that’s it.  My extended vacation has come to an end because tomorrow, I start the writers’ room on a new sci-fi series.

I’ll be showrunning but, unlike Dark Matter, this one is not my brainchild.  And the circumstances by which I became involved are rather…unusual.

Several months ago, the Director’s Guild of Canada hosted an event pairing established show runners with up and coming directors in an evening of drinks, snacks, and speed dating-like meet and greets.  I was sent a list of potential candidates (over two hundred in all!), then asked to select eight.  On the night of the event, I sat down with those eight directors and got to know them – in the approximately ten minutes allotted to each.  During a break in the action, one of the directors I hadn’t chosen came over and introduced himself, then proceeded to heap praise on Dark Matter.  I thought: “Damn, I should’ve picked this guy!”  And then: “I still can!”

Later that week, we got together and, instead of a ten minute chat, we sat down to a two hour lunch in which we covered, among other things, a show he was preparing to pitch.  It was a unique science fiction series unlike anything I’d ever worked on, but very intriguing.

Weeks later, he called to tell me his show had been picked up, that the production company was interviewing potential showrunners, and asked whether I’d be interested in throwing my hat into the ring.  I considered.  On the one hand, it was, as I said, unlike any show I’d ever worked on.  On the other, I really liked him and, at this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with people I like.  I also liked the show’s premise.  And the possibility of reuniting my former Dark Matter crew.

So, I went in and interviewed.  And was offered the gig.

Which brings us to where we are now – specifically, on my couch, sipping chamomile tea, monitoring the Bears-Packers game while I finish this entry after which I’ll move on to reviewing my notes for tomorrow’s world building session.

More details on this series as they become available – following the grand announcement (whenever that is).

Stay tuned and Prepare to Support Your Sector!

Out and About – The Toronto Edition!

Squeezing in as much fun (aka food) as humanly possible ahead of this Monday when I will be swallowed by the black hole known as The Writers’ Room.

Packing it in…and on…

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Ice Cream Tayaki at Sukoi.  Choose a flavor (matcha or black sesame), then a filling (red bean, custard, or nutella), then your toppings.  Snap your instagram-worthy pic, then consume.

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Avocado toast with duck bacon at Early Bird.  You can have it smashed or sliced.  I opted for the former while Akemi chose the latter which was presented as a beautiful green flower.  I asked “What’s the duck bacon made out of?”assuming it was one of those faux vegan alternatives that taste nothing like the original.  The answer?  “Duck.”  Delicious!

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I’m almost reluctant to talk about this recent addition to the Toronto sushi scene for fear it will become insanely popular – but I’ll just go ahead and tell you that the sushi at Jugemu (sourced from all over the world including Japan) is phenomenal.  And considerably less expensive than what you would pay for the same quality fish at some of the city’s other high-end restaurants.

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Finally got to check out Koishi Ice Cream and sample melon pan with matcha ice cream.  Magical.

Another terrific addition to the Toronto sushi scene is Narami Sushi which specializes in temaki (hand) rolls.  Akemi was thrilled to order a nigh-impossible to find (in Canada) natto-okra hand roll while I had to order two of the toro and ikura (Japanese tuna belly and Alaskan salmon roe) temaki.

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Whenever we’re in the Ossington area, we always drop by Bang Bang Ice Cream where Akemi can enjoy her favorite dessert: the Hong Kong waffle.  I always go for the ice cream sandwich, combining my choice of ice cream with my choice of cookie.  Today, it was birthday cake cookies and banana pudding ice cream.

On our way home, we happened by this newly opened dog-friendly cafe where you can sip a mocha while your pooch enjoys his or her own snack.  I have a feeling Suji and Lulu are going to be regulars at Dogs & Coffee.

What’s going on with your feet?

It’s been one year since Dark Matter was cancelled…

It’s been approximately one year since Dark Matter was cancelled.

Truthfully, it’s hard to pin down an exact day because syfy never gave us a “Thanks for three years” official announcement, but I like to peg the date at around this time last year when, buoyed by the show’s relatively strong overall viewership, I sold my home in Vancouver and moved to Toronto to finish up what I assumed would be the final two seasons of the show – only to learn on the day I arrived, jet-lagged and exhausted, that we were done.

Over at SciFi Movie Page, Chris Suide offers up a nice retrospective of the series –

Dark Matter: Revisiting A Terrific Series On The One Year Anniversary of Its Cancellation

And I offer you some behind the scenes videos from Episode 1…

Opening shot by director T.J. Scott…

Rehearsing the ONE stasis pod reveal…

Rehearsing the FOUR stasis pod reveal…

Introducing Alex Mallari Jr. as Dancing FOUR…

John Stead oversees the anti-gray sequence with Marc Bendavid and Anthony Lemke…

Shooting footage for the Griffin Jones Wanted video…

The boys singing their hearts out…

Stunt Coordinator/Director John Stead runs through the choreography for the big Android vs SIX fight sequence..

Shooting THREE’s tumble…

Zoie Palmer and Alex Mallari Jr. rehearse a stunt under the direction of stunt coordinator John Stead…

John Stead shoots Alex Mallari Jr. and Marc Bendavid in the first training room scene…

Anthony Lemke practicing his gun twirling…

Great times!

P.S. Haven’t given up on that wrap-up miniseries!  Someday…

This Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

Presenting my favorite comic book covers of the week…

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Aphrodite IX: Ares (cover art by Sara Knaepen)

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Death of the Inhumans #3 (cover art by Kaare Kyle Andrews)

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Immortal Hulk #5 (cover art by Alex Ross)

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Silver Surfer Annual #1 (cover art by Philip Tan)

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Spawn #289 (cover art by Jason Shawn Alexander, Francesco Mattina)

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The Dreaming #1 (cover art by June Chung, Jae Lee)

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Weapon X #23 (cover art by Rahzzah)

So, which ones were your faves?

September 4, 2018: This Week’s Best Comic Book Covers!

Presenting my favorite comic book covers of the week…

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Aphrodite IX: Ares (cover art by Sara Knaepen)

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Death of the Inhumans #3 (cover art by Kaare Kyle Andrews)

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Immortal Hulk #5 (cover art by Alex Ross)

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Silver Surfer Annual #1 (cover art by Philip Tan)

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Spawn #289 (cover art by Jason Shawn Alexander, Francesco Mattina)

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The Dreaming #1 (cover art by June Chung, Jae Lee)

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Weapon X #23 (cover art by Rahzzah)

So, which ones were your faves?

Headed to series on another show…

Well, it’s all systems go on this series I’ve been circling for a while

I’ve been in discussion with the show’s creator for a couple of months now, brainstorming his vision and beating out a rough ten episode first season narrative arc.  This Monday, the writers’ room convenes for a 4-5 story breaking session.  Would love to tell you more, but I’m going to defer to the decision makers and get clarity on their social media policy before revealing too much. What I CAN say is that it’s future Earth sci-fi…and, quite honestly, unlike anything I’ve ever worked on.

As far as those other projects go…

That Supernatural Small-town Mystery Series: Looks like it could be fading like a pier-side Carson Beckett at the end of that explosive tumor episode.  I’ve followed up twice now on the status of the project with no definite word.  I feel like I’m one more follow-up email away from them filing a restraining order and relocating.

The Untitled Awesome Project: Fear not!  This one is still in play.  It’ll take a while to close the deal, then some time to come up with a game plan on the creative, so this one is a way’s away.  Still, it’s going to be a blast.

The Comic Book Adaptation: Working off the breakdown written by the creator of the comic book, I have put together a 10 page series overview.  Tomorrow, we all get on the phone for one of those group conference calls where everyone talks over each other and at least one participant mysteriously drops out, never to be heard from again.  Next step would be to outline the pilot which, in my opinion, should more or less follow the first issue of the comic book.  That final twist is a doozy!

The Adaptation of that Horror Novel: To quote Cookie Monster, What De Fudgee-o???  This deal was supposed to be closed three months ago, only it turned out it was actually only almost closed.  Then the deal was all but closed last month but, since then, radio silence.  Hmmmm.

The Gothic Horror Project: Last I heard, a production company was going to option the pilot I co-wrote with my friend Tara with an eye to developing a bible.  The fact that this was several weeks ago and I haven’t heard anything since leads me to suspect this one has gone up in smoke as well.

The Procedural: Had a great sit-down with “the sock” and his partner to discuss how we’re going to pitch this one.  I review our strategic document tomorrow.

And that’s that.  It’s still feeling like the calm before the storm, but the winds are definitely picking up.

Today, I leave you with a behind the scenes pic from Dark Matter’s season 2 finale which finds Alex Mallari Jr. and Ellen Wong possibly discussing the sheer impossibility of eating a mango –

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My problem with mangoes

Finally, forgot to mention it, the voters have spoken.  I am an LSU Tigers fan this season!  Is it mere coincidence that they upset the Miami Hurricanes in their first game?  I think not!

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Yeah!!!

Dark Matter’s Android

Some thoughts on Dark Matter‘s Android played by the lovely and talented Zoie Palmer…

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When I originally developed the idea for the series that would become Dark Matter, I envisioned Android a lot differently than the character who ended up on our screens.  For one, the character was envisioned as male.  In the comic books, he was less childlike than the final t.v. version and more akin to a polished butler in attitude.  Finally, the plan was for this character to be more of a supporting player.  That WAS the plan, but that plan changed after we cast Zoie Palmer.

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Zoie brought something completely different to the role.  Her portrayal was sweet, humorous, and irresistibly charming.  This character I had created on paper came to three dimensional life in ways I never expected.  So, as the first season progressed and episodes started coming in short, my response was to write extra scenes for our Android to flesh out her character and make her an equally important member of the Raza crew.  And, of course, Zoie Palmer was more than up for the challenge.

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Zoie’s onscreen presence and her chemistry with the other actors was undeniable, but what really surprised me was the fan reaction.  Online and in those focus group testings the networks love so much, Android continually topped the lists of favorite characters.  Each of the crew members had their supporters, but Android commanded a passionate fanbase I honestly never imagined when I first created the character.

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And within that fanbase, what I found truly remarkable and touching were the number of viewers who reached out to say they connected with Android because they were autistic and saw in her a character with whom they could relate.

“As an #autistic person it’s hard for me to let #DarkMatter #Android go. Know what? I just won’t!”

“I have a friend whose young son is autistic & he adores the Android. His mum hasn’t had the heart to tell him that #DarkMatter isn’t coming back (yet!).”

“#DarkMatter android awesome, autistic people related to her, characters developed deeper, miss dinner time chats #RAZA”

“We need 2 raise awareness for women with #autism. Too bad we won’t see #DarkMatter s Android anymore.”

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“Thank you @ZoiePalmer for your take on the Android, for precisely this reason. #syfy #Darkmatter #autism #spectrum”

” It really mirrors many of the self-esteem issues of AS people. In many scenes, she sits around the table with her crew while they engage in chit chat as she follows the discussion and earnestly tries to enter the conversation–very awkwardly–sound familiar? She often takes things too literally and asks the the other characters what they really mean. In season 2, the Android character is given a special chip that allows it/her to interact socially more intuitively–like a NT human. She uses it to pass as human to save a fellow crew member. In the next episode, she takes to chip out and goes back to being non-NT android. She says that this is her real identity–so cool. Such an intense episode and a real role-model for an AS person. –Zoie Palmer’s performances as that character is phenomenal”

“I’m autistic and how the crew is with android makes me feel like I’m normal!”

Wow.  Looking back on those tweets, comments, messages, and emails, I’m struck by  varied emotions.  I’m amazed, touched, and incredibly proud of Zoie and Android.  But, above all, there’s overwhelming  compassion for these wonderful fans who connected so deeply with something I helped create.

I am humbled.

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Final gifs courtesy of FYEAHTHEANDROID

Hitting the con!

Yesterday, Akemi and I racked up 25 000+ steps checking out a local con.  I’ll tell you all about it.  But first…

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to introduce themselves and offer up a little backstory to their hitherto mysterious online personas.  Keep ’em coming!

And now, back to the con…  

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We started with a tour of Artists’ Alley where I met up with fellow Montreal native Louie De Martinis who is gearing up for the release of his self-published comic Blood And Sand.  Could there be a collaboration in our future?  Loui De Martinis Art

Me: “Is there a difference between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z?”

Outraged Akemi, suddenly sitting bolt upright: “Is there a difference between Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis?!”

After some three hours of the South Hall, we were headed towards North Hall when I heard someone call: “Mr. Mallozzi!”  Assuming it was the police, I was about to make a run for it – but it turned out to be two long-time Stargate fans, Lee and Andrew Portello, who actually recognized me from the blog.  Great meeting you guys!

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At North Hall, I said a quick hi to the ever-popular Jason Momoa, did a quick perusal, then headed home with my three super villain-themed t-shirts, no awesome new cufflinks to add to my collection, but a few signed books –

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Akemi and I capped off the night by having dinner with my friend (author, and comic book writer) Marjorie M. Liu and her artist on the award-winning Monstress, Sana Takeda.  I was lovely reconnecting with Marjorie, and equally lovely getting to know Sana.  Here’s hoping we get to do it all over again in Japan soon!

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Tonight, I head over to Ivon Bartok’s place for slow-cooked pork and our Fantasy Football draft for A League of Our Own.  Could my Snow Monkeys win a double-championship this season?

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Probably.

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular PBMom who went in for emergency surgery yesterday. 

What’s your story?

So, here’s my story…

My name is Joe but I my online handle is BaronDestructo.  I’m a television writer/producer with about 400 hours television to my credit, most of it in sci-fi, some of it in animation.  Over the course of my career, I’ve created, developed, written, story-edited, and produced.  No plans to direct.  I was born in Montreal, moved to Vancouver to work on a little show called Stargate, then moved to Toronto to work on my own little show called Dark Matter.  My varied interests include food, reading, and dogs (particularly of the snub-nose variety).  I’ve been with my girlfriend, Akemi, for almost nine years now after meeting her on one of my annual trips to Japan.

This is me in a nutshell – more or less.

Now, I want to hear about you.

Blog regulars have come and gone over the years, and I’ve gotten to know them (and you) as best I could, drawing from the various tidbits you drop in the comments you leave on these entries.  Lately, I’ve been reviewing and thinking – Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little refresher on who frequents this blog.

So, if you’re feeling up to it, have at it.

What’s your story?